"The only real education comes from what goes counter to you."

Andre Gide

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March 2005

Contents

1. Acceptable “Health” Care in 2005
2. Fitness Corner
3. Health News
4. Office Happenings

Acceptable “Health” Care in 2005

Two recent stories in the news media have got my dander up. In fact, this article could be considered a rant. I am continually amazed at what we consider Health Care in the current age we live in. The first study concerned flu shots and the elderly. To read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-02-14-flu-study_x.htm

The authors of that study examined vaccination rates and death rates that could be attributed to the flu between the years 1968 and 2001. Flu vaccine coverage among people 65 or older increased from between 15% and 20% before 1980 to 65% in 2001. Despite increased vaccine rates over two decades, the mortality rates stayed the same. In theory the increased vaccine rates should have substantially reduced the mortality during that time frame. It didn’t.

The U.S. government’s response to this news: “We’re not changing our policy, the study was poorly done”. Oh, what we really should do, according to the officials, is vaccinate all children against the flu, which will eliminate it in the elderly. I guess they didn’t consider these two studies recently released stating that there was no proof that flu shoots work well in children under the age of 2. Read more: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/health/0205/26fluvax.html 
http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=524183

The second thing that got me going was the ongoing saga of Vioxx and Celebrex and if they are safe to be prescribed or not. Well here is the latest. Read more:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6992099/. Since Vioxx carries the same risk factors as other drugs in the same category, it’s okay to prescribe it! In a nutshell, it’s only as poisonous as the other poisons so that makes it acceptable. 

It has been estimated that between 88,000 and 138,000 people had heart attacks or strokes while taking Vioxx. Do you know what are two of the three leading causes of death? Heart disease and strokes. Hmm, I wonder what could be contributing some large numbers to that category? Read more: http://www.jvsr.com/researchupdate/detail.asp?ID=876. These drugs are pain relievers. I know pain can be a terrible thing but it would be a huge stretch to put them in the same category as insulin.

So it is 2005 and it is acceptable that a prescribed drug kills more people than 9/11, the Iraqi war and Vietnam combined. It’s acceptable that we follow procedures that provide very little benefit and may do harm. Where is the outrage? The government investigations? The public inquiries? The protests? The ribbon campaigns? And we call it “Health” care. What do you think about that?

Fitness Corner

Would you like the latest information on health fitness? Subscribe to Scott McDermott’s free newsletter (mybestbody@shaw.ca) and you will receive these great topics this month: 

1) Push through an injury or rest – which is best?
2) Eat like you have cancer
3) Core strength moves for a flatter tummy and a stronger body

Health News

Chiropractic, Oxidative Stress and DNA repair

A lot of the anti-aging literature is currently focused on oxidative stress and DNA repair. A substance known as serum thiol is a measure of human health status. It is a way of testing DNA repair enzyme activity. This study checked serum thiol levels in three groups of people: ones with active disease, one group that had been under chiropractic care for 8 – 52 weeks and a group that had chiropractic care for 52 – 312 weeks. To read more: https://www.jvsr.com/abstracts/index.asp?id=243  

The results of the study showed higher levels of serum thiol in the group that had chiropractic care for 52 – 312 weeks. In other words, people under longer term or wellness chiropractic care have a better chance of aging well and being healthy. There is more to chiropractic care than backaches and sore necks! 

Other Resources

Rob Cooper puts out a monthly E-zine that gives you health tips and discusses topics that can get you on the road to a healthier you. Visit his website, www.formerfatguy.com and sign up for his newsletter. Rob is someone who knows from what he speaks. He has lost over 300 lbs and now helps people make healthier choices in their lives.

Office Happenings

1. The Amazing Race. Star in your own Amazing Race to Wellness. We challenge you to participate in an Amazing Race towards wellness from March 6 to April 30. This journey will help you create and reinforce healthy habits that help you lead a more creative and productive life. Your trip will take 8 weeks to complete and you will see fabulous destinations around the world. As you establish healthy habits along the way, you will be rewarded. Not only will you be getting stronger and enjoying life more, there are prizes to be won! A Gift Certificate to The Runners Den, 3-month membership to Body Basics, a massage and adjustment package and a 3-month supply of water and cooler are some of the prizes. Go to www.docstacy.com/pdf/rules.pdf and scroll down for complete details.

2. Massage Specials. For the month of March, take advantage of $5 off a half hour and $10 off a full hour massage. Call Carol 340.0278 to book your appointment today.

3. Scan Month Update. Thanks to the generosity of our patients, over $400 was raised for the Red Cross for Tsunami relief. What an awesome job! Thanks again!

4. Wellness Orientation Workshops. If you haven’t been to one yet, why not make this the month you finally do. They are short, fun and really make a difference in your chiropractic care and the way you approach your overall health and wellness. March’s workshops are Wednesday the 9th and Monday the 21st. They take place in the office and they both start at 5:30 p.m.

5. Office Closings. The office will be closed Good Friday, March 25.