October Health News

Clinic News: 

In addition to Dr. Riggs receiving laser certification (Certified Laser Practitioner) recently, he continually works on upgrading his skills.  He is enrolled in Palmer University completing the last year of requirements for board certification eligibility in chiropractic orthopedics and plans to take the exam new fall for DACO (diplomate academy chiropractic orthopedics) status.

Nutritional News: 

Following below is bullets describing briefly some of the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids that are evolving from research.  Diets rich in omega 3s tend to have populations that are healthier and live longer.

• Omega 3s
• associated with decreased cognitive decline in older men and women
• protects brain from severe stroke damage
• associated with less brain shrinkage
• krill oil works synergistically with other omega 3s to target pro-inflammatory factors in arthritis
• krill oil with astaxanthin suppresses pro-inflammatory agents
• krill oil + hyaluronic acid + astaxanthin reduces pain and resolves in more than half tested
• rich omega 3 diets decrease cancer risk and reduce inflammation.
• omega 3s soothe anxiety and inflammation
• combat stress and cortisol damage
• battle depression and anxiety
• slash risk for premature death
• decrease risk factors for metabolic syndrome
• fights cancer in early phases
• provide vital protection for kidney and liver function
• may help prevent osteoporotic fractures
• may help mitigate triggering factors for COPD

October Blog Update

Dr. Riggs completed laser certification this past weekend completing the 24 hours required, in addition to 36 other laser hours.  He is one of less than 100 Certified Laser Practitioners in the country. 

September 2011 Blog

September Office Hours & Clinic News:

• We will be closed Saturday-Monday Labor Day Weekend (September 3-5). If you have an emergency, please call 911.
• Dr. Riggs will be completing Laser certification in October. He will be a CLP (certified laser practitioner) when he completes his last course. The only one in the area.
• Dr. Riggs is also re-entering the orthopedics postgraduate program at Palmer with a targeted test date of fall 2012. He completed two years previously and has to complete the 3rd year. This will give him advanced credentials in chiropractic orthopedics (non-surgical orthopedics).

Health News:

Nutrition News:

• Rhodiola helps combat the effects of excess cortisol (stress hormone). Excess cortisol can supress immunity; cause hypertension, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, carb craving, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes (adult onset), fatty necks, faces and bellies, decreased libido and bone loss. It is akin to taking steroids frequently.
• Too little or too much sleeping may affect cognitive decline (outside the 6-8 hour range).
• Olive oil intake is linked to lower stroke risk.
• Resveratrol's anti-inflammatory and anti-aging capabilities shows potential in anti-aging.  Grapes and red wine. 
• Obesity leads to liver disease.

Medical News:

• Trazadone and pregabalin combined improve fibromyalgia symptoms.
• Men are at risk for osteoporotic fractures but about 10 years later than women. Men suffering hip fractures in the 76-84 age range do not fare too well-1/3 dying within a year. Low body weight, advancing age, and smoking increase the risk. Most fractures occur after age 70.
• Risk for hip fracture increases if hormone replacement therapy is discontinued.
• Jogging wins out in beating belly fat over resistance training

August Office Hours and Blog

Office Hours for August: 

• Closed at 4:00 PM Friday August 5th Leaving for Houston Seminar
• Closed at 3:00 PM Wednesday August 17 Leaving for Albuquerque
• Closed All Day Thursday August 18 in Albuquerque at VA

Nutrition and Health News:

• Green tea polyphenols provide protective benefits against ultraviolet light.
• Human data supports caloric restriction as an anti-aging strategy
• Nearly 2/3rds of americans are medically overweight or obese while 30% believe they are healthy and 70% of obese believe they are just overweight.  An obvious disconnect between perception and reality.
• A dual blend of two plant extracts might combat fat storage.  Sphaeranthus indicus flower and mangosteen fruit were found to impede the generation of fat.
• Low levels of CoQ10 were associated with increase breast cancer risk in a Cancer Epidemiology study.  Supplementation also improves the function of the endothelium.
• Blueberries inhibit fat formation.  In spite of them being expensive, I love blueberries.
• Low levels of vitamin D are linked to stiffness of the arteries, while higher levels reduced risk of macular degeneration in women. Low levels may also explain the higher rate of hypertension in African Americans.  Deficience could also play a role in the development of Parkinson's disease.
• Omega 3 FAs help protect against diseases related to obesity.
• John Hopkins scientists in a recent study linked dysfunctional mitochondria (cell powerhouse) to peripheral neuropathy.
• Antioxidants lower risk of metabolic syndrome and protect against radiation.
• Coffee drinks rejoice.  The Journal of Stroke reports coffee drinkers have fewer strokes.
• Maritime pine bark extract and bilberry extract (standardized) show promise in reducing eye pressure associated with glaucoma and also in combination with the eye drop latanoprost (prescription).

Medical News:

July Office Hours

July Hours:  The office will close Saturday July 2nd and Monday July 4th for the Holidays.  We will be back to Normal Hours on Tuesday.  If you have an emergency call 911 or go to the emergency room.

June Blog and Health News

June Office Hours: 

• I will be open all day on Thursday June 9 and closed at noon on Friday June 10 to leave town for a seminar.

Clinical Topic of The Month-Tennis Elbow

What is it?
Tennis elbow is referred to medically as lateral epicondylitis, suggesting an inflammation of the extensor tendons of the forearm.  Studies suggest that chronic cases actually display degenerative changes in the tendon suggesting tendinosis instead of the inflammatory tendinitis.  The point of pain is at the outside of the elbow.

How do I know I have it?  (Signs and symptoms)

• Pain on the outer part of elbow (lateral epicondyle).
• Pain with gripping or squeezing, wrist extension and lifting movements.  Firm handshakes when squeezed can hurt.
• Painful with any activities extending the wrist.
• Grip weakness and pain with any activities gripping-turning a door knob, shaking hands, holding a heavy glass of water, turning a screw driver, etc..

How do I get Tennis Elbow?

• Forceful blows or extension were thought to be early culprits suggesting tears at the tendons insertion into the bone.
• There may be alternation of the radial nerve in the area.
• Breakdown of the tendon due to overuse stress.

Prevention:

• Rest or back down the activity causing it.
• Maintain physical conditioning.
• Use appropriate equipment.
• Learn appropriate form.
• Use a tennis elbow strap to help diffuse shearing forces.

Diagnosis:

• Orthopedic testing (Cozen's).
• Medical imaging tests-x-ray, MRI, ultrasound (usually cost prohibitive)
• Generally made with signs and symptoms

Treatments:

• Manipulation (Mill's maneuver)
• Physical modalities-Ultrasound, electrical stim, ice, heat, vibration, laser therapy, exercises and stretching
• Deep tissue therapy (transverse friction massage, Graston or other instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization)
• Rest
• Anti-inlammatory medications (OTC or prescription)
• Bracing
• Medical interventions-surgery, botulism, cortisone injections

Personally, I use a combination protocol of manipulation (Mill's maneuver), instrument assisted soft tissue therapy (Graston), cold laser therapy, temperature therapy (mainly ice), stretching and exercises.  This combination seems to get the best results.

Health Snippets

Heart Attack Symptoms:
General:

• Pain or pressure in the chest.
• Discomfort spreading to the back, jaw, throat, or arm.
• Nausea, indigestion, or heartburn.
• Weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath.
• Rapid or irregular heartbeatsWomen: 

Note:  Women are more likely than men to have heartburn, loss of appetite, tiredness or weakness, coughing, and heart flutters

May Blog and Nutrition/Health News

Office Hours Notice for May:

• We will be closed Memorial Day, May 30, 2011 to celebrate the holiday.  If you have an emergency, call 911.

Carpal Tunnel Treatment



What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:  carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve as it travels through the carpal tunnel causing intermittent numbness of the thumb, index, long and radial half of the ring fingers.  The pain is generally worse at night.  It it is chronic, permanent damage can be causes to the nerve with constant numbness, muscle atrophy and weakness of squeezing the hand.  Although consided a repetitive stress problem, studies have not confirmed this.

Treatment:  Medical treatment consists of night splints and corticosteroid injections or surgery.  Conservative/Chiropractic Treatment:  splinting is used by chiropractors as well as mobilization or manipulation of the wrist joints, deep tissue work (Graston technique) to stretch the carpal ligament, exercises, icing, activity modification, and in my practice cold laser therapy.  I get the best results with LASER therapy and Graston technique (instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization), stretching, exercises and splinting.  I also find working the whole shoulder arm and wrist complex helps relieve tension.  Sometimes CTS is misdiagnosed when it is real a pronator entrapment of the median nerve in the forearm.

NUTRITION NEWS:

• Apple polyphenols extend fruit fly life span by 10% by apparently working on SOD (superoxide dismutase) and catalase.
• Cup of Joe:  a Swedish study found less strokes in coffee drinkers.
• Parkinson's and Vitamin D:  vitamin D insufficiency was highly prevalent in cases of recent onset of Parkinson's Disease.
• Vitamin D and Lung Cancer: increasing vitamin D could help prevent lung cancer recurrence.
• Vitamin E Supplementation and ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease):  a 23% reduced risk for ALS was found in supplementing for 2-4 years and 36% for over 5 years of supplementing.
• Peripheral Neuropathy:  old dysfunctional mitochondria (cell powerhouse) might cause peripheral neuropathy (John Hopkins).
• Green Tea vs. Alzheimer's:  green tea consumtion may protect against Alzheimer's disease.
• Green Tea and Kidneys:   green tea is rich in catechins and flavinoids is a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant with health benefits against, cancer, cardiovascular disease, body weight and insulin sensitivity as well as protecting the kidneys.
• Glaucoma Nutrition:  a nutritional formula of maritime pine bark extract and standardized bilberry extract shows promise in reducing intraocular pressure.
• Aging Eyes:  a special topical formula of soy and rice bran extracts supported by phytonutrients found in blueberries and antioxidants from pemgranate and tea extracts have been show to quickly target dark circles and eye puffiness.
• Triglycerides:  tocotrienols (class of vitamin E) in a recent study lowered triglycerides by 28%  At doses of 100-200 mg/day they have been shown to reduce LDL and total cholesterol by as much as 37%.
• Echinacea: echinacea in one study resulted in a 10% decrease in cold severity and about a half a day less of symptoms.
• Calcium Supplements for Osteoporosis: Calcium supplements with/without vitamin D moderately increase cardiovascular events including heart attacks and warrants a reassessment of their role in managing osteoporosis.
  

OTHER HEALTH NEWS:

• Optimal Heart Health:  Blood Pressure below 120/80 mmHg, Body Mass Index (BM) below 25, fasting glucose below 100 mg/Dl, and cholesterol below 200.
• Prescription Drug Abuse:  The FDA has taken steps with the Department of Justice, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and Defense and others to deal with the recreational use of prescription drugs via focusing on removing unused prescription drugs from homes, and dealing with "pill mills" and doctor shopping through law enforcement.  Unused prescription drugs have shown up as party drugs where drugs are dumped in a bowl without knowledge of their effects, what they are for, or the risks and side effects of taking them.  The drugs are often stolen from parent's medicine cabinets and could include opiods as well as things like heart medications, and pain medications to name a few.
• Allergies:  Allergies are inflammation.  The following foods can help fight allergies naturally:  Salmon: Fatty coldwater fish like salmon (EPA and DHA) are omega 3 fatty acids.  Trout, tuna, nuts and seeds are also omega 3 sources.  Grape juice: Grape juice is a good source of resveratrol and antioxidant (may reduce asthma inflammation), red wine (even more resveratrol), blueberries, (may help lower blood sugar) and peanuts all contribute to resveratrol Beans: loaded with the B vitamin folate which may reduce allergic reactions.  Cutting back of pro-inflammatory red meat is also good.  Apples have quercetin a flavonoid which may stem histamine production and cool inflammation. Yogurt: has loads of probiotics for gut bacterial which lowers immune substances that affect allergies. Carrots:  colorful diets (veggies) have cartoneoids may have an allergy-quelling effect.  Mix It Up: mix up your diet but avoid inflammatory foots:  sugar, high saturated fats, red meat, heavy carbohydrate diets, and heavy fast foods.
• CAMS and Osteoarthritis:   What complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) work with osteoarthritis.  A recent review found that capsaicin gel, SAM-3 were the most supported and some evidence that MSM, rose hips (vitamin C) and  Indian Frankincense (5-loxin or boswellia) may be effective.   

Sources:  Google images, Medscape, Real Age, Life Extension.