Are you getting enough Vitamin D? Improve your health with the Sunshine Vitamin.
You’ve probably heard about the immunity benefits of Vitamin C – but it’s time to move one letter down the alphabet. It turns out that Vitamin D may be the more critical vitamin when it comes to fighting off colds and flus. An important vitamin that also promotes anti-aging, the ‘sunshine vitamin’ is a nutrient generated by the body through exposure to the rays of the sun.
According to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, “Abnormal levels of Vitamin D are associated with a whole spectrum of diseases including cancer, osteoporosis, and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders.” (Kremer et al. March 2010). “The best way to know if your Vitamin D level is normal is to have a blood test. That way you know if supplementation with Vitamin D is necessary for your overall health and well being.”
How can I get vitamin D?
The best form of Vitamin D comes from natural sunlight. A good rule of thumb is that unless you are getting 30 minutes of summer sunlight exposure on large parts of your body every day, you will almost certainly be deficient in Vitamin D. Many people live in a climate where during most of the year we have very little sun exposure. That is when supplementation becomes even more important. When supplementing, always choose Vitamin D3 cholecalciferol, not vitamin D2 ergocalciferol which the body has to convert to vitamin D. Vitamin D3 is sold in either a liquid form (where it is suspended in a substance like olive oil) or in pill form. Both are effective forms of supplementation.
Some foods in the American diet contain small amounts of Vitamin D. These foods include:
• Fatty fish such as salmon and tuna
• Beef liver, egg yolks and some mushrooms
• Vitamin D is added to many breakfast cereals and to some brands of orange juice, yogurt, and soy beverages. Check the labels for more information.
Although some foods contain Vitamin D, humans cannot get adequate amounts through our diet. We are genetically designed to get Vitamin D from sun exposure so the best way to ensure you are getting enough Vitamin D is to be exposed to sunlight and to supplement daily.
Am I getting enough vitamin D? The amount of Vitamin D required depends on your age. Average daily recommended amounts for different ages are listed below in International Units (IU):
Children from birth to 1: 500 IU
Children ages 1-3: 1500 IU
Children ages 4-8: 2000 IU
Children ages 9 and up: 3000 IU
Adults ages 18 and over: 3500 IU
How does vitamin D affect health?
In addition to reducing the risk of bone loss and fractures as people get older, some studies suggest that Vitamin D may protect against cancers of the colon, prostate, and breast. Vitamin D is important in maintaining strong teeth, proper parathyroid function, and enhancing the body’s immune system. In fact, when taken properly, Vitamin D is more effective than the flu vaccine in helping to prevent the flu. Vitamin D is also being studied for its possible role in the prevention and treatment of low-back and joint pain, bronchitis, colds, diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, multiple sclerosis and other conditions.
What precautions do I need to take with vitamin D?
When amounts of Vitamin D in the blood become too high, it can lead to toxicity—nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness and weight loss. In addition, by raising blood levels of calcium, too much Vitamin D can cause confusion, disorientation and problems with heart rhythm. Excess Vitamin D can also damage the kidneys. Be aware that higher levels of vitamin D in the blood have also been linked to higher rates of pancreatic cancer. At this time, more studies are needed to assess the connection between Vitamin D and cancer. Although uncommon, Vitamin D toxicity can occur and happens from the overuse of supplements. A simple blood test will confirm your body’s level of Vitamin D.
Excessive sun exposure doesn’t cause Vitamin D poisoning because the body limits the amount of this vitamin it produces. Like most dietary supplements, Vitamin D may interact or interfere with other medicines or supplements, most notably: steroid usage, some weight loss medications, seizure medications and cholesterol lowering statins. Tell your health care providers about any dietary supplements and medicines you take.
Epidural injections of steroids for back pain under review by FDA !!!!
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing epidural injections of steroids to treat neck and back pain following a warning by Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) seven months ago that administering its Kenalog steroid around the spine could cause serious complications, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Bristol-Myers in New York revised its label for Kenalog to say it is not recommended for injection into the epidural space near the spine because of “reports of serious medical events, including death,” associated with administering steroids that way, the article said. But the drugmaker and the FDA have not yet publicized the label change, Bloomberg said.
The article cited physicians who said the steroid is still widely used in epidural injections to treat neck and back pain.
Bristol-Myers’ steroid Kenalog and the Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) drug Depo-Medrol are the most commonly used steroids for epidural injections, Bloomberg said. More than 8 million such shots were administered in the U.S. in 2010.
FDA spokesman Morgan Liscinsky told Bloomberg the regulator is in the midst of reviews for epidural injections of steroids — one focusing on injections in which the needle is used very close to critical arteries. In another, the FDA is working with outside experts looking at particulate steroids that could create blockages that could set off a stroke if injected into arteries, the article said.
Ipads can cause you say Ihurt!!!
Researchers looking to catch up to the exploding popularity of tablet computers have published recommendations for guidelines that ensure devices like Apple’s iPad and Motorola’s Xoom are comfortable and safe to use.
“Compared to typical desktop computing scenarios, 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,” said lead investigator Jack T. Dennerlein, PhD, of the Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
The study found that tablet users generally had more acute angles of head and neck flexion than with desktop or notebook computers. To alleviate discomfort, the researchers say to place the tablet higher to avoid low gaze angles, use a case that provides optimal viewing angles.
The paper, published in the accident-prevention journal Work, did not assess the impact of tablet use over a long period, nor did it address the positions of the arms, wrists and hands, an issue it said needed further research.
Who is a Good Candidate for Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression?
We have been providing spinal decompression therapy in Vancouver for over 7 years now. The machine we use is the DRX9000. We treat mostly lumbar disc bulges and disc herniations, as well as degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, and spinal stenosis.
We do not accept every case…because not everyone that presents with the conditions listed above is a candidate for spinal decompression. First of all…if you have had cervical or lumbar spinal fusion you are automatically disqualified from treatment with the DRX9000. If you have any hardware such as screws, plates, metal mesh, or cement work, you are also disqualified.
Some of the other contraindications to spinal decompression are moderate to severe scoliosis, aortic aneurysm, unstable spondylolithesis, advanced osteoporosis, and cancer of the spine. There are more…but the point is not everyone qualifies for decompression.
When a patient does qualify for treatment, we consider the age of the patient, level of spinal degeneration, whether or not there is a single disc herniation or multiple levels of involvement, overall health, and likelihood of treatment compliance. We only want to initiate treatment with those we feel will benefit and are willing to do their part. Because of this, we are able to help the overwhelming majority of the cases we accept.
There are many variables involved that are adjustable that can improve the odds of a favorable outcome. Things such as water intake, diet, exercise, stress, ergonomics, sleeping postures, and attitude. We try to address all of them.
There is also an art to the actual set-up and harnessing process on the spinal decompression machine itself. Mess this up and you can delay healing or even set it back. We like to think we have it mastered…though we continue to learn more every single day. For sure you want a spinal decompression doctor with lots of experience…not just a machine.
if you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Akhavan for a complimentary consultation, simply call 604-984-4601.
Shin Splints
What is it?
Medial shin splints are a condition wherein the periosteum of the tibia is damaged when it is pulled away by an overstressed tibialis posterior muscle. Anterior shin splints are a condition in which the blood flow is obstructed from the anterior compartment due to the hypertrophy of the overstressed tibialis anterior cmpartment.
What are the common symptoms/complaints?
Medial shin splints: Patients complain of a dull, aching pain felt along the medial side of the tibia. Once it starts, any activity will aggrevate it.
Anterior shin splints: Patients complain of dull, aching pain felt along the anterior side of the tibia.
How is it caused?
Medial shin splints: The tibialis poeterior muscle plamtarflexes and inverts the foot (anti-pronator) due to its distal attachment (insertion) on the medial aspect of the foot. During over-pronation the tendon of the tibialis posterior is stretched and pulled upon excessively, thereby attacking the weakest area, namely its origin (proximal attachment) on the periosteum of the tibia. The small pain fibers of the periosteum are torn away causing pain and chronic inflammation.
Anterior shin splints: The tibialis anterior muscle dorsiflexes and inverts the foot, acting as an anti-pronator due to its distal attachment (insertion) on the medial aspect and base of the first metatarsal. During over-pronation the tibialis anterior muscle fibers must fire constantly to oppose (re-supinate) the over-pronation, thus causing hypertrophy (swelling) of the tibialis anterior compartment.
How is it treated?
Medial and anterior shin splints: Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment may include standard acute care, restricted activity and an orthotic device that corrects the over-pronation and stops the foot from falling too far medially (reducing the strain on the tibialis posterior) and facilitates proper foot function and timing, reducing the stress on the tibialis anterior.