Hanft Family Chiropractic

Helping people has to be up there for “most loved jobs” and mine is no exception.  Sure I see people who are hurting…headaches, back pain, disc herniations….but the prospect of helping them is awesome and I love being a part of that.  Just this week I’ve helped people with conditions ranging from leg numbness (from a car accident) to muscle spasms in the upper back to headaches that sometimes are migraine-level intense.  I take great pride in knowing that patients leave my office feeling better  immediately.

A recently published article in “The Annals of Internal Medicine” shows that spinal manipulation and at home exercises are more effective in alleviating neck pain than over the counter pain medications.  This is major news for many reasons, but first and foremost is that the power of chiropractic care is becoming more widely known to all health care providers.  This article looked at 272 adults ages 18-65 with non-specific mechanical neck pain of 2-12 weeks duration.  Each of these participants had a pain rating of 3 or higher on a scale of 0-10 with 10 being severe pain.  The results showed that at week 12, participants who received neck adjustments felt much better than those of the medication group, and those that did exercises at home felt better as well compared to the group that took over the counter pain relievers.  This improvement was also noted after longer periods of time.  For instance, 75% of the people who got adjustments felt improvement of at least 50% after 26 weeks and a large group still felt relief at 52 weeks.

The researchers ultimately ended with this conclusion:  ”Spinal manipulation therapy and (home exercise advice) led to similar short and long term outcomes” but “participants who received medication seemed to fare worse, with consistently higher use of pain medications for neck pain throughout the trial’s observational period.”

The take home message:  Science and research are proving that chiropractic care is highly effective and should be considered before other treatment options such as medication when it comes to neck pain.  Consider a trip to your chiropractor the next time you’re feeling that crimp in your neck or you slept on it wrong, or if it just hurts for no particular reason.

Best,

Dr. Hanft

Well, it seems that Mother Nature has finally brought us into Winter, and boy is it cold out there!  Better bundle up and keep warm.

If you’re worried about what’s going around “bug-wise” it’s been fairly mild but I suspect it will pick up now that the cold weather has arrived.  Better to be proactive about it anyways rather than reactive.  Here are a few suggestions I can make to stay healthy this Winter:

1) Vitamin C.  It’s a vitamin that acts as an anti-oxidant too.  Anti-oxidants are substances that can protect your body by destroying/limiting bacteria, viruses, and other harmful pathogens that get in your body.

2) Zinc.  Zinc is also a big player in immune function, enzyme production, and protein synthesis among other important processes.  Ultimately, it can help you stay well and protect you again the bad guys out there like bacteria, viruses, etc.

3)  Vitamin D.  Much has been said about Vitamin D recently, and ultimately the take home message is, YOU NEED TO BE ON VITAMIN D.   Vitamin D has been shown to help fight infections, prevent cancer (wow!), build strong bones,  and performs a myriad of tasks to help our bodies remain healthy.

4) ProBiotics.  These are “Good Bacteria” that reside mostly in our GI tract (stomach, etc).  These good bacteria help to keep our bodies “in tune” by promoting proper digestion and by out-competing “bad bacteria” thus keeping us healthy and well.  Recent studies,  some of which are in journals considered tops in the world, show that ProBiotic usage alone can decrease the incidence and intensity of infections in children.  These are powerful tools and should a part of everyone’s Winter regiment.

5) Chiropractic.  Chiropractic adjustments can help keep you healthy by improving your body’s natural ability to stay healthy.  Decreased pain, less stress, better movement, more exercise, more energy, and a host of other reasons who why chiropractic is important to maintaining a healthy body this winter.

Ultimately, Winter can be a lot of fun, and you should do your best to enjoy every minute!  With these helpful tips and substances, you too can have a great one and be healthy and ready for Spring when it arrives!

Take Care,

Dr. Hanft

Ok, this is not going to be exactly health related, but I feel it’s important to divulge something personal about myself.   I’m a college wrestling fan….no wait, fanatic!  Yeah, I love it.  And this weekend is a special one.  Every year, I try to make a trek up to Iowa, the home state where I grew up, to attend a University of Iowa Hawkeye wrestling meet.  I pick a “big one” that will likely be very well contested and attract a large crowd.  And by large, I don’t mean what is typical in just about every other state in the country, when I say a lot regarding the Hawkeyes, I’m talking in the range of 14,000-15,000+!  A typical meet here at Missouri will attract 1500 spectators.

This all started with my dad when I was a little boy.  It’s no secret that the state of Iowa takes wrestling very serious, but it was my dad who took me to my first meets and introduced me to Iowa Wrestling.  You see, it’s truly like nothing else in the country.  The fans are enthusiastic, the wrestlers are 100% dedicated, and magic that happens in Carver Hawkeye Arena can be Electric!  Needless to say, I was hooked early, and I’ve been going ever since.  Again, I love college wrestling, but words cannot describe my passion and excitement for Hawkeye wrestling.  I guess you could say it’s in my DNA!

I will be back in my office on Monday morning, adjusting people, helping people, and doing what a chiropractor in Columbia, MO does, but Saturday night, I’m going to be in wrestling heaven enjoying the intensity, energy, and excitement that this event brings.

Please forgive me if my voice is a little lost on Monday….I likely will do my fair share of yelling and cheering on Saturday night!

Best to you all,

Dr. Hanft

As a chiropractor in Columbia, MO, I am always on the lookout for information on potentially beneficial vitamins and supplements that may help our patients feel better and be more healthy.  Well, Vitamin D has caught my attention again lately, and I think you’ll find, after reading this, that you should be taking a Vitamin D supplement.

Vitamin D has gained notoriety and most people have now heard of vitamin D, but most still don’t know much about the substance and how it’s essential to our bodies.

Vitamin D is a lipid (fat) soluble vitamin.  Vitamin D plays a vital part in proper bone formation and maintenance processes.  In addition, Vitamin D plays a part in immune function, effects insulin levels, and recent studies suggest Vitamin D may be involved in cancer prevention.

By definition, a vitamin is something that is “vital” to our body which is to say it’s something our body much get from outside sources.  There are three primary ways that our bodies’ get/make vitamin D.  1) Sunlight  2) Food  3) Supplements.

First, most people have heard that sunlight and vitamin D go together.  That’s true, but what most don’t know is why this is the case.  Ultraviolet light converts a compound into vitamin D in the liver and kidneys.  Most experts suggest 10-15 minutes of direct sun exposure for proper formation of Vitamin D.

We also get vitamin D from certain foods.  Naturally, eggs, sardines, and salmon have lots of vitamin D.  Other foods we can purchase are fortified with vitamin D which means vitamin D is added during their manufacturing process.

Lastly, we can get vitamin D in supplement forms.  These usually are coupled with calcium, but they do not have to be.  The doses vary for products based on the manufacturer and recommended use of the product.

One fact that is surprising to most is that recent studies suggest that upwards of 90% of the overall population in the United States is not getting enough Vitamin D.  That’s a staggering amount!  The fact is that most people’s diets are not providing enough Vitamin D, and sunlight is something an increasing number of people are avoiding.  With all of this in mind, it becomes clear that supplementation is generally (but not always) essential to getting enough Vitamin D.

Fevers are an essential defense mechanism our body possesses, yet most people do not understand what it’s purpose is and as a result, most try to quell the power before it can work effectively.

Fevers, by definition, are the body’s natural ability to raise it’s internal temperature.  Why would our body’s want  to do this?  The answer to this is simple:  To make the body less hospitable to foreign invaders such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites.   These organisms function, reproduce, and reek havoc at ideal body temperatures, and increasing this temperature even a few degrees can disrupt these processes and even kill the pathogens.  This lowers their ability to flourish and thrive, and increases our body’s immune response by making it so there are fewer invaders to kill.

So why would anyone want to stop a fever?  That’s a very good question, and it essentially comes down to two simple facts.  First, anti-fever medications like Tylenol and Ibuprofen, are multi-billion dollar a year medications that are pushed to nearly everyone on a routine basis through advertising.  They treat fevers as a negative and dangerous side effect to being ill when the opposite is true!  A fever indicates that our body is responding to and adequately fighting an infection.  Taking Tylenol or other meds will lower your body’s natural defenses, and can make you more susceptible to serious infections.

The second reason why fevers are so routinely eliminated is fear.  Our society is fearful that fevers can lead to serious complications or even death.   While this is true, the incidence of this is extremely rare and should not be a factor in your decision to medicate.  Fevers are safe, effective, and are generally a sign of a healthy immune response.

So what can you do if you or someone you know presents with a fever?  First, keep them comfortable.  Do not overdress them and make sure they are getting plenty of fluids. When the body turns up it’s natural furnace, it will burn more fluids, and replenishing these fluids is vital.

If you have any questions about fevers, please give Dr. Hanft a call!

Wellness is many different things to many different people.  We each define our own wellness state and where we’d like to be, and we either strive for it or we don’t.  Chiropractic care goes hand in hand with wellness.  Although most people visit a chiropractor out of necessity (usually for pain or headaches), the true power of chiropractic reaches far beyond pain management and into the realms of wellness.   As a chiropractor in Columbia, MO,  I know that you have a vast array of health care options,  but you should consider chiropractic as a vital tool in your arsenal.   Let’s explore this a bit more, shall we?

How do I utilize chiropractic to help achieve wellness?  Well, first and foremost, wellness is dependant on a optimally functioning nervous system.  Remember, your nervous system controls everything in your entire body from your eyes to your toes and everything in between.  If you have a mis-alignment in your spine that causes nerve irritation, this most likely will present with pain, numbness, or improper function (frequent urination, weakness, blurred vision, etc).  The ideal situation is to have to have a chiropractor check your spine for mis-alignments prior to them becoming problems.  Think of it like dentistry and your teeth:  It’s far better for you to find a cavity early during a random screening than it is to have the cavity begin causing significant pain over the course of a few months.  Routine checks of your spine are even more vital than routine checks of your teeth because remember, your spine contains almost every nerve in your entire body!

Here is another way to think about it:  When you were young and you got sick, what happened next?  You went to your medical doctor and were prescribed a medication.  What if could have made choices in your life that would have promoted never getting sick in the first place?  That’s essentially what wellness attempts to achieve.  Through taking care of our bodies and maximizing our potential, we limit the opportunities for bacteria, viruses, aches and pains, and other problems to cause us problems.

So how often should I go to my chiropractor?  That question does not have a definitive answer because you are completely different than your neighbor.  Where you might require just a few visits a year to remain free of spinal mis-alignments and problems, your neighbor may require more or less.  Our health histories play an important role in determining how often we will need chiropractic care to reach wellness.  For example, having several car accidents in your past will likely mean more damage has been done and that will require more frequent check-ups to make sure your spine is correctly aligned.  An elderly person who has a history of falls will also likely require more frequent visit.  This is not unique to chiropractic either.  If you have a heart condition, you will likely see your medical doctor or cardiologist more frequently because catching a problem early is vital to successful treatment.  Chiropractic is no different.

Two quotes some this up nicely:  “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  Ben Franklin

“The best defense is a good offense.”  Anonymous

Wellness is something every person should be striving for, however, if it were that easy, everyone would be doing it and the fact is most are not.  The good news is that chiropractic can help take you in the right direction toward wellness.

Being a chiropractor in Columbia, Mo, I know this is topic on people’s minds, yet the concept of “wellness” is something many people know little about.  To many, it means buying organic foods at the grocery store, meditating or practicing Yoga, and pursuing other activities.  While many of these may factor into wellness, these are just activities aimed at reaching wellness.  Is wellness simply not being sick?  Or is wellness taking health to new heights?  There is no ultimately answer, but lets look into this a bit further.

The dictionary states that “wellness is an interactive process of becoming aware of and practicing healthy choices to create a more successful and balanced lifestyle.”  Let’s break that down a bit more.

First, lets discuss making healthy choices.  Diet is certainly a big part of making healthy choices for our body and overall wellness.  The saying “Feed the Machine” is 100% accurate in what you put in your body is what you’ll get out of if.  Marathon runners and professional athletes do not eat foods high in sugar, salt, fat, corn syrup, etc because they cannot perform at 100% on that diet.  Rather, whole grains and proteins comprise the majority of their diet.  Second, lets discuss exercise.  Science has proven that our bodies operate on a “use it or lose it” system.  If we live with hardly any exercise, our muscles begin to shrink because they are not used enough.  This can lead to other problems throughout the body like back pain, fatigue, and weight gain.  Obviously, these problems significantly effect our wellness state.

The previous two examples, diet and exercise, are what most people think of when it comes to wellness.  But what about the mental side of wellness?  Our muscles can be strong and our diet superior, but if we don’t take care of our mind, they matter little.  For example, millions of people with adequately strong muscles and bones suffer from depression that keeps them from maximizing their potential and reaching wellness.  How about the social aspect of wellness?  For most people, having social relationships on some level with friends, family, and loved ones is essential to reaching a wellness state.

In Columbia, MO, there is no shortage of health care options.  As a chiropractor, I realize this, but have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly there is if you’re suffering from back pain?   Back pain, particularly low back pain, is a serious condition and far more widespread than most people think.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that “low back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States.”  Several factors contribute to this extremely high rating including obesity, smoking, weight gain during pregnancy, stress, poor posture, and uncomfortable sleeping posture.  Another key contributing factor is sudden increases in physical activity and exertion.  This can include our favorite spring time activities like gardening, walking, biking with our families, jogging and some not-so-fun activities like mowing the yard, pulling weeds, and digging with a shovel.

So, pain might be a factor, but what’s the big deal?  Well, for starters, back pain equals big bucks.  A recent Duke University study concluded that the “total health expenditures by individuals with back pain was $90.7 billion in 1998.”  Obviously, this is a significant number, but what contributes to such high costs?

Spinal surgery with fusion-$30,000-50,000 per patient

Average medical and non-surgical back pain therapy-$7845 per patient

Epidural Steroid Injection-$1,000-1500 per injection

Prescription and non-prescription Medication expenses-as high as $3250 per year total

Average MRI cost-$1000-1500

Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a safe and effective spine pain treatment. It reduces pain, decreases medication, rapidly advances physical therapy, and requires very few passive forms of treatment, such as bed rest.  Recent studies have shown chiropractic to be as effective or more effective at treating lower back pain than pain pills and other traditionally medical approaches.   Conservative methods are what most people should seek first, and chiropractic is an extremely well researched and effective conservative treatment option for most individuals.  Ultimately, remember this:  If I can’t help you, I will tell you I cannot help you.   I believe strongly in doing what’s absolutely best for each patient who walks through the doors, and that means admitting when I cannot or should not intervene.

References:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus06.pdf

http://www.acatoday.com/level2_css.cfm?T1ID=13&T2ID=68

BMJ  2005;330:1233 (28 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.38441.620417.8F (published 23 May 2005)

http://www.phc4.org/reports/fyi/fyi24.htm

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/333/14/913

(New England Journal of Medicine found that patient satisfaction was highest among people who saw a chiropractor versus family medical doctor, HMO physician, orthopedic surgeon).