Things to Consider Before Getting the Flu Vaccine

Did you know that during the 2012-2013 flu season, the flu vaccine's effectiveness was found to be just 56 percent across all age groups reviewed by the CDC —in essence, the statistical equivalent of a coin toss. In seniors, aged 65 and over, the US flu vaccines were only nine percent effective.

The 'gold standard' of independent scientific evaluation and analysis, theCochrane Database Review, has issued no less than five reports between 2006 and 2010, all of which decimate the myth that flu vaccinations are “the most effective flu prevention method” available.

In average conditions, when a flu vaccine at least partially matches the circulating virus, 100 people need to be vaccinated in order to avoid just ONE set of influenza symptoms, according to Cochrane’s findings.

Yet as another flu season approaches, all these facts are wholly ignored by conventional medicine and media alike, and you’ll certainly never see them mentioned in any flu vaccine promotion campaign.

Unfortunately, in addition to the fact they may not be nearly as effective as advertised, flu vaccines can, and do, cause harm. The featured video is a potent reminder of what vaccine damage can look like, and why it’s so important to make well-informed decisions about all vaccinations, including “routine” ones.

While death and complete disability from a flu vaccine may be rare, so is dying from the flu itself. So I strongly recommend weighing the risk of suffering a debilitating side effect of the flu vaccine relative to the more likely potential of spending a week in bed with the flu.

Remember, most deaths attributed to influenza are actually due to bacterial pneumonia, and these days, bacterial pneumonia can be effectively treated with advanced medical care and therapies like respirators and parenteral antibiotics.

Also, it is important to remember that only about 20 percent of all influenza-like illness that occurs every year is actually associated with influenza viruses because many types of respiratory illnesses with flu-like symptoms can be mistaken for influenza. About 80 percent of cases of suspected influenza sent to the CDC for analysis lab test negative for type A or type B influenza.

Vaccine Choices Abound This Year...

This season, your choice of flu vaccine is more diverse than ever. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved several new flu vaccines, including trivalent (three strain) and quadrivalent (four strain) vaccines. As reported in Time Magazine¹ last month, available choices this year will include:

Standard three-strain flu vaccine. This year’s version includes influenza strains H1N1 and H3N2, and an influenza B virus	Egg-free vaccine (FluBlok), in which the influenza virus’ were grown in caterpillar cells instead of chicken eggs
Quadrivalent, or four-strain vaccine, which includes two A class of viruses and two from the B class, which tends to cause illness primarily in young children	High-dose vaccines, promoted for seniors aged 65 and over
Nasal spray, called FluMist. This year it will contain four strains opposed to three, matching the quadrivalent injection	Intradermal vaccine, promoted for those afraid of needles. The vaccine is delivered through a panel of micro-needles rather than a single needle

Universal ‘Flu Vaccine’ May Already Exist—In the Form of Vitamin D

Scientists are also inching ever closer to the creation of a “universal” flu vaccine— one that would protect against all forms of influenza. One hypothetical universal vaccine type targets so-called “stalk antibodies.” However, recent research in pigs has raised a huge red flag, calling into question the validity of this hypothesis, as it appears such a vaccine might actually magnify the impact of some strains of the virus and cause more severe disease.

Another universal vaccine being developed by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi is based on the finding² that people who have more virus-killing immune cells, known as CD8 T cells, either don’t get sick or experience only mild flu symptoms. The idea behind this vaccine is that by stimulating your body to produce more CD8 T cells, it may protect you from getting the flu, or at least from having severe symptoms.

However, while the drug company researchers brag that they know how to use a vaccine to stimulate the immune system to produce more CD8 T cells, they fail to mention that vitamin D is also known to have a direct immune-modulating effect on CD8 T cells. This was revealed in a study³ published three years ago. Other research has proposed that deprivation of sunlight and vitamin D at higher latitudes worsens CD8 T-cell deficiency.⁴ So, it may be, then, that a ‘universal flu vaccine’ doesn’t need to be created at all because it essentially already exists in the form of vitamin D!

Research Proves Vitamin D Is a Potent Weapon Against Influenza

Robert Edgar Hope-Simpson was one of the first to discover the link between a deficiency in solar radiation and seasonal influenza. Then, in 2006, the journalEpidemiology and Infection⁵ published Dr. John Cannell’s paper "Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D,"⁶ which presents the hypothesis that influenza is little more than a symptom of vitamin D deficiency.

Clearly, just because you’re exposed to a virus does not automatically mean that you will get sick. On the contrary, studies⁷have shown that even in people without any antibodies against a particular virus, the majority do not develop any symptoms at all when directly exposed in experiments.

The fact of the matter is that if your immune system is operating optimally, your chances of contracting a cold or flu-like illness or influenza are very slim. Vitamin D is an important player in overall healthy immune function, but it’s also an effective antimicrobial agent in its own right, producing 200 to 300 different antimicrobial peptides in your body that kill bacteria, viruses and fungi. So optimizing your vitamin D levels will help combat viruses in more ways than one.

Dr. Cannell followed up on his hypothesis with another study published in the Virology Journal⁸ in 2008, and his findings were again confirmed in 2009—this time by the largest and most nationally representative study of its kind to date, involving about 19,000 Americans. That same year (2009), it was discovered that almost two-thirds of the children who died from H1N1 swine flu complications had underlying health problems such as  epilepsy, cerebral palsy, or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Neurological and immune disorders have been associated with childhood vitamin D deficiency, which could also have made the children  more susceptible to swine flu complications.

A 2010 study⁹ that didn't get any widespread attention also demonstrated the effectiveness of vitamin D as a preventive strategy against influenza. In fact, children taking just 1,200 IUs of vitamin D3 per day, which is considered a low dose, were shown to be 42 percent less likely to come down with the flu. I firmly believe that optimizing your vitamin D levels is the single most important and least expensive action you can take to help strengthen immune function and protect against getting sick during the flu season, and would STRONGLY urge you to have your vitamin D level monitored to confirm your levels are therapeutic at 50-70 ng/ml year-round.

The Best Way to Optimize Your Vitamin D Levels

Research on vitamin D is moving forward swiftly, so you’d be well advised to stay on top of the latest developments as recommendations are refined and updated. I will cover the latest developments here, so you may want to share this article with your peers.  

Sun exposure is by far the best way to optimize your vitamin D levels as your body has built-in “fail-safe” mechanisms that help prevent detrimental side effects from occurring. Vitamin D from sunlight acts as a pro-hormone, rapidly converting in your skin into 25-hydroxyvitamin D, or vitamin D3. A viable alternative is to use a safe tanning bed, i.e. one that has an electronic ballast, opposed to a magnetic one.

Sun exposure may also be more beneficial due to the fact that when your skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces cholesterol sulfate, which is important for optimal brain and heart function. Cholesterol sulfate also appears to play an important role in reducing LDL cholesterol, which is associated with cardiovascular disease. So there’s more to gain by getting sun exposure than “just” protecting yourself against influenza and flu-like illness.

The problem, of course, is that it can be difficult to get enough sun exposure, especially during winter months when you need it the most. Last year, I created a video to help you determine if you can get enough vitamin D from sun exposure in your area at different times of the year. 

If you decide to take supplements to boost your vitamin D levels, based on the latest investigations by Carole Baggerly, director of GrassrootsHealth, the average adult dose required to reach healthy vitamin D levels is around 8,000 IUs of vitamin D per day. For children, many experts agree they need about 35 IUs of vitamin D per pound of body weight. Here, it’s important to remember that if you’re taking high-dose vitamin D supplements, you ALSO need to take vitamin K2, and monitor your levels via blood testing to ensure that they’re within the optimal range.

Diet and Sleep Are Also Important Factors

Besides vitamin D, addressing your diet and sleep pattern can go a long way toward warding off the flu. When it comes to diet, perhaps the most important factor is to avoid processed foods and sugar (especially fructose), as sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately. Be aware that sugar (typically in the form of high fructose corn syrup) is present in foods you may not suspect, like ketchup and fruit juice. A high-sugar diet will also decimate your beneficial bacteria and feed the pathogenic yeast and viruses. Clearly, if you are sick, or specifically want to reduce your chances of getting sick, then sugar is the last thing you should be eating.

It’s important to remember that the bacteria in your gut have enormous control of your immune response. In addition to avoiding processed food and sugar, you’d be wise to add in fermented foods on a regular basis, which will help reseed your gut with a wide array of beneficial bacteria.

Sleep is another important factor. Just like it becomes harder for you to get your daily tasks done if you're tired, if your body is overly fatigued it will be harder for it to fight the flu. Be sure to check out my article "Guide to a Good Night's Sleep" for some great tips to help you get quality rest.

Other Strategies to Protect Yourself Against the Flu Without Vaccination

If you want to avoid a serious case of influenza, you need to focus on maintaining a robust and well-functioning immune system. As mentioned, I believe optimizing your vitamin D levels is one of the most potent preventive strategies available, followed by diet and sleep. There are other factors that can come into play too, of course. The following guidelines will also act in concert to support your immune system:

• Have Effective Tools to Address Stress. We all face some stress every day, but if stress becomes overwhelming then your body will be less able to fight off the flu and other illness. If you feel that stress is taking a toll on your health, consider using an energy psychology tool such as the Emotional Freedom Technique, which is remarkably effective in relieving stress associated with all kinds of events, from work to family to trauma.
• Get Regular Exercise. When you exercise, you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads. Be sure to stay hydrated – drink plenty of fluids, especially water. However, it would be wise to radically reduce the intensity of your workouts while you are sick. No Peak Fitnessexercises until you are better.
• Take a High-Quality Source of Animal-Based Omega-3 Fats. Increase your intake of healthy and essential fats like the omega-3 found in krill oil, which is crucial for maintaining health. It is also vitally important to avoid damaged omega-6 oils that are trans fats and in processed foods as it will seriously damage your immune response.
• Wash Your Hands. Washing your hands will decrease your likelihood of spreading a virus to your nose, mouth or other people. Be sure you don't use antibacterial soap for this – antibacterial soaps are completely unnecessary, and they cause far more harm than good. Instead, identify a simple chemical-free soap that you can switch your family to.
• Tried and True Hygiene Measures. In addition to washing your hands regularly, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If possible, avoid close contact with those who are sick and, if you are sick, avoid close contact with those who are well.
• Use Natural Immune-Boosters. Examples include oil of oregano and garlic, both of which offer effective protection against bacteria, viruses, and protozoa in your body. And unlike pharmaceutical antibiotics, they do not appear to lead to resistance.
• Avoid Hospitals. I'd recommend you stay away from hospitals unless you're having an emergency and need expert medical care, as hospitals are prime breeding grounds for infections of all kinds. The best place to get plenty of rest and recover from illness that is not life-threatening is usually in the comfort of your own hom

Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa 

The Safety of Pediatric Chiropractic

A survey study examining the practice characteristics and pediatric care of chiropractors ⁽¹⁾ in the Boston area estimated that approximately 420,000 pediatric chiropractic visits were made in the Boston metropolitan area alone for 1998. If extrapolated for the rest of the United States and Canada, the number of chiropractic visits to children in one year would be enormous numbering in several million visits. Given this high utilization rate of pediatric chiropractic services in the United States and Canada, statistics should indicate a great number of morbidity and mortality. On the contrary, there exists little evidence of harm to children from chiropractic.
When the Canadian Pediatric Society published their position statement on, “Chiropractic Care for Children: Controversies and Issues,” ⁽²⁾ they addressed the issue of “The Safety of Chiropractic in Paediatrics,” Only one case report of vertebrobasilar occlusion in a seven-year-old was cited. It occurred following gymnastics and repeated chiropractic manipulations of the cervical spine ⁽³⁾. They further readily admit that, “Reports of other paediatric complications are few.”

In Perspective:

• It has been estimated that the annual cost of medication-related problems in the United States is approximately $84.6 billion ^(4,5)

• The human impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (i.e., aspirin)–related gastrointestinal deaths have been estimated at rates higher than that found from deaths due to cervical cancer, asthma or malignant melanoma ⁽⁶⁾

• Medication errors and adverse drug events are three times higher in children and substantially higher still for neonates ⁽⁷⁾.

• The list could go on...

Millions of children and their families will continue to experience the benefits of this safe and efficacious form of healthcare called chiropractic. Chiropractic researchers are looking into the salutary effects of chiropractic care in children with subluxations and concomitant conditions like ADHD, asthma, colic and others. When two forms of healthcare meet at the crossroads of patient care, there will be controversy.

As a researcher, all I ask is an honest and open dialog about the issues at hand so that all are informed. When a medical doctor questions the chiropractic care for children and not the growing use of stimulants, antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs in children as young as 2-4 years of age ⁽⁸⁾, then their motives come into question. In future articles, I will discuss the efficacy and safety of Chiropractic care for children in topics from A-Z (i.e., from ADHD to the use of x-rays in chiropractic practice) based on the scientific literature for the benefit of the readers to be informed.


Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa 

COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS about Chiropractic Care

I get questions about all the incredible and wonderful miracles I see in my office everyday, and what it is that chiropractic Care is doing to allow these miracles to occur.  Here are some of the basic questions on Chiropractic.  Get your spine checked today at Bode Chiropractic to ensure you maintain the health of your nervous system and allow these miracles to push you to a higher level of Health!


What is a subluxation?
      The word "subluxation" comes from the Latin words meaning "to dislocate" (luxate) and "somewhat or slightly" (sub). A subluxation means a slight dislocation (misalignment) or biomechanical malfunctioning of the vertebrae (bones of the spine). These disturbances may irritate nerve roots and blood vessels which branch off from the spinal cord between each of the vertebrae. This irritation may cause pain and dysfunction in muscle, lymphatic and organ tissue as well as imbalance in the normal body processes.
  
What causes a subluxation?
      A fall, injury, sudden jar, trauma, or sometimes an inherited spinal weakness can displace a vertebra. Other causes include improper sleeping conditions or habits, poor posture, occupational hazards, incorrect lifting practices, obesity, lack of rest and exercise, and stress. The word "subluxation" comes from the Latin words meaning "to dislocate" (luxate) and "somewhat or slightly" (sub). A subluxation means a slight dislocation (misalignment) or biomechanical malfunctioning of the vertebrae (bones of the spine). These disturbances may irritate nerve roots and blood vessels which branch off from the spinal cord between each of the vertebrae. This irritation may cause pain and dysfunction in muscle, lymphatic and organ tissue as well as imbalance in the normal body processes.

How is a subluxation corrected?
      Doctors of Chiropractic are specialists in neuromusculoskeletal conditions. They are trained to restore the misaligned vertebrae to their proper position in the spinal column. They do this manually, utilizing the chiropractic procedure known as "spinal adjustment." Your chiropractor, in most cases, will use his or her hands in applying corrective pressure to the spine in a specific direction and location. The manual force or thrust helps restore the alignment and mobility of the vertebrae. In some cases, the chiropractor may use instrumentation to detect subluxations and adjust the spine.

Does the adjustment hurt?
     Under normal circumstances, chiropractic adjustments are painless. In cases of recent trauma, such as whiplash, mild discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation. It is also common to feel a brief sensation in the extremities immediately following an adjustment due to the sudden decompression of the affected nerve root.

Is regular chiropractic care necessary?
     Regular chiropractic care may be necessary to correct spinal subluxations to help maintain sound health and fitness. Your spine is under constant strain during waking hours. Improper lifting techniques, poor posture, accidents, falls and bumps, and other causes can contribute to spinal strain. Timely adjustments can help restore the neuromusculoskeletal integrity of the spine to normalize the bodily equilibrium and increase resistance.

How old should a person be before he or she begins chiropractic care?
      Chiropractic patients range in years from birth to old age. Regardless of age, the vertebrae can become misaligned. For example, the birth process may cause trauma to the neck and spine. Left uncorrected, the vertebral subluxation may disturb the delicate spinal cord and nerves which control the youngster's muscles and organs. In some cases, an uncorrected subluxation may lead to a deformity of the spinal column. An early chiropractic checkup may detect many spinal problems while they are still easily correctable.

How will the adjustment help me?
      Chiropractic adjustments by themselves do not actually heal the body. When any of the 24 moveable spinal vertebrae become misaligned, a basic imbalance or disruption can occur in the nervous and blood vascular systems, which may contribute to stress in the body. Chiropractic adjustments help eliminate that imbalance or disruption so that the body can function at its true potential.

Does an adjustment have to make a noise to be effective?
      No, it is a common misconception that your joints must make a noise to be properly adjusted. However, more often than not when your vertebrae are adjusted, the smooth articular (joint) surfaces become separated, creating and then releasing a small vacuum, making a noise. This is the sound made when you crack your knuckles. Your chiropractor is concerned with the position of your vertebrae, not with the noise that may occur.

Should I go to a Chiropractor if I feel fine?
      Even if you feel fine, chiropractic care can help your body maintain its required level of health and fitness. Your chiropractor can recommend a preventive spinal-care program and advise you on correct posture, dietary information and back exercises. Regular spinal checkups can help detect and prevent spinal stress due to subluxations.

Is it true that Chiropractors do not prescribe medication or perform surgery?
     Yes. Chiropractors do not include medication or surgery in their treatment program. Chiropractors maintain that the body has a built-in capacity to restore health within certain limits, and base their care on this principle. Occasionally, the use of medication can interfere with the body's healing mechanisms, produce side effects, create a dependence and lead to drug-caused disease or complications. The first response in most illnesses and injuries should be conservative care. Chiropractic's principles make it possibly the safest and most appealing of the healing arts.

How does chiropractic care help the pregnant woman?
     Because of the additional weight and stress on the framework of the body in pregnant women, chiropractic adjustments can help lower the incidence of pain in the low back and legs, and between the shoulder blades. In some cases, fewer headaches and problems with nausea and elimination may also result. Many chiropractors care for expectant mothers in the regular course of their daily practices. It is wise, however, to first inquire about the experience of your chiropractor in caring for pregnant women and what he or she recommends for you

Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa 

Chiropractic Effectiveness with Headache

     Headache is one of the most common conditions seen in chiropractic offices.  Over the last decade headache represented 13% of chiropractic patient’s presenting complaints. Headaches not only have a significant adverse impact on adults but “frequent or severe headaches including migraine in the past 12 months were reported in 17.1% of children.”  Extensive research has addressed the many types of headache and the last year has seen several important publications investigating the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment and spinal manipulation.

      An extensive review of the literature will appear in the next issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) and provides guidelines for chiropractic treatment of adult headaches.  The work was done by a group of Canadians and documents the research support for chiropractic management (high-velocity, low-amplitude thrusts) for both migraine and cervicogenic headaches.  Mobilization may also be effective for tension-type headache and cervicogenic headache. 

     

A previous review of cervicogenic headache can be found here.

A new Dutch study of chronic tension type headache (CTTH) compared treatment from medical providers in general practice (GP) to chiropractic.  That study concluded that “Manual therapy is more effective than usual GP care in the short- and longer term in reducing symptoms of CTTH.”

Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa 

Differentiation of Spinal Disc Injuries

 

     Quite often I am asked what the difference is between different types of disc injuries of the spine.  While the nomenclature is sometimes interchanged there are specific names for each type of disc injury.  However, what does need to be made clear is that no matter which type of disc injury you are suffering from, pain, numbness, and loss of bodily function can occur with any of them.  Due to this, it is highly recommended that Chiropractic Care begin immediately to prevent any further damage that will occur if left untreated.  Disc injuries are permanent, but the sooner treatment begins, the quicker the pain and dysfunction can be corrected.  This will also prevent future damage that can progressively worsen over time.  If you or someone you know is suffering from a disc injury, Call Bode Chiropractic today to prevent a disc injury from becoming a lifetime problem.



Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa 

Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa

Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa

 

Chiropractic ...Can it Help with Infertillity

       A study published in the May 2003 issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, showed a strong link between the resolution of infertility and the initiation of chiropractic care. The study consisted of a retrospective review of 14 separate articles of 15 women suffering with infertility. In each of these cases chiropractic care was introduced and the results were documented and published.
      The studies followed 15 female subjects ranging in age from 22 to 65. The prior pregnancy history of these women revealed 11 of them had never gotten pregnant. Two of the women had prior successful unassisted pregnancies. One woman had an assisted pregnancy, while 1 had a history of a miscarriage. In this group 9 women had previous treatment for infertility before starting chiropractic and 4 were actually undergoing infertility treatment when they started chiropractic care.
      The study noted the huge expense of infertility treatment options currently used by many couples noting the range of expenses can easily go into the thousands. The article also noted that in vitro fertilization has shown evidence of long term risks. A study published in November 2002 in the online version of the American Journal of Human Genetics reported that babies conceived by in vitro fertilization may be at increased risk for a rare genetic disorder that predisposes them to cancer.
The chiropractic care rendered to the women listed in this study was from a variety of chiropractors using a variety of techniques. The focus of the care in these cases was correction of vertebral subluxations. The research article defined Subluxation by using the agreed definition of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges. Subluxation, as defined by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges, is a complex of functional and / or structural and / or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health". The study noted that all of the women in these studies, who were struggling with infertility, had evidence of nerve system interference, as detected by the presence of subluxations.
     The results of these individual case studies showed that even though many of these women had tried unsuccessfully for some time to become pregnant, all of the women in this study eventually became pregnant somewhere between 2 months and 20 months of the onset of chiropractic care. One of the case studies was summed up by the author, Elizabeth Anderson-Peacock, DC, DICCP, "Although chiropractic care is not a treatment for infertility, it is postulated that improvement of spinal neural integrity through specific chiropractic adjustments may have contributed to improved homeostasis and physiological adaptation thus allowing the body to express a greater level of health as an outcome."


Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa

Role of chiropractic in managing seizures in children with autism

Over a decade ago, Pistolese presented the results of a thorough chiropractic literature review that out of the 17 papers reviewed, 15 epileptic patients out of 15 reported positive outcomes resulting from subluxation-based chiropractic care. Since his paper, several studies have been published documenting similar results. Of the various theories that have been postulated to explain the apparent effectiveness subluxation-based chiropractic has in managing seizures, Amalu's work concerning cerebral penumbra applies most readily to autistic patient suffering from seizures.

The epilepsy-autism connection

Epilepsy is a general term that refers to the tendency to have recurrent seizures. A seizure is a temporary disturbance in brain function in which groups of nerve cells in the brain signal abnormally and excessively. During a seizure, disturbances of nerve cell activity produce symptoms that vary depending on the location and the amount of the brain affected. Seizures can produce changes in awareness or sensation, involuntary movements, or other changes in behavior. Usually, a seizure lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes.

Nearly a third of ASD children suffer from epilepsy. It has been reported that the risk of epilepsy in autistic children with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities is five percent at one year, 15 percent at five years, and 25 percent at 10 years. Significantly higher numbers occur when cerebral palsy is included as an additional comorbidity. A key fact to note is that epilepsy persists in the majority of patients into adulthood with remission in only 15 percent.

The evidence behind a chiropractic adjustment in treating seizures

First advanced over 20 years ago, the concept of reversing cerebral penumbra may hold the greatest explanation for the changes seen in ASD children under subluxation-based chiropractic care. Within the ischemic cerebrovascular bed, there are two major zones of injury: the core ischemic zone in which necrotic tissue is irreversible; and the borderline ischemic tissue, also known as "ischemic penumbra" (a term generally used to define ischemic, but still viable, reversible cerebral tissue). The penumbral zone is supplied with blood by collateral arteries anastomosing with branches of the occluded vascular tree and it is where pharmacologic interventions are most likely to be effective. According to Agamanolis, "Ischemia, in the penumbra, causes dysfunction due to ionic and metabolic dysfunction but is not severe enough to result in structural damage. Prompt restoration of perfusion in the penumbra by injection of thrombolytic agents may prevent structural damage in this area, thus limiting the neurological deficit."

According to Amalu, hyperafferancy plays a significant role in neuronal hibernation, whereby hyperafferant activation of the central regulating center for sympathetic function can cause differing levels of cerebral ischemia. He postulates that hyperafferant activation via the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia may also cause higher-center ischemia. In light of Kent's Dysafferentation Model of vertebral subluxation, we see the significance of Amalu's theory. The Dyafferentation Model describes those situations in which biomechanical dysfunction results in alteration in normal nociception and/or mechaninoreception. This is clearly evident as the intervertebral motion segment is especially endowed by nociceptive and mechanoreceptive structures. As Kent describes, "To use the contemporary jargon of the computer industry, 'garbage in - garbage out.'" Subsequently, abnormal afferent input to the CNS will lead to a plethora of efferent pathologies. Thus, when a chiropractor adjusts your spine and returns it to proper alignment, normal signals are allowed to flow to and from your brain. This can reverse higher-center ischemia and restore the brain-body balance in autistic patients suffering from epilepsy.

If your child suffers from seizures related to autism, consider visiting a subluxation-based chiropractor. According to the evidence provided in peer-reviewed literature, chiropractic care could possibly be a safe, drug-less option.

Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa

Medical Journal Article Recommends Children's Cold Remedies be Taken Off the Market

    How frightening it has become, when a drug is proven worthless and even dangerous, yet still the Big Pharma companies manage to keep these drugs on the market, and these drugs are being given to our Children!! Check out this article below for more insight.

   An article in the December 6, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) calls for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action concerning over the counter pediatric medications targeted at children under 12 years of age. "We believe that it (FDA) should immediately ask companies to remove these products from store shelves and begin legal proceedings to require them to do so."
     The original NEJM article by by Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D., Marisa North, B.A., and Janet R. Serwint, M.D., highlights some very interesting facts related to over the counter drugs being advertised for children. The article notes that, "Since 1985, all six randomized, placebo-controlled studies of the use of cough and cold preparations in children under 12 years of age have not shown any meaningful differences between the active drugs and placebo."
     The NEJM article noted that as far back as 1997, the American Academy of Pediatrics created a policy statement on cough medications stating "indications for their use in children have not been established." Additionally, the authors of the article noted that as recently as 2006, the American College of Chest Physicians stated that "literature regarding over-the-counter cough medications does not support the efficacy of such products in the pediatric age group."
      Some additional and chilling statistics brought forth in the article note that since January of 2000 there have been 750,000 calls of concern related to cough and cold products to poison-control centers. Additionally they reported that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2004 and 2005 identified more than 1500 emergency room visits for children under 2 years of age related to cough or cold products.
      The article notes that in 1976, the FDA adopted a system for determining children's medications doses using a crude formula. This formula simply determined the use of pediatric medication by age only. For children between 6 and 11 years of age, the formula said that medications should be dispersed based upon half the adult dose. For children between 2 and 5 years of age, the formula recommended a quarter of the adult dose. The NEJM article notes that this very crude formulation was not based upon any science and has not been changed for over 30 years.
     Interestingly, the New England Journal of Medicine article was also reported in several Canadian news outlets but NOT in any major US news publications. In a December 06, 2007 article in the Canadian National Post, Dr. Michael Rieder of the Canadian Pediatric Society commented on the importance of this NEJM article by stating, "Every regulator in the world will pay attention to [the article], and because we share the same unprotected border, Canada will pay more attention than other countries. The pressure has been building to this for over the past 12 to 18 months, and people in the community are saying, 'Let's get this done.'"


Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa

Awareness

     “Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around us in awareness.” – James Thurber
Awareness, from a spiritual perspective,  is the ability to objectively see our unique position in the universe with a healthy appreciation of worthiness.
     Spiritual cluelessness is the product of fear.  As we buy into the fallacy of unworthiness, sadly most often the product of religious instruction, we step further away from the essential gift of knowing our spiritual nature and identity.
     Acceptance relieves us from the hindsight of anger and knowing removes fear from our spiritual “to do” list.  The trick, if you will, is staying within the centeredness of our personal spiritual space.  A place, when cleansed of fear, that cannot allow anything but spiritual awareness.  This space is a product of the daily ‘work’.  The discipline of meditation…that basic tool of spiritual hygeine that returns us to a complete understanding of ‘who we are’.
     Without this sense of worthiness we are unable to completely claim “the win” of acknowledging our true self.  This, the world says, is “self-ish”, and probably blasphemous.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  Marianne Williamson

     This quote from Marianne touches the very heart of the illusion.  The deception that we are NOT, when in fact we ARE!
     Eckhart Tolle states, “You find God the moment you realize that you don’t need to seek God“.  This knowing, this acceptance that in fact you innately embody the essence of God gives you the peace of personal, and spiritual, awareness.
     We are living in a world that is facing a crisis of identity.  Problems are the result of the other.  Salvation is available…for a price, regardless of how vigorously this deception is denied.
    
It really is simple.  You just ARE!  Embrace the knowing of who you are, and with this knowing calm awareness will naturally follow.

Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa

Severe Neck Problems After Unsuccessful Spinal Surgery Helped With Chiropractic

 
In the September 2001 issue of the peer reviewed, "Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics" comes a case report study titled, "Chiropractic care of a patient with vertebral subluxations and unsuccessful surgery of the cervical spine". This was a report of a 55-year-old man who had neck pain along with radiating pain down both arms after unsuccessful cervical (neck) spine surgery.      The man's history was similar to many seen in chiropractic offices. While responding to an auto accident during an ice storm, the 55 year old highway patrolman slipped getting out of his car and fell backward, landing on his upper back and neck After a few days he began to experience pain in his neck. Two months later he consulted a medical doctor, who referred him to a neurologist. During the neurological examination, the patient experienced a seizure that eventually led to a diagnosis of a tumor of the adrenal gland. Several weeks later, the patient had surgery to excise the tumor which resulted in temporary relief of the neck pain.
     He returned to work, and 6 weeks after surgery he began to experience neck pain again, which he described as "sharp," along with pain, numbness, and tingling in both arms. His condition worsened, for about 6 to 7 months, and he was was referred to a neurosurgeon. The patient eventually consented to neck surgery, and an anterior cervical diskectomy (disc removal) was performed.
    When he returned to the surgeon for a postsurgery check-up and had continuing complaints, he then asked when the surgeon wanted to see him again. The reply was, "I never want to see you again." This answer was devastating for the patient, and he assumed that he was destined to live with these problems for life.
     Approximately 3½ years after surgery, the patient started chiropractic care. The chiropractic care began and after receiving the first set of adjustments, the patient indicated that his ability to raise his left arm had increased by 50% and that his neck pain and arm complaints were also relieved. He was astonished and excited by the results of the care he received. Within 2 weeks of starting care he was able to fully abduct his left arm and to loop his belt to his pants. A year after the onset of chiropractic care, the patient was working on his small ranch performing various odd jobs and has, on occasion, had some problems because of over activity.
     This documented and published case is not unfamiliar to chiropractors world wide. The unique aspect of this case is the fact that it was published in a peer reviewed scientific journal. The authors of the study summed this situation up with the following; "This is the first description in the indexed literature of the chiropractic care of a patient with vertebral and sacroiliac subluxations with a history of unsuccessful cervical diskectomy of the cervical spine. In our experience, allopathic (medical) practitioners usually do not offer patients the option of chiropractic care before surgery. Perhaps more rarely is chiropractic care considered a viable option in instances of unsuccessful surgical care." It is obvious from this study that chiropractic should have been considered first.   


Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa

Back Surgery Results Very Disappointing

     According to a story from the April, 8, 2002 issue of the New Yorker online magazine "Fact", the results of back surgeries performed over the years have been much less than expected. The article starts by asking the question, "Is surgery the best approach to chronic back pain?" It then goes on to state, "Last year, approximately a hundred and fifty thousand lower-lumbar spinal fusions were performed in the United States."
     When asked about the chances for success with spinal surgery, Dr. Eugene Carragee, at Stanford, who says he performs the operation only on a select group of patients who have been carefully screened, estimates that less than a quarter of the operations will be completely successful. For the majority of patients, the surgery does not have a dramatic impact on either their pain or their mobility. He concludes, that the patient's prospects for a future that is free from back pain is fairly poor.
     The New Yorker article also states that many patients who have had surgery end up going back to their surgeons. In a study in the state of Washington of workers injured on the job who received fusions forChiropractic first, surgery last degenerative-disk disease, the results showed that twenty-two per cent had further surgery. The article also reported that Dr. Seth Waldman, at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery, claims to regularly see spinal-fusion patients who experience persistent pain after multiple operations. Sadly, few patients facing spinal surgery seem to have any idea that the statistics are so unfavorable.
     In the December 2001 issue, the journal "Spine" published the results of an award-winning study from Scandinavia in which patients who underwent fusion surgery for chronic lower-back pain were compared with those who had had no surgery. In this randomized controlled trial, only one out of every six of the patients in the surgical group was rated by an independent observer as having an "excellent" result after two years. Additionally, Dr. Richard Deyo, an internist and an expert on back pain at the University of Washington, recently published a statistical analysis of existing research which suggested that spinal fusion generally lacked scientific rationale, and also that it had a significantly higher rate of complication than did non-surgical intervention.
     In conclusion, the article quotes Dr. Seth Waldman, who sees the consequences of failed fusions at the Hospital for Special Surgery every week. Dr. Waldman wishes that the medical profession could be persuaded to show a little restraint. He concludes the article by saying. "If you have a screwdriver, everything looks like a screw. There will be a lot of people doing the wrong thing for back pain for a long time, until we finally figure it out. I just hope that we don't hurt too many people in the process."



Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa

Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic Among Teenagers

An article in the July 7, 2005 Washington Post starts off by saying, "Abuse of prescription drugs is epidemic, with teenagers the fastest growing group of new abusers." They also note that this problem has drawn little attention from health and law enforcement agencies, physicians, pharmacists and parents.
The article reports on a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (NCASA) at Columbia University. The study reports that 15.1 million people are abusers of prescription drugs. To put this in perspective the article notes that this number exceeds the combined number of people abusing cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants and heroin. The study reports that of the total number abusing prescription drugs, 2.3 million are teenagers. They also note youngsters turn to prescription drugs at much higher rates than adults do.
The story even notes that teens are having what is called "pharming parties", to share prescription drugs obtained at home or purchased on the Internet. Joseph A. Califano Jr., the chairman of NCASA and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare stated, "Availability is the mother of abuse." He continued, "When I was young my parents would lock their liquor cabinet. It may be parents should be thinking of locking their medicine cabinets."
The number of abusers of medications was determined from a three-year study by the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health which analyzed 15 national data sets . The study classified an abuser as anyone who reported using an unprescribed drug or one taken only for the feeling it caused.


Go see Dr Garrett Bode or visit his other links and websites:  http://www.bodespinalcenter.com/ or see our latest press release (Click Here). [Chiropractor Oldsmar], Chiropractic Tampa, 33635, Chiropractor Tampa, Bode Chiropractic Accident & Wellness Center, Oldsmar, 33635, Neck Pain, Low Back Pain, Auto Accidents, Headaches. Link Link BodeChiropractic.Blogspot.com http://fl.local.yahoo.biz/chiropractortampa