Posts Tagged ‘New Fairfield CT Chiropractic’
Welcome to Chiropractic Life and Wellness Center's New Fairfield CT Chiropractic Archive. Here you can learn more about Chiropractic Life and Wellness Center, Chiropractic, and Dr. Brandon Chorney, today's choice for Chiropractors in New Fairfield, CT. Read Dr. Brandon Chorney's Chiropractic New Fairfield CT Chiropractic for the health of it.
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Apr 9, 2015 | Health Articles
A new report released on Tuesday, March 31st, 2015 is establishing that Acetaminophen- best known under the brand label of Tylenol- does not appear to help ease lower back pain and offers little relief for the most common form of arthritis. This review of data from thirteen studies could challenge existing recommendations on pain relief.
Acetaminophen Simple Household Pain Medication or More?
Acetaminophen, sold under the brand name Tylenol, among others, is now being considered as being labeled one of the most dangerous over the counter pain medications on the market. That’s alarming as almost every household has a bottle of this pain medication and doesn’t think twice about using it. The problem is that acetaminophen is considered relatively safe when taken as recommended, but the margin between a safe dose and potentially lethal one is extremely small. An FDA advisory panel actually recommended adding a warning label about liver damage to acetaminophen as early as 1977, but it was not done until 2009.
Acetaminophen overdose is actually the leading cause for calls to Poison Control Centers across the U.S., with upwards of 100,000 cases per year. This includes 56,000 emergency room visits, 2,600 hospitalizations and an estimated 458 deaths due to acute liver failure. Last year, PBS News reported that 1,500 deaths over the past 10 years have been linked to taking a little bit more acetaminophen than the recommended dosage.
Finally in early 2014, the FDA finally issued a statement urging doctors and other health professionals to discontinue prescribing and dispensing prescription combination drug products that contain more than 325 milligrams (mg) of acetaminophen per tablet, capsule, or other dosage unit. They go on to state that there is no evidence that by taking more there is any benefit that outweighs the risk of severe liver damage.
The Research
Researchers led by Gustavo Machado of The George Institute for Global Health at the University of Sydney in Australia performed and analyzed ten studies that examined the use of acetaminophen to treat osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, and three studies that assessed the use of the well know pain medication for lower back pain. Osteoarthritis sufferers who experience back pain where chosen as Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and this combination is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. The other criteria was that current clinical guidelines recommend acetaminophen as the first-line drug treatment for both conditions.
As part of the study, researchers randomly gave 1,652 participants with acute lower back pain and 1,741 patients with osteoarthritis up to four weeks of acetaminophen in regular doses (three doses a day up to 3,990 mg a day), as-needed doses (up to 4,000 mg a day), or a placebo. Participants also received advice for managing their pain and reassurance, as well as follow-ups for three months.
What they found was surprising: For back pain sufferers, there was no difference in the number of days it took for study participants to recover from their pain, regardless of whether they took doses of acetaminophen or the placebo. On average, it took the groups that received acetaminophen 17 days to recover, and the group that took the placebo 16 days to recover. Acetaminophen also had no short-term effect on participants’ movement ability, sleep quality, or quality of life. Researchers also discovered that acetaminophen provided only minimal short-term relief for people with osteoarthritis.
Looking at the pooled data, the investigators found that for people with lower back pain, acetaminophen was ineffective in either reducing patient disability or enhancing quality of life. In people with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, acetaminophen provided only a small, not clinically important benefit in the reduction of pain and disability.
According to a conclusion note made by the Australian study, acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, is no more effective at relieving lower back pain and osteoarthritis than a placebo.
Additional Research Findings On Alternative Solutions:
General exercise, manipulation of the body, and core-specific exercises have also been shown to be effective treatments for back and osteoarthritis pain, says chiropractor Jay Greenstein, DC, vice chairman for the Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters. Back pain, especially, should be treated by manipulation as “There’s usually a mechanical reason behind it. If you only choose to address it through chemical means, you’re not going to get long-term relief, and over time, your condition will become chronic.”
“Overall, there is mounting evidence that acetaminophen is not effective for relief of these conditions, while other forms of pain relievers, used judiciously, can be helpful, the emphasis in management of chronic pain related to degenerative joint diseases is increasing on non-pharmacologic measures” as state by Eric Matteson, MD, rheumatology chair at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
Finally research studies have also found that acupuncture and yoga are also both effective ways to relieve both back and osteoarthritis pain. A 2014 joint study from the University of Minnesota and University of Maryland found that weekly yoga sessions improved osteoarthritis pain in older women and found that regular yoga classes and stretching improved back pain and function in sufferers of lower back pain. A 2012 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine also found that participants had greater relief from back pain after receiving acupuncture compared to those who did not while they also discovered that acupuncture provided pain relief and improved function in people who have osteoarthritis in the knee.
Great Long Term Solutions
Whether you’re trying to address acute or chronic pain, please know that there are many other safer yet still effective alternatives to prescription and over-the-counter painkillers. What makes the body heals the body. By determining the cause of the pain, usually damage to the nervous system, and correcting that by chiropractic adjustments you won’t have to reach for this potentially lethal product.
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Feb 12, 2015 | Health Articles
It’s time. My alarm is set and my sneakers are ready to witness a workout that will begin the next new me.
Sound familiar? Many people find it hard to get motivated for a “big workout” at the gym, or getting up at 5 am for a 5 mile run. However, scientists have found that peoples’ bodies are not only physically different when it comes to exercise but also in the way they perceive the exercise and in the way that they get motivated. They believe that it is all linked to an individuals’ body chemistry and this chemistry can determine whether we find exercise a chore or a pleasure.
What Determines My Level of Activity?
“If we do not move it, we lose it.” This adage rings true for not only our waist lines but our motivation to enjoy the exercise that will keep us in shape. For instance, people have different levels of physical capacity, there are people that find going for a walk is more than enough exercise for them. Whereas, others find that spending hours working out in the gym is still not enough. Unfortunately we typically find that more sedentary people feel that walking or doing a few sit-ups are sufficient.
A persons’ physical capacity is based on their ventilatory threshold. In the majority of people, when at rest, the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled is equal to the amount of oxygen inhaled. When we exercise we pass the ventilatory threshold and the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled is greater than the amount of oxygen inhaled. This action causes the muscles to produce lactic acid and the body creates a stress response. Most peoples’ ventilatory threshold is at 50-60% of their maximum exercise capacity. For more sedentary people it can be as low as 35%.
The way we look at exercise also contributes to our chemistry and our motivation to do it. If you are one of those people that hates exercise and finds it extremely hard to get motivated, what can you do?
Where Do I Start My Motivation to Exercise?
The first big step is pick an exercise that you enjoy doing and then ease yourself into it, particularly if you haven’t been active for a while. Be careful for if you push yourself too hard at the start of your exercise program it is only going to make you feel worse and discourage you from continuing.
If you have led a sedentary lifestyle and have not been exercising start with a simple form of exercise that takes the weight off of your feet, such as a light swim or water aerobics. To gain motivation and help with committing to form a healthy lifestyle routine take up a social exercise activity. This can mean joining a class at your local gym or just going for a walk with a group of friends.
Another tip is to try the media to help get you motivated. Listening to your favorite songs or watching T.V. when you are exercising as a distraction can help to keep you motivated and improve the results of exercising.
Join a team or enjoy it alone but the bottom line is that if you enjoy the exercise you are doing there is more chance that you will stay motivated and persevere to get the results you want.
Would You Like Some Help?
Our expert chiropractic team specializes in your health and well being. We want to help you achieve your health goals that may contain weight loss, better nutrition, and overall optimal health. If you are just starting your exercise program or an athletic pro, let us help you obtain your goals of optimal health and performance.
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Dec 18, 2014 | Health Articles
One of the key tenets of chiropractic is that health is our natural state. If someone is not healthy which is often signaled by pain or disease, we look for what could be interfering with this natural state by looking for the underlying cause.
With that in mind chiropractic care is primarily designed to improve the flexibility of spinal joints. A loss of the spinal vertebral motion can lead to spinal muscle tightness and pain, which can manifest in various other physical problems such as headaches, lack of restful sleep, and increased irritability. By increasing the mobility in your neck, mid back, and lower back, chiropractic care helps your body function more efficiently. By removing the sources of the musculoskeletal irritation, chiropractic care can also reduce internal physiologic stress. Some benefits may include improved peace of mind, and a better response to your home and work environment.
Joint Stiffness with Age
Some people experience increasing musculoskeletal joint stiffness as they get older. They may notice that their shoulders, knees, and ankles are not as flexible as they used to be. Joints such as the shoulder, knee, and ankle are lubricated by synovial fluid. Synovial fluid keeps the joints moist, provides oxygen and nutrition, and washes away toxic end-products of the normal metabolic processes. The joints in your spine are also lubricated and maintained in this way. However, aging reduces the amount of available synovial fluid. Normal aging processes increase the viscosity of the remaining synovial fluid. Simply, you have less lubricant available and the lubricant that you do have is thicker. The result is stiffer joints, throughout your whole body.
As the joints begin to stiffen you may find it more difficult to bend over and pick up a dropped object and/or it is uncomfortable to turn your head around to see the car in the next lane. If you are experiencing these symptoms, the bad news is that, left untreated, the joints will get stiffer as you get older. Ignored, the joints will lose a large amount of mobility.
The good news, however, is that you can restore and revitalize much of your youthful flexibility.
Use It Or Lose It
One way to combat such physiologic aging is to keep active. This is a pretty big task for the people of today, in a world in which most of our time is spent at a desk or sat down. Human bodies were designed for hard, physical work. But as we have evolved from an agrarian to a more industrial society, and in recent times from an industrial to a service-based society, the type of work our bodies do has changed dramatically. When we’re not typing on a computer, we are at home watching TV or playing games on our electronic devices. None of these activities involves any actual active motion.
One key to joint health in today’s society is to counter act our static lifestyle. This includes creating time for exercise. Almost any type of exercise helps synovial fluid to become more available. The pumping of synovial fluid into joint spaces increases the lubrication into the joints. Exercise also raises the core temperature of the body, which subsequently decreases the thickness of the synovial fluid. The end result is our desired result of increased joint flexibility. This benefit is, more often than not, experienced immediately. The benefit will be long-lasting, but only if you continue to exercise regularly.
Plan Your Workouts For Maximum Benefit
Thirty minutes of exercise per day, 5 times a week, will help us maintain as much joint flexibility as possible. Switching between a cardiovascular exercise day and a strength training day is the optimal exercise program. Yoga can give a total body workout which uses cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and flexibility. The types of exercise you do are not as significant as the long-term consistency of the exercise.
Most importantly, regular vigorous exercise will provide great benefit to not only improve your joint flexibility, but it will also help to improve your general health and wellness!
by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Nov 6, 2014 | Health Articles
The smell of the ice. Some find no bigger pleasure as the sweet cold smell reaches our nose and begins the adrenaline rush for the upcoming hockey season. If you are one of the many fans you are aware that hockey can be an action packed game that comes with several health risks due...
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by Dr. Brandon Chorney | Nov 4, 2014 | Health Articles
Are you one of the new generation that suffers with arthritis but refuses to accept to sit on the sideline? If so read on! Understanding the Arthritis Myths Years ago, arthritis was considered an inherent part of the aging process and a signal to a patient that it's time to slow down. But not so...
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A new report released on Tuesday, March 31st, 2015 is establishing that Acetaminophen- best known under the brand label of Tylenol- does not appear to help ease lower back pain and offers little relief for the most common form of arthritis. This review of data from thirteen studies could challenge existing recommendations on pain relief.
