April 2024 Health Newsletter

It appears that advances in cancer screenings and cancer treatments may be working as a new report indicates deaths from cancers are continuing to drop. According to the most recent American Cancer Society annual report, between 2004 and 2008 cancer death rates dropped 1.6 percent in women and 1.8 percent in men annually. Although the rate drops are small, they are significant and a good sign as rates have continually dropped each year over the last 10 years. As good as this news is, it's still projected that more than 1.6 million people will be diagnosed with cancer and close to 600K individuals will die from cancer this year alone within the United States.

Groundbreaking, Integrated Approach to Treatment Demonstrates Commitment to Patient-centered Care—Arlington, Va.—The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) today announced that Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)—a pioneer in integrative care, incorporating chiropractic services and other supportive therapies into its advanced, evidenced-based cancer treatments—is the focus of the cover story in the August 2013 issue of ACA News. At CTCA's five regional hospitals, chiropractic physicians work on teams alongside surgeons and oncologists to support cancer patients during their treatment. Its patient-centered approach came from a simple question, "If your mother had cancer, how would you want her to be treated?" CTCA's founder, Richard J. Stephenson, lost his mother to cancer and wished that her treatment had been more focused on providing comprehensive care in addition to the advanced treatment options she needed. Chiropractic physicians joined CTCA's staff 10 years ago (due to patient demand), allowing its hospitals to offer truly comprehensive, integrated treatment under one roof. If a patient complains about a headache due to a new chemotherapy drug, his or her treatment team might first suggest the patient try a chiropractic adjustment as opposed to going on yet another medication. According to Jeffrey Sklar, DC, eastern regional director in the department of chiropractic at CTCA, "We are not treating cancer, we are treating patients with cancer; it is whole-person care. And that is what got me turned on about chiropractic to begin with." CTCA's model has influenced the way oncologists, surgeons and other clinicians around the country think about treating cancer patients. Whole-person cancer treatment combined with a compassionate, nurturing environment—known as the Mother Standard of Care—provides patients with much needed support during treatment. "I applaud CTCA as an institution for its dedication to treating the whole patient by offering therapy aimed at combating the difficult side-effects of grueling cancer treatments, as well as the cancer itself," said ACA President Keith Overland, DC. "I am truly inspired by my colleagues at CTCA, who are making a real difference in the quality of life for people undergoing cancer treatment."

Colon and rectal cancers are increasing among younger adults, according to new research. At the same time, incidents of colon and rectal cancers in those over 50 years of age have been decreasing slightly. Researchers aren’t sure why rates are increasing among young adults, but attribute the decrease in those older adults to the increase in screening and removal of suspicious growths before they’re able to turn malignant. Should things continue on their current path, researchers believe colon and rectal cancer cases in those aged 20 to 34 years could come close to doubling in the next 15 years. For 35 to 49 year olds, those rates could increase by 28 to 46 percent.

For those individuals grappling with chronic back or neck pain, finding effective relief can be a daunting challenge. In the pursuit of alleviating discomfort and improving quality of life, chiropractic care should be at the top of the list. But what does the evidence say about its efficacy? Let's briefly review just some of the research to understand the role of chiropractic care in addressing musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain and neck pain.

Chiropractic care is founded on the principle that proper alignment of the spine is essential for overall health and well-being. Practitioners, known as doctors of chiropractic (DCs) or chiropractors, employ hands-on spinal manipulation and other manual techniques to adjust vertebral misalignments (subluxations) and restore proper function to the musculoskeletal system. While chiropractic treatment has been traditionally sought for back and neck pain relief, its effectiveness has been the subject of numerous studies and clinical trials.

One of the most comprehensive reviews of chiropractic care for back pain was conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ("Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (2017"). Noninvasive treatments for low back pain.). Their analysis of available evidence concluded that spinal manipulation—the primary treatment modality in chiropractic care—was effective in reducing acute low back pain and improving function. Additionally, the AHRQ found that chiropractic care was associated with fewer adverse effects compared to other treatments such as medication or surgery.

Furthermore, research published in reputable medical journals supports the efficacy of chiropractic care for both acute and chronic back pain. A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that patients with chronic low back pain who received chiropractic spinal manipulation experienced greater pain relief and functional improvement compared to those who received standard medical care.

Similarly, chiropractic care has shown effective in managing neck pain, which often stems from poor posture, muscle strain, or cervical spine misalignments. A systematic review published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics concluded that spinal manipulation performed by chiropractors was effective in reducing neck pain intensity and improving function. Moreover, a randomized controlled trial published in the Annals of Internal Medicine ("Annals of Internal Medicine, 156(1_Part_1), 1-10.") found that spinal manipulation combined with exercise was more effective in reducing neck pain than medication alone.

For those considering chiropractic care for back or neck pain relief, the evidence supporting its effectiveness is substantial and continues to grow. From reducing pain intensity to improving function and overall quality of life, chiropractic treatment offers a non-invasive and drug-free approach to managing back and neck pain and dysfunction as well as many other musculoskeletal conditions. By staying informed and seeking care from reputable chiropractic practitioners, prospective patients can take proactive steps towards finding lasting relief.


If you are in chronic pain from back problems, you may be tempted to try anything to keep the hurt at bay. This might include taking addictive opioid pain killers or analgesics that have negative side effects.  These prescription drugs can cause "adverse drug events," which refer to any sort of injury or side effect caused by a medication.  Even scarier, the mortality rate from adverse drug events has been rising dramatically.  No one wants to die from a pain pill or end up addicted to it.   The Good News: Adverse Drug Events Can Be Avoided The next time you are tempted to just medicate your back pain away, contact your chiropractor.  By getting comprehensive chiropractic care, you may be able to reduce or completely eliminate your dependence on prescription pain medication.  In fact, it's been proven to work.  One recent study showed that chiropractic patients had a 51% reduced likelihood of adverse drug events within 12 months compared to nonrecipients.  Comprehensive chiropractic care for back pain can include spinal manipulation and adjustments, pain relieving exercises, and other wellness protocols that are safe, non-invasive, and don’t have those pesky and often dangerous side effects of drugs.  Reduce Pain with Chiropractic Care Today There is no need to risk adverse drug events when there is a safer option with chiropractic care. Contact us today for a consultation!

The government wants to start encouraging more people to take their bike to work. No, this isn’t in response to efforts to halt the progression of global climate change and to save the environment. The reason the government is promoting this is because of the awesome health benefits. According to recent studies, riding to work can reduce a person’s chances of:

• Developing cancer
• Dying prematurely
• Being diagnosed with heart disease
  

The numbers are quite astonishing. According to the UK’s Telegraph, the risk of premature death fell by 41% among those who regularly rode to work. Forbes reports that the study was done at the University of Glasgow, where they evaluated the health of over 260,000 people during a five year period. Those who cycled to work had a:

• 46% lower risk of developing heart disease
• 52% lower risk of dying from heart disease
• 45% lower risk of developing cancer
• 40% lower risk of dying from cancer
  

Since cancer and heart disease are the leading causes of death in many countries – including the U.S. – it stands to reason that people would do anything they can to reduce their risks. Now they have proof that something as simple as cycling to work can lower the risk significantly. Why not give it a try for yourself? Start out slow – replacing your car with your bike as your mode of transport one day a week, then two, then three, and so on. With results like these, you’ll be happy you did!