Week of: Monday March 11, 2019

Courtesy of:

John H. Keefe III, D.C.

(918) 663-1111

IN THE NEWS: PUBLIC MISLED: Sealed testimony reveals makers of OxyContin concealed strength of drug from doctors and consumers Use of the term “epidemic” to describe the current state of opioid drugs (like, OxyContin) in this country is not fear-mongering – it’s tragically accurate. According to estimates from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 130 people die of an opioid overdose every day in America.  And, for the first time in recorded history, Americans are now more likely to die in an opioid overdose than a car crash! This grim picture doesn’t only involve illicit street drugs.  Between 1999 and 2017, nearly 218,000 people died of an overdose of prescription opioids, including oxycodone, better known by its brand name OxyContin. These drugs – which doctors prescribed by the millions over the past three decades – come with a high risk of dependency and abuse. It’s a troubling realization … made much worse in light of newly released information showing that the powerful people behind these drugs lied about how dangerous and addictive opioids truly are. What kind of marketing are we talking about? Improper at best – unlawful at worst. Court filings submitted ahead of the Kentucky Supreme Court (and more recently in a suit filed by the Massachusetts attorney general) allege the following: Back in the 1990s when the drug first came out, the Purdue Pharma marketing team purposefully deceived doctors about their new drug, allowing physicians to believe that OxyContin was not as strong as morphine (in reality, it’s STRONGER). Why the sleight of hand? Simple: it boosted sales. The company directed its most aggressive marketing to doctors identified as frequent opioid prescribers – many of whom who ended up losing their licenses over their egregious, kick-back fueled over-prescribing. Sales representatives were allegedly trained to say that the drugs they were pushing couldn’t be abused and had a low risk of addiction (a claim with absolutely no scientific evidence to support it). NOTE: How can you trust your doctor’s advice when who he trusts for advice lies? There are simply no safe drugs so seek solutions for your health problems not just cover up. Natural healthcare and chiropractic can help with most issues of pain.

WELLNESS: Discover the silent killer that is putting you at greater risk for heart attack and stroke-Heart disease, the top cause of death in the United States, claims about 610,000 lives (every year) – while a stroke can kill an additional 140,000.  Solid research shows that a common (but insidious) condition can increase the risk of both a heart attack and stroke – often without any clear symptoms. The fact is: nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly recognized by researchers as a “silent” threat to cardiovascular health. NAFLD, which currently affects close to 30 million Americans, is the most common liver disorder in the United States.  While many cases of NAFLD are mild, the danger is that untreated NAFLD can progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, (or NASH) – a much more serious condition with potentially life-threatening consequences. Symptoms of fatty liver disease can include fatigue, dark-colored urine, weight loss, excessive sweating, pale-colored or black (and dark red)-looking stools, lack of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes) and abdominal pain – especially in the upper right side of the stomach. Up to 20 percent of people with fatty liver will progress to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis – an inflammatory response to the excess fat in the liver. If untreated, NASH can lead to liver cancer, liver cirrhosis (scarring), liver failure – and even death. The good news: unlike other body organs, the liver has the ability to regenerate and repair itself. With simple – but wide-ranging – lifestyle changes, NAFLD can be prevented, treated and even reversed. Begin by eliminating or sharply reducing your consumption of alcohol, refined sugar, fatty foods, processed foods and junk food. Following an organic (non-GMO!) diet can help reduce the toxin burden on a fatty liver. Dr. Hyman also advises consuming healthy amounts of high-quality protein in the form of chicken, eggs, nuts, seeds and fish. Cruciferous vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage and broccoli sprouts can help to promote the production of glutathione (the body’s most important disease-fighting antioxidant, and a mainstay of liver health). Routine, consistent exercise can improve metabolism of fats and improve liver health.  Generally speaking, it’s advised to get between 75 and 150 minutes a week of aerobic exercise – such as brisk walking, jogging and swimming – interspersed with weight training.

CHIROPRACTIC:  Spinal cord “smarter” than previously thought- We often think of our brains as being at the center of complex motor function and control, but how “smart” is your spinal cord? It is well known that the circuits in this part of our nervous system, which travel down the length of our spine, control seemingly simple things like the pain reflex in humans, and some motor control functions in animals. Now, new research from Western University has shown that the spinal cord is also able to process and control more complex functions, like the positioning of your hand in external space. This kind of hand control requires sensory inputs from multiple joints — mainly the elbow and the wrist — and these inputs were previously thought to be processed and converted into motor commands by the brain’s cerebral cortex. This finding adds immensely to our understanding of neuroscience and neurocircuitry, and provides new information and targets for rehabilitation science. “A fundamental understanding of the neurocircuits is critical for making any kind of progress on rehabilitation front,” said Pruszynski who is also a scientist at Western’s Robarts Research Institute and the Brain and Mind Institute. “Here we can see how this knowledge could lead to different kinds of training regimens that focus on the spinal circuitry.” NOTE: a spinal adjustment not only improves these basic functions but allows your central nervous system better control over how your body functions.

 FUNNY BONE:   REAL NEWS:US police received a surprise when they were called to check on the welfare of a cardboard cutout figure. Officers in the snowy northern state of Minnesota were told an adult male had been seen standing "motionless outside" while "wearing no coat in the cold and hugging a pillow". The figure turned out to be a life-size cardboard cutout of local millionaire and inventor Mike Lindell, the CEO of the popular MyPillow brand.@@ Amanda Teague, 45-years-old and unbothered by the 255-year age difference, married the ghost of Jack Teague, a Haitian pirate who allegedly sailed the seven seas in the early 1700s. Ironically, Mrs. Teague works as a Captain Jack Sparrow impersonator in Ireland. The pair first met – if you can call it meeting – in 2015, when Teague was lying in bed at her home in Drogheda, Ireland. She said she felt a ghostly presence in her room and continued to do so almost every night after. Six months after first feeling the ghost’s presence, Teague said she developed feelings for him. Together, they made plans to wed.@@ I am an ER doc. I once had a 20 year old and his girlfriend come in at 2 am freaking out becuase "something had tore his throat open". He seemed fine. No blood. Breathing fine. I had him open his mouth, saw nothing. Finally I say look, it seems ok...what do you feel or see? "I dont feel it but LOOK ITS RIGHT THERE". WHERE??? Looking, looking. It was his uvula. Somehow this kid had gotten to the age of 20 without ever noticing his uvula. Girlfriend was also horrified....I told them it was normal. Did not believe me. So I told them I was about to blow their minds and showed him his girlfriends uvula. Minds blown, another life saved in the ER.