Seatbelts and the Risk of Auto Injury

Orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons at the Medical College of Wisconsin see a lot of spine injuries in patients who have been in an auto accident. You may not be aware of it, but the leading cause of spine injuries in your midback (thoracic) and low back (lumbar) areas is auto accidents.

In a study, doctors evaluated records of 4572 patients between 1996 and 2011 entered into the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network database who were moderately to severely injured in an auto accident. They looked for what these patients had in common.

Of 631 patients who had injuries to the thoracic and lumbar spine, almost 47% of the patients had major injuries while 53% had minor injuries. These injuries could be categorized as flexion-distraction injuries where the person has had an injury from the upper body and head moving towards their knees in the auto accident, or extension injuries where the body bends backward.

If the auto accident caused a flexion-distraction injury, the victim was usually a child or young adult. Those suffering from extension injuries were usually older adults with an average age of 65 years old, and were overweight. The auto accidents that caused extension injuries were the worst, as the fatality rate was almost 24%. Other auto accidents had a fatality rate of about 11%.

The doctors discovered that if the auto accident caused minor injuries to the thoracic and lumbar spine, the patients’ injuries were worse. This was because they were usually abdominal and pelvic injuries.

Seatbelt use

Interestingly, there was a difference between those who used a two-point belted seatbelt versus a three-point belted seatbelt. The three-point seat belts protected against neurological injury, fatality, and worse injuries. However, in the auto accident, those who were wearing the three-point seatbelts were more than three times more likely to have fractures of the spine than with the two-point seatbelts. Those who used two-point belted seatbelts had flexion-distraction injuries most of the time. Those who didn’t wear a seatbelt at all had a higher risk of having spinal fractures in the thoracic and lumbar areas as well as dislocations.

This tells us that in an auto accident, using seatbelts will reduce injury severity of mortality but at the same time, it will also increase the likelihood of a vertebrae fracture in the thoracic and lumbar spine.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, seek proper medical and chiropractic care. Utilizing both together will help speed your recovery.

Reference

Rao, R.D., et al. Occupant and crash characteristics in the thoracic and lumbar spine injuries resulting from motor vehicle collisions. Spine Journal 2014.

Chronic Neck Pain After Auto Injury

Rear-end collisions are very common in our suburbs and cities. Traffic is crowded and unpredictable, and crashes are frequent. The National Transportation Safety Board statistics report that there are roughly 1.7 million rear-end collisions each year, causing 1,700 deaths and 500,000 injuries.

Now a new Canadian study finds that a significant percentage of people injured in these types of crashes end up with some kind of chronic pain.

The report was conducted at the University of Alberta, and it looked at 268 people who had suffered a grade 1 or 2 neck injury from a car crash. These are the least severe kinds of injury, as the scale also includes grade 3 and 4.

The patients were surveyed at 3 months, 6 months, and at 1-year post-injury, and they were asked, “Do you feel that you have recovered from your injuries?”

A certain percentage of patients who reported pain at the different follow-up surveys. The study found that 1-year after the crash, 18% of patients still reported pain. This confirms what previous research has found. A British research paper from 2009 reported that as many as 5% of patients might have permanently disabled from a crash, and that a significantly more than 5% have nagging symptoms, even 10 years or more after the initial injury.

Previous research shows that the keys to preventing chronic neck pain from a crash is to get early treatment focused on mobilization of the spine.

Ferrari R. A prospective study of the 1-year incidence of fibromyalgia after acute whiplash injury. Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Disease 2015; doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2014-000007.

Bannister G, Amirfeyz R, Kelley S, Gargan M. Whiplash injury. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 2009;91B(7):845-850.

Boost Your Immune System with Hypnotherapy

Boost Your Immune System

It is now well established that our thoughts and feelings can have a profound impact on our physical health. We also have proof that the mind and body are not separate and how thoughts and feelings of the mind can have a direct effect on the workings of our body.

Your immune system is the primary protection mechanism in your body against infection and disease. It needs to produce the right response at the right time to the right degree to help keep you safe and healthy.

Increased levels of stress greatly compromise our immune system and determined that focused hypnosis and related visualization techniques can actually prevent the weakening of the immune response that often follows periods of acute stress.

Hypnotherapy helps you stay healthy

Relaxation – a lowering of stress in the body – can help boost immunity, and hypnosis, as we know, can be incredibly relaxing. But it seems that beyond the purely relaxing aspects of hypnosis there is good evidence that immunity can be enhanced if certain particular kinds of suggestions are given while you are actually in hypnosis.

Hypnosis affects mood and emotions. It can help one manage stress more effectively and help to release frustration and mental tension. It can help a client to develop a healthier and more balanced outlook on life as well. By managing stress more effectively, developing a more positive outlook on the nervous system and body, which in turn has a positive effect on the immune system.

Study reveals that hypnosis can enhance the immune system. The research was reported in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 2001. This study tested blood samples obtained before surgery and after hypnosis sessions, showing significant alteration of the immune response as measured by B-cells and helper T-cells. Patients who use self-hypnosis facing surgeries indicate much quicker recovery and fewer complications.

How Immunity Works

White blood cells, or leukocytes, are among the most important cells of the immune system involved in defending your body against both infectious disease and foreign materials. They are produced in the bone marrow. A low white blood cell count may indicate infection or disease, while a high count may indicate an autoimmune response.

Hypnosis enhances the patient’s visualizations of how the immune system works, strengthening the functions of the helper cells and the killer cells, increasing the functioning of the suppressor cells and b cells, and finally the macrophage cells.

Bad diet, too little sleep, too much sleep, an overdose of extreme exercise – yes you can have too much of a good thing – can all impair immune function. Hypnosis can help, but a healthy lifestyle is still very important.

Extreme and prolonged anger, anxiety and the stress of depression all weaken the immune system, just as healthy sleep, optimism and happiness can strengthen it.

This is amazing. It means that your immune system is an intelligent entity that can learn through experience.

Hypnosis and hypnotherapy work hand in hand to heal the mind and the body. Hypnotically visualizing the healing strengthened her immune system and actually speeded up the healing process. Hypnotherapy helps one to change the life-long pattern that was the underlying issues that which may have been the cause, hopefully preventing a future reoccurrence of such illness.

It’s all in the state of your mind. Shift your mind – Heal your body.

Dr. David B. Starkey Keeps You Informed

A Naturally Healthy

Immune System

Everyday our bodies are attacked by organisms and substances that cause illness and disease. If we have a healthy immune system we will never notice. However, if our body isn’t functioning at its best, we’ll start to feel achy, feverish and, depending on the organism, any number of other annoying symptoms of illness.

What is Germ Theory?

In the mid 1800s a theory was developed that said many diseases are caused by the presence of microorganisms in the body. Then in the 1860’s with the research of Louis Pasteur, and the following decades with Robert Koch’s studies, the theory gained medical acceptance.

This would lead to pasteurizing milk, the creation of immunizations, antibiotics and, since the 1960’s, antiviral drugs. The purpose being to create ways to do what our body should be doing naturally without chemical interference.

Our Immune System

The immune system is our body’s natural defense against infectious microorganisms and other invaders. This system is made up of special cells, proteins, tissues and organs that work together to fight off the germs that make us sick. This smaller system is just one of many that are controlled by our body’s master controller, the central nervous system.

The central nervous system is comprised of the brain, spinal cord and nerves that go out to our muscles, organs and glands telling them how to function properly. When the central nervous system isn’t functioning properly, many other systems begin to malfunction, including the immune system.

Allergies and Illness

The terms “allergies” and “illness” may seem unrelated but they share a common bodily system. Allergies are the responses of the immune system over-reacting; illness is the immune system under-reacting.

The word “allergy” means an altered or abnormal tissue reaction after sensitive body tissues are brought into contact with an allergen. There are three general categories of allergens: contact, food or inhalant.

Inhalant allergies – allergies experienced in response to material in the air – are the most common. The four biggest airborne allergens are pollen, pet dander, mold and house dust.

The body, when exposed to an allergen, triggers the immune system to go into action. The immune system cells, known as “mast cells”, release a substance called histamine that attaches to receptors in blood vessels causing them to enlarge. Histamine also binds to other receptors causing redness, swelling, itching and changes in secretion.

“The immune system is

our body’s natural defense

against infectious

microorganisms and

other invaders.”

Food allergies occur when the immune system over-reacts to a food item that the body has mistaken as harmful; when this happens, it creates specific anti-bodies to fight what it has determined is dangerous. The next time that food is consumed, the immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, including histamine, in order to protect the body. These chemicals then trigger a cascade of allergic symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin or cardiovascular system.

A typical immune system reaction occurs when the body creates immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to the food. When these antibodies react with the food, histamine and other chemicals cause hives, asthma, or other symptoms of an allergic reaction.

If a microorganism, virus, bacteria or other invader attacks the body and the immune system under-reacts, it will begin to make itself at home resulting in symp-toms of illness or disease.

Vertebral Subluxation

It’s clear that we want our immune system to react properly, not over-reacting or under-reacting. The best way to ensure this happens is to keep our body functioning at its absolute best. If our central nervous system begins to send mixed signals, the immune system is one of the many systems that can be negatively affected.

The brain sends signals down the spinal cord and out through the nerves to our muscles, organs and glands. If there is even the smallest misalignment in the spine, it may create vertebral subluxation and interfere with those signals. This may result in the body’s systems beginning to malfunction. These systems can include the respiratory, circulatory and immune system among others.

It’s important that these misalignments and vertebral subluxations be corrected in order to ensure the body’s systems are functioning properly. Your Family Wellness Chiropractor is the only healthcare professional trained in the detection and correction of vertebral subluxations.

A Healthy Immune System

Chiropractic care, however, is only one of five factors to consider when looking to support a healthy immune system. Nutrition, exercise, sleep and decreasing stress all play a valuable role as well.

Nutrition is important because the type and quantity of food consumed is very important for overall health. Food provides energy for our bodies, and there are several vitamins and minerals that are a fundamental part of a strong immunity. Vitamins A, C, E, Beta-Carotene and Selenium are antioxidants, which are part of our body’s natural defense mechanism, and are consumed in fruits and vegetables. The mineral Zinc is important because of the role it plays in increasing resistance to infection, and is found in red meats, eggs and most dairy products. Magnesium is another important mineral essential for boosting your child’s immune system, and is available in legumes and milk.

Just as important as what you eat, is what you shouldn’t eat. Sugar, dairy and starches are difficult to digest and the process actually overworks our bodies and may wear down our natural defenses.

As for exercise, any is better than none; walking, stretching, yoga, pilates, you name it. Moving your body increases your oxygen intake, strengthens your muscles and builds your natural defenses against illness and foreign invaders.

We all know sleep is important. Not only can a lack of sleep affect your ability to think and reason, but recent studies have also shown that sleep deprivation can actually lower our t-cells and increase inflammatory cytokines. This in turn can actually lead to a greater risk of developing a cold or flu.

Finally, decreasing stress is probably one of the most important steps to strengthening our natural immune system. Stress can be both emotional and physical but regardless of the source, too much can cause an increase in the production of the hormone cortisol and can negatively affect the immune system.

Research has shown that during a sustained period of raised cortisol levels, immune system cells begin to disappear from the blood causing the immune system function to decrease. Dr. Patrick Bouic, author of “The Immune System Cure,” has stated that an immune system that is in top operating order will only be minimally affected by small causes of stress but even that can be too much for a weakened immune system.

In Summary

Nutrition, exercise, sleep and decreasing stress will only take your body so far; this is where Chiropractic Care steps in. If vertebral subluxations are interfering with your body’s optimal function then your body’s systems will not be operating at their best.

Dear Patient,

Dr. Starkey is dedicated to providing you with the absolute best in family wellness care. So take a moment today to discuss with your Family Wellness Chiropractor any concerns you may have regarding your family’s overall health and wellness.

This newsletter is provided to you by: Dr. David B. Starkey at www.coveroffice.com

Benefits of Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic

What is Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic?

The Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic is a chiropractic technique developed by Dr. James M. Cox. Cox Flexion Distraction or Cox Technic is a gentle adjustment procedure, which uses negligible force and aids in natural healing of the spine. Cox Flexion Distraction or Cox Technic is based on principles of both chiropractic and osteopathy. This combination provides quick relief from low back and leg pain without having to undergo surgery. If an individual is suffering from back, neck or leg pain, then the chiropractor may try a number of various techniques to detect the root cause and release pressure or tension in the affected area. The Cox Flexion Distraction Technique is also called as the Cox® Technic. Cox Flexion Distraction Technique is a form of spinal manipulation adjustment technique. It is non-surgical in nature and helps in giving immediate relief from back pain by realigning the spine. Cox Flexion Distraction or Cox Technic helps in improving range of motion in the muscles and joints, thus increasing the flexibility and improving posture.

Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic

The Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic does wonders for resolving mid and lower back pain, neck and shoulder pain, hip pain and decreasing the effects of whiplash.

Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic Method- A Safe Alternative To Back Surgery

The Cox Technique is designed to be almost painless and safe alternative to a back surgery. It is commonly used in patients who, despite having extensive surgery, continue to suffer from back pain or those patients who are in the rehabilitation stage and want to enhance their recovery speed. Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic is designed such that the spine is realigned by gentle application of pressure in the key areas of the back. The disc are successfully decompressed by the chiropractor using gentle stretch to the lower spine along with a series of repeated movements and pushes to decrease the pressure. The Flexion-Distraction technique is usually done on a special table, which was designed by Dr. Cox. The specialty of this table is that it has movable parts which help in effective division of the different areas of the spine. The Cox Table has movable sections, which individually give support to the head and legs thus allowing the patient to extend the spine by flexing in many directions. Mild pressure is applied to the body with the aim to decrease pressure and decompress the areas of inflammation around the spine in order to re-establish nerve functioning. Some patients have immediate results with Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic and for some, it may take some time for improvement; however, results depend on the condition and vary from patient to patient.

Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic Method- A Safe Alternative To Back Surgery

Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic Benefits

Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic is a brief and painless treatment extremely suitable for individuals with low threshold for pain.

Increased range of motion in the shoulders, arms, feet, and toes.

Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic helps to decrease the headaches and migraines.

Posture improvement is a key benefit of Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic.

Improves functioning of vertebral joints.

Improves nerve communication and increases circulation.

Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic reduces back pain in pregnancy.

It may also be useful in treating neurological diseases such as stroke, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis.

This technique may be covered by some insurance plans.

Benefits of Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic in Treating Back Pain

To summarize it, the Cox Flexion Distraction Technique or Cox Technic is done to decompress the spinal column and to align the vertebrae, which are not functioning properly. It is very effective in alleviating the effects of degenerative disc diseases, lumbar, cervical and thoracic disc herniations and is very beneficial for those individuals who are not willing to undergo surgery to relieve their back pain.

Dr. David B. Starkey DC MS Dipl. Ac.   www.coveroffice.com

Don’t Talk Or Speak To ANYONE About Your Case Until

You Finish Reading This FREE REPORT!

Most insurance adjusters know all about the kind of injuries people like you and me can experience in an accident. They know sometimes you don’t feel injured right away and that’s why they try to settle as quickly as possible while your medical bills are low or non-existent. They’d rather see you in pain after you settle with you picking up the tab for your own treatment.

This Can Happen Even If It’s Your Own

Insurance Company You’re Dealing With!

Make no mistake, insurance is a business like any other, and the less they spend on appropriate care, the more money they make their shareholders.

Even if you were involved in a minor fender bender, studies have proven you could suffer from a severe injury that isn’t easily noticeable.

You can be severely injured and only feel a little or no pain at all after the accident. Your doctor can easily miss this and mistake your pain for something completely different. This is when insurance companies try to settle with you. Don’t make this mistake! Until a recognized and reputable doctor who has experience with low impact, soft tissue injuries says you are 100% okay, don’t make the decision to settle too soon!

What MOST Doctors Don’t Know About

Hidden Injuries CAN Financially And Physically Hurt You!

See, after any accident, it’s advisable to visit the emergency room to make sure you don’t suffer from any life-threatening injuries like broken bones, a punctured lung, or internal bleeding. This is what emergency room doctors specialize in.

But the problem is that as long as there’s no immediate threat to your life, the emergency room physician is likely to send you along on your way with pain medication to mask the pain.

And here’s the problem with only taking pain medication after your accident.

Soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, discs, nerves and blood vessels need oxygen. They also need to function and move properly;.

When you only take pain relief and/or anti-inflammatory medication, scar tissue and adhesions can form limiting the proper motion needed for healthy nerve and blood flow.

Scar tissue is also a substandard tissue that can turn into its own source of pain – causing a number of chronic pains, symptoms and syndromes!

The Problem Is That Soft Tissue Injuries

Are NOT Always Visible On X-Rays

That’s why most doctors don’t have the training to detect soft tissue injuries…they over-rely on vital signs, x-rays, and the pain described by the patient!

Since many doctors can’t detect your injury, they make the wrong diagnosis about what’s wrong with you. So any treatments you get based on this diagnosis will do practically nothing for you!

The treatment of choice for medical doctors, like your family doctor, is to use drugs to cover up your symptoms (in your case, the biggest symptom is pain) so you don’t feel injured anymore. This form of treatment only gives you the illusion that you’re okay, when really you can be seriously injured and not know it.

So, If You Are Experiencing Any Of These Symptoms,

You May Be Suffering From A Hidden Or

Soft Tissue Injury…

 Muscle Stiffness

 Spasms

 Neck Pain

 Headaches

 Numbness and Tingling

 Mid-Back Pain

 Low Back Pain

 Difficulty Sleeping

 Irritability

 Memory Loss

 Fatigue

 Difficulty Concentrating

Or worse yet, you may be feeling none of these right now because your injury hasn’t started producing these symptoms yet.

The Shocking Truth About Using Pain Relievers,

Physical Therapy, And Surgery To Get Rid Of YOUR Pain!

Let’s assume you are experiencing some neck pain. How will your doctor attempt to treat you? Well, rather than go after the cause of the problem he or she can’t find (your doctor will never admit they don’t know what they’re doing), he or she’s going to attempt to cover up your pain with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and other, more powerful pain relievers.

These drugs only work by sabotaging your body’s ability to register pain. They do absolutely nothing to fix the problem causing the pain. So, while these drugs are sweeping the dirt under the rug, you’re given the illusion you’re actually okay. This is dangerous.

Why?

1. Accident victims on pain medication are more likely to settle

their case. The insurance companies use this to their advantage.

So don’t make hasty decisions while on pain relief medication. It may come back to haunt you later.

2. Usually under pain relief medication, you are more likely to

Make your injury worse! Your body’s way of telling you that you are making things worse is pain and if you do not feel the pain, you may be aggravating your injury and not even know it! Ever have a sprained ankle? What happens if you keep walking on it rather than sit it out for a few days? It hurts more and more. And why? Because you’re making it worse!

The same is true for these hidden injuries in your neck and back. Yes, you read that correctly! Your doctor who means well and wants you pain-free, may be hurting you by giving you seemingly harmless drugs!

That’s not to mention the side effects of using these drugs. You see, the bodily functions these drugs are blocking to hide your pain also have other functions in the body. Depending on the drug, you may run into

serious kidney, stomach, or liver problems as a result of popping these drugs just to get through a day of work.

The next step doctors will rely on once their initial treatments fail is to refer you to a physical therapist.

The only problem here is the physical therapist is told what to do by your doctor. This means whatever therapy you undergo is designed to treat the problem your doctor thinks you have, when really it may be something totally different.

So, after this charade, it’s no coincidence most people with ‘hidden’ injuries are still in pain and may even feel worse!

At this point, you are either sent back to therapy to try another treatment that odds are won’t work because the person directing the treatment, your doctor, never diagnosed your problem correctly. Or, he may recommend you see a surgeon about your problem.

Now, it’s true that surgery is an extremely drastic treatment for these sorts of injuries, but if a surgeon doesn’t know what to go after, you’re probably not going to come out of the operating room fixed.

Oftentimes surgeries, especially in the neck and back, will only result in a short period of pain relief, at best. More than half of all back surgeries will never get you out of complete pain.

Plus, there’s the added risk of infection and anesthesia problems, not to mention other side effects that aren’t too uncommon when it comes to cutting a body open…like missed time off work and reduced living for weeks or months at a time. Do you really think surgery is even an option you should consider especially since your doctor may not have the whole picture?

Discover RIGHT NOW If You Suffer From

A Hidden Injury!

Hidden injuries are extremely serious problems. Unfortunately, medical science is under-trained and unequipped to diagnose and treat them with any measure of success. This is a giant health care problem in this country, considering 20 million people have suffered from a hidden injury.

The sooner you find out you have a hidden injury, the sooner you can start a treatment plan to get rid of it and get you out of pain as soon as possible. Wouldn’t it be nice to finally be pain-free and living your life the same way you did before the accident ever happened?

Well, if you do find out that you do suffer from a hidden injury, then this can be your reality. Imagine being pain-free without pills, or painful and repetitive physical therapy, or even the thought of surgery.

Isn’t that nice? Wouldn’t you rather be healthy and alive once again, rather than living life only one pill away from endless pain, misery and frustration? Aren’t you tired of going to your doctor again and again, and never getting better?

You see, your doctor may know there are better treatments out there available to you, but they also know if they tell you that, you may never come back to see them!

I do my best to get Auto Accident Victims Out Of Pain

Safely and Effectively Without Drugs Or Surgery!

My name is Dr. David B. Starkey DC MS Dipl. Ac. DOT Medical Examiner and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (See www.coveroffice.com)

I’ve spent years fighting for the rights of auto accident victims just like you. In fact, that’s why I wrote this FREE report. I’m sick and tired of car accident victims going through years of pain and misery all because no one ever bothered to tell them their rights and the truth about their injuries.

I’ve used my drug and surgery-free method to help auto accident victims just like you out of pain as quickly and easily as possible. Through the grace of God, we have been able to help almost everyone who I’ve diagnosed with a hidden injury.

In fact, we have been so successful and happy with helping people just like you get out of pain, I've focused a majority of my practice and skills at getting auto accident victims out of pain and keeping them that way! There’s nothing that pleases me more than helping car accident victims just like you.

That’s why I gave you this FREE report. I want you to know the truth about car accidents almost everyone out there doesn’t seem to want you to know. I know we can help you.

Dr. David B. Starkey DC MS Dipl. Ac.

VACCINATION: THE MYTH

Vaccination is a very controversial and emotional issue today. It is not a chiropractic issue, nor has it ever been. It is a freedom of choice issue. You as the parent have the ultimate responsibility for your child’s health and well-being, and you, not your doctor, state, or federal health officials, will live with and be responsible for the consequences of your decision. Vaccines are portrayed as being indispensable and somehow better at disease protection than our innate biological defenses and nutritional resources have accomplished for thousands of years.

The Anthon reports that medical experts with financial ties to the vaccine manufacturers heavily influence the government’s decisions endangering the health of innocent children to enhance profit. In the U.S. alone, they estimated that over $1 billion is generated each year from profits.

“Although I administered them myself during my early years of practice, I have become a steadfast opponent of mass inoculations because of the myriad hazards they present.”

Robert Mendelson, M.D.

“Immunizations promote certain types of chronic diseases. And far from providing a genuine immunity, the vaccines are actually a form of immunosuppression...I could no longer bring myself to give the injections to children even when the parents wished me to.”

Richard Moskowitz, M.D. “Isn’t it ironic that we require or recommend immunizations in order to

start school only to, in some cases, compromise some of the children by the very method we are using to supposedly protect them.”

Mark Thoman, M.D.

Not only are vaccinations not able to completely prevent us from contracting a certain disease, but they also have many ingredients that have known reactions in the body. These ingredients include: Ethel Glycol (antifreeze), formaldehyde (preserving-bodies), acetone (finger nail polish remover), aluminum phosphate (carcinogens), mercury (cancer causing agent), phenol (carbon acid – disinfectant), and Thimerosal (carcinogen). On average before the age of six, your child will have been vaccinated 34 times. Many childhood diseases have declined steadily due to the increases in technology, such as improved sanitation, nutrition and health care, but not because of vaccines. In a whooping cough outbreak in Cincinnati in 1993, 80% of those under the age of five who got whooping cough had been fully vaccinated. Every year 8 cases of Polio occur as a result of the vaccine. There has not been a naturally occurring case of Polio since 1979. Vaccination promises protection against a select number of chronic diseases that, for some mysterious reason, our own immune system and natural health resources cannot deal with effectively on their own. The common side effects that have been documented after vaccinations include chronic

immunological and neurological disorders such as autism, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorders, dyslexia, allergies, cancer and other conditions. These diseases barely existed 30 years ago before mass vaccination programs.

Reactions to vaccinations can consist of persistent screaming, a high-pitched unusual cry, a state of unresponsiveness, fever with or without seizures or convulsions, excessive drowsiness, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, nausea or apparent dizziness. If any of these symptoms occur any time, you should contact your physician, but this is especially important after a recent vaccination. It is estimated that physicians report less than 10% of vaccine damage and 97.5% vaccine related deaths go unreported. The U.S. pays more than $11 million each year in settlements and paid a total of $750 million in damages presently.

CHIROPRACTIC IS THE #1

SOURCE FOR A PROPERLY

FUNCTIONING NERVOUS AND

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Chiropractic is a natural, simpler and holistic way of improving your child’s immune system. Chiropractors look directly for a SUBLUXATION; this is a misalignment of a bone that is putting pressure on a nerve creating an interference or dysfunction in a body. There are three ways that a child or an adult gets a subluxation: Trauma – birth process (Dr. Towbin states that 80% of all children are subluxated at Birth), slips, or falls, stress – emotional, family dynamics, chemicals or drugs – antibiotics, vaccination, sugar, NutraSweet, 2nd hand smoke, and pollution. Chiropractors are the only health care professionals who can detect and correct your child’s subluxation. Chiropractors look for the cause of your

son/daughter’s weakened immune and nervous system. In a recent study, children under chiropractic care can get sick less often and less severely, and they will rarely miss days from school. Recent studies show that they have fewer emotional and learning disabilities and other neurological problems connected with childhood. Chiropractic Kids also have less need for antibiotics, less occurrence of ear infections, tonsillitis and the immune system strength is doubled.

It is clear that American health care consumers are not going to win the right to make informed, independent health care decisions, including vaccination decisions, for themselves and their children unless they actively push for a change in state mandatory vaccination laws and support large scale reform of the mass vaccination system.

MOMS SPEAK OUT

“I feel the body’s own immune system is far better than injecting an unnatural substance. Most common childhood diseases are not life threatening. Once the child has the disease he/she is immune for life.”

S.G.

For more information contact

Dr. David B. Starkey

www.coveroffice.com

FLU PREVENTION PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE CHIROPRACTIC CARE

People of all ages are encouraged to add chiropractic to their strategy for warding off and fighting the flu and its effects – swine flu or otherwise.

Spinal adjustments can have a positive effect on immune function according to a growing number of researchers who are exploring the common denominators in disease processes, and the role of the nervous, immune, and hormonal systems in development of immune related illnesses.

Chiropractic corrects spinal abnormalities called vertebral subluxations that result in interference of the nervous system. Since the nervous system controls all functions of the body -- including the immune system -- chiropractic care can have a positive effect on immune function.

“Contemporary research is beginning to shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms which may explain the outstanding clinical results chiropractors have experienced when managing patients with viral and infectious diseases,” stated Dr. Christopher Kent, Co- Founder of Chiropractic Leadership Alliance.

Dr. Kent explained: “A comprehensive review of the research literature reveals the current understanding that the brain and immune system are the two major adaptive systems in the body. During an immune response, the brain and the immune system 'talk to each other' and this process is essential for maintaining homeostasis or balance in the body."

Since its inception, chiropractic has asserted that viruses and microbes don't threaten us all equally and that a healthy immune system easily repels most invaders. The immune system protects us from the flu, as well as any other infectious disease, and strives to get us well again when we do fall ill. Our immune system, like every other system in the body, is coordinated and controlled by the nervous system.

Chiropractors are also aware of the importance of positive health life style practices (rest, drinking ample quantities of water, diet, exercise, proper diet, use of multivitamins and minerals, and stress reduction approaches) that can also positively influence the nervous system and immune response. According to a large study of the chiropractic profession recently conducted by the Institute for Social Research, Ohio Northern University (McDonald et al., 2003), chiropractors also customarily advise their patients as to the benefits of these other modalities in optimizing overall health.

Chiropractors helping patients battle the flu is not a new occurrence either. During the 1917-18 influenza epidemic, which brought death and fear to many Americans, it has been estimated that 20 million people died throughout the world, including about 500,000 Americans. It was chiropractic’s success in caring for flu victims that led to the profession’s licensure in many states.

Researchers reported that in Davenport, Iowa, out of the 93,590 patients treated by medical doctors, there were 6,116 deaths -- a loss of one patient out of every 15. Chiropractors at the Palmer School of Chiropractic adjusted 1,635 cases, with only one death. Outside Davenport, chiropractors in Iowa cared for 4,735 cases with only six deaths -- one out of 866. During the same epidemic, in Oklahoma, out of 3,490 flu patients under chiropractic care, there were only seven deaths. Furthermore, chiropractors were called in 233 cases given up as lost after medical treatment, and reportedly saved all but 25. In another report covering 4,193 cases by 213 chiropractors 4,104 showed complete recovery.

“These results are not so surprising given what we now know about the interaction between the nervous system and the immune system” stated Matthew McCoy DC, MPH, Editor of the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic. “Through research we know that chiropractic has beneficial effects on immunoglobulins, B-lymphocytes (white blood cells), pulmonary function and other immune system processes.”

One such study, conducted by Patricia Brennan Ph.D and her team, found that when a chiropractic “manipulation” was applied to the middle back, the response of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (white blood cells) taken from blood collected 15 minutes after the manipulation was significantly higher than blood collected 15 minutes before and 30 and 45 minutes after the chiropractic procedure. This research demonstrated an “enhanced respiratory burst” following the chiropractic adjustment. This “burst” is needed for our immune cells to destroy invading viruses and bacteria.

Another small study of HIV positive patients was conducted to study the effects of specific chiropractic adjustments to correct vertebral subluxations in the upper neck on the immune systems of HIV positive individuals. Over the six-month period of the study, the group that did not receive chiropractic care experienced a 7.96% decrease in CD4 cell counts, while the adjusted group experienced a 48% increase in CD4 cell counts over the same period.

A large retrospective study conducted by Robert Blanks Ph.D and colleagues studied 2,818 individuals undergoing chiropractic care - these individuals reported an average overall improvement, ranging from 7-28%, in a battery of physical symptoms including stiffness/lack of flexibility in the spine, physical pain, fatigue, incidence of colds and flu, headaches, menstrual discomfort, gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, dizziness and falls (Blanks et al., 1997, Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research).

More importantly, the incidence of colds and flu was reduced by an average of 15% in this large population who were undergoing regular chiropractic care.

“In addition to the passive recommendations regarding hand washing, avoiding large gatherings, coughing and sneezing into your hands – it makes a great deal of sense to do everything you can to ensure that your immune system is functioning at its best. And that strategy should include chiropractic care” stated Dr. McCoy.

110 References available-