Back Clinic Health Team. The level of functional and metabolic efficiency of a living organism. In humans, it is the ability of individuals or communities to adapt and self-manage when facing physical, mental, psychological, and social changes in an environment. Dr.Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T, a clinical pain doctor who uses cutting-edge therapies and rehabilitation procedures focused on total health, strength training, and complete conditioning. We take a global functional fitness treatment approach to regain complete functional health.
Dr. Jimenez presents articles both from his own experience and from a variety of sources that pertain to a healthy lifestyle or general health issues. I have spent over 30+ years researching and testing methods with thousands of patients and understand what truly works. We strive to create fitness and better the body through researched methods and total health programs.
These programs and methods are natural and use the body’s own ability to achieve improvement goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, surgery, or addictive drugs. As a result, individuals live a fulfilled life with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight, and education on maintaining this way of life.
Approximately 30 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, or CKD. The conditions categorized under CKD can damage the kidneys, decreasing their ability to function accordingly. Patients with this health issue can develop high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones, nerve damage and overall poor health. Chronic kidney disease may also increase a patient’s risk of developing heart and blood vessel disease, although these complications may occur slowly over time.
Chronic kidney disease may be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and a variety of other disorders. Early detection and treatment is important to prevent CKD from getting worse. Chronic kidney disease may lead to kidney failure which may require additional care to maintain the patient’s quality of life. The purpose of the article below is to demonstrate the accurate prognosis and life expectancy of patients with chronic kidney disease. The evidence on the prediction of how long patients with CKD are expected to live provides important new data which may be useful for treatment.
Abstract
Can renal prognosis and life expectancy be accurately predicted? Increasingly, the answer is yes. The natural history of different forms of renal disease is becoming clearer; the degree of reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the magnitude of proteinuria are strong predictors of renal outcome. Actuarial data on life expectancy from the start of renal replacement therapy are available from renal registries such as the U.S. Renal Data System (USRDS), and the UK Renal Registry. Recently, similar data have become available for patients with chronic kidney disease. Data collected from a large population-based registry in Alberta, Canada and stratified for different levels of estimated GFR (eGFR) have shown that the reduction in life expectancy with kidney failure is not a uremic event associated with starting dialysis but a continuous process that is evident from an eGFR of ?60 ml/min. Nevertheless, despite the poor prognosis of the last stages of renal failure, progress in the treatment and management of these patients and, in particular, of their cardiovascular risk factors continues to improve long-term outcome.
How much do we know about renal prognosis and life expectancy in adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD)? If one sees a new patient, a 19-year-old youth with a serum creatinine level of 200 ?mol/l, can one predict his likely renal prognosis and his life expectancy? The answer is yes, and this is frequently done when the question is posed in a medico-legal context; however, is the answer accurate?
We know that life expectancy is much reduced with end-stage renal failure�but what about the different degrees or stages of renal failure? For this review I have searched the adult and paediatric literature for papers cited in PubMed and Google Scholar that might contain data on life expectancy with CKD, or for series that have followed patients with CKD from childhood to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and through to renal replacement therapy (RRT). I summarise the evidence on the prediction of renal prognosis, describe important new data from Canada that for the first time looks at life expectancy with different stages of CKD and cite the U.S. Renal Data System (USRDS) and UK renal registries that report annual data regarding life expectancy with RRT.
Predicting Renal Outcome
To predict renal outcome I first make a number of assumptions. On the balance of probabilities (medico-legal language for a >50 % chance), at this age (19 years) the patient will have some form of renal dysplasia that would fall under the general heading of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT)�or some other congenital disease that might be tubular. If my history and examination make both of these possibilities unlikely, then further investigation is required which might include a biopsy.
If the patient has no proteinuria (protein creatinine ratio <50 mg/mmol), then the renal function should be currently stable. Renal deterioration will not occur until there is increasing proteinuria [1�5]. The exception to this would be a pure tubular disease, and I am assuming that this disease will have been picked up during the history, examination and other basic investigations.
Patients with inexorably progressive renal failure tend to deteriorate at a rate proportional to their proteinuria [6], but generally speaking the more proteinuria, the more the rate of progression can be slowed by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and good control of blood pressure [2, 7�9].
Patients with small asymmetric kidneys (renal hypodysplasia�often described in the UK as reflux nephropathy) tend to deteriorate at the slowest rates, and this is rarely greater than an estimated glomerular filtration ration (eGFR) of 3�4 ml/min/1.73 m2/year [3, 7]. Studies by of our own group have shown that controlling blood pressure and reducing proteinuria with an ACEI should reduce the rate of loss down to around 1.5 ml/min/1.73 m2/year [2, 7].
Assuming that the 19-year-old patient with a serum creatinine level of 200 ?mol/l has an eGFR of 35 ml/min/1.73 m2 and that he will need dialysis when his eGFR is around 10 ml/min/1.73 m2, then he should reach ESRD in approximately 17 years [(35 ? 10) divided by 1.5 years]. If he were to lose function at the faster rate of 3 ml/min/year, this would be 8.3 years.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function over time. If kidney disease becomes worse, it may lead to kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life. The following article demonstrates that life expectancy in patients with chronic kidney disease can be predicted. While it’s known that life expectancy in patients with end-stage renal failure is reduced, life expectancy in patients with different degrees or stages of renal failure shouldn’t necessarily be affected. Kidney function outcome predictions are not a patient’s destiny but an option for how long they are expected to live.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T.
Life Expectancy with CKD
Life expectancy tables for people with CKD have been created from a large population-based registry in Alberta, Canada and stratified for different levels of eGFR [10]. Data are calculated for men and women from 30 years of age to age 85 years by their levels of kidney function as defined by eGFRs of ?60, 45�59, 30�44 and 15�29 ml/min/1.73 m2 (see Table 1) [10]. These data show that life expectancy is progressively reduced with each age band of worse renal function.
Assuming our 19-year-old patient will be alive in 11 years, when he reaches 30 (the starting age of the Canadian data), what can be expected? Looking at men age 30�34 years (see Table 1), the life expectancy for those with an eGFR of ?60 ml/min/1.73 m2 is 39.1 years. This is lower than expected and certainly much less than in the UK database. For instance, data from the UK predict that a normal, healthy white male aged 30 years in 2015 has a remaining expected lifetime of 50.7 years [11]. The equivalent figure for the USA suggests that for a 30- to 34-year-old male the expected life expectancy is 45.7 years [12] (see Table 2). The authors of this latter study explain that this difference is attributed to the selective nature of their study cohort, which was limited to individuals who had outpatient serum creatinine measurements as part of routine care. They write that those with an eGFR of >60 ml/min/1.73 m2 cannot be considered as a �normal population� as patients having their creatinine measured are likely to be less well than the general population (who would not have a creatinine measure) and therefore have a lower life expectancy.
From Table 1 it can be seen that for the first three age groups (30�34, 35�39, 40�44 years), life expectancy falls by approximately 20 % with an eGFR of 45�59 ml/min/1.73 m2, by approximately 50 % with an eGFR of 30�44 ml/min/1.73 m2 and by approximately 65 % with an eGFR of 15�29 ml/min/1.73 m2, when compared with those with an eGFR of ?60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (note: these figures are calculated from the first three age groups, i.e. 30, 35 and 40 years, respectively). Thus, the GFR of our patient now age 30 would be approximately 19 ml/min/1.73 m2 (eGFR decline of 1.5 ml/min/1.73 m2) and that at this level of function his life expectancy is reduced by 70 % from 50.6 to 15 years.
The excess mortality associated with renal failure is due principally to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease. An investigation of the causes of death associated with CKD in Alberta revealed that the major cause of death was cardiovascular (including an increase in heart failure and valvular disease). The unadjusted proportion of patients who died from cardiovascular disease increased with decreasing eGFR [21, 37, 41, and 44 % of patients with an eGFR of ?60 (with proteinuria), 45�59.9, 30�44.9, and 15�29.9 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively]. The proportion of deaths from infection also increased but not those from cancer [13].
In a separate review using meta-analysis to examine the influence of both reduced eGFR and albuminuria on cardiovascular mortality the authors found that both lower eGFR (<60 ml/min/1.73 m2) and higher albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR ?10 mg/g) were independent predictors of mortality risk in the general population [14]. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality at eGFRs of 60, 45 and 15 ml/min/1.73 m2 (vs. 95 ml/min/1.73 m2) were 1.18 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.05�1.32], 1.57 (95 % CI 1.39�1.78) and 3.14 (95 % CI 2.39�4.13), respectively. The ACR was associated with mortality risk linearly on the log-log scale without threshold effects. Adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality at ACRs of 10, 30, and 300 mg/g (vs. 5 mg/g) were 1.20 (1.15�1.26), 1.63 (1.50�1.77) and 2.22 (1.97�2.51), respectively. These data are derived from populations a higher mean age, but age was not an independent variable.
Thus, our patient, aged 19�36, even with an eGFR of approximately 45 ml/min/1.73 m2, has an increased risk of dying of around 57 % [risk ratio (RR) 1.57] compared with an eGFR of 95 ml/min/1.73 m2; similarly, with a ACR of 30 mg/g, our patient has an increased risk of dying of around 63 % (RR 1.63) compared with ACR of 5 mg/g [14]. These figures correlate with life expectancy tables [10] in which a 30-year male with an eGFR of 30�44 ml/min/1.73 m2 has a life expectancy reduced by approximately 50 % compared with a similar patient with an eGFR of ?60 ml/min/1.73 m2.
To this equation we should also consider modification of life expectancy by such factors as race, gender and socio-economic status [15, 16], as well as control of blood pressure and hyperlipidemia [17]. All of these factors are being studied in the ongoing Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Study.
Predicting Life Expectancy at End-Stage
If our patient is well looked after for the next 17 years, I will assume that he will not die before he reaches ESRD at the age of 36 (age 19 + 17 years at a GFR decline rate of 1.5 ml/min/1.73 m2/year). However, we now know that this assumption cannot be made. As we have seen from the Canadian data, even at age 19 years with a GFR of 35 ml/min/1.73 m2, we can extrapolate that his life expectancy is reduced by around 50 %. For a UK male aged 19 years, a life expectancy of 61.4 years [11] is reduced to 30 years (age 49 years) [10].
Assuming that our patient would be around 36 years of age when end-stage renal failure is reached, then one can use two sources of actuarial information regarding future life expectancy:-
The USRDS Annual Report�s chapter on mortality and survival has actuarial tables which show data in 5-year age bands [12] (Table 2). Thus, at 36 years of age, our patient falls into the age band 35�39 years. This shows us that a normal U.S. male of this age group can expect to live a further 41 years. The same age group will live a further 12.5 years on dialysis and 30.8 years after a successful transplant. Of course, in reality, RRT life will tend to be a mixture of the two modes.
The UK Renal Registry annual report chapter on survival also has actuarial data in 5-year age bands [18]. However, these show that the median life expectancy for patients starting RRT at the 90-day time point and for this age group (35�39 years) is a further 13.5 years (dialysis and transplant combined).
In comparison, the Canadian data show that at age 35 years with an eGFR of 15�29 ml/min/1.73 m2, the remaining life expectancy is +13.8 years [10].
Trends in Life Expectancy
A review of annual reports from the USRDS in the period 1996�2013 reveals that the life expectancy for a 36-year-old man on haemodialysis has improved steadily and linearly from 7.2 years in 1996 to 11.5 years in 2013 (see Fig. 1). Thus, one can anticipate that our current projections of life expectancy probably err on the pessimistic side of reality. This is supported by a detailed analysis of paediatric outcome over the period 1990�2010 [19].
Summary and Conclusions
We can now predict renal outcome and life expectancy with some accuracy, but data sources on life expectancy are few. The new information from Canada on life expectancy with CKD is very important but will need verifying from other parts of the world. We must not forget that collected data are often a decade old before they are analysed and published. While several long-term studies like CKiD [15�17] are running, it is still too early for them to have generated new information on life expectancy. However, trends in outcome continue to improve, suggesting that we can be more optimistic than current data suggest.
Summary Points
Life expectancy is reduced for all levels of renal function below an eGFR of 60 ml/min/1.73 m2.
Actuarial data are now available on life expectancy both for patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease.
The increased risk of premature death is principally related to the increase in cardiovascular morbidity.
Questions (Answers Provided Below)
Proteinuria predicts progressive renal failure if greater than:
a. 50 mg/mmol creatinine (0.5 g/d)
b. 100 mg/mmol creatinine (1.0 g/d)
c. 150 mg/mmol creatinine
d. 200 mg/mmol creatinine
Life expectancy is reduced when eGFR falls below:
a. 60 ml/min
b. 50 ml/min
c. 50 ml/min
d. 30 ml/min
Life expectancy on dialysis in USA has stopped increasing
a. Since 2000
b. Since 2005
c. Since 2010
d. Is still increasing
The increased relative risk of dying in young patients with CKD is:
a. Cardiovascular
b. Cancer
c. Infection
d. None of these
Acknowledgements
Particular thanks to Retha Steenkamp and UK Renal Registry for their generous help and advice.
Compliance with ethical standards
Conflict of Interest
The author declares no conflict of interest
Footnotes
Answers:
a
a
d
a
In conclusion, the prognosis and life expectancy predictions for patients with CKD don’t guarantee how long a patient with CKD is expected to live. Instead, these statistics may be useful towards determining an alternative treatment option which may help change these outcomes in patients with CKD. Information referenced from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic as well as to spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at�915-850-0900�.
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Acute Back Pain
Back pain�is one of the most prevalent causes of disability and missed days at work worldwide. Back pain attributes to the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at least once throughout their life. The spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles, among other soft tissues. Because of this, injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as�herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief.
1.�Ardissino G, Testa S, Dacco V, Vigano S, Taioli E, Claris-Appiani A, Procaccio M, Avolio L, Ciofani A, Dello SL, Montini G. Proteinuria as a predictor of disease progression in children with hypodysplastic nephropathy. Data from the Ital Kid Project.�Pediatr Nephrol.�2004;19:172�177. doi: 10.1007/s00467-003-1268-0.�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
2.�Neild GH, Thomson G, Nitsch D, Woolfson RG, Connolly JO, Woodhouse CR. Renal outcome in adults with renal insufficiency and irregular asymmetric kidneys.�BMC Nephrol.�2004;5:12. doi: 10.1186/1471-2369-5-12.�[PMC free article]�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
3.�Gonzalez CC, Bitsori M, Tullus K. Progression of chronic renal failure in children with dysplastic kidneys.�Pediatr Nephrol.�2007;22:1014�1020. doi: 10.1007/s00467-007-0459-5.�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
4.�Wingen AM, Fabian-Bach C, Schaefer F, Mehls O. Randomised multicentre study of a low-protein diet on the progression of chronic renal failure in children.�Lancet.�1997;349:1117�1123. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(96)09260-4.�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
5.�Fathallah-Shaykh SA, Flynn JT, Pierce CB, Abraham AG, Blydt-Hansen TD, Massengill SF, Moxey-Mims MM, Warady BA, Furth SL, Wong CS. Progression of pediatric CKD of nonglomerular origin in the CKiD cohort.�Clin J Am Soc Nephrol.�2015;10:571�577. doi: 10.2215/CJN.07480714.�[PMC free article][PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
6.�Ruggenenti P, Perna A, Mosconi L, Pisoni R, Remuzzi G. Urinary protein excretion rate is the best independent predictor of ESRF in non-diabetic proteinuric chronic nephropathies. �Gruppo Italiano di Studi Epidemiologici in Nefrologia� (GISEN)�Kidney Int.�1998;53:1209�1216. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1755.1998.00874.x.�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
7.�Neild GH. What do we know about chronic renal failure in young adults? II. Adult outcome of pediatric renal disease.�Pediatr Nephrol.�2009;24:1921�1928. doi: 10.1007/s00467-008-1107-4.�[PubMed][Cross Ref]
8.�The GISEN Group Randomised placebo-controlled trial of effect of ramipril on decline in glomerular filtration rate and risk of terminal renal failure in proteinuric, non-diabetic nephropathy.�Lancet.�1997;349:1857�1863. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(96)11445-8.�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
9.�Wuhl E, Trivelli A, Picca S, Litwin M, Peco-Antic A, Zurowska A, Testa S, Jankauskiene A, Emre S, Caldas-Afonso A, Anarat A, Niaudet P, Mir S, Bakkaloglu A, Enke B, Montini G, Wingen AM, Sallay P, Jeck N, Berg U, Caliskan S, Wygoda S, Hohbach-Hohenfellner K, Dusek J, Urasinski T, Arbeiter K, Neuhaus T, Gellermann J, Drozdz D, Fischbach M, Moller K, Wigger M, Peruzzi L, Mehls O, Schaefer F. Strict blood-pressure control and progression of renal failure in children.�N Engl J Med.�2009;361:1639�1650. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0902066.�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
10.�Turin TC, Tonelli M, Manns BJ, Ravani P, Ahmed SB, Hemmelgarn BR. Chronic kidney disease and life expectancy.�Nephrol Dial Transplant.�2012;27:3182�3186. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfs052.�[PubMed][Cross Ref]
12.�United States Renal Data System (2015) Mortality. In: USRDS annual data report: epidemiology of kidney disease in the United States. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, chapter 6, vol 2, Table 6.4. Available at:�www.usrds.org/2015/download/vol2_06_Mortality_15.pdf
13.�Thompson S, James M, Wiebe N, Hemmelgarn B, Manns B, Klarenbach S, Tonelli M. Cause of death in patients with reduced kidney function.�J Am Soc Nephrol.�2015;10:2504�2511. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2014070714.�[PMC free article]�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
14.�Matsushita K, van der Velde ABC, Woodward M, Levey AS, de Jong PE, Coresh J, Gansevoort RT. Association of estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in general population cohorts: a collaborative meta-analysis.�Lancet.�2010;375:2073�2081. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60674-5.�[PMC free article]�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
15.�Wong CJ, Moxey-Mims M, Jerry-Fluker J, Warady BA, Furth SL. CKiD (CKD in children) prospective cohort study: a review of current findings.�Am J Kidney Dis.�2012;60:1002�1011. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2012.07.018.�[PMC free article]�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
16.�Hidalgo G, Ng DK, Moxey-Mims M, Minnick ML, Blydt-Hansen T, Warady BA, Furth SL. Association of income level with kidney disease severity and progression among children and adolescents with CKD: a report from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Study.�Am J Kidney Dis.�2013;62:1087�1094. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2013.06.013.�[PMC free article]�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
17.�Warady BA, Abraham AG, Schwartz GJ, Wong CS, Munoz A, Betoko A, Mitsnefes M, Kaskel F, Greenbaum LA, Mak RH, Flynn J, Moxey-Mims MM, Furth S. Predictors of rapid progression of glomerular and nonglomerular kidney disease in children and adolescents: the chronic kidney disease in children (CKiD) Cohort.�Am J Kidney Dis.�2015;65:878�888. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2015.01.008.[PMC free article]�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
18.�Pruthi R, Steenkamp R, Feest T (2014) UK Renal Registry 16th annual report: chapter 8 survival and cause of death of UK adult patients on renal replacement therapy in 2012. Available at:�www.renalreg.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/08-Chap-08.pdf�[PubMed]
19.�Mitsnefes MM, Laskin BL, Dahhou M, Zhang X, Foster BJ. Mortality risk among children initially treated with dialysis for end-stage kidney disease, 1990�2010.�JAMA.�2013;309:1921�1929. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.4208.�[PMC free article]�[PubMed]�[Cross Ref]
If you sit behind a desk all day with little or no activity, you could be compromising your physical health, mental health, and brain health which could impact your productivity at work. From a physical standpoint, it isn�t healthy to remain in one position for too long. It can lead to various health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. Experts advise movement. By getting up and walking around every hour or so or do exercises at your desk.
Healthy brain function can�be impacted by inactivity if you sit at work without moving for long periods of time your brain could suffer. The lack of activity could cause it to enter into a state of slumber which can lead to a decrease in brain processing speed and short-term memory loss.
It can also impact a person�s ability to learn or retain new information. It is so important to create an organizational culture that encourages moving around as part of their workday.
Create written policies that encourage and advocate movement during work hours. Incorporate moving workstations, moving meetings, flexible scheduling, more breaks when meetings run long, and a movement-friendly dress code.
Provide information and training to all employees and leadership underlining the importance of the policies and explaining the importance of movement as well as what they can do to support the initiative.
Places
Create workspaces that are conducive to movement, adjusting workstations so that they encourage active movement and incorporating dynamic change into current processes and workflows while minimizing the time employees spend sitting.
Seek out software and applications that encourage users to stretch or get up and move while they are working. Make stairwells more accessible and appealing, improve common areas, and promote collaboration that requires moving to various workstations or common areas.
People
Identify employees who are good role models for movement and train them for leadership roles so that they can encourage other employees to move a part of their workday. Train them in the policies regarding movement and task them with helping to create a culture of health and mobility within the organization.
Organize groups to walk during breaks or meet in common areas for light stretching and other types of movement. Sponsor contests and competitions with prizes for employees who achieve set goals.
Permission
Educate all employees and all levels of management or leadership on the benefits of movement and how it can positively impact personal production and performance as well as organizational outcomes. Stress that moving during the work day should become a regular activity and must be welcomed and allowed. Emphasize that it is the task of all employees to make a culture of movement the norm as opposed to the exception.
The benefits of moving around in the workplace extend far beyond healthier employees and increased production. Employees perceive themselves as valuable to the organization and morale is increased. Employee engagement�improves�on the job, and they invest more in their work as opposed to just doing a job. They are happier, empowered, and more productive at work and take more of an active role in business outcomes as well as their health.
Of course, employees will also enjoy individual benefits such as increased blood flow, as well as improved problem solving, better alertness, and enhanced creativity. A workplace that incorporates movement into its culture is a healthier, happier place to work with more robust, and more satisfied employees. You can�t afford to not implement this simple, effective strategy into your own organizational culture.
Of course, I’m prone to injuries and Dr. Alex Jimenez has been helping me. I’ve known him for about six years and every time something comes up, either it’s a small injury or a major one, he’s always been there and he’s always helped me get back to my feet to start playing sports again really fast.
Madison Hill
Ankle pain refers to any type of pain or discomfort in the ankle. This pain could generally be due to an injury, such as a sprain, or due to another health issue. As stated by the National University of Health Sciences, or NUHS, an ankle sprain is one of the most frequent causes of foot pain, making up 85 percent of all ankle injuries. A sprain occurs when the ligaments tear or are overstretched.
Most ankle sprains are lateral sprains, which occur when the foot rolls, causing the ankle to twist toward the ground. This action rips or stretches the ligaments, which connect two bones or cartilages and holds a joint together. A sprained ankle often swells and lumps for a temporary amount of time. However, it might take a couple of weeks to get a severe injury like this to�heal completely.
Once healed, the sprained ankle is occasionally permanently weaker and less stable compared to the other ankle. According to a paper released by the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, the highest risk for ankle sprains includes a previous ankle sprain. Although, ankle sprains are not the only cause of foot pain. Below, we will discuss several common causes of foot and ankle pain as well as their treatment.
Causes of Ankle and Foot Pain
The ankle is a hinge joint formed by the assembly of three bones: the tibia, the fibula, and the talus. The bony knobs on both sides are called the malleoli. Overall, the ankle is an intricate structure. These constructions provide support for walking and standing. Also, stability is provided by the ligaments on the surface of the ankle. Additionally, some tendons also attach to the muscles of the ankle.
Ankle pain may be brought on by various ailments, such as sprain, strain, arthritis, gout, and tendinitis, among others. These kinds of injuries can occur on both sides of the joint. There can be pain and discomfort as well as swelling. A sprain is considered to be the most frequent cause of foot pain. As�mentioned above, a sprain is generally caused when the ankle rolls or twists so the ankle moves toward the ground, tearing or overstretching the ligaments of the ankle that hold the bones together.
An x-ray is typically done to rule out a fracture. The remedy for an ankle strain or sprain generally includes restricting the total amount of weight-bearing on the ankle, getting rest and applying ice. Drugs and/or medications can reduce symptoms. Chiropractic care can also help diagnose and treat ankle sprains and strains. Ankle and foot pain may also be due to:
Arthritis, specifically osteoarthritis,
Gout
Tendinitis
Nerve injury or disease, such as sciatica
Blocked blood vessels
Infection from the joint
While ankle strains and sprains are the most common form of foot pain, arthritis can also frequently lead to ankle pain. Arthritis is the inflammation of the joints, although multiple kinds of arthritis may lead to pain in the joints. Foot pain can be caused by three common forms of arthritis: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition where the cartilage slowly begins to wear away. Osteoarthritis�causes the natural wear and tear of the joints associated with age. Older adults are more inclined to develop osteoarthritis. In most cases, an individual’s pain and discomfort, including swelling and�stiffness, among other symptoms may worsen over time.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease. This health issue may severely impact the foot and ankle joints. With rheumatoid arthritis, the human body’s immune cells attack the synovium covering the foot joints. Joint deformity is common with rheumatoid arthritis. A fungal or bacterial infection causes septic arthritis. If the septic arthritis is among the ankle regions, this may result in foot pain.
Following an injury, post-traumatic arthritis can develop from trauma or damage to the ankle or foot. Previous fractures and dislocations are the most common ailments that may lead to post-traumatic arthritis. Like gout, which we will discuss further below, the joints begin to wear away, although it may take several years for this to happen after the injury.
Gout occurs when uric acid accumulates in the human body. This higher than average concentration of uric acid, which is generally a by-product of the human body’s normal breakdown of older cells, can deposit crystals in the joints, causing sharp pain. Pseudogout is a similar illness where calcium deposits build up in the joints. Indicators of gout and pseudogout include soreness, swelling, and redness.
Tendinitis is a swelling of the tendon. In the ankle, it may frequently involve the anterior tibial tendon or the Achilles tendon. Tendinitis can result from an overuse injury or disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. All types of tendinitis trigger pain, inflammation, and tenderness. Drugs and/or medications, applying ice and immobilizing the region are often the first line of treatment for tendinitis. Chiropractic care can also be helpful in the treatment of tendinitis. Casting may be required if the patient’s tendinitis is severe or advanced.
�
Foot pain can commonly occur due to ankle injuries. In the United States alone, approximately 2 million acute ankle sprains occur every year, one of the most prevalent causes of ankle pain. Chiropractic care is a popular alternative treatment option which can help treat a variety of health issues, including foot and ankle pain.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T.
Chiropractic Care for Foot and Ankle Pain
Chiropractors utilize a mixture of treatment techniques and methods to ease ankle and foot pain. Chiropractic care is a safe and effective, alternative treatment option which focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of a variety of injuries and conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system, including foot and ankle pain.
Soft tissue and joint mobilizations are done to restore proper mechanics and muscle activation. Manual therapy may be used to improve the mobility of the ankle and foot along with reducing pain. Furthermore, a chiropractor may recommend a series of lifestyle modifications to help promote a faster recovery process. Exercises are targeted to the areas that were affected. Balance training might also be implemented.
Some treatment modalities that chiropractors utilize to treat injuries to the foot and ankle include ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat and ice treatment, and massage. These treatment methods increase circulation to enhance recovery, decrease inflammation, reduce pain and improve mobility. When you visit a healthcare professional, a full evaluation is done, goals are discussed along with an individualized treatment program which is intended to target your specific treatment requirements.
Home Treatment for Ankle and Foot Pain
For immediate at-home treatment of foot and ankle pain, the RICE system is generally recommended. The RICE treatment includes:
Rest: Avoid putting weight on the ankle. Try to move as little as possible for the first couple of days. If you have to walk or run, consider using a cane or crutches.
Ice: Begin by putting a bag of ice in your ankle for a minimum of 20 minutes at a time. Repeat this three to five times every day for three days. This�treatment helps decrease pain. Give yourself about 90 minutes between sessions.
Compression: Wrap your injured foot with an elastic bandage, such as an ACE bandage. Don’t wrap it too tightly to where your feet turn blue or your ankle becomes numb.
Elevation: Whenever possible, keep your ankle raised over heart level on a pile of pillows or another type of support arrangement to promote healing.
It’s possible to take over-the-counter drugs and/or medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to relieve swelling and pain, however, these are often only offer temporary relief from the symptoms. Make sure to talk to a certified and qualified healthcare professional regarding any home treatment options to prevent further injury and symptoms.
If�you are suffering from foot pain or ankle pain, do not delay anymore. Chiropractors can help patients who suffer from foot, and ankle pain and they can help you, too. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic as well as to spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at�915-850-0900�.
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Acute Back Pain
Back pain�is one of the most prevalent causes of disability and missed days at work worldwide. Back pain is attributed�to the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at least once throughout their life. The spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles, among other soft tissues. Because of this, injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as�herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief.
I went through the physical therapy, and then I used chiropractic care, as well as crossfit, to kinda get me to that 100% mark. And I haven’t had a problem since, I continue to do crossfit and I use chiropractic care to make sure my body is aligned. It gives me that extra sense of feeling that I’m not gonna injure myself again, that my body is feeling good and 100%. I never have that feeling in the back of my mind, that, you know, I’m gonna injure myself. Sometimes I forget I even had a surgery and I think I can attribute that to a combination of chiropractic care and to the overall training aspect of crossfit. – Andrew Hutchison
There are a variety of causes for both hip pain and knee pain. While the hip joint can withstand a tremendous amount of wear-and-tear, it’s not indestructible. With age and usage, the hip cartilage can begin to degenerate, resulting in hip pain. Tendons and ligaments at the hip may also get excessive overused and can start to demonstrate signs of wear-and-tear over time. The anatomy of the knee, however, is more complex. The knee is collectively made up of bones, pads of cartilage and a joint capsule. Trauma or damage from an injury or degeneration associated with aging may cause knee pain.
Causes of Hip Pain
Hip pain is the general term used to define pain felt in or around the hip joint. Certain injuries and/or conditions may commonly cause hip pain. Arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis, are the primary culprits of hip pain in older individuals. Both may result in the breakdown of cartilage in the hip joint and can cause inflammation in the area. Combined with pain and discomfort, there’s generally also reduced range of motion in the hip as well as stiffness. Bursitis may also result in hip pain. The bursae are sacs of fluid which function by helping to reduce friction between the joints. If these become inflamed, however, they can lead to pain. Typically, it’s only repetitive movements that irritate the hip joint and result in pain.
Similar to bursitis, tendinitis can also lead to inflammation and is usually caused by repetitive stress from movements. Muscle or tendon strain can be a result of overuse. Repeated physical activities can additionally place unnecessary amounts of pressure on the ligaments, tendons and joints of the hip, especially in those which support the buttocks. If some of these are inflamed, the hip won’t be able to function normally and there will be painful symptoms as a result. Below, we will describe the various causes of hip pain as well as discuss their effects on the structure of the hip in detail.�Hip pain isn’t always felt in the hip itself as it may also be felt in the groin or thigh.
Tendonitis
The most frequent cause of severe hip pain is inflamed tendons, or tendonitis. This can generally be due to excessive exercise or physical activities. This health issue can be quite debilitating but it usually heals within a couple of days with proper care.
Arthritis
As mentioned above, one of the most common causes of chronic hip pain is arthritis. Arthritis can cause painful, stiff and tender joints, and it can cause walking problems. Various types of arthritis can cause hip pain, including:
Osteoarthritis might be the final result of age-related degeneration in the cartilage that surrounds the joints.
Trauma, damage or injury to a joint, like a fracture, may cause traumatic arthritis similar to atherosclerosis.
Infectious arthritis is a result of an infection in the joint caused by the degeneration of cartilage.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a result of the human body’s immune system attacking its own joints. This type of arthritis can ultimately destroy joint bones and cartilage.
Osteoarthritis is a a lot more commonly diagnosed than rheumatoid arthritis.It’s fundamental to understand the different types of arthritis as these can be powerful diagnostic tools to help effectively treat hip pain.
Trochanteric Bursitis
Another possible cause of hip pain involves a health issue medically referred to as trochanteric bursitis, as previously mentioned. This condition occurs when the bursa, which are liquid-filled sacs near the hip joint, become inflamed. Any number of variables can lead to trochanteric bursitis, such as hip injury, overuse of the joints, underlying health issues, or even the presence of other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. This condition is reportedly much more common in females than in males.
Hip Fractures
Hip fractures are common causes of hip pain which most frequently occur in older adults and in people who have osteoporosis, which is a weakening of the bones associated with age and various other factors. Hip fractures cause very sudden and extreme hip pain, where they will require immediate medical attention. There are complications that can happen due a fractured hip, like a blood clot in the leg. A hip fracture usually requires surgical interventions to be corrected. Additionally, you may be required to seek further care from a qualified healthcare professional in order to engage in a rehabilitation program.
Less Common Causes of Hip Pain
There are additional, less common conditions that can result in hip pain. These include snapping hip syndrome and osteonecrosis, or avascular necrosis. Below, we will discuss these two health issues in detail.
Snapping Hip Syndrome
Snapping hip syndrome, which most commonly occurs in athletes, especially dancers, is characterized by a snapping noise or feeling from the hip. By way of instance, this snapping may happen when you’re walking or getting up from a chair. The problem is usually painless, but it can cause pain in several cases. Snapping hip with pain is generally an indication of a tear in the hip cartilage or other structure surrounding the hip joint.
Osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis, also known as avascular necrosis, occurs when blood isn’t able to reach the bones, either permanently or temporarily. This can cause the reduction of bone. The cartilage of individuals with this condition is normal initially, however, it will eventually collapse as the disease evolves. Finally, bones may crack or crumble. It’s not always clear what triggers osteonecrosis. Joint harm, heavy usage of steroid drugs or alcohol, and cancer treatments could put you at greater risk of developing this condition, however, the cause is never determined in many osteonecrosis cases.
Causes of Knee Pain
Similar to hip pain, arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, may commonly cause knee pain. With the breakdown of cartilage associated with osteoarthritis in the knee, the bones can begin to rub against one another, causing pain and discomfort which could eventually lead to other painful symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the joints and it can affect the soft tissue which lines the knee joints. The final result is inflammation, joint damage and joint pain at the knee. The knee joint is very prone to accidents. Typical knee injuries include: meniscal injuries, anterior cruciate ligament injuries and tendon injuries.
The meniscus might be damaged when the knee is bent and twisted in an unnatural way, where ligaments and tendons could also be overstretched and ultimately torn as a result. If it is not repaired, the probability of developing osteoarthritis increases. Any abrupt change in movement can additionally injure the anterior cruciate ligament. Nearly all causes of knee injury and knee pain are the result of a blow to the surface of the knee. Exercises or physical activities which could harm the complex structures of the knee include jogging and jumping. A dislocated kneecap is still another frequent source of knee pain. This occurs when the patella is moved from place and it can be very debilitating.
Temporary knee pain differs from chronic knee pain. Persistent knee pain is not always attributable to one incident. It the result of many causes or conditions.Persistent knee pain is characterized as long-term pain, swelling, or sensitivity in a single or both knees. The reason behind your knee pain can determine the symptoms you develop. Many conditions may cause or lead to chronic knee pain, and lots of treatments exist. Every person’s experience with chronic knee pain will most likely be different. Understanding the causes of knee pain can be a powerful diagnostic tool which can help healthcare professionals properly determine the proper treatment option for your specific health issue.�Common causes of knee pain include:
osteoarthritis: pain, inflammation and joint destruction brought on by degeneration of a joint.
tendinitis: pain in the knee which worsens when climbing, taking stairs, or walking up an incline.
bursitis: inflammation caused by repeated overuse or trauma of the knee.
chondromalacia patella: damaged cartilage under the kneecap.
gout: arthritis brought on by the buildup of uric acid.
Baker’s cyst: a buildup of synovial fluid, fluid which lubricates the joint, supporting the knee.
rheumatoid arthritis, or RA: a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that causes painful swelling, joint deformity and bone erosion.
dislocation: dislocation of the kneecap most commonly caused by trauma, damage or injury.
meniscus tear: a rupture in one or more of the soft tissues in the knee.
torn ligament: tear at one of the four ligaments in the knee, the most commonly injured ligament is the anterior cruciate ligament, or the ACL.
bone tumors: osteosarcoma, is the second most common bone cancer, which most commonly occurs in the knee.
Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Insight
While the hip and knee joints are capable of sustaining various degrees of stress when performing physical activities, trauma, damage or injury as well as the degeneration of these complex structures, can ultimately lead to knee and hip pain. The balance of the human body as a whole is fundamental towards overall health and wellness. Therefore, if an individual experiences hip or knee pain, the entire structure and function of their body can be tremendously affected. It’s important for a person with knee or hip pain to seek immediate medical attention from a qualified and experienced healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor or physical therapist, in order to restore the balance of their entire body.
Treatment for Knee and Hip Pain
The treatment of hip pain is based upon the cause. For many instances of trauma, damage or injury, rest is generally enough to enable the hip to heal. By way of instance, exercise-associated hip pain is normally eliminated within a couple of days. When you have arthritis, a healthcare professional may sometimes prescribe drugs and/or medications to help relieve stiffness and pain. Furthermore, your physician will refer you to a doctor who can provide additional information regarding the cause of your hip pain along with recommending an alternative treatment option, such as chiropractic care and physical therapeutics, that will explain to you how you can perform rehabilitation exercises to help maintain joint strength, mobility and flexibility.
For injuries, therapy typically involves bed rest and the use of drugs and/or medications, such as naproxen, to alleviate pain, swelling and stiffness. Hip fractures, malformation of the hip and some injuries may require surgical intervention to repair or replace the hip. In hip replacement surgery, a surgeon will replace a broken hip joint with an artificial one. Although hip replacement surgery will need rehabilitation to become accustomed to the new joint, this type of treatment option is often considered.
Alternative Treatment Options
Some holistic remedies can offer relief from hip pain. Make certain you discuss treatment options with your doctor before considering any treatment option. Potential alternative treatment options include visiting a chiropractor for a spinal adjustment or manual manipulation. Chiropractic care is a well-known treatment approach which focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of a variety of injuries and/or conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system. Chiropractic care can help carefully re-align the spine as well as help reduce pain and discomfort, improve swelling and inflammation and even increase strength, flexibility and mobility on other structures of the human body. Physical therapeutics can also help treat both hip and knee pain.
There are many benefits of physical therapeutics, including increased range of motion, reduction of pain, less inflammation and swelling, as well as an overall improvement of quality of life. The first steps a chiropractor or physical therapist will perform if you have hip pain will consist of tests, such as a gait evaluation, range of motion measurement and intensity measurements. Afterwards, the healthcare professional will create a personalized treatment program. Treatment techniques may also include ultrasound and ice. There will also be specific exercises and stretches to help boost hip strength, mobility and flexibility to decrease pain. For knee pain, tests are also done along with active and passive treatments. Chiropractic care and physical therapeutics can help promote healing without the need for drugs and/or medications, and surgical interventions.
Bursitis, a frequent cause of knee pain, can be treated in the following ways:
Ice the knee for 15 minutes once an hour for three of four hours. Do not apply the ice directly to the knee, instead, cover your knee with a cotton towel. Put ice in a plastic zip-close bag, then place the bag on the towel.
Wear cushioned, flat shoes that support your toes and do not worsen your pain.
Avoid sleeping on your side. Use cushions positioned on both sides of your body to keep you from rolling on your side. When lying on the side, keep a pillow between your knees.
Stay seated when possible. Should you need to stand, prevent hard surfaces and maintain your weight evenly distributed on both legs.
Participate or engage in weight loss programs and strategies to lose weight if you are overweight or obese, to reduce the amount of stress that is placed on the knees.
If you are experiencing hip pain, knee pain or some other type of joint pain, make sure to contact a qualified healthcare professional, in order to receive a proper diagnosis to begin the best treatment approach for your specific health issue. Trained and skilled doctors will take you on the path to better healing. Make sure you prepare a one-on-one consultation to acquire a comprehensive examination and say good-bye to your pain. Healthcare professionals are devoted to providing you with a healthy and wholesome lifestyle.�The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic as well as to spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at�915-850-0900�.
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most prevalent causes for disability and missed days at work worldwide. As a matter of fact, back pain has been attributed as the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience some type of back pain at least once throughout their life. The spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles, among other soft tissues. Because of this, injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief.
For people struggling to control their blood glucose levels, the most common concern is, how can you regulate blood sugar levels? Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels can be complicated and unyielding. Along with food and beverages, our blood sugar levels fluctuate in response to a huge variety of unique factors. Exercise, psychological stress, the previous night’s rest, and genetics all play a role in the human body’s effort to closely regulate the degree of glucose circulating in the blood. Additionally, no matter whether or not somebody has a blood glucose dysregulation problem or full-blown diabetes, that morning meal we call breakfast actually sets the stage for your day.
What is often known as the “Dawn Phenomenon” occurs between 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM when the human body produces sufficient amounts of glucagon, cortisol and epinephrine to boost blood glucose as a natural procedure before waking up in the morning. And science supports those people who prefer to eat a hearty breakfast as soon as they wake up. One study that monitored the sugar profiles of healthy people during the day saw that the largest increase in blood glucose occurs right after breakfast. Just about every nutritionist, dietitian and endocrinologist recommends eating a high-protein breakfast so as to restrain the naturally-occurring spike in sugar during the daytime. As mentioned previously, these meals, as well as other variables, will dictate the difference in blood glucose levels throughout the day, which directly impacts the way the human body works and an individual’s overall awareness of their health and wellness.
When Maintaining Healthy Blood Sugar Levels is Difficult
A consistently higher blood sugar level has a deleterious impact on organ function. Risks for diabetes, further heart disease, stroke, kidney disorders, vision impairment and cardiovascular issues that can result in infections and amputation of recurrence increase when blood sugar is uncontrolled. Intense oscillations in blood sugar may stem from many hormonal imbalances, specifically where there is a lack of insulin manufacturing, as in the case of type I diabetes, or an inability to use insulin correctly, commonly referred to as insulin resistance. Either type of diabetes is recognized and monitored with many evaluations, but the most prevalent one is the HbA1C. As a mark of longer-term glucose levels, the HbA1C suggests the average proportion of the particular hemoglobin subtype A1C that has glucose bound to it, glycated or glycosylated, producing a glycoprotein. Since hemoglobin cells normally die off after 120 days, this process firmly reflects the typical plasma glucose level over in the past 90 days. This diagnostic tool proves more helpful than a diagram of blood sugar, which shows great vacillations through the day. Individuals with diabetes or more lengths of hyperglycemia, as noticed in patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, have increased HbA1C levels. It’s projected that in 2015 over 7 million cases of diabetes and insulin resistance went undiagnosed. The famed incidence of those conditions is alarming as the trend is nearing 10 percent of the populace.
Regulating Blood Glucose Levels with Nutrition
Though genetics�are not something people can control, nutrition, diet and other lifestyle variables are within your reach. Eating a balanced diet of low-glycemic, high fiber, and also low-saturated fat meals is recommended for individuals with glycemic control health issues. Combining foods which contain all three macronutrients, such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, can also be valuable in regulating blood glucose levels. This list of foods provides a wonderful start to a healthy diet and a platform for preventing those wild swings in sugar throughout the day:
All colors and varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables
Legumes, such as kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, and lentils
Whole grains, such as brown rice, quinoa, barley, and millet
Olive oil
Tomatoes
Fermented, organic and raw dairy
Cold-water wild fish, such as salmon, mackerel and sardines
Tempeh, tofu and natto
Cage-free, organic eggs
Green and black tea
Supplemental nutrients and botanicals to help encourage wholesome glucose levels and supply a hypoglycemic effect are currently being studied and comprise of:
Magnesium
Chromium, as chromium picolinate
Vanadium
Alpha lipoic acid
Gymnema sylvestre
Fenugreek
Bitter melon
Cinnamon
Berberine
Berberine functions on multiple fronts. It was found to substantially improve glucose levels by an average of 9.5 percent down to 7.5 percent, as effective as metformin from 9.15 percent down to 7.7 percent, in a research study to find out its effectiveness and safety in type 2 diabetes patients. Furthermore, it had the effect of enhancing both entire cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the evaluation and analysis.
Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Insight
Diabetes has become one of the fastest growing diseases in the United States, where it is prevalent among both children and adults. With the increase in cases each year, the numbers of individuals seeking treatment and a potential cure are also rising. Fortunately, research studies have found that maintaining healthy blood sugar levels can help stabilize a case of diabetes. Proper nutrition, as well as natural remedies and botanicals, including alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, have been determined to help regulate healthy blood glucose levels, improving an individual’s quality of life.
While there are many other ways in which healthy blood sugar levels can be achieved, recent research studies have also determined that chiropractic care may be able to control blood sugar levels, potentially regulating type 2 diabetes. According to these, the key to managing blood glucose levels can be found in the connection between the central nervous system and blood sugar levels in the human body. Chiropractic care focuses on the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to correct spinal misalignments, or subluxations. It has been demonstrated that spinal misalignments, or subluxations, can interfere with important communications signals from the brain to the spinal chords as well as the rest of the body. By carefully restoring the natural integrity of the spine, chiropractors can help regulate healthy blood sugar levels and improve overall health and wellness.
Sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, commonly related to obesity and metabolic syndrome, can hinder good quality sleep, and also have been considered as a risk factor for diabetes. Although there isn’t any clearly defined correlation between sleep and glucose control, there are multiple pathways involved together with a cascade of metabolic functions which could result in metabolic derangements when disturbed.
To remain steady on what could be a roller coaster ride of blood sugars, a high priority should be given to a well-balanced diet plan, replete with proper nutrition and supplementation, and the close observation of lifestyle and genetic aspects. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic as well as to spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at�915-850-0900�.
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most prevalent causes for disability and missed days at work worldwide. As a matter of fact, back pain has been attributed as the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience some type of back pain at least once throughout their life. The spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles, among other soft tissues. Because of this, injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief.
Research has found about 35% of Americans experience symptoms of a warning stroke. However, only 3% seek out immediate medical attention. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or reduced, which deprives brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes, brain cells start to die.
Adults who have had a sign of a�temporary blockage aka, a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)waited/rested until symptoms had subsided instead of calling 911. This is according to the research from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA).
Only a formal medical diagnosis with brain imaging can determine whether someone is having a TIA or stroke. If you or someone experiences warning signs that come on suddenly or go away,�CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!
Stroke: Early Signs
Ischemic strokes occur when a clot blocks blood flow to the brain.
This type may be treated immediately with a special clot-busting drug
A device called a stent retriever may also be used to remove the clot and help prevent long-term disability.
TIA precedes about 15% of strokes
People who have had TIA are at greater risk for stroke within three months
Use The Acronym F.A.S.T. To Help Remember Common Signs:
�
Face Drooping
Arm Weakness
Speech Difficulty
Time To Call 911
Other Warnings Signs:
Confusion
Dizziness
Loss Of Balance/Coordination
Numbness Or Weakness Of Face, Arm or Leg, Particularly On One Side Of The Body
Trouble Speaking Or Understanding
Trouble Walking
Unexplained Severe Headache
Vision Loss In One Or Both Eyes
Injury Medical Clinic: Stress Management Care & Treatments
How important is nutrition for our brain health? In the current work force, we are continuously stressed, often forced to finish tasks faster in order to meet ever so demanding deadlines. In addition, we are expected to maintain our optimal mental health, as this can be an essential�part towards delivering quality work. When our mental health is being affected by our hectic lifestyles, however, several practices which can help you start thinking more clearly can include sleeping properly, controlling stress, and even taking nutritional supplements for your brain health.
One nutritional supplement which has been widely recognized for its ability to boost brain health is curcumin, the active ingredient found in turmeric. Well-known for its antioxidant properties and its capacity to control inflammation in the human body, this powerful herb can also promote good mood and cognition. Another specific group which has reported significant benefits with the increased use of curcumin, is the elderly population. Below, we will discuss how curcumin can help boost brain health as well as demonstrate additional benefits this golden gem can have on our overall health and wellness.
Curcumin: a Golden Gem for Brain Health
In accordance with the Journal of Pharmacology, curcumin is made-up of a variety of substances which can encourage biological mechanisms that counteract age-related cognitive decline, dementia, or mood disorders. One randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial analyzed the acute, of approximately 1 and 3 hours following a single dose, chronic, of approximately 4 weeks, and acute-on-chronic, of approximately 1 and 3 hours after one dose subsequently after chronic treatment, consequences of a curcumin formulation on cognitive function, mood, and blood biomarkers in 60 healthy adults ranging from the 60 to 85 years of age. After about one hour of application, the curcumin had considerably enhanced the participant’s functionality on attention and working memory tasks, in comparison with the placebo. Working memory and mood, which included general fatigue, change in calmness, contentedness and fatigue triggered by emotional strain were fundamentally improved following chronic therapy.
Curcumin boosts BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), the brain hormone which helps boost the development of new neurons that are in charge of improving memory and learning as well as supplying a substantial option for countering the aging brain. Additionally, this powerful ingredient increases blood circulation to the brain, also providing a much better attention span for greater work productivity.
Appreciating its anxiolytic effects can be one of the greatest benefits of carrying curcumin. According to the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, a randomized double-blinded and double-blind trial with 60 subjects experiencing stress-related symptoms, including exhaustion, were to get routine curcumin nutritional supplements, and placebo for 30 days. The results indicated a greater quality of life, and diminished stress and fatigue for those receiving regular curcumin intakes. This progressive compound is believed to be able to help alleviate depression by altering the release of dopamine and serotonin, two powerful hormones which help keep the human mind and body at ease. Curcumin also promotes the optima health and wellness of inflammation pathways from the brain, which ultimately will help improve energy, mood, and production levels.
Curcumin may additionally promote cognition via its powerful antioxidant action which improves the bioavailability of DHA, the potent omega-3 fatty acid demonstrated to boost brain health. A research study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry revealed that curcumin really does protect the brain from neurodegeneration. The evaluation and analysis included 40 participants ranging from the ages of 51 to 84 years of age. Each individual subject consumed 90mg of curcumin twice per day or placebo for 18 weeks. The results indicated enhanced long-term healing, visual memory, and focus. With its tremendous medicinal properties, curcumin can also support neuroplasticity, which empowers the brain to change and fortify itself even through the natural degeneration with aging.
Curcumin can also promote anti-seizure action. With its antioxidant properties, this golden gem can help slow down reactive astrocyte expression, which helps cells survive within the mind. According to the Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, the antioxidant properties of curcumin helped alleviate migraines, cognitive impairment, and cognitive stress in rats. A dental pre-treatment of curcumin was given to male rats which were additionally treated together with Pentylenetrazole, or PZT, every other day. The study demonstrated that curcumin enhanced the seizure score and indicated a diminished amount of myoclonic jerks. Furthermore, the outcome measures of the research study demonstrated that curcumin restructures seizures, oxidative stress, and brain function. Moreover, it helps protect memory function which may also be jeopardized by seizure activity.
Using its capability to strengthen fatty acids in the mind, curcumin helps athletes achieve better physical performance by boosting critical thinking, improving problem solving, and developing improved choices. The neuroprotective properties in curcumin also help regenerate tissues. In reality, based on Stem Cell Research and Therapy, a research study was conducted between the effects of curcumin on endogenous stem cells which were impartial. The study demonstrated that curcumin played an essential role in the healing of cells from combating the activation of microglia cells. Scientists in the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Julich, Germany, observed the effects of impartial stem cell generation. During a 72-hour period, the evaluation and analysis demonstrated and indicated that the turmeric curcumin improved cellular generation by up to 80 percent. This shows how powerful curcumin could be for successful brain health function.
Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Insight
Nutrition is a fundamental factor in overall health and wellness. In today’s stressful world, however, it can often become difficult to eat a proper meal, let alone making sure we are taking in all the necessary nutrients we require on a regular basis. That, plus the added pressure of the workforce can have detrimental effects on our brain health. Dietary supplements, such as curcumin, have been demonstrated to have tremendous benefits on brain health. Although we may not always have the “free time” to sit down and have a properly balanced meal, taking nutritional supplements like curcumin, among others, can help improve the human body’s general well-being.
While many research studies have found that natural remedies and botanicals, such as dietary supplements apart from vitamins and minerals, continue to be the most common complementary health approach in the United States today, more and more alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, have started to incorporate these into their practices. As a matter of fact, a majority of chiropractors give nutritional advice, as well as recommendations for other lifestyle recommendations, as a general part of their treatment plan. Because chiropractic care is based on the notion of naturally treating the human body as a whole, enhancing it’s own healing properties without the use of drugs and/or medications as well as other invasive procedures, this healthcare profession relies on offering the necessary health maintenance components for optimal health and wellness. These components can include nutrition, water, rest, exercise, and clean air. Many chiropractors also offer curcumin supplements to help promote recovery.
This exceptional nutritional supplement, curcumin, helps improve mental clarity, improve cognition, improve endurance, and supplies anxiolytic benefits. Whether it’s more work fabricating, or a much better disposition, curcumin is a hidden golden gem for health.�The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic as well as to spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at�915-850-0900�.
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most prevalent causes for disability and missed days at work worldwide. As a matter of fact, back pain has been attributed as the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience some type of back pain at least once throughout their life. The spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles, among other soft tissues. Because of this, injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief.
IFM's Find A Practitioner tool is the largest referral network in Functional Medicine, created to help patients locate Functional Medicine practitioners anywhere in the world. IFM Certified Practitioners are listed first in the search results, given their extensive education in Functional Medicine
