Feb.2010 issue Health&Wellness

• Colic, Constipation and Sleep Disturbance Helped in an Infant With Chiropractic
• H1N1 Vaccine Not Being Used As Expected By Drug Companies and Governments
• Chiropractic for Kids: Getting the Word Out
• Jack LaLanne, Fitness Guru and Chiropractor Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Age 95
• Snow-Shoveling Safety Tips
• Top 10 Human Medications Poisonous to Pets

Colic, Constipation and Sleep Disturbance Helped in an Infant With Chiropractic

Published on January 1, 2010 comes a case study in the scientific journal, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health that documents the case of a two week old male infant who was helped with chiropractic, after suffering with a number of  abdominal problems, along with an inability to sleep properly.

In this case the infant was brought to the chiropractor by the mother who was under care during her pregnancy. The two week old boy was in distress and suffering from excessive crying, abdominal distension, constipation, and gas. He was unable to sleep properly and was clinching his fists in obvious pain. The mother reported that her infant son was unable to have a bowel movement or belch. He was unable to sleep during the day and was only sleeping sporadically at night.

Because of their child's inability to sleep properly the parents were also being sleep deprived. The mother's general practitioner even went so far as to recommend anti-depressants and tranquilizers, however; she tried an over the counter sleep aid instead.

The chiropractic examination showed a crying infant in apparent distress with areas of muscle spasm, tight ligaments and multiple vertebral misalignments in his spine. Chiropractic care was initiated using specific techniques designed to correct the vertebral subluxations found in this infant.

The results on this infant were immediate. During the adjustment the child belched, and immediately following the adjustment the child had a bowel movement before he even had a chance to leave the office. Within five adjustments his mother reported that her son's bowel movements had started to become more regular, and he was belching better after meals. The mother noted that in the initial part of care, if she had missed a visit that the child's distress would return, but would be corrected upon her son's next visit.

This case study reported that after 16 adjustments, his mother noted significant and longer lasting abatement of his symptoms and crying. His colicky behavior and constipation had resolved. His bowel movements had returned to normal and he only cried when he was either hungry or sleepy.

The study author wrote in his conclusion, "Resolution of all presenting symptomology was noted following the introduction of chiropractic care concomitant with a reduction in vertebral subluxation."

H1N1 Vaccine Not Being Used As Expected By Drug Companies and Governments

In spite of extensive news coverage and government officials appearing in the media urging the public to get the H1N1 vaccine, the usage has been far below expected levels. Several news stories and articles reported on the fact that people are just not getting the vaccine in the numbers the drug companies had hoped.

Even though the initial news reports were reporting that there was a shortage of H1N1 vaccine, and that the public should rush out to get their shots, the response has been so much less than anticipated that many countries have canceled as much as half or more of the orders of H1N1 they previously requested.

An article in Reuters on January 5, 2010, reported that the French government canceled over half of their H1N1 flu vaccine orders. The article noted that France followed cutbacks by Germany, Spain and Switzerland. In the case of the French government, the article noted that they "aimed to cancel 50 million of the 94 million doses ordered".

A January 10, 2010 article in PharmaTimes, noted that the United Kingdom also joined other European countries in canceling orders of H1N1 flu vaccines as demand for the vaccine fell. The Reuters article noted that the UK had only received a fraction of the original H1N1 vaccine orders but that, "cases of swine flu in the UK have fallen significantly. Since the first cases were reported in April 2009 there have been 360 deaths and many of those people had underlying health conditions."  Even a news article on January 6, 2010 on the Healthzone.ca website reported that Canada was looking to donate their excess supply.

An article on December 18, 2009 on the website NaturalNews.com by health reporter Mike Adams posted a headline "H1N1 vaccine liquidation sale now on." His article further reported, "People who got the vaccine are no better off than those who skipped it. In fact, there's no difference in mortality between those who were vaccinated and those who weren't, indicating yet again that the swine flu vaccine was a medical hoax to begin with."

Chiropractic for Kids: Getting the Word Out

The above is the headline of a feature article in the January 2010 issue of "To Your Health". The feature article begins by relating the story of 6 week old Cameron, who hadn't slept longer than an hour at a time, was fussy when awake, had difficulty nursing and seemed to spit up more than he ate.

The story noted that Marlena, the boy's mother, was at her wit's end when a friend suggested she take her baby to a chiropractor. Even though she was skeptical, she was willing to give it a try. The article reported that after just three visits Cameron was a completely different child. They noted that he slept for longer stretches, nursed for shorter stretches, rarely spit up and, was happy and content.

The article then does a good job in explaining how chiropractic helped young Cameron. The author explained, "When a joint in the spine or cranium doesn't move properly (a condition called a subluxation), it has the potential to irritate the nervous system. And it's the nervous system that runs the baby's body, carrying instructions from the brain to distant body parts. If that communication system becomes disrupted, the affected body part may not function properly. Chiropractic care removes the source of irritation, allowing the body to heal and operate properly."

Cameron's case is not a singular one. The article notes that a recent survey showed that up to 14 percent of all visits to chiropractors are for children, and chiropractic is the most used non-medical care for children. The article also reported that according to the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) there were more than 2 million pediatric visits to chiropractors in 2007. The article noted that chiropractic adjustments for children are very different than those given on adult spines. They also reported that chiropractic's record makes it the safest form of healthcare available.

In closing, the article lists a number of conditions that commonly respond to chiropractic care for children. The list of conditions included such problems as colic, ear infections, bed-wetting, asthma, scoliosis, constipation, headaches, and a variety of other health problems.

Jack LaLanne, Fitness Guru and Chiropractor Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Age 95

Most people may not know this, but Jack LaLanne, known as the Godfather of Fitness, is also a chiropractor. Jack graduated Chiropractic school in 1936, and immediately went into fitness and opened a health club. Now at age 95 he remains active and has just received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the publication "Club Industry", a publication for fitness business professionals.

Even at age 95 Jack has a zeal for life, health and fitness. In a January 8, 2010 article in American Profile, LaLanne jests about his longevity by saying, "I can't die. It would ruin my image!" The article reports that Jack continues to workout 2 hours every day, and eats at least 10 raw vegetables and five fresh fruits each day.

"Dying is easy. Living, you've got to work at," states LaLanne. "You've got to have goals and challenges." Jack has been no stranger to giving himself challenges. An October 1, 2009 ClubIndustry.com article listed some of Jack's more amazing accomplishments. These include:

• 1954, Age 40: Swam the length of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge under water with 140 pounds of equipment, including two air tanks
• 1955, Age 41: Swam handcuffed from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco
• 1957, Age 43: Swam the Golden Gate Channel towing a 2,500-pound cabin cruiser
• 1959, Age 45: Completed 1,000 push-ups and 1,000 chin-ups in 1 hour, 22 minutes
• 1974, Age 60: Swam handcuffed and shackled from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf towing a 1,000-pound boat
• 1975, Age 61: Swam the length of the Golden Gate Bridge handcuffed and shackled towing a 1,000-pound boat
• 1976, Age 62: Commemorating the Spirit of ’76, swam one mile in Long Beach Harbor (CA) handcuffed and shackled while towing 13 boats containing 76 people
• 1979, Age 65: Towed 65 boats filled with 6,500 pounds while handcuffed and shackled in Ashinoko Lake, near Tokyo, Japan
• 1980, Age 66: Towed 10 boats filled with 77 people for more than one mile in North Miami, FL
• 1984, Age 70: Towed 70 boats with 70 people while handcuffed and shackled 1 ½ miles from the Queen’s Way Bridge in Long Beach Harbor to the Queen Mary

Snow-Shoveling Safety Tips

The recent record cold weather and snow across much of the US has also seen a rise in articles advising people in areas of the country affected by snow, on how to safely remove snow when needed. Although much of the country rarely or never has to shovel snow, the tips from these articles can be applied to many similar activities.

One of two such articles appeared in the December 2009 issue of To Your Health magazine and the other on the NorthJersey.com local news website on January 6, 2010. The To Your Health article points out that the average shovel full of snow weighs about 5 to 10 pounds. They point out that the combination of bending, lifting, and twisting, along with the exposure to freezing weather conditions, can be stressful on the spine.

The two articles gave a list of helpful hints for proper snow shoveling to avoid spinal problems. These hints can not only be applied to snow shoveling, but also to many other similar activities. These include the following.

• Do a warm-up first. A tight, stiff body is asking for injury.
• Layer your clothing. Layered clothing will keep your muscles warm and flexible.
• Wear the right shoes. Choose shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of walking on hard, frozen ground.
• Use the right size shovel. Your shovel should be about chest high on you, allowing you to keep your back straight when lifting.
• Drink lots of water. Drinking water frequently throughout the day helps to keep muscles and body hydrated.
• Use proper posture. When you do shovel, bend your knees and keep your back straight while lifting with your legs. Push the snow straight ahead; don't try to throw it.
• Take your time. Working too hard, too fast is an easy way to strain muscles. Take frequent breaks.
• See your chiropractor. Gentle spinal manipulation will help keep your back flexible and minimize the chance for injury. If you do overdo it, your chiropractor can help you feel better and prevent more injury.

Top 10 Human Medications Poisonous to Pets

From a January 7, 2010 article on Veterinary Practice News comes a warning for pet lovers about pets being poisoned by medications intended for humans. Justine A. Lee, DVM, DACVECC, associate director of veterinary services at Pet Poison Helpline reports that when it comes to pets being poisoned by medications, "they are unfortunately very, very common.”

Surprising to most people is that human medications are the most common type of poisoning that animals are exposed to. On the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) website is listed the Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2008. The first item on the list is "human medications". The ASPCA notes that, "For several years, human medications have been number one on the ASPCA’s list of common hazards."

The Veterinary Practice News article was more specific and listed the types of medications that are most commonly ingested by animals. These are:

1.     NSAIDs (e.g. Advil, Aleve and Motrin)

2.     Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol)

3.     Antidepressants (e.g. Effexor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Lexapro)

4.     ADD/ADHD medications (e.g. Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin)

5.     Benzodiazepines and sleep aids (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta)

6.     Birth control (e.g. estrogen, estradiol, progesterone)

7.     ACE Inhibitors (e.g. Zestril, Altace)

8.     Beta-blockers (e.g. Tenormin, Toprol, Coreg)

9.     Thyroid hormones (e.g. Armour desiccated thyroid, Synthroid)

10.   Cholesterol lowering agents (e.g. Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor)

The ASPCA reported that they receive over 50,000 calls per year on pets being poisoned by medications. They warn that, 'Pets often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up medications accidentally dropped on the floor."