The Flagler Volusia Chiropractic Society is pleased to announce its new partnership with USA Cares, which delivers crucial financial assistance to combat veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). By removing the financial barriers to medical treatment, USA Cares helps the "invisibly" wounded gain access to treatment, ensuring that the financial burden does not fall on their spouses or their children.
Dr. Jeremy Gordon, director of the Flagler Volusia Chiropractic Society (FVCS) and board member of the Florida Chiropractic Association, knows how difficult TBI can be. "TBI and PTSD are some of the loneliest conditions that effect our post 9/11 veterans," says Dr. Gordon. "The outside world doesn't see any evidence of damage, but inside, it can be extremely debilitating. We hope to help these individuals, and their families, however we can."
Dr. Gordon announced his intention to "give back" to USA Cares' military and their families by organizing an area-wide fundraiser, involving over 20 chiropractic offices throughout Volusia and Flagler counties, and several key sponsors including: Crystal Springs Water and Florida Health Care News. "If this goes well, I hope to have a state-wide fundraiser for USA Cares in 2011, involving many of the 4,600 members of the Florida Chiropractic Association". The idea is simple, patients can round up their bill to the next dollar or bring in excess change, and donate to USA Cares. Each office has the capability to accept donations, either in person or on line.
Bill Nelson, the Executive Director of USA Cares said: "It humbles me that so many people care so much about our Military and their Families. There is a saying in the Military that 'all gave some, and some gave all'. Dr. Gordon is providing a means for everyone to get behind our Military and show their support".
USA Cares programs include Housing Assistance, which helps stop foreclosures and evictions - Basic Needs, which focuses on quality of life areas including food, utilities and car repair - and Warrior Treatment Today, which provides access to treatment for the "unseen" wounds of PTSD and TBI. Their newest program area, Jobs for Vets, connects veterans to employment opportunities and clears the financial roadblocks that can stand in the way of job success.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Local Chiropractors Join Effort To Help Veterans
The Flagler Volusia Chiropractic Society has joined a new partnership with USA Cares, which delivers crucial financial assistance to combat veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. By removing the financial barriers to medical treatment, USA Cares helps the "invisibly" wounded gain access to treatment, ensuring that the financial burden does not fall on their spouses or their children.
Dr. Jeremy Gordon, director of the Flagler Volusia Chiropractic Society and board member of the Florida Chiropractic Association, announced his intention to "give back" to USA Cares military and their families by organizing an area-wide fundraiser, involving more than 20 chiropractic offices throughout Volusia and Flagler counties, and several key sponsors including Crystal Springs Water and Florida Health Care News.
"If this goes well, I hope to have a state-wide fundraiser for USA Cares in 2011, involving many of the 4,600 members of the Florida Chiropractic Association," he said.
The idea is simple, patients can round up their bill to the next dollar or bring in excess change, and donate to USA Cares. Each office has the capability to accept donations, either in person or online.
USA Cares programs include housing assistance, which helps stop foreclosures and evictions ; basic needs, which focuses on quality of life areas including food, utilities and car repair; and Warrior Treatment Today, which provides access to treatment for the "unseen" wounds of PTSD and TBI. Their newest program area, Jobs for Vets, connects veterans to employment opportunities and clears the financial roadblocks that can stand in the way of job success.
The Flagler Volusia Chiropractic Society is composed of chiropractic physicians throughout Flagler and Volusia counties in central Florida. The FVCS coordinates charity fundraisers for the local community and provides education to the public about the chiropractic profession. The Flagler Volusia Chiropractic Society is affiliated with the Florida Chiropractic Association, which has more than 4,600 members and represents more than 80 percent of the chiropractic profession in the State of Florida. For more information about FVCS, contact Dr. Jeremy Gordon at jgordodc@yahoo.com or call 386-734-9995.
In Florida, Military families anywhere in America can apply for assistance through the USA Cares website, USAcares.org or by calling 800-773-0387.
Dr. Jeremy Gordon, director of the Flagler Volusia Chiropractic Society and board member of the Florida Chiropractic Association, announced his intention to "give back" to USA Cares military and their families by organizing an area-wide fundraiser, involving more than 20 chiropractic offices throughout Volusia and Flagler counties, and several key sponsors including Crystal Springs Water and Florida Health Care News.
"If this goes well, I hope to have a state-wide fundraiser for USA Cares in 2011, involving many of the 4,600 members of the Florida Chiropractic Association," he said.
The idea is simple, patients can round up their bill to the next dollar or bring in excess change, and donate to USA Cares. Each office has the capability to accept donations, either in person or online.
USA Cares programs include housing assistance, which helps stop foreclosures and evictions ; basic needs, which focuses on quality of life areas including food, utilities and car repair; and Warrior Treatment Today, which provides access to treatment for the "unseen" wounds of PTSD and TBI. Their newest program area, Jobs for Vets, connects veterans to employment opportunities and clears the financial roadblocks that can stand in the way of job success.
The Flagler Volusia Chiropractic Society is composed of chiropractic physicians throughout Flagler and Volusia counties in central Florida. The FVCS coordinates charity fundraisers for the local community and provides education to the public about the chiropractic profession. The Flagler Volusia Chiropractic Society is affiliated with the Florida Chiropractic Association, which has more than 4,600 members and represents more than 80 percent of the chiropractic profession in the State of Florida. For more information about FVCS, contact Dr. Jeremy Gordon at jgordodc@yahoo.com or call 386-734-9995.
In Florida, Military families anywhere in America can apply for assistance through the USA Cares website, USAcares.org or by calling 800-773-0387.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Veteran's Day Fundraiser
On this Veteran's Day, please join our Flagler Volusia Chiropractic Society in raising money for those military personnel and their families in need. I have organized a fundraiser in conjunction with USA Cares (www.USAcares.org) and Crystal Springs water to raise money for our local veterans and their families throughout this holiday season. Collection 'jugs' will be placed at approximately 30 chiropractic offices throughout Flagler and Volusia counties, and we are encouraging patients, friends, and neighbors to stop buy and contribute change, dollars, or whatever they can afford, to this worthy cause. Collection centers are already in place at my office (905 N. Stone Street - DeLand), and at Dr. Jim Antos' office on Health Blvd. in Daytona Beach. Please stop by and contribute what you can, and pass this message along to your friends and familiy members. For all that our veterans and their families have sacrificed for this country, it's the least that we can do.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Fish Oil Preventing Breast Cancer?
Fish oil and a variety of dietary supplements used to ameliorate the symptoms of menopause were evaluated in a recent study to determine their possible association with breast cancer risk. In the study, researchers investigated the relationship between the consumption of fish oil, and menopausal supplements (black cohosh, dong quai, soy, and St. John's Wort), and the risk of developing breast cancer. The subjects were followed for up to 7 years to evaluate the incidence of breast cancer.
The results showed that the subjects' current use of fish oil was associated with a 32% reduction in the risk of developing ductal breast cancer, particularly those taking it for over 10 years. The use of the menopausal supplements did not affect breast cancer risk.
The results showed that the subjects' current use of fish oil was associated with a 32% reduction in the risk of developing ductal breast cancer, particularly those taking it for over 10 years. The use of the menopausal supplements did not affect breast cancer risk.
Friday, July 30, 2010
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome or, CTS, is a condition where a nerve (called the median nerve) is compressed in a relatively tight or restricted space (called the carpal tunnel), resulting in altered nerve function that includes numbness and weakness. In order to fully understand what CTS is, let’s devote this Health Update to better understanding the anatomy of the carpal tunnel.
The carpal tunnel is made up from 8 bones (2 rows of 4 carpal bones that are stacked on top of each other) that are arranged in the shape of a horse shoe. The “roof” of the tunnel is a ligament (transverse carpal ligament) that stretches tightly across the two ends of the horseshoe completing the formation of a tunnel – actually, an upside down tunnel when looking at the palm side of the wrist). The contents of the tunnel include 9 tendons and their covering (sheath), blood vessels and on top of all that just under the roof is the median nerve – the culprit that creates most of the symptoms of CTS. The cause of CTS is simply anything that causes the contents inside the tunnel to swell or become inflamed, which then compresses the median nerve up into the roof or ligament, pinching the nerve. This can create pain, numbness, tingling, the falling asleep sensation and weakness. It’s important to point out that the median nerve starts out from the neck, passes through the shoulder, past the elbow, through the wrist’s carpal tunnel and ends in the hand – specifically fingers 1, 2, 3, and part of the 4th finger. Therefore, the ENTIRE nerve must be looked at for all CTS cases as pinching can occur anywhere along its course from the neck to the hand.
The carpal tunnel is made up from 8 bones (2 rows of 4 carpal bones that are stacked on top of each other) that are arranged in the shape of a horse shoe. The “roof” of the tunnel is a ligament (transverse carpal ligament) that stretches tightly across the two ends of the horseshoe completing the formation of a tunnel – actually, an upside down tunnel when looking at the palm side of the wrist). The contents of the tunnel include 9 tendons and their covering (sheath), blood vessels and on top of all that just under the roof is the median nerve – the culprit that creates most of the symptoms of CTS. The cause of CTS is simply anything that causes the contents inside the tunnel to swell or become inflamed, which then compresses the median nerve up into the roof or ligament, pinching the nerve. This can create pain, numbness, tingling, the falling asleep sensation and weakness. It’s important to point out that the median nerve starts out from the neck, passes through the shoulder, past the elbow, through the wrist’s carpal tunnel and ends in the hand – specifically fingers 1, 2, 3, and part of the 4th finger. Therefore, the ENTIRE nerve must be looked at for all CTS cases as pinching can occur anywhere along its course from the neck to the hand.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Obesity and Weight Loss
The June 19th, 2010 edition of The Endocrine Society reports, “[According to a new study ,] Obese women with insulin resistance lose more weight after three months on a lower-carbohydrate diet than on a traditional low-fat diet with the same number of calories...” The study’s lead author, Raymond Plodkowski, MD, Chief of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno wrote, “The typical diet that physicians recommend for weight loss is a low-fat diet… However, as this study shows, not all people have the same response to diets.”
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Dangers of Sunscreens
For years and years, we have known two things to be true. First, the sun is bad for you… therefore exposure should be limited. Most people don’t know this, but the sun has three types of “rays,” not just two.
The first is UVC. This ray usually does not reach our planet’s surface and this is good because it is believed only brief exposure to UVC rays is fatal.
Next, are UVB rays. These have long been considered the “tanning rays.” They are strongest during the summer months when the Earth’s orbit is closest to the Sun. UVB rays are what produce a “sun tan.”
For many years, sunblocks and sunscreens only attempted to block UVB because science was unaware of the effects of UVA rays (the third type of sun ray) on the body.
UVA was believed to be the safe ray in the 1980s, which spawned the growth and popularity of the artificial sun bed industry – some dermatologists even backed this artificial tanning! But, science now believes UVA rays actually do more damage than UVB rays! UVA rays are not dependant on how far the Earth is from the Sun – so the effects are the same all year round.
What’s more, UVA penetrates light clothing and car windshields... even many hats. Over-exposure to the sun has been linked to premature aging and even deadly skin cancer... Which Brings Us To The Second “Truth”:
Limit exposure to the harmful rays of the sun by using high SPF sunscreens and sunblocks. For years, the sunblock industry has been booming with the promise their products protect you from the sun’s aging and cancerous rays.
But, research now says these “truths” are not so “true.”
For example, there is no consensus whether sunscreens prevent skin cancer. According to the Environmental Working Groups’ (ewg.org) finding, “The Food and Drug Administration’s 2007 draft sunscreen safety regulations say: FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer.” (FDA 2007).
The International Agency for Research on Cancer agrees. IARC recommends clothing, hats and shade as primary barriers to UV radiation and writes “sunscreens should not be the first choice for skin cancer prevention and should not be used as the sole agent for protection against the sun” (IARC 2001a). Even worse, there is evidence emerging that sunscreen may actually INCREASE THE RISK OF SKIN CANCER!
Researches speculate the cause(s) may be lack of UVA protection by most sunscreen for over 30 years, improper usage, staying in the sun longer with sunscreens and some of the ingredients. One big problem is the SPF (sun protection factor) myth.
In 2007, the FDA published draft regulations that would prohibit manufacturers from labeling sunscreens over 50 SPF. The FDA stated that anything over 50 SPF was “inherently misleading.” Even an SPF of 50 can be misleading because of the way most people use sunscreen. In the real world, tests show people apply only one-half to one-fifth of the amount used when testing the sunscreen. A person using one-fourth the amount of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 only actually gets an SPF of 2.3. The same person using a sunscreen with SPF 100 ends up with only SPF 3.2. (The math is exponential, that’s why there are such drastic reductions in SPF.)
Then, there are the potential problems with the ingredients found in sunscreens. For example, oxybenzone, a common ingredient, is a known hormone disruptor. Retinyl palmitate (a form of Vitamin A also commonly used in sunscreens) may increase the risk of skin cancer.
According to Environmental Working Groups, “The publicly available data from FDA’s new study suggest that when used in sun-exposed skin care products, retinyl palmitate and related chemicals may increase skin damage and elevate skin cancer risk instead of protecting the skin.” Also, according to Environmental Working Groups, 41% of all sunscreens contain retinyl palmitate.
All of this may be surprising but what’s even more shocking is that the FDA first issued draft sunscreen regulations in 1978 and last updated the draft in 2007. The regulations are still not final, despite multiple announcements of impending completion. Until the agency formally issues its rules, companies are not required to verify their sunscreens work, including testing for SPF levels, checking waterproof claims or providing UVA protection. Nearly one in eight sunscreens do not block UVA rays. Many carry the seal of “The Skin Cancer Foundation.” According to the Environmental Working Groups, “The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) lends its logo to hundreds of sun protection products. SCF approval is easy, just document that your product has an SPF of at least 15 and provide results of basic tests (for SPF, skin reactions and water and sweat resistance, if such claims are made). SCF also requires that companies pay a $10,000 donation to join the Foundation’s ‘Corporate Council’ in order to have their products approved.”
Confused? If you are, then you are not alone. Here’s something that will make the most of the confusion disappear… Since sunscreens are probably not as safe as once thought, the best thing to do is stay out of the sun during its peak hours (10:00am – 2:00pm) and whenever possible, wear protective clothing instead of chemicals. Don’t forget, some sun is absolutely necessary for Vitamin D production and proper health. The amount of sun you should get depends on your skin type but you should NEVER burn.
The first is UVC. This ray usually does not reach our planet’s surface and this is good because it is believed only brief exposure to UVC rays is fatal.
Next, are UVB rays. These have long been considered the “tanning rays.” They are strongest during the summer months when the Earth’s orbit is closest to the Sun. UVB rays are what produce a “sun tan.”
For many years, sunblocks and sunscreens only attempted to block UVB because science was unaware of the effects of UVA rays (the third type of sun ray) on the body.
UVA was believed to be the safe ray in the 1980s, which spawned the growth and popularity of the artificial sun bed industry – some dermatologists even backed this artificial tanning! But, science now believes UVA rays actually do more damage than UVB rays! UVA rays are not dependant on how far the Earth is from the Sun – so the effects are the same all year round.
What’s more, UVA penetrates light clothing and car windshields... even many hats. Over-exposure to the sun has been linked to premature aging and even deadly skin cancer... Which Brings Us To The Second “Truth”:
Limit exposure to the harmful rays of the sun by using high SPF sunscreens and sunblocks. For years, the sunblock industry has been booming with the promise their products protect you from the sun’s aging and cancerous rays.
But, research now says these “truths” are not so “true.”
For example, there is no consensus whether sunscreens prevent skin cancer. According to the Environmental Working Groups’ (ewg.org) finding, “The Food and Drug Administration’s 2007 draft sunscreen safety regulations say: FDA is not aware of data demonstrating that sunscreen use alone helps prevent skin cancer.” (FDA 2007).
The International Agency for Research on Cancer agrees. IARC recommends clothing, hats and shade as primary barriers to UV radiation and writes “sunscreens should not be the first choice for skin cancer prevention and should not be used as the sole agent for protection against the sun” (IARC 2001a). Even worse, there is evidence emerging that sunscreen may actually INCREASE THE RISK OF SKIN CANCER!
Researches speculate the cause(s) may be lack of UVA protection by most sunscreen for over 30 years, improper usage, staying in the sun longer with sunscreens and some of the ingredients. One big problem is the SPF (sun protection factor) myth.
In 2007, the FDA published draft regulations that would prohibit manufacturers from labeling sunscreens over 50 SPF. The FDA stated that anything over 50 SPF was “inherently misleading.” Even an SPF of 50 can be misleading because of the way most people use sunscreen. In the real world, tests show people apply only one-half to one-fifth of the amount used when testing the sunscreen. A person using one-fourth the amount of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 only actually gets an SPF of 2.3. The same person using a sunscreen with SPF 100 ends up with only SPF 3.2. (The math is exponential, that’s why there are such drastic reductions in SPF.)
Then, there are the potential problems with the ingredients found in sunscreens. For example, oxybenzone, a common ingredient, is a known hormone disruptor. Retinyl palmitate (a form of Vitamin A also commonly used in sunscreens) may increase the risk of skin cancer.
According to Environmental Working Groups, “The publicly available data from FDA’s new study suggest that when used in sun-exposed skin care products, retinyl palmitate and related chemicals may increase skin damage and elevate skin cancer risk instead of protecting the skin.” Also, according to Environmental Working Groups, 41% of all sunscreens contain retinyl palmitate.
All of this may be surprising but what’s even more shocking is that the FDA first issued draft sunscreen regulations in 1978 and last updated the draft in 2007. The regulations are still not final, despite multiple announcements of impending completion. Until the agency formally issues its rules, companies are not required to verify their sunscreens work, including testing for SPF levels, checking waterproof claims or providing UVA protection. Nearly one in eight sunscreens do not block UVA rays. Many carry the seal of “The Skin Cancer Foundation.” According to the Environmental Working Groups, “The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) lends its logo to hundreds of sun protection products. SCF approval is easy, just document that your product has an SPF of at least 15 and provide results of basic tests (for SPF, skin reactions and water and sweat resistance, if such claims are made). SCF also requires that companies pay a $10,000 donation to join the Foundation’s ‘Corporate Council’ in order to have their products approved.”
Confused? If you are, then you are not alone. Here’s something that will make the most of the confusion disappear… Since sunscreens are probably not as safe as once thought, the best thing to do is stay out of the sun during its peak hours (10:00am – 2:00pm) and whenever possible, wear protective clothing instead of chemicals. Don’t forget, some sun is absolutely necessary for Vitamin D production and proper health. The amount of sun you should get depends on your skin type but you should NEVER burn.
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