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HEALTHBEAT SHOW NOTES .... Episode #5 - Recorded August 19, 2005

Chiropractors Unite for Local Schools

During the month of August, hundreds of family practice chiropractors nationwide will be exchanging complimentary health services and evaluations for much needed school supplies to be donated to their local school districts.

In an effort to reduce the reliance on teacher contributions and to support teachers nationwide, members of The Family Practice, Inc., a chiropractic leadership organization, are uniting to host a "School's In and so is Chiropractic" event.

For more information, surf to - http://www.phillipswi.com

http://www.phillipswi.com/bee/index.php?sect_rank=5&story_id=205173

NYC Urges Restaurants to stop using Trans Fatty Acids

According to the NY Post, Restaurants in New York City are being urged by the city health department to change the way they fry foods. The main recommendation is don't cook with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil - because the oil contains trans-fat. And that's the kind of fat that contributes to heart disease - the number one cause of death in New York City .

New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden says the recommendation is asking for voluntary compliance. A letter went out to 20-thousand restaurants and 14-thousand food markets.

The New York State Restaurant Association says it is taking the request seriously and it will work with members to reduce the fatty oil, which is cheaper to use than substitutes such as canola oil, olive oil, peanut oil, and coconut oil.

The fatty oil is a main staple in the kitchen at fast food restaurants.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health, Trans fatty acids are fats produced by heating liquid vegetable oils in the presence of hydrogen. This process is known as hydrogenation. The more hydrogenated an oil is, the harder it will be at room temperature. For example, a spreadable tub margarine is less hydrogenated and so has fewer trans fats than a stick margarine.

Most of the trans fats in the American diet are found in commercially prepared baked goods, margarines, snack foods, and processed foods. Commercially prepared fried foods, like French fries and onion rings, also contain a good deal of trans fat.

Trans fats are even worse for cholesterol levels than saturated fats because they raise bad LDL and lower good HDL.

As always, HealthBeat recommends that patients contact a qualified Healthcare professional for sound nutrition advice.

For more information, surf to – http://www.nyc.gov/health

Keeping Ovaries After Hysterectomy Boosts Survival

The DrKoop Web Site reports on a study that appears in the August 2005 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology implies that removing the ovaries along with the uterus during a hysterectomy done for non-cancerous conditions is common in women over the age of 45, but may not be the wisest course for long-term survival.

A hysterectomy is a surgical removal of the uterus, resulting in the inability to become pregnant.

The Study reviewed 20 years of published data from various sources, and found that preserving the ovaries in this group of women reduces their risk for heart disease and hip fractures.

The study also discussed use of a Hysterectomy for women 65 years of age or older.

As always, HealthBeat reminds women to seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional in order to discuss gynecological treatment options.

For more information, surf to DrKoop.com and do a search on Keeping Ovaries After Hysterectomy

Early Alzheimer’s Warning Signs

Another DrKoop.com article discussed early Warning Signs for Alzheimer’s Disease.

According to the study, conducted by Swedish Researchers, a review of 47 studies published between 1985 and 2003 was undertaken. The studies included over 1,200 people with preclinical Alzheimer's disease who later developed the degenerative brain disease and over 9,000 people who did not develop the disease.

The study from the July 2005 issue of the journal Neuropsychology found that people with preclinical Alzheimer's show warning signs in a number of cognitive areas years before they're officially diagnosed with the disease. These signs included marked deficits in global cognitive ability, episodic memory, perceptual speed, and executive functioning. They also display smaller deficits in verbal ability, visual-spatial skill and attention. There was no sign of preclinical problems in terms of primary memory.

For more information, surf to DrKoop.com and do a search on Alzheimer's Warning Signs

According to the DrKoop Newsletter,

Millions of Americans are getting fewer than the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep they need each night, causing irritable behavior, concentration problems and daytime drowsiness.

In fact, a recent poll by the National Sleep Foundation found 54 percent of Americans experience at least one symptom of insomnia a few nights a week or more. More than a third of the 1,500 adults surveyed said they wake up feeling unrefreshed. Thirty-two percent reported waking up a lot during the night.

The article suggests Physiological reasons for this problem.  According to the article, “People's sleep-deprived condition is mostly voluntary and imposed by the environment. In other words, people are staying up too late doing things they like to do and working incredible hours to meet the demands of necessities like school or work.”

For more information, surf to DrKoop.com and do a search on insomnia.  As always, COT recommends seeking the advice of a qualified healthcare professional for all treatment/therapy questions.  The full URL is - http://www.drkoop.com/newsdetail/93/526895.html

Heavier teens have higher blood lipid levels

According to a Study in the July 2005 issue of Pediatric Research, researchers found that teens who had less than 25 percent body fat also had the best blood lipid profiles.  Further conclusions included that when it comes to weight and blood lipid levels, the same rules apply to teens as to their older counterparts.

In a study of 400 high school students, a team of researchers discovered that teens who had a higher proportion of body fat were also more likely to have elevated triglyceride levels and a higher ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, also known as cholesterol ratio.

The finding is significant because both measures are linked to the development of coronary artery disease among adults. Teens who are overweight are more likely to become overweight adults, thus putting them at increased risk for heart disease.

For more information, surf to - http://heart.healthcentersonline.com

Physical Activity in the Treatment and Management of Fibromyalgia

In HealthBeat Episode #3, I discussed an item about Alternative therapies and how they are beneficial for the treatment of a debilitating condition known as Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a whole-body disease that is associated with pain and discomfort. Approximately 2 to 5% of the population is afflicted with Fibromyalgia and up to 90% of individuals diagnosed are women. There is no known cure for FMS, only suggested treatments designed to manage FMS symptoms. Treatment modalities, including both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, are often co-prescribed and vary widely in order to address the unique experience faced by FMS sufferers.

A substantial number of studies have investigated how physical activity is related to the symptoms associated with FMS.

A recent review of journal studies provide a holistic picture of the exercise-Fibromyalgia relationship by addressing the following questions: (1) Do differences exist between individuals with Fibromyalgia and healthy individuals in physiological responses to acute exercise or adaptation to exercise training? (2) What type(s) of physical activity is (are) best for individuals afflicted with Fibromyalgia? (3) Do different exercise modalities lead to the reprieve of different symptoms? (4) What specific symptoms are alleviated through exercise participation? (5) What conclusions have been drawn by other researchers reviewing exercise-related interventions for Fibromyalgia? (6) Does gender moderate the optimal exercise modality or treatment effectiveness? (7) What current therapeutic approaches to Fibromyalgia are most successful and do they include exercise? (8) If exercise is currently being used as an effective treatment, what current exercise prescriptions exist for people with Fibromyalgia?

In response to these questions, comparisons were made between Fibromyalgia and healthy individuals with regard to physiological responses to exercise and training. In addition, a review of the exercise-related FMS research was presented.

Gender differences in exercise-related indices of health and physical functioning were considered. Treatment options for managing FMS were reviewed, and exercise prescriptions for effective treatments were provided. It was concluded that a regular exercise program tailored toward an individual's specific needs and symptom challenges will ultimately increase their psychological and physical functioning, decrease their pain experiences, help alleviate other Fibromyalgia symptoms, and improve their overall quality of life by improving their physical ability to perform activities of daily living.

Healthbeat suggests contacting your Chiropractor to see how you may benefit from Chiropractic adjustive and related therapies.

For more information, see Critical Reviews in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.  2005; Vol 17, Iss. 1, pp. 53-64.

Chiropractic Corner

In this episode’s Chiropractic Corner, Dr. Joseph Ferezy will discuss the importance of the Neurological Examination.

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