Dr. Frisch

Happy Holidays!

I hope that this Holiday Season finds each of you happy, healthy and anticipating the upcoming festivities.

This time of year moves so fast that we really should take some time to take a deep breath and relax a bit.  The stores will still be there, the gifts aren't going anywhere (they can get more) and the sales will probably get better.

Relaxing at this time of year is important to your physical health.  The Christmas Holiday has one of, if not the highest, rate of heart attacks of any Holiday.  The gathering of Family members is supposed to be a wonderful event with everyone coming together, but often times, it is a source of stress, anger, and and even violence.

Relaxing more during this Holiday will better help you to keep your focus throughout each day.  A lack of sleep, coupled with stress and high demand, will cause you to be ineffective and inefficient in the things that need to get done.

If you want to insure that you put on weight during the Holidays, stay up late, don't exercise and work when your body should be resting and recovering.  The easiest way to lose weight and maintain your metabolism is to go to bed at a respectable hour each night.  If you need to be awakened by an alarm clock each day, you are not well rested!

Finally, If you choose to disregard everything that I just said about the Holidays and you feel like running 100 miles-per-hour with your hair on fire, who am I to say it's wrong?!!  If you enjoy the stress and hassle of the Holidays, you may just be satisfying your inner child!!!!

"May each of you find your inner child this Christmas!"

Dr. Frisch

Colic: Everyone Suffers

I know that every new parent loves and adores their welcomed bundle of joy, but there are times when even the most staunch parent says, "The stork brought the wrong baby.  This screaming kid can't be mine!" If changing diapers and scheduled feedings weren't enough, the colicky baby will cry uncontrollably for long periods, often forcing parents to rock and walk for hours.  Both the baby and its parents wind up living in 'coping mode', rather than thriving.

Colic is nothing new. It has been around as long as humans have existed.  Colic is also not a unique condition.  It is very common and the 'real cause' is truly not known.  Depending on who you talk to or what article you are reading, the myriad of causes and  supposed cures can be overwhelming.

First, colic is real. The infant is suffering with real pain and discomfort as they pull their legs up, turn red in the face and wail.  This 'cramping up' leads most people, including doctors, to believe that colic is a digestive disorder and that the pain and positioning is related to a problem with the gut and intestinal tract.  This supposition may be partly correct, but I would suggest that they are possibly looking at the 'end result' of a problem, rather than the true cause of the colic disorder.

Humans are not the only animal to suffer with colic, in fact, any animal can.  In horses, it is usually due to an intestinal block.  In adult humans, it may be due to a renal blockage (kidney stone) or a biliary block (gall stone), but lead poisoning has been know to cause the same painful abdominal symptoms.  Unfortunately, it took a couple of hundred years to realize the effects that lead pipes, pots and equipment had on the human body.

Infant colic, unlike those I just noted, is not a distinct entity.  It usually begins a few weeks after birth and continues until the 3rd or 4th month of life.  It has been suggested that it may be linked to a lactose intolerance and that the baby cannot yet break down milk-based sugars because of insufficient lactase production (lactase breaks down lactose). This is a good line of thinking because bottle-fed babies seems to have a higher incidence of colic than do breast-fed babies.  There is more to colic, however, than just a biochemical component.

I propose that infantile colic includes a significant neurological effect, which  is stimulated by both structural and neurochemical factors.  Remember, neurology controls body function, not the other way around.  There is a growing body of published work that supports this claim.  It is for this reason that chiropractic can be an effective mode of care for the distressed, colicky  baby.^1,2,3  The care usually encompasses 3-5 manipulations (adjustments) over a 2 week period.  Research has shown direct improvement in sleep times and a lessening-to-elimination of all symptoms of distress.  The chiropractic adjustment is a neurostructural and neurochemical stabilizer for the infant.  It is for this reason that chiropractic is an effective mode of care for the colicky baby! 

I am saddened when I hear the stories of an affected family that has dealt with colic and the futile attempts they made at resolving the problem.  One of the latest treatments for colic is antacid therapy and drugs for adult GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).  I can only imagine what the infant's 'developing body' must experience.  Why would a doctor do this to a child, especially when they continue to state that "It is no big deal and it will go away in 3-4 months anyway?"

"If you or someone you know is suffering with a colicky baby this Christmas Season, give that child (and the suffering parents) a huge present......find them a chiropractor!"  

1. R.A., Leach. 2002. Differential compliance instrument in the treatment of infantile colic: a report of two cases. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. January 25(1): 58-62.

2. Klougart, N., Nilsson, N., Jacobsen, J. 1989. Infantile colic treated by chiropractors: a prospective study of 216 cases. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. August 12(4): 281-288.

3. Wiberg, J. M., Nordsteen, J., Nilsson, N. 1999. The short-term effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of infantile colic: a randomized controlled clinical trial with a blinded observer. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. October; 22(8): 517-522.

I Don't Have Time to Exercise

In our fast-food society, we want everything NOW and we want it perfect.  We often make unreasonable demands on people around us, but do we make those same demands of ourselves?  Usually not.  If we did, we would take much better care of our our property and assets, the greatest of which is our health!

Too often we neglect our health because, let's be honest, being  healthy can be hard to do and we would rather do what is easy and quick!  We will neglect needed exercise for an evening on the couch or 'fun', leisurely activities like going to a movie, shopping, bowling, golfing or fishing.  I hate to pop holes in the exercise balloon, but bowling, golfing, fishing, etc., are 'minimal' exercises and do not place enough demand on the physical body to replace serious exercise.  If you are exercising and you are curious if it is beneficial, here are some quick guides:

• If your workout elevates your heart rate (pulse) and it stays elevated throughout your activity, it is beneficial.  Your exercise demands will determine how high your pulse will go.

• Is your breathing affected?  If your resting breathing and your workout breathing are the same, you are not working hard enough.

• Do you sweat?  If your physical activity does not elevate your heart rate or increase your respiration, you likely don't sweat either.  Sweating is one of the ways that your body regulates its internal, core temperature.  When the furnace is stoked (exercise), the heat has to be dissipated or the house gets too hot.  Sweating is your body's way of getting rid of too much heat.  If you are not sweating, you either have not placed enough demand on the body or you are dehydrated and can't sweat anymore. Drinking water fills the radiator and cools the system, allowing you to continue exercising, as the body continues to dissipate the heat it creates by sweating.

"The human body is the only machine ever created that functions and looks better, the harder it is worked!"

I know that life often gets in the way of needed exercise.  We work too hard (not exercise) and we run long hours each day (also not exercise) and we do not get enough sleep each night, which by the way, helps us to lose weight!  A life without regular exercise is a slow, but steady progression into 'degeneration' of the human frame. Degeneration is a fancy word that merely means a weakening and break down of one or more body systems.

A degeneration of the vascular system is heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Degeneration of the GI system is irritable bowel disorders (multiple), constipation/diarrhea, ulcerations, polyps and malabsorption. Muscle degeneration occurs because of diseases like MS and ALS, but most often, muscle degeneration occurs from a lack of use and demand on that system! Joints of the body will begin degeneration, usually as a result of trauma that is not appropriately stabilized.  Remember, Osteoarthritis is the brain's way of stabilizing an unstable area. The nervous system also gets sluggish with a lack of stimulation and falls into a pattern of minimalist function.

Guess what?

Demanding exercise stimulates your nervous system to respond (Sept-Oct 07 ENews) to the demands placed on it.  Exercise forces muscles to respond in size, strength and speed, at any age!  Bones become harder with weight-bearing exercise and even joints that have wear and tear (degeneration) will improve with demanding exercise.  Exercise is the key to arthritis, not rest!  Exercise improves all organ system functions and any existing problems within those organ systems.  This includes heart disease, diabetes, intestinal function, and even lung capacity and oxygenation of the body. Exercise is not our enemy.  In fact, it is probably the best friend that we have ever had and never thanked!

This year, forget about a New Year Resolution.  What you decide to do today to improve your physical health, will determine how good you will look and feel next year and beyond.  Each day we are alive, we are aging.  So, let's make that aging process look like a snail crossing a snow-covered parking lot! 

"Your Body Will Thank You!"

The Sun May Determine Your Lifespan

I had originally planned this space for an important, but somewhat boring article on post-surgical improvements using chiropractic care, particularly using the Activator instrument.  The rehab results gained by using the Activator Analysis and Instrument were quite remarkable.  There, that's the short version.  I will probably bring that to you next month.  Now, on with something that was just too cool to pass up! 

In the previous article, I discussed how important exercise is to to the human body and to a healthy longevity.  Exercise is something that you are in control of.  Now, let me bring something to you that may be totally out of your control and actually, affect how long you live; the sun!  That's right, the sun may actually affect how long and how well each of us lives.  The results of a 29-year study of  320, 247 Maine, USA residents was published in October of 2007 ¹ and it revealed some startling evidence of how the sun affects our life.

The intent of the study was to evaluate the effects of solar radiation, probably UV, on the human genetic structure (genome).  This study looked at factors, which had not yet been investigated.  The sun has 11-year solar cycles.  In each 11-year span, there are cycle peaks and valleys.  By investigating individuals born in 3-year solar peaks and comparing them to the non-peak years, it was determined that those people born in the 3-year cycle peaks lived, on average, 1.5 years less than those people not born in peak solar years.  One and one-half  years may not seem like a long time to us, but in the realm of research, a statistically significant difference is monumental because it brings predictability into the equation of life!

I think the most important part of this study was not how long the citizens of Maine lived or didn't live, but rather, why they died at predictable intervals.  This study was the first to measure the effects of radiation on the genome of the fetus.  It is well supported that ultraviolet radiation (UV) suppresses the adult immune system by cytokinetic activity.  Cytokines are proteins and peptides that cells use to talk to each other. When cytokines are present within circulating lymphocytes, depressing the immune response, it is passed on to the unborn fetus, altering their genetic structure.  This predisposes an unborn child to a myriad of diseases during its lifetime.  Her are a just a few alterations that a fetus could suffer with throughout life, if the Genetic and DNA structure  is changed before birth:

• Allergies

• Leukemia

• Cancer

• Poor Dental Structure

• Bone Disorders

• Heart Disease

Some added findings of the study were that males were more sensitive to this genetic change than were females, and the alterations were carried well into adult life.  Additionally, changes in seasonal light regulates lifespan much differently in men than in women.  The genetic structure of the male fetus appears to be more sensitive to solar changes than does that of the developing female.

Like I said, this study was too unique and relevant not to bring it to you.  The bottom line is that the sun does do damage to children, even before they are born.  We are continually told to wear sunscreen to protect ourselves from skin cancer, but the changes which make us susceptible to diseases may actually have occurred before we were born.  

This also means that mothers who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant may want to pay close attention to their exposure to the sun before and during pregnancy.  This includes tanning booths!  Altered genetic material is a permanent phenomenon.  Hopefully, the emerging field of gene therapy can reverse some of the damage done before we ever took our first breath!  

"Forget about cloning the cow or pig, gene therapy needs to focus on us!"

1. Lowell, W. E., Davis, G. E. Jr.  2007. The light of life: Evidence that the sun modulates human lifespan. Medical Hypothesis. October 19.

Eileen's Corner

"This delicious salad is an old family favorite.  The credit for this recipe goes to my great Aunt Mabel Bon.  I hope that you enjoy it!"

Cranberry Salad

1. 1 lb of Raw Cranberries, Ground. You can also use frozen cranberries and chop them in a food processor.

2. Add 1 cup of sugar to the cranberries.

3. 1 small can of crushed pineapple, drained.

4. 1 lb (or a 10 oz) pkg of small marshmallows.

5. 1/2 pint of cream, whipped.  You could also substitute Cool Whip.

6. 10 maraschino cherries cut into quarters (Optional)

Put it together

Mix all of the ingredients together and put it in a shallow pan.

Let it stand in the refrigerator over night.

When serving, cut it into squares.

My Choice

Rather than forming the salad into a pan, I prefer to blend the mixture into a nice large glass serving bowl and serve it salad-style with a spoon.

This salad is simple, festive and tasty and it will please all of your Holiday dinner guests!

Merry Christmas!

Eileen

All Crash Trauma is Not Equal!

The Holidays are upon us and my greatest hope for each of you, is that you are able to stay safe and avoid a crash this Holiday Season.  People are aggressive and pre-occupied on the roads this time of year, so we all need to be extra careful in our travels.  The injuries that I see from crash-related trauma range from mild to devastating, and so much of it could be avoided by slowing down, following the laws of the road and wearing a seatbelt. When the human frame meets mass and metal, the human body always loses!  No matter how careful we are, accidents can happen.  That's why they call them accidents.  Intentionally breaking the law, however, and blatantly disregarding other people's lives on the road is not an accident.  That behavior is selfish and, in fact, criminal!

I am so surprised each time I hear a news report that someone was thrown from a vehicle during a crash or a roll-over accident because he or she was not wearing a seat belt.  We all know that we are required to wear seat belts.  It is not a punishment.  Wearing seat belts lowers our risk of death in an accident.  It is that simple!  Seat belts, however, are not without their own risk.

On impact, the 3-point shoulder/lap belt harness is designed to tighten and hold us firmly in the seat. It is fairly effective at doing so in front and back impacts, but there is a problem when it comes to side impacts.  A study published in 2006 ¹ found that when we are involved in a side-impact crash, the rules of safety change.  If you are the driver of a car, which is impacted on the passenger's side by another vehicle, you may very well be thrown side-ways out of your seat belt and into the passenger or the passenger-side door.  The 3-point seat harness does not appear to be very effective on 'far-side' impact, even though it is quite effective in other crash directions.  They are currently performing research on a 4-point seat harness, but to date, the risk of abdominal injury is too high to implement its use.

Does the direction of the impact have any bearing on the injuries sustained by the passengers in a vehicle?  It certainly does.  A significant body of work was published in the Journal Spine in 2004 ² and again in 2005 ³ that investigated directional injuries.  They were able to determine two specific things during multiple studies.  First, a lateral impact results in more trauma to the neck and back, than does a front-to-back type of impact and second, more injury was sustained if the occupant of a vehicle did not see the crash coming.  When a person can see the impact coming, the muscles of the neck actually 'deactivate' a bit and they do not fire as hard when the crash occurs.  This does not mean that serious injury is not sustained to ligaments, discs and the spinal cord during the crash, it just states that there is less muscle activation and less muscle damage when the driver of passenger has time to prepare for impact. 

This information is important to every driver on the road.  The underlying pain and injury following a 'simple' fender-bender may not be so simple.  The speed, angle and preparedness of the crash will all play a part in the resulting trauma.  I have said many times in the past and it still holds true; not all symptoms of trauma surface right after the accident.  Some injuries do take time to manifest and show themselves as pain or impairment.  If you were involved in a serous accident, and you think that you are 'fine', do have a physical evaluation performed.  It is easier to stabilize a fresh injury than one that is months old and fully symptomatic.  Finally, even though there are drawbacks to the 3-point seat belt, it will keep you alive by stopping you from going through the windshield or a side-window during a crash, so please wear it this Holiday Season.

I hope that each of you has a safe and joyous Holiday with your family and friends!

Take care and I will see you in 2008,

Dr. Frisch

1. Kumaresan, S., Sances, A., Carlin, F., Frieder, R., Friedman, K., Renfroe, D. 2006. Biomechanics of side impact injuries: evaluation of seat belt restraint system, occupant kinematics and injury potential. Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. 1: 87-90.

2. Kumar, S., Ferrari, R., Naravan, Y. 2004. Electromyographic and kinematic exploration of whiplash-type neck perturbations in left lateral collisions. Journal Spine. March 15;29(6): 650-659.

3. Kumar, S., Ferrari, R., Naravan, Y. 2005. Cervical muscle response to head rotation in whiplash-type left lateral impacts. Journal Spine. March 1;30(5): 536-541.