Doctor Higginson’s Blog

A recent study presented at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) found an increase in type 2 diabetes with the use of antidepressants like Prozac.

The study looked at 3,000 people in all. One group was given lifestyle intervention, another a placebo, and the third group was given the diabetes drug metfomin (Glucophage).

The risk of type 2 diabetes increased two to three times in the third  group that took antidepressants. A reason for the link is unknown at this point.

Dr. Bryan Bingham
Highalnd Chiropractic

The original study that discussed the cardiovascular risks (heart attack and stroke) associated with the painkiller Vioxx, published in March of 2005, claimed that the risk appeared after 18 months of use.  A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this week reported heart attacks and strokes were more prevalent in patient populations who had taken Vioxx for as few as 4 months.

Merck faces over 13,000 lawsuits for Vioxx, the blockbuster arthritis drug until it was pulled from the market in September 2004.

This raises the growing concern about the FDA’s ability to manage drug safety.  The Government Accountability Office published a report that the agency (FDA) lacks the inability to monitor and handle drug safety issues.  A full version of the report can be viewed at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06402.pdf.

Dr. Bryan Bingham
Highland Chiropractic

It might seem absurd to question whether the medication that is most widely used to treat headaches can actually cause them.  Researchers set out to answer that question.

A causal relationship between the discontinued use of these medications and decreased frequency of headache has been noticed in patients who have entered headache clinics.
A study published in the medical journal Headache in 2003 concluded that there is a direct relationship between analgesic use and chronic daily headaches, also known as rebound headaches.

Does Chronic Daily Headache Arise De Novo with Regular Use of Analgesics. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, Volume 43, Number 3, March 2003, pp 179-190 (12)

A recent study published in the medical journal Spine showed an alarming increase in adolescent low back pain in recent years.

In 1994 16% of children 12-15 experienced low back pain.  Just six years later, in 2002, that number jumped to 36%.  The direct cause of this increase is unknown at this point but many lifestyle factors are thought to contribute to these numbers.

• Backpacks - Children are carrying more and more in their backpacks.  As children develop, this increased force could play a part in childhood low back pain.  How much should a child’s backpack weigh?  The pack should be no more than 10% of the child’s weight.
• Determine if your child’s backpack is too heavy - weigh them without the pack, then with the pack. Subtract the two numbers, then take that number and divide by the childs weght. For example a 50 lb child (w/o pack) weighs 60 lbs with pack. Subtract 60lbs - 50lbs = 10 lbs, now divide 10lbs/50lbs = 20%.
• Inactivity - As children grow, they need to be active!  It should come as no suprise that low back pain increases as physical activity decreases.  Make sure that your children take periodic breaks from sitting and move around and stretch.  Also, limit time that is spent in front of the computer and t.v.

For more information regarding backpack safety and low back prevention, visit the American Chiropractic Association website at http://www.americhiro.org/press_css.cfm?CID=104
The course of low back pain from adolescence to adulthood. Spine 2006; 31 (4): 488-72

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in February of this year touted the benefits of green tea.  The study looked at the cognitive impairment at different levels of green tea consumption.  The study found that those who drink 2 cups of green tea per day had significantly lower levels of cognitive impairment compared to those who consumed only 3 cups per week.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; February 2006; 83(2):355-361

Growing kids need nutritious foods not only to help them grow but also to help them concentrate in school.  Unfortunately recent reports have shown the poor nutrition that our school kids are receiving.  There has been a recent connection with symptoms of ADHD and dietary intake.  What can be done about poor school lunches and the junk food that is available at your kids school?

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has put together a school foods toolkit that can be downloaded at their website, http://www.cspinet.org/schoolfoodkit.  The toolkit is broken down into three separate sections.  The first addresses goals and strategies for change; the second contains model legislation, sample letters, and a list of resources that can be adapted and used as appropriate for your community; and the third contains contact information for individuals, organizations, and states working to improve the nutritional quality of school foods and beverages.

So hard to resist the smell of a fresh baked cinnabon. It might be easier when you learn what goes into these delicious artery plugs. Each turnover has 410 calories, five teaspoons of sugar, six grams of trans fat and six grams of saturated fat. No wondering they smell so good.

These little heart stopping delights are now available at your favorite grocer.

SAN DIEGO, CA — November 16, 2005 — The conclusion of the NIH (GAIT) Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial was that the combination of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine is effective in treating moderate to severe knee pain due to osteoarthritis.

More about this study here:
http://www.oarsi.org/index2.cfm?section=Publications_and_Newsroom&content=Press_Releases/2006/NIH_study

A recent study published in the medical journal Headache showed an increase in tension headache frequency and duration with head forward posture.

The weight of the head is approximately 8-12 pounds, much like a bowling ball.  When the weight of the head is put out in front of the body, it puts stress on the neck muscles and causes muscle contractions that decrease blood flow and nerve supply to the head.  This is thought to be a major cause in tension headaches experienced by millions of people.  These headaches account for a large percentage of the over-the-counter pain medications sold each year.

Head forward posture is everywhere in our society; just look around and see how many people carry their head in front of their shoulders.  What causes head forward posture?  Head forward posture can be caused from an injury or from a sustatined poor posture.

• Injury - Head forward posture can be the result of an injury to the neck.  For example a whiplash injury causes the muscles of the neck to tighten and decreases the natural curve of the neck.  This curve is responsible for maintaining the proper weight balance of the head.  When the curve is lost, more weight is put on the neck muscles.  This leads to muscle spasms which lead to tension headaches.

• Poor Posture - If you work in an office, you have a great opportunity to witness head forward posture on a daily basis.  Computers, long work days and poor ergonomics predispose the body to poor posture.  This poor posture leads to muscle spasms that lead to tension headaches.

Being conscious of your head forward posture throughout the day can help prevent tension headaches.  Putting a reminder like a post-it note can be a great way to help remember the importance of good neck posture.

Dr. Bryan Bingham

Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 2006: (Mar): 46 (3): 454-460

The mission of Highland Chiropractic is to relieve pain, restore health and empower our patients to achieve wellness. One of the best tools for empowerment is education. This Blog was created with the intention of providing educational resources for patients.

The Highland Chiropractic CAM Blog is maintained by Dr. Bryan Bingham who is a Chiropractor with a private practice in Northeast Portland Oregon. This Blog is open to practitioners of many different disciplines, with a focus on complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. Practitioners and patients alike are welcome to post comments.

My goal is to create a database where patients can search for information on complementary and alternative health related topics.

I hope you find this resource helpful, and thank you for your patronage.

Dr. Bryan Bingham
www.highlandpdx.com