Chiropractic Care - What’s It All About …

Hands-Free CPR

You’re in a restaurant, or at an airport, or on a crowded street. The man or woman next to you crumples to the ground. Do you know what to do? Health journalist Caleb Hellerman describes in the following article. He states that anyone trained in CPR knows the first step of what to do in this situation: Check for breathing, and check for a pulse. If there’s no heartbeat — what then? That question has been the subject of intense debate, especially since 2008 when the American Heart Association said that bystanders could try and keep a cardiac arrest victim alive just by pressing on the chest in a hard, quick rhythm. How fast? The exact pace of the Bee Gees’ “Staying Alive.” A big part of the thinking is that people are more likely to attempt resuscitation if they don’t have to perform rescue breaths, also known as mouth-to-mouth. An unresolved question has been whether chest-compression-only CPR, sometimes known as CCR, is truly just as good as the original. Two large studies published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine seem to provide an answer: yes. Dr. Myron Weisfeldt of Johns Hopkins University, who wrote the editorial accompanying the two papers, cautioned in a separate statement that there are some exceptions to the rule. “It is very important to understand that the patients in this study were adults and that for most children who suffer cardiac arrest, such as drowning victims, we must do rescue breathing.” He also said patients with chronic lung disease or acute asthma, should also receive mouth-to-mouth. The Red Cross issued a statement, saying it considers traditional CPR to be better, but that compressions without mouth-to-mouth “is an acceptable alternative for those who are unwilling, unable, or not trained to perform full CPR.” There are some indications the new papers actually understate the overall benefit of CCR. Last November, at an American Heart Association meeting, a group from Arizona reported significantly better outcomes for people who received CCR from a bystander, than for those getting CPR with mouth-to-mouth. Chest compressions work by circulating oxygen that is already present in the blood. The bloodstream of a person breathing normally — up until a cardiac arrest — contains enough oxygen to sustain life for several minutes. However, oxygen can’t nourish cells — most importantly, brain cells — unless it is circulated, either by a beating heart or by chest compressions. It’s unclear whether CCR is effective simply because it minimizes interruption to chest compressions, maintaining a steady flow of blood, or if the explanation is more complex. Oxygen starvation triggers a cascade of damaging chemical reactions inside cells. Some studies suggest that returning oxygen to the mix too soon could make the damage even worse, and that it’s better to keep oxygen levels relatively low in the first minutes after the heart stops. Whatever the mechanism, the new papers are likely to give momentum to an overhaul of the way CPR is done around the country. In Phoenix and Seattle, 911 dispatchers already teach callers to use chest compressions only, in cases of apparent cardiac arrest. Officials in Dallas and New York say their 911 dispatchers “stress” or “push” chest compressions. Ben Bobrow, director of Arizona’s emergency services, thinks other cities will follow the same path. According to Dr. Benjamin Abella, an emergency physician who helped develop the 2008 AHA guidelines, the takeaway message is that it’s easy for a bystander to radically improve the odds. If you see someone collapse without a pulse, he says, “You should at least provide chest compressions. The most important thing is to move blood.”

The easier the CPR, the more likely one is to do it,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC

Blood Pressure Cuff

The chiropractic community is excited to add one more valuable piece of research to it’s list of evidence illustrating chiropractic’s effectiveness. The following is a report by McCormick Chiropracitc detailing the effects of chiropractic on lowering blood pressure. A report in the March 2, 2007 issue of the Journal of Human Hypertension says that a single, specific chiropractic adjustment (versus a placebo of a fake adjustment) in people suffering from high blood pressure caused a significant reduction in blood pressure that continued for as long as eight weeks. Those patients who received the adjustments saw an average drop of 14mm Hg in the systolic pressure (the top number) and an average 8mm Hg drop in the diastolic pressure (the bottom number). Very encouraging was the fact that the improvements continued into the eighth week when the study ended. In a related article on the WebMD Web site, study leader George Bakris, M.D. says “This (adjustment) procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination. And it seems to be adverse-event free,” he said. “We saw no side effects and no problems.” Bakris admits the results were surprising. “When the statistician brought me the data, I actually didn’t believe it. It was way too good to be true. The statistician said, ‘I don’t even believe it.’ But we checked for everything, and there it was.” Not surprisingly, Bakris is planning a larger study.

Enjoying the potential to lower blood pressure,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC

Hospitalizations

If you’ve made it halfway through July without being hospitalized, and avoided the ICU on a weekend, consider yourself lucky says health writer JoNel Aleccia. Two new studies suggest that there are certain times when it’s dangerous, even deadly, to seek hospital care, validating what many chiropractors have been describing as another reason to practice preventative healthcare to minimize hospitalizations. “Anecdotally, we’ve always worried about that,” said Michael Cohen, a pharmacist and president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a nonprofit patient safety group. “I have to say, I wouldn’t have surgery on a Friday. Staffing is down and quite honestly you might not get the best treatment.” In one recent study, researchers from the University of California at San Diego found that fatal medication errors rose 10 percent in July in U.S. counties with teaching hospitals, giving credence to what’s long been known as the “July effect.” That’s the notion that deaths go up in July, the month that just-graduated medical residents start their new jobs, likely because of mistakes caused by inexperience, said David P. Phillips, the sociology professor who led the analysis. He examined more than 62 million U.S. death certificates from 1979 to 2006 and found a spike only in July. He also found that the jump was higher in counties with greater concentrations of teaching hospitals. “The best available explanation was that this increase was associated with changes associated with the new residents,” said Phillips, whose study was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Scant off-hours staffing and other administrative problems - including low doctor-to-patient ratios and difficulty obtaining necessary tests and therapies - likely contribute to the increased weekend deaths in the ICU, Marik said. While no one chooses when to have a heart attack and it might not be possible to avoid hospitals in July, there are ways patients can boost their chances of coming out OK, the experts said. “It’s a matter of not being afraid to question something you don’t understand,” said Cohen. “Have someone with you who speaks the language of medicine.” Don’t simply assume that a new doctor is familiar with your case, Scheurer (an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School) suggested. Instead, patients should double-check that the doctor knows why they’re there and what treatment is planned. New drugs should also be confirmed. “When a nurse comes in with a bucket of medications for them to take, ask what’s in the bucket,” she said. The bottom line, experts said, is that patients shouldn’t be afraid to go to the hospital in July or on a weekend. But they should also watch out for themselves. “They shouldn’t really avoid or delay care,” Scheurer said. “They should think in a mindset of ‘What would I do on Monday morning?’ - and advocate for themselves in the same way on Sunday.” Chiropractic and soft-tissue therapies are excellent ways to help you maintain the health you need to prevent such problematic hospital experiences.

Preventing bad hospitalizations,

Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC

Thought the fireworks were over for the season? BUT the Fourth of July is over and you’re still feeling bursts of pain/discomfort? One of the most common and simplistic reasons is a pinched nerve…

The Mayo clinic states that a pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues - such as bones, cartilage, muscles or tendons. This pressure disrupts the nerve’s function, causing pain, tingling, numbness or weakness. With rest and chiropractic care, most people recover from the effects of a pinched nerve within a few days or weeks. Pinched nerve signs and symptoms include:

–Numbness or decreased sensation in the area supplied by the nerve.
–Sharp or burning pain, which may radiate outward. When the pinched nerve comes from the spinal cord, coughing or sneezing may aggravate the pain.
–Tingling, “pins and needles” sensations (paresthesia).
–Muscle weakness or twitching in the affected area.
–Frequent feeling that a foot or hand has “fallen asleep.”
–The problems related to a pinched nerve may be worse when you’re sleeping.

What exactly causes a pinched nerve? The Mayo Clinic details this below: a pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure (compression) is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues. In some cases, this tissue might be bone or cartilage - such as in the case of a herniated spinal disk that compresses a nerve root. In other cases, muscle or tendons may be the culprits. In the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, a variety of tissues may be responsible for compression of the carpal tunnel’s median nerve, including swollen tendon sheaths within the tunnel, enlarged bone that narrows the tunnel, or a thickened and degenerated ligament. A number of conditions may cause tissue to compress a nerve or nerves. Injury, poor posture, osteoarthritis, stress from repetitive job, hobby or sports activities, and obesity are common causes of nerve pressure. This pressure causes inflammation of the nerve and disrupts the nerve’s function. If a nerve is pinched for only a short time, there’s typically no permanent damage. Once the pressure is relieved, nerve function returns to normal. However, if the pressure continues, chronic pain and permanent nerve damage can occur.

When dealing with pinched nerves, there are lots of risk factors to think about in order to fully understand how best to approach them.

The following factors may increase your risk of experiencing a pinched nerve:
–Posture. Poor posture adds pressure to your spine and nerves.
–Osteoarthritis. Nerves can become pinched in the bone spurs caused by osteoarthritis.
–Overuse. Jobs or hobbies that require repetitive hand, wrist or shoulder movements, such as assembly line work, increase your likelihood of a pinched nerve.
–Obesity. Excess weight can add pressure to nerves.
–Heredity. Some people appear to be genetically predisposed to conditions that lead to pinched nerves.

Dr. Kotzan has many unique treatment options to help treat pinched nerves, one of the most commonly chiropractic-treated symptoms (options that include chiropractic adjustments, Active Release Technique, traction, etc.). Upon going for consultation for a pinched nerve, Dr. Kotzan is likely to ask you a number of questions before treatment in order to more fully understand the nature of your symptoms and the pinched nerve. The questions may include:
–What are your symptoms? Do you feel pain, numbness, tingling or weakness?
–Where, specifically, are you feeling these symptoms?
–How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?
–Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
–Is there an activity or position that triggers your symptoms?
–Is there an activity or position that relieves your symptoms?
–Do you have a job or hobby that requires you to make repetitive motions?

The following measures may help you prevent a pinched nerve:

–CHIROPRACTIC CARE.
–Active Release Technique Soft-Tissue Therapy.
–Maintain good posture.
–Incorporate strength and flexibility exercises into your regular exercise program.
–Limit repetitive activities, and take frequent breaks when engaging in these activities.
–Maintain a healthy weight.

Wishing you pinched-nerve-free day,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC

Vacation

Summer is the best time for so many fun activities, whether your activities are restful to let the body RELAX or high-energy to WORKOUT the body. Below are 8 ways from summer fun expert Sally Schultheiss to make this your best summer vacation yet!

1. Share A Rental With Another Family–lower cost, more space.
2. Figure In Child Care–you need some time alone after all!
3. Research Activities Before You Go–build some excitement.
4. Put The Kids To Work–show them this is everyone’s trip.
5. Travel Light–ease the burden! Hotels and care rental companies supply lots of items.
6. Plan A Schedule In Advance But Be Flexible–plan rest time.
7. Share Your Dirty Laundry–pack light, have laundry services clean your laundry while gone to minimize work when you return.
8. Start Traditions–play games, take photographs, journal, scrapbook, send postcards. Doing this along the way even minimizes time needed to do them once you return.

Vacation Does A Body Good,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC

Produce

Danielle Dellorto, Senior Medical Producer for CNN, details the amount of pesticides you might be consuming while picnicking and barbequing (and enjoying all the great produce that goes with it) this summer.

If you’re eating non-organic celery today, you may be ingesting 67 pesticides with it, according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group. The group, a nonprofit focused on public health, scoured nearly 100,000 produce pesticide reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine what fruits and vegetables we eat have the highest, and lowest, amounts of chemical residue. Most alarming are the fruits and vegetables dubbed the “Dirty Dozen,” which contain 47 to 67 pesticides per serving. These foods are believed to be most susceptible because they have soft skin that tends to absorb more pesticides.”It’s critical people know what they are consuming,” the Environmental Working Group’s Amy Rosenthal said. “The list is based on pesticide tests conducted after the produce was washed with USDA high-power pressure water system. The numbers reflect the closest thing to what consumers are buying at the store.” The group suggests limiting consumption of pesticides by purchasing organic for the 12 fruits and vegetables. “You can reduce your exposure to pesticides by up to 80 percent by buying the organic version of the Dirty Dozen,” Rosenthal said.

The Dirty Dozen

1. Celery 5. Domestic Blueberries 9. Cherries
2. Peaches 6.Nectarines 10.Potatoes
3. Strawberries 7. Sweet Bell Peppers 11. Imported Grapes
4.Apples 8. Spinach, kale and collard greens 12 Lettuce

Not all non-organic fruits and vegetables have a high pesticide level. Some produce has a strong outer layer that provides a defense against pesticide contamination. The group found a number of non-organic fruits and vegetables dubbed the “Clean 15″ that contained little to no pesticides.

The Clean 15

1. Onions 6. Sweet Peas 11. Cantaloupe
2. Avacados 7. Asparagus 12. Watermelon
3. Sweet Corn 8. Kiwi Fruit 13. Grapefruit
4.Pineapples 9. Cabbage 14. Sweet Potatoes
5. Mangos 10. Eggplant 15. Sweet Onions

What is a pesticide?
A pesticide is a mixture of chemical substances used on farms to destroy or prevent pests, diseases and weeds from affecting crops. According to the USDA, 45 percent of the world’s crops are lost to damage or spoilage, so many farmers count on pesticides. The Environmental Protection Agency, the FDA and the USDA work together to monitor and set limits as to how much pesticide can be used on farms and how much is safe to remain on the produce once it hits grocery store shelves. “In setting the tolerance amount, the EPA must make a safety finding that the pesticide can be used with ‘reasonable certainty of no harm.’ The EPA ensures that the tolerance selected will be safe,” according the EPA’s website. Although the President’s Cancer Panel recently recommended that consumers eat produce without pesticides to reduce their risk of getting cancer and other diseases, the low levels of pesticides found on even the Dirty Dozen are government-approved amounts.
Can small amounts of pesticides hurt you?
The government says that consuming pesticides in low amounts doesn’t harm you, but some studies show an association between pesticides and health problems such as cancer, attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder and nervous system disorders and say exposure could weaken immune systems. The Environmental Working Group acknowledges that data from long-term studies aren’t available but warns consumers of the potential dangers. “Pesticides are designed to kill things. Why wait for 20 years to discover they are bad for us?” Rosenthal said. Some doctors warn that children’s growing brains are the most vulnerable to pesticides in food. “A kid’s brain goes through extraordinary development, and if pesticides get into the brain, it can cause damage,” said Dr. Philip Landrigan, chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
Can pesticides be washed away?
Not necessarily. The pesticide tests mentioned above were conducted after the food had been power-washed by the USDA. Also, although some pesticides are found on the surface of foods, other pesticides may be taken up through the roots and into the plant and cannot be removed.
“We’ve found that washing doesn’t do much,” Rosenthal said. “Peeling can help, although you have to take into account that the pesticides are in the water, so they can be inside the fruit because of the soil.” All fresh produce, whether it’s grown with or without pesticides, should be washed with water to remove dirt and potentially harmful bacteria. And health experts agree that when it comes to the Dirty Dozen list, choose organic if it’s available. “To the extent you can afford to do so, [parents] should simply buy organic, because there have been some very good studies that shows people who eat mostly organic food reduce 95 percent of pesticides [in their body] in two weeks,” Landrigan said.

Encouraging A Pesticide-Free Summer,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC

Sunburn

Enjoying the sun has become more of a health issue these days. Health writer Madison Parks provides a list of five essential ways to maintain proper health while out in the sun.
1.) Clothing matters.
All clothing protects the skin to some degree, said Dr. Ariel Ostad, a clinical assistant professor in the department of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. A tightly woven fabric such as denim confers more protection than linen, because it allows less light penetration, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. While it’s unlikely anyone would wear sunscreen underneath thin clothes, it might be worthwhile for extra sensitive people. Some companies create UV-absorbing clothes. These might be helpful for people who spend hours in the sun, because the fabric’s weave is designed to protect against the sun, said Ostad, who has no relationship with any of the manufacturers. These clothes have ultraviolet protection factor, also known as UPF, which indicates how much UV radiation can penetrate the fabric. A shirt with an UPF of 30 means just 1/30 of the sun’s radiation can get through.
2.) Sunscreens should have UVA and UVB protection.
UVB rays cause sunburns. UVA rays age the skin, causing wrinkles and tans. These are two types of ultraviolet radiation that damage and increases risks of skin cancer. Make sure the sunscreen product has both UVB and UVA protection, dermatologists say. The key active ingredients to look for are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, said Ostad. “Evidence has shown the best sunscreens are the ones that block UVB and UVA,” Ostad said.
3.) A high SPF is hype.
The higher the Sun Protection Factor value, the better sun protection the product is supposed to provide against UVB light. Research shows that an effective SPF 15 can block about 93 percent of all incoming UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97 percent and SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. The protective factors plateau from there, Ostad said. A product with SPF 100+ blocks about 99.1 percent of the UVB rays. “You don’t really need a high number,” Ostad said. “They end up being expensive and don’t do more than SPF 50.” Keep in mind, SPF protects only against UVB rays. This fall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to issue sunscreen labeling changes and a star-rating system to also measure UVA protection.
4.) Sunscreen sprays are not as effective.
Sure, the sprays are easy to apply, but the downfall is they’re less effective. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide doesn’t come in spray form. And most of the sprays protect mainly against UVB rays, Ostad said. Another problem is that people don’t use enough sunscreen, said Dr. Rutledge Forney, an educational spokesperson for The Skin Cancer Foundation. An average person should use a dollop — enough to fill a shot glass, she said. About one ounce of sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going outside and reapplied every two hours, she said. “Whether the sun is out or not, put on sunscreen on your face and hands, just like you would brush your teeth twice a day,” Forney said.
5.) Darker skin tone isn’t a free pass.
Darker-skinned people have some natural protective qualities from their pigmentation, but it’s no immunity against sunburn and skin cancer. African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and people of color get the disease, too. It might be harder to diagnose skin cancer in these populations because the growths often appear in atypical locations such as palms, soles of the feet, toenails and fingernails. Skin experts say all racial groups need to use sunscreens.

Protect your skin!
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC

Sports Injuries

“The majority, if not all, sports are good, provided that the child prepares appropriately,” says Dr. Timothy Ray, a member of the American Chiropractic Association’s Council on Sports Injuries and Physical Fitness. “Without proper preparation, playing any sport can turn into a bad experience. There are structural and physical developmental issues that need to be taken into consideration before children undertake certain sports.”

Young athletes today often think they are invincible. The following American Chiropractic Association tips can help ensure your child does not miss a step when it comes to proper fitness, stretching, training and rest that the body needs to engage in sporting activities. Encourage your child to:

·Have Proper Nutrition And Hydration. Proper nutrition and hydration are also extremely vital. “While an ordinary person may need to drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water each day, athletes need to drink even more than that for proper absorption. Breakfast should be the most important meal of the day. Also, eating a healthy meal two to four hours before a practice or a game and another within one to two hours after a game or practice allows for proper replenishment and refuels the body,” adds Dr. Horwitz (member of the US Olympic medalist team).
· Wear The Proper Equipment. Certain contact sports, such as football and hockey, can be dangerous if the equipment is not properly fitted. Make sure all equipment, including helmets, pads and shoes fit your child or adolescent. Talk to your child’s coach or trainer if the equipment is damaged.
· Eat Healthy Meals. Make sure your young athlete is eating a well-balanced diet and does not skip meals. Avoid high-fat foods, such as candy bars and fast food. At home, provide fruit rather than cookies, and vegetables rather than potato chips.
· Maintain A Healthy Weight. Certain sports, such as gymnastics, wrestling and figure skating, may require your young athlete to follow strict dietary rules. Be sure your child does not feel pressured into being too thin and that he/she understands that proper nutrition and caloric intake is needed for optimal performance and endurance.
· Drink Water. Hydration is a key element to optimal fitness. Teenage athletes should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Younger athletes should drink five to eight 8-ounce glasses of water.
· Drink Milk. Make sure your child has enough calcium included in his/her diet. For children over 2 years of age, ACA recommends 1 percent or skim milk rather than whole milk. Milk is essential for healthy bones and reduces the risk of joint and muscle related injuries.
· Avoid Sugar-Loaded, Caffeinated And Carbonated Drinks. Sports drinks are a good source of replenishment for those kids engaged in long duration sports, such as track and field.
· Follow A Warm-Up Routine. Be sure your child or his/her coach includes a warm-up and stretching session before every practice, game or meet. A slow jog, jumping rope and/or lifting small weightsreduces the risk of torn or ripped muscles. Flexibility is key when pushing to score that extra goal or make that critical play.
· Take Vitamins Daily. A multi-vitamin and Vitamin C are good choices for the young athlete. Vitamin B and amino acids may help reduce the pain from contact sports. Thiamine can help promote healing. Also consider Vitamin A to strengthen scar tissue.
· Avoid Trendy Supplements. Kids under the age of 18 should avoid the use of performance-enhancing supplements, such as creatine. Instead, they should ask their coach or trainer to include weekly weight training and body-conditioning sessions in their workout.
· Get Plenty Of Rest. Eight hours of sleep is ideal for the young athlete. Lack of sleep and rest can decrease performance. Sluggishness, irritability and loss of interest could indicate that your child is fatigued.
·Chiropractic Care Can Help. Doctors of chiropractic are trained and licensed to treat the entire neuromusculoskeletal system and can provide advice on sports training, nutrition and injury prevention to young athletes.

Treating childhood sports injuries,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC

Earaches

Below, chiropractor and journalist, Matt Smith, explains how you can treat a common and painful dilemma for many kids. Ear problems can be excruciatingly painful, especially for children. With 10 million new cases every year, ear infections (otitis media) are the most common symptoms affecting babies and young children and the No.1 reason for visits to the pediatrician - accounting for more than 35 percent of all pediatric visits.

Almost half of all children will have at least one middle-ear infection before they’re 1 year old, and two-thirds of them will have had at least one such infection by age 3. The symptoms can include ear pain, fever and irritability.

Otitis media can be either bacterial or viral in origin, and frequently results from another illness such as a cold. For many children, it can become a chronic problem, requiring treatment year after year, and putting the child at risk of permanent hearing damage and associated speech and developmental problems.

Standard treatment for most cases of otitis media is with antibiotics, which can be effective if the culprit is bacterial (antibiotics, of course, do nothing to fight off viruses). But, according to many research studies, antibiotics are often not much more effective than the body’s own immune system. And repeated doses of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria that scoff at the drugs, while leaving the child screaming in pain.

Doing my part to reduce ear aches,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC
Frequent ear infections are also the second most common reason for surgery in children under 2 (with circumcision being the first). In severe cases, for example, when fluids from an ear infection haven’t cleared from the ear after several months, and hearing is affected, specialists sometimes prescribe myringotomy and tympanostomy, more commonly known as “ear tubes.”

During the surgical procedure, a small opening is made in the eardrum to place a tube inside. The tube relieves pressure in the ear and prevents repeated fluid buildup with the continuous venting of fresh air. In most cases, the membrane pushes the tube out after a couple of months and the hole in the eardrum closes. Although the treatment is effective, it has to be repeated in some 20 to 30 percent of cases. And this kind of surgery requires general anesthesia, never a minor thing in a small child. If the infection persists even after tube placement and removal, children sometimes undergo adenoidectomy (surgical removal of the adenoids) - an option that is effective mostly through the first year after surgery.

Before yet another round of “maybe-they’ll-work-and-maybe-they-won’t” antibiotics or the drastic step of surgery, more parents are considering a chiropractic approach to help children with chronic ear infections. Dr. Joan Fallon, a chiropractor who practices in Yonkers, has published research showing that, after receiving a series of chiropractic adjustments, nearly 80 percent of the children treated were free of ear infections for at least the six-month period following their initial visits (a period that also included maintenance treatments every four to six weeks).

Chiropractic mobilizes drainage of the ear in children, and if they can continue to drain without a buildup of fluid and subsequent infection, they build up their own antibodies and recover more quickly. Chiropractors use primarily upper-cervical manipulation on children with otitis media, focusing particularly on the occiput, or back of the skull, and atlas, or the first vertebra in the neck. Adjusting the occiput, in particular, will get the middle ear to drain.

Dr. Fallon, whose research garnered her the acclaim of childrearing magazines like Parenting and Baby Talk, often sees great success when she treats a child for otitis media. “Once they fight it themselves, my kids tend to do very well and stay away from ear infections completely. Unless there are environmental factors like smoking in the house, an abnormally shaped Eustachian tube, or something like that, they do very well,” she said.

Chiropractic care can help, so ask Dr. Kotzan about your child’s ear infections. Doctors of chiropractic are licensed and trained to diagnose and treat patients of all ages and will use a gentler type of treatment for children.

Doing my part to reduce earaches,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC

Fellow pediatric chiropractor Jeff Ludwick answers that easily. His explanation is that children with properly aligned spines have a better opportunity to be healthy—much better off than taking any of the 40 childrens’ over-the-counter cold and allergy medications being recalled (including Tylenol and Motrin). Beginning at birth, children go through many different micro-traumas and frequent falls as they learn to crawl, walk and eventually run. Chiropractic adjustments give children an edge by reducing many physical stressors they endure throughout life. The child’s spine is developing rapidly in the first 10 years of life. Apparently innocent events, such as wearing backpacks, increasing use of the computer, having poor posture and getting injured playing sports, can create spinal misalignments in the child’s spine. These can put inflammatory pressure on the child’s nervous system. When the nerve isn’t functioning correctly, it can result in symptoms such as colic, asthma, ear infections, stomach ache, bed wetting, poor posture, hyperactivity and frequent colds or flu. Through safe and gentle adjustments, a chiropractor can realign the child’s spine with specific contacts, reducing the pressure on the nervous system, allowing the body to heal and reduce symptoms. Like dentistry, many parents also see the benefits of providing preventive care for their children and see this as an important role in their child’s overall health and wellness. And working with kids is a fun part of the job! Bring your kids on in for treatments or just to come watch you being treated.

Looking forward to chiropractically treating your kids soon,
Dr. Phil Kotzan, DC