Prescription Medication And Grapefruit - A Potentially Deadly Combination
December 14th

I just read a true story that shocked me. I bet it will shock you, too. If you are taking certain medications and eat grapefruit (or drink grapefruit juice) you may be a ticking time bomb.

Here’s why: In this story, a retiree spends his summers up north and winters in the south. What natives call a “snowbird.” Two months after arriving in sunny Florida, this retiree was dead. The cause? Doctors believe it was a deadly interaction between the 2-3 glasses of fresh grapefruit juice he drank everyday and his medication.  Drinking grapefruit juice can be deadly for people who take certain medications, according to a recent paper. In this particular case, the fatal interaction is believed to be between the grapefruit and Lipitor.

The victim had high cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease. For this, doctors put him on Lipitor and he began a diet and exercise program. Two weeks after going to Florida for the winter, he went to the emergency room complaining of muscle pains, fatigue and fever. That’s where he went into kidney failure and died.

Although experts know the problem exists, most laymen and health care professionals are still in the dark about the deadly risks, even though the FDA requires all prospective new drugs to be tested for interactions with grapefruit juice, and a warning about grapefruit juice is included in the "food-drug interactions" that come with dozens of medications.

Since grapefruit juice is metabolized by the same enzyme in the liver that breaks down many drugs… it is one of the foods most likely to cause problems with drugs. When the system is overloaded, scientists said the grapefruit juice can "swamp" the system, keeping the liver from doing its complete job and blocking it from breaking down drugs and other substances.  The most severe effects, scientists say, are likely with some statins. While the liver devotes its resources to grapefruit juice, the medication can build up to dangerous levels, causing a breakdown of the body's muscles and even kidney failure.

So, the first tip of the month is: If you are taking ANY prescription medication (especially statin drugs), ask your doctor about the possible interactions with grapefruit juice. You should also read the warnings that come with your medication. I know there may be a lot of fine print, but it could be life or death.

Which leads us to the second tip of the month: Why do you think there is so much fine print in the first place? Because all drugs have toxic side effects. That is not to say they don’t save lives and are not needed in certain situations. Clearly they do and are. But, the goal of REAL health should be to have your body function properly without drugs… or… at least… with as little drugs as humanly possible.
How? Through proper diet, exercise, stress management and Chiropractic care.

I recently read a quote from a famous NFL coach, Jimmy Johnson. He said something like this: There are more things that can go bad with a passing play, than a running play. That’s why, when in doubt, if at all possible, run the ball.

I have the same philosophy with health. If at all possible, do it naturally.

WEIGHT LOSS…The Good, The Bad, and The Deadly!
December 11th

If you’ve finally decided to shed that “winter weight” you put on over the holidays… and… you want to do it as quickly as possible, then reading this may be the most important thing you do. It may even save your life. Here’s why: Some “experts” say to follow a high-carbohydrate diet and minimize fat. Others boast the only way to loose weight is through low or no carbohydrate eating plans with generous amounts of protein and fat. And then there are the “eat anything you want, take this pill and look like a super model” products. Who do you believe?

The first thing you have to understand in weight loss is…Big Business! The weight loss industry is booming. Every year, countless millions are spent by good, honest people looking for the magic solution to their love handles, potbelly… or… big backside.

The advertisements are everywhere. They all have the same message…Take This Pill…Wake Up Skinny! Well, the first thing you must understand is there are NO magic pills, potions, or lotions that safely melt away fat. Sorry. Some are even deadly…Ephedra, an herb also know as ma huang, is used in some dietary supplements marketed as weight loss aids or energy boosters. The herb has similar chemical properties to amphetamines and has been linked to side effects such as heart arrhythmia, psychotic reactions and seizures.

There have also been reports of heart attack and stroke. Ephedra effects the vascular and nervous systems, and one theory is that blood pressure spikes are one way the herb could promote hemorrhagic stroke… particularly when combined with caffeine, as is often the case in supplements.

According to findings published in the January issue if Neurology… daily doses of more than 32 milligrams (mg) were linked to a three-fold increase in hemorrhagic stroke risk. So What Is The Weight Loss Solution?

The bottom line is this: Proper diet and exercise. You see, there are no “magic” solutions to weight loss… but… if you figure out the diet and exercise program that is right of you - - it can work like magic. Let me explain…

Know this: most people fail at weight loss because they are on the wrong program for them and they quit. Everyone is individual. Some respond well to high carbs… other shed pounds and function better eating almost no carbs at all. But one thing remains universally constant…You Must Exercise!

Even small amounts of exercise, such as walking 20 minutes 2-3 times a week can have a dramatic affect of your weight loss. Starting a weight training program is also recommended because it will add lean muscle mass. Lean muscle mass will actually help you burn calories and loss weight… even at rest.

Want A Safe And Effective Way To Relieve Chronic Pain, Improve Balance, Flexibility, Strength And Cardiovascular Fitness?
November 16th

Try Tai Chi! When you think of Tai Chi, you probably get visions of Bruce Lee running around… beating up 10 bad guys at once. Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Tai Chi is an exercise system that consists of a specific series of gentle physical movements. Tai Chi Chuan, which literally means -- "supreme ultimate force" -- is based on an ancient Chinese martial art. Many practitioners describe their art as part exercise, part meditation. Tai Chi is a very unique way to exercise without putting many of the stresses and strains on the body caused by more conventional exercise programs. More importantly, researchers have recently reviewed 50 studies on Tai Chi… revealing many diverse health benefits gained by its practitioners.

In March 2004, the results of a study performed by researchers at the Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Data on 47 studies were analyzed that examined the health benefits of Tai Chi on patients with chronic health problems such as multiple sclerosis and heart disease.  The studies varied considerably in such measures as outcome assessment, duration of follow-up and others. In their description of the results they wrote: "Benefits were reported in balance and strength, cardiovascular and respiratory function, flexibility, immune system, symptoms of arthritis, muscular strength, and psychological effects."

The researchers noted that in older patients with chronic conditions, Tai Chi appeared to be a safe and effective means of promoting flexibility, balance control and cardiovascular fitness. Even though many health benefits of Tai Chi were clear, the studies did not know why. The researchers also stated that since the studies varied so much, exact scientific conclusions could not be drawn.

Another study from Korea found that a particular form of Tai Chi developed to help arthritis sufferers did just that. Results showed that those in the Tai Chi group experienced significantly less pain and stiffness and reported fewer difficulties performing daily functions compared to the non-Tai Chi group.

Yet another study in the Journal Applied Nursing Research found that participants in a 30-minute Tai Chi class twice a week for 12 weeks had significant improvements in balance, functional mobility, and a reduced fear of falling.

The biggest drawback with Tai Chi is that it involves special movements called forms. You can buy a video and learn them at home, but I highly recommend, if you are interested in starting, finding a qualified and experienced instructor who will make sure you are doing everything correctly. After you learn the basics, many of the movements can be done at home in your spare time.

Mood Disorders Common With Long-Term Steroid Use
November 12th

A study in the May 2004 issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology reports that people who take steroids long-term for conditions such as asthma stand a higher chance of developing mood disorders such as depression or manic depression. The study involved 20 patients who had been using steroids at least six months for asthma or rheumatic disease and 14 similar patients not using steroids. Both groups were tested to evaluate mood.

60% (12) of the steroid users were formally classified as having a mood disorder. Additionally, one of the tests indicated that the steroid users were at increased risk for developing manic symptoms.

Menopause and Chiropractic  - A Drug-Free Proven Alternative
November 10th

“Chiropractic…helps restore the body's ability to heal and balance itself by relieving pressure on the spinal nerve roots that control energy flow throughout the body. The adjunctive therapies used in chiropractic…can also help relieve the discomforts of menopause and assist the body in strengthening and supporting itself into the later years. Many chiropractic healing programs also incorporate exercise and diet, acupuncture, massage, homeopathy, and kinesiology.

Back pain due to estrogen deficiency or the beginnings of osteoporosis responds well to spinal manipulation and soft tissue work. Chiropractic is also very effective at reducing headaches and migraines caused by tension and stress, and neck problems by restoring normal joint flexibility, and reducing nerve pressure and muscular tension.

Chiropractors suggest that many women who suffer from menstrual cramps also suffer from spinal problems such as back pain. Gynecological problems happen because of the subluxations…in the relationship between the spine, lower back, and the female anatomy. They suggest that there is a direct cause/symptom relationship here.

In one study of 122 women, the majority of dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) sufferers had lower back problems and spinal displacements. This explains why many women who visit a chiropractor for treatment of their back pain report beneficial effects from menstrual cramps as well as other gynecological problems.

Scientific studies have shown that there exists a relationship between spinal health and gynecological problems. In a 1973 study of 496 patients who received spinal care, more than 95 percent experienced relief of general gynecological problems. A 1986 study found spinal care to have a beneficial effect on PMS in particular. In 1990, another study found that "dysfunction of the uterus and structural fixation of the same spinal segments of innervation can be indicative of a somatovisceral reflex.... Adjusting these vertebrae and creating motion in the joints seemed to influence the exiting nerves, restoring proper nervous transmission to the uterus."

November is National Sleep and Comfort Month!
November 4th

So many people have trouble falling asleep. They toss and turn and hope that sleep will come soon. People have trouble falling asleep for many different reasons. Some include:  too much “thinking”, anxiety, medication side-effects, or pain or discomfort.

If you have trouble sleeping because of aches and pains, it could be because of the way you sleep. Many people sleep (or have been sleeping) on an old mattress, on the wrong pillow, in the wrong position, or all of the above! 

           Did you know that sleeping on your stomach is one of the worst things you can do to your neck and spine? Did you know that sleeping on a pillow that elevates your head at an angle that is above the rest of your body is also terrible for your neck and spine? Did you know that sleeping on a mattress that is too soft OR too hard can damage your spine and pelvis?

            Some of the damaging effects of sleeping in the wrong position, on the wrong mattress or on the wrong pillow include vertebral subluxations. Vertebral subluxations are vertebrae that misalign. Subluxations cause nerve interference. Our nervous system is the master control system of the body. If anything interferes with this system, our bodies cannot function at 100%. Nerve interference at the level of the spine prevents the normal “flow” of information and instructions to and from the brain to every muscle, organ, gland and cell in the body. When your brain is unable to communicate at 100% with every muscle, organ, gland and cell in your body, you have less than optimum health and function. When your body doesn’t function properly, it is possible that it cannot rest/sleep properly.

            Chiropractors are the only doctors in the world that are trained to locate, analyze and correct vertebral subluxations. Our goal is to remove subluxations and restore normal function and integrity to the nervous system and body. Chiropractic is not a cure for anything – especially sleep. What we do is give the body a chance to function properly - at its maximum potential – so health, wellness and overall function are achieved. During November we offer a Spine and Sleep Evaluation. To schedule an appointment, just call 619-858-0336.

CHRONIC BACK PAIN EATS AWAY AT BRAIN TISSUE
October 18th

Scientists in Chicago have discovered new clues into what role the brain plays in chronic back pain (CBP). The investigators used magnetic resonance imaging brain scans to compare the morphology of 26 individuals with CBP with 26 pain-free control subjects.

 According to the report “patients with CBP showed 5-11% less neocortical gray matter volume than control subjects. The magnitude of this decrease is equivalent to the gray matter volume lost in 10-20 years of normal aging. The decreased volume was related to pain duration, indicating a 1.3 cm(3) loss of gray matter for every year of chronic pain.”

 The study also showed that CBP patients had decreased gray matter density. “Our results imply that CBP is accompanied by brain atrophy and suggest that the pathophysiology of chronic pain includes thalamocortical processes,” conclude the authors.

Cavities Increase After Water System Starts Using Fluoride
September 2nd

The July/August 2003 issue of the journal Pediatric Dentistry finds that the number of cavities in children in Kentucky increased after water systems there were required to add fluoride designed to prevent cavities.

96% of Kentucky water systems add fluoride to their water. The law, passed in 1977, required larger water systems to add fluoride with the goal of reducing tooth decay by 60%. It didn’t work. 57% of Kentucky third- and sixth-graders developed tooth decay.

A 1987 survey showed that 28% of Kentucky preschoolers developed cavities. A follow-up survey in 2001 showed that number increased to 47%.

The most common fluoride used in the U.S. is silicofluoride, which has been linked to higher blood-lead levels in children. High blood-lead levels is linked to higher rates of tooth decay.

The problem may stem from too much fluoride being added at the water plants. Research has shown that fluoride at levels slightly higher than dentists’ recommendations can also cause cavities.

Improper Backpack Use May Cause Back Pain in Schoolchildren
September 1st

An increasing amount of evidence suggests that carrying heavy backpacks may lead to low back pain in children and adolescents. The exact reason for this remains unclear, but some scientists have theorized that a backpack laden with books, supplies and other implements places an undue amount of stress on a child's spine, resulting in occasional, sometimes intense pain. Few studies, however, have examined the way children wear backpacks and what effect carrying a pack in an inharmonious fashion can have on a child's spine.

In this cross-sectional study, investigators in Greece examined 1,252 children ages 12 to 18 who used backpacks at school. Each child was asked a series of questions about back pain while carrying their backpack to and from school and during holiday periods, along with questions about participation in sports, how they traveled to/from school, and the amount of time it took them to travel from home to school and back. In addition, the children were asked whether they carried their backpacks with one strap over one shoulder (asymmetrically) or straps over both shoulders (symmetrically), and why they carried their backpacks a particular way. Finally, the students were subjected to a series of spinal measurements both without their backpacks and while wearing their backpacks symmetrically or asymmetrically.

Among the study's results:

On average, girls were 5.6 times more likely to report suffering from dorsal pain than boys during the school period. No association between gender and low back pain was noted.

Symmetrical backpack carrying caused a forward lean in the upper trunk of students and decreased cervical lordosis. Asymmetrical backpack carrying, meanwhile, resulted in students raising the backpack-bearing shoulder and shifting the upper trunk contralaterally.

Students who carried backpacks asymmetrically were 2.9 times more likely to suffer from dorsal pain, and five times as likely to suffer from low back pain, as students who wore backpacks symmetrically.

Students who carried backpacks asymmetrically were more than four times as likely to suffer from high-intensity pain than students who carried backpacks symmetrically.

While there was no association between time spent carrying backpacks and back pain during the school period, there was "a significant correlation" between time spent to school and back pain during holiday periods. The authors attributed this to a possible "delayed response" to the stresses applied to the spine during school.

New Research Study Proves Chiropractic Care Helps Other Body Functions
August 14th

The June 2005 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reports that a multinational study conducted in seven countries finds that patients under chiropractic care for various spinal problems reported that other areas of body function improved as well.

The study nearly replicated a Swedish study from 1999 that found unexpected positive changes in various body functions that people experienced after beginning chiropractic care. The difference is that the latest study involved 385 chiropractors in seven countries collecting information on 5607 patients, a more statistically accurate and much larger sample.

The results? The percentage of patients who began chiropractic care without any neuromusculoskeletal problems (such as back and neck pain) reported the following complaints as “definitely better:” Allergies, 11%; Asthma, 17%: Breathing, 27%; Circulation, 21%; Digestion, 26%; Hearing, 13%; Heart function, 11%; Ringing in ears, 19%; Vision, 13%.

Not surprisingly, the longer patients were under chiropractic care, the more positive changes they experienced. The number of patients who reported at least one positive change ranged from 14% for those seen one visit, 22% for 2-3 visits, 26% for 4-11 visits and 31% for at least 12 visits.

Commentary: With other conditions showing improvement after chiropractic care was begun, it may be tempting to say that chiropractic is a “cure” for these problems. Chiropractic is not a cure for anything. By removing interference to the master control system of the body (the nervous system) the body can and does function better. Chiropractic enables the body to heal itself more effectively. And, as evidenced by this study, long-term chiropractic care increases long-term health improvements.

Channel 10News Carol LeBeau featured the following the story on my revolutionary treatment of low back pain using spinal decompression therapy…
July 21st

SAN DIEGO -- If you're among the millions of Americans with lower back pain, especially with pain radiating down the legs, you may have a serious condition called disc herniation. But there's a new treatment you might want to check out before committing to surgery, 10News reported.

"I had such severe back pain that I was having trouble sitting at my desk at work," said Cheryl Rossi.

Rossi tried everything to find relief from the pain in her back and down her leg.

"I was told to get up frequently but even walking was painful; getting out of bed every morning was painful ... I couldn't do exercise," Rossi said.

X-rays showed Rossi's pain was caused by a compressed disc.

"It was terrible. I couldn't do anything. I got very depressed. I'm an active, high-energy person and I just couldn't do anything," Rossi said.

Dr. Michael Pritsker, a chiropractor, said, "The key is when someone has a disc herniation, the flow of blood, nutrients, oxygen (and) water are all restricted to the disc."

It's a serious situation, but Pritsker uses a technology in his chiropractic practice that's changing the lives of back patients. It's called spinal decompression.

"With spinal decompression, we're actually able to isolate the disc that's been herniated or degenerated in lower back and reduce pressure in the disc," Pritsker explained.

During spinal decompression, the patient is first strapped onto the treatment table at the chest and waist. According to Pritsker, the waist harness is connected to a computerized system that monitors the pressure put into the disc.

"If we have a disc space that's been lost, we're actually able to separate disc space by creating negative pressure inside the disc," Pritsker said. "By the angle of pull, we're actually able to isolate the exact disc on the back ... We're actually decompressing."

Many patients find relief from their pain in as few as 10 treatments.

"It allows the fluid and nutrients, blood and water to go back into the disc and restore its function. When you do that, you reduce back pain and leg pain is reduced," Pritsker said. Rossi admits, she was nervous at first, but after noticing an improvement after two or three visits, she was hooked.

"I don't have any lower back pain now. I'm walking five days a week," Rossi said.
Before starting treatment on the disc compression system, patients go thorough diagnostic work-ups including x-rays and other scans.

Some orthopedists and neurologists are joining chiropractors in using the technology, which was approved by the FDA in 1999.

Aspirin Use Linked With Pancreatic Cancer
April 13th

A study presented at an October, 2003 meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Phoenix, Arizona says that women who take an aspirin-a-day may run a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Eva Schernhammer of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston led the study involving more than 88,000 nurses. Schernhammer found that female nurses who took two or more aspirin a week for 20 years or more ran a 58 percent higher risk for pancreatic cancer. Women who took 14 or more per week had an 86 percent higher risk. The findings surprised doctors because they originally thought that the aspirin would offer protection against pancreatic cancer.

Reverse osteoporosis and build stronger bones by making just ONE CHANGE in your eating habits!
February 11th

That's right! Make just one change in your eating habits this month, and you could stop osteoporosis in its tracks—even reverse it! The actual research on osteoporosis runs contrary to everything you're being told on TV commercials. Dairy products and other animal proteins do not build strong hones. In fact, they can make your bones weaker.
A recent study reinforces this point. It's not milk and cheese that create strong bones and prevent osteoporosis-it s a low-fat, low-cholesterol, plant-based diet! In an analysis of worldwide trends by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, scientists found that higher consumption of vegetable protein can actually help prevent hip fractures. In over 30 countries around the world, the researchers compared diet and hip-fracture incidents and found a direct relationship between fractures and protein intake. Where vegetable protein intake was highest, the incidence of hip fractures was lowest. Inversely, the countries that had the highest intake of animal protein also had the highest hip-fracture rates.

More research shows that animal protein is bad for your bones... including dairy products!

Most people think they need to eat dairy products to build and maintain strong bones. But many studies are now showing that avoiding animal protein is the real key. What's more, the very foods that most people consider the best for osteoporosis protection-milk, cheese, and yogurt-are full of the fats and proteins that are actually doing the damage!
The animal-protein link has been known for some time; it just hasn't been promoted. Years of relentless campaigning by the dairy industry has overshadowed these facts, and made generations of Americans believe that calcium is the key to preventing osteoporosis-and that dairy products are the best source of calcium.

Good proteins come from vegetables and whole grains

Instead of loading up on high- or even low-fat animal proteins, try some of the many delicious sources of vegetable protein. Most people don't realize that legumes and nuts (up to 20 grams of protein per cup), whole grains like oatmeal (approximately 6 grams per cup), and vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts (approximately 6 grams per cup) are packed with it.
If you are still eating animal proteins, do so sparingly-and make sure that the main part of your diet consists of fruits, grains, and vegetables.
If you're trying to wean yourself from dairy foods and miss the taste, try some of the soy-based non-dairy milks and cheeses or even almond or rice milk. But watch out for the fat content in those products; many of them are still loaded with it.

Note: Use soy products in moderation. Isolated soy proteins found in many vegetarian burgers, hot dogs, lunchmeats, and wheat gluten are also concentrated proteins and can leach calcium from your bones.

A Colorful Diet May be The Key To Good Health!
January 19th

Remember in school, your teacher taught you the pyramid of foods to eat for a healthy diet? A few years ago, it was changed completely as more and more research and studies showed that eating less meat and dairy and more fruits and veggies are healthier for us. In fact, strong research consistently indicates that increased overall fruit and vegetable consumption - especially vegetables - can prevent an estimated 10 to 20 percent of breast cancer cases.

Now it's not enough to just eat 4-8 servings of fruits and veggies a day but Dr. Daniel Nadeau, author of The Color Code: A Revolutionary Eating Plan for Optimum Health, recommends that we eat a variety of foods from four basic color groups: Red, Blue-Purple, Orange-Yellow, And Green. Each of these foods contain phytochemicals (pigments which give plants their bright colors) that help guard against chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.

Carotenoid substances are found in deep green and orange vegetables and fruits, like broccoli, carrots and cantaloupe, kale, spinach and other cooked greens), alpha-carotene (in carrots and pumpkin) and beta-cryptoxanthin (in oranges, peaches and papayas).

From the red group, strawberries, cranberries, cherries, red grapes, beets and red peppers are powerful sources of antioxidants. They also contain a large amount of Vitamin C and ellagic acid. Ellagic acid destroys carcinogenic substances and makes cancerous cells self-destruct. Cranberries fight ulcers and cherries reduce inflammation.

Foods in the orange-yellow group such as oranges, grapefruits and other fruits with citrus peel reduce skin cancer risk and carrots are one of the top cancer fighting foods.
Green vegetables like avocados help to lower cholesterol and spinach protects the eyes from cataracts.

Blue foods reduce stress and help eliminate free radicals. Blueberries may improve memory and grape juice stops plaque formation in the blood vessels, keeps arteries elastic and inhibits clot formation.

Finally, please remember, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us.

Spinal decompression research articles for download:
CLINICAL OUTCOMES FOR SPINAL DECOMPRESSION.pdf
DRS SYSTEM CLINICAL TRIAL.pdf
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.pdf
THE EFFECTS OF VERTEBRAL AXIAL DECOMPRESSION.pdf