November 21, 2001[Volume 2, Issue 24]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Work Stress: A Real Pain in the Neck
• Future of Alternative Therapies Glowing
• Only You Can Prevent Diabetes!
• Run Away from Pancreatic Cancer

Work Stress: A Real Pain in the Neck

Up to 40% of people experience neck pain at least once every year. Many things can cause neck pain, including a person's social environment at work and individual psychological factors. Researchers decided to investigate how employer demands, organizational structures, relationships, and economics at work affected neck pain in employees.

The study, recently published in the journal Spine, utilized a three-year study on the effects on health of stress at work. Over 1,300 workers in the Netherlands rated aspects of their job on a questionnaire at the beginning of the study, and completed another questionnaire to determine cases of neck pain that lasted at least one day.

Approximately 15% of the workers reported neck pain over the three years. Low co-worker support increased the risk of neck pain two-and-a-half times, and high job demands increased the risk over two times. High job demands included employees having to work under deadlines or work under pressure.

These results are consistent with results of previous studies that indicate a link between job demands and neck pain. If you have a high-stress job, do your best to stay relaxed and rested. Be sure you have a safe outlet for your stress, such as exercise or meditation. Try not to take your work home with you, either - your neck may appreciate it as much as your family will.

Reference: Ariëns GAM, Bongers PM, Hoogendoorn WE, et al. High quantitative job demands and low coworker support as risk factors for neck pain. Spine, September 1, 2001:26(17), pp. 1896-1903.

For more information on neck pain, visit https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/neckpain.html.

Future of Alternative Therapies Glowing

The 1990s witnessed more than just the rise of alternative music. Visits to providers of alternative medicine (such as chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage therapy) increased in the U.S. almost 50% between 1990 and 1997. For this reason, many studies have recently begun to explore patient perceptions of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and its comparison to conventional medicine.

To determine perceptions regarding the helpfulness of CAM use relative to conventional medicine, a study in a recent issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine involved over 800 adults who had seen both an alternative therapist and a medical doctor in a one-year period. The researchers conducted a national telephone survey to gather information.

Far more patients perceived CAM therapies as more effective than conventional medicine for back, neck, and head pain. Conventional medicine was perceived to be better only for high blood pressure and lung and digestive conditions. Also, confidence was higher in CAM providers than in medical doctors. Regarding an integration of therapies, patients perceived a combination of CAM and conventional medicine as superior to either by itself.

Regarding sequence of use, most people sought a medical doctor prior to a CAM therapist or remedy. The study revealed that over half of the patients did not tell their medical doctor about using an alternative therapy; often they felt it wasn't important for their doctor to know.

Speak openly with any health practitioner you seek, keeping them aware of all the forms of treatment you are using. And remember that medical doctors should be viewed as only one of many health care professionals you can seek for advice or treatment.

Reference: Eisenberg DM, Kessler RC, Van Rompay MI, et al. Perceptions about complementary therapies relative to conventional therapies among adults who use both: Results from a national survey. Annals of Internal Medicine, September 4, 2001:135(5), pp. 344-351.

Only You Can Prevent Diabetes!

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body can't properly utilize the insulin it produces to regulate blood sugar, preventing your body from getting the fuel it needs. This type of diabetes is the most common, and usually develops gradually after age 40. Symptoms include excess thirst, urination, fatigue, and weight loss.

Dietary and lifestyle factors are known to heavily influence the development of type 2 diabetes, prompting the authors of a recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine to determine the proportion of cases of type 2 diabetes that could be avoided through low-risk behavior. Nearly 85,000 women completed questionnaires and were examined over 16 years of follow-up. The authors defined five variables of low-risk women: a healthy weight-to-height ratio; a diet high in cereal fiber/"healthy" fat and low in "unhealthy" fat/simple sugars; a half-hour or more of moderate daily exercise; nonsmoking; and consumption of some alcohol.

Ninety-one percent of diabetes cases were attributable to having negative lifestyle behaviors in all five areas. When only diet, weight, and exercise were considered, 87% of cases were preventable. Being overweight was the single-greatest predictor of type 2 diabetes.

Almost all cases of type 2 diabetes can be avoided through a healthy lifestyle. Keep your body weight at a safe level by exercising several times per week and limiting the amount you eat. Also, eat lots of cereals, whole grains, and the healthy fats found in nuts, fish, and olive oil. Avoid sugary foods and meals loaded with dairy or meat fats. To learn more about health and wellness, see https://www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/general.

Reference: Hu FB, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, et al. Diet, lifestyle, and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in women. The New England Journal of Medicine, September 13, 2001:345(11), pp. 790-797.

Run Away from Pancreatic Cancer

The pancreas is a gland in your body that produces juices that help you digest food. It also produces hormones (namely insulin) that regulate your body's use and storage of nutrients. Pancreatic cancer kills 95% of those who are diagnosed, and is the fifth-leading cause of death related to cancer in the U.S.

Other than smoking, few factors have been associated with pancreatic cancer, although some studies have linked it to diabetes. A review in the Journal of the American Medical Association sought to identify other possible causes of the condition. To investigate the relationship of physical activity, obesity, and height to pancreatic cancer risk, the authors examined two studies lasting up to 20 years: the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and the Nurses' Health Study. Nearly 50,000 men, and twice as many women, participated in the studies.

Walking or hiking one-and-a-half hours per week reduced pancreatic cancer risk by 50% in both men and women. Those who participated in the least amount of moderate activity were more than twice as likely to develop the condition as those who were most active, and exercise was more important for reducing risk in overweight persons. In the 350 documented pancreatic cancer cases, sufferers also tended to be sedentary, obese, and taller than average.

Treating pancreatic cancer is difficult, so the key is to avoid it altogether. Any exercise can greatly improve your overall health - and it can save your life. Walk, lift weights, swim, bike, or perform some other form of moderate exercise as often as possible.

Reference: Michaud DS, Giovannucci E, Willett WC, et al. Physical activity, obesity, height, and the risk of pancreatic cancer. Journal of the American Medical Association, August 22/29, 2001:286(8), pp. 921-929.

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