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Watson Chiropractic, P.C.
February 2006 Newsletter
503-MY SPINE (697-7463)
  • On the Job injuries
  •  Heart Health Month
  • Cholesterol Facts
  • The Not-So Phat and Phat Fats
  • Good Sense Heart Supplementation
  • Spinal Adjustments and Blood Pressure
  • Singing the Medicare Blues
  • Thursday Specials
  • Humor
 
On the Job Injuries
 
If you get injured at work, here's how to exercise your Workman's Compensation benefit.  Notify your employer of your injury and fill out a Work Comp claim form #827. Often times, an employer may not be prepared for an on-the-job injury and may not have an 827 form. In this case, feel free to call us or come in and we can give you one. On occasion, a employee may come in and tell us their employer is going to pay for the care out of their own pocket because they do not want a claim on their record. This is actually illegal. A Work Comp injury falls under the mandatory reporter law for health care providers, as well as employers, requiring us to report it.
 
Due to past abuses by workers and health care providers, work injury cases are often scrutinized by the insurer. This is why it is important for you to find a doctor who is familiar with Work Comp laws and an administrative staff that knows how to handle the paperwork. We have successfully handled Work Comp cases for the last 12 years. In most instances, we can tell you right away if your case is going to be accepted, denied, or reviewed.
 
I generally see stain/sprain type injuries where someone lifted something too heavy and hurt their back. On occasion, I see someone who feels a chronic condition like carpal tunnel syndrome is related to their job. My experience is, most cases of a chronic nature are denied and acute injuries with a mechanism of injury - like a fall from a ladder, or lifting a heavy object, are accepted. In any case, we are available to discuss your individual situation and advise you how to seek care.
 
 
 
Heart Health Month
 
February is heart health month in our office.  Heart disease is the number one reported cause of death in the United States.
 
A healthy diet and exercise are required for heart health. However, emotional health is just as important as the heart greatly responds to our emotional state. If we are emotionally upset, stressed out, or in turmoil, our heart responds with constriction and decreased blood volume output.  Dietary changes, nutritional supplements, emotional stress reduction, and exercise can all lead the way towards a more healthy and stronger heart.
 
Heart disease is believed to be one of the most preventable chronic diseases.  If you are young and not concerned, consider for a moment that the unhealthy habits you have now may lead to heart disease later. The sooner you get started the better.
 
 
Cholesterol facts

Two thirds of the cholesterol in the body does not come from cholesterol in your food but is manufactured by the liver, it's production mostly stimulated by saturated fat.  Cholesterol is  a steroid that acts as a component of cell membranes and serves as a precursor for steroid hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, and aldosterone.  It also aids in making bile acids to help digest fats and aids in vitamin D synthesis.   Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream in different packages called lipoproteins.   Low-density lipoproteins (LDL or VLDL "bad" cholesterol) deliver cholesterol to the body, while high-density lipoproteins (HDL or "good" cholesterol) take cholesterol out of the bloodstream back to the liver.   As happens with most people eating a western diet, t oo much cholesterol in the bloodstream can build up on the artery wall which can lead to hardening and plaqueing of the arteries (arthrosclerosis).  This in turn can lead to restricted or blocked blood flow to the heart muscle, as in coronary heart disease.  It can also lead to strokes and pulmonary emboli as large particles of plaque break away from the artery wall and become trapped in capillary beds causing loss of blood flow to brain tissues or pulmonary (lung) edema and congestive heart failure.
 
Cholesterol tests
Cholesterol testing evaluates the risk for arthrosclerosis, myocardial occlusion, and coronary arterial occlusion.  In general it measures how much cholesterol is traveling in your blood stream.  Total cholesterol, good and bad cholesterol, and a ratio of bad : good cholesterol is measured/calculated.
  • The current reference values for total cholesterol (Adults).
    • Desirable level. 140 to 199 mg/dl
    • Borderline high. 200 to 239 mg/dl
    • High. Greater than 239 mg/dl
  • The current reference values for good cholesterol (HDL).
    • Men 35 to 65mg/dl
    • Women 35 to 80 mg/dl
  • The current reference values for bad cholesterol (LDL).
    • Desirable level. Less than 130 mg/dl
    • Borderline high-risk.  140 to 159 mg/dl
    • High-risk. Greater than 160 mg/dl
Elevated levels of total or bad cholesterol is generally an indicator of a diet high in fat.  However, this is not always the case as some disease processes like hypothyroidism can also produce high levels of cholesterol in the blood.  In addition, women on estrogen therapy may show decreased levels of bad cholesterol.  If you have a problem with high or low levels of cholesterol it's a good idea to re-check again in 2 to 8 weeks to establish a baseline and confirm your reading.  If you want your cholesterol tested, just ask, and I will refer you to a lab close to you.
 
 
The not-so Phat and Phat Fats
 
To improve heart health, focus on foods that help maintain or obtain healthy levels of cholesterol and lipids, keep the body weight under control, and maintain a healthy blood pressure.  That means to pay attention to the fats in you diet.  Here's the scoop on fats.
 
Bad Fats
As a general rule limit your intake of bad fats by limiting fatty animal meats, dairy products, and hydrogenated fats (trans-fatty acids) - found mostly in hard margarine, commercial baked goods, and fast foods.
  • Saturated fats
    These are found mostly in animal products, including meat and dairy products.  The so-called tropical oils (palm, coconut, and cocoa butter) also are saturated.
  • Trans-fatty acids (aka hydrogenated fats/oils)
    These are found mostly in hard margarine, fast foods and baked goods.  These are manufactured by food suppliers and manufacturers to aid in food preservation and stability, at room temperature.  Trans-fatty acids are made through a process called hydrogenation where hydrogen atoms are added to polyunsaturated fats.  Per FDA regulations, food products entering interstate commerce on or after January 1, 2006 must be labeled with trans fat.  Studies show that these fats lower good cholesterol (HDL), cause harm to the linings of the arteries, and increase your risk for type II diabetes.
 
Good Fats
Some fats are essential for health.  In general we do not get enough of these good fats, and often times we do not get a good-balance of good fats.  To eat a more heart healthy diet we need more of these and in general a 1:1 ratio of omega 6 to 3 essential fatty acids.  Most often we are very low on the omega 3.
  • Polyunsaturated fats
    These are found in safflower, sunflower, corn and cottonseed oils, and fish.   These include Omega-3 and 6 essential fatty acids.
    • Omega-3 fatty acids are further divided into plant (alpha-linoleic aka ALA) and fish (docosahexaenoic acid DHA and eicosapentaneoic acid EPA) oils.
      • ALA (alpha-lineoleic acid) fats are found in flax seed.   It's a good idea to sprinkle flax seed on your food daily or take a flax supplement.  ALA can also be converted to DHA, another omega-3 efa, with an enzyme found in many vitamins and minerals such as B3,B6,C,E,C,magnesium and zinc.
      • DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaneoic acid) fats are found in fish.  These are very important essential fatty acids and are the most neglected of all.  When I recommend these to patients I get the great results.  Positive effects include anti-inflammatory, anti-blood clotting, reductions in triglycerhides, and positive effects on HDL levels.  These fats may also reduce the risk of stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, ulcerative collitis, some cancers and mental decline.  I recommend eating more fish and supplementation.  It is my opinion that daily supplementation of DHA and EPA is as important as a daily multiple vitamin/mineral supplement.
    • Omega-6 fatty acids are found in corn, safflower, soybean and sunflower oil.  Also know as LA (lineoleic acid).  These fats are often consumed in too great of a quantity.  Too much of a good thing can cause weight gain.  Remember the ratio of 1:1 of omega 6 to 3.  Most diets in our culture are more like 10:1, omega 6 to 3.  Again, supplementation with omega 3 is important to balance out this inequity in most diets.
    • Omega-9 fatty acids are found in canola and olive oil.  Some studies have found olive oil to have a beneficial effect for those with high blood pressure and diabetes.
 
 
Good Sense Heart Supplementation
 
If you have elevated cholesterol, a heart condition, or a history of heart disease, I will most certainly recommend one or more of the following supplements - as well as detailed diet for you to follow.
 
General heart multiples - These are great for supporting general heart health.
  • Total Heart
  • Total Heart II.
Antioxidants - These support the body in managing the effects of free radicals and cholesterol damage.
  • Super Ox
  • Total Lipotrophic
  • E-400.
 
Homocysteine control - Homocysteine is an amino acid that is damaging to the cardiovascular system.  Just like cholesterol it is found in animal meats as well as avocados, sunflower seeds, wild game, poultry, and ricotta cheese.  Evidence is building that it may possibly be more damaging to the cardiovascular system than cholesterol.  In this case, it's best to make sure you have adequate amounts of Betaine, B6, B12 and Folic acid as these help convert harmful homocysteine into other non-harmful amino acids and sulfates.
  • B Complex
  • Folic acid-S
  • Homocysteine Redux
 
Essential Fatty Acids - Hopefully you read all about the fats above and have figured out by now that we do not get enough Omega 3 EFA's  The best way to get proper amounts is to supplement.
  • F-Complex
  • Super EPA
  • Complete Omega 3 essentials and Co-factors.
 
Minerals - Essential for heart electrical potential and polarization.
  • TJ Clark Co colloidal minerals
  • Cal Mag 1:1
  • Total Calcium
 
 
Spinal Adjustments and Blood Pressure
 
Over the last 12 years of practice I have seen the spinal adjustment alone reduce high blood pressure.  Spinal misalignment can have a direct impact on the nerves that supply innervation to the heart.  Sympathetic chain ganglia nerves supply the heart with adrenergic electrical impulses as well as control capillary arterial tone of the heart muscle itself.  These nerves exit the spinal column from the mid back specifically at T1 to T5 (between your shoulder blades).  Vertebral subluxation (misaligned vertebra causing nerve irritation) can interfere with nerve function causing the nerve to fire to rapidly, or too slowly, thus interfering with nerve tone to the heart muscle as well as interfering directly with the heart rate and blood pressure.  Often times a patient will complain of tightness at the heart and feel like their heart rate is too rapid with a sharp pain in the mid back between the shoulder blades.
 
A thorough heart exam includes listening to the four heart valves, taking the blood pressure, heart rate, and reviewing a patient's health history and family history of heart disease.  And, in my office, as a chiropractor a thorough heart exam also includes an evaluation of the vertebra in the mid back.
 
 
 
Singing the Medicare Blues
 
With sending out this newsletter to over 600 patients I'll likely attract some patients with Medicare to my office. 
 
In the past, we have had several patients with Medicare come into our office with the expectation that they will not need to pay for services or supplements.  After all, they have Medicare.  In our office, Medicare patients have to pay at the time of service and Medicare will reimburse them for accepted services.  Medicare will not pay for chiropractic examinations, X-rays, supplies, or supplements.  However, they cover a large percentage of spinal adjustments.  In addition, by federal mandate, we are required to reduce our fees to anyone with Medicare.  Those reductions range from 10% to 42%.  Even with the reduced fees we still get complaints from some new patients with Medicare.  Of course, we understand some people feel strongly about their Medicare rights.  However, It is difficult for us to listen to people complain about, "what we believe", to be the best deal in healthcare in this country, and our lowest fees.
 
If our discount and Medicare's partial benefit is not enough for you folks who feel strongly about your Medicare rights, consider these facts.  Many of the 400 thousand Oregonians who can not afford health care insurance pay for Medicare from their pay check on a monthly basis.  That's right... there are people paying for your health care who do not even have health insurance themselves.  For those with health insurance, it's not cheap.  Nina and I pay over six hundred dollars a month for our family health insurance, and it's not 100 percent coverage, it's probably a lot like Medicare - without the federal mandate to reduce fees.  That's, two 38 year old adults, and one 10 year old child, costing more than six hundred dollars per month.  I can not imagine how much it would cost if we were over 65.
 
 
 
Thursday Specials
 
Last month our Thursday Specials included discounts for returning patients and new patients.  We had a lot of new people, and returning patients, take the opportunity to improve their health and save a few bucks.  This month our Thursday specials will focus on couples.  Take this month's opportunity to get your significant other in for a first-time visit for a very reduced fee, and have them get an additional free adjustment on you.  What a deal! 
 
Thursday February 16th 2006 (new patient special)
  • Significant others (spouses, fiancés, and folks who live together in a committed relationship) of current patients, can come into our office for a first-time visit for $89.00.  This includes all first day services, and an X- ray - if necessary.  This is a great opportunity for your significant other to experience the benefits of chiropractic care.  They must mention this Thursday Special to receive the discount. 
Thursday February 23rd 2006 (returning patient special)
  • If you and your significant other are both patients of our office, you may both come in for spinal adjustments for the price of one adjustment.  You must schedule at the same time, and take only one time-slot in our schedule.  I'll treat you both in the same room at the same time. Only one of you need make the appointment and just let us know when you come in, so we can get both files ready.
Humor
 
God populated the earth with broccoli and cauliflower and spinach and green and yellow vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

And Satan created McDonald's, and McDonald's brought forth the $3.20 double-cheeseburger, and Satan said to Man, "You want fries with that?", and Man said, "Super size them."

And Man gained pounds.

And God created the healthful yogurt, that Woman might keep her figure that Man found so fair.

And Satan froze the yogurt, and he brought forth chocolate, nuts and brightly colored sprinkle candy to put on the yogurt.

And Woman gained pounds.

And God said, "Try my crispy fresh salad."

And Satan brought forth creamy dressings, bacon bits, and shredded cheese, and there was ice cream for dessert.

And Woman gained pounds.

And God said, "I have sent you heart-healthy vegetables and olive oil with which to cook them."

And Satan brought forth chicken- fried steak so big it needed its own platter.

And Man gained pounds, and his cholesterol went through the roof.

And God brought forth running shoes, and Man resolved to lose those extra pounds.

And Satan brought forth cable TV with remote control so Man would not have to work to change channels.

And Man gained pounds.

And God said, "You're running up the score, Devil."

And God brought forth the potato, a vegetable naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition.

And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fat fried them. He created sour cream dip also, and Man clutched his remote control, and ate the potato chips swaddled in cholesterol.

And Satan saw that and said, "It is good."

And Man went into cardiac arrest.

And God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery...

And Satan created private health insurance ....
 
 
Oh my gosh you made it this far down.  Unbelievable!  Thank you for your readership.  As usual, I understand if you do not want to receive our newsletter, and do not take it personally if you want to be removed from our list.  To be removed just reply with "remove" in the subject line.
 
Healthy Wishes,
 
Dr. Watson