Articles

March 24, 2010

Taking Lipitor?

Filed under: Chiropractic - General Info and Benefits, Dangers of Medications, Dr. Kenney's Health Blog, Nutrition and Exercise — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:41 am

Lipitor is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for high cholesterol.  Here are some questions and concerns I came away with as I looked through the Lipitor website:

  • Are we to believe that problems within the body such as arterial plaque, high blood pressure and other such issues are directly caused by a LACK of Lipitor?  If not, then why go on a medication for life to mask this symptom?
  • Cholesterol is an important part of how our bodies function and is essentially neither good nor bad.  If this is the case why are we to believe that we must lower our cholesterol at all costs?  Here is a link to an article written by a cardiologist discussing some of the commonly accepted beliefs regarding cholesterol.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/05/28/cholesterol-heart.aspx
  • The side effects of Lipitor and cholesterol drugs are serious.  The website frequently mentions the dangers to the liver, potential kidney failure and sudden onset of serious muscle problems (I see this problem commonly in those taking it) among many others.  Since Lipitor is most often intended to be used indefinitely, how confident can a person possibly be that these side effects will not harm them and create far more dangerous problems?
  • The Lipitor website says that diet and exercise is not sufficient enough to help 2 out of 3 people improve their cholesterol levels.  How many of these people were actually put on the right type of exercise and nutrition program and monitored throughout?  Would the average doctor know what recommendations to make for an individual and/or have the time to do so?
  • Multiple medications interact with one another.  This is significant because those taking Lipitor are often taking more than one medicine.  How these drugs interact is unknown because it would be impossible and too costly for each drug company to test their medicine in conjunction with another company’s.  Therefore, as your list of medications grows you are essentially adding to an already list of harmful side effects and risks.  As we all learned in chemistry class, certain chemicals do not react well with one another.
  • How many people taking Lipitor do so only out of fear?  Is this a good reason to do anything?

Your body is an amazing machine and you have many options to consider before medication.  If you want natural, safe alternatives to Lipitor and other cholesterol medications give us a call at (203) 259-4731.

In Health,

Dr. Kenney

Southport Chiropractic Office

1995 Post Road

Fairfield, CT 06824

(203) 259-4731

March 16, 2010

Study Shows Chiropractic Helps Headaches

Filed under: Chiropractic - General Info and Benefits, Dr. Kenney's Health Blog, Top Chiropractic Research Articles — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 7:51 am

A study published in the February 2010 issue of The Spine Journal, the official journal of the North American Spine Society, provided additional evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of chiropractic for certain types of headaches known as “cervicogenic headaches”. A report on the results of this study was also published online on February 26, 2010, on the site “Modern Medicine”.

In this study, 80 patients with chronic cervicogenic headaches were divided into three groups. Two of the groups received various forms of chiropractic adjustments, which the study authors called Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT), and one group received just a light massage so as to be able to compare the results.  Results were calculated using standard pain scales. Data from the subjects was collected every 4 weeks for a 24 week period.

The researchers found that the groups that received chiropractic showed significantly greater improvement in pain scores as compared to the group that got just light massage. Those receiving the chiropractic care were more likely to have a 50-percent improvement in their pain. The two groups of patients who received chiropractic care were only given either 8 or 16 chiropractic sessions. The study did see a slightly better response for the group receiving more adjustments, but due to the study parameters, no data was available beyond 16 visits.

Dr. Mitch Haas and a team of researchers at Western States Chiropractic College, were quoted in their conclusion as saying, “Our pilot study adds to an emerging picture of spinal manipulative therapy dose for the treatment of headache. It showed that a plateau in intervention effect might be found in the range of eight to 16 treatment sessions, although a dose effect at these treatment levels cannot be ruled out. The study also adds to the support of spinal manipulative therapy in moderate doses as a viable option for the treatment of chronic cervicogenic headaches.”

Comments from Dr. Kenney:

People often wonder how it is that chiropractic is so effective at relieving headaches.  The reason is that everything in your body runs on nerves.  When the nerves are transmitting signals properly they are healthy.  When their energy becomes restricted the nerves become irritated causing pain and/or lack of output.

The article discusses “cervicogenic headaches” which are a fancy way of saying that they’re caused by misalignments to the vertebrae of the neck.  As vertebrae move out of their natural position(s) they place pressure on nerves that lie in close proximity thus resulting in the headaches or other problems.  To explain how chiropractic is so effective at curing headaches let’s first use an analogy.  If you have a pebble in your shoe it causes pain because it is applying pressure directly to a nerve.  Once you remove the pebble the pressure is eliminated and the pain subsides.  The chiropractic adjustment works the same way.  Misaligned vertebrae put pressure on nerves that cause headaches (pain).  The adjustment then realigns the vertebrae to their proper position which alleviates the nerve pressure allowing the headaches to subside.  This approach is a safe, effective way for curing headaches that people have been utilizing for decades.

February 2, 2010

Disc Herniation does not mean doom!

Filed under: Chiropractic - General Info and Benefits, Dr. Kenney's Health Blog — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 12:24 pm

What Can I Do for a Disc Herniation?

By Dr. Matthew Kenney

Often, people with neck or back pain are sent for an MRI only to learn they have a disc herniation, a term people have come to dread.  Upon hearing this term people usually imagine surgery and/or other unpleasant outcomes.  However, while surgery may sometimes be necessary there are countless people each year who discover that these disc problems can be corrected naturally.

Discs are basically the shock-absorbing circles that sit between spinal vertebrae.  Each disc is made up of 2 parts, a large outer ring of fibers called the annulus and a smaller circular jelly called the nucleus.  If a spine remains misaligned without being corrected these disc areas can become stressed and cause decay.  A herniation occurs when the outer fibers weaken (usually over a period of months and years) and the jelly-like nucleus material begins to leak outward and irritate spinal nerves much like pressing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich would squirt jelly out sideways onto a plate.  The nerve irritation can cause pain, numbness, tingling, weakness and other unpleasant symptoms which are often severe.

Herniated discs most often occur in either the lumbar (lower back) or cervical (neck) areas; both of which can be corrected.  The methods we use to correct them are as follows:

First, because disc problems stem from spinal stress caused by misalignments (subluxations) the spine must be re-trained through a series of gentle, spinal adjustments to return to its natural position.  Next, traction is utilized to help heal and repair the discs.  Because discs are weakened by compression (downward pressure) on the spine they can be healed by doing the opposite.  Traction involves stretching the spine outward so that discs can realign to proper positions, herniated material can be sucked back toward the nucleus like a vacuum, blood flow to the area can improve and nerve tension can be reduced.  In our office we have specialized equipment that we utilize for traction including a Flexion-Distraction Table for the lumbar spine.  Natural nutritional supplements are often used to assist in minimizing inflammation and to give the discs the proper nutrients they need to heal.  Finally, once the underlying problem is corrected exercises and stretches are carefully selected and assigned to help strengthen the area.

So, how successful is this natural approach?  Statistically the results are nearly 90%, meaning 9 out of 10 people can avoid surgery or other unpleasant outcomes. In the rare event that someone is not healing from this approach (within a period of 2-4 weeks) than they will be referred for surgery or other intervention.  Even those who do not improve will still know that they have exhausted their simple, natural options before exploring more risky and complex ones.

We help many people with disc herniations each year and currently have 8 patients that are nearing full recovery from them under our care.   If you or anyone you know suspects a disc problem please do not wait for it to correct itself!  Contact my office immediately for an appointment or further information at (203) 259-4731.

August 5, 2009

Warning Signs of an Unhealthy Spine

Filed under: Chiropractic - General Info and Benefits — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 1:18 pm

Dear Patients and Friends,
The following is an article which lists some simple ways to warn you that your spine is not functioning optimally. When the spine is not functioning properly there may be subluxations present. Subluxations occur when 1 vertebra becomes misaligned with an adjacent vertebra. This causes a reduction in nerve energy transmitted from the nerve roots which exit between the vertebrae. This is significant because this nerve energy supplies muscles, organs and glands and a decrease will cause impaired function. During a chiropractic examination we as chiropractors will thoroughly evaluate your structure, posture and nervous system to determine if subluxations are present. If you have any of the following warning signs then it’s time to make an appointment and either begin or continue chiropractic care.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Nicholas S. Bogannam
Dr. Matthew C. Kenney

How To Tell If My Spine is Healthy
by Tedd Koren, D.C.

15 Warning Signs of an Unhealthy Spine

1. YOUR HEELS WEAR OUT UNEVENLY. This can be due to uneven leg length or stress along the length of the spine.

2. YOU CAN’T TAKE A SATISFYING DEEP BREATH. Breath, health, spinal health and energy are interrelated.

3. YOUR JAW “CLICKS”. This can be caused by neck or hip subluxations.

4. YOU HAVE TO “CRACK” YOUR NECK, BACK, OR OTHER JOINTS A LOT. This can be caused by areas of your spine that are locked or jammed.

5. YOU CAN’T TWIST OR TURN YOUR HEAD OR HIPS TO EITHER SIDE EASILY AND EQUALLY. Reduced range of motion.

6. YOU ARE OFTEN TIRED. An unbalanced spine drains your energy.

7. YOU HAVE POOR CONCENTRATION. Subluxations affect brain health.

8. YOU HAVE LOW RESISTANCE TO DISEASE. Subluxations affect your neuroendocrine system which plays an important role in your resistance to disease and your ability to fight infection.

9. YOUR FOOT FLARES OUT WHEN WALKING. This test is easy as long as you don’t cheat. Merely look at your feet as you walk. Do they both point forward, or does one foot appear to flare outward or inward? Do both? Foot flare may be a sign of a problem in the lower spine or hips, or meningeal stress in the upper neck or base of the brain.

10. ONE LEG APPEARS SHORTER THAN THE OTHER. Keep your shoes on, and lie down. Have someone stand behind you, look down at your feet, and gently push your heels toward your head. Compare where the heels meet the shoes. One foot may appear anywhere from 1/8″ to 1″ shorter than the other.

11. YOU HAVE POOR POSTURE. Stand on two bathroom scales. The weight distribution should be about the same over each foot. If it is not, that’s a good sign that your spine, hips or head are off-center.

12. YOU HAVE HEADACHES, BACK ACHES, SORE OR TENDER SPOTS IN MUSCLES OR JOINTS. Common signs of subluxation.

13. YOU HAVE A CONSTANT, STRESSFUL FEELING AND TENSION ESPECIALLY IN MUSCLES AND JOINTS. Muscles are affected by subluxations.

14. YOU FEEL STIFFNESS IN YOUR BACK AND NECK. Stiffness may be a sign of subluxation damage.

15. YOU JUST DON’T FEEL RIGHT; YOU ARE IN GENERAL POOR HEALTH. Subluxations can affect your overall health.

Information taken from Tedd Koren, D.C.: “Chiropractic: Bringing Out The Best In You!”, 4th Edition

Poor Nutrition Causes Pain and Inflammation

Filed under: Nutrition and Exercise — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 1:15 pm

Nutrition and Inflammation

Inflammation is most often thought of as the redness, warmth, swelling, and pain that occur with an injury. The body responds this way whether it’s a surgical incision or a spider bite. Inflammation is also present in an infection like a strep throat or the achy, hot finger joints of rheumatoid arthritis. Wound healing and fighting infection are just some of the ways inflammation is activated. Inflammation is happening all the time in more or less obvious ways in your body.  Medical science has begun to understand the connection between inflammation and most of the chronic degenerative diseases. Some of these diseases – like cancer, heart disease, or diabetes – develop quietly for many years before causing problems. We aren’t even aware they are present. Pain isn’t always a part of these diseases. People can be pain free even when a lot of tissue damage has occurred. Others conditions, like osteoarthritis, gall bladder disease, or degenerative disc disease, make their presence known. Pain with these conditions can range from mild to unbearable.

These conditions all have one thing in common. The tissues of the body parts involved are inflamed. The process of inflammation depends on a number of different chemical elements. These are called inflammatory mediators. Chemical mediators are released from certain kinds of white blood cells. These white blood cells are part of our immune system. First they travel to a target area. Then they cause a series of reactions that create the tissue changes we refer to as inflammation. At first this process is actually a repair response to some sort of injury or insult to the tissue. Later, the inflammatory process can become chronic and the cause of further injury.
Inflammation and Back Pain

Healthy repair depends on good nutrition. Poor nutrition can lead to damaging inflammation in the joints of your spine. Inflammation causes the loss of the cellular framework that holds bone and connective tissues together. Studies show that some people with osteoarthritis have more rapid damage to their joints. This is because they have more inflammatory chemistry in their bodies.

Back pain may or may not be present in people with bone or cartilage changes in their spine. For instance many people have x-ray images that show they have flat and bulging discs. Or they may have brittle bones. Yet they have no pain. It is inflammation that causes the tissue changes that create the sensation of pain.

Inflammation stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in joint tissues. This growth process also causes new nerves to grow in areas around joint cartilage. Doctors think this new nerve growth may be why back pain goes along with inflammation. The increased tissue activity and the swelling that comes with inflammation can make the new nerves very sensitive. All of the steps in this inflammatory process (new blood vessel growth, new nerve growth) keep each other going in a never-ending cycle. Stopping inflammation will relieve pain and slow down joint damage.

Abdominal fat is made of the type of cells most active at making the kind of chemistry that causes damaging inflammation to all of your joints. The more belly fat you have, the more inflammatory chemistry you are making. Some lean people are also at risk.

(This information can be found at www.eorthopod.com)

No More Back Pain – Chiropractic is Rated Best Option for Low Back Pain

Filed under: Top Chiropractic Research Articles — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 12:55 pm

Chiropractic Manipulation Best Option For Low Back Pain, According to Patient Survey
(Arlington, Va.) — In light of a new survey showing that chiropractic spinal manipulation is the top-rated treatment for people suffering with back pain, patients should consider a consultation with a doctor of chiropractic, says the American Chiropractic Association.

The Consumer Reports Health Rating Center released the survey results of more than 14,000 Americans on April 6.

The survey rated doctors of chiropractic as the top practitioner, with survey respondents noting that they were more likely to be “highly satisfied” with the care received from their doctor of chiropractic (59 percent) than their primary care physician (34 percent).

“For the treatment of back pain, few options are better than chiropractic,” says ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC. “As shown in this latest survey, chiropractic spinal manipulation is an evidence-based and effective treatment for low-back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries. Coupled with the high-levels of patient satisfaction, patients should turn to chiropractic as their first choice.”

To compare which treatments helped most, Consumer Reports asked its subscribers to rate a comprehensive list of potential remedies along with their satisfaction with the health care professionals they visited. Most survey respondents had tried five or six different treatments on average, and many found that their back pain interfered with their daily activities, including sleep and their sex life.

Doctors of chiropractic provide drug-free, non-invasive treatment options for many types of pain and inflammation. For example, chronic back pain, neck pain, joint pain and headaches can often be reduced with the appropriate combination of chiropractic manipulation, rehabilitative exercises and lifestyle counseling – all of which are offered by doctors of chiropractic in a patient’s personalized treatment plan.

A significant amount of evidence has shown that the use of chiropractic care for certain conditions can be more effective than traditional medical care, with many patients feeling improvement shortly after their first chiropractic visit.

To read the article as it appears on the Consumer Reports Website go to www.consumerreports.org, for more information on chiropractic please go to www.acatoday.org.

Dear Patients and Friends,
Most of you already know how effective chiropractic care can be for not only reducing/eliminating back pain, neck pain and headaches but also improving asthma, breathing problems, digestive troubles and more.
Our patients are often so amazed with the results they receive that they want to spread the word and help those around them (family, friends, co-workers, etc) who are suffering or achieving less than ideal results with other approaches. This type of recommendation is often what motivates people to begin seeing a chiropractor. However, because chiropractic is different than traditional medicine which primarily offers medications to reduce symptoms but not resolve problems; some may be initially hesitant to try chiropractic.
If you know someone like this please share this article with them. Chiropractic is by far one of the safest healthcare professions in the world and offers effective, drug-free solutions to many health problems including back pain. As the article discussed, millions of people each year turn to chiropractic for pain relief and the satisfaction and effectiveness of this approach is higher than any other approach available.
If you know someone who is suffering please pass along this article and encourage them to schedule a consultation. Everyone deserves to live a happy, healthy life and chiropractic can be an important part of doing so.

Yours in Health,
Dr. Kenney
Dr. Bogannam

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