PREMATURE BABY AND RELIEVED PARENTS BOTH BREATHE EASIER AFTER TREATMENT

When a child enters the world prematurely, there is a good chance that some breathing difficulties might surface. However, when Chiropractic is involved, a premature birth does not necessarily mean that a child is going to have to spend many long months with drug and breathing apparatus intervention.

 One such case was recently documented in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. Here was a case where the child suffered from the condition known as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is a lung condition that can be quite serious and results in breathing problems for the premature baby.

 The administration of oxygen is the usual treatment for the newborn child. Treatment is delivered in the hospital’s intensive care unit and is administered continuously for the first 28 days. A 120 day hospital stay is most likely and administration of antibiotics and continued oxygen treatments are required when the child is finally discharged.

 In the case under study, the child who was born 24 days prematurely followed this course of treatment after she was diagnosed with BPD. Oxygen was administered, antibiotics were included, and she was nourished with a feeding tube for 3 months. Finally, after 17 weeks she was discharged and oxygen treatments were continued at home.

 The girl was brought to a chiropractor for examination some 3 months after her release from the hospital. A Chiropractic exam showed that she weighed in at just 12 pounds now some 7 months after her birth. Her condition was described as listless. She had pasty skin and sinus congestion; her breathing was short and rapid, and there was no eye contact reported. Plus, she was constipated and colicky.

 After just one adjustment, the baby’s mother noticed immediate changes. The baby became livelier and was able to use her abdominal muscles to hold her legs up. The colic subsided and she easily passed gas for the first time. The second visit resolved congestion problems and her sinuses began to drain. After her third adjustment, the baby made some loud noises and started to draw air in more easily.

 With such positive results, Chiropractic care continued for a period lasting several months. The changes to the child during this period of time were quite remarkable. Daily improvements were noted – such things as more head control, better facial color, regular bowel movements and a much improved breathing ability.

 The end result was a healthy child who no longer needed any antibiotics. She never needed to be readmitted to the hospital during or following her Chiropractic treatment. By this time, she was able to roll over easily on her own and no symptoms of her BPD returned. Chalk up another victory for Chiropractic treatment with the result being a child who was well on her way to being able to live a happy and healthy life.

 Source: Kid Chiropractic. “Chiropractor Helps Infant with Serious Lung Condition.” March 2008. http://www.kidchiropractic.com/

RISE IN C-SECTION DELIVERIES REACHES NEAR ONE-THIRD OF ALL U.S. BIRTHS

The number of Caesarean Sections performed in United States hospitals has soared over those performed just a decade ago. Charges by U.S. hospitals for the procedure have netted over $17.4 billion annually for these operations alone.

According to the most recently available numbers provided the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of women who now have the C-section procedure is nearing 1/3 of all births. About 1.3 million women in 2005 gave birth through a C-section. This figure represents a 38 percent increase over 1995. That year, about 800,000 C-sections were performed in the U.S.

C-sections have their rightful place in deliveries when complications would be thought to put either the mother or the child at risk. An umbilical cord wrapped around the child’s neck or a breech delivery would be two common reasons for a C-section delivery.

More recently, C-sections are being performed for many other reasons including convenience, a feeling by attending physicians that the procedure reduces lawsuit risk and even the idea that this type of delivery is better for the mom and child than a normal vaginal delivery.

The area of sharpest decline in vaginal deliveries occurred in the case of those mothers who had previously given birth via C-section. Vaginal deliveries of subsequent children dropped 60 percent from 157,200 in 1995 to just 63,300 in 2005. Apparently some doctors and hospitals are not allowing a woman to consider and attempt vaginal delivery following a C-section delivery.

Another major contributing factor to the increase in C-sections would logically be financial. In 2005, hospitals charged a total of $17.4 billion for about 1/3 of the deliveries through C-section.

Hospitals took in just $21.3 billion for the remaining 2/3 of the deliveries. Clearing, the profit lies in C-section deliveries!

Consider the difference in costs based on 2003 figures as provided by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

• Vaginal birth with no complications: $6,239.
• Vaginal birth with complications: $8,177.
• C-section with no complications: $11,524.
• C-section with complications: $15,519.

At about $5,000 more for an uncomplicated C-section and over $7,000 more for a complicated procedure above vaginal delivery, is it really any wonder that the medical profession, as well as hospitals, might like to see the number of C-sections rise even higher in the years to come?

http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/2008/jun/j.htm

Source: The World Chiropractic Alliance. “Number of C-sections Soar: Hospitals Made $17.4 Billion on Procedures.” June 2008.

He’s not on Ritalin, he’s on Chiropractic!”

CHIROPRACTIC VS. RITALIN

“I was treating a lady for migraine headaches and she was improving nicely. She tells me about her son who is having problems at school. They moved from Minnesota 4 months earlier. Her son had always been hyper but the teachers in her home town didn’t seem to mind and they would give the kids more frequent breaks in order to get the energy out of them. After moving and starting in a new school it seemed the hyper activity had increased and this was annoying the new teacher.

“My patient could not believe it. She asked me if I could help her son. I told her to bring him in and I would check his spine as subluxation in the cervical spine could make him nervous. She brought him in, I did the exam and his neck needed an adjustment. I adjusted him 3 times. She had to leave for a while, her mother died, and I didn’t see her for 2 months. When she came back I asked her about her son. She started laughing. She said he was doing great. That last week they had a parent-teacher conference and the teacher thanked her for putting her son on Ritalin as he’s been doing so much better in school. The mom replied 

It’s hard to say if it’s simply a sign of the times or the continuing search by drug companies to find new and untapped markets for their products. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is now recommending cholesterol testing for children as young as 2 years old and even recommending cholesterol lowering drugs in some older children.

The AAP has made the call for screening and treatment a part of their policy with a statement called “Lipid Screening and Cardiovascular Health in Childhood.” This screening is mainly directed at children in families that have a history of high cholesterol levels in their background. Other familial factors that could trigger a screening would be frequency of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure or diabetes.

Screening for children that meet these specifications should begin sometime after their 2nd birthday and before the age of 10, says the AAP. Previous AAP screening recommendations were far less specific regarding targeted ages for testing to start.

Previously, the AAP never recommended cholesterol drugs for children under 10. That specification has been lowered now to include younger children to whom drugs are being recommended. “For children who are more than 8 years old and who have high LDL (bad cholesterol) concentrations, cholesterol-reducing medications should be considered. Younger patients with elevated cholesterol readings should focus on weight reduction and increased activity while receiving nutrition counseling.”

Most cholesterol lowering drugs have serious side effects.

There is no question that obesity is a problem of increasing proportion throughout American society. It is truly unfortunate that it is becoming a factor in very young children and a sad comment on diet, sedentary lifestyles and a lack of exercise throughout our culture. Children need to be encouraged to “get out and play” and get the body moving. This will go a long way to promote good health and strong bodies.

Parents who are looking for ways to improve the lifestyle and health of their children would be wise to consult a chiropractor or acupuncturist for expertise and advice on this subject. It’s important not only to keep children off drugs, but also to develop a way of good healthy thinking that will have them choosing exercise and fitness rather than a trip to the medicine cabinet for everything that ails them in their future years.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics. “New AAP Policy on Lipid Screening and Heart Health in Children.” Press Release. July

2008. http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/july08lipidscreening.htm

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INDIVIDUALIZED CHIROPRACTIC PROGRAMS PROVIDE

IMPROVEMENTS FOR CHILDREN, TOO!

Why would a parent not take a child to see a chiropractor? The basic answer might come down to no information or incorrect information.

Here are three basic reasons why not: 1. They don’t know about Chiropractic, 2. They don’t know about the potential benefits of Chiropractic or, 3. They think that a Chiropractic adjustment might be too rough for a child and cause pain or damage.

Once a person finds out about Chiropractic and begins to understand its benefits, it is point number 3 that must be understood and dispelled, as apparently, some parents think that a Chiropractic adjustment will be “too rough” for their youngster.

Chiropractors understand that all bodies are different and tailor their adjustments and the amount of pressure required based on the individual they are treating. A big football playing man in his 20s, a little old woman in her 70s and a child of 10, will all be looked at and evaluated for their individual needs.

In this way, it could be said that a Chiropractic adjustment can be as individual as a handshake. A strong man shaking hands with another strong man will give him a lot more pressure than if the same man was shaking hands with his grandmother or the child. When parents realize this and bring their child in for an adjustment, the results can be quite remarkable. Consider this case of a 7-year-old girl.

This child had been suffering from asthma since the age of 4. By the time she came to see a chiropractor, she had been treated medically with 10 different medications. Attacks of coughs and wheezing were daily occurrences. Physical activity was almost out of the question. Emergency room visits sometimes reached 5 per year. A test of lung capacity revealed she was operating at about 50 percent of her lung capacity.

An exam by her chiropractor revealed subluxations (partial dislocations) in the vertebrae at the middle of her spine. An individual program was tailored to handle these restrictions. With just one adjustment, some of the tightness in her chest disappeared and her coughing was reduced. After just 4 weeks of treatment, she was able to put aside her inhaler and get back to participating in swimming and running sports. After 3 months, her lung capacity was just about normal and all medications were stopped.

Had her parents avoided taking her to a chiropractor because of a fear that an adjustment might be too rough and cause her pain, the child might well be on her way to a dozen more medications, further restrictions of activity and even worse breathing problems.

Is Chiropractic for children too? By all means. Miracles can occur each and every day in Chiropractic with the right adjustment, tailored to the individual’s size, age, shape and need.

Dynamic Chiropractic. “Chiropractic: As Individual as a Handshake.” July 2008. http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/26/14/12.html

According to a study, recently published in the 

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics,  Chiropractic is effective in treating infantile colic.

During birth, nerves controlling the digestive system are twisted, which cause gas, bloating and pain.

Pressure applied to the vertebrae during an adjustment, restores and aligns these nerves, which relaxes the muscles and alleviates the symptoms.nWith Chiropractic adjustments, the infants were crying less than the infants who were treated with the drug dimethicone. The number of hours crying were reduced by more than double.

Elliott Grusky, D.C., a Miami Chiropractor specializing in Pediatrics, said infants as young as two weeks old can be treated with Chiropractic care. 3-5spinal adjustments over a several week period are usually needed to relieve the colic.

SOURCE: Parents, June 2000, p. 72.

Many children suffer from Nocturnal Enuresis, more commonly known as bed wetting. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Chiropractic in treating this problem. Chiropractic care show a significant improvement over children who don’t receive  Chiropractic adjustments.

171 children who suffered with enuresis, wet the bed an average of sevennights per week, in one study. After the children received their first Chiropractic adjustment, the average dropped to four nights per week.

Twenty-five percent of children who received Chiropractic care reduced the number of “wet nights” by 50%. Prior to the study and prior to receiving Chiropractic care, only 1% of children were considered “dry;” after the study 15% of the children were considered “dry.”

In another study, 46 children who wet the bed were studied. 31 were placed under Chiropractic care; 15 did not receive any Chiropractic care.

Results showed a 17.9% decrease in wet nights for the children in the Chiropractic group. No change occurred in the non-Chiropractic group.

In other studies, researchers noted that some children improved following their first adjustment — which remained stable thereafter.

Chiropractic can be described as the branch of alternative medicine that focuses on the prevention and restoration of health by detecting and correcting misalignments of vertebrae of the spinal column.

The spinal column offers structural support but also protects the spinal cord — which is responsible for relaying messages to and from the brain via nerves. When vertebrae are misaligned, tension is placed on the nerves; thereby affecting how nerve impulses travel throughout the body to them brain.

Misalignments, or subluxations, result from poor posture, muscular imbalances, traumatic events, repetitive motion injuries, muscular trauma and neurological disfunction.

A chiropractor administers a gently thrust to specific areas of the spine to reduce tension caused by the subluxations. Doctors of Chiropractic are able to care for children with special needs, such as autistic children. For instance, if a muscular imbalance is found during the examination, an adjustment enables the brain to better communicate with the rest of the body by reducing interference.

In a series of case studies, researchers noted that 50% of autistic children experienced behavioral improvements following Chiropractic care. Improvements were made in the following areas: picking up toys, use of sign language, reduction of self abuse and appropriate use of language.

Cognitive Developmental progress has also been noted. Prior to getting Chiropractic care, one seven-year- old autistic child would slowly turn in circles, singing a incomprehensible song with a blank expression and glazed stare. After 10 months of Chiropractic care, she was able to carry out commands, carry on a conversation, dress and groom herself, read and retain information, and participate in school.

Chiropractic can also calm hyperactivity through improving joint mobility, which will also help normalize behavior patterns and improve sleep patterns.

Researchers from Oklahoma State University are studying the efficacy of Chiropractic adjustments for ear infections. This hands-on procedure allows fluids to drain from the head and neck so bacteria and viruses are less likely to grow.

Fifty-seven children, between the ages of six months and six years participated in the study. All of the children had three bouts of ear infections in the six months prior to the study.

The children were divided into two treatment groups. Twenty-five patients received Chiropractic adjustments in addition to routine pediatric care. The remaining 32 patients received only routine care.

Patients who received Chiropractic care had fewer recurrent ear infections and fewer surgical procedures than patients who only received standard care. More than 10 million children in the United States are treated for ear infections each year. Ear infections account for 35% of all pediatric visits.

If your child is suffering from an ear infection or recurrent ear infections consult your chiropractor.

Several recent studies have shown that children and adults who suffer with tonsillitis can be effectively treated by receiving Chiropractic care.

76 children suffered with chronic tonsillitis and restricted movement of the head and neck; of those, 70 also had spinal dysfunction. 37 children, who had not been operated on, were given spinal manipulation and followed for five years. Of those, 67.6% were entirely cured of tonsillitis; the remaining children continued receiving Chiropractic treatment.

Another study reviewed the cases of 46 patients with chronic tonsillitis. 10 patients only received Chiropractic care. No relapses of tonsillitis occurred during the observation period (from 3-9 months), which was during the winter period. Five patients received Chiropractic treatment prior to their operation; one patient relapsed. 28 patients received only surgical treatment. Of which, the blockage only disappeared in four patients; two developed blockage to the degree they needed surgery.

Studies also show that children and adults who don’t take antibiotics for a sore throat fare just as well as those who do. Researchers claim antibiotics only provide marginal benefits; encourage people to seek unnecessary medical care in future episodes; and most cases of sore throat resolve without being treated with antibiotics.

In addition, researchers also studied 200 pediatricians and 200 chiropractors to determine if there were any differences in children who were raised under different health care models. 43% of the pediatrician’s children suffered from tonsillitis compared to less than

27% of the Chiropractic children. Children of Chiropractic parents were also found to have lower antibiotic use and a lower incidence of disease.