Killing yourself with kindness

 Nice guys finish last? You have heard that one, but what about nice people die first? It's true. According to Dr. Gabor Mate', a palliative care physician turned addiction specialist, noted that in his many years of practice, those people who died young of chronic diseases were people who could not say no; those who went out of their way to be helpful, accommodating etc.

I'm not saying be a jerk. It was not those who helped their fellow man, it was those who had a pathological need to be validated. They usually had a psychological or emotional trauma in their life that left a hole in their soul that needed to be filled. Sometimes they turned to addiction, other times to self-loathing.

Physiologically, what happened to them, and what happens to all of us is the same-just more grand. What we have come to think is normal, is actually stress. Getting 3 girls out of bed, dressed (and keeping them dressed and somewhat happy in their outfit and hairstyle), finding something for breakfast, getting them to eat it; getting them to school on time; driving down the colossal mess that is Wheel Rd; getting to work, finding a parking spot, hoping staff makes it on time, dealing with insurance companies; repeat. This facilitates my sympathetic nervous tone (think fight or flight), increases cortisol production, creates tissue anoxia (no oxygen in organs and tissues) and creates central nervous system sensory disturbances (jacks up the nerves). Well, all that lowers immunity; degenerates the joints, eats muscles and shuts down the liver; raises blood pressure, cholesterol formation, abnormal hormone function, and promotes inflammation. In other words-disease; name a disease, any disease and at its core is inflammation.

Other than regular chiropractic care to reset the nervous system, reverse catabolic hormone production, undue stress on the joints and make you better looking; what can you do? Massage. The physical, chemical and emotional effects of massage are proven to fight stress and prevent disease. 

Best Gift Ever

It’s that time of the year when the Grinch in me thinks about having to spend money I don’t have on people I don’t like for crappy gifts they don’t want. Then there’s the “mandatory fun”; office holiday parties, those dried out things called cookies and heaven help us, fruitcake. But it’s not ALL bad, right? I’m sure some of us have a few people we can stand and want to give gifts to, right? I mean, it is better to give than receive after all.  This year, you can both get and give. If you buy 3, 1 hour massages, you get 1 free ½ hour for yourself (I’ve been asked, and yes it’s okay to keep the 3 for you and give away the ½), or buy 5 and get a whole hour just for you. Why massage?

Here’s why, massage therapy will:

·         Alleviate pain

·         Make pregnancy and labor more comfortable

·         Enhance immunity by stimulating lymphatic flow

·         Reduce edema (Swelling)

·         Relieve muscle tension

·         Improve performance

·         Fight depression and anxiety

·         Reduce scar tissue

·         Hasten recovery from surgery

·         Fight migraines

·         Promote healing

·         End stress

And above all else, make you the best gift giver of all time!

I’ve just been told by the editorial review board (wife) that I have to say a few nice things about the holidays too. It doesn’t really matter which holiday you celebrate or if none or even all, it’s a wonderful opportunity to spend time with the ones you love, eat too much, play too much and laugh too much. It’s also a great time to serve and help others; make your, (our) community a better place to be.  As been sung-‘peace on Earth, good will towards men.’

(I wish I could take credit for the following, but one quote is from the Pope, the other Wyld Stallyns.  I forget which is which though): However, no peace will have solid foundations unless hearts nourish the sentiment of brotherhood which ought to exist among all who have common origin and destiny.  So be excellent to each other. 

Awareness

For all of ya'll who have really listened to me over the years (rules out wife & kids) know I emphasize prevention. An ounce of it is worth a pound of cure. When I encourage you to come in for your bi-weekly to monthly adjustment even though you're feeling great; or when your dentist wants you in every 6 months it's not just because we like you. Well, I guess it is because we like you because we want to keep from having to see you 3 times a week again (or maybe it's because we don't want to see you???).

So unless you live in a cave, you know that October is breast cancer awareness month. So I'm going to aware you. Cancer aka neoplasia, is the result of meta & anaplasia; which is Latin for stress causes cancer. With breast as in most other cancers, the main culprit is chemical stress-genetics being #1. However, just because you are genetically pre-disposed, doesn't mean it has to happen. Take the watermelon seed. If you plant it in the ground, you get a watermelon plant; if you swallow it (or as in the case of my brother c.1979 stick it up your nose) you don't get a watermelon plant. That's because of environment.

When it comes to genetics, there's nothing you can do. But you do have control over your co-factors. The key to fighting breast cancer and other diseases is modifying your internal environment. We do that by controlling stress-physical, chemical and emotional.

1.Physical-Be sure to wear proper fitting, supportive bras. And avoid other direct trauma to that area.

2. Chemical-chemical stress other than genetics causes inflammation in your body. This inflammation then in turns fuels the fires of disease. Cut back on chemical stress by not smoking; drinking less; avoiding simple carbs, phytoestrogens, processed and modified foods. 3, Emotional-chill ;).

You won't be able to, nor is it even possible to completely eliminate your risk for breast cancer (doesn't mean don't try); so early detection is key.

Smoking Eggs

I just recently read where some 'Government Expert' has likened eating eggs to smoking. I wish I was smoking what those guys were smoking to say eggs are as bad as smoking.

Point 1: Smoking is possibly the absolute worst thing you could do to your body, next to stepping in front of a moving bus. It cuts off air flow, hardens your arteries and burns out your airways. This, in turn, causes numerous fatal and disabling diseases, and complicates others - not just the ones you think about like heart disease and cancer, but ones you really think about like erectile dysfunction. It even causes problems wouldn't think about like complicating the recovery from herniated discs and medications.

Point 2. Yes, eggs are high in cholesterol, but they are also high in protein, relatively low calorie and are full of numerous essential vitamins and minerals. (These are good for you!) So even though they are high in cholesterol, eating eggs does not necessarily cause high cholesterol. In fact, less than 25% of the cholesterol in your body is absorbed as cholesterol, the rest is made within you. This brings me to a few sub points:

     2a. The cholesterol in eggs is easily removed from the digestive tract and sent out the back door, especially due to the high levels of lecithin in eggs-a solvent that dissolves out fats.

     2b. Cholesterol isn't inherently evil in and of itself. It actually has many beneficial uses like forming the backbone of hormones. However, in the presence of inflammation and high blood pressure, cholesterol can then attach to damaged areas of vessel walls forming plaques-that's why they want to keep it low. 2b subpart I. Let's say your cholesterol levels run about 250 (and let's assume your BP is running north of 140/90, which is high). You are now a candidate for imminent heart disease. If you became a vegan today (cholesterol is found exclusively in animal products), that would bring your cholesterol down to 187.5ish; drastically reducing your risk of heart disease. But let's say your cholesterol is like 400. To stop eating animal products would only lower you to 300-still no bueno. In fact, most of your cholesterol is made from unused carbohydrates. You want less cholesterol, quit eating carbohydrates. Plus a few other dietary tricks like eating spices such as garlic, fiber (fiber acts like a giant sponge sweeping down your gut) and un-saturated fats (olive, coconut, other real nut oil etc).

          So, in conclusion, if you have high cholesterol and other heart disease indicators, yes cutting back on eggs will reduce your cholesterol. But, cutting back on carbs and empty calories like sugar and alcohol will do so even more. Smoking is still bad, but eggs are not evil.

Vote for me 2012

Now with all this electioneering all underway and stuff, I’m hearing a lot of people doing a lot of talking about Medicare/Medicaid and what needs to be done with them. Let me start by saying this is NOT a political rant; it’s a HEALTH rant.

However, given current need vs. funding, Medicaid will be bankrupt in just a matter of years and Medicare isn’t too far behind. Not spreading fear, just business 101. If you spend more than you make-you end up red.  Maybe it’s taxes, maybe it isn’t; but it IS usage. We are a sick, and sicker people.

Just this morning on the radio I heard the CDC report that for the first time ever, at least 20% of every state & DC is now obese. Not overweight-OBESE. Obesity is the new smoking, by which I mean the new leader in disease, death and disability and health care expenditures.

It’s the new leading cause of hypertension. Long time fans may remember me talking about the silent killer a while back. Many of you may also know that we are a DOT medical card facility. The US Dept of Transportation requires everyone driving a commercial vehicle to have periodic physicals to ensure highway safety. One critical marker is blood pressure. Not only have I noticed a steady climb in average readings, for the first time in 5 years I have had to DQ (not Dairy Queen) 2 drivers in 1 week. I’ve also noticed a steady climb in diabetes-also directly related to weight AND disease.

I believe it was Ben Franklin or maybe even Ben & Jerry that said “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” I can fix Medicare & Medicaid without raising taxes, physician pay cuts, death panels or shooting Mom-Mom to the moon. Instead of treating disease, let’s prevent it. How? Why weight (see what I did there?)?  Given that diet and diet-related disorders are the leading cause of disease in the US, we could all use to lose a few

But wait, you don’t have to be fat to have your diet kill you. Most diseases that plague modern man are caused by diet-induced chronic inflammation. Here is a partial list of conditions that are driven by diet-induced inflammation: aches and pain, fatigue, feeling old, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, acne, aging, syndrome X, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, Alzhemier’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, psoriasis, eczema, and multiple sclerosis. Even feeling tired and unwell is promoted by inflammation.

We now know that every meal will either promote or inhibit inflammation. Eventually, the combination of a pro-inflammatory diet, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, and stress will generate a magnified "pro-inflammatory state," which acts as the fertilizer needed to grow a chronic disease such as heart disease, or something less life-threatening like chronic fatigue and pain that leads to a life of misery. To prevent the expression of disease, we all have to address imbalances with our nutrition, breathing, exercise, sleep, and stress. For some the outcome can be life-altering. We offer successful & safe weight loss programs along with nutritional counseling and products.

Well, there you go, problem solved. VOTE DR. LEE 2012!!!

Susquehanna Spine & Rehab welcomes Dr. Matt LeMaster!!!

Any of you who have been in lately have noticed that Dr. Lee had a small accident and broke his arm. After a small surgery to install a plate in his wrist he should be good as new in a few weeks; as long as he is a good patient and keeps his physical therapy appointments, does his home exercises, and listens to the restrictions from the surgery and therapist. In an effort to provide excellent and continuous care for our patients Dr. LeMaster joined our practice today. We are very excited about him joining our staff as a tandem doctor. Wendy interviewed a number of Doctors and she was able to find a very qualified doctor, while taller but nowhere near as ruggedly handsome, but equally knowledgeable and talented; and even adjusts very similar to Dr. Lee. When you visit our office in the next few weeks each patient will visit with Dr. Lee and then Dr. LeMaster will provide the adjustment. They will work together in tandem to provide the care you have come to know and trust.


A little about Dr. LeMaster: He attended Marshall University and graduated with a degree in Biological Science. He then followed with his Doctorate of Chiropractic from National University of Health Sciences. Dr. LeMaster has worked as a chiropractor for the last 10 years in West Virginia and has recently relocated to the Baltimore area.


A note from Dr. Lee (really Wendy talking about Dr. Lee): Did you know you cannot "talk" yourself out of being hurt? I already knew this but temporarily forgot. I hear my patients tell me all the time, "I didn't think it was that bad." "It didn't really hurt until now." "I thought if I ignored it; it would just go away." So when I got hurt I tried the same thing I just ignored it, told myself over and over it's not broken. Well guess what? Your body does not always listen to what we tell it. You cannot and should not just ignore injuries no matter new or old.


Well I did break my wrist and did have to undergo surgery and a plate installed. The good news is in a few weeks that bone will mend and with physical therapy I will return to normal. The sooner you admit it's not going away the quicker you can get the therapy you need, the quicker you'll be back to normal.

Time

Time, she’s (ever noticed inanimate objects/concepts that cause grief are personified as females???) a tricky bugger. Whisky and wine improve over time. Your body on the other hand, is more like milk; old injuries-more like milk left out on the counter. If I only had a dime for every time I heard someone in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and on tell me that they’ve been fighting with a high school/rec league/drunken foolishness injury from decades previous, thinking it would just go away. Given that a clean fracture completely heals in 6 weeks- if the pain of an injury hasn’t gone away by then, it’s not going to.

First we need to separate pain from injury and disease. If you’ve heard this from me once, you’ve heard it a 1000times. Pain is not a disease, but a sign of disease. Just like the check engine light in your car-it’s not a broken light bulb, but a broken engine. Pain is your body’s way of telling your brain something is wrong and needs to be fixed. If something hurts-fix it! (no dear Liza needed).

Just like diabetes, infections or high blood pressure, leaving a joint or tissue injury un-checked just worsens the condition. When you are injured, many things go wrong. First, the part that’s injured stops working correctly, which means it starts to break down faster, which leads to degenerative joint disease, muscle contractures/trigger points and arthritis.

Second, injuries become epicenters that spread degenerative changes. Take a foot for example. You hurt your foot, you walk funny so your knee starts to wear out, which taxes your hip, which alters your low back, which affects your upper spine and before you know it, a twisted ankle in high school gymnastics becomes chronic headaches by 35 (true story-saw it with my own 2 eyes on a patient a few years back. Also-Google upper and lower cross syndromes).

Third, they change your internal biochemistry. When you’re injured, you start the inflammatory process. Only a small percentage of inflammation is pain, the rest is manifested by other chemical changes in your system. These mediators are the same as the ones in the fight or flight reaction. Higher blood pressure, altered metabolism, shunting blood away from and shrinking genitalia is a great idea when trying to escape the clutches of a saber-tooth tiger, but not so much when sitting on the couch watching the O’s blow the division.
In conclusion, that tricky knee from a football injury isn’t a badge to be worn proudly, it’s a sign you’re asking for trouble down the road.