Headaches & Chiropractic

If you have a headache, you're not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.

What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.

 

Research shows that spinal manipulation – the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.

 

A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.

 

Also, a 1995 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches and that those who ceased chiropractic treatment after four weeks experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in contrast with those patients who received a commonly prescribed medication.

 

Headache Triggers

 

Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.” These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems.

 

Ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease. The headache itself is the primary concern.

 

“The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck,” says Dr. George B. McClelland, a doctor of chiropractic from Christiansburg, VA. “Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.”

 

What Can You Do?

 

The ACA suggests the following:

• If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, on a sewing machine, typing or reading, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. The stretches should take your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.
• Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise. Engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.
• Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing. This results in stress at the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) – the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull – leading to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headaches.
• Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

 

Dr. McClelland says your doctor of chiropractic may do one or more of the following if you suffer from a primary headache:

• Perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your system.
• Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet and perhaps the addition of B complex vitamins.
• Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.

“Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways – not just back pain,” says Dr. McClelland. “They know how tension in the spine relates to problems in other parts of the body, and they can take steps to relieve those problems.”

Work Smarter; Not Harder!

Dr David Marcon

Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center

www.marconchiropractic.com

How to reduce Job Stress

I routinely tell patients that the source of some of their pain is stress.  Of course everyone has stress in their life but when a physical injury or illness meets a stressful environment the negative effects are magnified and treatment can be seen as less than effective. The potential also exists that the stress is the direct cause of the breakdown in health.

"Stress sets off an alarm in the brain, which responds by preparing the body for defensive action. The nervous system is aroused and hormones are released to sharpen the senses, quicken the pulse, deepen respiration, and tense the muscles. This response (sometimes called the fight or flight response) is important because it helps us defend against threatening situations. The response is preprogrammed biologically. Everyone responds in much the same way, regardless of whether the stressful situation is at work or home.

Short-lived or infrequent episodes of stress pose little risk. But when stressful situations go unresolved, the body is kept in a constant state of activation, which increases the rate of wear and tear to biological systems. Ultimately, fatigue or damage results, and the ability of the body to repair and defend itself can become seriously compromised. As a result, the risk of injury or disease escalates."

Read the entire article: "Stress...at Work"  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Work Smarter; Not Harder!

Dr. David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Cincinnati Ohio 45255
www.marconchiropractic.com 

Proton-Beam Treatment for Prostate Tumors No Better Than Radiation

In a finding likely to add fuel to the debate over treatments for prostate cancer, proton-beam therapy provided no long-term benefit over traditional radiation despite far higher costs, according to a study of 30,000 Medicare beneficiaries published Thursday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The main emphasis of this article and my main reason for posting it, is the cost of proton-beam treatment is more costly but the outcomes compared to traditional radiation are negligible. 

Critics long have cited proton-beam therapy as a costly new technology with no proven advantage. Medicare pays over $32,000 per patient for proton therapy, compared with under $19,000 for radiation, according to the study.

But, possibly an even larger debate with greater cost, both financially and physically, is the over treatment of slow growing prostate tumors.

Some 242,000 men in the U.S. are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, and many oncologists and health-policy experts say the condition is over-treated  Most prostate cancers are slow-growing, so many men could avoid treatment and ultimately die of something else, experts say. But about 28,000 U.S. men die annually from aggressive prostate cancers that aren't treated in time, so most men opt to treat their cancers as a precaution, either with radiation or surgery.

 Read the entire Article: Wall Street Journal 12/14/2012

The future of American Healthcare is going to change and the cost of treatment in relationship to outcomes and side effects will certainly be on the forefront of whether a treatment will be made available to the masses.

More research on proton beam treatment will be required to form a policy for federal and group health insurance plans but those with the ability to pay will always have Proton-beam treatment as an option; but will they need it?

Work Smarter; Not Harder!

Dr. David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
www.marconchiropractic.com

People worldwide living longer, but sicker

43% of deaths worldwide occurred at age 70+ in 2010, compared to 33% in 1990. Although a smaller proportion of people are dying early, many more today are living with chronic diseases, pain, and disability.
The authors describe the world's health advances as a devastating irony: "avoid premature death, but live longer and sicker".

Read the entire Article: MedicalNewsToday 

At the turn of the 20th Century, the two leading killers of Americans were Tuberculosis and Pneumonia.  Today it is heart disease and cancer.  What this says to me is that we are killing ourselves!  The fact that modern medicine saves lives is irrefutable but it can not create health and well-being for the masses.

My personal keys to a long and prosperous life

1. Stay active your entire life with special attention to maintaining muscle mass
2. Eat a diet low in man made/processed food; high in fruits and vegetables, moderate amounts of protein and low in starches and whole grains
3.  Get 8-10 hours of sleep each and every night
4. Spend as much time as possible with out external stimulation and in complete silence (Meditate, Pray, whatever you would like to call it) I aim for at least two 20 minute sessions per week. 
5. Be very careful what you read, watch or listen to.  The negative effects of the news and tragedy can increase stress and alter sleep patterns.  Would you put poison in your mouth and expect a positive reaction? 
6. Never Retire!  if your work was really work to you, retire from that career but don't stop being socially and physically connected to the rest of the world.  Most people need a reason to get up and an understanding that others need or count on them.  If money is not an issue, volunteer but by all means get out of the house and among the living.  

Work Smarter; Not Harder!

Dr David Marcon

Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center

8136 Beechmont Avenue

Cincinnati, Ohio 45255

www.marconchiropractic.com 

Smoking Tied to Less Dense Bones for Girls

As if we needed any more reasons not to smoke.  This study was authored by Professor Lorah Doran of Cincinnati's Children's Hospital making it modestly more engaging.

Smokers entered adolescence with the same lumbar and hip bone density as nonsmokers, but by age 19, they were about a year behind on average. After adjusting for other factors that affect bone health — height, weight, hormonal contraceptive use and more — the researchers found that even relatively low or irregular rates of smoking were independently associated with lower bone density.

Read the entire Article: New York Times

How many young ladies that smoke in high school eat well, exercise regularly and have good sleeping habits?



Work Smarter;Not Harder!

Dr. David J. Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
8136 Beechmont Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
www.marconchiropractic.com

Hospital Wars: Consolidation of Care Already Costing More

"But the consolidation of health care may be coming at a hefty price. By one estimate, under its current reimbursement system, Medicare is paying in excess of a billion dollars a year more for the same services because hospitals, citing higher overall costs, can charge more when the doctors work for them. Laser eye surgery, for example, can cost $738 when performed by a hospital-employed doctor, compared with $389 when done by an unaffiliated doctor, according to national estimates by the independent Congressional panel that oversees Medicare. An echocardiogram can cost about twice as much in a hospital: $319, versus $143 in a doctor’s office.

Conflicts over the changes are numerous. One Florida primary care physician said he could earn a $5,000 bonus for keeping patients in the hospital for less than three days, according to a lawsuit he filed this year. Hospitals, which are typically reimbursed a fixed amount of money for treating a specific illness, can make more money if patients stay for shorter periods of time.

Last month, the Justice Department reached a $9.3 million settlement with Freeman Health System, a hospital group in Joplin, Mo., which was rewarding doctors it employed partly based on how many tests they ordered. Freeman says that it alerted regulators to the potential violations and that patient care was not affected. "

Read the Entire Article:  New York Times


Work Smarter; Not Harder!

Dr. David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Cincinnati Ohio 45255
www.marconchiropractic.com

New Studies on Older Endurance Athletes Suggest the Fittest Reap Few Health Benefits. Article

A fast-emerging body of scientific evidence points to a conclusion that's unsettling, to say the least, for a lot of older athletes: Running can take a toll on the heart that essentially eliminates the benefits of exercise.

Read complete article:  Wall Street Journal 

I have multiple blog posts that make powerful points on this subject.  Over-training, which is rampant in our culture and even emulated, leads to deterioration of our body physically, chemically and emotionally.  I personally lift weights once every fourth day for about 30-45 minutes and cardio/anaerobic activity (NO RUNNING) 1-2 times per week for 20 minutes each session.  This has enabled me to maintain a much leaner physique at 50 yrs old than I had by training 5-6 days per week for 1-2 hours a session 5 years ago.

If you find this confusing or interesting I recommend you purchase "Body by Science" by Doug McGuff, MD and John Little.  This book is the most complete and easy to comprehend compilation on the science of exercise, health and fitness.

Work Smarter Not Harder!        

Dr David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Cincinnati Ohio 45244
513-474-1111

How Fight to Tame TB Made It Stronger

"The World Health Organization's longstanding strategy for fighting tuberculosis is showing deadly unintended consequences:  By focusing for years on the easiest to cure patients, it helped allow TB strains to spread that re now all but untreatable by modern medicine."

Read the entire Article: 
Wall Street Journal-Friday November 23, 2012 

Though TB is not a disease that is currently at issue here in the US, it is very much a problem in poor and emerging countries throughout the world. Why so you ask.  Are the drugs not strong enough or has the disease some how mutated? The common answer is a little of both.  But, I would say that the greatest problem facing poor countries is poor sanitation and inadequate living space.  The US had the same issues with TB in the late 1800's after the first wave of Irish immigration.  TB and Pneumonia were the leading killers at that time. Not until the expansion of the population out of core of cities and tenement housing and the advent of more sophisticated sanitation did TB and Pneumonia deaths ebb.
The treatment of disease and dysfunction with medication is paramount in order to buy time to unearth and fix the core problems.  WHO has no doubt tried to improve the conditions that the populous of  these poorer nations face but cannot change the ideology of the politicians.  In the meantime, as the populations increase the diseases become increasingly hard to treat and more individuals suffer slow and agonizing deaths.

Lesson to be Learned: True health comes from Above-Down and Inside-Out.   

Dr David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
Cincinnati Ohio 45244
www.marconchiropractic.com

Patient Spotlight-Tanner Brondhaver

One of the great things about my career choice is that I get to meet people from all parts of life with a wide variety of interests. I would love for you to know about one of these special people, Anderson High School senior Tanner Brondhaver. These two recent articles about Tanner give you a glimpse of this special man.

Scholarship fund started in Sayre's name

Anderson's Brondhaver finalist for Straight 'A' award

Tanner is no stranger to adversity but he has worked hard to overcome these detours in his life but still finds the strength to help others. We are very proud to be a small part of his success and praise his Parents Paul and Lisa Brondhaver.

Dr David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
www.drdavidmarcon.com

Painkiller sales soar around US, fuel addiction

"From New York's Staten Island to Santa Fe, N.M., Drug Enforcement Administration figures show dramatic rises between 2000 and 2010 in the distribution of oxycodone, the key ingredient in OxyContin, Percocet and Percodan. Some places saw sales increase sixteenfold."


"The increases have coincided with a wave of overdose deaths, pharmacy robberies and other problems in New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Florida and other states. Opioid pain relievers, the category that includes oxycodone and hydrocodone, caused 14,800 overdose deaths in 2008 alone, and the death toll is rising, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says."


Read more...

Dr. David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
www.drdavidmarcon.com

Study finds some early breast cancer overdiagnosed

"A study in Norway estimates that between 15 and 25 percent of breast cancers found by mammograms wouldn't have caused any problems during a woman's lifetime, but these tumors were being treated anyway. Once detected, early tumors are surgically removed and sometimes treated with radiation or chemotherapy because there's no certain way to figure out which ones may be dangerous and which are harmless."

"The problem of overdiagnosis has been long recognized with prostate cancer. Darthmouth's Welch said it's also a problem in thyroid and lung cancer, a childhood tumor called neuroblastoma and even melanoma. He considers breast cancer screening a close call."

"The truth is that we've exaggerated the benefits of screening and we've ignored the harms," he said. "I think we're headed to a place where we realize we need to give women a more balanced message: Mammography helps some people but it leads others to be treated unnecessarily."

Read more of this article...

Annals of Internal Medicine/Original Research

Dr. David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
www.drdavidmarcon.com

Man In Full

Whether you are a sports fan or not, this article about Mike Powell is a must read. Powell, a former Indiana NCAA Wrestling Champion and High School Coach, is battling Polymyositis a rare muscle wasting disease. Despite losing his massive physique, Powell still is teaching young men what it means to be a "Real Man"

Man In Full, Sports Illustrated Febuary 13, 2012

Dr David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center
www.drdavidmarcon.com

Processed Food Vs. Whole Food: A Video Comparison

Most people have a basic understanding of the differences between Processed food and Whole food. But, most reduce their processed food consumption simply because they don't want to gain weight. The real problem is that processed food contains tons of additives that can increase the risk of disease and dysfunction within the body. Many of these additives are synthesized from traditionally inedible sources like petroleum.

This video gives us a direct view of what happens to both processed and whole food as it passes through the digestive tract.



Dr David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Center

Who Said it Takes 21 Days to Create a Habit

Nearly 2 months since the first of the year, we should be well on our way to realizing our new year’s resolutions. Are you still exercising regularly, eating better or getting more sleep?
It is routinely stated as “Scientific Evidence” that it requires 21 days to create a new habit. Where is the proof?
This mythical number may have arisen from the 1960 book “Psycho-Cybermetics” by a plastic surgeon, Dr Maxwell Maltz, who noted amputees took, on average, 21 days to adjust to the loss of a limb. From his observations he hypothesized that people took 21 days to adjust to any major life change.
This correlation between adapting to a permanent physical change and altering ones lifestyle choices is a major leap.
Realistically, there are just too many variables in play with most lifestyle changes to think that they all are on a linear path toward the magical 21 days.
A study published in The European Journal of Social Psychology showed that it took participants of the study from 18 to 254 days to create a 95% involuntary habit. This indicated a considerable variation in how long it takes people to reach their limit of automaticity and underscored the fact that it can take a very long time.
Here are some basics to keep in mind when trying to change habits.


1. One habit at a time
2. Start small
3. Give yourself ample time
4. Write out your habit and your goal
5. Tell others of the habit change, be very specific
6. Make sure you define your motivation factor
7. Understand the obstacles to the change and plan how to counter them
8. Missteps happen to everyone, stay persistent

Stevens at the point of Turpin attack

Mitch Stevens is one of our patients and I am proud to be associated with such a determined,positive and hard working young man.

Turpin High School point guard Mitch Stevens is being recruited to play Division III college basketball.

That’s all well and good, but Stevens has his sights on playing at a higher level.

The 5-foot-9 senior has aspirations to play on the Division I stage.

Stevens knows that accomplishing his goal is no easy task, but it’s something he’s willing to continue to work for.

And if history says anything about Stevens, who is sixth in the FAVC east with 15.1 points per game, Division I coaches might be wise to give the scrappy guard some looks.

He was cut from both his seventh- and eighth-grade basketball teams at Nagel Middle School. At 4-feet-10, Stevens believes his height hurt his ability to make an impression at tryouts.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

Dr David Marcon

FDA Cracks Down on Fraudulent Diet Pills

There is no evidence the oral over-the-counter products are effective for weight loss, says Elizabeth Miller, FDA's leader for the Internet and health fraud team. While they may not be dangerous, they're at least "economic fraud," she says.

Not to misrepresent that injectable HCG perscribed by a Physician is any better.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission announced today that they have sent seven warning letters to companies that make the products, notifying them that they are violating federal law by selling drugs that have not been approved and by making unsupported claims for the substances.

There are no FDA-approved HCG products for weight loss, says Elizabeth Miller, the FDA's acting director of the division of non-prescription products and health fraud.

I get faxes, emails and calls requesting that I consider selling this product in my office. I like to make money and would love to help patients lose weight, but not with a product that has no efficacy.


Dr David Marcon

More Opting Out of Mandatory Vaccines

The AP analysis found more than half of states have seen at least a slight rise in the rate of exemptions over the past five years. States with the highest exemption rates are in the West and Upper Midwest.

Dr David Marcon
Marcon Chiropractic & Wellness Cetner

Pediatricians Drop Families Who Fail to Immunize

According to a recent study, of the 909 pediatricians were polled 21 percent admitted they had dropped families from their practice for continuing to refuse vaccination or requesting alteration of the vaccination schedule.

The study also found the top three reasons parents choose not to vaccinate is fear of autism, too many shots, and fears about serious side effects.

At first glance, one could become polarized by either the families stupidity/stubbornness or the Pediatricians low tolerance of differing opinions. Neither party is harmed by the dismissal and much can be said for finding Physicians who you philosophically in agreement with.

As far as why families refuse vaccinations or ask for altered vaccination schedules, the suggestion that no relationship between childhood vaccinations and autism exists is somewhat erroneous. Hannah Poling, a vibrant 18 month old who regressed rapidly into an Autistic state after receiving 9 vaccinations on one office visit last year has been awarded $1.5M and an additional $500.00 per year for her care. Though many cases of autism are rejected by the Vaccination Court, this particular case was awarded based upon the existence of a hidden mitochondrial disorder that reacted disastrously with the vaccination cocktail. Being the First-Ever Vaccine-Autism Court Award of any kind does bring up the question of how many other children have hidden medical issues that would be best served with an altered schedule? With one in 58 boys diagnosed with Autism, there must be something causing this staggering number. Could it be strictly environmental? Does the doubling in the number of required childhood vaccinations over the last 10 years have any role in the matter? Genetics is not a plausible cause when given the spike in reported cases.

I am very glad my vaccination days are over. No boosters for my children who, other than some seasonal allergies, are healthy teens. For those facing the Doctor/Patient confrontation over vaccinations, do yourself and the Doctor a service, find a practice that educates constantly, respects your fears and tolerates your differing opinion. Everyone needs less stress in their lives.



Vaccine Wars: Younger Doctors Against Them

Beware of Geneitcally Modified Foods

RIGGED RESEARCH from NO GMO on Vimeo.

Though I don't eat corn or soy directly, I am sure when I do eat some package product now and then I will be getting a taste of Genetically Modified Corn and Soy. These so called Health Foods are a product of Coporate Agriculture and have been blindly accepted into our food chain with little regard for our Health.
Please read this article by Dr Mercola

Dr David Marcon
Cincinnati, Ohio

HGH: Fountain of Youth or Fraud

As the Baby Boomer Generation approaches retirement age (approximately 10,000 per day) there has been a greater emphasis placed on Anti-Aging. Experts believe that in the next 2-3 decades Americans will frequently live past their 100th birthday. But what has many Boomers concerned is the quality of life in those added years. With this as the backdrop, many are turning to unconventional programs and products to enhance their health and vitality.
One such product is HGH, Human Growth Hormone. For years it has been prescribed to children & adults with disorders affecting their pituitary gland and Athletes have used natural and synthetic versions to enhance muscular development and performance. Recently the benefits of HGH have been promoted as a potential “Fountain of Youth“for an aging population.

Produced in the Pituitary Gland, HGH’s peak production occurs during adolescence and is associated with growth spurts. As we mature HGH levels gradually reduce to a point where a healthy adult is producing roughly 50% of peak volume. HGH is secreted at various times of the day but the majority is released at night during deep sleep when the body is at its peak of cellular production and repair.

Signs associated with excessively low HGH levels in otherwise healthy adults are loss of bone density and muscle mass, increased body fat (especially in the abdomen) loss of strength and endurance, low energy, depression and loss of libido. With these all too familiar maladies, you can see why many turn to this non-steroidal hormone.
Much of the recent buzz about HGH as it relates to the aging process stems from a study first published in 1990. In that particular study, 12 older men who presented with slightly lower than normal HGH levels got high doses of HGH for approximately six months. The men added some muscle and bone density and they lost some body fat. But their blood pressure and blood sugar levels increased. In addition to these mixed results, no evidence was presented that the changes in their muscle mass and body fat had any effect on their strength, fitness levels, or quality of life. Other studies have found similar results.

HGH is attainable only through a physician and the cost of the therapy is prohibitive for most. Herbal supplements are marketed as safe and inexpensive alternatives, but like their pharmaceutical counterparts, little to no research exists to prove their claims.

Like many hormones, HGH in healthy adults is controlled by a balance of stimulators and inhibitors. With this in mind, in order to maximize your naturally occurring HGH levels without the cost and potential side effects, make it a priority to make these changes.




1. Cut Out the Processed Carbohydrates
Diets high in processed carbohydrates create surges of Insulin which negatively affects HGH release. Avoid white bread, white rice, white potatoes, sugary cereals, pasta and juices. Choose instead brown or wild rice, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, vegetables, fruits and beans. Keep the servings of even the good carbohydrates to ½ cup or 8 ozs. to maintain stable insulin levels.

2. Alcohol
In any appreciable quantity, alcohol blunts the HGH-releasing effect of amino acids and also suppresses natural HGH release. Using alcohol to induce sleep can dramatically suppress your natural HGH release at night. This includes products such as NightQuil which have alcohol in them.

3. Exercise with Intensity
Short intense bouts of exercise have been shown to stimulate a greater Growth Hormone response. Studies have indicated the correlation between Lactic Acid build-up (Burning Sensation) and HGH response. When we exercise beyond the initial point of lactic acid formation the body responds with sustained secretion of HGH.

4. Get Your Sleep
HGH production is highest in deep, uninterrupted sleep. Maximize your sleep by getting to bed and waking-up at the same time every day. Avoid external stimulation like bright lights and TVs which even at low levels can alter sleep patterns. Aim for 8-9 hours of good sleep each night.

5. Make Your Last Meal Protein
Proteins are rich in amino acids which help boost HGH production. Avoid Carbohydrates which produce insulin, the HGH suppressor.
I have gotten into the habit of eating 6 eggs before I go to bed. Hard boiled or scrambled, I typically consume 1 whole egg and 5 egg whites. Along with Beverly ZMA, this routine has improved my sleep.

Need help with your diet or training?
Call or email me.
Dr David Marcon
Work Smarter Not Harder!
wwww.drdavidmarcon. com