And the Winner is...Chiropractic
 You suffer from low
back pain (LBP) and you'd like to seek a doctor's care, but you're not sure
where to go. Consider this: A recent study compared the effectiveness of
chiropractic care vs. medical management for LBP and found that chiropractic
care had a higher success rate in treating LBP than did traditional medical
care.
Researchers examined 2,870 adult patients with acute or chronic LBP from the
practices of 51 chiropractic clinics and 14 general practice community clinics.
At baseline and at various intervals over the next four years, patients rated
the intensity of their current pain levels on a pain scale of 0-100 and
completed a questionnaire designed to measure the effects of their pain on
functional disability.
Results: The greatest degree of improvement was seen within three
months of the initial treatment of back pain, with a "modest advantage" seen for
chiropractic care over medical care of chronic pain patients in the first 12
months. At the one- and three-month intervals, "clinical importance" was
achieved with chiropractic care administered to chronic LBP patients. Comparing
chiropractic vs. medical care, the average difference in pain scores was 12.2
points at one month and 10.5 points at three months, favoring chiropractic care.
Still undecided? Chiropractic isn't just for back
pain anymore. Regular chiropractic care has been shown to, among other things,
relieve chronic headache and arthritis pain as well as relieve stress and
promote general health.
Reference: Haas M, Goldberg B, Aickin M, et al. A
practice-based study of patients with acute and chronic low back pain attending
primary care and chiropractic physicians: two-week to 48-month follow-up.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2004;27:160-169.
Secondhand Smoke and Kids: A Bad Combination
 The warnings have
been clear. Yet, despite overwhelming evidence that secondhand smoke is
detrimental to one's health, an estimated 40 percent of American children are
still exposed to secondhand smoke in the home. Pediatric conditions linked with
secondhand smoke include middle ear disease, sudden infant death syndrome, and a
host of respiratory and behavioral problems.
Few studies have examined the effects of secondhand smoke on a child's
cognitive abilities or whether exposure to secondhand smoke as a child can have
along-term impact on intelligence. Researchers measured levels of cotinine, a
derivative of nicotine, in the blood levels of 4,339 children, ages six to 16,
and compared that information with the children's test scores on a series of
math, reading and visuospatial exams.
Results: Serum cotinine levels were significantly higher among African
American children than Hispanic or non-Hispanic white children. Children exposed
to prenatal smoke and postnatal smoke, and children exposed to postnatal smoke
alone, had higher cotinine levels than those exposed to prenatal smoke alone.
Mean cotinine levels were significantly higher among children who had at least
one smoker living in the home. The level of cotinine increased as the number of
smokers in the house and the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day in the
house increased. Children with the highest serum cotinine level received
"significantly lower" performance scores on all four tests compared to children
with the lowest cotinine level. Average math scores were 7.14 points lower in
children with the highest concentrations of cotinine; reading scores were 7.54
points lower. Proportionally lower scores were also seen when evaluating block
design and digit span tests.
So, do right by your kids! Keep them safe from
the dangers of secondhand smoke for the good of their bodies and minds. And
while you're at it, why not give up smoking altogether? You'll not only reap
your own health benefits, you'll be around that much longer for your kids, too.
Reference: Yolton K, Dietrich K, Auinger P, et al.
Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and cognitive abilities among U.S.
children and adolescents. Environmental Health Perspectives January
2005;113(1):98-103.
Eating a Mediterranean Diet May Increase Life Expectancy
It's no secret that a diet high in fiber and low in saturated fats has myriad
health benefits. Conversely, numerous studies have reported the consequences of
a poor diet, including obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, all of
which can lead to early mortality.
Researchers examined the effects of a modified Mediterranean diet on elderly
participants from nine European countries to determine its impact on longevity.
A Mediterranean diet was characterized by a high intake of fruits, vegetables
and unrefined whole grains; a moderate to high intake of fish; a low intake of
saturated lipids, but a high intake of unsaturated lipids, namely olive oil; a
low intake of meat; a low to modest intake of dairy products; and a modest
intake of wine. Participants included 74,600 men and women, ages 60 or older,
with no prior history of heart disease, stroke, or cancer. Dietary intake was
assessed at baseline, as was additional data on lifestyle and health. Adherence
to the Mediterranean diet was measured using a 10-point scale, 0 being least, 9
being maximum adherence. Study participants were followed for approximately
seven years.
Results found that mortality rates dropped 8 percent for each two-point
adherence increase on the Mediterranean diet scale. A stronger rate of survival
was found among participants in Greece and Spain, which the authors attributed
to the fact that people in those countries already adhere to the Mediterranean
diet as a part of their regular lifestyles. When the diet score was calibrated
across the countries, the reduction in mortality was 7 percent.
Conclusion: "Adherence to a diet relying on plant foods and
unsaturated lipids and that resembles the Mediterranean diet, may be
particularly appropriate for elderly people, who represent a rapidly increasing
group in Europe," the researchers wrote.
No matter what type of diet you settle on,
remember that a healthy eating plan consists of plenty of fruits and vegetables,
unsaturated fats, whole grains and a limited sugar intake.
Reference: Trichopoulou A, Orfanos P, Norat T, et al.
Modified Mediterranean diet and survival: EPIC-elderly prospective cohort study.
BMJ online. Apr 8, 2005; doi:10.1136/bmj.38415.644155.8F.
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