Sept.2011 issue Health & Wellness

• Child With Asthma Helped With Chiropractic - A Case Study
• Thousands of Babies Born Addicted to Prescription Pills
• Diabetes Resolved With Chiropractic and Diet - Case Study
• Medical Spending to Hit $4.6 Trillion by 2020
• Parkinson's Improved in 77-Year-Old Man With Chiropractic - A Case Study
• Chiropractors Treat Horses at Junior League Horse Show

Child With Asthma Helped With Chiropractic - A Case Study

The scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, reports a case study published on August 4, 2011, documenting the improvement of a toddler with asthma while under chiropractic care.

The authors of the study begin by noting, "Chiropractors are the most common complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers visited by children and adolescents and among the most common reasons for seeking chiropractic care for children are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sleep problems, asthma, and sinusitis." They also noted how common a problem this is by stating, "Asthma in children is very prevalent in the general population with nine million U.S. children under 18 being diagnosed with asthma. In 2005, an estimated 7.7 percent of people (22.2 million) currently had asthma."

In this case, a 23-month-old girl was brought to the chiropractor by her parents for chiropractic care. She had been suffering from asthma, digestive problems, and was getting frequent colds. At the time of her initial chiropractic visit the child was on two different antibiotics, several different asthma medications and under regular medical care. Since the parents had been to a chiropractor, they decided to see if chiropractic could help their daughter.

A chiropractic examination showed an overall decrease in the child's neck range of motion, as well as multiple postural abnormalities. There were multiple areas of spinal sensitivity, and thermal heat reading of the spine showed imbalances. From the examination, a determination was made that subluxations were present in the neck and mid back of the little girl.

Subluxations are when one or more of the bones of the spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are the nerves that come out from between each of the bones of the spine. This pressure or irritation on the nerves then causes those nerves to malfunction and interfere with the signals traveling over those nerves.

Chiropractic care was initiated at the rate of 2-3 visits per week for the initial 4 weeks, then reduced in frequency. Regular re-evaluations were performed to monitor the child's progress. The case study reported that approximately 11 months after care was begun, the child’s parents reported a 90 percent improvement of their little girl’s condition with no more "real breathing episodes" being reported. Five months later, the child no longer needed asthma medication, and was much healthier overall.

Thousands of Babies Born Addicted to Prescription Pills

The headline above is from a July 28, 2010 article on the online site, Opposing View. The article was just one of many within a few weeks on the subject of babies being born addicts because their mothers were addicted to prescription drugs. The problem has increased so quickly that the Opposing View article reported that in 2009 the number of babies born addicted to prescription drugs nationwide exceeded the number of crack babies.

A July 29, 2011 article on the subject in the publication, The Week, starts their article by saying, "Babies born addicted to crack cocaine were a scourge of cities in the 1980s, but today, in hospitals across America, doctors are delivering a new kind of crack baby: Newborns addicted to the prescription drugs that their mother’s abuse."

The numbers are becoming alarming with it being reported that in some hospitals in Florida between 15 to 20 percent of newborns are treated for withdrawal. According to a July 31, 2011 article in the Orlando Sentinal, 1374 babies in Florida were born addicted to drugs in 2010 because their mothers were users. This represented a 42 percent increase in one year. To put these numbers into perspective, in 2006, only 36 babies were born in the entire United States who were addicted to prescription medications.

A July 27, 2011 CNN story on the same subject looked at Broward County in south Florida where the problem seems to be most acute. Several people were interviewed including Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti who said, "We saw the number of crack babies that died, and this is just another version of that. We all need to be concerned."

Also commenting in the CNN article was Mary Osuch, the head nurse at Broward General Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit. "They go through withdrawal symptoms," she noted, "They're crampy, miserable. They sweat. They can have rapid breathing. Sometimes, they can even have seizures."

Janet Colbert, who works in the neonatal-intensive-care unit at a South Florida hospital, is a founding member of STOPP Now (Stop the Organized Pill Pushers - www.stoppnow.com). She commented, "I think it's devastating. This is why we keep going, and we're not going to stop until these pain clinics are closed."

Diabetes Resolved With Chiropractic and Diet - Case Study

The July 21, 2011 issue of the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research, published a case study documenting the resolution of long term diabetes through chiropractic and dietary changes. The authors of the study begin by explaining that 18.2 million people, approximately 6.3 percent of the US population, has diabetes. They note that diabetes is characterized by high levels of blood glucose due to an insufficient level, or a total lack of, insulin being produced by the pancreas.

In this case, a 61-year-old man went to the chiropractor primarily for difficulty concentrating. Upon giving his history, it was revealed that the man also suffered from type 2 diabetes for 20 years, for which he was taking three different oral medications daily. He was having his blood work medically monitored several times per year since his diagnosis of diabetes.

Shortly after receiving the diagnosis of diabetes, the man started to get episodes of back pain which he attributed to being overweight. He had previously been to several chiropractors but only received a few visits before discontinuing his care when his pain was relieved. The patient reported that there were no changes in his diabetes during this sporadic chiropractic care.

A chiropractic examination was performed which included a postural analysis, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar ranges of motion, spinal thermography (heat) scan, static electromyography scan, and spinal x-rays. From these tests, it was determined that subluxations were present and a plan of specific corrective chiropractic adjustments was initiated.

The results of this case showed that after just six visits the patient reported that he was feeling much better. After 12 visits, he reported that he had adopted recommended dietary changes, and he was continuing to feel much better. He also reported that he had made a decision on his own to discontinue his oral medication for diabetes.

Three months after starting a regular program of chiropractic care, the patient returned to his medical physicians for tests. The results of those tests showed a blood sugar level within normal limits without having to take any medications. He also reported that he felt much better and had more energy.

Medical Spending to Hit $4.6 Trillion by 2020

A study published on July 28, 2011 by the US Office of the Actuary at the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, revealed that by the year 2020 the cost of healthcare in the US will expand to $4.6 trillion per year. This study shows that healthcare spending is growing at a much faster pace than the US economy.

Several news outlets reported on the study including a July 28, 2011, article in the San Francisco Chronicle that posted some ominous facts about healthcare spending, noting that, "America's health care bill will jump from $2.7 trillion this year to $4.6 trillion in 2020. It will take $1 of every $5 in the economy instead of the current $1 out of $6 and go from $8,650 per capita up to $13,710."

A July 28, 2011, Health Day article published in the US News and World Reports that as we get closer to the year 2020, more and more of the total cost of healthcare will be picked up by the US government. Although still outpacing the economy, healthcare costs actually slowed in 2010 to only 3.9 percent growth. That number is expected to rise to over 8 percent as the new healthcare system is phased in, and the Baby Boomers get older and rely on more medical care.

Lead report author, Sean P. Keehan, an economist in the Office of the Actuary at the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stated, "We have projected health care costs to grow at an average rate of 5.8 percent a year for 2010 to 2020."

Keehan also noted in the study that the growth of healthcare would have averaged 5.7 percent between 2010 and 2020 if there were no new "Affordable Care Act" commonly referred to as Obamacare. This means that the effect of the new healthcare system is only one tenth of one percent increase in cost. However, the author notes that, simultaneously, by 2020, nearly thirty million Americans are expected to gain health insurance coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act.

Not everyone sees the increase in spending as a problem. Some note that some of the increase is for preventative and wellness services, thus saving money and promoting health. Richard Hamburg, deputy director of the non-partisan advocacy group Trust for America's Health, summed up his thoughts in the Health Day article by noting, "From our perspective, the great new investment in the Affordable Care Act is the attention to prevention and public health. Over time, investing in wellness and prevention programs will save money down the line; and while we save lives we will decrease the incidence of chronic diseases and save significant costs". He ended by saying, "People will live longer, more productive lives."

Parkinson's Improved in 77-Year-Old Man With Chiropractic - A Case Study

A case study appeared in the August 1, 2011 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research, documenting the improvement through chiropractic, of a 77-year-old man with Parkinson’s Disease.

The authors of the study begin by noting that Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system. People with Parkinson’s often experience tremors in extremities, impaired co-ordination, rigidity in movement, postural instability, and impaired imbalance and coordination. They also note that Parkinson’s disease afflicts an estimated 1 million people across the United States with 50,000 new cases being diagnosed each year.

This case involved a 77-year-old retired shipyard worker who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s several years earlier. His history recorded that, in his prior occupation, he was exposed to asbestos as well as neck trauma. As a young man, he was knocked unconscious from head contact while playing football. Since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, he had been taking several medications for the condition. His condition had been worsening and was interfering with his ability to perform daily activities.

His examination revealed a restricted range of spinal motion as well as numerous positive findings in the neurological tests performed. Thermal heat reading showed irregularities indicative of spinal subluxation. Spinal x-rays were also performed to check spinal positioning and confirm the presence of subluxations. From these tests, a determination of subluxations was made and a specific course of chiropractic care was initiated.

Regular re-evaluations were performed during care to monitor the progress. Of the initial 29 neurological tests performed, over half of those that originally had positive findings were found to be normal during the chiropractic care. More importantly, the patient reported that he experienced an increase in ease when performing daily tasks such as moving from a seated to standing position, as well as keeping his head up to look at people while walking.

Chiropractors Treat Horses at Junior League Horse Show

The headline above is from a July 16, 2011 feel-good story published on the online news version of the Lexington Herald-Leader paper, the Kentucky.com. The story examines how chiropractic helps animals, and changed the career path of one woman.

The article begins by reporting that two separate miracles changed the life of Anita Jackson. It seems that earlier in her life, she was suffering from a serious stomach ailment that medicine could not help. It was then that she went to a chiropractor, and miracle number one occurred. It seems that within 15 minutes of her chiropractic adjustment, her symptoms were gone.

Not long after the first incident, at the age of 19, Anita had a second miracle when her horse started suffering stomach problems. She was told by her veterinarian that nothing could be done and that the horse would soon die.

It was at this time that she recalled her own past experience. "So I'm lying in the field with my horse, and the vet was explaining what was going on with my horse's stomach and intestines." She then realized, "If my chiropractor was able to help me with my stomach problems, I thought, why not?" Anita then proceeded to hit the horse on the spine with all of her strength. Miraculously, the horse was up and walking around in less than 20 minutes.

From that experience Anita stated, "I knew somehow, some way, I would treat humans as well as animals." Anita Jackson and her husband Bruce are now the Drs. Jackson and run a chiropractic facility that cares for both people and animals.

Dr. Bruce Jackson commented about adjusting horses by noting, "Most people think it takes a lot of force to adjust a horse. It takes very little force. The reason it takes so much force for a human is because a human's upright."