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Get the Lead Out!
The Chiro.Org Blog
SOURCE: MedPage Today ~ May 13, 2013
By Nancy Walsh, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
When the FDA finally got around to testing 324 multivitamin-mineral products that target children and pregnant women, they found that only 4 of them were lead-free.[1]
Well, new research now suggests that even low levels of lead in a supplement can have adverse effects on your children. Why not use a supplement made correctly, so you can protect your family?
Here’s the Bad news from MedPage Today:
Even Low Lead Exposure Hinders Kids’ Reading
Young children exposed to lead — even at low levels — are at risk for not meeting reading readiness benchmarks in kindergarten, a large study of urban children found.
On tests of reading readiness, children with blood lead levels between 5 and 9 µg/dL scored 4.5 points (95% CI −2.9 to −6.2) lower than those with levels below 5 µg/dL, according to Pat McLaine, DPH, of the University of Maryland in Baltimore, and colleagues.
And those with lead levels of 10 µg/dL and higher had scores 10.1 points (95% CI −7 to −13.3) lower, the researchers reported online in Pediatrics.
Continue reading …
 By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Iatrogenic Injury on October 4th, 2012 at 9:46 pm
More Bad News For Low Back Pain Sufferers:
Drug-induced Meningitis
The Chiro.Org Blog
SOURCE: Associated Press ~ Oct 4, 2012
By MIKE STOBBE
Medication Linked to Meningitis Deaths May Have Reached 23 States
The potential scope of the meningitis outbreak that has killed at least five people widened dramatically Thursday as health officials warned that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of patients who got steroid back injections in 23 states could be at risk.
UPDATE: October 09, 2012: The number of identified cases has reached 119, with 11 deaths in 10 different states.
UPDATE: October 11, 2012: The number of identified cases has reached 170, with 14 deaths in 11 different states.
UPDATE: October 12, 2012: from MedScape The number of people exposed to potentially contaminated methylprednisolone acetate produced by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts, is closer to 14,000 — not 13,000 — as originally reported on October 8, federal health officials said today.
“These 14,000 patients received the medication as a steroid injection either into the spinal area or into a joint space such as a knee, shoulder or ankle,” said J. Todd Weber, MD, incident manager of the multistate meningitis outbreak at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 12,000 of these people have been contacted to date, he said.
As of today, the CDC said a total of 170 cases (including the 14 deaths) have been reported across 11 states: Florida (7 cases, 2 deaths), Idaho (1 case), Indiana (21 cases, 1 death), Maryland (13 cases, 1 death), Michigan (39 cases, 3 deaths), Minnesota (3 cases), New Jersey (2 cases), North Carolina (2 cases), Ohio (3 cases), Tennessee (49 cases, 6 deaths), and Virginia (30 cases, 1 death).
UPDATE: October 25, 2012: from MedScape There are currently 328 reported cases of fungal infection, with 24 deaths now reported in 18 states. This includes 5 peripheral joint infections.
UPDATE: November 27, 2012: from Fox News There are currently 510 reported cases of fungal infection, with 36 deaths now reported in 19 states, and another 14 cases of peripheral joint infection reported.
NEW YORK (AP) — The potential scope of the meningitis outbreak that has killed at least five people widened dramatically Thursday as health officials warned that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of patients who got steroid back injections in 23 states could be at risk.
Clinics and medical centers rushed to contact patients who may have received the apparently fungus-contaminated shots. And the Food and Drug Administration urged doctors not to use any products at all from the Massachusetts pharmacy that supplied the suspect steroid solution.
It is not clear how many patients received tainted injections, or even whether everyone who got one will get sick.
So far, 35 people in six states — Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, North Carolina and Indiana — have contracted fungal meningitis, and five of them have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All had received steroid shots for back pain, a highly common treatment.
This is especially disturbing, because
Steroid Injections Offer Minimal Relief for Lower Back Pain
Continue reading …
By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Adverse Event on September 24th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
A Replication of the Ernst Study
“Adverse Effects of Spinal Manipulation: A Systematic Review”
The Chiro.Org Blog
SOURCE: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 2012 (Sep 21)
By Peter J. Tuchin, GradDipChiro, DipOHS, PhD
Macquarie University, Bld E5A Rm 355, Waterloo Rd, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia: peter.tuchin@mq.edu.au
Objective To assess the significance of adverse events after spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) by replicating and critically reviewing a paper commonly cited when reviewing adverse events of SMT as reported by Ernst. (J R Soc Med. 2007 (Jul); 100 (7): 330-338).
Method Replication of a 2007 Ernest paper to compare the details recorded in this paper to the original source material. Specific items that were assessed included the time lapse between treatment and the adverse event, and the recording of other significant risk factors such as diabetes, hyperhomocysteinemia, use of oral contraceptive pill, any history of hypertension, atherosclerosis and migraine.
Results The review of the 32 papers discussed by Ernst found numerous errors or inconsistencies from the original case reports and case series. These errors included alteration of the age or sex of the patient, and omission or misrepresentation of the long term response of the patient to the adverse event. Other errors included incorrectly assigning spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) as chiropractic treatment when it had been reported in the original paper as delivered by a non-chiropractic provider (e.g. Physician).
The original case reports often omitted to record the time lapse between treatment and the adverse event, and other significant clinical or risk factors. The country of origin of the original paper was also overlooked, which is significant as chiropractic is not legislated in many countries. In 21 of the cases reported by Ernest to be chiropractic treatment, 11 were from countries where chiropractic is not legislated.
Conclusion The number of errors or omissions in the 2007 Ernest paper, reduce the validity of the study and the reported conclusions. The omissions of potential risk factors and the timeline between the adverse event and SMT could be significant confounding factors. Greater care is also needed to distinguish between chiropractors and other health practitioners when reviewing the application of SMT and related adverse effects.
The Full-Text Article:
Introduction
The use of a treatment by health care providers requires examination of the evidence of effectiveness and assessment of the evidence for risks or adverse events (AE) caused by the treatment [1]. Spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) has strong evidence for treatment of low back pain, neck pain, headache and migraine [2-6]. This is supported by numerous systematic reviews of a large number of randomized controlled trials [7-10]
Continue reading …
A Practical Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion
The Chiro.Org Blog
SOURCE: Nutrition Review ~ October 2011
By Hyla Cass, MD
A little known, but potentially life-saving fact is that common medications deplete your body of a host of vital nutrients essential to your health. This practical guide will show you how to avoid drug-induced nutrient depletion and discuss options for replacing nutrient-robbing medications with natural supplements.
America has been called a pill-popping society, and the statistics bear this out. Nearly 50 percent of all American adults regularly take at least one prescription drug, and 20 percent take three or more. [1] Our increasing reliance on prescription medications has contributed to the growing problem with nutrient depletion. The truth is that every medication, including over-the-counter drugs, depletes your body of specific, vital nutrients. This is especially concerning when you consider that most Americans are already suffering from nutrient depletion. Additionally, many of the conditions physicians see in their everyday practice may actually be related to nutrient depletion. The good news is that, armed with information and the right supplements, you can avoid the side effects of nutrient depletion, and even better, you may be able to control and prevent chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
There is more info like this at our:
Nutrient Depletion Page
A Common Scenario
Continue reading …
By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Iatrogenic Injury on January 30th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Recent Report Highlights Growing Dangers of Anti-Inflammatory Medications
The Chiro.Org Blog
Dynamic Chiropractic ~ January 29, 2012
By James P. Meschino, DC, MS
In the Sept. 27, 2011 posting of the Biomedical Central Journal: Family Practice, R.J. Adams and colleagues commented on concerns raised by the common prescribing of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, particularly with respect to their important and sometimes fatal adverse side effects.
They state, “Non-steroidal anti-inflammation drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most common causes of reported serious adverse reactions to drugs, with those involving the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT), the cardiovascular system and the kidneys being the most common. Much of the focus on NSAID adverse effects has been on GIT consequences, with good reason. A U.S. study found the rate of deaths from NSAID-related GIT adverse effects is higher than that found from cervical cancer, asthma or malignant melanoma.” [ 1] They also point out that frequent use of NSAIDs increases risk for high blood pressure, chronic heart failure, as well as serious cardiovascular events (with certain NSAIDs).
Studies show that the risk of suffering these adverse side effects is increasing among the elderly and those with co-morbidities. The researchers cite recent evidence suggesting that the burden of illness resulting from NSAID-related chronic heart failure may exceed that resulting from GIT damage. [1]
Adams, et al., also cite evidence from a recent Danish population study, which suggests increased cardiovascular mortality among people without a prior history of heart disease, but who frequently use NSAIDs. This seems to be particularly true for diclofenac and ibuprofen. However, the baseline cardiovascular risk of people in this study was not reported. The researchers also note that NSAIDs promote the rapid deterioration of renal function. As such, national medical guidelines recommend avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs, including NSAIDs, in people with chronic kidney disease. [1]
Acetaminophen
It’s not only NSAID medications, such as drugs containing aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, diclofenac, COX-2 inhibitors, that raise concerns regarding frequent and significant side effects, but also for acetaminophen-containing medications. The National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health) posted the following precautionary notes about acetaminophen on its Web site:
Continue reading …
By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Iatrogenic Injury on October 5th, 2011 at 11:02 am
Is Pediatric Chiropractic Care Safe?
The Chiro.Org Blog
Clinical Chiropractic 2011 (Sep); 14 (3): 97–105
This new “best evidence” literature review explored reported adverse events and the overall safety of chiropractic pediatric care, as well as other forms of care for the same complaints routinely treated in a chiropractic office.
The results were quite interesting:
By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Iatrogenic Injury on January 28th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Medical Errors Kill 15,000 Medicare Patients a Month
The Chiro.Org Blog
SOURCE: AOL Health
A new report from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General reveals that 13 percent of Medicare patients in the U.S. experience an adverse event each month in American hospitals, and some 15,000 of them die as a result. [1]
The news is startling, particularly since the report points out that 44 percent of adverse incidents occurring in hospitals are avoidable. And all-together, these adverse events are costing Medicare more than $300 million a MONTH.
Continue reading …
By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Iatrogenic Injury on January 20th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Finally! FDA Limits Acetaminophen in Prescription Analgesics
The Chiro.Org Blog
From Medscape Medical News
January 13, 2011 — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that it is asking drug makers to limit the amount of acetaminophen in prescription combination pain relievers to no more than 325 mg per tablet or capsule to reduce overdoses and the severe liver injury that can follow.
The decision, to be phased in over 3 years, affects dozens of prescription analgesics that contain both acetaminophen and another ingredient, typically opioids such as codeine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Some of these combination products now have as much as 750 mg of acetaminophen per dose.
Continue reading …
By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Iatrogenic Injury on October 22nd, 2010 at 2:05 pm
New Study Reveals That Back Surgery Fails 74% of the Time
The Chiro.Org Blog
Researchers reviewed records from 1,450 patients in the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation database who had diagnoses of disc degeneration, disc herniation or radiculopathy, a nerve condition that causes tingling and weakness of the limbs. Half of the patients had surgery to fuse two or more vertebrae in hopes of curing low back pain. The other half had no surgery, even though they had comparable diagnoses.
After two years, only 26 percent of those who had surgery had actually returned to work. That’s compared to 67 percent of patients who didn’t have the surgery, even though they had the same exact diagnosis.
In another troubling finding, the researchers determined that there was a 41 percent increase in the use of painkillers, particularly opiates, in those who had the surgery. Last year we reported that deaths from addictive painkillers has doubled in the last 10 years. [6]
Continue reading …
By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Editorial on September 25th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
If Not Chiropractic Care, Then What’s Your Alternative?
The Chiro.Org Blog
Editorial Commentary:
Informed Consent involves discussing the risks and benefits of the treatment you propose (in my case, chiropractic) AND reviewing the risks and benefits of the alternatives, which are “conservative” medical care, which typically involves prescribing muscle relaxers, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and less frequently, prescribing physical therapy.
Many patients who present to a chiropractor for the first time have already gone the medical route, with minimal or negative results. Today I would like to review the risks associated with the most commonly recommended pain relieving analgesics (NASIDs).
Continue reading …
By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Iatrogenic Injury on April 10th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Why Do Spinal Surgery Rates Continue To Rise?
The Chiro.Org Blog
A Chiro.Org Editorial
First, let’s review some history. In 1974, the Congressional Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce held hearings on unnecessary surgery. Their findings from the First Surgical Second Opinion Program found that 17.6% of recommendations for surgery were not confirmed. The House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations extrapolated these figures to estimate that, on a nationwide basis, there were 2.4 million unnecessary surgeries performed every year, resulting in 11,900 deaths, at an annual cost of $3.9 billion. [1]
With the total number of lower back surgeries having been estimated in 1995 to exceed 250,000 in the U.S., at a hospital cost of $11,000 per patient. [2] This would mean that the total number of unnecessary back surgeries each year in the U.S. could be 44,000, costing as much as $484 million. [3]
So, the first risk of spinal surgery is that it may not be necessary.
A most-recent review suggests that:
Back Surgery Fails 74% of the Time
Continue reading …
By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Education on January 7th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
More Bad News For Medical Patients
The Chiro.Org Blog
Medical Training For Musculoskeletal Conditions is Inadequate
From Harvard Medical School in the U.S. to medical schools in Europe, medical education related to musculoskeletal conditions is inadequate. A 2009 survey tested physician’s knowledge related to simple low back pain management [1]. The average survey score of family practitioners was 69.7 and the average score of orthopedists was far less at 44.3. Orthopedists were less likely to make the proper radiological referral and appropriate pharmacological prescription based upon the literature.
Continue reading …
By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Education on November 22nd, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Widely Used Anti-Inflammatory Drug Risky Even in Small Doses
The Chiro.Org Blog
Even at low doses, naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn, Naprelan) may increase the risk of upper gastrointestinal complications, researchers said here.
Patients taking a 500-mg/day dose had a 2.5-fold increased risk of hospitalization from complicated gastric or duodenal ulcer, while those on the 750-mg/day dose had almost a threefold increased risk, Gurkirpal Singh, MD, of Stanford University, and colleagues reported at the American College of Gastroenterology meeting. [1]
The 1,000-mg/day dose carried more than a threefold increased risk of hospitalization. “We found that naproxen use is not safe even at lower doses,” Singh said. “We need to be careful about prescribing it, even in lower doses.” The lowest doses are available over the counter.
Continue reading …
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