If you know someone who needs a good chiropractor...then tell them about our June special. We’re offering a $20 discount for any new patient visit all this month!
New blood pressure goals have been set…but the medical establishment has forgotten what they learned last year. Over a year ago MD’s were being cautioned not to try to bring blood pressure numbers down too low in people over 55 because it can lead to fainting. As a result 140/90 was the new ‘good enough’ recommendation. Then, the drug companies did a study they call SPRINT (systolic blood pressure intervention trial). This study is being heralded as one of the top 30 medical breakthroughs for the year 2015. Systolic refers to the top number in the two number set that defines blood pressure. SPRINT says that lowering systolic blood pressure to 120/over an undetermined number, prevented heart attacks, strokes and deaths (blood pressure lowered by drugs of course). The story unfolds that the study used “relative risk reductions”, not “absolute risk reductions” to make this claim. This is quite common when a pharmaceutical company wants to persuade. Relative risk reduction numbers were between 25% - 30%. Absolute risk reduction tells us the number of people who are prevented from having a heart attack, stroke or death is so small it is almost inconsequential when compared to standard care. I’m telling you to warn you. Not long ago the systolic number for blood pressure was considered normal if it was somewhere around 100 plus your age. When you know that these medical goals for your blood pressure change with the latest research and manipulated numbers, you will be able to make better decisions regarding your own health. Next, we will likely hear news that a new blood pressure lowering drug has been discovered, because that is what we’ve seen in the past. New research artificially creates a need, and then a new drug comes to the rescue.
About blood pressure and potatoes… while eating 5 to 7 servings of fruits and vegetables is recommended for optimal health, including lowering blood pressure, this does not include potatoes. In terms of nutrition, they are categorized as a starch. As few as four servings a week of potatoes (baked, boiled or mashed) increase your risk of developing hypertension or raised blood pressure by 11%. If those potatoes are fried, the risk is increased to 17%. The study that analyzed this included 150,000 women and 36,800 men who had normal blood pressure when the study started. The risk levels were compared to those of people who ate potatoes less than once a month.
Drugs, doctors and the FDA…former FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg (2009 – 2015) has been accused (along with others) of helping suppress information about the side effects of the anti-biotic Levaquin (one of them is death). News of these side effects would have damaged the profits of Johnson & Johnson, and also would have possibly damaged the profits of the hedge fund of Peter Brown (Dr. Hamburg’s husband) as he held significant shareholdings in J & J. The lawsuit claims that this hedge fund is estimated to have earned him close to half a billion dollars. Plaintiffs are claiming serious harm from taking the drug. What I see as the take home of this news is that side effect issues are able to be suppressed. It is up to you as the patient to do what you can to inform yourself and advocate for yourself. If you are having a problem, do not assume the FDA or the doctor will have communicated all the pertinent information that is needed to help you decide whether to keep taking the drug or not. Most of the warning labels that come with a prescription include a statement about side effects that reads, “Remember your doctor prescribed this drug because he/she felt the benefits outweighed the risks.” Perhaps this is not something to trust completely. We call the effect of the drug that we want ‘the effect’ and the other things that a drug might bring on are called side effects. It is a distraction technique to tell you it’s a side effect. Start to realize they are ALL effects. Especially question it if the doctor says, “Keep taking it and maybe you will get used to it or it will go away.” Would you do that with known poison?
Attending church on a regular basis can help you live longer…and healthier! Researchers from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health tracked the church attendance of a group of 74,534 people in a nurses’ health study. The subjects were followed for sixteen years. The findings were adjusted for other factors that affect longevity, like alcohol consumption, weight, diet, activity and smoking. The researchers found that regular church-going had a major positive impact on health. Those who went more than once a week reduced their chance of dying by 33%. Those who went once a week reduced their risk by 26%. Less regular attenders still reduced their risk by 13% when compared to those who never went to church. Even more interesting, regular worshippers were 27% less likely to die from heart disease. They had a 21% reduced risk of a fatal cancer. The researchers decided the social aspect of church attendance was an important factor. Attending religious services increased social support. This discouraged smoking, decreased depression and helped attendees
develop a more optimistic or hopeful outlook on life. They use the words “our findings suggest” that there may be something about religious service attendance beyond spirituality.
I am one of those once or twice a week church attenders. Regular church attendance helps me get outside myself. I focus on God who is beyond comprehension and my mind is expanded. I meet people, learn about their world and pray for their struggles. The saying, ”a hardship shared is cut in half, a joy shared doubles the joy,” is true. My life is deeper for this. I have encouraged young parents to go to church to help their children be part of a group of friends that are willing to think about goodness and truth, honesty and charity to those in need. Service clubs do this too but it does not have the same depth. I tell them a day will come when your teenager won’t listen to you but they will get help from these friends. Church youth groups are not perfect but you have a better chance of your teenager being friends with someone who will steer them the right way in a church setting. I’ve seen it happen many times. It happened for my own children. My friends who are older than me get support from talking, sharing and praying with others. It’s different than barber shop or beauty shop talk because the problems can be taken to our “higher power”. Churches are far from perfect. It might take some searching to find one that fits you but it will be worth it. Then get involved. Help with something and get to know some people. Be part of something bigger than what you could do alone.
Help us, “Help the Needy”… our June fundraiser will be on Saturday, June 25th from 9am until 1pm. Stop by for an adjustment or an acu-stim meridian balancing treatment in exchange for a donation. This month’s proceeds will benefit ‘Help the Needy’.
New blood pressure goals have been set…but the medical establishment has forgotten what they learned last year. Over a year ago MD’s were being cautioned not to try to bring blood pressure numbers down too low in people over 55 because it can lead to fainting. As a result 140/90 was the new ‘good enough’ recommendation. Then, the drug companies did a study they call SPRINT (systolic blood pressure intervention trial). This study is being heralded as one of the top 30 medical breakthroughs for the year 2015. Systolic refers to the top number in the two number set that defines blood pressure. SPRINT says that lowering systolic blood pressure to 120/over an undetermined number, prevented heart attacks, strokes and deaths (blood pressure lowered by drugs of course). The story unfolds that the study used “relative risk reductions”, not “absolute risk reductions” to make this claim. This is quite common when a pharmaceutical company wants to persuade. Relative risk reduction numbers were between 25% - 30%. Absolute risk reduction tells us the number of people who are prevented from having a heart attack, stroke or death is so small it is almost inconsequential when compared to standard care. I’m telling you to warn you. Not long ago the systolic number for blood pressure was considered normal if it was somewhere around 100 plus your age. When you know that these medical goals for your blood pressure change with the latest research and manipulated numbers, you will be able to make better decisions regarding your own health. Next, we will likely hear news that a new blood pressure lowering drug has been discovered, because that is what we’ve seen in the past. New research artificially creates a need, and then a new drug comes to the rescue.
About blood pressure and potatoes… while eating 5 to 7 servings of fruits and vegetables is recommended for optimal health, including lowering blood pressure, this does not include potatoes. In terms of nutrition, they are categorized as a starch. As few as four servings a week of potatoes (baked, boiled or mashed) increase your risk of developing hypertension or raised blood pressure by 11%. If those potatoes are fried, the risk is increased to 17%. The study that analyzed this included 150,000 women and 36,800 men who had normal blood pressure when the study started. The risk levels were compared to those of people who ate potatoes less than once a month.
Drugs, doctors and the FDA…former FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg (2009 – 2015) has been accused (along with others) of helping suppress information about the side effects of the anti-biotic Levaquin (one of them is death). News of these side effects would have damaged the profits of Johnson & Johnson, and also would have possibly damaged the profits of the hedge fund of Peter Brown (Dr. Hamburg’s husband) as he held significant shareholdings in J & J. The lawsuit claims that this hedge fund is estimated to have earned him close to half a billion dollars. Plaintiffs are claiming serious harm from taking the drug. What I see as the take home of this news is that side effect issues are able to be suppressed. It is up to you as the patient to do what you can to inform yourself and advocate for yourself. If you are having a problem, do not assume the FDA or the doctor will have communicated all the pertinent information that is needed to help you decide whether to keep taking the drug or not. Most of the warning labels that come with a prescription include a statement about side effects that reads, “Remember your doctor prescribed this drug because he/she felt the benefits outweighed the risks.” Perhaps this is not something to trust completely. We call the effect of the drug that we want ‘the effect’ and the other things that a drug might bring on are called side effects. It is a distraction technique to tell you it’s a side effect. Start to realize they are ALL effects. Especially question it if the doctor says, “Keep taking it and maybe you will get used to it or it will go away.” Would you do that with known poison?
Attending church on a regular basis can help you live longer…and healthier! Researchers from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health tracked the church attendance of a group of 74,534 people in a nurses’ health study. The subjects were followed for sixteen years. The findings were adjusted for other factors that affect longevity, like alcohol consumption, weight, diet, activity and smoking. The researchers found that regular church-going had a major positive impact on health. Those who went more than once a week reduced their chance of dying by 33%. Those who went once a week reduced their risk by 26%. Less regular attenders still reduced their risk by 13% when compared to those who never went to church. Even more interesting, regular worshippers were 27% less likely to die from heart disease. They had a 21% reduced risk of a fatal cancer. The researchers decided the social aspect of church attendance was an important factor. Attending religious services increased social support. This discouraged smoking, decreased depression and helped attendees
develop a more optimistic or hopeful outlook on life. They use the words “our findings suggest” that there may be something about religious service attendance beyond spirituality.
I am one of those once or twice a week church attenders. Regular church attendance helps me get outside myself. I focus on God who is beyond comprehension and my mind is expanded. I meet people, learn about their world and pray for their struggles. The saying, ”a hardship shared is cut in half, a joy shared doubles the joy,” is true. My life is deeper for this. I have encouraged young parents to go to church to help their children be part of a group of friends that are willing to think about goodness and truth, honesty and charity to those in need. Service clubs do this too but it does not have the same depth. I tell them a day will come when your teenager won’t listen to you but they will get help from these friends. Church youth groups are not perfect but you have a better chance of your teenager being friends with someone who will steer them the right way in a church setting. I’ve seen it happen many times. It happened for my own children. My friends who are older than me get support from talking, sharing and praying with others. It’s different than barber shop or beauty shop talk because the problems can be taken to our “higher power”. Churches are far from perfect. It might take some searching to find one that fits you but it will be worth it. Then get involved. Help with something and get to know some people. Be part of something bigger than what you could do alone.
Help us, “Help the Needy”… our June fundraiser will be on Saturday, June 25th from 9am until 1pm. Stop by for an adjustment or an acu-stim meridian balancing treatment in exchange for a donation. This month’s proceeds will benefit ‘Help the Needy’.