In a compilation of research by J. Williams, DC, FIANM a study was documented where the treatment group showed a significant improvement in frequency, duration and medication use, following chiropractic adjustments.

The percentage of improvement is astounding.

This study was a randomized controlled trial period, lasting 6 months. The trial included three stages of data collection prior, during and after the study. Comparisons of the data were made at the end of 6 months for the Chiropractic Adjustment group as well as the Control group who weren’t adjusted.

There were 127 subjects were used in the study with ages ranging from 10 to 70 years old. Their migraines were diagnosed using the protocols put forth by the International Headache Society. Subjects were required to have experienced a minimum of 1 headache per month to have been accepted into the study. Subjects underwent 2 months of Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy which consisted of 16 treatments. The subjects completed detailed diaries throughout the treatment.

WHAT THEY FOUND

A majority of the subjects reported improvement in the migraines. Greater than 80% of participants reported high stress levels. It appears probably that chiropractic care has an effect on the physical conditions that relate to stress and that in these people the effects of the migraine are reduced.

22% had a greater than 90% reduction of migraines.

Tuchin PJ, e.a., A randomized controlled trial of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine, Journal Manipulative Physiol Ther 2000. 23(2): p.91-95

From Chironexus.com

A study from the journal Spine finds that patients with acute low-back pain frequently develop chronic symptoms. Acute low-back pain can result from lifting something incorrectly or straining ligaments or muscles in the back. It is often characterized as an episode of temporary pain that will resolve itself under 90 days. In the aforementioned study, researchers worked with 605 acute low-back pain patients. After six months, 13% of patients still had back pain. After two years, more patients had developed chronic symptoms. Even patients without persistent symptoms still experienced occasional episodes of pain.

This research means that you shouldn’t ignore an episode of back pain because it might be the beginning of a chronic problem.

References

• Donelson R, McIntosh G, Hall H. Is it time to rethink the typical course of low-back pain?. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2012; doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2011.10.015.(In press, corrected proof version).
• Mehling WE, Gopisetty V, Bartmess E et al. The Prognosis of Acute Low Back Pain in Primary Care in the United States: A 2-Year Prospective Cohort Study. Spine 2012; 37(8): 678-684.

Is it possible that the food we eat and the lifestyle we live have an influence on the severity of COVID 19 once exposed to it? The short and definitive answer is “YES!”

Since the first cases of COVID started showing up in our country data has been collected and analyzed by incredibly talented medical doctors and researchers. The research is somewhat overwhelming for the short amount of time we have been dealing with this plague, and I stand in awe of my medical brethren.

To put it simply, one of the biggest and most lethal determinants of severe COVID reaction and hospitalization is unregulated blood sugar and obesity.

In a recent lecture by Dr. Rob Silverman, author of Inside Out Health, he shared the devastating research now available to the public stating clearly that obesity causes altered regulation of the sites (ACE2) that the Coronavirus attaches to via the spike proteins in cells. This damage makes it easier for the virus to enter the body.

In fact, an increase in visceral fat (the fat around the organs not the “pinch an inch”) by 1 sq decimeter is associated with a 22.53 fold increase risk for ICU admission and a 16.11 fold risk of mechanical ventilation. Upper abdominal circumference for each additional cm shows a 1.13 fold increase risk for ICU admission and a 1.25 fold increase for ventilation. There was no increase risk for subcutaneous fat or BMI. Since 75% of Americans are overweight with 42% being obese, this is a staggering piece of information.

A July 2020 study by Yale showed that increased liver enzymes were associated with poorer outcomes. This is relevant because of the prevalence of diet related Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease in America. The Journal of Cell Metabolism in 2020 demonstrated that well controlled blood sugar resulted in a 98.9% survival rate once contracting the virus, while poorly regulated blood sugar resulted in an 11% death rate.

If the patient is obese they rid their bodies of the virus (shedding) more slowly, they have more inflammatory cytokines in their bodies, and their immune systems respond more slowly…even to the vaccine because there is difficulty producing antibodies.

Americans in general have a very poor, sugar/carbohydrate laden diet, resulting in an epidemic of diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. To illustrate the effect that sugar has on our health…just 300 calories of sugar within a 2 hour period results in a 50% decrease in immune function making one more vulnerable to the opportunistic Coronavirus.

To reduce the effects and spread of COVID 19 please follow the advice of the CDC, but also make simple lifestyle changes and get your blood sugar and weight under control. It’s never been more important.

Detailed research and sources are available at our office.

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.  Be kind.  Always.