Hormone Imbalance and Addiction

Addiction is a demon that plagues many of your patients, friends and even colleagues on one level or another. The etiology of addiction is complex; as there is at least a genetic component, a behavioral factor, a social aspect and of course a biochemical piece. When treating addiction it is important to address as many of these as possible. Reproductive hormones are very closely tied to neurochemistry including modulating serotonin, dopamine, histamine and other neurotransmitters. A hormonal shift may create and can certainly exacerbate any neurotransmitter imbalance.
Estrogen dominance, a state where there is a greater influence of estrogen than progesterone on the body is alarmingly common in women of all ages. In peri-menopausal women, their progesterone levels fall many years before the decline in estrogen levels creating a state of relative estrogen dominance. One of the many actions that progesterone has on the body is to calm electrical activity in the brain. The primary mechanism for this is through the metabolite allopregnenolone which activates the same GABA-A receptor as Valium, Xanax and alcohol. Without the relaxing effect of progesterone, many women find themselves with new-found anxiety or insomnia and may self medicate with one of the above mentioned substances. Furthermore, estradiol exacerbates the situation by enhancing the excitatory neurotransmitters dopamine, and histamine. The combination of increased excitation and diminished inhibition of electrical stimulation is often enough to push many women over the edge and into addiction. Although women in the peri-menopausal years is often where we see this phenomenon, please remember that there are many younger women and even adolescents with inadequate progesterone levels that may predispose them to reach for an exogenous source to relax them, or shut down some of their overactive neurotransmitter activity.
As in many situations, too much estradiol (relative to progesterone) causes significant problems, but too little estradiol can also wreak havoc on brain chemistry. Estradiol inhibits the enzyme monamine oxidase (MAO) which is responsible for breaking down serotonin, dopamine and histamine and estradiol enhances the serotonin receptor function in the female brain. As estradiol levels fall to below optimal levels (as with anovulation or menopause), many women can suffer from anxiety and depression due to diminished serotonin, histamine and/or dopamine levels. There are a number of substances that enhance dopamine and/or serotonin activity in the brain including food, nicotine, alcohol, opioid pain medications and marijuana.Evaluating and treating hormone deficiencies and imbalances is an important part of a comprehensive and holistic treatment for addiction as well as the underlying conditions of anxiety and depression.

Colas and muscle problems

Here is a link to a study:
http://health.yahoo.com/news/healthday/toomuchcolacancausemuscleproblems.html

How does OKC rate on America's fittest city?

Here is an interesting article from Forbes magazine:
http://health.yahoo.com/featured/15/america-s-fittest-cities

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

The word is out thanks to Oprah, everybody is looking for BHRT. There has been a controversy for so many years now about the subject, but I have personally treated many of my patients with wonderful results that they can't believe how good they feel, after running around to so many medical doctors and finally giving me a try as their last resort. So when I see them they are usually at the end of their ropes. Many have reported that they have been told it is in their head, or they are depressed thus giving them the magic pill Prozac, Paxil. I personally use BHRT and I have seen the wonderful benefits of BHRT.

Workout

Here is a good workout that I have found that I really like because it works out your whole body,, includes balance and most importantly eacht ime you get done with one section you stretch. Very important!!! So for only 2o mins a day , no excuse, even in front of your desk at work or home you can do this. Go for it...
http://www.oprah.com/media/20080601_tows_tows_20071101_2

Iodine Fact Sheet by Dr Jay H Mead MD

Sufficient iodine is essential to good health. Although the primary function of iodine is in the production to thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland, many other organs require iodine for optimal function (1). Iodine deficiency is the associated with reduced mental performance (2,3), fibrocystic breasts disease and breast cancer (4,5,6,7,8) and is a potent antioxidant (9).It is estimated that 15% of American women are below the World Health Organization's classification for iodine sufficiency and this is conservative estimate (10) and almost one third of the world's population lives in areas of iodine deficiency (11). The most recent trend in the US is a 50% reduction in urinary iodine excretion between the 1970 and 1990 (11).The RDA for iodine is 150 mcg/day, which pales in comparison with the daily average intake of 13.8mg/day for the mainland Japanese population. The mainland Japanese consume on the average 89 times the US RDA and have reduced rates of many chronic diseases (1). In fact, the optimal iodine consumption level has never been determined (11); yet, the incidence of breast cancer is much lower in the Japan (12).In 1829 Jean Lugol, a French physician, discovered a method to dissolve iodine in an aqueous solution. This is known as Lugol's solution and has been for a myriad of maladies for more than 150 years. The collective experience of clinicians over this period led to recommended daily amount of Lugol's equivalent to be 12.5-37.5 mgs, which so happens to be the recommended dosage to maintain whole body sufficiency using the recently developed iodine/iodide loading test (13).

Neck Pain

Chiropractic and Neck Pain: Conservative Care of Cervical Pain, Injury
Your neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae. Incredibly, the cervical spine supports the full weight of your head, which is on average about 12 pounds. While the cervical spine can move your head in nearly every direction, this flexibility makes the neck very susceptible to pain and injury.
The neck’s susceptibility to injury is due in part to biomechanics. Activities and events that affect cervical biomechanics include extended sitting, repetitive movement, accidents, falls and blows to the body or head, normal aging, and everyday wear and tear. Neck pain can be very bothersome, and it can have a variety of causes.
Here are some of the most typical causes of neck pain:Injury and Accidents: A sudden forced movement of the head or neck in any direction and the resulting “rebound” in the opposite direction is known as whiplash. The sudden “whipping” motion injures the surrounding and supporting tissues of the neck and head. Muscles react by tightening and contracting, creating muscle fatigue, which can result in pain and stiffness. Severe whiplash can also be associated with injury to the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments, muscles, and nerve roots. Car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash.
Growing Older: Degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease directly affect the spine.
Osteoarthritis, a common joint disorder, causes progressive deterioration of cartilage. The body reacts by forming bone spurs that affect joint motion.
Spinal stenosis causes the small nerve passageways in the vertebrae to narrow, compressing and trapping nerve roots. Stenosis may cause neck, shoulder, and arm pain, as well as numbness, when these nerves are unable to function normally.
Degenerative disc disease can cause reduction in the elasticity and height of intervertebral discs. Over time, a disc may bulge or herniate, causing tingling, numbness, and pain that runs into the arm.
Daily Life: Poor posture, obesity, and weak abdominal muscles often disrupt spinal balance, causing the neck to bend forward to compensate. Stress and emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and contract, resulting in pain and stiffness. Postural stress can contribute to chronic neck pain with symptoms extending into the upper back and the arms.
Chiropractic Care of Neck PainDuring your visit, your doctor of chiropractic will perform exams to locate the source of your pain and will ask you questions about your current symptoms and remedies you may have already tried. For example:
When did the pain start?
What have you done for your neck pain?
Does the pain radiate or travel to other parts of your body?
Does anything reduce the pain or make it worse?
Your doctor of chiropractic will also do physical and neurological exams. In the physical exam, your doctor will observe your posture, range of motion, and physical condition, noting movement that causes pain. Your doctor will feel your spine, note its curvature and alignment, and feel for muscle spasm. A check of your shoulder area is also in order. During the neurological exam, your doctor will test your reflexes, muscle strength, other nerve changes, and pain spread.
In some instances, your chiropractor might order tests to help diagnose your condition. An x-ray can show narrowed disc space, fractures, bone spurs, or arthritis. A computerized axial tomography scan (a CT or CAT scan) or a magnetic resonance imaging test (an MRI) can show bulging discs and herniations. If nerve damage is suspected, your doctor may order a special test called electromyography (an EMG) to measure how quickly your nerves respond.
Chiropractors are conservative care doctors; their scope of practice does not include the use of drugs or surgery. If your chiropractor diagnoses a condition outside of this conservative scope, such as a neck fracture or an indication of an organic disease, he or she will refer you to the appropriate medical physician or specialist. He or she may also ask for permission to inform your family physician of the care you are receiving to ensure that your chiropractic care and medical care are properly coordinated.
Neck AdjustmentsA neck adjustment (also known as a cervical manipulation) is a precise procedure applied to the joints of the neck, usually by hand. A neck adjustment works to improve the mobility of the spine and to restore range of motion; it can also increase movement of the adjoining muscles. Patients typically notice an improved ability to turn and tilt the head, and a reduction of pain, soreness, and stiffness.
Of course, your chiropractor will develop a program of care that may combine more than one type of treatment, depending on your personal needs. In addition to manipulation, the treatment plan may include mobilization, massage or rehabilitative exercises, or something else.
Research Supporting Chiropractic CareOne of the most recent reviews of scientific literature found evidence that patients with chronic neck pain enrolled in clinical trials reported significant improvement following chiropractic spinal manipulation.
As part of the literature review, published in the March/April 2007 issue of the Journal ofManipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the researchers reviewed nine previously published trials and found “high-quality evidence” that patients with chronic neck pain showed significant pain-level improvements following spinal manipulation. No trial group was reported as having remained unchanged, and all groups showed positive changes up to 12 weeks post-treatment.