Newsletters: March 2002

NOTE: I am available for presentations, talks and/or workshops on a variety of topics suitable for any size group. Please contact the office for more info and/or to make arrangements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HEADACHES

I am sure that most of you have suffered from a headache at least once in your lives. Some are so strong the you can't concentrate or perform normally. For years, chiropractors have known how effective a chiropractic adjustment can be for these headaches, but until recently there has been little scientific research to back up this belief, other than the amazing results our patients have achieved through chiropractic care. Fortunately, a recent study at Duke University has changed this.

First, however, I would like to give you a little information about headaches. There are several types of headaches. The most common types are: Tension Headache (the "regular" headaches) and the Cervicogenic Headaches (headaches that originate in the neck). These two are so common that it is estimated that 20 to 30 percent of adults have more than one episode of these types of headaches per month, especially the tension-type. This is a huge number, and it is no wonder that so many work days are missed due to headaches.

The most common treatment option for these headaches has traditionally been a drug called amitryptiline. Of course it is not the only treatment that has been used. Other treatments include acupuncture, relaxation therapy, biofeedback, physiotherapy and stress management training.

With all of these options available, many times patients, and even doctors, do not know which option is most effective. That was the mission of the Duke University study.

Composed of 25 multidisciplinary experts, the panel at Duke University set out to analyze and review all valid and published studies on the topic of tension-type and cervicogenic headaches. After careful examination, it was found that chiropractic cervical (neck) adjustments produced almost immediate improvement for cervicogenic headaches. Further, the study showed that chiropractic care produced significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief for tension-type headaches than other treatment options, specifically the drug amitryptiline.

In fact, only four percent of patients suffering from tension-type headaches suffered any side effects through chiropractic care, compared to 82 percent for patients under the drug amitryptiline! Not only did chiropractic adjustments have a much lower level of adverse effects, but it was also much more effective in the long-term. During the four weeks after both chiropractic and drug treatments were ceased, the patients who had undergone chiropractic care were much better than those who had taken amitryptiline.

This new study has finally validated what we (chiropractors and their patients) have known all along -- that chiropractic adjustments are effective and very safe for those suffering headaches. This research is adding to a growing number of studies that prove the effectiveness of chiropractic, not only for back pain, but for many different health conditions.

To download the executive summary of the Duke University Evidence Based Medicine Headache Study click here:

www.fcer.org/html/Research/DukeEvidenceReport.htm

If you suffer from headaches and wish to see if chiropractic care can be helpful for you as well, please give my office a call to set an appointment for an examination. You may find that you no longer will need to rely on drugs like aspirin or amitryptiline, which have been proven to have many more negative side-effects and are less effective. To book an appointment please call, 250-248-6333, and if you have friends or family that suffer from headaches, please feel free to forward this e-mail on to them. ( Check out the new website at http://www.drlarrysmith.com)

We invite you to sign up for Dr. Larry's newsletter, which is sent out periodically with interesting new health information. When you click below an email will be generated, and then you simply press "send" on your email software.

Contact the office:
Dr. Larry Smith D.C., B.P.E.
Chiropractor

P.O. Box 307
255 Island Highway
Parksville, British Columbia
Canada V9P 2G5