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In TouchKeeping you In Touch with what's happening in the world of Health Care Vol. 4, No. 10 October 2000 ISSN 1525-416X "You can observe a lot just by watching." - Yogi Berra Patients With Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders Improve With Chiropractic CareA literature review at the website of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (www.4icpa.org) finds that patients with obstructive pulmonary disorders improved when they received spinal manipulation (the generic, medical term typically used by medicine when referring to chiropractic adjustments). Obstructive pulmonary disorders typically result from a narrowing of the air passages in the lungs and can be associated with severe bronchitis and emphysema. One study reported in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association [1975; 74(8):757-60] found that the average reduction in severity of symptoms was approximately 10.7% in patients undergoing spinal manipulation. Another case study presented in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics [1988; 11(6): 505-10] noted that a patient with a 20 year history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improved under chiropractic care. Improvement was noted in many areas including forced vital capacity, coughing, fatigue and ease of breathing. By way of commentary, Chiropractic helps restore your body's normal function (health) by removing interference to how it works. Your chiropractor focuses on correcting vertebral subluxations, misalignments of the small bones of the spine. In this way, chiropractic care enables your body to work to the best of its ability. Studies repeatedly show that a properly working body is better able to deal with sickness than a malfunctioning body. Hospital Cutbacks In Nursing Staff Deadly To PatientsA study done by The Chicago Tribune reports that hospitals across the country have quietly been eliminating their highest paid, best trained and most experienced nurses. This has led to numerous patient deaths directly due to overworked and under trained nursing staffs. The author says that since 1995 at least 1720 hospital patients have been accidentally killed and 9584 others injured by nurses who are committing errors due to staff reductions and poor training. Because the process of reporting medical errors is so inadequate, the above figures likely only represent the tip of the iceberg. In what is becoming a national trend among hospitals, even those that are doing well financially, the more educated, better trained registered nurses are being replaced with lesser trained, lower salaried practical nurses and aides. The reason? To increase or maintain profitability, even at the sacrifice of patient safety. According to the study, the American Hospital Association (AHA) was warned by their president Dick Davidson in 1996 that the public was beginning to notice the "thinness" of nurse staffing. Davidson said at the time that "Patients suffered, literally, because medications and vital, comforting services were delayed, confused or forgotten." In commentary, we find it appalling that hospitals are cutting nursing staff as a way to increase profits. When patient safety becomes secondary to the bottom line, serious doubts arise about the intelligence and integrity of the people making those decisions. There is no greater responsibility in any health care system than the safety of the patient. Painkillers Do Not Relieve Workout SorenessThe July, 2000 issue of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation reports that pain relievers do little, if anything, to ease the common muscle soreness that occurs from working out too hard. Researchers found that treatment with aspirin, acetaminophen and codeine did nothing to relieve post-workout soreness that normally occurs after working a muscle to exhaustion. The drugs also did nothing to help the delayed-onset soreness that occurs the morning after too much exertion. The authors go on to say, "only time takes away the pain." We are curious as to how much money was spent on this research that could have been spent elsewhere. Babies Born Just A Few Weeks Too Early At Risk Of DeathA report in the August 16, 2000 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association says that infants born 4 to 8 weeks early suffer a greater risk of dying at anytime during the first year of life than full-term babies. According to the study, early births can result in serious neurological, visual and breathing problems with most of the deaths occurring in the first few days. Mild pre-term births are those that occur between 34 and 36 weeks. In the U.S., mild pre-term babies were three times as likely to die as full-term infants. Canadian babies born at the same time were 4.5 times as likely to die. Moderate pre-term births occur between 32 and 33 weeks. U.S. moderate pre-term babies were 6.6 times as likely to die as full-term babies and Canadian moderate preterm babies were 15 times as likely to die. According to the lead author of the study, Dr. Michael Kramer of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, "Inductions and cesarean sections at 32-36 weeks are not risk-free, and the risks need to be considered when clinical decisions are made." By way of commentary, presuming that "the doctor knows best" and asserting "it won't cause any harm" can and often does lead to larger problems. If we respect the time it takes for all natural processes to occur, whether they be the development of our children or our inborn, natural healing processes, we'll all be healthier for it. "Stapling" Hemorrhoids Linked To Long-Term PainThe August 26, 2000 issue of the British journal The Lancet reports that a fairly new technique that was supposed to reduce pain and recovery time associated with hemorrhoid surgery may lead to the patients developing pain up to 15 months later. The technique, known as stapled hemorrhoidectomy, is supposed to allow patients to recover faster and with less pain that conventional hemorrhoidectomy. However, according to the study, almost one-third of the stapled hemorrhoidectomy patients developed anal pain as much as 15 months later. Lead researcher Dr. Mark Cheetham of St. Mark's Hospital in Harrow, England says, "We believe that the high occurrence of long-term complications after stapled hemorrhoidectomy far out-weighs reported short-term benefits of reduced postoperative pain." In commentary, only one word come to mind: Ow.
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©2001 Virginia Institute of Chiropractic
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