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.

March 4, 2010

A Less Talked About but More Effective Approach to Asthma

Filed under: Chiropractic - General Info and Benefits, Dr. Kenney's Health Blog, Pediatrics and Pregnancy — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:40 am

By Dr. Matthew Kenney

Asthma continues to rise in our country at an alarming rate.  Over $11 billion is spent annually on this disease alone and yet things are not improving.  In fact, by 2020 it is estimated that 1 out of 14 people will suffer from it.  The most common treatment usually involves medications such as inhalers, steroids, anti-spasmodics and bronchodilators however the statistics tell us that this approach is not working.  Furthermore, these medicines while sometimes helpful in reducing symptoms offer no permanent cure and cause side effects especially in children.   Let me share with you the experiences I’ve had in practice and how I’m able to help people with asthma.

To breathe properly your brain must send a signal down your spinal cord that will then exit via a nerve root (that runs between 2 vertebrae) and branch out to reach the lungs.  If the vertebrae are out of position they choke off and irritate the nerves because they lie in such close proximity to the spine.  This decreases the nerve energy to the lungs and alters their ability to function properly.  This makes sense right?  Children with asthma usually have structural misalignments to their upper and middle back areas.  When I examine the posture of a child with asthma I often see shoulders that slouch forward causing a slightly hump-back appearance and often see 1 shoulder resting higher up than the other.  This (along with x-rays when appropriate) tells me that the spine is not properly positioned.  Once the vertebrae are realigned through chiropractic adjustments the nerves can once again properly transmit their messages and normal function returns.   This alone often allows asthma to be eliminated or reduced in severity.

In practice I have seen many children with asthma and have witnessed first-hand the amazing results that can be attained through spinal adjustments.  I’ve seen pulmonary function (breathing) tests dramatically improve, medication able to be eliminated (or significantly reduced) and children be able to participate in and enjoy activities more.  Best of all there are no side effects to this method.  It may not be the first thing you’d think of for helping asthma but it is safe, effective and side-effect free.  Those concerned about asthma should strongly consider chiropractic to help themselves and their children.

August 5, 2009

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

Chiropractic – The Natural Solution for Asthma

Filed under: Pediatrics and Pregnancy — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 12:45 pm

Patients and Friends,
The incidence of asthma continues to rise in our country, especially among children and the symptoms can be debilitating. Much has been written about air quality, mold, allergens and toxic home products and how they contribute to asthma. However, in spite of understanding many of the causes of asthma, doctors almost invariably prescribe a cocktail of medications including inhalers, steroids, anti-spasmodics and bronchodilators.  Research continues to show that although these drugs provide temporary relief, rarely do they correct the problem and often the long term side effects of these drugs leave the patient in a more weakened overall state of health.  The chiropractic approach as always is to find the cause of the problem (in this case asthma) and correct it.

Chiropractic care continues to be very successful in eliminating asthma without side effects. Dietary corrections, removing food allergens, purifying the air and eliminating environmental toxins are very effective in many cases. However, most asthmatics have complicated structural and postural problems that affect their breathing and proper movement of their chest cavity. Most asthmatics have subluxations (spinal bones out of place interfering with nerve flow) in the lower neck and upper back regions (between the shoulder blades especially).

As simple as it may sound, correcting these misalignments can have a dramatic affect on breathing capacity. This can be the most effective tool in eliminating asthma, yet most asthmatics are still unaware that this simple approach can dramatically help their asthma without any short or long term side effects.
If any of your family or friends have asthmatic problems, please share this with them. The gift of health is the most precious gift we can give our loved ones.

In Good Health,
Dr. Kenney
Dr. Bogannam

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