DelVecchio Back and Neck Care Center

Your Weekly Health Update

Harness the Natural Healing Power of Your

Body, Mind & Spirit

Monday 02/20/2012

Courtesy of: Dr. Nick DelVecchio

Del Vecchio Back & Neck Care Center
7595 W. 66th Ave, Arvada, Colorado

303-422-3657 

Visit us at:  www.backcare4you.com

Chiropractic Care:

Canada has a government-run national health care system, and those reviewing this system, lobbied for the inclusion of chiropractic care. A comprehensive study reviewed all the published literature on lower back pain (LBP) and made some astounding suggestions. In a nutshell, it concluded that: chiropractic should be the treatment of choice for LBP – excluding traditional medical care altogether! Since then there has been an overwhelming body of evidence indicating that chiropractic management of low-back pain is more cost-effective than medical management, here is no clinical or case-control study that demonstrates or even implies that spinal manipulation is unsafe, and best of all, there is good empirical evidence that patients are very satisfied with chiropractic management. These findings also suggest that chiropractic care should be integrated into the full spectrum of health care and that chiropractic act as the “gatekeeper” for all musculoskeletal cases that come into the hospital.

Mental Attitude:  Don’t Gamble With Your Emotions

People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their emotions and their behavior. Unfortunately, too many people take their mental and emotional health for granted – focusing on it only when they develop problems. But just as it requires effort to build or maintain physical health, so it is with mental and emotional health. The more time and energy you invest in your emotional health, the stronger it will be. The good news is that there are many things you can do to boost your mood, build resilience, and get more enjoyment out of life.

Health Alert: Are Antibiotics Helpful for Treating Acute Sinusitis

An article published in the February 15 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, stated that most symptoms of acute sinusitis resolve on their own just as quickly without antibiotic as they do with. This trial examined the effectiveness of Amoxicillin 1500mg/day for 10 days. They compared two study groups (one which did not receive medication) and found that the symptom relief was not significantly different between the two groups. One of the biggest concerns is that we are over-exposing patients to antibiotic and creating antibiotic-resistant infections.

Wellness/Prevention:  How to Lower Your Sodium Intake

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released their finding and recommendations for daily sodium intake. Your daily intake should be no more than 2300mg/day for healthy individuals and less than 1500 mg/day for those that are at risk (hypertension, kidney disease and diabetes). The latest National Health and Nutrition Survey showed that the average daily intake for men in the US was 3266 mg. Forty four percent of the sodium consumed came from ten major foods: bread, processed meats/cold cuts. Poultry, pizza, soup, sandwiches, pasta mix dishes, meat mix dishes, cheese and savory snacks. Federal agencies here in the US are studying stricter standards similar to those in the UK; that regulate the amount of salt that food manufacturers, restaurants and food-service companies can put in their products.

Dr. Nick  DelVecchio

Your Weekly Health Update

Harness the Natural Healing Power of Your

Body, Mind & Spirit

Monday 02/13/2012

Courtesy of: Dr. Nick DelVecchio

Del Vecchio Back & Neck Care Center
7595 W. 66th Ave, Arvada, Colorado

303-422-3657 

Visit us at:  www.backcare4you.com

Chiropractic Care: Vitamin D Findings

A recent study completed by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, reviewed 19 trails and 28 observational studies, to analyze the effects of vitamin D. They looked at the effects of vitamin D to promote bone health and prevent cancer. It was found that 300 – 1100 IU of vitamin D combined with 500 – 1200 mg of Calcium daily reduced fracture risk in older patients. The findings did show that Vitamin D alone does not aid in the promotion of healthy bone nor does it demonstrate that it can reduce cancer risk. A final report will be published in the near future. 

Mental Attitude:  The Choice Is Yours

Your life is the product and result of your choices. You will have, and always had this ability. You can choose to let the current state of the economy bring you down or look for opportunities in the face of adversity and challenge. Choose to focus your attention on what you can do and what you will achieve. The way you choose to see the world creates the world as you see it. So, why not have a positive outlook on life, family and country to make things better for you as well as those close to you.

Health Alert: Smoking and Men’s Health

A new research study has linked smoking to cognitive decline in men. This study followed 7,000 people; concluding that long-term ex-smokers has cognitive decline similar to those that never smoked. Those men that had recently stopped smoking showed some decline (especially in executive functioning tasks), and those that continued to smoke over the next decade, had a significantly more rapid decline. There is also increasing evidence that smoking is risk factor for early onset dementia.

Wellness/Prevention:  Treatment for Prehypertension

The definition of “prehypertension” includes a systolic (top number) blood pressure (BP) greater than or equal to 120 -139 mmHg and diastolic (bottom number) BP values between 80 – 89 mmHg. People that fall into this category of prehypertensive are at an increased risk (as high as 63%) of developing hypertension in the future. To reduce the risk of future complications, the current guidelines recommend lifestyle modifications. These include such things as lowering sodium intake, eating a well balanced diet with fresh fruits and vegetables and increase exercise and weight loss.

Dr. Nick  DelVecchio

Your Weekly Health Update

Harness the Natural Healing Power of Your

Body, Mind & Spirit

Monday 02/06/2012

Courtesy of: Dr. Nick DelVecchio

Del Vecchio Back & Neck Care Center
7595 W. 66th Ave, Arvada, Colorado

303-422-3657 

Visit us at:  www.backcare4you.com

Chiropractic Care: Chiropractic Care and Creativity

Creative thinking is one of the greatest human assets in that it initiates new thoughts and world changing ideas. Creativity is the ability to generate ideas of both novel and useful form to a particular social setting. Innovative thoughts inspire excitement and unlock the depths of human potential. New research has shown that chiropractic adjustments significantly improve the creative thought process. Life would be dull, bland and stale without the ability to be creative. The unrestricted human mind has the ability to solve problems with new ideas that build off of the latest technology of the day. In fact, nearly every problem mankind has ever faced has been solved by a new, more creative way of thinking and living.
Mental Attitude:  Is This Weather Making You SAD?

Several factors contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and may include decrease of sunlight, genetics and age. Brain hormones are involved in the regulation of our mood and functioning. Melatonin is a hormone that our brains produce during the hours of darkness. It is involved with regulation of sleep, body temperature and release of other hormones. As with any hormone, the amount produced is important. People with SAD produce too much melatonin, disrupting our internal body clock leading to depressive symptoms. If you have had episodes of depression that clearly have an onset in fall or winter followed by remission of symptoms in the spring or summer, you may have SAD.

Health Alert: Sweet as Sugar

Researchers of a new study conducted by the University of CA (San Francisco) stated that Americans are eating too much sugar. Personal intervention does not work because sugar is addictive and can be extremely toxic to our bodies. They believe that some sort of societal intervention is necessary; this excessive use of sugar should be regulated the same way as alcohol and tobacco.

Wellness/Prevention:  Finding the Right Mattress

Good sleeping posture, like good standing posture, allows the body to follow the natural S-shape curve of the spine; by contrast, poor sleeping positions can strain muscles and ligaments and increase the risk of developing a compressed nerve and, consequently, back pain. Your mattress affects your sleeping posture.  It is a “good fit” if it supports the natural curves of your body, particularly the spine and knees. A mattress that is too hard, for example, will create gaps between it and your body. The result is pressure points that restrict circulation and interfere with sleep by causing the person who is asleep to move around to restore circulation. Extra soft mattresses may feel plush, however a mattress that is too soft may not give your back the support it needs. While mattresses wear out at different rates, it is suggested that you may need a new mattress if you wake up with stiffness, numbness, aches, and pains; you had a better night’s sleep somewhere other than your own bed (such as a hotel); or your mattress shows visible signs of overuse (it sags, has lumps, the interior is exposed). So when looking for a new mattress, play the three little bears and try several to determine what works for you.

Dr. Nick  DelVecchio

Your Weekly Health Update

Harness the Natural Healing Power of Your

Body, Mind & Spirit

Monday 01/30/2012

Courtesy of: Dr. Nick DelVecchio

Del Vecchio Back & Neck Care Center
7595 W. 66th Ave, Arvada, Colorado

303-422-3657 

Visit us at:  www.backcare4you.com

Chiropractic Care: Obesity and Disc Degeneration.

According to a study published in Arthritis and Rheumatism on January 27, 2012, MRI data showed that obesity is associated with an increase risk of disc degeneration. One of the most common medical problems that patient seek care for is lower back pain; a widespread cause of physical and emotional stress, loss of work, and a decline in quality of life. These authors found that for the first time, research shows that elevated BMI values are significantly greater in individuals with disc degeneration.

Mental Attitude:  City Living versus County Living

While city living offers many amenities and advantages not found in rural living, it might have a downside in the area of mental health. City dwellers generally are more socially stressed and are at a higher risk of developing mental illness than their rural counterparts. Although scientists have been aware of this, they did not know the reason why. A new study (Nature 474, 498-501) pinpointed two areas of the brain that seem to be involved in responding to “city” stress, the amygdale (an area that regulates anxiety and fear) and the second is the anterior cingulated (a region that is a more global regulator of stress). The researchers also found that although the two brain structures are separate, they are linked by forming a circuit.  These areas of the brain were found to be hyperactive in city dwellers and can cause mental illness.
Health Alert: Heart Disease Risk Begins Earlier Than Thought.

An analysis of eighteen studies confirmed that the differences in risk-factor burdens in middle-aged adults leads to greater differences in lifetime cardiovascular disease risk (New England Journal of Medicine, 01/26/12). This study shows that people in their 40’s and 50’s have a dramatically higher lifetime risk if they have one or two risk factors present. Practitioners have for many years, followed a standard of looking at risks based on about ten years in that person’s future. This research indicates that risk factors should be evaluated at the time of the visit and may show that the patient’s threat of heart disease may be as much as 50% higher based on their current condition. 

Wellness/Prevention:  Bone Health

On the very forefront of new bone research is science showing that thyroid hormone, leptin, insulin, and your blood sugar metabolism is directly linked to healthy bone function. This remarkable discovery places even more importance on maintaining bone health, density, and strength. Everyone thinks of calcium for bone health, but not all know there are vitamins that are necessary too. Vitamin D is critical for bone health because it helps the intestines absorb calcium, Vitamin A is important for osteoblast (bone building cells) and osteoclast (bone breaking down cells) production, studies show that low levels of Vitamin B12 are linked to a higher risk of osteoporosis in both men and women, Vitamin C is essential to the formation of collagen, the foundation that bone mineralization is built on and Vitamin K helps attract calcium to the bone for growth and development. Even better is that these can all be found in a well-balanced diet.

Dr. Nick  DelVecchio

Your Weekly Health Update
Harness the Natural Healing Power of Your
Body, Mind & Spirit

Monday 01/23/2012
Courtesy of: Dr. Nick DelVecchio
Del Vecchio Back & Neck Care Center
7595 W. 66th Ave, Arvada, Colorado
303-422-3657
Visit us at: www.backcare4you.com

Chiropractic Care: Cell Phones are a Pain in the Neck
One of the newest aliments to emerge from our tech savvy generation, is something referred to as “text neck”. This term has been coined by a South Florida chiropractor and results from excessive strain on the cervical spine from looking in a forward and downward position. This repetitive motion can cause headaches, neck pain, shoulder and arm pain and more. This is not surprising considering the number of hours that people spend each day using hand held devices. Remember; always use proper body mechanics and take frequent breaks for both your neck and eyes.
Mental Attitude: Having a Healthy Attitude
How healthy is your attitude? Do you have the kind of attitude that shows that you are optimistic towards life and makes people want to be around you? For those of you that do, you will be glad to hear that by exhibiting this type of attitude you are directly influencing your health, quality of life and longevity. For those of you that are not there just yet, there is still hope! The benefits include increasing your ability to deal with daily stress and activities, decreased limitations due to pain or emotional stress, a more peaceful and relaxed state of mind and better and longer lasting social connections. Life will always present challenges and frustrations, help yourself by having the right frame of mind to deal with them.
Health Alert: Street Drug Linked to Flesh Eating Disease.
The use of “Bath Salts” has gained a great deal of attention in the news lately. No, these aren’t the sweet-smelling crystals that help you relax or make your skin soft. They are one of the newest street drugs to hit the market. Many states are in the process of making the possession, uses and sale of this product illegal. However, as we know this does not stop people from experimenting. Like many other illicit drugs, people try different means of using the drug. The newest way is by injection, but it comes with some very big side effects. A recent report has revealed a case of a young adult patient that developed Necrotizing Fasciitis as a result of injecting bath salts into the upper arm. Radical intervention was required to save the patient’s life, including amputation, radical mastectomy and chest wall debridement.
Wellness/Prevention: Is Your Child’s School Lunch Making Him Fat?
Providing or offering junk food to children at school for lunch has always been a huge issue. Many blame the sale of junk food as a cause of childhood obesity. However, a new study conducted by Penn State University, concluded that this does not make a significant difference in the in the weight of middle school students. They followed 19,000 individuals (through an observatory study) from grades five through eight in 1,000 schools, both public and private for a school year. The lead researcher Dr. Hook commented that the study found no relationship between children that attended a school that sold junk food and gaining weight. This only shows that the school is not their main source of junk food. Health professionals and obesity experts agree that children need to hear a consistent message about healthy eating and proper nutrition.

Dr. Nick DelVecchio

Your Weekly Health Update

Harness the Natural Healing Power of Your

Body, Mind & Spirit

Monday 01/16/2012

Courtesy of: Dr. Nick DelVecchio

Del Vecchio Back & Neck Care Center
7595 W. 66th Ave, Arvada, Colorado

303-422-3657 

Visit us at:  www.backcare4you.com

Chiropractic Care: Spinal Manipulation Tops All 

According to results from a new study published in the January 2012 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, spinal manipulation therapy and exercises that patients can learn to do at home are more effective than medication for relieving neck pain. This holds true for both in the short and long term. The study enrolled 272 patients aged 18 to 65 years who had nonspecific neck pain for 2 to 12 weeks. They were randomly assigned to receive 12 weeks of spinal manipulation therapy, medication, or home exercise with advice. Pain, as reported by the study participants, was measured at 2, 4, 8, 12, 26, and 52 weeks. Patients who received spinal manipulation therapy or home exercises reported similar improvements in self-reported disability, medication use, general health status, and adverse events. However, patients said they were more satisfied with spinal manipulation than with home exercise.

Mental Attitude:  Strong Religious Belief May Protect Some from Depression

According to new research (Myrna M. Weissman, PhD, Columbia University), a strong belief in religion or spirituality may provide a protective effect against the recurrence of depression. The initial retrospective study was conducted 1997 and results were published. This new study the researchers examined the biological offspring of their original patient population. The offspring were assessed 10 and 20 years after the first visit by their parents. 114 adult offspring participated in is this study. Those who reported that religion or spirituality was very important to them had one-fourth the risk of experiencing major depression in the following decade than did those who reported no or low beliefs.

Health Alert: Go Nuts for Walnuts

Researchers from the University of Scranton (Scranton, Pa.), compared the amount of powerful compounds called polyphenols in nine types of roasted and raw nuts. Whether roasted or raw, walnuts win. They are loaded with the highest amount of polyphenols and they are believed to reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels, by improving blood flow, and by cooling the inflammation that’s been linked to heart disease. What’s even more nuts, walnuts are high in fat, but don’t necessarily lead to weight gain.

Wellness/Prevention:  Mind Exercises May Cut Dementia Risk

Scientists have learned in the past decade or so that the human brain works differently than thought. The brain can actually develop new brain cells, even late in life and continually form new connections among existing neurons. A study in Neurology, found that among 101 people who eventually developed dementia, those who frequently participated in one or more activities, such as reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, playing card or board games, having group discussions or playing music experienced memory decline more than one year later than those who participated in these activities less often. These hobbies build cognitive reserves and delay dementia as much as a higher education. 

Dr. Nick  DelVecchio

Your Weekly Health Update

Harness the Natural Healing Power of Your

Body, Mind & Spirit

Monday 12/19/2011

Courtesy of: Dr. Nick DelVecchio

DelVecchio Back & Neck Care Center
7595 W. 66th Ave.
Arvada, Colorado

303-422-3657  Visit us at:  www.backcare4you.com

Chiropractic Care: Do You Suffer From Migraines? They’re relatively common, affecting an estimated 10% of the population. What can be done to relieve them? According to a recent study, chiropractic care may hold the answer. One hundred and twenty-seven migraine patients (with at least one migraine per month) were divided into two groups for comparison. Group 1 received chiropractic adjustments at specific vertebral subluxations determined by the treating practitioner; Group 2 served as controls and received no treatment. Subjects receiving chiropractic adjustments reported substantial improvement in migraine frequency, duration and disability two months of treatment. One in five participants reported a 90% reduction in migraines, and half reported significant improvement in migraine severity.

Mental Attitude:  Mindfulness To Reduce Pain

A recent study has shown that a mindfulness-based group therapy intervention produced significant and durable relief for patients with inflammatory rheumatoid joint diseases. The authors hypothesized that it might help patients cope with chronic joint pain. The treatment sessions, which were facilitated by healthcare professionals trained in mindfulness techniques, addressed particular topics, such as recognizing individual limitations, and strong emotions, such as anger, joy, and sorrow. Participants were also given creative exercises, such as guided imagery, music, and drawing, and they shared their experiences with other members of the group. Promising effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction have been documented and follow-up has shown that participants in the intervention group significantly increased their emotional processing, compared with control groups.

Health Alert: New Years Resolution

The American Lung Association reports that six out of ten smokers require multiple attempts before successfully kicking the habit.  Quitting smoking is the single most important step smokers can take to improve their health. These are some tips to help you succeed: Pick your quit day a few weeks ahead of time, mark it on the calendar and try to choose a quit day when you won’t be under a great deal of stress. Exercise daily. This will help improve your energy levels and mood, as well as help prevent weight gain. And finally, ask for support from family, friends and co-workers or consider joining a stop-smoking program so that you don’t have to quit alone.

Wellness/Prevention:  Communication

Ask 10 happily married couples why their relationships work. No doubt you’ll hear a common phrase offered as the key ingredient: communication. It is vital to all human relationships, whether between husband and wife, employer and employee, or doctor and patient. The relationship between the physician and the patient is especially important because life-and-death issues may be involved. A recent study showed that there are communication problems that contribute to a delay in diagnosis and treatment can prove fatal. Race, ethnicity and gender have been cited as important barriers affecting patient-physician communication and they emphasized the need for improved cross-cultural communication between primary care physicians and patients.

Dr. Nick  DelVecchio

No matter what our kids
and the new generation think about us,

WE ARE AWESOME !!!

OUR Lives are LIVING PROOF !!!

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE
1930s, ’40s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn’t get tested for diabetes.

Then, after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright coloured lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets, and, when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps, not helmets, on our heads.

As infants and children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes..

Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter, and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And we weren’t overweight.

WHY?

Because we were alway  outside playing…that’s why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. –And, we were OKAY.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes.. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem..

We did not have Play Stations, Nintendos and X-boxes.

There were
no video games, no 150 channels on cable,
no video movies or DVDs,
no surround-sound or CDs,
no cell phones,
no personal computers,
no Internet and no chat rooms.

WE HAD FRIENDS
and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from those accidents.

We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping-pong paddles, or just a bare hand, and no one would call child services to report abuse.

We ate worms, and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and -although we were told it would happen- we did not put out very many eyes.

We knew that are fathers had guns, and we knew enough to leave them alone, not take them to school to show our friends.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend’s house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn’t had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best  risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors ever.

The past 50 to 85 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas..

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

If YOU are one of those born between 1925-1970,

CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives  for our own good.

While you are at it, forward it to your kids, so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn’t it?

Should Someone In Pain… Get Up and Move?

Often patients wonder “Should I get up, get out, and move around?” When you have back pain, you don’t want to become the “Boy in the Bubble” –  afraid to move, afraid to live your life.  Get up and move!  Now the bad news: This means doing stretches and possibly mild exercises that we have recommended (let me know if you need these).

Start small. Start with the simple stuff! Like the stretches we showed you. Or a light walk around the neighborhood on a beautiful morning. The Apex Center, and Myers currently offer aqua-aerobics class’s designed for people who needs to take it easy. The bottom line: Get up & move! But if your pain has just returned…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, MY FRIEND?

Haven’t been in for awhile? This month, you can

get an office visit for only $35, by calling Paula or Corina at

303-422-3657. And…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT A PATIENT

CAN GIVE US…

…is the referral of a loved one. If you know

someone who could benefit from our service,

please let them know we offer the following

Refer A Friend Special:

They get an initial consultation, exam, x-rays if necessary

and their first gentle chiropractic treatment for the same

low price of $35. THIS IS A $185 VALUE, available to

patients who refer family or close friends.  Call Corina or Paula

today at 303-422-3657 to schedule an appointment!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Until next time,

Dr.Nick DelVecchio

Activities of Daily Living – Things to Do and Not to Do

1) Use care getting in your car. Do not stick one leg in and slide under the steering wheel.  This will twist your hips and back.  First sit down then swing both legs into the car.

2) When bending over to lift something, bend at the hips and the knees, NOT at the back. Hold the object close to you and lift with your legs. Concentrate on keeping your back straight.

3) Ladies, don’t wear heels over 2″. They cause strain and stress at the hips, knees, and feet.

4) Men, don’t carry wallets in your back pockets. This causes your hips to tilt and cause your back to curve sideways.

5) Always stretch your muscles upon awakening in the morning and before bed in the evening.  The best and easiest way to do this is to use the lateral bending stretch.
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart.  Keep your hips stationary and slowly bend to one side as far as possible.  Hold the stretch for 15 seconds.

It is not necessary to put your arms above your head as shown here.  You can just let them relax by your side.

6) Listen to your body’s signals of pain, tightness, and tingling. Immediately cease the activity causing the dysfunction and call for an appointment in our office immediately.

7) Never hold the phone to your ear by pinching it between your neck and shoulder.

Do only those exercises taught to you by our staff. If you are currently involved in an exercise program or signed up at a gym let us know so we can instruct you on what you should or should not be doing.  Exercises are best done on a firm surface such as the floor or a very firm bed.

9) NEVER sleep on your stomach.  This will cause problems in the neck and lower back.
Sleeping on your side is usually the most comfortable position.  Keep your knees bent and together.  Do NOT throw one leg up over the other.  Placing a small pillow between the knees will make it more comfortable.  Make sure your pillow is the right height to keep your neck in line with your spine.