DNA Changing Exercise

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Dr. Richard Fink

Exercise can change your DNA. That’s the startling conclusion of a recent research study published in the peer reviewed journal Cell Metabolism. If you need one more reason to exercise beyond reducing your risk of diabetes and heart disease, which, let’s face it, are pretty good reasons, this is it.

Our DNA is subject to change all the time. Most of the time the changes are negative. Carcinogens like cigarette smoke, chemicals and other pollutants can set us up for deadly mutations of the DNA code. And as we age, our body builds new cells to replace the old ones. Unfortunately, the copies aren’t always perfect. Ever been to an office where the forms have been copied so many times that the words are a bit blurry and the lines are wavy? That’s the aging process in action. Functionally, these less than perfect cell copies don’t work as well as the originals.

The DNA of these older cells is a bit different and cannot access the genes as well as their younger counterparts. But hey, that’s just part of life right? Well, that’s what a lot of people thought, but this study indicates otherwise. Even researchers who have stressed the importance of exercise were impressed with these results.

The participants in this study were sedentary. In other words, they were couch potatoes. The group was put through a single workout. Thigh muscles were biopsied before and after the workout. The focus of the study was a process called methylation. This inhibits the cells expression of certain genes. What Juleen Zierath of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and her team discovered was that exercise…even a single session of exercise…promoted demethylation. This changes the DNA allowing better expression of genes. Essentially, exercise  is a DNA tune up.

So what can you take away from this study? Even a little exercise can make a difference…all the way down to the cellular level.  So turn off the TV and get moving. Your DNA will love you for it.

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Can Your iPad Be Causing Your Neck Pain?

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Dr. Richard Fink

Information from the US Department of Environmental Health verifies what many iPad tablet users already know. Prolonged tablet use leads to neck pan and shoulder pain. The study titled Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation had participants perform a number of common tasks on tablets including browsing, games, email and reading. The tablets used included both the iPad and the Motorola Xoom. Four device positions were tested. They included, the user holding the tablet in their lap, use of a case to change the viewing angle in the lap, holding the tablet on a table and using a case on a table. The most interesting aspect of this study is that no matter how a tablet was used, it caused more discomfort than working on a laptop or desktop computer. Lead investigator Jack T. Dennerlein PhD, put it this way, “The use of media tablet computers is associated with high head and neck flexion postures, and there may be more of a concern for the development of neck and shoulder discomfort.”

Dr. Dennerlein is right but he could have skipped the qualifier. Distortions in posture for extended periods, especially head and neck flexion are known underlying causes of neck and shoulder pain. There is no “may be” about it. And the more extreme the posture deviation from normal the worse the end result.

So what should you do about your beloved iPad or Xoom? Resist the urge to hunch over the device. Use a case that improves the viewing angle. And, if you are writing more than a quick email or tweet, get a bluetooth keyboard so that the work position approximates your laptop or desktop environment.Is Your iPad A Pain In The Neck?

Information from the US Department of Environmental Health verifies what many tablet users already know. Prolonged tablet use leads to neck and shoulder pain. The study titled Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment, and Rehabilitation had participants perform a number of common tasks on tablets including browsing, games, email and reading. The tablets used included both the iPad and the Motorola Xoom. Four device positions were tested. They included, the user holding the tablet in their lap, use of a case to change the viewing angle in the lap, holding the tablet on a table and using a case on a table. The most interesting aspect of this study is that no matter how a tablet was used, it caused more discomfort than working on a laptop or desktop computer. Lead investigator Jack T. Dennerlein PhD, put it this way, “The use of media tablet computers is associated with high head and neck flexion postures, and there may be more of a concern for the development of neck and shoulder discomfort.”

Dr. Dennerlein is right but he could have skipped the qualifier. Distortions in posture for extended periods, especially head and neck flexion are known underlying causes of neck pain and shoulder pain. There is no “may be” about it. And the more extreme the posture deviation from normal the worse the end result.

So what should you do about your beloved iPad or Xoom? Resist the urge to hunch over the device. Use a case that improves the viewing angle. And, if you are writing more than a quick email or tweet, get a bluetooth keyboard so that the work position approximates your laptop or desktop environment.

In the meantime, don’t sit around suffering with neck pain. Make an appointment with your chiropractor. Chiropractic adjustments realign the spine, take pressure off of the nerves and relieve pain.

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Texting During Surgery

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Dr. Richard Fink

When I was young I thought flying was great fun. Then, for some reason, when I was firmly in middle age, I didn’t like it anymore. In fact, I was afraid to fly. What finally cured me of this fear wasn’t drug therapy, hypnosis or counseling. No. It was sitting in the back of a van on the way to the airport. My brother-in-law was driving and passing everyone else on the road. We had to be doing at least 80mph. Then he received a text. Not only did he read it, he felt compelled to text back. As the van was swerving to and fro I realized flying had to be much safer than this. From that moment on, I wasn’t afraid to fly anymore. Riding with my brother-in-law? Well, that’s a different story.

So what does that tale have to do with the subject at hand? Plenty. The advent of electronic medical records has brought about new accessories for today’s doctors…the smartphone and the tablet. The idea was to give physicians up to the minute patient information and give them the ability to take notes on the fly. Patient records could be viewed so that present prescriptions and previous illnesses could be taken into account when delivering care. Surely, this would reduce or maybe even eliminate the 250,000 hospital deaths caused by medical errors every year. Sounds like a good idea, right?

Unfortunately, physicians are people, not gods. And just like everyone else, when a phone rings or a text dings there is a strong inclination to answer it. And that’s just what’s happening. Take a casual stroll on a hospital floor and you’ll see doctors and nurses glued to cell phones and ipads. Are they all working? Well yes, if you consider updating your Facebook status work.

The peer reviewed journal Perfusion recently published an article on the subject.  In a poll of 439 medical technicians 55 percent admitted to talking on the phone while monitoring a bypass machine. Half admitted to texting during the surgery. If you’re undergoing open heart surgery that might be a concern to you. But, don’t worry. You’ll never know about it since you won’t be awake. And no one will tell you when you wake up. If you wake up. And it’s not just techs that are taking advantage of all that broadband has to offer. Other chilling examples of this behavior include a neurosurgeon taking personal calls and a nurse checking airfares online during surgery.

Perhaps even more alarming are the attitudes regarding this “electronic distraction”. In the same poll 40 percent of technicians said that talking on the phone during surgery was “always an unsafe practice” with 50 percent saying the same thing about texting. Maybe the other 50-60% shouldn’t be working in an operating room. The study’s authors concluded, “Such distractions have the potential to be disastrous.” Yeah, no kidding.

This adds up to one more reason to take exceptional care of that body of yours. That means keeping your weight under control. Eating foods that support health. Exercising regularly and getting adjusted to keep your joints and nervous system in top form. And if you do end up going under the knife let’s hope your surgical team is focused on you, not the high score on Angry Birds.

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Keep Track of All You Do

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Dr. Richard Fink

Yes, it’s that time of the year. Once again, I’m going to make my case for a slick little concept of my own called The Achievement Ledger. Many folks get to the end of a year wondering where all the days went. Some are glum because they believe that “they didn’t get anything done this year.” Ah, but they’re wrong. All of us accomplish chores all year long. Unfortunately once those Things-To-Do are done they get lost in the haze of living and wiped from our memory banks. The Achievement Ledger fixes that problem.

Here’s the concept. Every day you write down the important things you did during the day. What’s important? That’s up to you. For me, it’s exercise and making time to play the guitar. For you maybe it’s taking vitamins or making a healthy dinner. It’s a completely personal choice. The only catch is you have to make a note of these achievements each and every day. If you wait until the end of the week you will short change yourself. A simple word document [backed up of course] is one method, but a notebook works just as well. Last year I cataloged 1150 achievements. Knowing that makes me feel good about 2011.and the prospects for 2012.

Don’t wait another minute. Start your Achievement Ledger for 2012 today while yesterday is still fresh in your mind. It’s the cure for the “I didn’t get anything done” blues.

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Christmas Schedule

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Dr. Richard Fink

Just a quick reminder that the office will be closed on Monday, December 26th. No matter what is waiting for you under the tree, feeling good on Christmas morning is a great way to start the holiday. Stop in and enjoy the full body tune-up that only a chiropractic adjustment delivers. Fink Family Wellness will be open normal hours [9-12 & 3-6] today and Friday.

If you’re traveling, be safe. If you have small children, revel in their predawn insistence that it’s time to get up. Kids are only young once. And remember, the most important gifts, health and happiness, can’t be found at the mall.

Merry Christmas!

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How To Avoid The Christmas Cold

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Dr. Richard Fink

Christmas is just around the corner. And while you may be wondering what to get your friends and loved ones, Old Man Winter has your gift already picked out. It’s the common cold. Yes, it’s the one gift you can’t return once you have it. Want to avoid the stuffy nose, coughing and generally feeling lousy this time around? Read on.

Checklist for Avoiding The Cold

  • Get adjusted. Chiropractic care helps boost the immune system. A 1994 study on the effect of chiropractic on immune system markers demonstrated a large increase in CD4 cells [key immune system indicator] following a six month period of specific chiropractic care done at an independent medical facility. It is the makeup of the patients that is all the more interesting. They were all HIV patients,. The nervous system and the immune system are directly related. Taking that “kink” out of your back does more than make you feel better, it takes the pressure off of your nervous system and allows your body to work properly.
  • Increase your intake of Vitamin D. Most people are woefully deficient in Vitamin D. That’s because we don’t get out in the sun often enough. Your body cannot manufacture Vitamin D without sunlight on the skin.  Winter magnifies the problem because the days get shorter. This vitamin is critical to your immune system.  Adults should be taking about 5000 units of D3 daily. In a recent study, large doses of Vitamin D helped school children reduce their risk of contracting the flu by 43%.
  • Avoid air travel. Everything from parking at the airport, dealing with TSA, taking off on time, sitting on terribly uncomfortable seats for hours is incredibly stressful. That alone impacts your immune system, but that’s not all. The airplane air is recirculated constantly during the flight. The guy who is hacking up a lung twenty rows back might as well be sitting next to you.
  • Wash your hands frequently. Germs are everywhere and can’t be avoided entirely. A healthy immune system is your best defense. Why not give it a helping hand and hold some of the bacteria and viruses  at arms length.
  • Leave the cold pills at the pharmacy. This past year the FDA put the kibosh on 500 different prescription and over the counter cold drugs. Why? They don’t work and  they’re dangerous. This is especially true of children. Since the FDA pulled these drugs off the market there has been a 50% decrease in related child ER visits. That doesn’t mean that the ones still for sale are safe.
  • Get a good night’s sleep…every night. Don’t give up your sack time to get everything done for the upcoming holiday. You can’t cut back your sleep and make it up later. It just doesn’t work that way. Sleep recharges our batteries and keeps the immune system strong.
  • Exercise. Activity also improves immune response and it reduces stress at the same time. Best of all, it’s free. All you have to do is get up and get moving.

If, despite your best efforts, you come down with a nasty cold, fear not. Stay warm, drink plenty of fluids and do your shopping online. Get plenty of rest. It’s okay to put off your normal workout while you’re recovering.

And don’t forget the chicken soup.

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How To Survive Thanksgiving

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Dr. Richard Fink

Well, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It’s that special time when families get together and try not to get on each others nerves while overeating. Of course, getting there is half the fun. The Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend is the heaviest long distance travel time of the year. Thanksgiving Day is the heaviest travel day, followed closely by the Wednesday before. And more return home on Saturday than Sunday. In the greater Washington metropolitan area we have an extra bonus. According to Forbes Magazine, we have the worst traffic in the country. Is it any wonder that everyone starts the ultimate family holiday stressed to the nines?

Here are a few tips to make this Thanksgiving the best ever.

Before You Hit The Road

  • Check your tire pressure and oil. If you have any doubts about your vehicle (“Hey what’s that funny noise?”) have your mechanic look it over. Driving in bumper to bumper traffic is bad, but being broken down on the side of the road while the bumper to bumper traffic creeps by is worse.
  • Get a nice thick book for the compulsive on-timer. This year, the family watch-checker doesn’t get to drive.
  • Leave early and expect to be late.
  • If you don’t own an EZ pass break down and get one now.
  • Stay alert. There is a jackass convention on the highway and you are in the middle of it. Turn the cell phones off. Don’t try to save time by eating while you’re driving. Arriving alive is most important.

Tips For An Enjoyable Dinner

  • Make the meal critic free. Does it really matter that your Aunt Wendy screwed up the stuffing again this year? No, so don’t bring it up. Pass the gravy, please.
  • Keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. That will keep you from telling your brother what you really think about…fill in the blank
  • You know you’re going to overeat. Everyone does. Still, you can mitigate the “Oh my God” event when you step on the scale the next day by simply slowing down. Give your body a chance to say feel full before you dive into seconds and thirds. If you really want to be good this year, stick to the salad, veggies and turkey and pass on the potatoes and stuffing.

What To Do If Everything Goes Wrong
Despite your best efforts, the trip to Grandma’s was a nightmare. You “got into it” with your uncle over politics and all the dark meat was gone by the time the platter made it to you. And to top it off, your team gets annihilated 35-3 in the afternoon game. So what can you do about it? Well, locking yourself in the bathroom may seem like a good idea but I have a better suggestion. Watch Home For The Holidays with Holly Hunter and Robert Downey Jr. It’s a comedy classic that’s bound to make you feel better about your own crazy family.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

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Brain Stents Increase Stroke Risk

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Dr. Richard Fink

A nation-wide study on the effectiveness of brain stents on preventing strokes was halted after thirty days. Why? Because installing these little life savers actually increased the frequency of strokes in the volunteers. This was a fairly large study of patients who already suffered a stroke. The brain stent, designed to pry open arteries and improve blood flow, sounded like the perfect solution to ending subsequent strokes. Within thirty days the evidence was clear. Death rates went up and the risk of another stroke was doubled. Right now, the researchers are struggling to understand the cause. Clots forming around the stent, stents breaking loose and blood vessels damaged during surgery are prime suspects.

What can we learn from this? Don’t be a medical volunteer unless you have absolutely nothing to lose. And that includes your life. If you’ve paid close attention to the drug commercials that populate our prime time TV viewing you know that each and every drug has a long list of warnings. Many include liver damage and rare instances of death. And those are ones that are safe enough to sell to the public. It’s not unusual for a drug or procedure to get approved only to find out years later that it’s dangerous.

Also keep in mind that the drug and medical device folks never give up on a bad thing. A quote from Dr Colin Derdeyn, of St. Louis’s Washington University School of Medicine is quite telling, “Further research may identify specific groups of patients who may benefit from these stents, but for now we seem to be able to save more lives by aggressively working to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.”

Yes, that’s right. The medical mavericks are going to try to figure out how to use brain stents again. And that means another study that needs more volunteers. And if all else fails, doctors will focus on lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol. As most of you already know, I don’t think that cholesterol is the big bad bogeyman that it’s made out to be. Without proper levels of it, we can’t make hormones and therefore we age rapidly. High blood pressure is a serious problem. However, for the vast majority of people, it can be controlled with weight loss, dietary changes and regular exercise.

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New Study Finds Chocolate Is Heart Healthy

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Dr. Richard Fink

For a chocoholic, this bit of news is like Christmas in July. Leave it to the Brits to unveil the mystery behind the delicious dark art of the cocoa bean. Why does chocolate have taste so wonderful? The answer is now clear. It’s for our own good.

A new study in the British Medical Journal has concluded that generous amounts of chocolate reduce risk for cardiovascular disease. This was a meta analysis which examined the results from seven previous studies on chocolate and heart health. There were 114,009 subjects.

The results? Subjects who consumed the highest amount of chocolate had a 37% drop in cardiovascular disease and a 29% reduction in stroke, compared to those who consumed the least. I know what you’re thinking. This information sounds great but weren’t these studies bankrolled by Willie Wonka?

The surprising answer is no. None of the seven studies were funded by a chocolate company or a related industry. But you can bet that something like “a heart healthy snack” will be appearing on candy wrappers from now on.

So, can you eat your weight in chocolate and consider your diet healthy? Well, no. Chocolate products are loaded with sugar, which can contribute to weight gain and put you on the road to diabetes. Still, as snacks go, you could do a lot worse. And unlike the latest drug being touted on a TV commercial, chocolate doesn’t come with a long list of frightening side effects.

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Clinic Schedule Change for Motorcycle Madness

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Dr. Richard Fink

Well, actually it’s not called motorcycle madness. It’s the annual Ride for 9-11. This event honors those who lost their lives on September 1, 2001. It’s coming to Leesburg on Friday, August 19th. Fink Family Wellness will be closing at noon. The procession of iron horses will arrive around 1PM. They’ll be coming through town on King Street. Last year there where 400 riders and it took over an hour to come through. This year is the 10th anniversary and the numbers are expected to swell to 1400. So getting around town, especially downtown, will be a challenge to say the least. And just in case you’re asking…no, Dr. Harrigan and I are not participating in the event. Expect another email reminder a few days before the event.

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