All marathon runners eventually slow down. But, a new study finds that whether a runner is average or elite, or whether they are a man or a woman, may determine at what age and how much their pace will decline.
The researchers reviewed 2001-2016 data from three of the largest U.S. marathons — Boston, Chicago and New York City.
“We found that marathon performance decline begins at about 35 years old,” said study lead author Dr. Gerald Zavorsky, of Georgia State University. “For top runners, we determined the slowdown is about 2 minutes per year beginning at age 35 for men. And for women, it’s actually a little bit statistically faster of a slowdown, around 2 minutes and 30 seconds per year beginning at the age of 35,” Zavorsky said in a university news release.
He is an associate professor in the university’s department of respiratory therapy. The researchers also found that marathoners aged 25 to 34 had the fastest times, with overall champion males at 28.3 years old and overall champion females at 30.8 years of age.
However, people with “average” marathon times don’t see a big impact on their performance until later in life, the findings showed.
“If you’re an average runner finishing in the middle of your age group, statistically the slowdown starts at age 50. It’s similar if you’re a man or woman. The decline with aging in average runners is around 2 minutes and 45 seconds per year beginning at age 50,” Zavorsky said.
The researchers suspect the reason that average runners see a decline later in life is that they likely started running later in life.
“Elite athletes realize their potential when they’re young, and they’re able to maximize that potential when they’re young. But average runners might not realize their potential until they’re a lot older and by that time physiological aging comes in. They try to reach their maximum potential, but they’re trying to reach it at a much older age and their ceiling for improvement is not as high,” Zavorsky suggested.
The rate of marathon performance decline between ages 35 and 74 is fairly steady, and female age-group winners have a 27 second per year larger decline than male age-group winners, according to the study. Although you might never reach elite status if you start running in your 50s, the researchers don’t want to discourage older people from getting involved in marathons.
“If you’re an older person and you want to pick up marathon running, yes you can still improve because you’ve just now begun running. There’s always room for improvement, but physiologically, you were probably at your prime somewhere between 25 and 34 years old,” Zavorsky said.
“But people who are older can still train to achieve personal goals and get the health benefits of exercise, such as lower blood pressure, lower blood cholesterol and enhanced psychological well-being,” he added.
The study was published online recently in the journal PLoS ONE.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Additional Topics: Preventing Sports Injuries
Many athletes largely depend on chiropractic care to enhance their physical performance. New research studies have determined that aside from maintaining overall health and wellness, chiropractic can also help prevent sports injuries. Chiropractic is an alternative treatment option utilized by athletes to improve their strength, mobility and flexibility. Spinal adjustments and manual manipulations performed by a chiropractor can also help correct spinal issues, speeding up an athlete’s recovery process to help them return-to-play as soon as possible.
Interesting Facts About Peripheral Neuropathy That You Need To Know
Almost everyone is well aware of what peripheral neuropathy means as well as its symptoms. However, many people will be surprised to know that tingling sensation, numbness and pain aren�t the only symptoms experienced by people with peripheral neuropathy. The symptoms of this condition are subjective to the type of nerve that is being affected. The three main types of nerves include motor, sensory and autonomic nerve; each having its own symptoms.
People diagnosed with diabetes must be very careful when it comes to taking all the necessary precautions of peripheral neuropathy. According to top researches, estimates of 70 percent of diabetic patients tend to develop one or more symptoms of neuropathy. While some of the medications may help improve the condition of neuropathy, many medications have the tendency to worsen the situation. Moreover, medications to treat other diseases like cancer are likely to cause nerve damage that leads to peripheral neuropathy.
It is essential for people with this condition to not take the simple symptoms like numbness lightly as it can cause some serious problems with time. For example, if you are feeling a sensation of numbness on your feet then you will not realize it if you even step on a broken glass. For this reason, you must never ignore even the simplest of the symptoms as it can lead to severe results. You must visit http://www.neuropathycure.org for more details.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment of peripheral neuropathy that can completely diminish the matter. The treatments of medication and therapy can only contain the symptoms as well as improve the condition so that the individual suffering can be relived from intense pain and agitation. For this reason, you must not get your hopes up with the prescribed medical treatment.
This entry was posted in Health.
The Four Big Myths About Neuropathy
Can you recall the first time you were told you might suffer from neuropathy?
Chances are unless you already knew someone who suffered from neuropathy � you didn�t know much about the condition. You�ve likely learned quite a bit about the condition since then � but you no doubt came across false or misleading information along the way.
The truth is, there are still a lot of misleading rumors and false information about neuropathy out there. In fact � you may be surprised to learn that some of the information you�ve picked up over the years may not be completely true.
I�ve encountered a number of half-truths and misleading facts over the years. While some are harmless, others can send you down the wrong path or prevent you from getting the best treatment for your nerve damage. To help dispel these myths, I�ve put together a list of four half-truths, misleading rumors, and other misconceptions about neuropathy that a lot of people still believe.
Myth #1 � Nerve Damage is Irreversible:
You may have been told at some point that your nerve damage is irreversible. The truth is, it largely depends on the cause and severity of your nerve damage. No one case is the same � but for many people, their nerve damage can in fact be slowed and even reversed. This is especially true for those suffering from diabetic neuropathy or nerve damage resulting from a vitamin B12 deficiency.
For those with diabetic neuropathy, managing blood sugar is the single most effective step one can take to both slow and reverse nerve damage. For those whose neuropathy was a result of a vitamin B12 deficiency, replenishing the body�s B12 reserves can both repair and regenerate damaged nerves.
Of course, those with diabetic neuropathy or a B12 deficiency aren�t the only ones who can hold on to the hope of reversing their nerve damage. With the right treatment, I�ve seen individuals with various different causes of their neuropathy experience nerve regeneration and a reduction (and even elimination) of their symptoms.
Myth #2 � Only people with diabetes develop neuropathy
While it�s true that around 70% of people with diabetes will also develop neuropathy, it isn�t the only cause of nerve damage. There are a number of other causes, affecting people from all walks of life. A list of known causes of neuropathy include:
There is no prescription medication on the market that �cures� neuropathy. In fact, many of the neuropathy drugs on the market today were originally intended for other medical conditions, such as epilepsy.
Rather than cure neuropathy, the prescription drugs on the market today are designed to mask the pain. They act as a volume knob, temporarily turning down the pain levels � but eventually wearing off. As such, the user never gets permanent, lasting relief.
Not only that, but some independent studies have shown most of the common neuropathy prescriptions on the market today to be �largely ineffective�. In one study published by the Cochrane Library in 2015, researchers found that only 1 in 10 patients taking anti-seizure medications for nerve pain experienced a reduction in pain. And of the 10% that did have a reduction in pain, the reduction was minimal.
Myth #4 � Tingling, Numbness and Shooting Pains Are the Only Symptoms of Neuropathy
While these are the most common symptoms associated with neuropathy, there are many other problems that can manifest themselves if you�re suffering from nerve damage. Depending on the type of nerves that have been damaged, your symptoms could range from tingling sensations in the hands or feet to heartburn or indigestion.
Your peripheral nervous system has three types of nerves: sensory, motor, and autonomic. Each has a different function and the symptoms of your nerve damage will vary depending on which of these nerve types was damaged. In some cases only one type of nerve may be damaged, while in others multiple nerve types may have been compromised.
Common Symptoms of Nerve Damage (based on nerve type):
Sensory:
Pins and needle-like pain (sharp, painful sensations)
Tingling or numbness
Extreme sensitivity to touch
Motor:
Loss of balance
Muscle weakness
Loss of muscle control (i.e. difficulty gripping things, difficulty walking)
Cramps or twitching
Autonomic:
Dizziness when standing
Abnormal heart rate
Shortness of breath
Excessive sweating
Lack of sweat
Digestive problems
Bladder problems
Vision Problems
While there are many other myths and misleading facts floating around out there � these are four of the ones I�ve encountered most often in my years helping people suffering from neuropathy. Some of them can be more harmful than others � depriving the person that has fallen for them of the real information that could make a difference in their life.
What myths or misleading information have you been told over the years � only to discover the truth later on?
Many of us experience back and neck pain. But when is it the right time to see a chiropractor for a diagnosis or treatment? And can they really help? The answer is yes.
Chiropractors have been around for a hundred years, and are licensed doctors who are required to pass a series of four national board exams and are regulated by state licensing boards. They are medical professionals who diagnose and treat musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders.
A chiropractor can use many different techniques to relieve pain, including applied pressure, massage, and hands-on manipulation (adjustment) of the vertebrae and joints. They may also order X-rays, MRI studies, and lab work. Chiropractors don�t prescribe medications, but they do recommend such things as therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises and nutritional and lifestyle counseling to help the body heal itself.
Chiropractors believe one of the main causes of back or neck pain is subluxation. Subluxation occurs when your vertebrae become misaligned. Treating subluxations can help to alleviate pain associated with a myriad of conditions, including:
headaches
sciatica
trauma, such as whiplash
scoliosis
leg pain
sports injuries
bursitis and tendonitis
fibromyalgia
spinal arthritis (spondylosis)
Sometimes chiropractic care (eg, an adjustment) can cause mild soreness or aching but that usually resolves itself within 12 to 48 hours.
Chiropractic Tests
When you visit your chiropractor for the first time, he/she will probably ask you to perform a series of simple tests to evaluate your posture and range of motion. You may be asked to bend forward,� backward or side-to-side. The chiropractor will also check the way you walk and how your posture looks sitting down and standing up.� Other tests may include:
Piriformis Test: The patient flexes and bends the knee while lying down.
Straight Leg Raise: One leg at a time is raised in a locked-knee position to check the sciatic nerve and flexibility of the hamstring muscle.
Measuring the length of each leg helps determine if there is a discrepancy in leg length or if the pelvis is out of balance.
Hand strength (grip)
Evaluation of reflexes and muscle testing
Sometimes you might hear a pop while the chiropractor is testing or adjusting you, which is perfectly normal. This is caused by small pockets of air or bubbles in the fluid that surrounds your joints. When joint tissues are stretched, those pockets of air �pop,� which creates the cracking sound you hear.
Diagnosis
Once the chiropractor identifies the problem, he/she can recommend treatment options, and explain how many chiropractic visits are necessary to reach an expected outcome (eg, resolution of pain). He/she may also suggest improvements to your diet and lifestyle, such as quitting smoking or increasing/modifying certain activities. A chiropractor may also recommend certain types of exercises in conjunction with chiropractic treatment to stretch and/or strengthen the back and neck.
Adjustment Techniques
A chiropractor is educated in dozens of ways to treat pain. Here is a sampling of the different techniques that may be used.
Toggle Drop � The chiropractor presses down firmly on a particular area of the spine followed by a quick and precise thrust.
Lumbar Roll � With the patient on his/her side, a quick thrust is applied to the misaligned vertebrae.
Release Work � The chiropractor uses gentle pressure with the fingertips to separate the vertebrae.
TENS (Transcutaneous electrical stimulation) � This device sends stimulating pulses across the surface of the skin and nerve strands to block pain signals along the nerves and release endorphins which are natural painkillers.
Cold/Heat Treatment � Chiropractors may alternate between ice and heat therapy to treat back or neck pain. Ice packs are used to reduce inflammation (swelling) for 15 minutes at a time. A heating pad (or other heat source) helps increase circulation and may promote faster healing.
Table Adjustments � The patient lies on a special table with a �drop piece� then a quick thrust is applied when the table drops.
Instrument Adjustments � Instead of hands-on manipulation, the patient lies on the table face down while the chiropractor uses a spring-loaded activator instrument to perform the adjustment.
Manipulation Under Anesthesia � This is performed by chiropractors certified in this technique. The treatment is performed in a hospital outpatient setting.
Keep in mind that chiropractic care is not a cure-all for your back and neck pain! However, it is considered by many to be a safe and effective way to help relieve pain and improve spinal function. Many physicians and surgeons recommend chiropractic care to their patients.
What Is Neck Pain (Cervical Pain)?� The cervical spine is a marvelous and complex structure. It is capable of supporting a head weighing 15 or more pounds while moving in several directions. No other region of the spine has such freedom of movement. This combination however, complexity and mobility, make the neck susceptible to pain and injury.
Quick Cervical Spine Anatomy Lesson
This complex structure includes 7 small vertebrae, intervertebral discs to absorb shock, joints, the spinal cord, 8 nerve roots, vascular elements, 32 muscles, and ligaments.
The nerve roots stem from the spinal cord like tree branches through foramen in the vertebrae. Each nerve root transmits signals (nerve impulses) to and from the brain, shoulders, arms, and chest. A vascular system of 4 arteries and veins run through the neck to circulate blood between the brain and the heart. Joints, muscles, and ligaments facilitate movement and serve to stabilize the structure.
Neck mobility is matchless. It is capable of moving the head in many directions: 90� of flexion (forward motion), 90� of extension (backward motion), 180� of rotation (side to side), and almost 120� of tilt to either shoulder.
Neck Pain Causes
The causes of neck pain are as varied as the list is long. Consider a few examples:
Injury and Accidents: Whiplash is a common injury sustained during an auto accident. This is typically termed a hyperextension and/or hyperflexion injury because the head is forced to move backward and/or forward rapidly beyond the neck’s normal range of motion. The unnatural and forceful movement affects the muscles and ligaments in the neck. Muscles react by tightening and contracting creating muscle fatigue resulting in pain and stiffness.
Growing Older: Degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease are known to affect the spine.
Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder causing progressive deterioration of cartilage. The body reacts by forming new bone termed osteophytes (bone spurs) that impact joint motion.
Spinal stenosis causes the foramen, small neural passageways, to narrow possibly compressing and entrapping nerve roots. Stenosis may cause neck, shoulder, and arm pain and numbness when these nerves are unable to function normally.
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) can cause the intervertebral discs to become less hydrated, resulting in decreased disc elasticity and height. Over time, a disc may bulge or herniate causing upper extremity pain, tingling, and numbness.
Everyday Life: Poor posture, obesity, and weak abdominal muscles disrupt the spine’s balance often causing the neck to bend forward to compensate. Stress and emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and contract resulting in pain and stiffness.
Other Disease Processes: Although neck pain is commonly caused by strain, prolonged pain and/or neurologic deficit may be an indication of something more serious. These symptoms should not be ignored. Spinal infection, spinal cord compression, tumor, fracture, and other disorders can occur. If head injury has been sustained, more than likely the neck has been affected too. It is wise to seek medical attention promptly.
Neck Pain Diagnosis: Figuring Out What is Causing Your Pain
Obtaining a proper diagnosis is paramount to determine the best course of treatment for neck pain. You have to know what spinal condition is causing your neck pain before you can know how to treat it.
The physician will take the your medical history. The oral segment of the examination often includes many questions such as:
When did the pain start?
What activities preceded the pain?
What have you tried to relieve the neck pain?
Does the pain radiate or travel into other body parts?
What makes the pain less or greater?
A physical examination includes observing the your posture, range of motion, and physical condition. Any movement generating pain is carefully noted. The physician will palpate or feel the curvature of the spine, vertebral alignment, and detect muscle spasm.
The neurological examination tests the patient’s reflexes, muscle strength, sensory and/or motor changes, and pain distribution.
Radiographic studies may be ordered. An x-ray can reveal narrowing of disc space, fracture, osteophyte formation, and osteoarthritis. Bulging discs and herniations, often responsible for neurologic symptoms, are detected using MRI.
If nerve damage is suspected, the physician may order a special test to measure how quickly nerves conduct impulses. These tests are termed nerve conduction studies and/or electromyography. Typically these studies are not performed immediately because it may take several weeks for nerve impairment to become apparent.
Common Questions About Neck Pain
I woke up with neck pain. What can I do?
Daily life (and night life) can take its toll on your neck. You may have slept wrong last night, causing your neck muscles to tighten. The best thing to do is give your body time to heal on its own. To get through the day without letting the pain interfere with your normal activities, you have a few options.
Gently stretch your neck.
Take over-the-counter pain medications, such as Tylenol or Advil.
Alternate between heat and ice treatments on your neck: 20 minutes of heat followed by 20 minutes of ice should help the pain and the healing process.
Will I need surgery?
Most patients with neck pain respond well to non-surgical treatments (such as medication), so cervical spine surgery is seldom needed to treat it. In fact, less than 5% of neck pain patients need surgery. However, there are situations when you may want to go ahead with spine surgery.
Non-surgical treatment is not helping�that is, you’ve tried a combination of chiropractic care, physical therapy, medication, massage, exercises, and more, and you’re still in pain.
You experience progressive neurological symptoms (numbness, tingling, weakness) involving your arms and legs.
You’re having trouble with balance or walking.
You are otherwise in good health.
Generally, surgery is done for degenerative disc disease, trauma, or spinal instability. These conditions may put pressure on your spinal cord or on the nerves coming from the spine.
Typically, surgeons use 2 surgical techniques for cervical spine surgery.
Decompression, where they remove tissue pressing against a nerve structure
Stabilization, where they work to limit motion between vertebrae
There are different types of decompression procedures such as discectomy, corpectomy, and TransCorporeal MicroDecompression (TCMD).
Discectomy: The surgeon removes all or part of a damaged disc.
Corpectomy: The vertebral body is removed to access whatever is compressing the spinal cord or nerve.
TransCorporeal MicroDecompression (TCMD): The surgeon accesses the cervical spine from the front of the neck. TCMD is performed through a small channel made in the vertebral body to access and decompress the spinal cord and nerve.
Your surgeon will determine what’s best for your condition.
Stabilization surgery is sometimes�but not always�done at the same time as a decompression surgery. In some forms of decompression surgery, the surgeon may need to remove a large portion of the vertebra or vertebrae. That results in an unstable spine, meaning that it moves in abnormal ways, and that puts you more at risk for serious neurological injury. In that case, the surgeon will restabilize the spine. Commonly, this is done with a fusion and spinal instrumentation, or implantation of an artificial disc.
Some patients are at high-risk for poor bone healing or unsuccessful fusion. Smoking and diabetes are two of several risk factors that impede bone healing and fusion. A bone growth stimulator may be recommended and prescribed for patients with certain risk factors.
What are some non-surgical options for treating my neck pain?
Less than 5% of neck pain patients will need surgery, and there are a lot of options for you to try before surgery.
Fluoride is a man-made element that derives from fluorine. According to the declassified documents of the Manhattan Project, the U.S. military group which built the atomic bomb, fluoride was the main chemical utilized during the atomic bomb production. Tremendous quantities of the element were necessary for manufacturing bomb-grade uranium as well as plutonium for nuclear weapons throughout the Cold War.
Recognized as one of the most toxic chemicals in the world, the declassified documents distinguished fluoride as the principal chemical health hazard of the U.S. atomic bomb program, both for workers and for neighboring communities.
Scientists from the atomic bomb program later provided evidence demonstrating that fluoride can be safe for humans in low doses, after being secretly ordered to provide original proof useful in litigation against defense contractors for fluoride injury to individuals. The declassified documents also showed that the first lawsuits against the U.S. atomic bomb program were in fact not over radiation but over fluoride damage.
How Safe is Fluoride?
Fluoride continues to be identified as one of the most toxic man-made substances today, yet it can be found in our toothpastes, bottled water and infant formulas. Even vitamin supplements now contain fluoride. Additionally, fluoride compounds are being purposely added to water in many areas of the United States, a process known as fluoridation.
The practice of water fluoridation has been banned in various countries, including: China, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Hungary and Japan. Nearly all of Europe’s water supply is fluoride-free. In 2002, approximately 90 percent of the United States population was supplied water through public water systems where about 67 percent of that percentage received fluoridated water.
Fluoride is also added in a majority of toothpaste brands to help prevent tooth decay. Despite being used in toothpaste, fluoride has never been proven to considerably help protect teeth from developing cavities. Material Safety Data Sheets, abbreviated as MSDS, generally label sodium fluoride as a substance which is toxic by ingestion, inhalation and through skin contact, requiring that personal protection equipment for handling it should include safety goggles and gloves. Fluoride is more toxic than lead while being only slightly less poisonous than arsenic. Keep in mind that fluoride is utilized in many of the popular dental care products you use to brush and rinse your teeth on a daily basis.
The Dangers of Fluoride Consumption
The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, classifies fluoride as a drug because, unlike minerals like calcium and magnesium that we need, humans have no physiological requirements for fluoride. Research studies have shown that fluoride can affect the body’s normal production of hormones, can cause bones to become weaker and it’s been referred to as a neurotoxin, meaning its toxic to the nerves.
Sodium fluoride, which has long been known as an effective poison for cockroaches, is added to drops and tablets for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. However, because fluoride has been previously identified as a toxic element, fluoride supplements cannot be purchased over-the-counter, they can only be distributed with a prescription supervised by a healthcare professional. Ultimately, sodium fluoride is not a nutritional supplement, it’s a prescription drug and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The FDA has never approved fluoride as either safe or effective.
Fluoride drugs have been prescribed for over 50 years but because the FDA has not approved these products as safe and/or effective, the agency called on various manufacturers to cease selling fluoride drops and tablets immediately. Removing the harmful substance from the market will help ensure the health of millions of individuals is protected, however, there’s still a bigger issue the U.S needs to address: water fluoridation.
Water Fluoridation and ADHD
A recent research study, entitled: “Exposure to fluoridated water and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, prevalence among children and adolescents in the United States: an ecological association,” published in the journal Environmental Health, discussed the association between water fluoridation and ADHD in the United States.
Fluoride Disrupts Endocrine Function
FAN’s Science Director, Chris Neurath stated, �Scientific and medical research stretching back to the 1920’s has demonstrated that fluoride can affect the thyroid. The levels of fluoride exposure known to lower thyroid function overlap with the levels of exposure known to occur in some people drinking artificially fluoridated water.”
Hypothyroidism is a very common medical disorder in the United States and it can develop severe adverse health effects. Decreased thyroid function in pregnant women has been linked to reduced IQ in their children. Furthermore, growing evidence suggests that fluoride, at levels within that of which individuals utilize and consume, has been associated with lowered IQ. Fluoride’s effect on thyroid function could affect this reduction in IQ.
Fluoride as a Neurotoxin
Over 100 animal experiments have connected the consumption and exposure of fluoride to a reduction in IQ. Approximately 31 out of 33 of the animal experiments which investigated the behavior of the tested animals also concluded that fluoride caused learning and memory issues in the subjects while 43 out of 50 of the people studied demonstrated that modest levels of fluoride negatively affected IQ.
About 27 of these studies were recently reviewed by a team from Harvard School of Public Health. Of these, 26 displayed a decrease in IQ, about a drop of 7 points while the average fluoride level in the water for 20 of the studies was only 3.52 ppm, lower than the current safe drinking standard in the United States for fluoride of 4.0 ppm.
Department of Health & Human Services Admits to Overexposing Americans to Fluoride
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, abbreviated as HHS, acknowledged that the fluoride levels which they once reassured were safe to use, is actually damaging children’s teeth. A major increase in dental fluorosis, characterized as white spotted, yellow, brown and/or pitted teeth, found in 41 percent of teenagers lead the Department of Health & Human Services to conclude that water fluoride levels should be lowered to 0.7 mg/L from the average 1 mg/L utilized in most communities. In about 10 years, the HHS will check children’s teeth to determine if the new level should be implemented.
Fluoride Causes Disease
In the 1970’s, Austrian researchers demonstrated that a concentration of as little as 1 ppm of fluoride could interrupt the proper function and structure of DNA repair enzymes by up to 50 percent. If DNA is unable to efficiently repair damaged cells, our tissues can begin to degenerate faster.
Fluoride causes the body to age prematurely due to the alteration in the enzyme’s shape. When an enzyme becomes ultimately distorted or twisted out of shape, it becomes incapable of performing its job. This in turn results in collagen breakdown, eczema, tissue damage, skin winkling, genetic damage and immune suppression. Basically, any type of disease imaginable can occur due to this distortion.
Potential Results of Consuming Fluorides
Acute Poisoning
Birth Defects
ADHD
Impaired Brain Development
Osteoarthritis
Bone & Uterine Cancer
Thyroid Disease
Perinatal Death
Immune System Suppression
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Essential enzyme inhibition
Lowered IQ (especially in young children)
Skeletal Fluorosis (leading to brittle teeth and bones)
Fluoride And Osteoporosis
Former science director of the National Health Federation, Dr. Yiamouyiannis, cited a study from the 1990’s where roughly 541,000 osteoporosis cases concluded the definite link between hip fractures in women over 65 years of age and fluoride levels. A wide variety of research studies have concluded that fluoridation is indeed associated with osteoporosis and hip fractures in older adults.
The process of bone construction is complicated and finely balanced. Since the 1930’s, fluoride was recognized as a main threat in the disruption of this essential process. Dr. Alesen, former president of the California Medical Associated explained what fluoride does to bone formation. He cited dozens of international scientific studies proving that fluoride has caused osteoporosis, skeletal thinning, fractures, rubber bones, anemia and rickets.
Fluoride also causes osteoporosis by creating a calcium deficiency in the body. Fluoride precipitates calcium out of solution, causing low blood calcium as well as resulting in the development of calcium stones and crystals in the joints and organs.
Testing for Fluoride Levels in the Body
In a medical laboratory, technicians are capable of measuring blood levels for the amount of calcium and potassium. Both hypocalcaemia, meaning there’s very little amounts of calcium in the body and hyperkalemia, meaning there’s too much potassium in the body, can indicate that a person has consumed or has been exposed to excess amounts of fluoride.
References:
Fluoride Action Network. Dental Fluorosis.
Schellenberg D, Marks TA, Metzler CM, Oostveen JA, Morey MJ. Lack of effect of fluoride on reproductive performance and development in Shetland sheepdogs. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1990 Aug;32(4):309-14. Erratum in: Vet Hum Toxicol 1990 Dec;32(6):527.
Fluoride Action Network. Gastrointestinal.
Martijn W. H. Pinkse, Maarten Merkx, Bruce A. Averill. Fluoride Inhibition of Bovine Spleen Purple Acid Phosphatase:? Characterization of a Ternary Enzyme?Phosphate?Fluoride Complex as a Model for the Active Enzyme?Substrate?Hydroxide Complex. Biochemistry. 1999 July 20. 38 (31), pp 9926�9936 DOI: 10.1021/bi990446w
Michael Connett, Tara Blank PhD. Fluoride & Intelligence: The 36 Studies. Fluoride Action Network. 2012 December 9.
Fluoride Action Network. Water Fluoridation.
National Institutes of Health, Endocrine Disruptors
FAN Study Tracker, Thyroid Health
Neurotoxicology and Teratology Jan-Feb 2015: 47; 96-101
Chemical Brain Drain
Fluoride Does Not Prevent Cavities
It’s essential that we no longer continue ignoring the amounting research studies and evidence regarding the dangers of fluoride consumption and exposure. Unfortunately, not only is fluoride found in our drinking water, it can also be found in reconstituted/dehydrated foods, foods cooked in Teflon pans, baby formulas and even in anesthetics.
In order to avoid fluoride exposure and consumption from your home water supply, invest in a good water filtration system to help properly cleanse your drinking water. Brita and Pur pitchers do not filter out fluoride, however, there are many affordable systems that will. The AquaSana system is a common system used for drinking water and whole house filtration. Also remember, your skin is the largest organ of your body. When you shower, your pores open up and act like a sponge, taking in chemicals from the water, including chloride and fluoride, both which can also lead to cancer.
If your budget doesn�t allow for a whole house water filtration system, don�t worry. You can pick up an inexpensive shower filter which can range from $40 to $50. It simply screws on to your shower head and it does a great job filtering out chlorine, fluorine and other harmful chemicals.
Don’t Use Toothpaste with Fluoride
And finally, make sure you switch your brand of toothpaste to one that doesn�t contain fluoride. Herbal Choice Mari Natural Tooth Gel doesn’t contain fluoride. Another brand which doesn’t contain fluoride is Dr. Brite Whitening Mineral Toothpaste. When it comes to your own body’s overall health and wellness, it’s up to you to take action to improve your well-being and eliminate your consumption and exposure of these dangerous substances.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic care is an well-known, alternative treatment option utilized to prevent, diagnose and treat a variety of injuries and conditions associated with the spine, primarily subluxations or spinal misalignments. Chiropractic focuses on restoring and maintaining the overall health and wellness of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, a chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic, can carefully re-align the spine, improving a patient�s strength, mobility and flexibility.
Sciatica specifically refers to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg, along the distribution of the the sciatic nerve down the back of the leg. Most commonly however, people will refer to any condition that causes back pain in association with leg symptoms as sciatica.
Common Causes:
True sciatica occurs when there is pressure on, or damage to, the sciatic nerve. This nerve starts in the lower spine and runs down the back of each leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and provides senation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg and the sole of the foot.
As previously mentioned, the term “sciatica” is often used by patients to describe any condition where there is back pain together with associated leg symptoms. This being the case, there are a number of other conditions that will actually mimic sciatic nerve pain. Sacroiliac joint irritation (sacroiliac joint syndrome), lumbar facet joint irritation (lumbar facet joint syndrome), and piriformis syndrome all frequently produce leg symptoms, and are therefore commonly mistaken for sciatica.
Common Symptoms:
Sciatica pain can vary widely. It may feel like a mild tingling, a dull ache, or even a burning sensation, while in other cases, the pain can be servere enough to make movement practically impossible. Most commonly, sciatica effects only one leg.
Treatment:
Treatment begins with first determining whether a patient is suffering from true sciatic nerve involvement, or if they are actually suffering from one of the other conditions that frequently mimics sciatica. From there treatment is directed towards reducing inflammation, pain, and spasm, while restoring movement and function to the effected spinal levels. Once normal spinal mechanics are restored, patients are given a simple home exercise program in order to help maintain normal function and to help prevent re-occurances.
What is sciatic nerve pain? Sciatic nerve pain is one of the most tough [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUcGA-BvmIQ dolore sciatica] problems for physicians, also those experienced in treating back pain as well as sciatica patients, to determine as well as treat. Sciatica usually presents itself as a prickling and/or numbness, like the sensation one may experience with a pulled hamstring muscle mass, the biceps femoris at the back of the leg. The experience could be plain, almost an ache, with durations of prickling and/or tingling happening throughout specific activities. The prickling and/or numbness experienced, if not dealt with, may develop into a full-on constantly [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrFQWAtJtZU click resources] severe phase with discomfort capturing throughout the butts and also radiating down the leg. Sciatic nerve pain might influence one or both legs, typically one, starting as a pain radiating from some point in the lower back, the lumbar spine, after that throughout the gluteal muscle mass (the buttocks), as well as ultimately down the rear of the leg. In innovative instances, sciatic nerve pain gets to right right into the feet as well as toes, triggering discomfort as well as an eventual loss of feeling.
Remarkably, sciatica is not a details condition, it is just a catch-all clinical term put on a constellation of symptoms in order to explain a state the back pain victim remains in. In this instance, sciatic nerve pain is utilized to define a patient’s complaint of pain radiating across the butts, down the leg, and also right into the feet and toes … along with the connected tingling and/or feeling numb. Sciatica could be brought on by a variety of conditions, from stress and anxiety and trauma at a particular area on the spinal column, the reduced back or back curvature, to a much more general condition such as obesity or pregnancy. There are a number of other problems associated with sciatica, all needing varying degrees of clinical intervention and also treatment. A few of the conditions likely to present with sciatica are:
1. Osteomyelitis: An infection of the bone or bone marrow. Osteomyelitis might be debilitating and also in severe cases may also create death. It is tough to identify as well as might go undetected for a long period of time unless appropriate blood examinations are purchased and also the doctor is well trained in contagious diseases influencing the bones.
2. Growths on or near the spine: Lumps, particularly tumors or abnormal growth (e.g., scar tissue) affecting the nerves or nerve roots as they exit the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen, will certainly sciatic nerve pain or sciatic nerve pain.
3. Degenerative Disc Disease: Again, degenerative disc condition is not an illness anymore than sciatic nerve pain, called sciatica, is a specific problem. Degenerative disc condition is a break down of the IVDs, the intervertebral discs, and also is generally an effect old combined with the any or every one of the 5 primary elements influencing the spine as we age.
o Excess weight and/or obesity
o Muscle weakness
o Muscle Imbalance
o Poor nourishment and also diet plan
o Poor hydration or dehydration
4. Herniated (i.e., burst) or protruding disc: This problem might be particularly bothersome if the herniated disc or bulging disc is extending posteriorly (to the back) and right into the spine canal, or impinging on the nerve origin at the intervertebral foramen, hence putting pressure on the spine and/or nerve root; and, sciatica is the result in lots of instances.
Both UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull and Women�s Basketball Coach Keitha Adams released statements Wednesday night regarding Adams leaving UTEP for Wichita�State University.
UTEP Director of Athletics Bob Stull:
�Keitha was one of my first hires and has been with us for 16 years. She has done an absolutely unbelievable job. We hate to see her leave, but understand the desire to go home. We can�t thank her enough for everything she has done for UTEP Athletics and the women�s basketball program. She has enjoyed unprecedented success and has graduated all of her players. You won�t find a more quality person anywhere. The Wichita community will fall in love with her, just like El Paso has. She is a great coach and a great friend and we wish her the best.�
***
Keitha Adams:
�First off I want to thank Dr. Natalicio and Bob Stull for the opportunity and support in my tenure at UTEP. I want to thank my coaches for your efforts and hard work in our journey together. To all of the support staff and numerous individuals who helped our program succeed, thank you!! To all of the UTEP players, I�m so grateful and thankful to have you in my life. To the Miner fans, I will always cherish our memories and moments in the Don Haskins Center. I will always hold dear your support to me and our players. UTEP took me away from my home in Kansas. El Paso became my new home for 16 years. It is only for a unique and special opportunity that I would ever leave UTEP. Wichita State University is 36 miles from my hometown. It�s a special opportunity for me to share my passion for this game with my family and friends. I will always cheer for the Miners, I will always love El Paso. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. God Bless and Go Miners!!�
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