Category: To Your Health

Screen Time and Autism

By Editorial Staff

What parent hasn’t spent time in front of the TV with their new baby? Whether relaxing / bonding with their child or exposing them to educational information (think “Sesame Street” and similar programming), most parents start screen time early and often.

With the proliferation of technology such as tablets and laptops, the opportunities for screen time from a young age have only been magnified. But when it comes to infant exposure to screen time, here’s the big problem, according to new research: it could increase the risk of developing autism.

When infants reached 1 year of age, researchers gathered data from their mothers on the numbers of hours per day they let their child watch TV and/or DVDs: no screen time, less than one hour, 1-2 hours, 2-4 hours and four hours or more. Mothers were asked the same question when their child turned 3 years of age, at which time researchers also inquired about any diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by the child’s doctor.

Longer screen time at 1 year of age was significantly associated with ASD at 3 years of age, with boys three times more likely to be diagnosed than girls with similar screen times. While the study evaluated TV / DVD use only, the researchers warn that with screen time on the rise via other mediums (computers, phones, etc.), their findings (which appear in JAMA Pediatrics) may be only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the potential association between early screen time and autism.

Auriam is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior, and is often diagnosed after age 2, which is why the authors of this study waited until children were age 3 to evaluate the presence of ASD.

Can Chronic Back Pain Cause a Stroke??

To Your Health
March, 2020 (Vol. 14, Issue 03)

By Editorial Staff

Chronic low back pain, or LBP that lasts for more than about three months, often means it’s been ignored for some time, or masked with over-the-counter / prescription medications instead of a proven option such as chiropractic.

Yes, chronic low back pain can increase the cause of a stroke, suggests a new study published in Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery. The study compared more than 10,000 chronic LBP patients with 20,000-plus patients without low back pain, finding that over an eight-year tracking period, chronic LBP patients  had significantly higher risks of suffering any type of stroke or one of two specific types of stroke: hemorrhagic and ischemic. (The increased risk associated with ischemic stroke was the most significant, according to the authors’ findings.) Interestingly, the increased risk was highest in patients under age 50.

In an ischemic stroke, a blood clot blocks an artery supplying blood to the brain. In a hemorrhagic stroke, an artery in the brain leaks or bursts. Either one – or any of type of stroke – is immediately life threatening. Even stroke survivors can be left with physical and/or mental impairments that significantly limit their quality of life.

With that in mind, let’s revisit the all-too-common reality of chronic low back pain: often ignored, endured or masked (but not appropriately treated) with pain medications.  For these people, is a stroke in their future? According to recent statistics, that means an estimated 8-10 percent of U.S. adults could be at risk. And don’t forget that an estimated 80 percent of adults experience at least one episode of low back pain during their lifetime. Without appropriate care, that episode could become chronic as well.

It’s time for a safe, effective solution to low back pain; a solution that addresses the cause, not just the symptoms. It’s time to manage back pain before it ever has a chance of becoming chronic. It’s time for chiropractic – before your low back pain leads to a stroke. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Vitamin D Is Good for Your Heart

To Your Health
December, 2021 (Vol. 15, Issue 12)

By Editorial Staff

Imagine being diagnosed with heart disease and/or high blood pressure (a risk factor for heart disease). What could you have done differently in terms of your lifestyle – exercise more, eat healthier, reduce stress, etc.? Those all could have made a difference; but here’s one you probably wouldn’t consider: your vitamin D intake.

Vitamin D has been known first and foremost for promoting bone health, but its powerful role in promoting a strong immune system has been brought to the public’s attention over the past two years with the COVID pandemic taking center stage. But vitamin D is beneficial for much more than just bone and immune health; in fact, vitamin D even appears to be good for your heart.

A study published in the European Heart Journal suggests people with normal vitamin D levels are less likely to suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease than people with vitamin D deficiency. Study participants with the lowest levels of vitamin D (blood levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D) had double the risk for heart disease compared to participants with normal levels.

What’s your vitamin D status? If you don’t worry about it – or just meet the RDA requirement – you’re doing yourself and your health a tremendous disservice. Talk to your doctor about the profound health benefits of vitamin D and find out whether supplementation is necessary. Your heart will thank you for it.

Supporting a Woman’s Body and Fetal Development During Pregnancy

To Your Health
December, 2021 (Vol. 15, Issue 12)

By Monika A. Buerger, BA, DC

Pregnancy is considered the ultimate “stress test” of a woman’s body. Immediately upon conception, a woman’s body begins the beautiful process of preparing for the arrival of a precious little life.

Hormonal changes, which begin in the first trimester, will lead to many physiological changes throughout the body. These changes help prepare the mother’s body for pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

Hormonal Influences on Pelvic and Spinal Instability During Pregnancy

The hormone relaxin peaks at about 14 weeks. The function of this hormone is to prepare the body for childbirth by relaxing the pelvic ligaments, and softening and widening the cervix. However, with this process comes concerns over pelvic and spinal instability and altered biomechanics throughout pregnancy and during the postpartum period.

There are differing opinions as to how long relaxin remains in the body postpartum, with suggestions being anywhere from five months up to one year. Breastfeeding is said to prolong the presence of relaxin postpartum.

Instability of the pelvis and spine during pregnancy leads to postural changes and poor body mechanics, which will contribute to the etiology of common, but not normal, symptoms women experience during their childbearing years. Some such symptoms are:

• Low back pain
• Pubic symphysis separation / pelvic girdle pain
• Sacroiliac dysfunction
• Sciatica
• Upper back and neck pain
• Foot pain
• Overpronation
• Diastasis recti

Neuromusculoskeletal Pain Syndromes and Pregnancy

Low back pain is a common neuromusculoskeletal problem during pregnancy, with an estimated prevalence ranging from 30-78 percent in the United States, Europe and some parts of Africa.¹ Pregnancy-related pelvic joint disorders including pubic symphysis separation, pelvic girdle pain, sacroiliac joint pain and pelvic girdle syndrome (pain in all three pelvic joints) can arise during pregnancy following increased mobility and/or mechanical strain, which can involve one or more of the pelvic joints.

Pubic symphysis separation (symphysis diastasis) is diagnosed based on the persistence of symptoms and a separation of more than 10-13 mm on imaging. Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is sometimes classified under the broad category of low back pain. It is a specific form of low back pain, with onset during pregnancy or the immediate postpartum period.

It is generally described as a stabbing pain in the buttocks distal and lateral to L5-S1, which can radiate down to the knee and is often worse upon weight-bearing. It is related to nonoptimal stability of the pelvic girdle joints; hence, pain in the symphysis pubis, and/or uni- or bilateral pain in the sacroiliac joints, is designated as PGP.²

Foot pain is significantly more common in pregnant women than in nonpregnant, nulliparous women, with potential causes being weight gain, peripheral ligamentous laxity, and changes in posture and pedal pressure points.³ The timing of symptom onset in mid- to late pregnancy may suggest biomechanical factors play a larger role than hormonal influences when it comes to foot pain. Regular exercise appears to be neither protective against nor a risk factor for lower extremity pain during pregnancy.⁴

OTC Analgesics: Related Pregnancy and Neurodevelopmental Concerns

Given the high incidence of reported musculoskeletal pain syndromes during pregnancy, it is important to understand the potential consequences for both mother and child from the use of analgesics during pregnancy. It has been reported that between 40-65 percent of pregnant women use acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, with estimates of 3-20 percent of women reporting use in all three trimesters5 and 18.4 percent use of ibuprofen.⁶

Emerging studies have shown consistent associations between maternal acetaminophen use and select pregnancy and childhood adverse outcomes, including pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, asthma, and neurodevelopmental disorders;⁵ particularly autism and ADHD.

Acetaminophen is known to wipe out the body’s main antioxidant, glutathione, thereby exposing the developing fetus to higher levels of oxidative stress and toxic loads during critical windows of neurodevelopment. In a study of 300 African American and Dominican Republic children living in New York City, children who were exposed to acetaminophen prenatally were more likely to have asthma symptoms at age 5.

Building on prior research showing an association between both prenatal and postnatal acetaminophen and asthma, this was the first study to demonstrate a direct link between asthma and an ability to detoxify foreign substances in the body. The results of this study suggest less efficient detoxification is a mechanism in the association between acetaminophen and asthma.⁷

It has been hypothesized that acetaminophen may induce autism through oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in susceptible individuals. Acetaminophen in a dose-dependent model increases the rate of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The high level of ROS depletes glutathione, and the induced oxidative stress causes neurotoxicity and reduces cortical neuronal cell viability by apoptosis.⁶

It has also been shown that prenatal and early-life exposure to both acetaminophen and ibuprofen were associated with poorer executive function and behavior in childhood.⁷

Chiropractic Supportive Measures for the Pregnant Woman

Chiropractic care to help support the adapting musculoskeletal and nervous system, and minimize pain / discomfort during pregnancy and during labor and delivery, is vital. In addition to specific spinal adjustments using adaptive techniques, including the Webster technique, other supportive measures to help enhance spinal and pelvic stability that should be considered are:

• Proper nutritional intake of protein and healthy fats
• Supplementation of vitamin B6 to support ligamentous changes
• Exercise such as yoga and Pilates specific to the pregnant woman
• Pelvic tilt exercises and pelvic floor exercises such as Kegels
• Sacral belt use
• Custom orthotic supports made specifically for pregnant women and designed to reflect the biomechanical changes that occur in the second and third trimester, as well as the postpartum period.

References

1. Manyozo SD, Nesto T, Bonongwe P, Muula AS. Low back pain during pregnancy: prevalence, risk factors and association with daily activities among pregnant women in urban Blantyre, Malawi. Malawi Med J, 2019;31(1):71-76.
2. Adinma JIB, Adinma ED, Umeononihu OS, et al. Prevalence, perception and risk factors for musculoskeletal discomfort among pregnant women in southeast Nigeria. J Musculoskelet Disord Treat, 2018;4:063.
3. Ibid.
4. Vullo VJ, Richardson JK, Hurvitz EA. Hip, knee, and foot pain during pregnancy and the postpartum period. J Fam Pract, 1996 Jul;43(1):63-8.
5. Bandoli G, Palmsten K, Chambers C. Acetaminophen use in pregnancy: examining prevalence, timing, and indication of use in a prospective birth cohort. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol, 2020;34(3):237-246.
6. Ahmad Ghanizadeh (2012). Acetaminophen may mediate oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in autism. Med Hypotheses, 2012 Feb;78(2):351.
7. Rifas-Shiman SL, Cardenas A, Hivert MF, et al. Associations of prenatal or infant exposure to acetaminophen or ibuprofen with mid-childhood executive function and behaviour. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol, 2020 May;34(3):287-298.

Dr. Monika Buerger, a 1991 graduate of Life Chiropractic College West, is the owner of Eagle Canyon Wellness & Sensory Development Center in Ammon, Idaho. She is a teacher, international lecturer, author, and the founder of Intersect4Life Educational Seminars and developingMINDS certification program in childhood and adolescent neurodevelopment. .

Making the Pain Worse

To Your Health
December, 2021 (Vol. 15, Issue 12)

Making the Pain Worse
By Editorial Staff

When you’re experiencing pain, you want relief – as quickly as possible. Pain caused by migraine headaches, often described by sufferers as among the worst pain imaginable, is the perfect example. Migraine sufferers want relief – immediate and total relief. That desire for relief often leads to medication use, either over the counter or something stronger – and more dangerous – such as opioids.
The opioid epidemic continues to kill hundreds of Americans every day due to misuse, abuse and addiction. Research suggests when it comes to managing migraine pain, opioids have another major drawback; they accomplish the exact opposite of what they’re intended to accomplish: pain relief. Opioids appear to increase both the frequency and severity of migraines, and researchers now understand why.

migraines – Copyright – Stock Photo / Register MarkMigraine pain and pain caused by opioid overuse seem to share a specific peptide – a chain of amino acids that can regulate brain-signaling pathways, among other functions. The peptide in question is called pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide, but knowing its name is far less important than appreciating its role in migraine and opioid pain – and understanding that opioid use can actually make migraine pain worse. Study findings are published in Molecular and Cellular Proteomics.

The moral to the story: Use opioids at your own peril, particularly if you suffer from migraines. Talk to your doctor about nondrug solutions for your pain, whether from migraines or any other issue.

Suffering From Knee Pain? Your Chiropractor Is Your Best Choice

All Activity Isn’t Healthy

To Your Health
May, 2021 (Vol. 15, Issue 05)

By Editorial Staff

Any physical activity is healthy activity, right? Not so fast. Where you do it might make a big difference. It could boil down to whether your activity is on or off the job.

Researchers tracked more than 100,000 men and women who completed questionnaires regarding their activity during leisure and work hours, categorizing participants into four activity groups for both leisure and employment activity: low, moderate, high or very high. After an average of 10 years of monitoring, death rates from any cause or a major (fatal or nonfatal) cardiovascular event during that time period were assessed.

Compared to men and women with low leisure activity levels, moderate, high and very high leisure-time activity levels decreased early death significantly – by 26 percent, 41 percent and 40 percent, respectively. However, compared to low job activity levels, high and very high job activity levels actually increased the risk of early death by 13 percent and 27 percent, respectively.

The European Society of Cardiology, which published the findings in its journal, the European Heart Journal, emphasized, “[Leisure] time physical activity and occupational physical activity have opposite, and independent, associations with cardiovascular disease risk and longevity.” The society’s press release also quoted study author Prof. Andreas Holtermann, who explained why leisure-time vs. on-the-job activity may not be the same:

“A brisk 30-minute walk will benefit your health by raising your heart rate and improving your cardio-respiratory fitness, while work activity often does not sufficiently increase heart rate to improve fitness. In addition, work involving lifting for several hours a day increases blood pressure for many hours, which is linked with heart disease risk, while short bursts of intense physical activity during leisure raises blood pressure only briefly.”

Safer With Chiropractic

To Your Health
June, 2015 (Vol. 09, Issue 06)

By Editorial Staff

Whenever you visit a health care provider, safety is always a concern: How will that treatment (whether a drug, procedure, etc.) affect me? Those fears are magnified in elderly patients, who can generally handle less physical trauma than their younger counterparts.

Well, the statistics don’t lie: A recent study in the peer-reviewed journal Spine compared two groups of elderly patients’ experiences with chiropractic and medical care, respectively, arriving at an interesting conclusion: Chiropractic is the safer of the two options in terms of the elderly patient’s likelihood of suffering an injury within seven days of an office visit.

The study evaluated the risk of injury to the head, neck or trunk after an office visit for chiropractic spinal manipulation or evaluation by a primary care physician. The cumulative probability of injury in the chiropractic group: 40 injury incidents per 100,000 subjects; in the primary care group: 153 incidents per 100,000 subjects.

The study authors’ conclusion makes their findings crystal clear: “Among Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 to 99 years with an office visit for a neuromusculoskeletal problem, risk of injury to the head, neck, or trunk within 7 days was 76% lower among subjects with a chiropractic office visit than among those who saw a primary care physician.”

The Last Profession Standing for Low Back Pain: Chiropractic

Exercising for Heart Health: The More the Better

To Your Health
March, 2021 (Vol. 15, Issue 03)

By Editorial Staff

If you’ve ever heard the story of the avid jogger who dropped dead of a heart attack, or the extreme marathon runner who still got cardiovascular disease, you may have wondered: Is there a limit to how much exercise I should do? The short answer, according to new research, is no. Certainly even the fittest of the fit can experience a heart issue, but this study involving more than 90,000 adults found that over a five-year period, the people who engaged in the most vigorous-intensity exercise (top 25 percent) reduced their heart disease risk by 54-63 percent.

And the risk reductions don’t apply just to vigorous exercise: People in the top 25 percent in terms of all intensities of exercise (moderate to vigorous) also reduced their risk by 48-57 percent. Study findings appear in the journal PLOS Medicine.

Now you may be wondering, But those people are also healthier in general, right? True, but the researchers accounted for this, adjusting for factors that could influence heart disease risk, such as whether participants smoked, were overweight or obese, and drank more than moderate amounts of alcohol. Higher levels of exercise still correlated with lower rates of heart disease.

Your doctor can tell you more about the health benefits of consistent exercise and help outline a program suitable to your goals and health needs.