To Your HealthTYH Archives

February 26, 2002 [Volume 3, Issue 5]

 

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In this issue of To Your Health:

Patients Overwhelmingly Recommend Their Chiropractors

Surveys of patient satisfaction provide a valid means for determining the value of health care, so chiropractors strive to keep their patients as healthy and happy as possible. A recent survey of chiropractic patients adds to a trend of high approval ratings for chiropractic care.

To evaluate consumer satisfaction with chiropractic care, 150 patients were asked to complete a questionnaire at one visit. The randomly selected patients were asked to rate nine various aspects of quality of care in one of five levels: excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor. The results of the study, published recently in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, indicate a high level of satisfaction with chiropractic care. The percentage of patients who answered "excellent" for the listed category are listed below:

  • Personal manner of chiropractor: 92%
  • Length of time to set up appointment: 85%
  • Technical skills of chiropractor: 83%
  • Length of wait at office: 76%
  • Time spent with provider: 74%
  • Physician explanation of procedures: 73%

The authors of this study note that every one of the respondents rated overall satisfaction either "very good" or "excellent," and an amazing 96% claimed they would recommend their doctor of chiropractic to their family and friends. The only questions that received any "fair" ratings at all were those regarding office convenience and a physician's explanation of treatment, while none received "poor" ratings.

Reference: Gemmell HA, Hayes BM. Patient satisfaction with chiropractic physicians in an independent physicians' association. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2001:24(9), pp. 556-559.

If you are interested in learning more about chiropractic, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/find/whatis.html.

Ibuprofen Neutralizes Blood-Thinning Effect of Aspirin

Patients suffering from both arthritis and cardiovascular disease commonly take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, for controlling their arthritis pain and low-dose aspirin concurrently for their cardiovascular disease. Aspirin can reduce blood clotting, and when taken daily has demonstrated the ability to potentially reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks.

A study in a recent issue of The New England Journal of Medicine addressed the possible inhibitory effects of combining aspirin with other pain/inflammation drugs. The people studied were divided into three groups and were administered aspirin in combination with ibuprofen (e.g., Advil or Motrin), acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol), or rofecoxib (e.g., Vioxx), with all medications given at standard dosages.

Subjects who took aspirin before ibuprofen inhibited the blood-thinning effects of aspirin by 90%; when ibuprofen was taken first, this blood-thinning ability of aspirin was reduced by 98%. No conflict was observed between aspirin and the other two drugs, however.

Regularly used analgesics like ibuprofen may eliminate the "cardioprotective" effects of daily low-dose aspirin. If you take aspirin to help prevent a potential heart attack, be sure not to combine it with other pain-killing drugs. Seek alternative methods to relieve chronic pain, such as chiropractic adjustments, regular physical activity, and proper nutrition.

Reference: Catella-Lawson F, Reilly MP, Kapoor SC, et al. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors and the antiplatelet effects of aspirin. The New England Journal of Medicine 2001:345(25), pp. 1809-1817.

For more information on general health, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/general.

Dramatic Rise in Childhood Obesity

The percentage of overweight Americans appears to be increasing dramatically. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing national health study, showed that adult obesity increased over 50% between 1991-1999. Other research has indicated that a high number of children in the U.S. might be overweight.

The authors of a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association determined obesity trends in over 8,000 children, ages 4 to 12, between 1986 and 1998. The prevalence of overweight children increased over 120% among Hispanic and African-American children and over 50% among Caucasian children in the 12-year study. Nearly one-quarter of Hispanic/African-American children and roughly one-eighth of Caucasian children were considered overweight in 1998.

Obesity can lead to multiple problems if persisting until later in life, including a severely increased risk for diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. In addition, obesity can damage a child psychologically due to taunting from peers, and can form poor life-long eating habits. If you have children, talk to your doctor about sensible nutrition and exercise guidelines to keep them healthy for a lifetime.

Reference: Strauss RS, Pollack HA. Epidemic increase in childhood overweight, 1986-1998. Journal of the American Medical Association 2001:286(22), pp. 2845-2848.

To read more on pediatric health, head to https://www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/pediatrics.

Stay Active, Stay Young

Many elderly people continue to enjoy a variety of leisure activities as they age, from playing board games to taking long walks outside. Leisure activities offer a chance to socialize, exercise, and learn new games and hobbies. A recent study has shown that these types of activities may offer more than daily enjoyment.

To determine the link between Alzheimer's disease/dementia and leisure activities, the authors of the study, published in the journal Neurology, examined almost 2,000 people (65 years or older), all residing in northern Manhattan, New York. Baseline mental health on neurologic examinations and leisure-activity participation were assessed; the seniors were followed for seven years to determine the onset of Alzheimer's disease or other mental deficiencies. Thirteen leisure activities were considered, including hobbies (e.g., stamp collecting); walking; visiting friends or relatives; reading; going to entertainment events; and playing games.

Risk for Alzheimer's or other dementias was decreased by about 40% in those with high leisure-activity levels compared to those with low activity levels. Also, Caucasians were 50% less likely than African-Americans to develop dementia.

Continual learning and mental stimulation, as well as physical activity and social interaction, help prevent deterioration of the brain. Besides being fun, they can help prevent a variety of mental and physical ailments. To find out more about senior health issues, check out https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/senior.html.

Reference: Scarmeas N, Levy G, Tang MX, et al. Influence of leisure activity on the incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Neurology 2001:57, pp. 2236-2242.

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