The Effectiveness of Chiropractic Maintenance Care

Author: Michael Melton No Comments Share:   

 

CHIROPRACTIC MONTH

American Chiropractic Association-- Arlington, Va. -- The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has announced a new national health care observance – National Chiropractic Month  – to be held annually each October.  People don't know that several studies have shown that Chiropractic care is twice as effective at half the cost. Chiropractic restores health after other approaches fail. CALL 663-1111

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You can make a difference

Who do you know who is hurting? Who do you know that you have been trying to get started at Keefe Clinic? Now is the time to get your spouse, or child started on the road to good health.

If you refer in October

We will give your family member or friend, a Complimentary exam and one X-Ray, but they have to say you referred them and ask for the October special

Complimentary

DIAGNOSTIC WORK UP

DURING OCTOBER

Complimentary initial exam and one X-ray.

Must be a new patient. This offer is not good for other services, re-exams or follow up X-rays and is not retroactive.

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Car accidents are most likely the number one cause for chronic disability and/or pain. The August 1999 issue of American Family Physicians, the article notes that  3.5 million people are injured in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. each year. Even minor car accidents can cause changes in the spine that can lead to degenerating joint disease and future pain.  Studies indicate that chiropractic care is the best treatment for the vast majority of injuries from a car accident.  The main reason that chiropractic patients have less problems in the future and recover better from their present complaints is because of the focus in chiropractic care.

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The injuries to the spine will cause slight misalignments in the joints of the neck and back.  It's these misalignments that produce the majority of symptoms, not pulled muscles.  Chiropractic care and analysis focuses on the detection and correction of spinal subluxations.  Subluxation is the term for misalignments that develop in the spine.  These misalignments can stay there for years unless they are corrected by chiropractic adjustments.  The average patient after a car accident that visit an emergency room usually are only given pain pills and muscle relaxers.  This of course allows the misalignments to remain.  It's this focus on just the symptoms of the injury that leave a high percent of car accident victims with ongoing disability, pain and degenerating joint disease.

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One study showed problems five or more years after the accident. Symptomatic recovery occurred in 57 per cent of the 146 patients, while degenerative changes developed after the injury in 39 per cent.  Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 1974;56:1675-1682.

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......several studies have investigated and linked the relationship of altered cervical curve configuration to the presence of chronic headache pain. CBP Structural Rehabilitaion of the Cervical Spine, Deed E. Harrision, DC, Donald D. Harrison, PhD, DC, MSE, Jason W. Haas, DC, 2002 Harrison CBP Seminars, Inc.  pg. 56, "Cervical Lordosis and Headaches"

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Cerebral symptoms after whiplash injury of the neck: a prospective clinical and neuropsychological study of whiplash injury. Ettlin TM, Kischka U, Reichmann S, Radii EW, Heim S, Wengen D, Benson DF. University Clinics, Basel, Switzerland.

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Twenty one unselected patients with an acute whiplash injury of the neck had neurological and neuropsychological assessment, cervical x rays, EEG, BAEP, MRI, and an otoneurological examination within two weeks of the injury. Subjectively, 13 patients reported concentration deficits, 18 reported sleep disturbances, 9 had symptoms of depression, and 7 female patients told of menstrual irregularities.   Scientific Automobile Accident Reconstruction treatise by Barzeley; Published by Mathew Bender 1984; Chapter 46:

"              The simple fact remains: neck injuries do occur as a result of rear-end automobile accidents.  46-2

"              Whiplash injuries may be present as a result of automobile accidents, even though no physical, radiological or other objective evidence of injury can be found. 46-3

"              Usually the onset of symptoms occurs from 12 to 24 hours afterward. Sometimes there may be as much as weeks or even months delay between the automobile accident and the experience of symptoms. 46-5

"              Most people just don't expect injuries to occur when the impact velocity has been low and damage to the vehicles has not been great. It is common sense to expect that the severity of the injuries should be in proportion to the severity of the collision. However, whiplash injuries most frequently result from relatively minor automobile accidents without major damage done to the vehicles. 46-6

"              Rear-end collisions produce a sudden forceful hyperextension of the neck which is immediately followed by recoil into neck flexion. 46-8

"              Probably most of the injuries result from the sudden traumatic snapping of the neck when the acceleration of the head suddenly shifts directions. 46-10

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In most cases you're better off in the long-term to break a bone than to damage a joint.  When you damage a joint, you primarily damage the connective tissue in the joint which can leave that joint unstable for the rest of your life.  When you break a bone, the bone heals stronger than it was before.  Connective tissue has a history of poor healing.  By bringing that joint back to its proper alignment, you allow the maximum healing to the  soft tissue or connective tissue in that joint.  And by maintaining that alignment over the long-term, you assure maximum results. Out of 50 or so outcome studies which have been published in the past 40 years.  They nearly unanimously presented 30 to 50 percent of whiplash victims are left with some form of residual pain or dysfunction.

Our treatment goals are not only to make you feel better now, but to try to assure that 10 years from now your injuries will not be bothering you.

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Courtesy of:

John H. Keefe III, D.C.

(918) 663-1111

IN THE NEWS: CDC warns parents not to give children antibiotics to treat the common cold, flu "Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections like the common cold, flu, most sore throats, bronchitis, and many sinus and ear infections," read a recent CDC advisory on Facebook. "Taking antibiotics can also have harmful side effects for you or your child." While parents might be tempted to seek out antibiotics during this year's supposedly more severe than usual flu season, taking the bacteria-killing medication will not cure the infection, stop others from catching it, nor make flu victims feel better. In fact, needlessly taking antibiotics will kill healthy bacteria and may lead to harmful side effects that could send a child to the hospital. According to the CDC, antibiotics are the most common cause of emergency hospital visits for children experiencing negative reactions to drugs. In addition, needlessly using antibiotics can make the body more resistant to the medication, making it harder to treat an infection. In total, the CDC estimates that 30 percent of all antibiotics prescribed to patients seeking medical treatment without hospital admission are unnecessary.

CHIROPRACTIC: American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has announced a national health care observance--October is National Chiropractic Month  DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WITH A HEALTH PROBLEM OR IN PAIN? INVITE YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS TO THE PARTY Who do you know who is hurting? Who do you know that you have been trying to get started at Keefe Clinic? Now is the time to get your spouse or child started on the road to good health. Complimentary  DIAGNOSTIC WORK UP DURING OCTOBER Complimentary initial exam and one X-ray. Tell someone today

WELLNESS: Empathy: Caring for Others Is Good for You  Empathy, the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, so to speak, and understand their feelings and point of view, is a character trait that may benefit society and individuals in multiple ways. Empathy training has been found to reduce stress levels among medical students facing intense emotional encounters with patients, for example. While many parents try to instill empathetic qualities in their children, there’s growing research that empathy has deep neurological roots in humans. Empathy has complex neurological underpinnings that control the way our brains help us to care about other people. Humans have “mirror neurons” that react to others’ emotions and reproduce them; a deficit in mirror neuron receptors has been suggested as an explanation for narcissism and neurotic behaviors. Researchers found that empathy was positively associated with treatment adherence, patient satisfaction and reduced dental anxiety, sentiments that seem to be echoed among medical practitioners. Among adolescents, empathy may even go hand in hand with future success, according to licensed professional counselor Ugo Uche: “Teenagers who are empathetic tend to be more purpose driven and they intentionally succeed in their academics not because they are looking to make good grades, but in most subjects their goal is to understand the subject material and to utilize the knowledge as one of their ever-increasing tools …Teenagers who are more empathetic do a much better job in embracing failure, because there is little ego involved in their tasks, and setbacks while disappointing are rarely seen as failures, but rather as a learning experience about an approach that does not work for the task at hand.” Practicing empathy may help you relieve stress, strengthen your relationships and have a more satisfying work life.

FUNNY BONE: The last time we changed from daylight saving time, a preacher friend posted, “For those who habitually show up 15 minutes late to church, allow me to remind you that tonight is the night you set your clock back 45 minutes.”@@ Q: What starts with E, ends with E, and has only 1 letter in it? A: Envelope. @@ After an elderly couple starts getting forgetful, they visit their doctor. Their doctor tells them that many people find it useful to write themselves little notes. When they get home, the wife says, "Dear, will you please go to the kitchen and get me a dish of ice cream? And maybe write that down so you won't forget? “Nonsense," says the husband. "I can remember a dish of ice cream. “Well, I'd also like some strawberries and whipped cream on it," the wife replies. "My memory's not all that bad," says the husband. "No problem -- a dish of ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream. I don't need to write it down." He goes into the kitchen, and his wife hears pots and pans banging. The husband finally emerges from the kitchen and presents his wife with a plate of bacon and eggs. She looks at the plate and asks, "Hey, where's the toast I asked for?"

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We’re all aware of the serious problem in the US with opiate addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 115 Americans die from opiate overdoses each day (about 43,000 a year), and we spend about $78 billion on the total costs of opiate abuse. Opioid addiction is crippling our economy and many communities.

Many people who become addicted to opiates are first introduced to them by doctors who prescribe them for chronic pain. A recent study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that 60% of opioid overdoses first used these drugs when given a prescription for chronic, non-cancer pain: 59% of those patients were prescribed painkillers for chronic back pain and 24% were for chronic headache.

In summary: 36% of people who died from opioid overdoses were first given a narcotic because they had back pain.

Chiropractic: Working with the Root Cause of Pain

Chiropractic takes a different approach to pain by working to help the body repair the root cause of the problem rather than simply masking the symptoms, like opiates do. Remember: painkillers don’t repair injuries or damaged tissue; they simply stop the brain from processing pain, leaving the underlying problem. If the problem isn’t treated and the normal function isn’t restored to the body, the pain will return.

Numerous studies have found that chiropractic care is equally (or even more) effective than medical care for a variety of pain conditions, including back pain, sciatica, headache, and scoliosis. And since chiropractors don’t prescribe drugs or perform surgery, patients who get adjustments don’t have to worry about the negative side effects that come with these treatments…including addiction.

Even the American Medical Association has acknowledged that chiropractic adjustments should be a course of treatment before surgery is considered for back pain.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs has also seen the benefits of chiropractic care in the treatment of pain and, over the last few years, dramatically increased the utilization of chiropractic for veterans.

Chiropractic Patients Use Fewer Opiates

Now a new study¹ from the VA looked at the relationship between chiropractic care and opioid consumption in returning veterans. In this study, the researchers looked at the health records of 14,000 individuals who had received at least one chiropractic adjustment. The authors found:

• One third of these patients were prescribed an opioid within six months of their chiropractic visit.
• Patients were more likely to be prescribed an opiate if they had moderate to severe pain.
• They were also more likely to receive an opiate if they had PTSD or depression.
• The chiropractic patients, though, had a significantly lower usage of opiates after their chiropractic visits compared to non-chiropractic patients.

The authors write:

“The percentage of veterans receiving opioid prescriptions was lower in each of the three 30-day time frames assessed after the index chiropractic visit than before. Our work did not attempt to assess causation or otherwise explain this observation. Veterans may have been referred to chiropractic care as part of an opioid taper plan, or those who agreed to chiropractic care may have been inherently less likely to seek opioid prescriptions. However, it is also possible that the delivery of chiropractic care may have been a substitute for opioid use in our sample, which raises interesting research, policy, and practice considerations as the VA continues to expand chiropractic services. This is particularly relevant in light of other work that has shown a negative correlation between chiropractic use and opioid use in private sector populations.”

This is not the first study to show that chiropractic patients are less likely to use opiates.

• A 2016 study² found that in areas where there are more chiropractors per capita, younger, disabled Medicare beneficiaries were less likely to obtain an opioid prescription.
• Another 2018 study³ found that chiropractic patients had a 55% lower chance of using opioids than did medical patients.

It’s clear from our public health crisis that we need healthy, non-addictive solutions to chronic pain in the United States. Many people with pain are prescribed opiates when there are solutions that are just as effective and safer than drugs. According to the literature, it seems that chiropractic can play an important role in helping these patients.

Medical References

1. Lisi AJ, Corcoran KL, DeRycke EC, Bastian LA, Becker WC, Edmond SN, Goertz CM, Goulet JL, Haskell SG, Higgins DM, Kawecki T, Kerns RD, Mattocks K, Ramsey C, Ruser CB, Brandt CA. Opioid Use Among Veterans of Recent Wars Receiving Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Care. Pain Med. 2018 Sep 1;19(suppl_1):S54-S60. doi: 10.1093/pm/pny114. PubMed PMID: 30203014.
2. Weeks WB, Goertz CM. Cross-sectional analysis of per capita supply of doctors of chiropractic and opioid use in younger medicare beneficiaries. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics 2016;39(4):263–6.
3. Whedon JM, Toler AWJ, Goehl JM, Kazal LA. Association Between Utilization of Chiropractic Services for Treatment of Low-Back Pain and Use of Prescription Opioids. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2018; Feb 22. doi: 10.1089/acm.2017.0131.

Written by: Michael Melton on September 16, 2018.

Courtesy of:

John H. Keefe III, D.C.

(918) 663-1111

IN THE NEWS: Who's Behind the Claim That Oil Is Pure Poison? A German lecture in which Harvard professor Karen Michels proclaims coconut oil is “pure poison” has been picked up by many English-speaking media outlets.  Michels is a proponent of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) advisory against saturated fats such as coconut oil. She also has professional ties to Harvard professor Frank Sacks, who was the lead author of the AHA’s 2017 advisory on saturated fats. The AHA’s Presidential Advisory against saturated fats specifically identifies coconut oil as a harmful fat, even though coconut oil was not included in any of the studies AHA used to support its claims. The low-fat myth was born and grew to take hold in the 1960s and early ‘70s, and it is four studies from these eras that the AHA uses as the justification for their recommendation to avoid saturated fats. Coconut oil supports thyroid function, normalizes insulin and leptin sensitivity, boosts metabolism and provides excellent and readily available fuel for your body in lieu of carbohydrates. NOTE: One of my professors at school told us that we could make any ridiculous claim about diet and he would find one authority that agreed with it and one that disagreed with it. The high complex carb low-fat diet is a proven failure when used on the population as a whole. There is a subgroup of the population that do really well on this diet but the faulty research behind this diet has led to outrageous claims from this Harvard professor. It can take decades for bad science to be eliminated. Don’t be afraid of coconut oil.

WELLNESS: UK Guidelines Recommend Honey for Cough, Not Antibiotics With the goal of reducing inappropriate antibiotic use by half by 2021, the U.K. Department of Health has proposed new guidelines recommending the use of honey as the first line of treatment for coughs. Antibiotics do little to improve colds and flu or symptoms like coughs and sore throat because they are not designed to treat viral infections, which typically run their course within a week or two. The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of honey are well-known, making honey a great alternative to prescription drugs when treating coughs. I highly recommend Manuka honey, which has a long history of use as a treatment for bacterial infections and wounds, making it a beneficial natural health remedy. Here’s a couple of recipes to try: Mix equal amount of honey and lemongrass juice then drink to reduce the coughs.@@ Mix a syrup consisting of 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons water, mix, and drink.

CONDITION OF THE WEEK: FALL ALLERGIES Spring and fall tend to be the worst times of the year for allergies. Some people will suffer year-round particularly if they have a mold or dust allergy. Allergies can be from a mild nuisance, mucus draining down the back of the throat, to a full-blown attack where you have sneezing, congested sinuses, runny eyes, and nose etc. many people who aren’t aware of natural healthcare just suppress their allergies with antihistamines. Most of those people don’t realize antihistamines suppress their immune system. Does that sound like a smart thing to do, suppressing your immune system? I have seen one study that associates chronic antihistamine use with cancer. Think about it for a second if you chronically use antihistamines you’re chronically suppressing your immune system that is essential in keeping you well, particularly in defending against things like cancer. At Keefe Clinic our number one remedy for allergies is our “Allergy Mix” which is a homeopathic dilution of all the antigens commonly found in Tulsa air. Not only do most people noticed immediate symptomatic relief when they start taking the mix, the mix is actually working at correcting the immune system dysfunction that leads to the allergy symptoms in the first place. Note: IN rare cases your allergy symptoms might get worse before they get better. In homeopathy, this is called "proving" indicating that the right selection of remedy. Simply reduce your dose for a period of time as your body adjusts. This is a harmless reaction and extremely rare.

FUNNY BONE: There was an old couple, married for nearly 60 years. It was rumored that they never had a single fight since their marriage. It’s difficult to find such a couple which did not fight and that is what made this fact unbelievable. A man, while traveling through the state, happened to visit their village. While at the bar, he met a local who asked him if he was married, he said, “I’m divorced. Never could find a woman I didn't end up fighting with all the time”. Then the local man told him about the old couple that never fought. He exclaimed, "What?? That's impossible! Everyone has fights!". But the local swore to him it was the truth. He was determined to find out their secret and decided to pay them a visit. When he reached the old couple’s house, he was greeted by the old man and invited for tea. The old man inquired the guest about his purpose of visit. After the traveler explained why he came to see him, the man smiled and nodded. "It's true. We never fight." "PLEASE," begged the traveler, "can you tell me your secret?" "Well," said the old man, "it all started about 60 years ago, right after the wedding. We were riding our mule back to town and walking it down the street when it tripped over a stone and my wife said to him: 'That's one.' "We kept riding and he tripped again on another stone, which made my wife immediately say: 'That's two.' "Two minutes later, the mule trips over a stone again. My wife said: 'That's three.' She pulled out a gun I never knew she had and shot the mule in the head without thinking twice! I was shocked and yelled at her: 'What the heck do you think you're doing? We needed that mule! Are you crazy?!' "My wife looked me straight in the eye and said: 'That's one.' "And we haven't had a fight since."

Visit our web site: keefeclinic.com& facebook.com/keefeclinic

Courtesy of:

John H. Keefe III, D.C.

(918) 663-1111

IN THE NEWS: HORSERADISH CONTAINS POWERFUL CANCER-FIGHTING COMPOUNDS  Horseradish is a key flavor in prepared foods such as potato salad, sandwiches and sauces. It can add zest to dips and vegetable dishes. However, research out of the University of Illinois has found eating horseradish can actually help you to inhibit cancer cell growth. How does it work?   This is due to its high content of glucosinolates, which are enzymes known to have cancer-fighting properties. Glucosinolates assist the body in detoxifying – at the cellular level – and eliminating harmful free radicals. While broccoli (which is in the same family as horseradish) is known for its glucosinolate content, horseradish has 10 times the amount.  Horseradish is pretty pungent, so (fortunately) a little goes a long way both in terms of flavor and cancer-fighting benefits. Horseradish can fight cancer so well due to its detoxification ability as well as its high absorption rate; around 90 percent of this compound is effectively absorbed after ingestion. Once in the body, glucosinolates are broken down into powerful derivatives called indoles and isothiocyanates – which help us avoid cancer cell growth.  In addition to its cancer-fighting properties, horseradish contains key nutrients like calcium, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and vitamin C. Horseradish root is most commonly ground into a spice and prepared as a condiment. However, it has also been used medicinally for over 3,000 years. Horseradish has been used to treat asthma, colds, toothache, colic, and scurvy (because of its vitamin C content.) Horseradish poultices relieve pain through topical application, and it has even been infused into milk for use in skin care. Important to note: Horseradish offers potent antimicrobial and antibiotic properties.

WELLNESS: IQ SCORES ARE DROPPING EVERY GENERATION SINCE THE 1970’S In a bit of unwelcome news, scientists have found that humans are becoming less intelligent. In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a pair of Norwegian researchers studied test results from over 730,000 young men and found that IQ scores were dropping – to the tune of seven points per generation. A recent British study – which demonstrated that IQ scores have fallen by 2.5 to 4.3 points every decade since the end of World War II – helps to corroborate the results of the Norwegian research. These findings are in sharp contrast to results from the first half of the twentieth century when IQ scores rose steadily. (Could the barrage of pesticides and environmental toxins introduced during the second half of the century be taking their toll on human brain function? Many natural health experts think so.) Fact: both animal and human studies have shown that fluoride impairs learning and memory. Researchers at the Berkeley School of Public Health at the University of California found that prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides – such as chlorpyrifos and diazinon – is associated with lower intelligence scores in seven-year-olds. Children with high lead levels can exhibit lower IQ scores and learning disabilities, along with behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, inability to maintain attention and aggression. The EPA notes that an estimated 1.7 million children are currently affected by lead toxicity in the United States alone – almost 900,000 of them under the age of six. According to a new study, the “brain drain” from exposure to mercury is hitting America in the pocketbook. According to a study conducted at Ashland University, aluminum cookware made in developing countries can contain dangerous amounts of lead and cadmium – along with unhealthy amounts of aluminum. NOTE: the need to regularly detox your system is important for your health and your brain.

CHIROPRACTIC: SUPPORT FOR YOUR 3 ARCHES AND YOU’RE BACK AT THE SAME TIME The feet are the foundation of the body. They provide the necessary stability to perform daily activities by supporting the weight of the entire body using a strong, 3-arched bond called the plantar vault. The plantar vault provides numerous benefits: Balances to the body, propels us forward, safely absorbs heel-strike shock, Adapts to walking and running stresses. Over time, one or more of your arches will weaken due to gravitational pressure. This process is completely natural, but can be expedited by injuries, a short leg, improper posture and naturally weak ligaments and tendons. Once an arch or multiple arches have weakened, the weight of the body will shift away from the weakened arch and start to apply pressure and stress to the other arches, causing pain and other symptoms throughout the body. A Foot Levelers custom orthotic is individually designed for your feet – helping achieve a balanced foundation and stabilized pelvis. Our custom orthotics are handmade for your unique feet based on a casts, and your doctor’s exam. Over-the-counter insoles may initially cost less, but they only support one arch in your foot. When only one arch is being supported, it may not maintain the structure of your plantar vault, and problems can start in other parts of your body. In fact, “over-supporting” just one arch of the foot may actually cause pain and symptoms, not relieve them. Do you experience pain daily? Individually designed Foot Levelers custom orthotics with 3-arch support, however, can. Imbalances in the feet can lead to knee rotation, pelvic tilt and shoulder drop. These imbalances in the body can be caused by pronation and supination of the foot. These instabilities can lead to conditions such as plantar fasciitis, knee pain, hip pain, back pain, and neck pain. A properly aligned body will have symmetrical feet, level knees, pelvis and shoulders. Wearing Custom Orthotics may help alleviate imbalances and conditions caused by those imbalances. A conclusive new study, “Shoe Orthotics for the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial” published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation shows that Foot Levelers custom orthotics, particularly in combination with Chiropractic care, significantly reduce Low Back Pain (LBP).

FUNNY BONE: Teacher: Who answers my next question, can go home. One boy throws his bag out the window.  Teacher: Who just threw that? Boy: Me and I’m going home now.@@ Teacher:¨Are you sleeping in my class¨? Student:¨Well now I´m not but if you could be a little quieter I could¨@@ Ms.Battle: Henry, I hope I didn't see you copying Casey's math test.  Henry: I hope you didn't either.@@ A husband tells his wife, "Since it is your birthday, remember that yellow Lamborghini that you really wanted?". The wife screams in joy and starts crying tears of joy. Then the husband says, "Well I got you a toothbrush, same color".@@ Hi pleased to meet you. You might already know me. I’m kind of a big deal. I used to be the world’s youngest person.@@ A burglar entered my house in the middle of the night. I woke up and asked him what he was doing. He said he was looking for money so I got up and searched with him.@@ Optimist: The glass is half full. Pessimist: The glass is half empty. Mother: Why didn’t you use a coaster! !@@ A man goes to the lawyer: “What is your fee?” Lawyer says: “1000 US dollars for 3 questions.” Man: “Wow - so much! Isn’t it a bit expensive?” Lawyer: “Yes, what is your third question?”

Visit our web site: keefeclinic.com or faceebook/keefeclinic.com

Courtesy of:

John H. Keefe III, D.C.

(918) 663-1111

IN THE NEWS: Which Foods Are Best for Your Heart Health?  Many vegetables contain naturally occurring nitrates, which your body transforms into nitric oxide (NO), a soluble gas continually produced from the amino acid L-arginine inside your cells. nitric oxide supports healthy endothelial function and protects your mitochondria. Acting as a potent vasodilator, NO also relaxes and widens your blood vessels, improving blood flow and reducing blood pressure. As noted in research3 presented by Dr. Michael Greger above, a diet high in nitrate is a natural strategy recommended for the treatment of prehypertension and hypertension (high blood pressure), "and to protect individuals at risk of adverse vascular events," i.e., heart attacks. Indeed, raw beets — which are high in nitrates — have been shown to lower blood pressure by an average of four to five points within a matter of hours. Some studies have shown a glass of beet juice can lower systolic blood pressure by more than eight points — far more than most blood pressure medications. In conventional medicine, nitrates are used to treat angina and congestive heart failure, and research shows a glass of beetroot juice has the same effect as prescription nitrates. Red beets are well-known for their high nitrate content, but leafy greens contain even more nitrates per serving; arugula contains the highest amounts, followed by rhubarb.

WELLNESS: Sugar During Pregnancy Linked to Allergies Allergies are a sign your body’s immune system is working overtime; consuming sugar during pregnancy may increase your child’s risk of developing allergies and asthma. Sugar has a profound effect on the health of your growing baby and may increase your own risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypertension and brain-related disorders as well. Researchers at Queen Mary University of London evaluated survey data from nearly 9,000 mother-child pairs in the ongoing Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, tracking the health of families with children born between April 1, 1991, and December 31, 1992.⁴ Lead author Annabelle Bedard, Ph.D., commented on what triggered the researchers to evaluate the association between sugar and allergies: "The dramatic 'epidemic' of asthma and allergies in the West in the last 50 years is still largely unexplained — one potential culprit is a change in diet. Intake of free sugar and high fructose corn syrup has increased substantially over this period. We know that the prenatal period may be crucial for determining risk of asthma and allergies in childhood and recent trials have confirmed that maternal diet in pregnancy is important." Optimizing your vitamin D level during pregnancy may reduce your child’s risk for developing asthma and support your child’s immune system.

CHIROPRACTIC: Low back problems that are disc related Low back pain is the number one health problem in the United States, but the good news is chiropractic is the number one effective treatment based on government studies. When vertebrae, in the back, start to lose their alignment, the connective tissue and fluid pad (discs) between the vertebras come under stress. Through repetitive trauma from normal daily activities, this stress can lead to bulging and sometimes tearing of fibers within the disk. As this damage increases the gelatinous material called the nucleus pulposus can migrate to the edge of the disc and sometimes herniated through the disc. The good news is most disc problems can be adequately resolved through chiropractic adjustments, exercise, and nutritional therapy. That's right, discs need nutrition just like every other structure in your body. With a combination of connective tissue support, enzymes to treat inflammation and swelling and chiropractic adjustments most disk problems can be resolved without surgery. There is a classic disc shift seen in patients with lumbar disc disorders. When the patient tries to stand up straight, their hips are usually shifted to one side. If you or someone you know suffers from severe low back pain, they need chiropractic care to resolve the disk problem.

FUNNY BONES: How does a penguin build it's house? Igloos it together. @@Bob: "Holy schmoozes, I just fell off a 30 ft ladder." Jim: "No way man, are you okay?" Bob: "Yeah, luckily I was just on the first step."@@Two years ago I asked the girl of my dreams on a date, today I asked her to marry me. She said no, on both occasions.@@police say that the man who fell into a combine harvester while trying to steal it…Has been bailed. @@I told a girl she looked better without her glasses on. She said I also look better without her glasses on.@@“Dad, are we pyromaniacs?” “Yes, we arson.” @@To the guy who stole my antidepressants…I hope you’re happy.@@I asked the doctor if I could administer my own anaesthetic. He said, “Go ahead. Knock yourself out.” @@I’ve been trying to organize a hide and seek tournament…But it’s not easy.  Good players are hard to find.@@ A guy walks into library and asks for a book on sea turtles. The librarian asks, “Hard back?” The guy replies, “Yeah, little heads too.”