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John H. Keefe III, D.C.
(918) 663-1111
IN THE NEWS: THE 'DEVASTATING' PLAGUE OF THE PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLER: US DRUG OVERDOSES HIT RECORD HIGH - WITH 61% OF DEATHS LINKED TO OPIOIDS Drug overdose deaths in the US hit record highs in 2014 because of widespread prescription painkiller abuse, according to a government report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said overdose deaths increased by 6.5 per cent in 2014 – taking 47,055 lives in the US. That figure is the highest reported in the country since at least 1970, CDC records revealed. Specifically, rates went up in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Of that group, West Virginia had the highest overdose rate of 35.5 per 100,000, whereas the national rate was approximately 15 per 100,000. New Mexico, New Hampshire, Kentucky and Ohio rounded out the rest of the top five states for overdose deaths. The need for chiropractic care is greater than ever. Covering your symptoms with dangerous drugs is not only a mistake because of the above statistics but because it doesn’t fix the problem. Chiropractic first-drug second-surgery last
WELLNESS: THIS ANCIENT SPICE COULD BE A FOOD-SAFETY GAME CHANGER Turmeric, a spice best known for its use in Indian cuisine, may someday help prevent E. coli outbreaks, but in a highly unusual way. Researchers at Southern Illinois University have made progress on incorporating turmeric into food processing and preparation surfaces—think cutting boards, knives, and countertops—according to a university news release. Curcumin, a primary component of turmeric, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Using nanotechnology, the researchers developed a way to bind curcumin to metal and glass; essentially they used tiny bubbles (nanovesicles) to enclose a curcumin compound. The coated surfaces kill microbes.
CONDITION OF THE WEEK: COLD HANDS COLD FEET In the winter time people notice an issue with cold hands and cold feet more often in any other time of the year. Even though there are several causes for this condition like heart disease, thyroid disease etc. if it only happens during the winter time it could be a sign of a niacin deficiency. Time release niacin is an excellent way to improve circulation during the winter months. Niacin is vitamin B3 and if taken on into stomach can cause a flushing reaction as if you’re blushing. With the latest time-released mechanisms this reaction is usually nonexistent. If you are one who tosses and turns at night and wakes up with the desire to get under a hot shower to relax your muscles this is another sign of a niacin deficiency. Asked to be checked for niacin on your next visit.
FUNNY BONE: 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.”@@ After a checkup, a doctor asked his patient, “Is there anything you’d like to discuss?” “Well,” said the patient, “I was thinking about getting a vasectomy.” “That’s a big decision. Have you talked it over with your family?” “Yes, we took a vote … and they’re in favor of it 15 to 2.”
Visit our web site: keefeclinic.com&facebook.com/keefeclinic
Courtesy of:
John H. Keefe III, D.C.
(918) 663-1111
IN THE NEWS: Concussion rates highest for kids in rugby, hockey and football Concussion rates vary widely across youth sports, with the greatest injury risk in higher-contact games like rugby, hockey and football, a new research review finds. Overall, young athletes experienced an average of no more than one concussion for roughly every 5,000 minutes of participation time, according to the analysis of previous research on injuries in popular youth sports. That amounts to around one injury for every 67 hours of practice and competition. The concussion rate was about 18 times higher than average for rugby, five times greater for hockey, and roughly double for American football, the study found. A chiropractor can evaluate whether you demonstrate signs of neck injuries commonly associated with concussions, and provide you with relief of neck pain and cervicogenic headaches. According to the literature reviews, one of the most important recommendations that a chiropractor will tell you what to do for concussion is this: If your child is in sports and suffers a blow to the head, and/or experiences signs of a concussion, do not let him continue playing the sport.
WELLNESS: Shingles linked to increased risk of heart attack, stroke A bout of shingles may increase your risk for other serious health conditions — namely, a stroke or a heart attack — a new study finds. People in the study who had shingles, a disease caused by the herpes zoster virus, faced a 2.4-fold increased risk of stroke, and a 1.7-fold increased risk of heart attack during the first week following their shingles diagnosis, according to the findings published Dec. 15 in the journal PLOS Medicine. Shingles are best handled by nutritional therapy. The immune system imbalances can compromise a lot of other systems in your body. Proper chiropractic care along with nutrition can only help with the current situation but can have a domino effect at preventing other issues from developing that might be related.
CONDITION OF THE WEEK: VISION PROBLEMS as we age most of us start to experience problems with our vision. Nutrition can help with a lot of these issues. In the last 20 years vision specialists have been recommending nutritional therapy for different eye conditions because of research. Unfortunately there’s no way to determine what each individual might need for his specific case. Things that research show help in general might not help in a specific case. That’s one reason why we use Vega testing to individualize a nutritional program for our patients. We recently obtained a new test set to help us with patients having eye or vision problems. From glaucoma to cataracts find out what nutrition your eyes need for best health. Call for Vega test today.
FUNNY BONE: Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.@@ Happiness is like a butterfly, which when pursued is just beyond your grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly may alight upon you.@@ When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will know peace.@@ According to my calculations the problem doesn't exist.@@ Why do they leave out the letter b on "Garage Sale" signs?@@ Why do we bake cookies and cook bacon?@@ Why do they have ear piercing while you wait? Is there some shop where you can drop them off and pick them up later?
Visit our web site: keefeclinic.com-facebook/keefeclinic.com
Courtesy of:
John H. Keefe III, D.C.
(918) 663-1111
DIET: Sugar-free drinks may damage teeth, study says Sugar-free drinks may be as damaging to your teeth as those that contain the sweet stuff. New research from the Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre at the University of Melbourne, Australia, found soft drinks and sports drinks without sugar can cause measurable damage to tooth enamel. Researchers found that sugar-free drinks that contain acidic additives and those with low pH levels led to softening of dental enamel by between one-third and one-half of normal. The team tested 23 different types of sugar-free drinks, according to Medical News Today.
IN THE NEWS: Muscle relaxants, opioids offer no benefit for low back pain In a new study, people who arrive at the emergency room with severe low back pain didn't experience more relief with muscle relaxants or opioids than with over-the-counter painkillers. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone offered as much relief as more powerful painkillers. The New England Journal of Medicine estimated that at least 103,000 patients are hospitalized per year in the United States for serious gastrointestinal complications due to NSAID use. This study estimated that 16,500 NSAID-related deaths occur among patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis every year in the United States. Drugs can be dangerous as well is an ineffective as a study indicated. The largest government studies for low back pain show the number one active treatment is spinal adjustments. Seek safe solutions for your health problems. Chiropractic first, drugs second and surgery last.
CONDITION OF THE WEEK: Wintertime colds and flu’s: Study after Study Shows the Flu Shot is a Scam A study published in the October 2008 issue of the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine found that “significant influenza vaccine effectiveness could not be demonstrated for any season, age, or setting” examined. A 2008 study published in the Lancet found that influenza vaccination was NOT associated with a reduced risk of pneumonia in older people. How to protect yourself from colds and flu’s during the winter time. Besides proper eating and regular chiropractic care maintaining the health of the mucous membranes through proper humidity is essential. Without a humidity gauge you are in the dark what you humidity level is even if you use a cool mist humidifier. Humidity should run between 40 and 60% in order to maintain healthy mucous membranes in the sinuses, bronchial tubes and lungs. 50% would be considered ideal. An ultrasonic humidifier will put the most water in the air. Don’t take a chance with ineffective and potentially dangerous shots. Do something positive for your health.
FUNNY BONE: Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.@@ I intend to live forever ... So far, so good.@@ If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?@@ What happens if you get scared half to death twice?@@ My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
LINK:acid-reflux-stomach-problems-and-chiropractic
LINK:breaking-the-code-of-disease
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By: Mark Studin DC, FASBE(C), DAAPM, DAAMLP
When we consider mechanical spine issues, we need to consider problems exclusive of fracture, tumor or infection. According to Houweling Et. Al. (2015) back pain effects 43% of the population over the course of a year. In addition, 33% of that group reported that their symptoms led to reduced productivity at work. In Switzerland, this accounted for 3% of their gross domestic products and equates to $14 Billion in US dollars. Chiropractic’s forte` and focus historically has been mechanical spine issues and when considering who the first provider that should be consulted, one needs to examine the scientific evidence based upon outcomes so that rhetoric has no place in utilization and the facts control the argument and direction of the patient.
Simply put, where should a patient go first because it has been proven conclusively that it is the best place to get better. From an insurance carrier and legislative perspective, the question goes one step further and examines the cost of care and wheat is the best solution in a cost-effective care-path realizing that often the government is the insurer or risk taker and even private carriers have a fiduciary responsibility to their stockholders to ensure a profitable return, while offering the best possible solutions for their insureds.
Day Et. Al. (2007) reported that only 26% of fourth year Harvard medical students had a cognitive mastery of physical medicine (pg. 452). Schmale (2005) reported “Incoming interns at the University of Pennsylvania took an exam of musculoskeletal aptitude and competence, which was validated by a survey of more than 100 orthopaedic program chairpersons across the country. Eighty-two percent of students tested failed to show basic competency. Perhaps the poor knowledge base resulted from inadequate and disproportionately low numbers of hours devoted to musculoskeletal medicine education during the undergraduate medical school years. Less than 1⁄2 of 122 US medical schools require a preclinical course in musculoskeletal medicine, less than 1⁄4 require a clinical course, and nearly 1⁄2 have no required preclinical or clinical course. In Canadian medical schools, just more than 2% of curricular time is spent on musculoskeletal medicine, despite the fact that approximately 20% of primary care practice is devoted to the care of patients with musculoskeletal problems. Various authors have described shortcomings in medical student training in fracture care, arthritis and rheumatology, and basic physical examination of the musculoskeletal system (pg. 251).
With continued evidence of lack of musculoskeletal medicine and a subsequent deficiency of training in spine care, particularly of biomechanical [Subluxation] orientation, the question becomes which profession has the educational basis, training and clinical competence to manage these cases? Let’s take a closer look at chiropractic education as a comparison. Fundamental to the training of doctors of chiropractic according to the American Chiropractic Association is 4,820 hours (compared to 3,398 for physical therapy and 4,670 to medicine) and receive a thorough knowledge of anatomy and physiology. As a result, all accredited doctor of chiropractic degree programs focus a significant amount of time in their curricula on these basic science courses. So important to practice are these courses that the Council on Chiropractic Education, the federally recognized accrediting agency for chiropractic education requires a curriculum which enables students to be “proficient in neuromusculoskeletal evaluation, treatment and management.” In addition to multiple courses in anatomy and physiology, the typical curriculum in chiropractic education includes physical diagnosis, spinal analysis, biomechanics, orthopedics and neurology. As a result, students are afforded the opportunity to practice utilizing this basic science information for many hours prior to beginning clinical services in their internship.
To qualify for licensure, graduates of chiropractic programs must pass a series of examinations administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE). Part one of this series consists of six subjects, general anatomy, spinal anatomy, physiology, chemistry, pathology and microbiology. It is therefore mandatory for a chiropractor to know the structure and function of the human body as the study of neuromuscular and biomechanics is weaved throughout the fabric of chiropractic education. As a result, the doctor of chiropractic is expert in the same musculoskeletal genre that medical doctors are poorly trained in their doctoral education as referenced above.
A 2005 study byDeVocht, Pickar, & Wilder concluded through objective electrodiagnostic studies (neurological testing) that 87% of chiropractic patients exhibited decreased muscle spasms.This study validates the reasoning behind the later study that people with severe muscle spasms in the low back respond well to chiropractic care and this prevents future problems and disabilities. It also dictates that care should not be delayed or ignored due to a risk of complications.
The above statistic indicates that while medicine cannot conclude an accurate diagnosis in 85% of their back pain patients, chiropractic has already helped 87% of the same population. We also know that chiropractic is one of the safest treatments currently available in healthcare for spinal treatment and when there is a treatment where the potential for benefits far outweighs any risk, it deserves serious consideration. Whedon, Mackenzie, Phillips, and Lurie(2015) based their study on 6,669,603 subjects after the unqualified subjects had been removed from the study and accounted for 24,068,808 office visits. They concluded, “No mechanism by which SM [spinal manipulation] induces injury into normal healthy tissues has been identified”(p. 5).
Houweling Et. Al (2015) concluded “Patients who initially consulted with MDs were significantly less likely to be satisfied with the care received and the results of care compared with those who initially consulted DCs” (p. 480) and Adjusted mean costs per patient were significantly lower in patients initiating care with DCs compared with those initiating care with MDs. (p.480) “The findings of this study pertaining to patient satisfaction were in line with previous research comparing chiropractic care to medical care for back pain, which found that chiropractic patients are typically more satisfied with the services received than medical patients.” (p.481)
Houweling Et. Al (2015) continued “Mean total spinal, hip, and shoulder pain-related health care costs per patient during the 4-month study period were approximately 40% lower in patients initially consulting DCs compared with those initially consulting MDs. The reason for this difference was a lower use of health care services other than first-contact care in patients initially consulting DCs compared with those initially consulting MDs. Previous observational studies comparing medical and chiropractic care in terms of health care costs per patient have shown opposing results. Two studies conducted in the United States found that patients with low back pain treated in chiropractic clinics incurred higher costs than patients treated in medical clinics. One possible reason for these opposing findings is that differences were brought about by the methods of determining costs. In the studies conducted in the United States, costs were determined by chart audit, whereas in the present study, cost determinations were based on an insurance database review of all health care services used for the conditions investigated including the cost of visits to other health care providers.” Pg. 481
Perhaps the most telling point of Houweling Et. Al (2015) results were “Restrictive models of care in which patients are required to contact a medical provider before consulting a chiropractic provider may be counterproductive for patients experiencing the musculoskeletal conditions investigated and possibly others. In addition to potentially reducing health care costs, direct access to chiropractic care may ease the workload on MDs, particularly in areas with poor medical coverage and hence enabling them to focus on complex cases. The minority of patients with complex health problems initially consulting a chiropractic provider would be referred to, or co-managed with, a medical provider to provide optimal care. (p.481)
The above model not only suggests, but verifies that chiropractic should be the first choice or the primary spine care provider freeing up an already overburdened medical primary care provider’s office where they are not qualified to manage mechanical spine issues as reported above. This also helps resolve some of the issues in more rural regions where there is a shortage of primary care medical providers and positions the public to realize better outcomes and serves the insurers by ensuring lower costs.
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