Another reason for mothers to take their supplements before and during pregnancy has been noted in a recent study on autism.

45,300 children born between 2003 and 2007 were followed up from birth to 2015, for the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers compared rates of ASD in children  from mothers who took folic acid (vitamin B9) and multivitamins before and during pregnancy.

The researchers concluded, "Maternal exposure to folic acid and multivitamin supplements before and during pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk of ASD in the offspring compared with the offspring of mothers without such exposure."

While this study doesn't prove these supplements reduce ASD, it's a strong link that should motivate mothers to take supplements, which are quite safe. The health of a mother is an important determinant of the health of a developing baby. Eating well and taking supplements can help both mother and child during and after pregnancy. Mothers should also try to eat whole foods and avoid sweeteners, processed foods, and additives as much as possible. Physical problems during pregnancy can be addressed with safe and effective drug-free treatment like chiropractic care. A health pregnancy, helps create a healthy baby.

As of the start of this year, Ohio's injured workers have to try chiropractic manipulation or other non-drug treatment for back pain before they can consider spinal fusion surgery. This is a good change in policy (more on that later), but are all non-drug treatments for back pain equally effective for injured workers with back pain? A recent study confirms that answer is NO.

Past studies comparing providers treating back pain have found an advantage to starting with a doctor of chiropractic, and the latest study came to the same conclusion. Researchers analyzed data for 5511 injured workers with back pain and compared the results of those starting with a chiropractic physician, medical physician, or physical therapist. Injured workers were likely to experience a shorter duration of care if they saw a chiropractor first. Those who saw a physical therapist first required longer treatments and were also more likely to have a relapse of back pain requiring additional treatment.

Unfortunately, it has been increasingly common for Ohio's injured workers to start with medical treatment like opioid painkillers first for back pain, contributing to Ohio's opioid epidemic. Considering the cost-effectiveness of chiropractic treatment, it's not surprising Ohio's cost for treating injured workers has been rising during the same period that the utilization of chiropractic has been reduced. The Bureau of Workers' Compensation's (BWC) new policy on surgical spinal fusions is the first step to correcting this problem that hurts injured workers and costs Ohio employers.

Why is Ohio Asking Injured Workers to Try Chiropractic Treatment Before Surgery?

Ohioans should have the right to choose the best treatment for their back pain. However, Ohio's work injury data shows that too often workers are convinced the best treatment for back pain is spinal fusion and the results are bad. Not only do a majority of these injured workers respond poorly to spine surgery, nearly half require more opioid painkillers after surgery than they did prior. And statistics show injured workers are less likely to be able to return to work after back surgery, rather than helping them be able to return to work.

Ohio's BWC cites these stats on surgical fusion from multiple studies:

• More than 50% of workers who received lumbar fusion felt that both pain and function were no better or were WORSE after surgery
  
• Use of spinal stabilization hardware doubled the chances of repeat surgery
• Lumbar fusion for disc injury is associated with increased disability, increased opiate use, prolonged work loss, and poor return to work status
• Fusion patients were 1/3 as likely as workers treated non-surgically to return to work
  
• 27% of fused patients were re-operated on
• 36% of fused patients experienced complications
  
• Narcotic/opioid use increased 41% in fused patients
  
• Fused patients died at about 150% as often as comparable non-surgical patients
  
• Surgical fusion for previous herniated disk is not better than non-operative treatment
• Some patients describe improvement of 1 or 2 points on a 10 point scale, but no functional improvement

Again, patients should generally have the right to choose their treatment for back pain, but surgical fusions have been overused with very poor results that are not communicated to patients. Spinal fusions are representative of what is driving up medical costs for everyone, with expensive procedures that cause frequent complications and death, often fail to significantly improve pain and function, increase use of addictive opioid medications, and prevent injured workers from returning to work.

Medical treatment guidelines for back pain recommend safer and more effective non-drug treatment like chiropractic be tried first, but due to systemic bias many injured workers were never provided this treatment option prior to consideration for surgery. If this spinal fusion policy is properly implemented, injured workers are likely to experience better results and employers will see lower costs as back pain is treated more appropriately with chiropractic treatment in most cases.

A study on maternal consumption of probiotics found there could be significant health benefits by reducing rates of preeclampsia and preterm birth.

Researchers studied over 70,000 pregnancies between 1999 and 2008, comparing those mothers consuming probiotics (as a probiotic milk) to determine whether there was a significant association with preeclampsia and preterm birth. They concluded, "Intake of probiotic milk during late pregnancy was associated with decreased risk of preeclampsia, and intake during early pregnancy was associated with decreased risk of preterm delivery."

How Can Probiotics Contribute to a Healthier Pregnancy?

The researchers theorized that the positive results may be due to an anti-inflammatory benefit from the consumption of probiotics. An exaggerated inflammatory response is suspected to play a role in both preeclampsia and preterm birth, so it is possible that probiotics could reduce a mother's inflammatory response to a healthier level.

We generally recommend including fermented foods or probiotic supplements as part of a healthy diet. Fermented foods include things like sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, vinegar, yogurt, and cheeses. However, if the food has been pasteurized (which kills all microbes), probiotics would have to be added back in to get a similar benefit. Click here for more information on fermented foods and probiotics. There is low risk of any issues with probiotic consumption, so including these in the diet during pregnancy is certainly worth trying.

Newswise — Arlington, Va.- A new study finds that female veterans—one of the fastest growing populations receiving treatment through the Veterans Administration (VA) health care system—experience improvement in low back pain with a course of chiropractic care, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).

Published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the study’s authors note that musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain are the most common ailments among female veterans. They also report that female veterans on average access VA medical care more frequently than male veterans, have a higher outpatient cost per patient and have a higher rate of service-connected disability.

Chiropractic services are one of the conservative (non-drug) treatment options for pain offered in the VA. They are available at half of the major VA medical facilities in the United States. “Chiropractic’s non-drug, non-addictive and noninvasive approach to pain management can help alleviate disabling pain and improve function,” says ACA President David Herd, DC. “That’s why chiropractors are an important part of the health care team in the VA.”

The VA has been under fire lately for the overuse of opioid painkillers, leading to higher rates of addiction and overdose death for veterans. Now there is more of an effort to emphasize non-drug treatments like chiropractic first for pain to avoid opioid abuse. The VA has expanded the coverage of this care to chiropractic clinics rather than just VA facilities. All veterans, both male and female, should request chiropractic care at a local clinic for their aches and pains.

Info provided by ACA.

With significant physical changes during pregnancy can come a lot pain or discomfort, leading many moms to consider chiropractic during pregnancy. When pregnant, pain is most commonly noted through the back and pelvis, but may be felt down the legs or through the neck, shoulders, and head. Chiropractic care is a great option for pain relief and improved health during pregnancy and has minimal risk compared to other common treatment options.

Here are 5 benefits of using chiropractic care during pregnancy:

1. Less pain. Back pain is common in pregnancy, and chiropractic treatment appears to be similarly effective for pregnancy-related pains as it is for other patients. Not only does less pain feel better, but it can also help reduce the stress and anxiety that tend to come with it.

2. Less risk to the child. All medications carry some risks and a developing child is at much greater risk of side effects than an adult mother. Even Tylenol (acetaminophen), which had been the go-to medication for pain in pregnancy, has now been linked to higher risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the child. By reducing discomfort, non-drug treatments like chiropractic can help reduce or eliminate the need for medication use by the mother, reducing risks of all kinds of potential side effects.

3. Shorter labor/delivery. A comparison of those using or not using chiropractic during pregnancy, found a significant reduction in average labor time with chiropractic patients, reducing stress on mother and child. Shorter labor time is associated with fewer medical interventions. Chiropractic adjustments may assist in helping the pelvis naturally prepare for delivery.

4. Healthier mom. While chiropractic adjusting and treatments generally focus on reducing discomfort, they may also help reduce related issues like shortness of breath, indigestion, and bowel problems. Nutrition coaching and lifestyle modifications are often used to address other issues as well. By reducing pain and improving function during pregnancy, chiropractic can also help increase healthy activity and the added benefits that come with it.

5. Healthier child. A healthier mom, with less pain, on less medication, under less stress, and experiencing an easier delivery increases the likelihood of a healthy child.

To avoid the risks of medication alone for the developing child, it's worth trying non-drug treatments like chiropractic manipulation to relieve pain. However, as noted above, there are a number of potential benefits to mom and baby when using chiropractic care during pregnancy.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be a difficult problem for children and adults, but recent research has confirmed the benefit of avoiding inflammatory foods like sugar and grains.

Conventional Medical Treatment for IBD

IBD conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can cause severe digestive problems ranging from abdominal pain, to fluctuations between excessive or infrequent bowel movements. These conditions are conventionally treated with medications and some diet changes to reduce flare-ups of symptoms. Because of the common risks associated with immunosupressive medications (medications that reduce the strength of the immune system), researchers studied the effectiveness of dietary changes alone for children with mild to moderate IBD.

Less Inflammatory Food = Less IBD

Researchers found that dietary changes alone (without the use of medication) could induce remission in children with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. "This diet removes proinflammatory carbohydrates such as simple sugars and sweeteners (honey excepted), starches, grains, some legumes, and all dairy products other than hard cheese and yogurt fermented for 24 hours."

Sugars and sweeteners are well known to be inflammatory, but many patients and even health care providers don't realize that grains are also inflammatory regardless of their gluten content. The diet studied is similar to a paleo diet which focuses on whole unprocessed foods including vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, good quality meats (pasture-raised), and healthy fats.

Avoiding inflammatory foods in favor of real whole foods can produce great health benefits and is a good place to start for anyone experiencing digestive problems. Whether you have IBD or not, try eating an anti-inflammation diet that avoids sugars and grains to improve your health.

Experts are increasingly recommending a new way of treating painful musculoskeletal conditions to avoid opioid painkillers - trying conservative non-drug treatment like chiropractic first, before even over the counter pain relievers (which are riskier and less effective than long assumed).

Chiropractic Recommended as an Alternative to Opioids
Consumer Reports published an article on chiropractic as a safe and effective alternative to medication for back pain. Their survey of more than 3,500 back-pain sufferers concluded, “Nearly 90 percent of people who tried spinal manipulation found it helpful.” They also cited a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found chiropractic manipulation to be safe and effective.
 
Hospitals & Chiropractic?
Hospitals will be educating more patients on non-drug pain treatments like chiropractic and looking to connect patients with more of these safe options. The Joint Commission (which accredits US hospitals) released a new standard requiring hospitals to provide education and access to non-drug options for pain, including chiropractic and acupuncture, effective January 1, 2018. The Joint Commission had been blamed for forcing hospitals to over-medicate with painkillers, but now patients will have safer options like chiropractic available in the hospital or by referral.


State & National Leaders Recommend Better Chiropractic Coverage
As more experts recommend chiropractic as a safer alternative to opioids, the need for better coverage of chiropractic treatment is clear. While most insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid, VA, Workers' Compensation, etc. cover some chiropractic services, many plans still cover dangerous opioid painkillers better than chiropractic.

Leaders are looking for solutions to improve chiropractic coverage. Attorneys General from 37 states submitted a letter to insurers requesting better coverage of non-drug treatment options including chiropractic. The President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis recommended Medicare and private insurers remove cost-prohibitive restrictions for chiropractic and other alternatives to opioids. Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor has also released a plan to combat Ohio's opioid epidemic that includes better coverage of chiropractic care.

We will see a quicker end to Ohio's opioid epidemic if more Ohioans start with non-drug treatment like chiropractic first for their pains. Tell your friends and family to start with chiropractic, and try to keep opioids out of the house whenever possible, or they may fall into vulnerable hands.

We've written before about why whole fat dairy foods are generally a healthier choice than processed low fat dairy foods, and now a recent study provides another reason to consider avoiding low fat dairy: increased risk of Parkinson's disease.

"Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. But while a tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson's disease, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show little or no expression, or your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time." - Mayo Clinic

Researchers looked at dairy intake and Parkinson's disease, analyzing data of over 120,000 Americans for about 25 years. There was no link between full fat or whole dairy products and the disease. However, consuming three daily servings of skim or low-fat dairy products increased the risk of developing Parkinson's by 34% (from 0.6% to 1%). Researchers speculated why this may be, but do not really know.

Low fat dairy linked to health problems

Prior research has already linked low fat dairy consumption to weight gain, insulin resistance (diabetes), and infertility. Though the increase in Parkinson's was not huge with low fat dairy (due to the low risk of the disease in general), it provides one more reason to consider avoiding low fat dairy. Processing foods only tends to make foods less healthy, not more healthy. In this case, removing the fats removes healthy nutrients and concentrates the sugars. We recommend eating the least processed whole foods for better health, so choose the least processed whole milk, yogurt, and cheese you can find (as long as your body can handle dairy).

Check out our milk infographic to learn more about the difference between full fat and low fat dairy.

Ohio's 2016 opioid overdose numbers are in and it's not pretty. The Columbus Dispatch reports that drug overdose deaths have hit a new record in 2016: 4,149. That's a 30% increase in deaths from an already dismal 2015 that counted 3,050 Ohioans dead. Even worse - county coroners report 2017 is already outpacing 2016.

While Ohio has increased access to overdose antidote medications and is throwing millions at a hunt for new alternative pain medications, nothing is being done to effectively address the real problem - reducing pain without drugs and without surgery that leads to more drugs. When drugs are seen as the answer for every problem, it's easier to stumble down the path to addiction. Research shows those areas with more chiropractic physicians and more chiropractic usage have lower rates of opioid usage. Yet, insurance coverage can often make it cheaper and easier to get pain pills instead of chiropractic care. Share this message with friends and family to help them avoid the worst.

Doctors Still Over-prescribing Opioids For Back Pain

You would think that the mounting rates of addiction and death would encourage doctors to avoid prescribing so many opioids for pain, especially when safer non-drug treatments are recommended by guidelines and readily available. Yet, public radio reports on a survey of medical doctors that found their most common treatment for back pain is OPIOID pain medication!

"When people do go to a doctor, the treatment most commonly recommended to survey participants was prescription painkillers, at 40 percent. That includes opioids, which are overprescribed and have fueled the nation's epidemic of opioid dependence, addiction and overdose deaths...The current advice is stay active and try non-pharmaceutical remedies such as a heating pad first, before even Advil or Aleve, according to clinical guidelines published in April by the American College of Physicians. Those guidelines also said there's evidence of benefits from massage, acupuncture or chiropractic."

FDA Recommends Pain Doctors Learn About Chiropractic

Recognizing health providers' lack of education about chiropractic and appropriate pain management treatments, the Federal Drug Administration released the Education Blueprint for Health Providers Involved in Pain Management. The Blueprint specifically recommends knowledge of chiropractic as an option for pain treatment. Prior recommendations had only generally mentioned non-drug treatment, so this shows another step in the right direction. Until providers consider non-drug options like chiropractic before drugs, it will be difficult to stop the opioid epidemic.

Ohio Attorney General Sues Opioid Drug Manufacturers

The Canton Repository reports Attorney General DeWine stated, "We believe the evidence will show that these companies got thousands of Ohioans - our friends, our family members, our kids - addicted to opioid pain medications, which has all too often led to use the cheaper alternatives of heroin and synthetic opioids." Research shows about 80% of heroin addicts started with prescribed pain medication. Drug companies promoted opioids as non-addictive and great for chronic pain, but as doses increase addiction takes hold and leads to sometimes lethal consequences. It makes sense to force the drug companies to pay for the mess they created, but again, it will do little to help the epidemic until we change the way we treat pain.

We can't wait for the government to figure out how to stop the opioid epidemic. We all need to help educate others about trying non-drug treatment first and save opioids for last.

While many patients with carpal tunnel problems jump straight to surgery for relief, a recent study demonstrated that manual therapy (hands-on treatment) can be just as effective for relief and improved function.

Researchers compared manual therapy and surgery for carpal tunnel in a group of 100 women that had experienced pain and numbness in the hands or wrists for at least one year. The surgery group had a decompression performed to release pressure from the carpal tunnel where it can cause nerve problems. The manual therapy group received hands-on treatment performed to the hands, wrists, arms, and neck, and were instructed to perform cervical range of motion stretches at home.

After 1 month, the manual therapy group showed more improvement than the surgery group. At 6 months and 1 year both groups showed similar improvement in symptoms and function.

The researchers noted these results indicate manual therapy may be a better option to return patients to work more quickly due to the better response after only one month. Otherwise, the hands-on treatment was just as effective as surgery for carpal tunnel.

Are you using the worst sunscreens for your children? Sunny weather is finally here and the Environmental Working Group has rated sunscreens based on potentially harmful chemicals used in them. Just because it's marketed for children, doesn't mean it's good for them. Banana Boat and Coppertone are popular brands that may include questionable chemicals. Before you slather a bottle of sunscreen on your kids, take a quick peek at EWG's list to make sure you won't be causing other problems from increased chemical exposure.

Whatever you do, don't fear the sun. It's important to avoid sunburns, but healthy sun exposure is good for you. Click here to learn more about healthy sun exposure and vitamin D.

While adult use of antacids has been linked to increased risk of bone fractures, these same medications have been used in infants without research on their risks of bone fracture until now. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that "new research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting found infants prescribed antacids to manage acid reflux, or spitting up, under age 1 had more bone fractures later in childhood."

Acid reflux or gastro-esophageal reflux (GER/GERD) are commonly thought to be related to overproduction of stomach acid in adults, or weak muscles around the stomach in babies. Doctors frequently recommend medications to reduce acid production in adults and now appear to be doing the same in very young children to control the symptoms.

High Antacid Use in Infants

Researchers analyzed records of 874,447 healthy children and "found approximately 10% of the children were prescribed antacids in the first year of life, including H2-blockers such as ranitidine (Zantac) and famotidine (Pepsid) as well as PPIs such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and pantoprazole (Protonix). A small percentage was prescribed both.

"Children who used PPIs had a 22% increased likelihood of fracture, while children who used both PPIs and H2-blockers had a 31% increased likelihood of fracture. Use of H2-blockers was not associated with an immediate increase in fractures, the study found, but there was an increased likelihood of fracture with time."

Antacids "Not Safe for Children"

Researcher also noted that the younger a child started antacid medication, and the longer a child was on antacid medication further increased the risk of bone fractures. The lead researcher noted, "With many antacids easily available over-the-counter for adults, these medications may seem benign...However, our study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting antacid medications are not safe for children..."

Avoiding Antacids and Fractures in Children

Spit up is fairly common in the first year of life as a child's digestive system continues to fully develop. Most cases are mild and should not require medical intervention. Reflux tends to be less common and less severe when breastfeeding children, so breastfeeding is a good way to avoid problems to start with. When breastfeeding, mom's diet may also have an affect on the baby's digestion. In children with more severe symptoms, there may be functional issues that could be addressed with hands-on treatment or diet changes.

Using antacids to prevent the body from producing a proper amount of stomach acid can also increase other risks, like infection due to reducing the digestive systems' ability to kill a "bug." Some reflux symptoms actually result from too little stomach acid, reducing the body's ability to digest food well, and allowing food to essentially rot in the stomach and cause reflux symptoms. It's worth trying non-drug treatments to improve the problem before starting on a lifetime of antacids. And it appears these antacid medication should rarely be used in children due to risk of fractures and other health problems.

Johnson & Johnson has lost another lawsuit relating use of their talc baby powder to cancer in a 62-year-old woman, with $110.5 million in damages awarded. This follows almost $200 million in damages that Johnson & Johnson has had to pay other plaintiffs for failing to warn consumers about the risks of using talc baby powder.

Talcum powder is made from the mineral talc. As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction, making it useful for keeping skin dry and helping to prevent rashes. It is commonly used in cosmetic products like baby powder.

Cancer & Talc Baby Powder?

Most would assume a product sold for use on babies for decades would have zero risk. However, the American Cancer Society notes there has been research indicating small but significant risks relating talc to cancer:

"It has been suggested that talcum powder might cause cancer in the ovaries if the powder particles (applied to the genital area or on sanitary napkins, diaphragms, or condoms) were to travel through the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes to the ovary...Many studies in women have looked at the possible link between talcum powder and cancer of the ovary. Findings have been mixed, with some studies reporting a slightly increased risk and some reporting no increase...One study suggested genital talcum powder use may slightly increase the risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer in women who are past menopause."

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is part of the World Health Organization (WHO) and classifies the perineal (genital) use of talc-based body powder as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

To be safe, it's most likely best to avoid the use of talc baby powder as a precaution to avoid cancer.

Have you taken a forest bath lately? Some research indicates forest bathing could be beneficial for your health. No, it's not what you think. Forest bathing, or forest-air bathing, involves taking a leisurely trip to the forest for relaxation and recreation.

Forest bathing helps COPD patients

A recent study on forest bathing looked specifically at elderly COPD patients who were taken to an urban area or the forest to take long walks. Blood tests performed afterward showed beneficial changes for those who walked through the forest rather than the city.

Other studies have indicated benefits to cardiovascular health and chronic stress from forest bathing. While there may be no massive long term randomly controlled trials to prove the benefit of a walk through the woods, it's worth a try. It's a safe bet that we can all benefit from healthy physical activity in a natural relaxing environment. Plan your next forest bath today!

Medpage Today reports on a Federal Drug Administration (FDA) statement that recommends against using codeine to treat pain and coughs, or use of tramadol to treat pain in children under the age of 12.

"The [FDA] cited concerns about slowed or difficult breathing or death, especially among younger children and infants in its decision to restrict the use of products containing these two drugs."

"The FDA also added a new 'Warning' advising against the use of products with codeine and tramadol in children ages 12 to 18 who are obese or have obstructive sleep apnea or serious lung disease."

No Codeine or Tramadol When Breastfeeding

"There is also a strengthened 'Warning' advising against the use of these products among breastfeeding mothers, as it may cause serious harm to their infants."

"'We understand that there are limited options when it comes to treating pain or cough in children, and that these changes may raise some questions for healthcare providers and parents,' said Throckmorton [MD, deputy center director for regulatory programs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research]. 'However, please know that our decision today was made based on the latest evidence and with this goal in mind: keeping our kids safe.'"

Choose Low Risk Non-drug Treatment for Children

Too often, we grab for medication that seems to provide an easy solution, but it's important to avoid falling for the belief that drugs are the answer to all of our problems. Our current opioid epidemic started with physicians trying to help patients with chronic pain, but it's now turned into a devastating mess. All opioids, including codeine and tramadol, should be a last resort and used with much more caution. Simple non-drug treatments are often just as effective without the risks. A spoon of honey has been found to sooth a bad cough as well as medication. State and national opioid guidelines recommend using non-drug treatments like chiropractic first for pain relief. 

Especially when it comes to children, it's important to use a cautious approach that starts with non-drug care first before trying higher risk opioid medications like codeine or tramadol.

A recent study of those consuming artificially sweetened drinks confirmed a link to increased risk of stroke and dementia. This study shows once again that sugary sweeteners aren't the only ones that are likely to be bad for your health.

Not so sweet?

With the risks of sugary drinks recognized more and more, consumers have been increasing their consumption of "healthier" diet drinks as an alternative. However, there is no solid research that has shown artificial sweeteners are any healthier than processed sugars. In fact, research has indicated artificial sweeteners may cause weight gain, increase the risk of diabetes, heart attack, and vascular death.

A closer look at artificial sweeteners, stroke and dementia

The authors of this recent study found that during a follow-up of 10 years, "higher recent and cumulative intake of artificially sweetened soft drinks was associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke, all-cause dementia, and Alzheimer’s dementia." This link persisted when the data was adjusted for other factors other than cardiovascular risk and diabetes.

With no evidence of clear benefit from artificial sweeteners used in diet drinks, and potentially significant risk, we recommend avoiding these beverages or foods whenever possible. There are plenty of other unsweetened beverages to choose from these days and don't forget the best drink ever made - water. Drop the artificial sweeteners and save yourself from the risk of stroke and dementia.

NSAIDs like Ibuprofen, Tylenol, and opioid medications have commonly been used to relieve back pain for years, but recent studies on effectiveness have surprised doctors by finding little benefit to these medications.

You know what they say about assuming...

Ibuprofen and Tylenol have been assumed to be first-line treatments for back pain, but few doctors or patients knew there has been little research to support their effectiveness. Opioids have similarly been assumed and promoted as a good option for severe back pain, but had not been well researched. Now the studies are out on all three forms of medication, and the results are not good. 

Tylenol no help for back pain recovery

Researchers performed a controlled trial for Tylenol and back pain with over 1500 patients across 235 primary care centers from 2009 to 2013. The use of Tylenol daily and as needed for back pain was compared to placebo pill. The placebo group on average actually recovered slightly quicker than the Tylenol groups. The researchers concluded: "Our findings suggest that regular or as-needed dosing with [Tylenol] does not affect recovery time compared with placebo in low-back pain, and question the universal endorsement of [Tylenol] in this patient group."

Ibuprofen no better than sugar pill

After Tylenol failed to show effectiveness for back pain, researchers reviewed 35 randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) looking for evidence of NSAID (Ibuprofen and others) effectiveness for back pain.  They struck out again. NSAIDs only reduced pain and disability as much as placebo, but provided clinically unimportant effects over placebo. Researchers concluded: "The magnitude of the difference in outcomes between the [NSAIDs] and placebo groups is not clinically important. At present, there are no simple analgesics that provide clinically important effects for spinal pain over placebo."

Opioids = strike three. Little benefit. High Risk.

It's hard to believe the death toll opioids have caused when there hasn't been thorough study of their effectiveness for back pain, but that is the case. Once again, researchers reviewed 20 RCTs of opioid analgesics (with a total of 7925 participants) and 13 trials (3419 participants) evaluating short-term effects on chronic low back pain. There were no RCTs for acute back pain. In half of the 13 trials, at least 50% of participants left the study due to side effects or lack of efficacy, and relief was so little it was "not clinically important." The researchers concluded that those who can tolerate opioids may see a little short-term pain relief, but it is not significant. "Evidence on long-term efficacy is lacking. The efficacy of opioid analgesics in acute low back pain is unknown."

What treatment is best for back pain?

The American College of Physicians (ACP) back pain guidelines recommend first using non-invasive, non-drug treatment like chiropractic spinal manipulation before resorting to drug therapies for pain. Other non-drug treatments like acupuncture, exercise therapy, heat, and massage can also be helpful. These non-drug treatments can be just as effective, and in some cases more effective than medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and opioids without the risks and  dependency. Never start with opioids, and think twice before reaching for Tylenol or Ibuprofen first for pain.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) released the latest guidelines recommending non-drug treatment like chiropractic over opioids and other medications. These guidelines emphasized non-drug treatments to be used first for back pain or injury rather than more commonly used medications, and especially before opioids.

One Ohio Injured Worker dies each week from drugs

With the opioid epidemic raging in Ohio and around the country, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Federal Drug Administration (FDA), and Center for Disease Control (CDC) have all recommended non-drug treatments to be used to treat pain instead of opioids to end the drug abuse and addiction. More recent studies have even found opioids to be less effective for pain that once believed. This combination of limited benefit and high risk of addiction has lead to an epidemic of overdose deaths around the country, with Ohio as "ground zero."

Try non-drug treatment like chiropractic first for pain

Based on current research, ACP Guidelines note that chiropractic manipulation, exercise therapy, acupuncture, massage, and heat therapy are all preferred treatments that should be tried first before medications. Most back pain will improve well with these measures. The few cases that don't respond may try medications, but injections and surgery is not recommended by the guidelines due to limited benefit for most patients and high risks. Opioids are noted as a last resort that should only be used in addition to non-drug treatment; never used alone.

It won't be easy to change decades of physician and patient habits, reaching for medication first for pain, but this is a step in the right direction. More and more medical guidelines recommend a trial of conservative non-drug treatment like chiropractic first for back pain. This trial should last at least 6 weeks and only emergency cases (severe pain is not an emergency) should consider more invasive treatment or advanced imaging. Next time you're hurting, start with chiropractic or other non-drug treatment first.

An analysis of New York Counties that restricted trans fats in foods (2007-2011) before national restrictions start (in 2018) found a significant reduction in heart problems with less trans fat use.

What are trans fats?

Trans fats largely result from processing that makes liquid oils more solid or shelf stable to keep them from going rancid. Think of margarine, which is manufactured from liquid oils (soy, corn, canola), but made to be solid like butter. The trend away from natural animal fats decades ago resulted in a trend toward highly processed plant oils and increased trans fat consumption. And heart problems have skyrocketed.

Unlike naturally saturated fats, years of evidence has clearly shown increased risk of heart disease and other health problems with consumption of trans fats. No level of trans fats have been found to be safe. Lobbyists have long delayed restrictions on trans fats, but finally the evidence is too great to ignore and national restrictions will start in 2018 (unless there is an effort to delay). This study now shows confirms that restrictions should lower the rate of stroke and heart attacks.

Eat the real stuff: butter, olive oil, coconut oil

Food manufacturers don't give up cheap ingredients easily. They have found other ways to artificially solidify oils through a process called interesterification. Sound yummy? We would recommend you play it safe and eat real fats that humans have enjoyed for thousands of years: butter, olive oil, coconut oil...