We’re Moving Locations and Expanding Our Therapies to Better Serve You!

We’re Moving Locations and Expanding Our Therapies to Better Serve You!

 

Dear Valued Patients and Friends,

We would like to express our ongoing gratitude and sincere thanks for all the support and trust you have provided us throughout these years.  The consistent first-class care we provide you continues to be at the forefront of our clinic’s philosophy.  Due to the growing patient demand to expand our comprehensive therapies and to help provide you with the best patient healing experience possible, we are relocating to a new healthcare facility come Tuesday August 27^th, 2013.

Please be informed that we will be relocating from 190 Wortley Road to the beautifully renovated centre at the address below:

Peak Mobility

(In Shopper’s Drug Mart Plaza at Southdale Rd & Jalna Blvd)

395 Southdale Road East

London, ON

 

Ph: (519)850-7321               Fax: (519)850-7322

 

As our valued patients, we have kept you as our top priority when considering relocation.  The new location has ample FREE parking, significantly more spacious treatment areas, additional leading therapy programs, and will be located a very short distance from our current clinic (by way of Ridout St. or Wellington Rd or Wharncliffe Rd) for your further convenience.

PLEASE NOTE: Our clinic will be CLOSED Thursday Aug 22^nd  to Monday Aug 26^th to facilitate the move to our new location.   We look forward to serving you in this wonderful new facility and thank you again for your continued trust and patronage.

Kindest Regards,

Spinal Decompression Centre and MVA Pain Clinic

 

 

Map Of Our New Clinic Location

 

Point Labelled “A” on the map below is the relocation site of our new clinic that will open on Tuesday, August 27^th, 2013. 

 

Journal of the American Medical Association recommends Chiropractic

Posted by Dr David H Mruz, July 19, 2013.

Perhaps a turning point has been reached. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has recommended that patients who seek back pain treatment should consider chiropractic care before taking invasive measures such as electing for surgery. The surgical option should only be considered if conservative therapies fail. According to the JAMA, conservative alternatives like Chiropractic care should be the first “line of defense” because they are safer and more efficient in relieving pain.

 

The JAMA’s recommendation comes on the heels of a recent study out of the medical journal Spine where sufferers of lower back pain all received standard medical care (SMC) and half of the participants additionally received chiropractic care. The researchers found that in SMC plus chiropractic care patients, 73% reported that their pain was completely gone or much better after treatment compared to just 17% of the SMC group.

Back pain can be anything from dull or sharp pain in your back or tingling or numbness that runs down your leg. These symptoms may indicate a pinched nerve which occurs when the disc bulges out and puts extra pressure on the nerve that is exiting between the spinal bones.

Chiropractic care can show you how to properly maintain back health and prevent the possibility of future spinal pain. Surgery should always be a last resort because there is a higher chance of failure. If you have or have had back pain or any other spinal conditions, please follow the advice of the JAMA and consider seeing a chiropractor.

 

http://taylors.patch.com/groups/dr-david-h-mruzs-blog/p/journal-of-the-american-medical-association-recommends-chiropractic?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook

10 Things Most People Don’t Know About Chiropractic

10 Things Most People Don’t Know About Chiropractic

by Erin O’Maley, D.C.

 

 

1. Pain is the last symptom of dysfunction.

A patient’s back is often restricted or unstable for months or years before it presents as a problem and they show up in a chiropractor’s office. In addition, the absence of pain is not health. While medication may be needed, if you take a pill and the pain goes away, the dysfunction that caused it still persists. Muscle, ligament and joint injuries often occur as a result of long-term biomechanical dysfunction, sometimes from past injuries, making the area more susceptible to future injury.

2. Athletes use chiropractors to stay well and perform better, not just for the occasional injury.

Athletes choose chiropractors because we are movement specialists. Chiropractors were spotted all over the Olympic coverage last year, and top athletes such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, Tom Brady, Evander Holyfield, and Arnold Schwarzenegger have all been proud patients of chiropractors. These days it’s far more common than not for major athletes and sports teams to keep chiropractors nearby to help prevent injuries, speed injury recovery, improve balance and coordination, and give them a greater competitive edge.

3. The body does not perform as a cluster of separate mechanisms, but rather a cascade of events that all starts with proper control by the nervous system.

The nerves that travel through and control every function of your body originate at the spinal cord and their transmission may be disrupted if the joints of the surrounding spinal column are not moving properly. This disruption in biomechanical integrity combined with altered physiological function is what chiropractors call a subluxation. Below is a chart that illustrates the relationship of the spinal nerves exiting the vertebra branching off to the various organ systems. You can see why it is not uncommon for a chiropractor to treat a patient with mid-back pain who also suffers from irritable bowel system, a patient with a subluxated sacrum who has been unsuccessfully trying to become pregnant, or a patient with an upper back fixation and acid reflux.



4. Doctors don’t do the healing.

Sorry to disappoint you, but a chiropractor will never fix your back. What we are able to do is restore proper motion in the joints, which relieves tension on the nerves and muscles and allows your body to do the healing that it is inherently made to do. As chiropractors, we believe that the body is a perfect organism in its natural state, and all disease comes from a disruption in the body’s proper transmission of signals by the nerves which affects its ability to heal and to defend against disease-causing agents. We never treat disease. We assess to find which spinal levels are causing the disfunction, and we adjust it to restore proper nerve flow so the nervous system may work as efficiently and effectively as possible.

5. Chiropractic is for all ages.

Many seniors aren’t aware of the benefits of chiropractic care which can help them not only with pain relief, but also increase range of motion, balance and coordination, and decrease joint degeneration. There’s no patient too young for chiropractic either! Chiropractors check infants moments after birth for misalignments of the upper vertebrae that may occur as a result of the birth process. In addition to supporting overall health and well-being, parents also take their children to chiropractors to encourage healthy brain and nervous system development, to assist with colic, asthma, allergies, bed-wetting and sleeping problems, and to assist with behavioral disorders.

6. We know about more than your backbone!

This surprises many people who had no idea that chiropractors give advice on nutrition, fitness, ergonomics and lifestyle, screen for conditions unrelated to the musculoskeletal system and refer out to other practitioners when necessary. Chiropractors are also able to complete specialties in other areas such as pediatrics, sports rehabilitation, neurology, clinical nutrition, and addictions and compulsive disorders.

Other than particular specialties and the differences in learning to adjust and learning to prescribe medication, our training hours are not dissimilar from that of medical doctor. The following are the classroom hours for basic science requirements compiled and averaged following a review of curricula of 18 chiropractic schools and 22 medical schools.

7. Successful chiropractic patients accept responsibility.

When somebody says that they tried chiropractic and it didn’t help, I cringe and get the feeling that they really missed the boat. Of course, there are cases with complicating factors, but I have heard this from people with straightforward chiropractic problems when it is very clear what has happened here. In most cases, one doesn’t acquire back pain over night, and it’s not going to go away over night. If a weak core from years of sitting at your desk is to blame for the additional stress on your joints, I would expect an adjustment to provide relief, but once the condition is no longer exacerbated, I would most definitely prescribe some exercises for you to do at home. I might also suggest we evaluate your nutrition if I suspect an inflammatory diet may be wiring you for pain. Sure, I’m always happy to adjust someone and make a living, but if you’ve been given homework and you don’t do it, I better not hear you say chiropractic didn’t work when you’re hurting again!

8. Chiropractic may help you get sick less.

Studies have indicated that adjustments consistently reduce the production of pro-inflammatory mediators associated with tissue damage and pain, and may also enhance the production of immunoregulatory complexes important for healthy immune system defense. As far back as the deadly flu pandemic of 1917-1918, chiropractors noticed that their patients seemed to have fewer fatalities than among the general population and were able to publish their work in an osteopathic journal since no scholarly journals were accepting chiropractic data. The estimated death rate among patients of conventional medical care in the U.S. was estimated at 5 to 6 percent while the fatality rate among influenza cases receiving spinal adjustments was estimated at 0.25%.

9. “I heard I’ll have to go forever” is a myth.

You may want to go to your chiropractor forever once you’ve started because you didn’t realize how great getting adjusted is, but your doctor won’t expect you to come for continuous care without symptoms. Generally, if you come in with pain, once you’ve been treated for your initial complaint, you’ll be scheduled for a few more appointments to make sure proper motion is being maintained, then it will be recommended you return occasionally to be checked just like you would go to the dentist to get checked for tartar buildup and cavities. Of course, many people still choose to see their chiropractor weekly or monthly for wellness or maintenance care.

10. Adjustments don’t hurt.

There is no bone snapping or warrior-style pulling heads off spinal columns! The neck adjustment some chiropractors use causes anticipation for many new patients, but is actually much more gentle than they imagined, and involves a quick, direct thrust to a specific spinal bone. The sound an adjustment makes is called a cavitation and is only space being created within the joint causing gasses to be released from the joint capsule, which creates the popping or cracking noise. Also, chiropractic adjustments will not wear out your joints, as some imagine because they have been warned not to “crack their knuckles” for this reason in the past. Adjustments, unlike “knuckle cracking” or having your friend stomp on you while you lay on the carpet, are applied specifically to improve the motion of your joints and limit the small dysfunctions that over time can lead to arthritis. Most people after an adjustment describe the feeling as being “lighter”, having greater ease in moving the body, and being able to stand up taller.

Resources:

http://www.yourmedicaldetective.com/drgrisanti/mddc.htm

http://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=9485

Thirsty???

Water plays a vital role in healthy organs, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. Too often we get injured due to lack of hydration. The minimal recommended amount of daily water intake is 64 ounces, yet most people do not receive even half of that in a day.

Here is a great way for people who do not enjoy drinking water to add taste to something so important to their health!

Theralase heals at the speed of light

·

In the early 1990s, Roger Dumoulin-White’s father, a jeweller in Tillsonburg, ON, showed his son a prototype laser system that healed tissue.

“I was pretty sceptical,” Mr. Dumoulin-White remembers.  “It was something my father came across while traveling in Europe.  He also gave me an anecdotal study translated from Flemish that showed using 905 nanometre light, which is invisible laser light, increased cellular mitosis of fibroblasts by 100%.”

An electrical engineer by training and senior manager of Ford Motor’s electronics division in Canada, Mr. Dumoulin-White became intrigued at how light could have a direct impact on a biological system.

“I did about a year and a half of due diligence and in July of 1994, went to Brussels and met the inventor of the technology and talked to the scientists and doctors that he had worked with. After about three weeks, I bought the worldwide rights to the technology,” he recalls in an exclusive interview with biotuesdays.com.

“I came back to Toronto, resigned my position from Ford in August of 1994 and started Theralase Technologies (TSX-V:TLT) from a blank page.”

Today, Theralase has two technology platforms: therapeutic lasers used to heal muscular and skeletal pain and wounds, and an early-stage project using a bio-destructive laser, known as the TLC-3000, plus photodynamic compounds (PDCs) to destroy cancer, bacteria, virus and fat cells.  It also has an internal sales force and an outside sales force that works for a national sales manager.  Revenue this year is expected to reach $3.5 million, compared with $2.4 million in 2009, with the 2010 bottom line forecast to move into the black for the first time.

“We have some great technology and IT, and a significant upside based on our value proposition of today,” the Theralase CEO adds.

The company’s original TLC-1000 therapeutic medical laser has FDA and Health Canada approvals and the company expects to receive European approval later this month.  The technology is based on generating cold laser light in the 630 to 905 nanometre range to penetrate tissue up to a depth of four inches, where it stimulates mitochondria in cells to produce more energy and repair damaged tissue.  The benefits include a decrease or elimination of pain, reduced inflammation and faster wound healing, among other things.

Largely targeted to chiropractors, the TLC-1000 device, which sells for between $10,000 and $20,000, has been endorsed by professional athletes, as well as Dr. James Andrews of the American Sports Medicine Institute, who is also a member of Theralase’s medical and scientific advisory board.

“We can do a good business of about $5 million a year selling the TLC-1000 product.  But we’ve been working on developing a recurring revenue business model, where we would get paid on a monthly basis,” Mr. Dumoulin-White says.  “Hence, we have the TLC-2000 biofeedback laser.”

He explains that the new technology delivers an exact dose of energy to a targeted tissue location and structure, taking into account skin pigmentation, fat content and muscle content, and effectively “memorizing clinical protocols.”  As a result, medical practitioners can program the device and allow patients to treat themselves at home, resulting in a per-use revenue stream.

The company is conducting clinical studies at the University of Buffalo to demonstrate the efficacy of its patented LTC-2000 laser in treating myofascial pain, with a launch date set for the first quarter of 2011.  “Our five-year target is to put 10,000 units on the market,” he predicts.  “So instead of charging $25,000 per device for this technology, we’re looking to charge more like $3,000-to-$5,000 upfront and then on a per use basis, generate about $500 per month per machine.  If we do that, the company will be pulling in $60 million a year in five years.”

Mr. Dumoulin-White says Theralase is poised for significant growth in the second half of 2010 and 2011 as it expands its sales and marketing efforts in the U.S. and internationally, and also prepares for the launch of the TLC-2000.  Of the company’s nearly $2.5 million in revenue last year, about $2 million came from Canada, “so the opportunity for us is in the U.S. and international markets.”

Theralase has established a direct sales team working out of Toronto this year to target chiropractors, veterinarians and doctors in the five largest U.S. states – California, New York, Florida, Texas and Illinois – with its TLC-1000 and the TLC-2000 when it is launched.  The clinical trials in Buffalo could result in obtaining a Current Procedural Terminology code for reimbursement of laser treatments in the U.S., he points out.  “That would prevent competitors and medical practitioners from using that code.”

Some 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain of tendons, joints, nerves and muscle, with a further six million people seeking relief from leg ulcers, bed sores and diabetic foot ulcers.

Theralase pegs the annual U.S. therapeutic laser market for chronic pain and wound healing at $30 million (U.S.), with forecasts suggesting the market will reach $150 million in five years.  “With our recurring revenue model, our goal is to gain a one-third share of the market in five years, or a top line of $50 million,” he predicts.

If the company’s bio-destructive TLC-3000 laser to treat cancer with PDCs obtains regulatory approval, Mr. Dumoulin-White figures a 1% market share could translate into annual revenues of $460 million for Theralase in five years.

Eight PDCs have been developed so far to target solid tumours in the breast, lung, brain and prostate, which are characterized as having low oxygen cores.  “Low-oxygen environments prove challenging for most other cancer therapies,” he adds.

Earlier this year, the company and the Ontario Cancer Institute at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto reported that the technology successfully destroyed breast cancer cells in-vitro.  A preclinical study with small animals is under way, looking for safety and efficacy, and dose rates of the compound and laser light.  The company also plans to study the technology in companion animals this year, with the goal of beginning discussions with the FDA about a Phase 1 human trial to start in mid-2011.

Since going public in 2003, the company has raised a mere $2 million from shareholders, preferring to fund product development costs of the TLC-2000 and TLC-3000 lasers from existing product sales of the TLC-1000.  “Any money we obtain from shareholders is not going to pay my salary or keep the lights on,” he says.  “It’s going into the technology.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyLbZfzsu20

Check out this newsclip about the Proadjuster!  How can this technology help you?

The real-world benefits of strengthening your core

Think of your core muscles as the sturdy central link in a chain connecting your upper and lower body. Whether you’re hitting a tennis ball or mopping the floor, the necessary motions either originate in your core, or move through it.

No matter where motion starts, it ripples upward and downward to adjoining links of the chain. Thus, weak or inflexible core muscles can impair how well your arms and legs function. And that saps power from many of the moves you make. Properly building up your core cranks up the power. A strong core also enhances balance and stability. Thus, it can help prevent falls and injuries during sports or other activities. In fact, a strong, flexible core underpins almost everything you do:

Everyday acts. Bending to put on shoes or scoop up a package, turning to look behind you, sitting in a chair, or simply standing still — these are just a few of the many mundane actions that rely on your core and that you might not notice until they become difficult or painful. Even basic activities of daily living — bathing or dressing, for example — call on your core.
On-the-job tasks. Jobs that involve lifting, twisting, and standing all rely on core muscles. But less obvious tasks — like sitting at your desk for hours — engage your core as well. Phone calls, typing, computer use, and similar work can make back muscles surprisingly stiff and sore, particularly if you’re not strong enough to practice good posture and aren’t taking sufficient breaks.
A healthy back. Low back pain — a debilitating, sometimes excruciating problem affecting four out of five Americans at some point in their lives — may be prevented by exercises that promote well-balanced, resilient core muscles. When back pain strikes, a regimen of core exercises is often prescribed to relieve it, coupled with medications, physical therapy, or other treatments if necessary.
Sports and other pleasurable activities. Golfing, tennis or other racquet sports, biking, running, swimming, baseball, volleyball, kayaking, rowing and many other athletic activities are powered by a strong core. Less often mentioned are sexual activities, which call for core power and flexibility, too.
Housework, fix-it work, and gardening. Bending, lifting, twisting, carrying, hammering, reaching overhead — even vacuuming, mopping, and dusting are acts that spring from, or pass through, the core.
Balance and stability. Your core stabilizes your body, allowing you to move in any direction, even on the bumpiest terrain, or stand in one spot without losing your balance. Viewed this way, core exercises can lessen your risk of falling.
Good posture. Weak core muscles contribute to slouching. Good posture trims your silhouette and projects confidence. More importantly, it lessens wear and tear on the spine and allows you to breathe deeply. Good posture helps you gain full benefits from the effort you put into exercising, too.

Weak, tight, or unbalanced core muscles can undermine you in any of these realms. And while it’s important to build a strong core, it’s unwise to aim all your efforts at developing rippling abs. Overtraining abdominal muscles while snubbing muscles of the back and hip can set you up for injuries and cut athletic prowess. If washboard abs are your holy grail, it’s essential to trim body fat through diet and aerobic exercise and build strong abdominal muscles through frequent core exercise sessions.

What does the Mayo Clinic think about Fish Oil?

Below are some of the scientifically proven beneftis of taking a Fish Oil (Omega 3 Fatty acid) supplement, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic.

Coronary heart disease Evidence suggests that people who have low levels of EPA and DHA may have an increased risk of developing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (a type of heart disease). Clinical trials suggest that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids has positive benefits in terms of reduced cardiovascular disease mortality and total mortality.	A
Hyperlipidemia (triglyceride lowering) There is strong scientific evidence from human trials that omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oil supplements (EPA plus DHA) significantly reduce blood triglyceride levels. Benefits appear to be dose-dependent. Fish oil supplements also appear to cause small improvements in high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol. However, increases in (worsening of) low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol levels have also been observed. It is not clear if alpha-linolenic acid significantly affects triglyceride levels, and there is conflicting evidence in this area. The American Heart Association has published recommendations for EPA plus DHA. Because of the risk of bleeding from omega-3 fatty acids, a qualified healthcare provider should be consulted prior to starting treatment with supplements.	A
Hypertension Multiple human trials have reported small reductions in blood pressure with intake of omega-3 fatty acids. DHA may have greater benefits than EPA. However, high daily intakes of omega-3 fatty acids may be necessary to obtain clinically relevant effects, and at high dose levels, there is an increased risk of bleeding. Therefore, a qualified healthcare provider should be consulted prior to starting treatment with supplements.	A
Rheumatoid arthritis (fish oil) Multiple randomized controlled trials have reported improvements in morning stiffness and joint tenderness with the regular intake of fish oil supplements for up to three months. Benefits have been reported as additive with anti-inflammatory medications such as NSAIDs (like ibuprofen or aspirin). Effects beyond three months of treatment have not been well evaluated.	A
Secondary cardiovascular disease prevention (fish oil/EPA plus DHA) Several well-conducted randomized controlled trials have reported that in people with a history of heart attack, regular consumption of oily fish or fish oil or omega-3 supplements reduces the risk of nonfatal heart attack, fatal heart attack, sudden death, and all-cause mortality (death due to any cause). Most patients in these studies were also using conventional heart drugs, suggesting that the benefits of fish oils may add to the effects of other therapies.	A
Acute respiratory distress syndrome Initial clinical evidence suggests that fish oil in combination with gamma-linolenic acid decreases the severity and duration of adult respiratory distress syndrome. Further clinical research is required to confirm this finding.	C
Age-related macular degeneration Population evidence suggests that a diet high in omega-3 polyunsaturated fat may decrease the risk of macular degeneration. A randomized trial of the combination product Photorop, which contains a combination of acetyl-L-carnitine, omega-3 fatty acids, and coenzyme Q10, showed improvement with treatment compared to control patients. Also, the omega-3 fatty acid DHA was found to cause central increases of macular pigment optical density in nonsmoking older women. This may be promising initial evidence of benefit, but additional, well-designed clinical trials are required before a conclusion can be made.	C
Aggression Initial clinical research suggests that fish oil may reduce the development of stress-related aggression and may help regulate mood and impulse control. Additional research is required to further evaluate this effect.	C
AIDS/HIV Clinical studies of fish oil in combination with arginine or other nutritional supplementation in patients with HIV have found conflicting results on immunologic function and body composition. Additional, large-scale clinical trials are needed to further evaluate the use of fish oil in this population.	C
Allergies Population research suggests a reduced risk of child eczema associated with fish consumption of once per week or more. However, the associations between maternal fish in the diet and eczema at two years were insignificant. Maternal supplementation decreased the risk of food allergy and IgE-associated eczema in the first year. Further research is required to determine the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on other symptoms of allergy.	C
Angina pectoris Preliminary studies have reported reductions in angina (chest pain) associated with fish oil intake. Better research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.	C
Anxiety Omega-3 supplementation resulted in reduced tension in patients attending an abuse clinic. Further research is required.	C
Asthma Several studies in this area do not provide enough reliable evidence to form a clear conclusion, with some studies reporting no effects and others finding benefits. Because most studies have been small and without clear descriptions of design or results, the results cannot be considered conclusive.	C
Atherosclerosis Some research has reported that regular intake of fish or fish oil supplements reduces the risk of developing atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries of the heart, while other research has reported no effects. Additional evidence is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn in this area.	C
Athletic performance Research on the effect of fish oil in this context is limited. In wrestlers, pulmonary function was improved. Also, omega-3 fatty acids may offer benefit for delayed-onset muscle soreness. Additional research is required before a conclusion can be drawn.	C
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (related learning and behavioral problems) Fish oil supplementation resulted in increases in omega-3 fatty acids in the blood in patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition associated with decreased blood omega-3 levels. Clinical research has demonstrated benefit in patients with ADHD treated with a combination product containing both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Further research is required to determine the effect of omega-3 fatty acids for learning and behavioral problems associated with ADHD.	C
Autism Evidence is inconclusive with respect to the potential benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for autism. Further research is required.	C
Bipolar disorder Several studies in this area do not provide enough reliable evidence to form a clear conclusion.	C
Cancer prevention Several population studies have reported that dietary omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil may reduce the risk of developing breast, colon, or prostate cancer. Additional research is needed in this area.	C
Cardiac arrhythmias There is promising evidence that omega-3 fatty acids may decrease the risk of cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). This is one proposed mechanism behind the reduced number of heart attacks in people who regularly ingest fish oil or EPA plus DHA. Additional research is needed in this area before a firm conclusion can be made.	C
Cardiovascular disease risk Omega-3 fatty acid consumption is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk markers. Further research is required to determine if the actual risk of cardiovascular disease is reduced in these populations.	C
Chronic fatigue syndrome (postviral fatigue syndrome) There is limited clinical evidence on the effect of fish oil in combination with other essential fatty acids in this condition. Additional research is required before a conclusion can be drawn.	C
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease In patients who consumed an omega-3 fatty acid-rich diet, bronchodilator need was reduced, and oxygen saturation was improved. Further research is required to confirm these results.	C
Cognition EPA plus DHA did not have an effect on cognition in healthy elderly individuals or in healthy children. Further research is required to determine the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on cognition in healthy individuals.	C
Critical illness Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in combination with arginine and nucleotides in critically ill patients has been reported to decrease the risk of serious complications and to decrease the length of hospital stay. However, results reported to date are conflicting, and additional research is needed to further quantify the benefit of fish oil supplementation in critically ill patients.	C
Cystic fibrosis A small amount of research in this area does not provide enough reliable evidence to form a clear conclusion. Additional research is needed in this area.	C
Dementia Population studies suggest a link between decreased omega-3 fatty acids in the diet and increased risk of dementia. Well-designed clinical trials are needed before omega-3 fatty acids can be recommended for the prevention of cognitive impairment or dementia.	C
Depression Several studies on the use of omega-3 fatty acids in depression, including positive results in postpartum depression, do not provide enough reliable evidence to form a clear conclusion. However, based on one recent study, omega-3 fatty acids may have therapeutic benefits in childhood depression. Promising initial evidence requires confirmation with larger, well-designed trials.	C
Dialysis Hemodialysis patients were found to consume fewer omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. The relationship between omega-3 fatty acid status and mortality in hemodialysis patients has been investigated. Additional research is needed to further quantify the benefits associated with fish oil use in this population.	C
Dyslexia In early research, a combination of EPA and carnosine had a lack of effect on reading and spelling problems in children with dyslexia. Further research is required.	C
Dysmenorrhea There is preliminary evidence suggesting possible benefits of fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids in patients with dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). Additional research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be reached.	C
Dyspraxia The effect of omega-3 fatty acids, along with other polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, on dyspraxia in children has been examined. Although benefits were apparent, further research is required to determine the role of omega-3 fatty acids.	C
Eczema Several studies of EPA for eczema do not provide enough reliable evidence to form a clear conclusion. Additional research is needed in this area.	C
Energy Clinical research has demonstrated reduced oxygen consumption during exercise in fish oil-supplemented athletes. However, other studies have reported no effect of fish oil on energy efficiency or metabolism in healthy subjects. Additional research is required before a conclusion can be made.	C
Epilepsy In patients with epilepsy, omega-3 fatty acid supplements may improve brain energy metabolism and increase the level of phospholipids in the brain. More research is needed to determine if this is an effective treatment for patients with epilepsy.	C
General health maintenance In children supplemented with fish oil in chocolate milk, there were fewer episodes of illness. Further research is required.	C
Hyperlipidemia (cholesterol lowering) Although there is strong scientific evidence from human trials that omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oil supplements (EPA plus DHA) significantly reduce blood triglyceride levels, fish oil may increase (worsen) low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol levels. The American Heart Association has published recommendations for EPA plus DHA. Because of the risk of bleeding from omega-3 fatty acids, a qualified healthcare provider should be consulted prior to starting treatment with supplements.	C
IgA nephropathy There are conflicting results from several trials in this area. Additional research is needed.	C
Immune function Further research is required to determine the effect of fish oil on immune function in humans.	C
Immunosuppression (toxicity associated with medications) Well-designed research is necessary before a clear conclusion can be reached.	C
Infant development / neonatal care In infants, 20 milligrams of DHA daily for the first year had a lack of effect on several aspects of infant development but did reduce time to the first occurrence of sitting without support. Further research is required.	C
Infant eye / brain development The effect of DHA- and arachidonic acid-enriched formulas has been investigated in preterm and term infants on safety, growth, and developmental outcomes. Overall, results suggest benefits in preterm infants. More research is needed to understand exactly how omega-3 fatty acids may affect the growth and development of unborn babies and infants.	C
Inflammation In patients in an intensive care unit, omega-3 fatty acids did not affect inflammation or clinical outcome. Further research is required.	C
Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) The benefit of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of relapse of Crohn’s symptoms and in decreased inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis has been shown. However, the results are conflicting. No clear conclusion may be drawn at this time.	C
Liver disease Well-designed research is necessary before a clear conclusion can be reached in this area.	C
Lupus erythematosus There is not enough reliable evidence to form a clear conclusion in this area.	C
Menopausal symptoms Conclusions with respect to potential benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for menopausal symptoms cannot be drawn at this time. Further research is required.	C
Migraine Well-designed research is necessary before a clear conclusion can be reached in this area.	C
Multiple sclerosis Well-designed research is necessary before a clear conclusion can be reached in this area.	C
Neck/shoulder pain (discogenic) Well-designed clinical trials are needed before a conclusion can be made in this area.	C
Nephrotic syndrome There is not enough reliable evidence to form a clear conclusion in this area. Further research is necessary.	C
Neuropathy Omega-3 fatty acids may be of benefit in the management of pain. Further research is required before conclusions can be drawn.	C
Obesity Additional research is warranted to further evaluate the benefit of fish oil supplementation in this population.	C
Osteoarthritis Evidence supporting the use of fish oil for osteoarthritis is currently lacking. Well-designed research is necessary before a clear conclusion can be reached.	C
Osteoporosis Population and clinical studies have reported a decreased risk of osteoporosis with fish intake or fish oil supplementation. Further research is necessary before a clear conclusion can be reached.	C
Pancreatitis In pancreatitis patients, fish oil in addition to parenteral nutrition diminished the hyperinflammatory response. Further research is needed in this field.	C
Peripheral vascular disease / claudication Some evidence suggests that fish oil may improve blood pressure in the legs of patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and improve the ability to walk long distances. There is a lack of research showing consistent improved clinical outcomes. More research is needed to further evaluate this effect.	C
Phenylketonuria Low levels of DHA are common among children with phenylketonuria (PKU) during the first year of life due to dietary restrictions. Early research suggests that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation of PKU diets during the first year of life improves fatty acid levels in the body so that they are similar to those of healthy, breastfed infants. More clinical research is needed to verify this effect.	C
Pre-eclampsia Several studies of fish oil do not provide enough reliable evidence to form a clear conclusion in this area. Further research is necessary.	C
Pregnancy and labor Preliminary evidence suggests that fish oil has no effect on the timing of spontaneous delivery. Further research is necessary before a clear conclusion can be reached.	C
Prevention of graft failure after heart bypass surgery There is limited study of the use of fish oils in patients after undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Additional evidence is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn in this area.	C
Prevention of restenosis after coronary angioplasty (PTCA) Several randomized controlled trials have evaluated whether omega-3 fatty acid intake reduces blockage of arteries in the heart following balloon angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or PTCA). The evidence in this area remains inconclusive.	C
Primary cardiovascular disease prevention (alpha-linolenic acid [ALA]) Several studies have reported that individuals who regularly consume foods high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) may have a reduced risk of heart attack. Additional research is necessary before a conclusion can be drawn in this area.	C
Prostate disorders There is limited clinical evidence regarding the use of fish oil for prostate disorders. Additional research is necessary before a conclusion can be drawn in this area.	C
Psoriasis Several studies in this area do not provide enough reliable evidence to form a clear conclusion. Further research is necessary.	C
Quality of life Omega-3 fatty acids did not appear to improve the quality of life in an elderly population. Further research is required.	C
Raynaud’s phenomenon Initial clinical evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids improve cold intolerance and delay the onset of vasospasm in patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon. Additional research is warranted to further evaluate this effect.	C
Schizophrenia There is promising preliminary evidence from several studies in this area. Additional research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be reached.	C
Secondary cardiovascular disease prevention (alpha-linolenic acid [ALA]) Several studies have examined the effects of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in people with a history of heart attack. Although some studies suggest benefits, others do not. Additional research is necessary before a conclusion can be drawn in this area.	C
Sepsis Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce mortality, antibiotic use, and length of hospital stay in different diseases, including sepsis. DHA was found to increase body fat and length in infants following sepsis, but endpoints, such as reduced mortality, were not presented. Further research is required.	C
Stroke prevention Several large studies of populations have examined the effects of omega-3 fatty acid intake on stroke risk. Some studies suggest benefits, while others do not. Effects are likely on stroke risk, and very large intakes of omega-3 fatty acids may actually increase the risk of hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke. At this time, it is unclear if there are benefits in people with or without a history of stroke, or if effects of fish oil are comparable to other treatment strategies.	C
Surgical recovery Preliminary evidence suggests that using a nutritional product enriched in arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, and RNA may improve preoperative and postoperative inflammatory and immune responses. Further research is required.	C
Tardive dyskinesia Initial evidence of a relationship between essential fatty acid levels, schizophrenia, and movement disorders, including tardive dyskinesia (movement disorders), is inconclusive. Further research is warranted.	C
Urolithiasis (idiopathic, recurrent) Additional research is required before a conclusion can be drawn in this area.	C
Vasodilator Preliminary evidence suggests potential benefits. However, additional research is required before a conclusion can be drawn.	C
Wound healing Preliminary evidence in humans suggests omega-3 fatty acids do not aid in wound healing. However, evidence is lacking. Further research is required.	C
Appetite / weight loss in cancer patients There is preliminary evidence that fish oil supplementation does not improve appetite or prevent weight loss in cancer patients. Further research is warranted.	D
Diabetes The available scientific evidence suggests that there are no long-term effects of fish oil in patients with diabetes. Most studies in this area are not well-designed, and further research is necessary.	D
Transplant rejection prevention (kidney and heart) There are multiple studies of heart transplant and kidney transplant patients taking cyclosporine (Neoral®), who were administered fish oil supplements. The majority of trials have reported improvements in kidney function and reduced blood pressure compared to patients not taking fish oil. However, several recent studies report no benefits on kidney function, and no changes have been found in rates of rejection or graft survival. Further research is necessary. Key to grades A Strong scientific evidence for this use B Good scientific evidence for this use C Unclear scientific evidence for this use D Fair scientific evidence against this use (it may not work) F Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likely does not work)

Weight training reverses aging damage in muscles: study

Healthy seniors benefit from strength training by rejuvenating their muscle tissue, say Canadian and U.S. researchers who found the proof at the molecular level.

Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky, director of the neuromuscular and neurometabolic clinic at McMaster University in Hamilton and Simon Melov of the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, Calif., compared tissue samples from 25 healthy older men and women who did six months of weight training and a similar group of 26 younger people.

The researchers looked at the molecular “fingerprint” of aging in mitochondria, the powerhouse that supplies energy to cells. Studies suggest poor mitochondrial function is involved in the loss of muscle mass and function commonly seen in older people.

Older adults showed a decline in gene activity for mitochondrial function, but exercise was linked to a reversal back to levels similar to those of younger adults, the team reports in Wednesday’s issue of the journal PloS One.

Before exercise training, the older adults were also 59 per cent weaker than the younger adults, but after the training, their strength was only 38 per cent weaker.

After four months of follow up, most of the older adults were no longer exercising at a gym but continued to do resistance exercise at home by lifting soup cans or elastic bands.

“They were still as strong, they still had the same muscle mass,” Tarnopolsky said in a release. “This shows that it’s never too late to start exercising and that you don’t have to spend your life pumping iron in a gym to reap benefits.”

Aging reversal

While aging studies on worms, fruit flies and mice have shown similar results, Melov said the researchers were surprised at the extent of the results in humans.

“The fact that their ‘genetic fingerprints’ so dramatically reversed course gives credence to the value of exercise, not only as a means of improving health, but of reversing the aging process itself, which is an additional incentive to exercise as you get older.”

The younger participants were 20 to 35 with an average age of 26, while those in the older group were all over 65 with an average age of 70. Both groups were similar in terms of diet and exercise, and none took medication or had diseases that affect mitochondrial function.

The hour-long resistance training sessions were done twice a week on standard gym equipment, involving 30 contractions of each muscle group.

Tissue samples were taken from the thigh muscle, and the strength test was based on knee flexion.

Future studies are planned to determine if resistance training has any genetic impact on organ tissues. The researchers also want to determine whether endurance training such as running or cycling affects mitochondrial function and aging.

Health Benefits of Sleep!

Not getting enough can affect your health

If you’re having trouble sleeping, you’re not yawning alone. An estimated 3.3 million Canadians age 15 or older have problems getting enough sleep, which may be affecting their health and quality of life.

The 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey found that just under one-fifth (18 per cent) of these people average less than five hours of sleep a night. This lack of shut-eye makes them more susceptible to health problems.

A September 2006 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine looked at the link between sleep and health.

“The theme that emerges throughout this issue is that sleep serves as an indicator of health and quality of life,” guest editors Dr. Phyllis Zee and Fred Turek of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago wrote.

The importance of sleep

Researchers looked at how lack of sleep may affect the immune system. Chronic sleeplessness may harm the immune system, since lack of sleep is linked to an increase in cytokine molecules that control immune response.

The resulting inflammation and changes in blood chemistry may be behind a variety of diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and neurological conditions.

“The foundations of good health are good diet, good exercise and good sleep, but two out of three doesn’t get you there,” said Dr. Anne Calhoun, a neurology professor at the University of North Carolina.

Sleep is important in maintaining your health, say experts. Without it, you become more susceptible to health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and depression.

One study on more than 1,400 middle-aged adults over four years found those with sleep apnea, in which the airway becomes repeatedly blocked and sleep is interrupted, were twice as likely to develop depression.

Physicians treating people for depression should address poor sleep habits, Zee said.

A French study of nearly 600 people found a higher rate of sleep problems and daytime sleepiness among allergy sufferers, compared with a controlled group of people of the same age and sex who lived in the same area.

“The results show a significant impact of allergic rhinitis on all dimensions of sleep quality and, consequently, a lower quality of life as reflected by more somnolence [sleepiness], daytime fatigue and sleepiness, and impaired memory, mood and sexuality,” Dr. Damien Léger of Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris and colleagues wrote.

In the same issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, other studies concluded that men with diabetes and men with short or poor-quality sleep tended to have less control of their blood-sugar levels.

Skimping on sleep increases hunger

In 2004, researchers at the University of Chicago discovered that sleep loss could reduce the body’s ability to regulate hormones that control hunger. This could lead to an increase in appetite and a preference for high-carbohydrate foods.

Research subjects who slept only four hours a night for two nights had an 18 per cent decrease in leptin, a hormone that tells the brain there is no need for more food, and a 28 per cent increase in ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger. “It provides biochemical evidence connecting the trend toward chronic sleep curtailment to obesity and its consequences, including metabolic syndrome and diabetes,” said Eve Van Cauter, professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, in a press release.

As hunger increased in the research subjects, their food choices changed. After two nights of diminished sleep, the volunteers found foods such as candy, cookies and cake far more appealing than fruit, vegetables or dairy products.

“We don’t yet know why food choice would shift,” Van Cauter said. “Since the brain is fuelled by glucose, we suspect it seeks simple carbohydrates when distressed by lack of sleep.”

Modern society seems to have forgotten the importance of sleep, according to Van Cauter.

“We are all under pressure to perform, in school, at work, in social and professional settings, and tempted by multiple diversions. There is a sense that you can pack in more of life by skimping on sleep. But we are finding that people tend to replace reduced sleep with added calories, and that’s not a healthy trade.”

Another study, presented at a conference sponsored by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on June 11, 2007, suggested that people who don’t get enough sleep are less likely to cook their own meals — and more likely to rely on restaurants and fast-food outlets for some of their meals. The study suggested that that could lead to weight gain or other nutrition-related problems. How much sleep is enough?

Experts say the amount of sleep varies from person to person. In general, most adults need about seven hours of sleep per night. Children and adolescents need even more — around nine or 10 hours each night.

How to get a good night’s sleep:

• Keep a regular schedule. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, including weekends.
• Good habits, like eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, can help you sleep. Don’t exercise within a few hours of bedtime.
• Avoid napping during the day.
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol can interrupt sleep, leading to a poor quality of sleep. Those who smoke have more difficulty getting to sleep and wake up more often at night, compared to non-smokers.
• Take some time to relax and unwind before going to bed. Develop a sleep routine. If you do the same things before you go to bed each night, it will train your body to get ready for sleep.
• Make sure your room and bed are conducive to sleep. If you’re not sleeping well, it may be time for a new mattress. Your bedroom should be dark, cool and quiet.
• Make sure your stomach isn’t too empty or too full before going to bed.
• If you’re having difficulty sleeping, get out of bed. Go into another room and do something relaxing until you feel sleepy. Worrying about falling asleep actually keeps many people awake.
• If your thoughts keep you awake, try getting up and writing them down.

If you’re still having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor. You may have a medical condition that’s affecting your rest. Also, check if the medications you’re taking have an effect on your sleep.