Back Surgery - Page 2 - Keefe Clinic

IN THE NEWS: Researchers Uncover Link Between Immune Function And Osteoarthritic Pain And Progression The immune system plays a pivotal role in the amount of pain and disease progression experienced by patients with osteoarthritis (OA), McMaster University researchers have found. This discovery could lead to new strategies for improving joint pain management and immune function in older adults with arthritis. The study, published in the medical journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, found that monocytes, the white blood cells necessary to regulate immune responses, were more activated and pro-inflammatory in women with osteoarthritis, and that elevated inflammation and body mass index were associated with this increased activation. When compared with a control group, this combination created a perfect storm – one that was found to increase the pain and progression of knee osteoarthritis. The study involved 22 women with OA, and 22 women of the same age without OA.NOTE: Monocytes are usually elevated in response to bacteria and parasites. Recently study show that rheumatoid arthritis can be triggered in some cases by a bacteria in milk. Nutritional formulas that enhance immune function allow for the body to eliminate these microorganisms and begin the healing process. Detoxification, anti-inflammatory diet are just some of the things that can be helpful in health recovery.

WELLNESS: Chuck Norris Focuses Attention on Heavy Metal Risks After Enhanced MRI Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a study allowing your physician to see detailed images of your organs and tissues using a large magnet and radio waves. Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) may be prescribed to enhance the image but the heavy metal gadolinium is known to deposit in your brain, bone and organs. The FDA acknowledges the metal may be found in your tissues for years but claims there is no known effect, despite the rising number of people suffering from kidney damage, cognitive dysfunction and muscle wasting. Strategies you may consider if an enhanced MRI is absolutely necessary include optimizing your gut and nutrition, eating fermented foods and using a sauna to aid detoxification. After undergoing three MRIs with GBCAs to evaluate her rheumatoid arthritis, Gena O'Kelley, the wife of American film icon Chuck Norris, began experiencing severe physical symptoms that began with a burning sensation in her skin. She described it as if there was acid burning her skin, slowly covering her body. She reports that she visited the emergency room five or six nights in a row, while doctors ran multiple tests for ALS, MS, cancer and Parkinson's disease. However, it was O'Kelley who made the connection between her burning skin, contracted arm and cognitive issues and the multiple MRIs she had undergone. She told Full Measure: "When we got to the hospital in Houston this last time, and I'm so bad and I said, listen, I am sober enough in my thinking right now, because I had such brain issues going on, I said I'm only going to be able to tell you this one time and I need you to listen to me very closely. I have been poisoned with gadolinium or by gadolinium and we don't have much time to figure out how to get this out of my body or I am going to die." After five months of treatment in China and then in a clinic in Nevada, O'Kelley was able to return home to her seven children for continued treatment by a physician in Houston. Norris shared their tax return records documenting $2 million over three years in uninsured medical expenses to help O'Kelley return to health. Now Norris is suing 11 medical companies for the part they played in not warning the couple and others of the dangers of using a GBCA for MRI contrast.

CHIROPRACTIC: IMMUNE FUNCTION studies of chiropractic patients have shown interesting differences with those patients that have ongoing chiropractic care and just the average person off the street. One of those differences we have discussed in a past newsletter about DNA repair. Those who have gotten regular chiropractic adjustments have a higher level of a chemical that’s involved in repair of DNA. Our DNA is traumatized hundreds if not thousands of times during the day and repair of DNA is essential in longevity and health in general. Many years ago an immunologist studying chiropractic patients who receive regular care were found to have an immune system operating 400% better than the average person on the street. The nervous system regulates and controls every system in your body and misalignments depress function including immune function. When you receive an adjustment you improve nervous system control and coordination over your immune system. Keeping a healthy immune system requires a clean diet, plenty of fluids, exercise, proper rest and a healthy nervous system. Increase your immune function through regular chiropractic care.

FUNNY BONE: When my three-year-old was told to pee in a cup at the doctor’s office, he unexpectedly got nervous. With a shaking voice, he asked, “Do I have to drink it?”@@ Probably the worst thing you can hear when you’re wearing a bikini is “Good for you!”@@ A couple years ago my therapist told me I had problems letting go of the past.@@ "Doctor, there's a patient on line 1 that says he's invisible" "Well, tell him I can't see him right now."@@ Dr.'s are saying not to worry about the bird flu because it's tweetable.@@ When an employment application asks who is to be notified in case of emergency, I always write, "A very good doctor".@@ I grew a beard thinking it would say "Distinguished Gentleman." Instead, turns out it says, "Senior Discount, Please!"

IN THE NEWS: Doctors should not prescribe antibiotics for most people with sore throats. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said most sore throats were caused by viral infections, which cannot be treated by antibiotics. But research suggests antibiotics are prescribed in 60% of sore throat cases. NICE said it was "vital" the medicines were only used when effective because of the rise of antibiotic resistance. The overuse of antibiotics is making infections harder to treat by creating drug-resistant superbugs. Patients 'need rest, not antibiotics' Why is it so difficult to discover new antibiotics? "For a sore throat, evidence shows that antibiotics make little difference to length or severity of illness, unless symptoms are much more severe. While a sore throat can be painful, there are other ways to control the symptoms”. 'Post-antibiotic apocalypse' England's chief medical officer, Dame Prof Sally Davies, has previously warned of a "post-antibiotic apocalypse" where infections would become harder to treat and common medical procedures such as cancer treatments could become too risky. In an ever growing number of cases people have died from bugs that are resistant to all antibiotics. In October, PHE said patients had "a part to play" in stopping the rise of infections and that more of them should be told to go home and rest rather than be given antibiotics. NOTE: This last statement kind of makes my blood boil, even though as patients you have to look after your own health doctors should know better. Patients didn’t go to school to learn to be a doctor, doctors did that. For the past 30 years this is been in the literature and still we have 60% of sore throats receiving antibiotics, another good reason to make your primary care physician a chiropractic physician.

WELLNESS: Sitting all day is as bad as smoking for your health Research shows that the more time you spend sitting, the shorter and less healthy your life will tend to be, even if you exercise regularly, thanks to the negative impacts on your cardiovascular and metabolic function. When you sit, lack of muscle contraction decreases blood flow through your body, reducing the efficiency of biological processes. For every hour you sit, your life expectancy decreases by two hours. Research has also found that sitting for more than three hours a day causes 3.8 percent of all-cause deaths. Twenty to 25 minutes of walking per day may add anywhere from three to seven years to your life span. As little as two hours of walking per week may also reduce mortality risk in older adults. Brisk walking has even been shown to improve life expectancy in smokers and overweight individuals. Research shows that within 90 seconds of standing up after sitting for a long period of time, the muscular and cellular systems that process blood sugar, triglycerides and cholesterol are activated. In other words, as soon as you stand up, a series of molecular mechanisms are triggered that beneficially impact the cellular functioning of your muscles and push fuel into your cells. All of these molecular effects are activated by the simple act of bearing weight on your legs.

CONDITION OF THE WEEK: SHOULDER PAIN The most prevalent cause is rotator cuff tendinitis. ... Other causes of shoulder pain include several forms of arthritis, torn cartilage, or a torn rotator cuff. Swelling of the bursa sacs (which protect the shoulder) or tendons can also cause pain. Misalignment of the bones that make up the shoulder can be a common cause for pain and discomfort even limited movement of the shoulder. Chiropractic offers effective treatment for shoulder problems even with rotor cuff tears conservative care can be helpful. Of course severe tears will need surgical repair but fortunately most of them aren’t that severe. Realigning the shoulder joint can be important with making sure the collarbone is in proper alignment at the shoulder joint as well as making sure muscles are causing the shoulder to be locked into rotation which produces pain and limitation during movement. Along with the structural alignment and muscle rebalancing nutrients like fish oils, Cartledge support and anti-inflammatory enzymes can also be important. If you are suffering from pain and discomfort in one or both of your shoulder joints you need to come in for an evaluation and treatment. Chiropractic first, drug second, and surgery last.

FUNNY BONE: During class, I was writing a story. Teacher got mad at me and confiscated my notebook. The next day, he gave it back to me and said, "When can you finish this I need to know how it ends."@@ Each Friday night after work, Bubba would fire up his outdoor grill and cook venison steak. But all of Bubba's neighbors were Catholic, and since it was lent, they were forbidden from eating red meat on Friday. The delicious aroma from the grilled venison steaks were causing such a problem for the Catholic faithful that they finally talked to their priest. The priest came to visit Bubba and suggested he become a Catholic. After several classes and much study, Bubba attended mass. The priest sprinkled holy water over him and said, "you were born a Baptist and raised a Baptist, but now you are Catholic." Bubba's neighbors were greatly relieved, until Friday night arrived and the wonderful aroma of grilled venison filled the neighborhood. The priest was called immediately by the neighbors. As the priests rushed into Bubba's yard, clutching a rosary and prepared to scold him, he stopped and watched in amazement. There stood Bubba, clutching a small bottle of holy water, which he carefully sprinkled over the grilled meat while chanting, "you wuz born a deer, you wuz raised a deer, but now you are catfish."

IN THE NEWS:. 5 Natural Strategies That May Help Protect Your Healthy Vision… Quit smoking, if you currently do. Smoking ramps up free radical production throughout your body, and puts you at risk for less-than-optimal health in many ways. If you want healthy vision for your whole life, you cannot afford to risk less-than-optimal eye health with cigarettes. Care for your cardiovascular system. High blood pressure can cause damage to the miniscule blood vessels on your retina, obstructing free blood flow. Normalize your blood sugar. Excessive sugar in your blood can pull fluid from the lens of your eye, affecting your ability to focus. And, it can damage the blood vessels in your retina, also obstructing blood flow. Eat plenty of fresh, dark green leafy vegetables, especially kale. Your mother was right – eat your vegetables. Studies have shown that a diet rich in dark leafy greens helps support eye health. And that those with the highest consumption of carotenoid-rich vegetables, especially ones rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, had increased vision health. Consume omega-3 rich foods such as fresh-caught salmon – or supplement with krill oil. A study published in the August 2001 issue of Archives of Ophthalmology found that consuming omega-3 fatty acids was protective of your healthy vision. However – especially if you’re a Baby Boomer or older – you may want to hedge your bets on wise supplementation to help protect your eyes’ healthy function. If you’re younger, prudent supplementation while also addressing the five natural strategies listed above can offer your eyes important support. There are some incredible newcomers on the scene of protecting and supporting your eye health:Two new ingredients – black currant and astaxanthin – recently made their way to the cutting edge of the eye health world. And they’re far more powerful than lutein, zeaxanthin, or bilberry. Scientists discovered that black currant contains anthocyanins, supporting eye energy.* And astaxanthin is also a strong antioxidant.*

WELLNESS: Don't Risk Your Health (or the Health of Your Child) A healthy pregnancy and a healthy child – who doesn't want that? And yet many women put themselves and their developing child at risk, often without knowing it. You deserve better. Your child deserves better. Here are two of the health issues your can help avoid based on the lifestyle choices you make:

Heart defects linked to ADHD drugs: Use of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs during pregnancy increasing the risk that the child will develop a cardiac malformation (heart defect, in laypersons terms) . Exposure to methylphenidate after the first trimester increased the risk by 28 percent, according to research summarized in JAMA Psychiatry. Findings emphasize the need to better understand the safety issues surrounding use of ADHD drugs, particularly during pregnancy, and explore potential drug-free options for treating ADHD. Obesity and fetal growth patterns: Obese women are more likely to have unusually large babies, even if the mother's obesity isn't causing health complications. The result, according to the study in JAMA Pediatrics: a large, heavy baby, particularly a baby with a large head circumference, and larger thigh and arm bones, compared to babies born to normal-weight mothers. Larger babies may complicate the delivery process and require Cesarean delivery, which can risk the health of both mother and child. Fortunately, in the vast majority of cases obesity can be managed with proper diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes. If you're expecting a child or planning to conceive, talk to your doctor early in the process about everything you can do (and avoid doing) to ensure a healthy childbirth for mother and child.

CHIROPRACTIC: Overview and History The term “chiropractic” combines the Greek words cheir (hand) and praxis (practice) to describe a treatment done by hand. Hands-on therapy—especially adjustment of the spine—is central to chiropractic care. Chiropractic is based on the relationship between the body’s structure (primarily that of the spine) and its function (as coordinated by the nervous system) affects health. Spinal adjustment is a core treatment in chiropractic care. Chiropractors commonly use other treatments in addition to spinal manipulation including nutrition, diet management, acupuncture, physical therapy, allergy therapy. What the Science Says Researchers have studied spinal manipulation for a number of conditions ranging from back, neck, and shoulder pain to asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and headaches. Much of the research has focused on low-back pain, and has shown that spinal adjustments benefit people with this condition. A 2010 review of scientific evidence on manual therapies for a range of conditions concluded that spinal adjustments helpful for several conditions in addition to back pain, including migraine and cervicogenic (neck-related) headaches, neck pain, upper- and lower-extremity joint conditions, and whiplash-associated disorders. Chiropractic colleges accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) offer Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree programs. (CCE is the agency certified by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit chiropractic colleges in the United States.) Admission to a chiropractic college requires a minimum of 90 semester hour credits of undergraduate study, mostly in the sciences. Chiropractic training is a 4-year academic program that includes both classroom work and direct experience caring for patients.

FUNNY BONE: CHILDREN ARE QUICK TEACHER: Why are you late? STUDENT: Class started before I got here.@@ TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America. MARIA: Here it is.TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America? CLASS: Maria.@@ TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago. WINNIE: Me !

IN THE NEWS: Our Bodies Have So Many More Cancer-Causing Chemicals Than We Thought An estimated 1.7 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2016. While some of this is rooted in sheer genetics, many of these cases may be sparked by substances in the air, soil, food, and materials around us. A new report released today by the Environmental Working Group shows just how many of these substances end up inside of us. Pulling data from places like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EWG detected up to 420 possible carcinogens—the name for cancer-causing agents—in people's bodies. NOTE: Is there cancer in your family? Even if the answer to that is no you should still drink clean water, try to eat clean food (reduce junk food and increase fresh fruits and vegetables and even consider organic), clean air machines in your home can reduce pollution.

WELLNESS: A POTENTIAL LINK BETWEEN CELL PHONE USE AND CANCER – JUNE 5, 2016 Use of cell phones is so deeply associated with our lifestyle that we often forget that these devices were almost nonexistent a decade ago. Therefore, we don’t have much feedback on their potentially harmful effects on health. Cell phones emit radio frequency radiation in very close proximity with our heads and it is still not clear if that radiation may present health issues. Researchers from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) were asked by the US government to investigate this question. They published a preliminary report on their findings on the association between radio frequency exposure through cell phone use and cancer. They exposed groups of 90 rats, separated by gender, to 3 different doses of radio frequency radiations (1.5, 3 and 6 W/Kg) for 9 hours per day, for 2 years. They found a higher incidence of brain (glioblastoma) and heart (Schwannoma) tumours in male rodents exposed to the radiation. Note: Not all people have the same susceptibility, we can test you on your cell phone plus there are phone covers that protect from this type of radiation.

CHIROPRACTIC: How Does Chiropractic Work? Many people seek chiropractic care when their back goes out or their neck tightens up. But how does this form of care actually work? What are the benefits of receiving chiropractic care for nerve dysfunction compared with other healthcare options? Let’s take a look! First, let’s discuss how the nervous system “works.” We have three divisions of the nervous system: the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems. The central nervous system (CNS) includes the brain and spinal cord, and it’s essentially the main processing portion of the nervous system. The spinal cord is like a multi-lane highway that brings information to the brain for processing (sensory division) and returns information back to the toes, feet, legs, and upper extremities from which the information originated (motor division). For example, hiking on a mountain trail or simply walking requires constant input to and from the CNS so we can adjust our balance accordingly and not fall. These “sensory-motor pathways” are essential and allow us to complete our daily tasks in an efficient, safe manner as information is constantly bouncing back and forth between the brain and the rest of the body. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) includes a similar sensory/motor “two-way street” system relaying information back and forth from our toes/feet/legs and fingers/hands/arms to the spinal cord (CNS). And if this isn’t complicated enough, we also have “reflexes” that, for example, allow us to QUICKLY pull our hand away from a hot stove to minimize burning our fingers. Reflexes allow the information to “skip” the brain’s processing part so quicker reactions can occur. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions that basically “run” our automatic (organ) functions like breathing, heart rate, digestion, hormonal output, and more. There is constant communication between the ANS, PNS, and CNS that allow us to function in a normal, balanced way… unless something disrupts them. There are obvious conditions that interfere with this communication process that include (but are not limited to) diabetes (with neuropathy), frost bitten or burned fingers, peripheral nerve damage from conditions like carpal/cubital tunnel syndromes, thoracic outlet syndrome, and/or pinched nerves in the neck, mid-back, low-back spinal regions, as well as conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Guillain-Barre Syndrome, after a stroke (spinal cord or brain), and after trauma with resulting fractures where nerve, spinal cord, and/or brain damage can occur. These are “obvious” reasons for delayed or blocked neurotransmission. There are many other less obvious injuries or conditions that can result in faulty neuromotor patterns and nerve transmission of which chiropractic services can benefit. The “subluxation complex” is a term some chiropractors use to describe the compromised nerve transmission that may occur if a nerve is compressed or irritated due to faulty bone or joint position along the nerve’s course. Reducing such nerve compression typically allows for a restoration of function. A good illustration of this is a patient who suffers from a herniated disk in the neck with numbness and tingling down the arm to the hand. The goal of treatment (for all healthcare professionals) is to remove the pinch of the nerve. To realize this goal, doctors of chiropractic utilize spinal manipulation and mobilization in addition to other non-surgical, non-drug approaches that may include exercises, nutritional advice, home-care such as a cervical traction unit, and other anti-inflammatory measures (ice, modalities like low level and class IV laser, electric stimulation, pulsed magnetic field, and more). Given the minimal side-effect risks and well-reported benefits, it only makes sense to try chiropractic FIRST and if you’re not satisfied, your doctor will help you find the next level of care.

FUNNY BONE: My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.@@ The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.@@ The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it.

IN THE NEWS: Chuck Norris Focuses Attention on Heavy Metal Risks After Enhanced MRI Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a study allowing your physician to see detailed images of your organs and tissues using a large magnet and radio waves. Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) may be prescribed to enhance the image but the heavy metal gadolinium is known to deposit in your brain, bone and organs. The FDA acknowledges the metal may be found in your tissues for years but claims there is no known effect, despite the rising number of people suffering from kidney damage, cognitive dysfunction and muscle wasting. Strategies you may consider if an enhanced MRI is absolutely necessary include optimizing your gut and nutrition, eating fermented foods and using a sauna to aid detoxification. After undergoing three MRIs with GBCAs to evaluate her rheumatoid arthritis, Gena O'Kelley, the wife of American film icon Chuck Norris, began experiencing severe physical symptoms that began with a burning sensation in her skin. She described it as if there was acid burning her skin, slowly covering her body. She reports that she visited the emergency room five or six nights in a row, while doctors ran multiple tests for ALS, MS, cancer and Parkinson's disease. However, it was O'Kelley who made the connection between her burning skin, contracted arm and cognitive issues and the multiple MRIs she had undergone. She told Full Measure: "When we got to the hospital in Houston this last time, and I'm so bad and I said, listen, I am sober enough in my thinking right now, because I had such brain issues going on, I said I'm only going to be able to tell you this one time and I need you to listen to me very closely. I have been poisoned with gadolinium or by gadolinium and we don't have much time to figure out how to get this out of my body or I am going to die." After five months of treatment in China and then in a clinic in Nevada, O'Kelley was able to return home to her seven children for continued treatment by a physician in Houston. Norris shared their tax return records documenting $2 million over three years in uninsured medical expenses to help O'Kelley return to health. Now Norris is suing 11 medical companies for the part they played in not warning the couple and others of the dangers of using a GBCA for MRI contrast.

WELLNESS: Salt and Good Health Salt is essential not only to life, but to good health. The National Academy of Sciences recommends that Americans consume a minimum of 500 mg/day of sodium to maintain good health. Individual needs, however, vary enormously based a person's genetic make-up and their lifestyle. While individual requirements range widely, most Americans have no trouble reaching their minimum requirements. Most consume "excess" sodium above and beyond that required for proper bodily function. The kidneys efficiently process this "excess" sodium in healthy people. Experimental studies show that most humans tolerate a wide range of sodium intakes, from about 250 mg/day to over 30,000 mg/day. The actual range is much narrower. Americans consume about 3,500 mg/day of sodium; men more, women less. Salt has been wrongly demonized as a major contributor to high blood pressure. Factors that play a significantly greater role include your sodium-to-potassium ratio, and a high-sugar, processed food diet. Symptoms of sodium deficiency may include muscle fatigue, spasms, cramps and heart palpitations. Such symptoms may disappear by adding more salt to your diet. In the 1600s, the average person was consuming up to 100 grams of salt per day from salted cod, herring and meats. Today, most people get 10 grams of salt per day or less, yet we have far higher rates of hypertension. Low-sodium diets may lower blood pressure. However, this reduction in blood pressure may not necessarily translate into a reduction in cardiovascular events. In fact, the reduction in blood pressure may actually be harmful by potentially increasing heart rate, as well as the risk of falls and fractures. NOTE: Some people are salt sensitive and should consider a salt substitute. Table salt is considered dead salt as it only contain sodium chloride, Himalayan salt contains around 70 other minerals and is considered much healthier.

CHIROPRACTIC: Chiropractic care in low-back pain, leg pain, and idiopathic chronic testicular pain: SUBJECT: A 36-year-old male patient had low-back pain, right leg pain, and testicular pain that was worsening. All had been present for 5 years. He had been seen by several medical physicians and had lumbar magnetic resonance imaging and x-rays performed. All were read as normal. Examination revealed tenderness of the testicles bilaterally with no masses or other abnormality of the testicles or scrotum. Orthopedic and neurological testing was unremarkable. Tenderness rated 8 out of 10 was noted at the L4 spinous process. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, the patient's low-back pain was decreased and his leg pain was gone. The testicular pain was improved after the first treatment and gone after 3 weeks of care. The patient was followed up by telephone at 3 and 6 months after discharge to find out if the testicle pain had returned, which it had not.

FUNNY BONE: Father: “Son, you were adopted.” Son: “What?! I knew it! I want to meet my biological parents!” Father: “We are your biological parents. Now pack up, the new ones will pick you up in 20 minutes.”@@ Redneck at the doctor: “Doc, I think I’m in trouble, I swallowed an ice cube 3 days ago and it ain’t come out yet.”@@ I asked my Mom if I was ugly. She said, "I told you not to call me Mom in front of people." @@ Thank you student loans for getting me through college. I don't think I can ever repay you.@@ Every single morning I get hit by the same bike. It's a vicious cycle.@@ My wife asked me to pass her lip balm. I gave her superglue by mistake. She's still not talking to me.

DIET: Can you REALLY eat yourself happy? You really are what you eat – and your brain health and mood are no exception. For example: Junk food really can affect our mental health by causing blood sugar highs and lows. This interferes with brain chemicals that affect mood. Protein is vital to make serotonin and dopamine – which are key to our mental health. There are crucial nutrients that our brain requires in tiny amounts that can really affect our mental state. They include B vitamins, iron, calcium, magnesium, chromium, zinc and selenium. When you feel tired, do you reach for a sweet snack? And when you're upset, do you find solace in chocolate, ice-cream or a bag of chips? Research confirms that you are more likely to turn to junk food when you're in a bad mood, as their high fat and sugar content activates pleasure centres in the brain, triggering the release of 'feel-good' neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. But there's a catch. Self-medicating with junk food also leads to blood sugar highs and lows that interfere with how these brain chemicals function to regulate mood. The overall effect can worsen your mental health. NOTE:Eating a variety of whole foods, real foods, supply your brain with the essential nutrients that can help produce a sense of well-being and higher moods. Eating smart is not only good for your well-being but for your families as well.

IN THE NEWS: Poor sleep linked to toxic buildup of Alzheimer’s protein, memory loss Sleep may be a missing piece in the Alzheimer’s disease puzzle. UC Berkeley scientists have found compelling evidence that poor sleep — particularly a deficit of the deep, restorative slumber needed to hit the save button on memories — is a channel through which the beta-amyloid protein believed to trigger Alzheimer’s disease attacks the brain’s long-term memory. “Our findings reveal a new pathway through which Alzheimer’s disease may cause memory decline later in life,” said UC Berkeley neuroscience professor Matthew Walker, senior author of the study published today in the journal Nature Neuroscience. A 2013 University of Rochester study found that the brain cells of mice would shrink during non-rapid-eye-movement (non-REM) sleep to make space for cerebrospinal fluids to wash out toxic metabolites such as beta-amyloid. “Sleep is helping wash away toxic proteins at night, preventing them from building up and from potentially destroying brain cells,” Walker said. “It’s providing a power cleanse for the brain.” NOTE: We have tools to help improve the quality of your sleep.

CHIROPRACTIC: Natural healthcare can help you There are many reasons for the shift in healthcare. Some people are concerned about the side effects that drugs have, (2000 deaths per week over 1 million injuries per year), some people have a sense of body ecology and don't want to put any artificial substances within their body. Some people have discovered drugs mainly cover-up symptoms and never get to the root of your problem, and are more concerned with maximizing their health than just making some symptoms disappear. I'm sure you have seen either a popular magazine or news program on TV, the benefits of different natural healthcare techniques. Chiropractic is the world's largest natural healthcare profession and specializes in finding the root cause of health problems and helping restore patients to better health through natural methods. At Keefe clinic these are the principles that we specialize in. We promise you that we will not just cover-up your symptoms and allow the underlying condition time to get worse. Chiropractic care, homeopathic care, individualized diet, acupuncture, nutritional therapy, muscle therapy and exercise, whatever it takes to move your body from disease to health, dysfunction to realizing your genetic potentials. We will customize a program to fit your particular health needs, from low back pain and headaches to digestive problems and PMS. From ear infections in babies to arthritis or heart disease and the geriatric patient, we offer the latest and natural healthcare. For more information visit our website: www.Keefeclinic.com

FUNNY BONE: Borrow money from pessimists -- they don't expect it back.@@ 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.@@82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.@@A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.@@All those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand.@@OK, so what's the speed of dark?@@How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?.@@ What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter? PUMPKIN PI @@ An actor had been out of work for 15 years because he always forgot his lines. Then one day he got a phone call from a director who wanted him for a big part in a play. All he had to say was “Hark! I hear the cannon roar! After much worry the actor decided to take the role. Opening night arrived, and while he waited in the wings, the actor muttered to himself “Hark! I hear the cannon roar! Hark! I hear the cannon roar! The time for the entrance finally came and as the actor made his appearance, he heard a loud brooooom! He turned around and said, “What the heck was that?” -Robert De Nero

IN THE NEWS: Adipose Tissue May Affect Cancer Development In Multiple Ways Author: Cornelia M. Ulrich, PhD, Senior Director of Population Sciences at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Background: "Obesity is increasing dramatically worldwide, and is now also recognized as one of the major risk factors for cancer, with 16 different types of cancer linked to obesity," Ulrich said. "We urgently need to identify the specific mechanisms that link obesity to cancer." Ulrich explained that previous research has shown several ways that fat contributes to carcinogenesis. For example, obesity increases the risk of inflammation, which has long been associated with cancer. Also, obesity is believed to affect cancer cell metabolism and immune clearance, all of which can contribute to the growth and spread of tumors, she said. The relationship between fat and carcinogenesis also depends upon "crosstalk," or the ways cells react when the same signal is shared by more than one signaling pathway in two different cell types, Ulrich explained. Identifying ways to interrupt the crosstalk could help researchers identify new cancer prevention strategies. Ulrich added that the study supports the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight. Because fat exists both under the skin and deeper inside the body, even slender people may have excess fat surrounding internal organs. Healthy diets and exercise that includes strength training to build lean muscle mass can help fight the development of excess fat, she said.

WELLNESS: hc3™ Lifestyle Program™ Assists in: Achieving Healthy Body Composition Through a Triple Approach: Diet, Exercise and Nutrition ● Burning Stored Fat as the Primary Energy Source ● Diminishing Hunger Levels ● Resculpting the Body ● Protecting Muscle from Wasting. NuMedica's hc3™ Lifestyle Program™ is a comprehensive 30 day supply designed to help the body burn stored fat as its primary energy source without decreasing muscle mass. This program is centered around a triple approach to healthy body composition which incorporates diet, exercise and nutrition. It contains essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants as well as detoxification support and medium chain triglycerides to support optimal metabolic management. Included in the kit is a comprehensive program guide featuring sample menus and a progress chart. NOTE: This is the most effective diet program we’ve ever handled. Depending on how much weight you need to lose you could lose 1 to 2 pounds a day that means in 30 days you could lose up to 30 to 60 pounds. This diet is safe in that it focuses on fat loss not water or lean body mass. This complete diet comes in a box includes all the nutrients that you need along with the booklet that tells you exactly what to eat. You follow the program, you lose the weight.

CONDITION OF THE WEEK: Here’s what some of our patients have said about how chiropractic and nutritional therapy has helped them: HI, my husband and I have been trying to start a family for seven years. After trying the doctors my medical doctor sent us to without success, we were told about chiropractic. Well, two months later I was pregnant. Linda@@ My name is Jim. I lifted something wrong at work and heard something pop and went to my knees In pain. I was told surgery was the only option I had, and I would be off work several months. Then the bad news I might not ever return to my same job. Someone told me to try chiropractic, best suggestion I ever got. I was back to work in three weeks and am doing great.@@It was a year ago that I had the car accident, and just a few weeks after that, the first seizure hit. For the next several months I was terrified when the next one would come. Every few weeks the doctor would increase my medication until he said any higher could be fatal. I was looking at a life of drugs that left me a zombie and I was still having seizures. When a friend told me about chiropractic, I didn't think it could help. What a mistake I almost made! Today I am free of seizures and feel fantastic, even my daily headaches are gone… Jill @@Used to have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome before I tried Chiropractic...Beth@@My child was hyperactive and doing poorly in school....not anymore! For the first time she is making A's....Karen@@I couldn't believe after twenty years my allergies were gone...Larry

FUNNY BONE: My husband was waterskiing when he fell into the river. As the boat circled to pick him up, he noticed a hunter sitting in a duck boat in the reeds. My husband put his hands in the air and joked, “Don’t shoot!” The hunter responded, “Don’t quack.”@@ Things people actually said in court: Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact? A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.// Q: This condition you have… does it affect your memory at all? A: Yes.Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory? A: I forget. Q: You forget? Can you give us an example of something that you’ve forgotten?// Q: How old is your son, the one living with you? A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can’t remember which. Q: How long has he lived with you? A: Forty-five years.// Q: Now doctor, isn’t it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn’t know about it until the next morning? A: Did you actually pass the bar exam? //Q: Were you present when your picture was taken? //Q: She had three children, right? A: Yes. Q: How many were boys? A: None. Q: Were there any girls? //Q: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney? A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work. //Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people? A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people. // Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body? A: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m. Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.// Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse? A: No. Q: Did you check for blood pressure? A: No. Q: Did you check for breathing?! A: No. Q: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy? A: No. Q: How can you be so sure, Doctor? A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar. Q: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless? A: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.

IN THE NEWS: Painkiller addiction: the plague that is sweeping the US Pain is the number one reason that people visit a doctor. What most people don’t realize is in most cases doctors are at complete loss on how to address the condition that’s causing the pain. If there’s nothing they can cut out or an infection they can treat with antibiotics then pain pills are there primary choice. This lack of proper training is devastating to our country. Simply writing a prescription and not dealing with the root cause is leading to close to 200,000 deaths per year for all types of drugs. The more pain pills handed out, the more cases of addiction; the more cases of addiction, the more illegal street trafficking of the drugs; the more illegal street trafficking, the more snorting and injecting of the crushed pills; the more snorting and injecting, the more overdoses; the more overdoses, the more deaths. The death toll exceeds that caused by heroin and cocaine combined, and in 17 states has become the No 1 cause of injury deaths, surpassing even car crashes. At around the same time, drug companies, led by Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of the leading opioid painkiller OxyContin, embarked on a massive marketing push. In 2001, Purdue Pharma spent $200m promoting OxyContin. Primary care physicians, in particular, were targeted, and their patients induced to try out the drug with 30-day free trial periods. Pharmaceutical companies are not looking out for your best interest. Don’t let pharmaceutical companies make you a drug addict seek solutions for your pain.

WELLNESS: FOODS FOR PAIN Ginger A staple of traditional medicine, this pungent root is probably best known for its anti-nausea, stomach-soothing properties. But ginger can also fight pain, including achy muscles from exercise as well as menstrual cramps. One study found ginger capsules worked as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen at relieving period pain. Blueberries These little juicy gems have lots of phytonutrients that may fight inflammation and lessen pain. If it's not berry season, frozen blueberries can have the same or even more nutrients than fresh. Other fruits with antioxidants and polyphenols, including strawberries and oranges, can have a similar soothing effect. Pumpkin Seeds Pepitas are a terrific source of magnesium, a mineral that may cut the number of migraines you get. It may also help prevent and treat osteoporosis. But despite what you may have heard, it doesn't seem to stop leg cramps at night. For more magnesium, add almonds and cashews, dark green leafy vegetables (like spinach and kale), beans, and lentils to your diet. Salmon Loaded with anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, salmon makes just about all of the "good for you" lists. It's considered heart-healthy and may relieve joint tenderness if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Other varieties of cold-water fish, including tuna, sardines, and mackerel, are good choices, too. Avoid tilapia and catfish, though: Their higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids may promote inflammation. Turmeric The compound in the spice that gives curry its bright orange-yellow color can affect several processes in your body, including inflammation. Studies of people with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis who took supplements of curcumin found they could walk better and without the side effects of taking drugs. Black pepper can help your body absorb it, so try a blend of the spices, steeped with ginger and honey into a tea. Tart Cherries In one study, runners who drank tart cherry juice starting 7 days before a race and on race day (12 ounces, twice daily) had significantly less muscle pain than a group who swigged a similar-tasting beverage with no natural juice. It could be from the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in the fruit. Chili Peppers Capsaicin, the stuff that gives chilies their heat, is well known for its painkilling properties in creams and patches. Some early research suggests that eating hot peppers, instead of putting them on your skin, may reduce and prevent inflammation, too. The "burn" also tricks your brain into releasing endorphins, which block pain signals. Mint Peppermint oil relieves the painful cramps, gas, and bloating that are the hallmarks of irritable bowel syndrome. Peppermint tea is a good soother for occasional tummy upset. In early research, Brazilian mint tea (made from the plant Hyptnis crenata) has been as effective as a prescription painkiller.

CONDITION OF THE WEEK: Chiropractic and pain There are different types of pain including chronic pain, nerve pain, psychogenic pain, musculoskeletal pain, abdominal pain, complex regional pain syndrome etc. so pain has to be addressed at the source and so it’s important to understand what’s causing the pain. Is it a chemical imbalance? Is it some type of electrical imbalance within the nervous system or is it due to some other condition that needs to be treated. Chiropractic has a history of resolving pain when other approaches fail and with today’s powerfully addictive pain pills it’s important to seek solution for your pain instead of just treating the symptoms. Pain pills can damage the liver (over 20,000 arthritic’s die every year from liver failure because of pain pills) and kidneys (3500 women a year die from kidney failure taking ibuprofen for their headaches), lungs, stomach and intestines as well as muscles. Chiropractic has multiple tools when it comes to pain. For neck and back pain as well as other joint pain realignment is very effective. Even with joints like elbows, knees, fingers or feet adjustments can be very effective. Next when we get into inflammation nutritional therapy becomes increasingly important. Even your body pH can set you up for pain when you are too acidic that leads to inflammation and pain. Homeopathy, acupuncture, electrotherapy, pulse magnetic therapy are just a few of the tools that we use at Keefe clinic. If you or a friend suffer from pain seek solutions, seek care by a chiropractic physician, you’ll be glad that you did.

FUNNY BONES: (Thinking joke) I bought my friend an elephant for his room. He said "Thanks" I said "Don't mention it"@@ Why did the old man fall in the well? Because he couldn't see that well.@@ Wife says to her programmer husband, "Go to the store and buy a loaf of bread. If they have eggs, buy a dozen." Husband returns with 12 loaves of bread.@@ I couldn't figure out why the baseball kept getting larger. Then it hit me.@@ Guy walks into a bar and orders a fruit punch. Bartender says "Pal, if you want a punch you'll have to stand in line" Guy looks around, but there is no punch line.@@ I've been told I'm condescending. (that means I talk down to people)@@ Before your criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you do criticize them, you're a mile away and have their shoes.

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DIET: Don’t believe the American Heart Assn. — butter, steak and coconut oil aren’t likely to kill you Last month, the American Heart Assn. once more went after hamburger, beef and especially coconut oil with this recognizable warning: The saturated fats in these foods cause cardiovascular disease. The company’s “presidential advisory” has been a brand new look in the science and arrived in reaction to a growing number of researchers, such as myself, that have pored over the exact information in the past several decades and beg to disagree. A review of the evidence indicates that in regards to mortality or heart attacks fats aren’t guilty. It had been in 1961 that the AHA found the world’s very first official recommendations to prevent saturated fats, together with dietary cholesterol, to be able to protect against a heart attack. This “diet-heart theory” was embraced by the majority of major specialists, though it hadn’t been examined in clinical trials — the only sort of science which may establish cause-and-effect. From the start, the rap on fats lacked a scientific basis. The diet-heart theory was examined more than any other in the history of nourishment, and so far, the results are null. The theory had some funds from preliminary information, plus it made intuitive sense — fat clogs your arteries such as warm grease down a chilly drain tube, right? — that sufficient for AHA officials sought to deal with the wave of cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, rigorous information was required, and so authorities across the world — such as our very own, during the National Institutes of Health — spent countless dollars attempting to demonstrate the theory was true. Somewhere between 10,000 and 53,000 folks have been analyzed on diets in which saturated fats have been replaced by unsaturated vegetable oils. As anticipated, the results didn’t turn out — people weren’t being killed by saturated fats. Note from Dr. Keefe: there hasn’t been one successful trial showing that fat causes heart disease and death in the last 50 years.

IN THE NEWS: Heart surgeon speaks out on what really causes heart disease Dr. Dwight Lundell We physicians with all our training, knowledge and authority often acquire a rather large ego that tends to make it difficult to admit we are wrong. So, here it is. I freely admit to being wrong. As a heart surgeon with 25 years experience, having performed over 5,000 open-heart surgeries, today is my day to right the wrong with medical and scientific fact. I trained for many years with other prominent physicians labelled “opinion makers.” Bombarded with scientific literature, continually attending education seminars, we opinion makers insisted heart disease resulted from the simple fact of elevated blood cholesterol. The only accepted therapy was prescribing medications to lower cholesterol and a diet that severely restricted fat intake. The latter of course we insisted would lower cholesterol and heart disease. Deviations from these recommendations were considered heresy and could quite possibly result in malpractice. It Is Not Working! Read his complete letter At keefeclinic.com at the following address: http://www.keefeclinic.com/wp/heart-problems-do-the-experts-know-what-they-are-doing/

CONDITION OF THE WEEK: Is It My Low Back Or My Hip? When patients present with low back pain, it is not uncommon for pain to arise from areas other than the low back, such as the hip. There are many tissues in the low back and hip region that are susceptible to injury with have overlapping pain pathways that often make it challenging to isolate the truly injured area. Hip pain can present in many different ways. When considering the anatomy of the low back (lumbar spine) and hip, and the nerves that innervate the hip come from the low back, it’s no wonder that differentiating between the two conditions is often difficult. To make diagnosis even more complex, the hip pain patient may present one day with what appears to be sciatic nerve pain (that is, pain shooting down the back of the leg to the knee if mild or to the foot if more severe) but the next visit, with only groin pain. When pain radiates down a leg, the almost automatic impression by both the patient and their healthcare provider is, “…it’s a pinched nerve.” But again, it could be the hip and NOT a pinched nerve that is creating the leg pain pattern. Knee & ankle reflexes and sensation are normal but muscle strength may be weak due to pain. Bending the low back into different positions does not reproduce pain if the pain is only coming from the hip. Though sometimes challenging, doctors of chiropractic are well-trained to be able to differentiate between hip and low back pain and will treat both areas when it is appropriate.

FUNNY BONE: From the BBC-by John Cleese ANNOUNCEMENT The English are feeling the pinch in relation to the recent terrorist threats and have therefore raised their security level from "miffed" to "peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "irritated" or even "a bit Cross." The English have not been "a bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. The terrorist have been recategorized from "tiresome" to "a bloodied nuisance." The last time the British issued a "bloodied nuisance" warning level was and 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada. The Scots have raised their threat level from "pissed off" to "let's get the bastards." They don't have any other levels this is the reason they been used on the front lines of the British Army for the past 300 years.

IN THE NEWS: Oxygen and hyperbaric oxygen therapy reverses brain damage in drowned toddler Medical researchers report the case of the reversal of brain volume loss in a 2-year-old drowning victim unresponsive to all stimuli treated with normobaric oxygen (oxygen at sea level) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The patient and family then traveled to New Orleans where 78 days post-drowning, Dr. Harch began treating her with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. She "dove" in a hyperbaric chamber for 45 minutes a day, five days a week for 40 sessions. At the beginning of each session, the patient showed visually apparent and/or physical examination-documented neurological improvement. After 10 HBOT sessions, the patient's mother reported that her daughter was "near normal" except for gross motor function, and physical therapy was re-instituted. After 39 HBOT sessions, the patient exhibited assisted gait, speech level greater than pre-drowning, near normal motor function, normal cognition, improvement on nearly all neurological exam abnormalities, discontinuance of all medications, as well as residual emotional, gait and temperament deficits. Gait improvement was documented immediately upon returning home. An MRI at 27 days following HBOT session 40 and 162 days post-drowning demonstrated mild residual injury and near-complete reversal of cortical and white matter atrophy.

WELLNESS: MUSIC THERAPY CLINIC at ORU The Music Therapy program at Oral Roberts University is built upon an integrated music therapy clinical program of Cognitive-Behavioral Music Therapy and Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT). The integrated program develops clinical knowledge and treatment based on analysis of individuals’ cognitive, speech & language, social/emotional (psychological), and physical behaviors, and prepares music therapy students to utilize scientific evidence regarding human perception and the production of music to treat disorders of the human nervous system. The Music Therapy program is dedicated to providing quality music therapy services to the local community through the operation of a professional Music Therapy Clinic. This clinic will allow students to gain professional experience evaluating and treating patients, while being supervised by three board-certified music therapists, Dr. Hayoung Lim, Dr. Hyun-Jung Lee, and Jacqueline Cox. In every music therapy treatment, music is used as a tool to reach nonmusical goals, whether physical, cognitive, emotional, social or spiritual. The techniques used during sessions are based on research and extended collegiate study. Among many possible goals addressed by music therapists might be: Increasing memory recall Improving motor coordination Increasing attention to task Improving steadiness of gait Improving speech and communication Increasing reality-based thinking Decreasing anxiety Decreasing pain Adjusting mood Developing bonds among family members Increasing coping skills

CHIROPRACTIC: Achy joints, migraines and stomach cramps? Ditch the painkillers and learn how to EAT your pain away 1. GET YOUR FIVE-A-DAY It is one health message that no-one can claim to be unaware of - eating five pieces of fresh fruit or vegetables each day is beneficial to a person's general health and wellbeing. However, a specific benefit of eating a rainbow of colours, is that it can also help to get rid of pain 2. THE 'F'-WORD Fats in our diet are metabolised in the body and turned into 'local hormones', known as prostaglandins. 'There is evidence that the omega-3 fatty acids reduce it. In contrast, omega-6 fatty acids are linked to increasing inflammation. 3. BUILDING BLOCKS Protein is essential for repair and healing in the body, but high levels of protein from meats may actually have the opposite effect. 4. SPICE IT UP! Include plenty of gentle spices in your meals.The spices turmeric, cayenne and ginger are known to have an anti-inflammatory action in the body. 5. HOLD ON TO YOUR WATER BOTTLE Water transports nutrients to where they are needed in the body and removes toxins, waste products and dead cells, which are produced in higher quantities when there is inflammation. REASONS TO DRINK FILTERED WATER More than half of the chemicals found in U.S. drinking water are unregulated, and many of the legal limits may be too lenient for safety. Firefighting foam used on military bases and other fire testing sites has contaminated many water tables across the U.S. with PFCs — chemicals linked to thyroid disease and cancer. Agricultural runoff, prescription drugs flushed down the sewer and aging water pipes is other significant sources of water pollution. Chlorine and fluorine are just some of the chemicals that can damage arteries and led to heart disease. Ask us about a filtration system. 6. SAY 'NO' TO... Sugary foods and refined, Coffee, Fizzy drinks, Saturated Fats.

FUNNY BONE: Judge: “Why did you steal the car?” Man: “I had to get to work.” Judge: “Why didn’t you take the bus?” Man: I don’t have a driver’s license for the bus.@@ I have a bumper sticker saying, "Honk if you think I'm sexy". Some days I just stand at a green light till I’m feeling good about myself.@@ Wife sends a text message to her husband on a really cold winter morning: Windows are totally frozen, will not open. Husband replies: “Carefully pour some warm water over it and tap the edges first with your hand, if that doesn’t work, then gently with a hammer.” 15 minutes later, the wife texts back: “Oh no, I think the laptop is now totally gone.”

IN THE NEWS: Codeine - Not for Kids, Says FDA By Editorial Staff When it comes to testing the effectiveness or safety of medications, kids are essentially left out in the cold. After all, how many parents want their child to be the test subject? The unfortunate result: We tend to find out whether children's medications work or are safe with real-world experience and by applying adult experiences to child guidelines for use. With the spotlight on pain medications, particularly the opioid class, the Food and Drug Administration recently strengthened its warning against children using prescription medications that contain codeine or tramadol – two opioid pain relievers. According to the FDA warning, which will be added to all relevant medication labels, children younger than age 12 should never be given any prescription med containing codeine for pain or cough, or tramadol for pain, and recommends against their use in children ages 12-18. The FDA release announcing the label changes made the health risk clear: "These medications carry serious risks, including slowed or difficult breathing and death, which appear to be a greater risk in children younger than 12 years, and should not be used in these children." Note that while codeine is also an ingredient in some over-the-counter cold / flu medications, the FDA did not restrict their use in children, but did recommend parents talk to a doctor before administering them to their children. Don’t make your kids drug addicts chiropractic offers both a safe and effective treatment for colds and flues as well as pain.

WELLNESS: Dirt has a microbiome, and it may double as an antidepressant or Gardening is great therapy. Your garden has its own microbiome, and research suggests it’s good for you. Our health depends on the flourishing microbiome in our guts—and on how much of the natural world’s microbiome we let infiltrate. Lately, thanks to modern life, we don’t let in a lot. But in a string of pioneering studies, scientists are beginning to look at what would happen if we literally inject microbes from the soil into our bodies, reintroducing us to the ancient relationship between bacteria and human. So far, the results have been uplifting—to both the scientists and the subjects they study. Christopher Lowry, a neuroscientist at the University of Bristol, injected M. vaccae into mice and subjected them to a series of stress tests. The ones inoculated with the bacteria showed far less stressed behavior than their untreated counterparts—in fact, they acted as if they were on antidepressants. In a 2007 paper published in the journal Neuroscience, Lowry and his team wrote that the bacteria activated groups of neurons in the mouse brains responsible for producing serotonin—a neurotransmitter that, when impaired, can cause depression. Even more intriguingly, the neurons that lit up were also known to be related to immune response, suggesting an intimate connection between the immune system and emotional health. The world of biomedical research has already fallen in love with the promising realm of the human gut microbiome. A body of emerging evidence tells us the millions of microbes in our digestive tract influence our immune systems, our smells, our mood, and possibly even our attractiveness to mosquitoes—and to other people. There’s now pretty good evidence to draw at least an outline of a conclusion: Breathing in, playing in, and digging in dirt may be good for your health. Our modern, sterilized life in sealed-off office buildings and homes are likely not. Researchers have already found clear evidence that childhood exposure to outdoor microbes is linked to a more robust immune system; for example, Bavarian farm children who spent time in family animal stables and drank farm milk had drastically lower rates of asthma and allergies throughout their lives than their neighbors who did not.

CONDITION OF THE WEEK: What Are Cervicogenic Headaches? Headaches are a very common problem that can have multiple causes ranging from stress to trauma. To make matters worse, there are MANY different types of headaches. One such type is the “cervicogenic headache” (others include migraines, cluster headaches, etc.). The main distinction between the symptoms associated with cervicogenic headaches and those associated with migraine headaches are a lack of nausea, vomiting, aura (a pre-headache warning that a headache is about to strike), light and noise sensitivity, increased tearing with red eyes, one-sided head, neck, shoulder, and/or arm pain, and dizziness. The items listed above are primarily found in migraine headache sufferers. The following is a list of clinical characteristics common in those struggling with cervicogenic headaches: Unilateral (one-sided) head or face pain (rarely is it on both sides).Pain is localized or stays in one spot, usually the back of the head, frontal, temporal (side) or orbital (eye) regions. Moderate to severe pain intensity. Intermittent attacks of pain that last hours to days. Pain is usually deep, non-throbbing, unless migraines occur at the same time. Head pain is triggered by neck movement, sustained awkward head postures, applying deep pressure to the base of the skull or upper neck region, and/or taking a deep breath, cough or sneeze can trigger head pain. Limited neck motion with stiffness. Infrequently, the cervicogenic headache sufferer can present with migraines at the same time and have both presentations making it more challenging to diagnose. The cause of cervicogenic headaches can be obvious such as trauma (sports injury, whiplash, slip and fall), or not so obvious, like poor posture. A forward head posture can increase the relative weight applied to the back of the neck and upper back as much as 2x-4x normal. Last month, we discussed the intimate relationship between the upper two cervical vertebra (C1 & C2) and an anatomical connection to the covering of the spinal cord (the dura) as giving rise to cervicogenic headaches. In summary, the upper three nerves innervate the head and any pressure on those upper nerves can result in a cervicogenic headache. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to examine, identify, and treat these types of potentially debilitating headaches.

FUNNY BONE: When my three-year-old was told to pee in a cup at the doctor’s office, he unexpectedly got nervous. With a shaking voice, he asked, “Do I have to drink it?”@@ A scientist tells a pharmacist, “Give me some prepared tablets of acetylsalicylic acid.” “Do you mean aspirin?” asks the pharmacist. The scientist slaps his forehead. “That’s it!” he says. “I can never remember the name.”@@ Two campers are hiking in the woods when one is bitten on the rear end by a rattlesnake. “I’ll go into town for a doctor,” the other says. He runs ten miles to a small town and finds the only doctor delivering a baby. “I can’t leave,” the doctor says. “But here’s what to do. Take a knife, cut a little X where the bite is, suck out the poison and spit it on the ground.” The guy runs back to his friend, who is in agony. “What did the doctor say?” the victim cries. “He says you’re gonna die.”

The last thing you might expect going to a doctor for a health problem is becoming a drug addict in the process. In the U.S., painkiller addiction is so rampant that 91 Americans die every day from an overdose of prescription opioids or heroin.

In 1986 the government sent a report to every doctor and healthcare facility in the US. That report was based on extensive research into back pain. Most people might not realize that low back pain is the number 1 health problem in the United States. It's responsible for more time off work, the high cost of rehabilitation on top of the extra high cost of surgery. Since surgery is only 20 to 30% effective and cost a lot of money the government decided to find the most effective treatment for back pain. After they evaluated all the research from around the world the number 1 active treatment they recommended was spinal adjustments. And so they sent this report to every healthcare facility in the United States in hopes of saving the country money.

Unfortunately this report was largely ignored. Surgeons kept doing ineffective surgery, and drug therapist kept giving more powerful painkillers. Today if you listen to news reports you realize we are having an opiate addiction problem like none other. Even though opiates can block pain they also cause a lot of drug addicts to this deadly drug. Since our healthcare system seems to focus more on gaining power over helping patients then you have to be your own protector. Just because a doctor writes your prescription doesn't mean that prescription is going to be both safe and effective for you.

Studies have shown over the past 50 years or so that there are over 2000 people who die every week from prescriptions they get from their doctor. These statistics only come from hospital bound patients we’re not for sure how many a week die who are not hospitalized. 2000 a week is like 3 jumbo jets crashing every week with no survivors for the past 50 years. There are over a million hospitalizations related to drug therapy per year. Now I would be the 1st to say that in certain conditions drugs are necessary to keep a person alive i.e. insulin for type 1diabetes. But the percent of the population who needs prescriptions to survive is a very low percent. Most people's conditions could be safely and effectively resolved through natural healthcare and chiropractic.

A seven-year study showed that patients whose primary physician was a chiropractor, experienced these results: 60% less hospital admissions, 59% less days in the hospital, 62% less outpatient surgeries, 85% less in pharmaceutical costs. Not only is natural healthcare/chiropractic substantially more effective in the countries’ number 1 health problem (low back pain) nutritional therapy and chiropractic can effectively resolve most nonemergency health challenges.

If you're having a heart attack you need to be in the hospital but after you’re released, if you want to fix the underlining problem that led to the heart attack, then drugs are not going to help you very much. Natural healthcare/chiropractic focuses on the underlying cause of disease. For instance type II diabetes is a growing problem in our society and drugs do not correct that, insulin might be essential in type I diabetes for those bodies who can't make insulin so you have to take it in order to stay alive. But conditions like type II diabetes are related to dietary faults and the subsequent over stressing of the bodies sugar management systems. Simple dietary changes along with targeted nutritional therapy can help the cells recognize insulin and self-regulate blood sugar levels.

I don't care if we are talking about allergies, blood pressure, autoimmune problems, and hormone problems in a high percent of cases you simply find the cause and correct the cause and health is the result. But we live in a pharmaceutical controlled society when it comes to healthcare. Multibillion dollar pharmaceutical companies have taken over healthcare and most clinics and hospitals. Unfortunately their bottom line is not your health but their bank account.

Just because you can take a drug and that drug may make acid reflux feel better doesn't mean that's the correct approach. Shutting down your digestive system at the level of the stomach will deftly remove acid that might burn your esophagus but it will also remove the initial digestive process to properly digest and absorb nutrients from what you eat. That's why studies of people who have taken antacids for long periods of time develop signs and symptoms of malnutrition. When you mess with the digestive system you mess with life. Acid reflux like headaches or back pain have a cause. Never is that because of a lack of pharmaceuticals.

Unfortunately in today's healthcare system symptom relief has become the dominant approach. That makes as much sense as clipping the wire to the warning light on your dashboard and thinking you've taken care of something, yes the warning light has gone off but the problem still there. This is one of the reasons why chronic disease has skyrocketed over the past 40 years. Who would guess it? If you don't fix the problem it just becomes much worse.

Natural healthcare/chiropractic offers a completely different approach to health care in that we don't play the symptom relief came. Our total focus is on finding the cause and then developing effective strategies to resolve the cause. When the cause is eliminated so are the symptoms.

You might think all doctors have this mindset but not if their primary treatment is pharmaceuticals. Except in very rare cases pharmaceuticals are never the appropriate treatment for most healthcare problems. If you have reoccurring headaches then either you have vertebra in your neck out of place or you have toxicity issues or possibly hormonal issues that need to be corrected. Painkillers don't fix any of those possible causes. Painkillers are the biggest killers in drug therapy. Several well-known painkillers have been taken off the market over the past 20 years because of the death rate. And opiates will not only kill you but they can cause a lifetime addiction and they don't fix at all the underlying cause for pain.

Buyer beware is a important slogan to protect yourself in the marketplace. Unfortunately in today's healthcare system you need to take responsibility for yours and your families choices in healthcare.

In this terminology, “acute” stands for pain lasting fewer than four weeks, “subacute” for pain lasting from four to 12 weeks, and “chronic” meaning pain lasting more than 12 weeks.

The researchers conclude their findings with three recommendations, based on their assessment of evidence-based outcomes for the patient population with respect to standard noninvasive approaches to treatment. Namely, they examined how patients responded to pharmacologic treatment and nonpharmacologic treatment; in other words, standard allopathic medicine and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

The ACP recognizes that low-back pain is one of the most common health complaints in the U.S., and cite statistics with which every doctor of chiropractic (DC) is intimately familiar. They estimate the total cost (in 2006), between active care and lost productivity, to have been approximately $100 billion—a number likely to be considerably higher today.

In looking at pharmacologic approaches to low-back pain treatment, acetaminophen was found to be on a par with placebo, offering little benefit but presenting known risks of liver damage. Other drugs, ranging from cox-2 inhibitors to NSAIDs to opioids, offered slightly greater benefits but with concomitantly pronounced risk.

On the other hand, when looking at nonpharmacologic approaches, including exercise, acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, heat therapy, low level laser therapy, and others (tai chi, yoga, ultrasound, etc.), measurable positive outcomes were found with virtually zero risks. The researchers concluded that, given the evidence at hand in the new study and in the older one, that treatment should always begin with nonpharmacologic approaches first, and only those patients who are nonresponsive to them should be considered for drug therapy or invasive medicine.

Specifically, the three recommendations of the study authors are:

Given that most patients with low-back pain of any type tend to improve over time regardless of treatment type, they should first turn to the most conservative forms of care (massage, spinal manipulation, etc.), and NSAIDs and muscle relaxants can be considered if necessary.
For patients with chronic low-back pain, the first option should be nonpharmacologic conservative care. Patients in this group respond more strongly to CAM approaches than those in the acute and subacute groups.
Patients with chronic low-back pain who fail to respond to nonpharmacologic approaches could consider pharmacologic treatment, starting with those products known to present the least risk, and after being educated by their provider about the known risks posed by such products.

These recommendations are in keeping with the Hippocratic Oath: First, do no harm. It is noteworthy to see an MD association admit that CAM approaches to medical care—and here specifically chiropractic is included—offer superior outcomes to standard allopathic medicine. These results were striking enough that they were summarized in the February 14, 2017, edition of the Wall Street Journal

NOTE: this is basically a rehash of a large government study done several years ago. The number one effective treatment for back pain is what chiropractic physicians do every day in their office, spinal adjustments.

DIET: Foods that trigger headaches For many headache and migraine sufferers, certain foods can act as triggers. Grapes are low in calories and rich in vitamin C and fiber, so they are a nutritional snack. But they also contain a substance called tyramine, a naturally occurring amino acid that forms from the breakdown of protein in food as it ages. Tyramine can cause your blood pressure to rise, which can trigger headaches in some people. If you experience this reaction, you may want to avoid other trigger foods, such as: • Smoked or cured meats• Aged cheeses• Citrus fruits• Sauerkraut• Soy sauce• Red wine • And certain beers. Research shows that tyramine in grapes can have a negative effect on certain antidepressants called MAOIs. Patients taking these medications should talk to their doctor about their diet. Keeping a food diary to see if you may be sensitive to tyramine-rich foods could also help. The bottom line: Learn what your triggers are – so that you can avoid them.

IN THE NEWS: Common Sense Medical Approaches are on the Rise Overall, 34 percent of US adults used a complementary health approach in 2012. Non-vitamin, non-mineral dietary supplements was the most common alternative approach used, with fish oil ranking top on this list. Other commonly used approaches include deep-breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi and qi gong, and chiropractic.

CONDITION OF THE WEEK: Heart disease is a condition that is best treated through natural methods. Studies show that most medical approaches don't extend life as much is reports would indicate. Balloons, stents and bypass surgery come with several complications. Chiropractic adjustments help balance the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system which is crucial to heart health. Targeted nutrients to the blood vessels that surround the heart can cause dramatic improvement in short periods of time. Following your body type diet with emphasis on anti-inflammatory foods and balancing the body's pH can take a surgical heart condition and turn it into a healthy heart in the matter of weeks.

FUNNY BONE: A man walked into the office of the eminent psychiatrist Dr. Heidberg, and sat down to explain his problem. "Doctor, doctor! I've got this problem," the man said. "I keep hallucinating that I'm a dog. It's crazy. I don't know what to do!" "A common canine complex," said the doctor soothingly. "Relax. Come here and lie down on the couch." "Oh no, Doctor," the man said nervously, "I'm not allowed up on the furniture." @@ Q: Why do rednecks' dogs have flat noses? A: From chasing parked cars...@@ My three-year-old daughter stuck out her hand and said, “Look at the fly I killed, Mommy.” Since she was eating a juicy pickle at the time, I thrust her contaminated hands under the faucet and washed them with antibacterial soap. After sitting her down to finish her pickle, I asked, with a touch of awe, “How did you kill that fly all by yourself?” Between bites, she said, “I hit it with my pickle.”

The Study : Sacroiliac joint edema by MRI: Far more often mechanical than inflammatory

Reference: Berthelot JM, le Goff B, Maugars Y, Laredo JD. Sacroiliac joint edema by MRI: Far more often mechanical than inflammatory? Joint Bone Spine 2016 Jan;83(1):3-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2015.08.013. Epub 2015 Oct 19

This study indicated that when you have low pain in the sacroiliac joint area or swelling it is usually do to misalignments. Sometimes just an independent inflammatory condition can be related to symptoms in this area but it is 20 to 100 times more likely to be due to a misalignment.

The authors cite one study which indicated that the SIJ rotates 7 to 8 degrees on average in the sagittal plane and up to a maximum of 17 degrees.

They also indicate that movement of the posterior superior spine of the illium relative to the sacrum ranges from 4 to 8mm.

These conditions can be quite painful in some cases and can involve the sciatic nerve that runs down the back of your leg to your toes. Government studies have shown that chiropractic care is the best treatment on the planet for all types of low back condition.

Make today the 1st day to a pain free life, call 918-663-1111 and set up an appointment to get to the root of your pain.

IN THE NEWS: What is alkaline water and can it really help with heartburn? You may have noticed the buzz about alkaline water recently: It’s a staple of the alkaline diet, and promoted by celebs like Miranda Kerr for its supposed health perks. Among those perks is the belief that alkaline H2O—which, by definition, has a higher pH (and lower acidity) than what comes out of the tap—can help neutralize stomach acid and relieve symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, aka heartburn. NOTE: though this article was interesting and it does show benefits for heartburn that’s not the primary purpose of alkaline water. Alkaline water is one tool along with other foods and drinks to change your pH to more normal setting. Both urine and saliva should be 6.4. When your urine pH gets down to 5.5 or below this puts your body under stress. One of the things that happens is you start leeching alkaline minerals from your bone and teeth. So alkaline water can be an important tool if you system is hyper acidic which usually means it’s inflamed.

WELLNESS: Largest Cancer Study Ever Stuns Experts - They Were Wrong. Cancer is not a nuclear genetic disease, but occurs as a result of previous mitochondrial damage, which then triggers nuclear genetic mutations that may lead to cancer. Mitochondrial function can be significantly improved through diet. Eating higher amounts of healthy fats and lower amounts of net carbs, along with moderate amounts of high-quality protein, is key. Normal, healthy cells have the metabolic flexibility to adapt from using glucose to using ketone bodies. Cancer cells lack this ability, so when you reduce net carbs (total carbs minus fiber), you effectively starve the cancer.

CHIROPRACTIC: Disc problems: chiropractic versus steroid injections. The recent study comparing the effectiveness of chiropractic to a common practice of steroid injections from medical professionals have found chiropractic adjustments superior. Not only do the adjustments produce better outcome but there is significantly less side effects. What the study doesn’t cover is the difference between correcting the problem and suppressing the problem with drugs. When you have a disc problem you have an alignment problem in virtually all cases. Drugs cannot realign the spine. Even if the drug gave you symptomatic improvement the underlying issue is still present and disc damage is still progressing. When you correct the problem with adjustments, as you realign the vertebra you re-stabilize the disc which allows for normal healing. The difference in both approaches would not be fully realized until at least 5 to 10 years. At that point the continued deterioration would become obvious again under the drug therapy whereas the chiropractic approach, by fixing the problem, offers a better long-term outcome.

FUNNY BONE: A first-grade teacher can’t believe her student isn’t hepped up about the Super Bowl. “It’s a huge event. Why aren’t you excited?” Because I’m not a football fan. My parents love basketball, so I do too,” says the student. “Well, that’s a lousy reason,” says the teacher. “What if your parents were morons? What would you be then?” “Then I’d be a football fan.”

Walking away from pain and developing strategies for wellness

Pain is the number 1 reason that people visit doctors of any type. Addressing the pain properly will have an impact on your level of wellness. Most people want to feel good, have plenty of energy, sleep like a baby and maintain good focus and mental function. Depending on how you deal with your pain will have an impact on all of these. Drugs will interfere with every one of these wellness goals. If you have pain then fix the reason for the pain. Suppressing PAIN with drugs leads to the overall toxic burden on the body and allows you to use a part that the body is trying to rest and protect. Correcting the cause of pain will allow full function to return to that part of the body without further damage.

When it comes to joint pain alignment is one of the key components of restoring normal function. Chiropractic physicians work on virtually every joint in the body restoring mobility and flexibility. Blood and nerve flow travels through joints in the body and thus can be interfered with due to misalignments. Inflammation is a result of chronic joint misalignmentsand can contribute to slow repair time.

EPA and DHA have two protective roles: First they lessen the synthesis and enhance clearance of cholesterol and triglycerides as well as inhibiting the uptake of another essential fatty acid which is substrate for the pro-aggregatory, pro-inflammatory and vasoconstrictive prostaglandin-2 series.

INFLAMASE The single most potent anti-inflammatory substance is A-Chymotrypsin. Although many supplements have Chymotrypsin-Trypsin combinations, only Inflamase contains pure A-Chymotrypsin. The addition of Bromelain, SOD, Catalase, and the enzymes listed above, make Inflamase the most complete broad spectrum anti-inflammatory currently available. During the inflammatory process, fibrinogen becomes polymerized into fibrin and impairs circulation within the affected tissue. The enzymes in Inflamase will circulate freely until they are impaired by this fibrin blockage. At this point theyadhere to fibrin, depolymerize the occlusion and restore drainage to the inflamed tissue.

Along with chiropractic treatments these 2 nutritional products can help get to the source of the pain and promote the healing of the tissues. Seek solutions for your health problems don’t just cover up the symptoms.

If you have not set up your account at natural partners then go to npscript.com/Keefeclinic and set up an account (if a code is asked for use 6631111). There is no charge to set up this account and they do not sell email addresses. Once the account is set up you can order any of their over 9000 products in the comfort of your own home and have them shipped to your door. Note: for period of timeyou can get free shipping, order today! For help ordering call 888-950-2767

IN THE NEWS: WHEN MEDICAL PRACTICES KILL There’s an interesting contradiction within healthcare. In a crisis situation drugs and surgery can save lives but yet in the run-of-the-mill health problems the same tools can become dangerous. The overuse of antibiotics is a good example. When antibiotics were first discovered they actually saved lives. Unfortunately because of their overuse they are responsible for increasing death rate from antibiotic resistant bacteria. For those of you who grew up enjoying the Muppets will remember in 1990, it caused the death of Muppets creator, Jim Henson. Today, 23,000 Americans die each year from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Across the world, the estimated annual mortality rate is 700,000. If these trends continue, by 2050, 10 million people globally will die each year, as the potent diseases of previous centuries return to their old force, according to the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. The sad thing is that the vast majority of individuals with infections could control them with natural methods. We have many natural immune system products that cannot only help you overcome infections naturally but will make your immune system stronger to prevent future infections.

WELLNESS: TOP TEN NATURAL ANTIBIOTICS even though there are many more herbs and nutrients that can act like a natural antibiotic the following are the ones that are most listed on the Internet: Garlic. Raw garlic when crushed or chewed contains a compound called allicin – which has similar properties to penicillin. ... Honey. ... Cabbage. ... Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) ... Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) ... Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. ... Echinacea. ... Fermented Foods.

CONDITION OF THE WEEK: A PAIN IN THE NECK maybe you know someone who’s been called that. But having that is no laughing matter. Misalignments in the neck are responsible for sleep disorders, headaches, dizziness, feelings of stress, sinus problems, vision issues, throat conditions, shoulder problems, elbow and wrist issues and numbness and tingling into the fingers. Neck misalignments can commonly disintegrate into arthritic conditions that can be debilitating. The safest treatment on the planet is specific chiropractic adjustments to realign the spine and take pressure off the nerves and blood vessels within the neck. If you or someone you know suffers from neck pain have them call 918-663-1111 and get the problem corrected. Chiropractic works!

FUNNY BONE: If we shouldn't eat at night, why is there a light in the fridge?@@ Work is just something I'm doing until I win the lottery.@@ I wish my wallet came with free refills.@@ I'm great at multitasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at once.@@ Regular naps prevent old age, especially if you take them while driving.@@ Nothing ruins a Friday more than an understanding that today is Tuesday.@@ I need to start paying closer attention to stuff. Found out today my wife and I have separate names for the cat.@@ Some of us learn from the mistakes of others; the rest of us have to be the others.

IN THE NEWS: Dutch government to ban e-cigarettes for people under 18 THE HAGUE – Electronic cigarettes are to be banned in the Netherlands for people aged less than 18, the Dutch health ministry said in a statement on Friday. E-cigarettes, which electrically vaporize a nicotine-infused solution, are touted by their proponents as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes, but authorities worldwide have warned that the science concerning their health effects is not yet clear. Note: don’t be seduced by the next “new” thing. This product is dangerous to your health. Today news reported a fire started in a bedroom from e-cigarette charger.

WELLNESS: Onion Power! Onions are an excellent source of heart-healthy, cancer-fighting quercetin. Onions contain more disease-fighting polyphenols than even garlic or leeks. The sulfur compounds in onions are thought to have anti-clotting properties as well as help to lower triglycerides. Flavonoid-rich foods like onions may also inhibit the growth of H. pylori, a type of bacteria responsible for most ulcers.

CHIROPRACTIC: 10 RESEARCHED BENEFITS OF CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS One of the best things about chiropractic care is it’s a drug-free and surgery-free path to healing naturally. People have reported chiropractic benefits help to improve: Back pain, Headaches, Ear infections, Neck pain, Arthritis and joint pain, Scoliosis, Asthma, Blood pressure, Healthy pregnancy, Organ function, Surgery prevention. Chiropractic is the largest natural healthcare system in the world offering alternatives to families who want to maintain excellent health naturally. Working with the natural laws of health chiropractic helps restore vitality and function when other systems fail. Releasing the body’s own natural ability to stay well. Who do you know who would benefit from chiropractic care?

FUNNY BONE: Teacher: How old is your father? Kid: He is six years Teacher: What? How is that possible? Kid: He became my father only when I was born.@@@Teacher: Maria, go to the map and find North America. Maria: here it is. Teacher: Now class, who discovered America? Class: Maria@@@ Teacher: Clyde, your composition on “my dog” is exactly the same as your brothers. Did you copy his? Clyde: No sir; it’s the same dog.

Most people realize that heart disease is not due to a drug deficiency or lack of preventive surgeries. Heart disease is both a lifestyle and diet problem. The most current research points to inflammation, not cholesterol, as the cause for most heart disease. But based on current medical procedures this information is totally ignored. Probably the biggest reason that this information is ignored is that pharmaceutical companies drive most medical research and thus medical procedures. Pharmaceutical companies are multibillion-dollar enterprises that primarily fund and direct medical practice. Pharmaceutical companies are looking after their bottom line not necessarily your health.

The cholesterol theory of heart disease has failed to be established by major research. In fact it has been said that every cholesterol study for the past 50 years has failed. The Framingham study is the longest-running study on heart disease and diet. It has found that over the age of 45 people who have a higher cholesterol level outlive the people who have a lower cholesterol level. You might want to read that statement one more time. Cholesterol is a bystander in the coronary heart disease epidemic. Inflammation and other factors damage the lining of the blood vessel. White blood cells sensing the damage enter in to the damaged area and pull in cholesterol, calcium and laydown fibrin in an attempt to heal the damage. Because the factors that are driving the inflammation continue the corresponding plaque builds up over time.

Within the inflammation soup you have chlorine, fluoride, methane gas from the intestines and acidic byproducts from an improper diet that make up the insult to the blood vessels. Also hormones like insulin are pro-inflammatory and thus too much junk food and refined carbohydrates play a role in the inflammation process.

Medical approaches have been shown through research to be very ineffective at addressing coronary heart disease. Yes they can reduce cholesterol numbers with drugs but as the Framingham study indicates that just increases the patient’s risk of death. Let’s just cover some of the common medical procedures. First we’ll talk about balloons and stents: in 2003 the Mayo Clinic found that these procedures did not reduce complaints, did not prevent heart attacks, did not prolong life, did not reduce the frequency of heart attacks or deaths and the flattening of plaque in the vessel walls not only regularly lead to bleeding into the vessel walls but small lumps became detached and floated into the bloodstream causing acute heart attack. The bottom line is stents increased death rates.

Worldwide study involve 900 patients at 62 centers. All patients in the study were treated within 12 hours of the heart attack. A higher death rate (2.4% stent and angioplasty versus 2.7% angioplasty) they also unexpectedly experienced decreased blood flow from stent placements. Dr. Grines says "the higher mortality rate and decrease in blood flow makes it necessary for additional research to be conducted before routine stenting can be recommended as a standard of care."

Although catheterization and stents have been claimed to be life-saving measures, they do not prevent heart attacks or save lives. This intervention is accompanied by a great placebo effect. Conclusions.... We could not demonstrate a long-term benefit of an early invasive strategy in reducing death or MI (invasive versus conservative treatment in unstable coronary syndromes ICTUS (invasive versus conservative treatment of unstable coronary syndromes)

The average death rate for bypass surgery is greater than the average death rate of heart patients treated without surgery. Heart disease progresses faster in those who have had invasive surgery and in those treated non-surgically. Heart surgery kills thousands of patients per year and debilitate thousands more.

Aileen Clark, professor of public health and research director at Warwick medical school, said, "It is clear that there is an incredible fine balance between the possible benefits and risk of intervention. We need to be extremely careful about over promoting aspirin intervention without having 1st fully understood these negative side effects."

(NSAIDs) caused a greater than 10 fold increase in the risk and congestive heart failure (CHF) archives of internal medicine June 2000; 160:777-784

The study followed more than 80,000 women between the age of 31 and 50 years who are initially hypertensive-free. 2 years later: women who use in NSAIDs 22 days or more per month, the risk of high blood pressure increased some 86%.

Sudden death after radiofrequency ablation of the atrioventricular node in patients with atrial fibrillation Journal of American College of cardiology. 2002; 40 (1): 105-110. DOI: 10.1 thousand 16/S0735-1097 (02) 01927-7

Results of 334 consecutive patients with AF who underwent AV node ablation, 9 had sudden heart attacks after the ablation. Conclusions sudden-death likely to possibly related to catheter ablation occurred in 7 of 334 patients (2.1%). Risk of sudden death is highest within 2 days after the procedure.

Chiropractic adjustments help balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Multiple studies show people with ischemic heart disease have a decreased parasympathetic activity by over 30%. Over 80% of ischemic events are preceded by a dramatic reduction of parasympathetic activity.

The important thing about diet is that there are different body types that require different eating programs. Studies show the global use of the Heart Association diet has failed in every country that it has been tested in. So the first thing we need to do is determine your body type and get you eating the correct ratio of fats, carbohydrates and protein for your genetic makeup. Next we need to make sure were maximizing the reduction of inflammation. Besides eating the right diet there are key foods like salmon and tuna, certain vegetables and fruits that are high in antioxidants like pomegranate and blueberries. Eating properly reduces the inflammation that leads to heart disease. Along with diet targeted nutrition to support the heart and healthy blood vessels is crucial to recovery.

PH is important when it comes to inflammation and most people who have inflammatory issues are usually very acidic. Again diet can control pH and drinking alkaline water can be beneficial. As we talk about water we need to talk about a whole host of chemicals in the water that can damage your cardiovascular system. The chlorine/chloramine, fluoride can damage the arteries. Studies have shown trace amounts of pharmaceutical drugs in city water supplies that need to be filtered out. Drink clean water, dehydration can lead to inflammation. The formula for water intake is that your cleansing dose is half your body weight in ounces and your minimum dose is 80% of that. I hundred pound person should drink between 40 and 50 ounces of fluids every day.

30 minutes of exercise 3+ times a week can improve heart function and reduce stress hormones that can lead to ischemic reactions to the heart and increase blood pressure. Intense exercise can be a problem if you don’t eat a large amount of antioxidants because intense aerobic exercises can increase the oxygen level of your blood to a point of inflammation because oxygen is acidic. So too much intense exercise can actually have a negative effect on your heart health depending on your antioxidant intake.

Meditation and/or prayer have been shown to extend life and improve health recovery when practiced on a regular basis. Music, nature walks, family time are just a few of the things that can help the stress the nervous system and thus the body.

Heavy metals, certain chemicals in our environment as well as waste products from normal metabolism can a burden to the body and contribute to heart disease. Fasting, detox diets and supplements targeted at the detox pathways can be important for health recovery.

Most people who have symptoms of heart disease and follow the above program would notice improvement of symptoms within a few days to a couple of weeks and be totally symptom-free and out of trouble within a months’ time. This represents a rational approach to eliminating heart disease over the long-term.

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Walking away from pain and developing strategies for wellness