For you, my patient, I read. I read the medical publications almost every day. I do this so I can stay up on what is new. Everyday, people are working on publishing information to keep you healthy, feeling better, and living a longer happier life. Health seems to be the thing most of us don't work at until we don't have any. And then we want it all back. So, I read, and pass on the updated information to you. It is then up to you, to make your own decisions on improving and maintaining your health, based on science.

What is published in the medical literature can be confusing and contradictory. I am starting this weekly email so you can hear, not only what is new, but what it means in th ebigger picture of your overall health quest.

Phrases like, "people say", and "everybody knows", bother me. The truth is in  the science, not in what people think or say. To help you understand this confusion, I review many science based publications. I pick pertinent articles, and add a bit of what little sanity I have left to make it understandable in the bigger picture of your health. From this you to can say: "The medical literature indicates..." or "The scientific evidence points to...".

I have chosen to learn from people much smarter than me, and pass that infromation on to you. I hope you find it at least entertaining, and somewhat informative. I will include the article, reference and link to help you share these with your friends, family, and coworkers.

Dr. Mark

Disclaimer: the information contained in the comments and articles are not intended to diagnose or cure any disease or ailment.  Consult your doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

My Thoughts...

•  My son went to soccer camp at Northern Illinois. When I picked him up, they gave me all of his belongings in a huge, thick, black garbage bag. They told me to wash them immediately in hot water when I got home.
  They had an outbreak of bed bugs on campus. NIU thought they were brought there by some of the international students. This was 3 years ago. Since then the situation has become more serious. Beware of even hotel rooms. I thought this article would have some good information on keeping an eye out for the problem and preventing potential infestation in your home. They are kind of like head lice, no matter whom you are if you have kids in school, they can bring them home to you.

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• The article below discusses the fact that leg cramps are hard to treat. It does not offer any viable treatment options. Leg cramps are caused by multiple factors, so they respond to multiple treatments. In my practice, I have successfully treated leg cramps by using one or more of the following options: 
  • Adjust the spine to free the nerve is always the first thing to do. If the nerve is not giving its full expression, the muscles in the legs can be tight and prone to spasm and cramping. This is like a sciatic conditioin. Instead of having leg pain all the time, the tight muscle expresses itself as a cramp.
  • Most patients experiencing night or day leg cramps are dehydrated. Drinking more water can help. The minimum is 6-8, 8oz glasses per day. Remember, water is water. Water is not coffee, pop, beer, etc...
  • Lack of calcium can also cause leg cramps, particularly at night. Try adding 1,200-1,500 mg of calcium per day for woman or 900 mg for men. Take at least half of it before bed with some orange juice to aid absorption.
  • If you experience daytime cramping, the culprit is more likely to be a potassium deficiency. Add more fruits and vegetables like oranges and bananas to your diet. There is also adequate potassium in the multivitamin in my office. Gatorade also has potassium in it. The down side is extra sugar and artificial coloring.
  • Nerve Mobilization, as practiced in my office, has given many patients relief from leg pain. This therapy involves home exercises in addition to the in office treatments. Although not a wonder cure, I have been amazed with its effectiveness in many cases.
  • Stretching the calf and hamstring has also proven beneficial in relieving leg cramps in many patients. To accomplish this, I employ a new type of stretching which moves the muscle from tight to loose repeatedly. My patients report great success with this less painful stretching option. Other stretching programs can miss the fact that there are two calf muscles that need to be stretched separately. If you don't get them both, you're not doing all you can do in the stretching department.

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• Save someone's life!  Some is having a heart attack! Call 911 and get an ambulance on the way. If you don't know how to do CPR ask them on the phone. This article says, if you just do chest compressions, you are as likely to save their life as doing chest compressions with mouth to mouth. Please read it, hopefully you'll never have to use it.  In the event you do, I think you can save a life.

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• Tai Chi & fibromyalgia....  Tai Chi has been getting a lot of research in the last 2 years. It is a full range of motion exercise for the joints that are weight bearing. It involves balance and muscle strengthening, particularly for the lower half of you. The arm movements are great to maintain flesibility and the concentration required is a good stress reducer. Ia m getting my mom a CD on it to use over the winter. It has been shown to reduce the risk of falls in the elderly and increase endurance, bone strength and vitality. I have found this article interesting because there are very few effective treatments for fibromyalgia patients.  I am considering adding it to my personal exercise program and may possibly make it available to my patients.

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