To Your HealthTYH Archives

December 2, 2003 [Volume 4, Issue 25]

 

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In this issue of To Your Health:

Try Exercise Instead of Surgery for Back Pain

While it's true that some back problems are so severe that they warrant surgical attention, the disturbing trend in medicine these days is to put patients under the knife, rather than investigate possible nonsurgical options.

Disc degeneration often necessitates a surgical procedure called "lumbar fusion," but as a new study shows, exercise combined with cognitive therapy (telling patients physical activity will not harm the back, and recommending exercise) may be just as effective - and without any of the risks associated with surgery.

In the study, patients with low back pain (LBP) lasting one year or longer, and evidence of disc degeneration on X-ray, were randomly selected to receive surgical fusion or cognitive intervention and exercise. At a one-year follow-up, improvements in back pain, use of analgesics, emotional distress, life satisfaction, and return to work were essentially the same in both groups. More significantly, according to the researchers, the "success rate" after one year was 70 percent in the surgical fusion group, compared to 76 percent in the nonsurgical group!

Do you suffer from back pain? If you do, it deserves the attention of a health care professional. Your chiropractor can evaluate your condition and determine the appropriate course of care.

For more information on the benefits of exercise, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/sports/exercise/index.html

Reference: Brox JI, Sorensen R, Friis A, et al. Randomized clinical trial of lumbar instrumented fusion and cognitive intervention and exercises in patients with chronic low back pain and disc degeneration. Spine, Sept. 1, 2003:28(17), pp1913-21.

Don't Be So Hard on Yourself

Low back pain (LBP) sufferers know how frustrating it can be to sleep at night; no matter what position you try, the pain seems to move right with you. What they might not be aware of is how one type of mattress can affect LBP more than another.

A recent study published in the Lancet challenges the popular belief that a firm mattress is the best sleeping arrangement for easing the discomfort of LBP. Researchers compared firm mattresses with medium-firm mattresses by replacing the existing mattresses of 313 test subjects, who were unaware of which type of mattress they were receiving.

Users of medium-firm mattresses were twice as likely to report reduced LBP and associated disability (less pain in bed, during the day, and after a night's sleep) after three months of use, compared with those who used firm mattresses.

If you're struggling with LBP, the solution may be as close as the bed you're lying on! Talk to your chiropractor about the cause of your pain, and what can be done about it. A combination of chiropractic care in the office, and an appropriate mattress at home, may be just what's needed to get you on the fast road to recovery. For more information on back pain, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/backpain.html.

Reference: Kovacs FM, Abraira V, Pena A, et al. Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic, non-specific low-back pain: randomized, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet, Nov. 15, 2003:362, 9396, pp1599-1604.

Vitamin C Keeps the Stomach Smiling

Do you know that ascorbic acid can help prevent stomach problems, including peptic ulcers and stomach cancer? OK, OK, first things first: Do you know what ascorbic acid is? It's vitamin C!

Chronic infection with a specific strain of the Heliobacter Pylori bacteria has been linked to the abovementioned gastric problems, but a study that appeared in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition suggests that vitamin C can reduce the risk of infection. In Caucasian men and women, levels of ascorbic acid in the bloodstream were inversely related to the risk of infection with H. Pylori: the more vitamin C in the blood, the less risk of being infected. This association was not significant for men and women of other races.

So, now that you know what ascorbic acid is, and that it can prevent gastrointestinal problems, here's the final question: Where do you find vitamin C? Well, good sources include citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, lemons, mangos, etc.), asparagus, broccoli, spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and cabbage.

Your chiropractor can tell you more about the importance of a healthy diet that includes adequate amounts of vitamin C and all of the other essential vitamins to keep you - and your stomach - healthy and smiling. To learn more about vitamins and minerals, go to www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/nutrients.html.

Reference: Simon JA, Hudes ES, Perez-Perez G. Relation of serum ascorbic acid to helicobacter pylori serology in U.S. adults: the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2003:22(4), pp283-9.

To Err Is Human, to Forgive Is ... Good for Your Health

Eighteenth-century English poet and essayist Alexander Pope is credited with saying, "To err is human, to forgive, divine." Nearly 200 years later, researchers at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville believe forgiveness may not only be divine, but a good way to stay healthy.

The survey of 108 college students gathered data on specific situations in which they had felt betrayed, and whether the students seemed to have forgiving personalities ("trait" forgiveness) and how recalling the situation affected them during the interview ("state" forgiveness). During the interviews, the researchers monitored students' vital signs, including blood pressure and heart rate.

Trait forgiveness was associated with lower blood pressure readings, while state forgiveness was associated with lower blood pressure and heart rate. Additionally, signs of sympathetic nervous system arousal (e.g., the stress response) that elevated when betrayal events were brought up also seemed to return to normal faster in students deemed "forgiving types."

Think of the ability to forgive as the ability to reduce stress in your life. We all know how debilitating stress can be, particularly in the long-term; in fact, considerable research shows that stress can contribute to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. So don't hold a grudge - it's bad for your health!

Want to learn more about stress relief? Visit www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/general/wellness/index.html.

Reference: Lawler KA, Younger JW, Piferi RL, et al. A change of heart: cardiovascular correlates of forgiveness in response to cardiovascular fitness. Journal of Behavioral Medicine October 2003:26(5), pp373-93.

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