Category Archives: Health and Wellness

General Health and Wellness Information

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Bone Health-Is There a Hole In Your Bucket?

Boise ChiropractorWe have probably all heard the typical advice that is given over and over again regarding bone health and the various nutrients and minerals that our bones need in order to be healthy.  We have probably all seen the commercials out there for all the different multivitamins promising to contain the right amounts of calcium and vitamin D to help fortify our bones.  We have also probably even seen our good friend Sally Fields a few years back selling us on the wonders of Boniva or Fosamax, I don’t remember which one at the moment.

But the question I pose is this: Why do we still have such incredibly high rates of Osteoporosis and Osteopenia in our country?  Here is a stat from the International Osteoporosis Foundation that should be a bit alarming to anyone reading this

“1 in 3 women over 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures, as will 1 in 5 men”

Why such high rates?  Is it because we aren’t getting enough Calcium?  Is it because we aren’t getting enough Vitamin D?  Well, it sure seems like everything we touch these days is double fortified with these vitamins and minerals.  As Americans we eat more than our fair share of dairy, which we are continually told is one of the “keys” to preventing depletion of our bone density.  We even take the various prescription drugs that promise to reverse bone loss.

The question shouldn’t be “how much are we taking in?” but instead should be “How much are we pushing out?”

You see, one of the biggest problems that we have had as a nation in our battle against bone depletion has been much like someone trying to fill a bucket full of water while ignoring the fact that there is a gaping hole at the bottom of the bucket.  It doesn’t matter how much or how fast you fill it, if there is a hole in the bucket dear Liza (sorry, couldn’t resist), you will never keep that bucket full.

Our typical western diet is a highly acidic diet.  Our body is designed to keep a very strict, specific PH balance.  When we eat highly acidic foods our body’s natural response is to neutralize the acid thus bringing our PH back into its proper balance.  The way our body does this is through releasing various alkaline minerals such as Calcium.  Unfortunately the quickest and most common way our body will get these minerals is from the most readily available source…Our bones!  So, in essence what happens when we our diet is highly acidic by drinking carbonated soda, eating a high amount of animal products such as meat and dairy or other highly acidic foods, our body responds by literally stripping Calcium out of our bones to help combat the high acid levels.  The net result is that we excrete a lot of calcium and other minerals critical for proper bone density right out of our body.

“The solution:  stop trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it!  For crying out loud!”

We can take all the calcium chews we want and eat all the Vitamin D  fortified Captain Crunch we want but that doesn’t address the fact that if we are eating a highly acidic diet, we are literally flushing all those vitamins and minerals down the toilet.  Stop trying to pump our bodies with all these things without first addressing the holes in our diet!

Dr. Woolner is a Meridian Chiropractor and specializes in short-term care for neck and back pain.

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This Probably Has Nothing to Do with Our Current State of Health Here in America

I saw this video today and just had to post it.  It’s a pretty chilling indictment regarding our current state of health as a whole here in our country.  Notice the good old deep fried south at the end of the video.

Dr. Woolner is a Meridian Chiropractor and specializes in short-term care for neck and back pain.

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WARNING: Be Extremely Cautious of Sharks!

Since my blog is focused on health and wellness for the general public I thought now was as good a time as any to issue a warning on the dangers of sharks.  Sharks present a very serious health risk in that they have extremely sharp teeth (multiple rows by the way) and can easily bite through human flesh and bones.  These shark bites can lead to serious complications such as loss of limbs and even death.  In particular, Great White Sharks can be extremely dangerous.  Have you seen how big these things can get???  Oh, by the way did I mention that you are statistically almost as likely to die from a ride at an amusement park as you are from being eaten by a shark?  The reality of it is that although sharks can and do (rarely) eat people, the statistical likelihood is sooooooo small that people still swim in the ocean, still surf, and yes plenty even choose to swim with sharks!

Why in the heck am I even bringing this up?  Well, I got to thinking this morning about how often so many health care “professionals” out there fail to use any real sense of perspective when viewing the various conservative treatment options that much of the public are more and more turning to these days.  For instance, we hear so often the various alleged dangers that natural dietary supplements can cause and the lack of any real regulation in this arena.

True it is that some dietary supplements can in fact be dangerous, we need to make a clear distinction between things like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and natural enzymes etc. and various other natural dietary supplements out there such as various herbal supplements.  If we are talking about the first category, people need to be aware that the likelihood of any real health risks is extremely rare.  So rare in fact that you are probably more likely to die from a shark attack!  Just look up the statistics for yourself sometime, seriously, Google the terms “vitamin and mineral overdose statistics” or something similar and then Google “shark attack statistics”.

Being a Chiropractor, the other area where I see a lot of this fear mongering comes from many in the health care profession speaking out about the “dangers” of chiropractic care.  I have patients all the time wanting to know about the risks of chiropractic care.  I know I have probably written about this subject here on the blog several times already, but I obviously feel strongly enough about this subject that I feel warranted in beating the proverbial dead horse a bit more.  Again, if you seriously want to know the real risks associated with chiropractic care just do a little research for yourself.  If you really do a careful study of the subject, excluding such “sophisticated” and “authoritative” sites such as Quackwatch.com (I mean seriously, are you kidding me?) you will find more than enough legitimate scientific research to not only support the effectiveness of chiropractic care, but the safety as well.

I guess in the end what I am calling for in this article is just a pinch of common sense here people.  I think Dr. Alex Vasquez (who is brilliant by the way, one of the smartest physicians of our time, no joke) put it best when he said this:

“Despite the long-standing historical precedent in which human disease was treated by natural means (ie, diet modification, botanical medicines, physical modalities) for the majority of human existence, the current healthcare paradigm in America and other Western/industrialized nations is such that treatment with drugs and surgery is labeled “conventional” while natural treatment as with nutritional, botanical, and physical interventions is now described “alternative” and “unconventional.” This unfortunate inversion of terms causes confusion among doctors and patients alike while it connotes scientific superiority and cultural sanctification of pharmaceutical and surgical interventions, including those that are dangerous, ineffective, and unduly expensive.”

Well put Dr. Vasquez!  The next time you hear cautionary tales about vitamins, minerals and other proven natural and conservative treatment options, just remember that sharks kill people too….I hate the term alternative medicine, it drives me crazy!

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Can You Say Subliminal?

I love the scene in Star Wars when Obi Wan Kenobi ever so calmly tells the storm troopers that “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for” and uses his Jedi mind tricks to fool them.  I was online today and had to laugh when I found some real life attempts at Jedi mind tricks… On Web MD nonetheless!  Now let me preface this by saying that I know that sites like WebMD provide some very valuable information and have been great resources for public health, but in this instance I just couldn’t resist poking a little fun.

I saw a banner ad entitled “The 12 Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor About Low Back Pain”.  I was intrigued and wanted to see what they recommended.  After all, I am a Chiropractor and I get a lot of questions each day about low back pain.  I am not sure what I expected, but I guess I was a bit surprised at how thinly veiled the propaganda was.  Let’s see if you can detect a pattern in the following 12 questions that WebMD recommended patients ask their doctors.

  • Do you think I could have chronic low back pain?
  • Do you recommend a test, like a CT scan or MRI?
  • What treatment options do you suggest?
  • Is there a medication I can take for my chronic low back pain?
  • Are there activities I should avoid while on this medication?
  • What are the benefits of taking this medication?
  • What are the possible side effects? What should I do if they happen to me?
  • How often do I need to take my medication?
  • When will the medication start working? How will I know if it’s working?
  • How long will I need to take this medication? Will I be able to stop taking it eventually?
  • Should I take this medication with or without food?
  • Should I avoid certain things (e.g., other medications, alcohol) or particular foods while I’m taking this drug?

Now you may or may not be able to see a pattern here.  The bold italics were added to help you see this ever so subtle pattern.  I especially love the manipulative  line of questioning that they recommend for patients and how you are immediately led to their solution for back pain of “Medication”.  From then on the questioning is laser focused on pharmaceutical intervention, and they even go so far as to personalize the medication as “MY” medication, because hey,  it’s not just medication, it’s your medication!  The icing on the cake on this article was the Cymbalta add below the article.  Now in all fairness the article has a very small disclaimer at the top stating the editorial content on the page is from their sponsor, but still, I find it funny that this classical conditioning is acceptable to a trusted authority site such as WebMD.

I am so glad that Chiropractic helps people with chronic low back pain and that Chiropractic can really make a difference in peoples lives and that Chiropractic can really be beneficial for people suffering with a variety of  issues and that chiropractic helps prevent low back surgeries and chiropractic, chiropractic, chiropractic…I think I am starting to get the hang of this.

Check out the “12 Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor About Chronic Low Back Pain” here

The only problem with the article is that they fail to mention the closest pharmacy for you to pick up your prescription.

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Studies on Anti-Depressants Make Me Depressed

For those who haven’t read much of my blog before you should understand that I am not completely anti-medicine, and what I am about to write about here is not some random anti-medical conspiracy rant, but rather a genuine expression of concern for the lack of scientific evidence to support many of the popular drugs that are being peddled to our nation.  Most of the prescription anti-depressant medications are not only lacking a genuine scientific evidence, but are more and more being shown to be ineffective and even dangerous.

Consider this quote from Dr. Marcia Angell “It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines. I take no pleasure in this conclusion, which I reached slowly and reluctantly over my two decades as an editor of The New England Journal of Medicine” (Marcia Angell, “Drug Companies & Doctors: A story of corruption”, NYRB, Jan 15, 2009).  She shares some pretty sobering information in her book “The Truth About the Drug Companies”.

What is even more depressing is that there are so many different natural, conservative methods that have been shown (through scientific research), to be far more effective at treating depression than the “conventional” methods that are still being used.  Unfortunately, there isn’t nearly the same kind of money in exercise and nutrition as there is in making and patenting pills.  If you want a great book on exercise and depression check out the book “Spark:  The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain” .  In this book they discuss all the research behind exercise and the mechanisms behind the positive effects that exercise has on our brain.

So, if this has depressed you in any way, never fear, I have the cure:  get informed about the evidence (or lack thereof) behind the various antidepressant drugs that are being sold to the public and do something about.  Tell your friends, family members and loved ones, and ultimately become your own health advocate.  This is exactly why I started my new website www.DailyHealthMap.com Check it out and learn more about taking your health into your own hands!

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Another Reason to Love Chocolate


I found this article on USA Today and thought I would share it. With all the propaganda we get from the pharmaceutical companies It’s nice to see some chocolate propaganda for a change! Check it out:

People who eat chocolate regularly may not only be feeding their sweet tooth, but lowering their risk for heart disease, a new study suggests.

Regular consumption may slash the risk of developing heart disease by a third, according to research published in the British Medical Journal.

Gianluca Colla, Bloomberg News

Regular consumption may slash the risk of developing heart disease by a third, according to research published in the British Medical Journal.

 

Regular consumption may slash the risk of developing heart disease by a third, according to research published in the British Medical Journal.
Chocolate has been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease before, but in this analysis of recent studies involving more than 100,000 people, researchers find that those who eat the most chocolate on a regular basis reduce their relative risk for heart disease by one-third.

“We found a potential link between chocolate consumption and prevention of heart disease,” said lead researcher Dr. Oscar H. Franco, from the department of public heath and primary care at the University of Cambridge in the UK.

“At this point we are in the early stages of research,” he added. There have not been any clinical trials to see if this association is real, Franco noted.

Chocolate might be beneficial but people should not consume it with the hope that it will reduce their risk of heart disease, Franco said. And if they do eat it, “because of the fat and sugar content, it should be consumed in moderation.”

“If you are already eating chocolate, do it in moderation; if you are not eating chocolate, our advice is not to start eating chocolate,” Franco said.

The report was published in the Aug. 29 online edition of the BMJ, to coincide with the presentation of the findings at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Paris. The study did not receive funding from chocolate manufacturers.

For the study, Franco’s team did a meta-analysis, which is a type of study where researchers comb the medical literature to find trends in relevant published studies.

In this case, the researchers identified seven studies that, combined, included 114,009 people.

When Franco’s group pooled the data from these studies, they found that people who ate the most chocolate could reduce their risk of heart disease by as much as 37 percent, their risk of diabetes by 31 percent and their risk of stroke by 29 percent, compared with those who ate the least chocolate. Chocolate had no effect on heart failure risk, however.

It is not clear how much chocolate confers health benefits, Franco said. There was no way of telling how much chocolate was eaten by those who consumed the most of it, he explained. However, having chocolate regularly seemed to be important, he said.

These studies compared people who consumed chocolate more than once a week with those who ate it less often, Franco said.

“We still need to clarify the quantity that permits chocolate to prevent heart disease,” he said. “Given the amount of sugar and calories in chocolate, we don’t think it’s going to be a high quantity.”

In addition, since the chocolate eaten in these studies could have been dark, milk or even white chocolate, knowing which type is most beneficial is a question — although Franco suspects dark chocolate will turn out to be the preferred type. “This is something we need to confirm,” he said.

The study included consumption of chocolate bars, drinks, biscuits and desserts.

Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, commented that “despite chocolates indulgent reputation, there is growing evidence that cocoa products which contain high levels of flavonoids may have a variety of actions which are potentially beneficial for cardiovascular and metabolic health.”

Several recent studies have suggested the flavonoids found in cocoa products have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-clotting effects and may also relax blood vessels, Fonarow said. He added that they may also improve insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk for diabetes.

However, the studies reviewed in this report were observational — that is, they looked at data based on what people ate. Clinical trials, where chocolate is pitted against a placebo, are needed to see if the effect of chocolate is real, Fonarow said.

“Moderate consumption of dark chocolate may be a reasonable consideration as part of a heart health diet,” he said. “However, as there is a complex interplay between nutrition and health, further studies are needed.”

Nutrition expert Samantha Heller, a dietitian, nutritionist, exercise physiologist and clinical nutrition coordinator at the Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn., added that “the cocoa bean contains healthy plant compounds like flavanols, called polyphenols, that act as powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. [They may] help keep arteries healthy and may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

“But, and this is a big ‘but,’ people should not use this study as an excuse to chow down on candy bars, chocolate ice cream and chocolate cookies. This will pack on pounds and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease,” Heller cautioned.

Fruits, vegetables and legumes also contain high amounts of polyphenols, along with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, Heller said. “So, enjoy some dark chocolate periodically and watch your portion size, but get the bulk of your polyphenols from fruits and vegetables.”

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Houston We Have a Problem

So I have been doing a lot of low back pain prevention workshops lately throughout my community and I decided to write a little bit about some of the information that I am sharing in these workshops.  First, people need to understand that we have a serious problem on our hands as a nation.  I know it might seem funny to think of back pain as a major health care problem.  Most people tend to thing of things like cancer and AIDS and things like that but what might shock many people to learn is that according to the Department of Labor Statistics, low back pain is the #1 cause of disability in the U.S.  Not only that but low back pain is costing our nation a lot of money.  It is estimated that low back pain costs around $100 billion annually!  We have a serious problem on our hands.  I find that at least part of the root of this problem is due to the fact that a very small percentage of our nation utilizes chiropractic care.  Here we have a method for treating and preventing low back pain that has been proven through research time and time again to be the most effective and yet people still seek other options before considering chiropractic care.  That’s sad!

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The Activity That Can Dramatically Increase Your Risk of Heart Attack…

We have all heard that sitting for prolonged periods of time can cause low back problems, tension in the neck and shoulders and even other issues like headaches, but what might surprise you is some recent news that suggests that prolonged sitting can increase your risk of heart attack by 54%!  The Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana just released the findings of some research that analyzed thousands of individuals and concluded that those who sit for most of the day are 54% more likely to die of a heart attack.  As a Meridian Chiropractor this gives me yet another reason to encourage my patients to get up and take more frequent breaks, if not altogether standing for most of the day.  In an article I found online they offered some great advice on things you can do to reduce your sitting time and help you to reduce your risk of heart attack.  I am posting this article  from Men’s Health right here:

We stand around a lot here at Men’s Health. In fact, a few of us don’t even have office chairs. Instead, we write, edit, and answer e-mails—a lot of e-mails—while standing in front of our computers. All day long. Why?

It all started last summer, when Assistant Editor Maria Masters came across a shocking study in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (one of dozens of research journals we comb each month as we put together the magazine). Scientists at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana analyzed the lifestyles of more than 17,000 men and women over about 13 years, and found that people who sit for most of the day are 54 percent more likely to die of heart attacks.

That’s right—I said 54 percent!

Masters immediately called the lead researcher at Pennington, a professor named Peter Katzmarzyk. Turns out, this wasn’t the first study to link sitting and heart disease. Similar research actually dates back to 1953, when British researchers found that (sitting) bus drivers were twice as likely to die of heart attacks as (standing) trolley operators.

Here’s the most surprising part: “We see it in people who smoke and people who don’t,” Katzmarzyk told Masters. “We see it in people who are regular exercisers and those who aren’t. Sitting is an independent risk factor.”

In other words, it doesn’t matter how much you exercise or how well you eat. If you sit most of the day, your risk of leaving this world clutching your chest—whether you’re a man or women—as much as doubles.

Bonus Tip: For the latest health, fitness, and nutrition tips and advice, check out our all-new Today’s News channel!

This raised a rather obvious question: Why? Truth is, the researchers aren’t sure. But Marc Hamilton, Ph.D., one of Katzmarkzyk’s colleagues, suspects it has to do with an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which breaks down fat in the bloodstream and turns it into energy. Hamilton found that standing rats have ten times more of the stuff coursing through their bodies than laying rats. It doesn’t matter how fit the rats are; when they leave their feet, their LPL levels plummet. Hamilton believes the same happens in humans.

Still sitting? Then you should know that your office chair also:

1. Screws up your posture. The fascia, the tissue that connects individual muscles into a full-body network, begins to set when you stay in one position for too long, says Men’s Health advisor Bill Hartman, P.T., C.S.C.S., a physical therapist in Indianapolis. If you’re hunched over a keyboard all day, this eventually becomes your normal posture.

2. Makes you fatter. This happens for two reasons. First, you burn 60 more calories an hour when standing versus sitting. But more importantly, says Hartman, when you spend too much time sitting, your largest muscle group—the glutes (a.k.a. your butt)—become lazy and quit firing. This is called gluteal amnesia. And it means you burn fewer calories.

3. Causes lower back pain. Weak glutes push your pelvis forward, putting stress on the spine, says Hartman. Here’s the other unseemly thing that happens when your pelvis tilts forward: Your belly protrudes, making you look 5 months pregnant.

Bonus Tip: For more strategies that will keep you fit and healthy for life, check out The Best Fitness Tips Ever!

So what’s a desk-bound worker to do? First, Hamilton suggests you change how you think about fitness. We have a tendency to segment our lives—work, home, and downtime. Exercise falls into the last category, something we squeeze into our busy schedules when possible. But if you stop thinking about exercise as an activity, and instead think of it as a lifestyle, it’s easier to make healthy choices throughout the day.

In other words: Stop trying to be fit, and start trying to live fit.

Second, of course, is to stand more throughout the day. These strategies will get you up on your feet more often:

Strategy #1: Take two breaks an hour. Grab a drink from the water fountain. Pop over to the cube next door to say hi. Or simply stand and stretch for a minute. A European Heart Journal study of 5,000 men and women found that the quarter who took the most breaks during the day were 1.6 inches thinner than the quarter who took the least.

Strategy #2: Stand during phone calls. It may seem like a small thing but, as Hamilton told Masters: “Small choices will help move you in the right direction. . . . It all adds up, and it all matters.”

Strategy #3: Don’t write long emails. If crafting an email will take longer than 15 minutes, go talk to the person instead. Or stand up and call them.

And if that’s not enough (and it may not be) . . .

Strategy #4: Ask HR for a standup desk. Australian researchers found that workers who log more than 6 hours of seat time a day are up to 68 percent more likely to be overweight. If you make the changes above and your waistline isn’t shrinking, a standup desk may be the answer. Make sure the screen is at arm’s length, and the top at eye level. Position the keyboard so your elbows are bent 90 degrees. Men’s Health Senior Editor Bill Stieg built his own. Check it out.

If you are looking for a great Meridian Chiropractor or Boise Chiropractor give us a call today or set up an appointment here.

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What’s Causing Your Low Back Pain?

I hear this question all the time.  The truth is that while there are a lot of different causes behind low back pain, most often low back pain is caused by one of a handful of different problems.  There are several different tissues throughout the low back that can often generate pain.  In this video I share some of the most common causes behind low back pain.

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Seeing Is Believing

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and in this case  these x-rays are certainly no exception.  One of the most difficult obstacles that I face as a Boise Chiropractor is helping people to understand the importance of taking care of the spine.  Sometimes it seems like an uphill battle, but rest assured I am up for the challenge.

You see, one of the problems that we face when it comes to spinal health is that we don’t see our spines on a daily basis like we do our teeth or our face.  This at times creates a sort of out of site-out of mind type mentality.  Unfortunately when it comes to our spines this type of thinking can cost us.  Not just monetarily either.

What may or may not surprise some people is that the #1 cause of functional disability in persons 50 years or older is spinal disorders!  Think about that.  With all the advancements we have made in health care, spinal health is still a major issue.  One of the biggest truths that people often don’t want to hear or believe is that absence of symptoms doesn’t necessarily equal healthy.  A perfect example is a patient of mine that came in a few months back.  He was a middle-aged man who had no major complaints other than the occasional neck and back stiffness and soreness.  Sound familiar?  It should because this describes about 90% of the population.  Anyways, a look at his x-rays tells a much different story.  In this image we have a picture of a near normal lateral x-ray of the cervical spine (neck) compared to his.  It doesn’t take a radiologist to see the difference.He had severe spinal degeneration throughout his neck.  Unfortunately at this point there is only so much that can be done within the realm of conservative care.  I have seen this type of situation way too often.

So what caused this degeneration?  Well, to put it simply, he failed to take proper care of his spine.  We place a tremendous amount of stress on our spines on a day to day basis.  Just the regular activities of daily living, let alone all the other crazy things we often do, create issues that if  left uncorrected can lead to substantial problems.

Before I come across overzealous here please understand why I feel so passionate about this subject.  There is a simple truth that people may not think about too often and that is that there is no such thing as a “spine transplant”! We abuse other parts of our body as well-our teeth, our internal organs, and yet many of these can be replaced (not recommended of course!), but our spine is a different story.  You have one spine and one spine only.

If you haven’t taken the time to have your spine evaluated, find a trusted chiropractor and have your spine checked today.  Commit to taking care of your spine just like you would your teeth, your skin, or any other part of your body.