The Truth About Colds and Flu

Every winter millions of children and adults come down with a cold, the flu or an ear infection. Yet misconceptions often result in inappropriate treatment.

Colds and Flu: Both the common cold and influenza are caused by viruses, so medical treatment is rarely necessary. Influenza is like a cold, but may include fever, body aches, chills and extreme fatigue. Stomach flu which causes vomiting is often a case of mild food poisoning.
According to an article in the February 2003 issue of Pediatrics, colds accounted for 1.6 million emergency room visits and 25 million ambulatory visits in 1998. In response to the widespread misconception that medical intervention is helpful, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued some common sense advice to parents:
• Avoid antibiotics which have no effect on viruses.
• Don’t use over-the-counter cold or cough medications since most will not work.
• Don’t use aspirin if a child has a fever since it can cause a serious reaction called Reye’s syndrome.
Annual flu vaccines are available, but their benefit is extremely questionable. Vaccine experts must decide which flu varieties will be the biggest threats 9-12 months in advance. Since flu viruses mutate constantly, it is nearly impossible to include the right strains in the vaccine.
The Swine Flu is causing recent concern. According to the September 8, 2009 Wall Street Journal, the CDC now advocates “watchful waiting” as an option. “The majority of adolescents and adults and most children won’t need antivirals,” said the CDC’s director of the National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases, Anne Schuchat. Most people just need “mom’s chicken soup, rest and lots of fluids.”

Ear Infections: Typically affecting young children, ear infections may be caused by viruses or bacteria. The Southern California/RAND Evidence-based Practice Center analyzed clinical studies conducted from 1964 through 1998, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. It estimates that over 5 million cases of acute otitis media (AOM) occur each year in the US at a cost of approximately $3 billion.
The studies showed that without antibiotics, nearly two-thirds of children recover from pain and fever within 24 hours of diagnosis and over 80% recover fully within seven days. In the May 2004 issue of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued new guidelines, recommending observation in many cases instead of antibiotics. Several studies have shown that chiropractic care benefits children with recurrent ear infections, such as the one conducted by Drs. Fallon and Edelman and described in the March 1998 edition of Alternative Therapies.

Remedies and Prevention: So what should you do when you come down with a cold, the flu or an ear infection? Get plenty of sleep, drink lots of fluids, and eat healthy food. In addition be sure to get adjusted regularly and especially if you are sick. Your nervous system directly controls your immune system, and spinal subluxations can interfere with the communication between the nervous system and the immune system. Chiropractic care will remove this interference so your body can maximize its immune system response and keep you as healthy as possible.

Thomas Edison said, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.” Good advice for us to follow.

Article contributed by:
C. Nugent, DC
E. Plasker, DC

Healthy Aging: Quality or Quantity?

According to a recent discover magazine article you and your family may live longer than you ever thought possible. In fact, recent scientific advances have found some amazing, ground-breaking discoveries. First, they found that when we are born, we have hard-wired in our genes the ability to live to 150. That's right, when you enter this world, your tissues, organs, blood vessels and nerves all have the capability of lasting much longer than originally anticipated. Second, leading researches are predicting that children born today will routinely live to 125!! (To keep that in perspective thats equivalent to the lifespan of about 5 Honda Accords).

I find these statistics incredible, especially when you consider that, according to most actuaries, the average man will live to about 72 and the average woman, 77.

Think about that for a second....if the average person is living to 75....we are only reaching 50% of our god-given genetic potential!

This really sparked my curiosity and I found myself asking, "WHY".
Leading scientists at major universities discovered that the main thing that gets in the way of healthy aging is....poor lifestyle choices.

I am interested in getting feedback and developing a dialogue. What are some things that are getting in the way of your health and longevity? More importantly, what are some changes you can make to not only live to be 100....but to get there healthy and active??

Some of you may be thinking (heck...I don't want to live to be 100..I'll be happy to get to 80).
I understand that...but I would submit this question.....Would you want to live longer if you knew you would be healthy and active when you get there??

I'm looking forward to hearing and reading your thoughts!!


PS- Over the next few months New Life Family Chiropractic will be hosting FREE health awareness workshops devoted specifically toward "The 100 Year Lifestyle". To be included in our next workshop, call the office for more details....845-517-0520 or visit us at www.ExperienceNewLife.com.


Yours in Health
Craig T. Nugent, DC