Ask Your Doctor if Statins are Wrong for You

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Dr. Tate Huffman

“The results from your latest blood work are in and you have high cholesterol.” Does this sound familiar? Approximately one in six Americans has high cholesterol, or about 17 percent.[1] More about high cholesterol here.

Now for the good news. This problem is totally fixable. Changing your diet and exercising is hopefully the first prescription your Doctor gives you. This has been proven to lower cholesterol and comes with a large number of positive side effects. I often hear from my patients “I tried that, it didn’t work for me because of my genetics so my doctor gave me a statin”. It is true, there is a genetic disease that causes high cholesterol called familial hypercholesterolemia. This affects 1 in 500 people.[2] Yet one quarter of Americans aged 45 and older takes a statin.

I get it. Exercise is hard. And chili cheese fries are delicious. Statins are sold as a safe alternative to diet and exercise alone. U.S. sales of statins, which include brand names like Lipitor and Crestor, topped $14 billion in 2009. But statins have side effects. From Lipitor’s web site; “Common side effects are diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle and joint pain, and changes in some blood tests.” New research is showing that not only can statins cause muscle pain, they can also lead to greater risk of injury. In a recent study of over 13,000 U.S. military personal statin patients were almost 20 per cent more likely than non-users to have a diagnosis of a musculo-skeletal disease and a 13 per cent higher risk of a dislocation, strain or sprain[3]. And it gets worse. A new study done at Duke University Medical Center has shown that taking statins actually decreases, and can even reverse, the benefits of exercise! Study participants were divided into two groups. One took statins and exercised, while the second exercised and took a placebo. Cardiorespiratory fitness increased by 10% in response to exercise training alone, but was blunted by the addition of the statin resulting in only a 1.5% increase. Similarly, skeletal muscle citrate synthase activity (a common marker of aerobic capacity and mitochondrial density in skeletal muscle) increased by 13% in the exercise only group, but DECREASED by 4.5% in the statin plus exercise group.[4]

As a Doctor of Chiropractic I treat musculo-skeletal disease, dislocations, strains and sprains. I have seen many mysterious muscle pains resolve after patients stopped taking statins. A few of my colleagues refuse to treat any patients that are taking statins. I am not that extreme, statins have their place in our health care system and can be the best option for a very small group of people fighting high cholesterol. I believe statins are an example of a culture and health care system that relies too heavily on the seemingly easy option of popping a pill, treating the symptoms instead of addressing the root of the problem.

1. Schober SE, Carroll MD, Lacher DA, Hirsch R. High serum total cholesterol—an indicator for monitoring cholesterol lowering efforts; U.S. adults, 2005–2006. NCHS data brief no 2, Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2007.

2. http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/hypercholesterolemia

3. Mansi I, Frei CR, Pugh MJ, Makris U, Mortensen EM. Statins and musculoskeletal conditions, arthropathies, and injuries. JAMA Intern Med 2013; DOI:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.6184. Available at: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/journal.aspx.

4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23583255

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Larger Than Predicted

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Dr. Tate Huffman

I received a warning in my email today. It was an update from the CDC to be on the lookout for symptoms of fungal meningitis.

“ ( UPDATED October 12, 2012 ) — The number of people exposed to potentially contaminated methylprednisolone acetate produced by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts, is closer to 14,000 — not 13,000 — as originally reported on October 8, federal health officials said today.

“These 14,000 patients received the medication as a steroid injection either into the spinal area or into a joint space such as a knee, shoulder or ankle,” said J. Todd Weber, MD, incident manager of the multistate meningitis outbreak at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). More than 12,000 of these people have been contacted to date, he said.

As of today, the CDC said a total of 170 cases (including the 14 deaths) have been reported across 11 states: Florida (7 cases, 2 deaths), Idaho (1 case), Indiana (21 cases, 1 death), Maryland (13 cases, 1 death), Michigan (39 cases, 3 deaths), Minnesota (3 cases), New Jersey (2 cases), North Carolina (2 cases), Ohio (3 cases), Tennessee (49 cases, 6 deaths), and Virginia (30 cases, 1 death).”

The onset of symptoms is typically between 1 and 4 weeks; however, there are reports of longer time between injection and onset of symptoms, Dr. Weber said, “so patients and their doctors will need to be vigilant for at least several months following the injection.”

Symptoms include fever, new or worsening headache, nausea, and new neurologic deficit consistent with deep brain stroke. Almost all patients have reported headaches and almost half have reported fever, back pain, or nausea.”"*

If you or someone you know is experiencing pain and are considering steroid injections, I suggest you explore less invasive alternatives. Chiropractic is one such option. In my clinic I also offer Decompression Therapy, a safe alternative to surgery and injections. If you have any questions, please give me a call, I would be happy to talk with you about your options.

Dr. Tate Huffman D.C.
Core Integrated Health and Chiropractic
434-963-2673
www.corecharlottesville.com

*Medscape Today news

Posted in Charlottesville VA Chiropractic, Disease and Chiropractic, Health and Wellness, Injuries and Chiropractic, Pain and Chiropractic | Leave a comment

Routine Surgery?

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Dr. Tate Huffman

I heard an interesting story on the radio this morning. The piece was about a local man named John Munsey and the infection he contracted during routine back surgery.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that roughly 1.7 million hospital-associated infections, from all types of microorganisms, including bacteria, combined, cause or contribute to 99,000 deaths each year. 99,000. 271 every day. A jumbo jet falling out of the sky every day. One person every five minutes. Just a reminder that there is no such thing as “routine back surgery”.

The short radio piece can be heard here.

http://www.wvtf.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1356:hospital-acquired-infections-part-1&catid=48:wvtf-news&Itemid=119

Posted in Charlottesville VA Chiropractic, Disease and Chiropractic, Health and Wellness | Tagged Deaths due to hospital infections | Leave a comment

Prevent Spring Injuries

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Dr. Tate Huffman

Spring is here!

Spring is in the air. The days are getting longer and temperatures are getting higher. People are opening up their windows and heading out side. Spring is the best time of the year to exercise outside, its warm but not yet hot and humid. With this weather comes the temptation to overdue it, and just like the temps, overuse injuries spike in the spring. When someone returns to a sport or activity after a break or tries to push themselves too much, injury can result. We are all one year older than last spring, and as we age we become less flexible, increasing the risk of injury and soreness. Such injuries range from strains and sprains to general muscle soreness, to overuse injuries that can lead to more serious problems in the future, such as osteoarthritis. What ever your outdoor activity is, running, biking, softball, soccer, working in the garden, or playing with your kids, its important to start out slowly. I like to go by the ten percent rule. Start out doing ten percent of what you could do last summer, and increase your activity by only 10 percent each consecutive workout. Also don’t forget to stretch before and after exercising! If you aren’t sure about proper stretching, its best to ask for professional help, improper stretching can be worse than not stretching at all! Here is a link to some videos that will show you proper stretching technique. It is important to see a doctor after injury so that diagnosis and treatment can begin and to avoid further injury, but remember, PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN CURE! So get out there and run, bike, play with your kids, start working on that garden, or just take a walk in the sunshine. Just do it properly, your body will thank you!

Yours in health,

Dr. Tate Huffman, D.C.

Posted in Charlottesville VA Chiropractic, Injuries and Chiropractic | Tagged overuse injuries | Leave a comment

Wonder Drug!

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Dr. Tate Huffman

Wonder drug

There have been many research articles published in the last few years about a new wonder drug available. It has been proven to help prevent and cure a number of dangerous medical conditions. It lowers the risks of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a number of vascular diseases and several different heart conditions. It improves your body’s ability to fight off infections, improves the function of your digestive system and improves circulation. It has been proven to both prevent and reverse type II diabetes. It has been proven to improve concentration and sleep patterns. It has been proven to help with depression and ADHD in children. It has been proven to be the most effective way to lose weight. A new study shows it cuts a man’s risk of dying from prostate cancer in half. This “wonder drug” has no negative side effects, is available to everyone, and is free. This wonder drug is not a drug at all but regular exercise. All of the above benefits have been proven with just 45 minutes of brisk walking three times a week. If there really was a drug that provided all these benefits with no negative side effects it would be prescribed to every man woman and child. It would be required along with all vaccinations. It would be put into our water supply alongside the fluoride our tax dollars already pay for. Yet you can have all of these benefits for free, they are yours for the taking. The best things in life are free!

Posted in Charlottesville VA Chiropractic, Health and Wellness | Tagged chiroprac adhd | Leave a comment

I Don’t Believe in Chiropractic

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Dr. Tate Huffman

One thing I often hear when I tell people I am a chiropractic doctor is “I just don’t believe in that stuff”. This is almost always coming from someone who has never been to a chiropractor, has no idea what it is we really do, and has no idea that chiropractors actually receive more hours of class room training than medical doctors. Now I must admit that chiropractic as a profession is partly to blame for the fact that many people don’t “believe” in its effectiveness. The only way for something to be “proven” is through very expensive clinical trials. It can cost up to 5 million dollars for clinical trials. These studies are often paid for by drug companies that can afford to invest in the trials, and make the money back once the drug is approved. No drug company is going to sponsor a study that shows that you can cure back pain without drugs!

In today’s economic times insurance companies and governments are starting to realize how important it is to get the best results for the least money. Chiropractic care has always been cheaper than the standard medical route. As a result a large study has recently been funded. It compared outcomes for patients with acute mechanical low back pain (AM-LBP) who received treatment by chiropractors to usual care (UC) which meant an evaluation by a family physician and then referral to a physical therapist, physiatrist or massage therapist. The study proved what chiropractic patients have known for over a hundred years, chiropractic works! The study found that the group treated with chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy had much better outcomes than the group that received usual care. So now if you say they you don’t believe in chiropractic, it is essentially like saying you don’t believe in gravity.

The study can be found here

This is a direct quote from the study

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported randomized controlled trial comparing full CPG-based treatment, including spinal manipulative therapy administered by chiropractors, to family physician-directed UC in the treatment of patients with AM-LBP. Compared to family physician-directed UC, full CPG-based treatment including CSMT is associated with significantly greater improvement in condition-specific functioning.

Posted in Charlottesville VA Chiropractic, Uncategorized | Tagged chiropractic insured | Leave a comment

Prescription Pain Medication, Killing Us Softly.

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Dr. Tate Huffman

As a doctor I pay special attention to news that relates to health and health care. I have been noticing a lot of stories lately concerning a subject that is very important to me as a health care provider that specializes in helping people deal with pain, the growing problem of prescription pain medication abuse. This morning there was a story about recent drug raids in Florida, not of crack houses or dealers on the corner, but “dealers working out of strip malls”. Al Lamberti of the Broward County Sheriffs Department stated “We have more pain clinics than [we have] McDonald’s [restaurants], they’re taking their toll.” It is far to easy for people to walk into a clinic, say they have pain, and receive a prescription for very powerful, highly addictive, dangerous drugs. According to the CDC, from 1999–2006 the number of poisoning deaths in the United States nearly doubled, from approximately 20,000 to 37,000, largely because of overdose deaths involving prescription opioid painkillers. This increase coincided with a nearly fourfold increase in the use of prescription opioids nationally (1). A Science News article from the same year stated that prescription pain killers are involved in more drug overdose deaths than either cocaine or heroin in the U.S. (2). A recent study by the center for disease control published by The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found babies born to women who take opioid pain killers such as codeine, oxycodone or hydrocodone just before or in early pregnancy are at increased but modest risk of birth defects(3). Even when they were taken BEFORE pregnancy!

This quote is from Medline, the website of the National Institute of Health “About 9% of the population is believed to misuse opiates over the course of their lifetime, including prescribed pain medications such as Oxycontin. These drugs can cause physical dependence.” They go on to state “Opiate withdrawal refers to the wide range of symptoms that occur after stopping or dramatically reducing opiate drugs after heavy and prolonged use (several weeks or more).”(4). Several weeks is considered prolonged use!

Pain is often your bodies way of telling you to to change something in your life. As a chiropractor I believe it is better to find out what is wrong with your body and fix it, or find out what you are doing wrong and change it, than to “shoot the messenger”. Taking a powerful pain medication is not changing or fixing anything, it is only silencing our bodies natural warning system. Kind of like putting a piece of tape over the “check engine light” and hoping the problem goes away. I believe there is a time and a place for these drugs, such as people with severe chronic pain due to certain cancers. Unfortunately I often see patients that were prescribed these drugs for low back and neck pain, many for several weeks or more. Heroin would also take away your back pain, but I hope you’re smart enough to know that would be a really bad idea. Think about that if you are offered the legal version.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Tate Huffman

Websites for references.

Posted in Charlottesville VA Chiropractic, Disease and Chiropractic, Health and Wellness, Pain and Chiropractic | Tagged Chiropractic, Natural Healing, Prescription Pain Medication | Leave a comment

Make Good Choices

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Dr. Tate Huffman

Hello and welcome to my blog. My name is Dr. Tate Huffman of Core Integrated Health and Chiropractic in Charlottesville Virginia. This blog is meant to be a forum for me to discuss something that is very important to me, health and wellness. I believe that your health is your biggest asset. Nothing contributes more to overall happiness than good health, and the reverse is also true. While it is true that many of us were dealt genetic hands that predispose us to health problems, the decisions we make every day have a profound impact on even serious problems. More and more research is coming out every day that backs up what chiropractors have been saying for years, that by making good decisions about a healthy diet and exercise we can prevent and reverse MOST of the serious diseases of our time. This blog is meant to not only be a resource for making healthy choices, but also an inspiration!

Yours in health,

Dr. Tate Huffman

Posted in Charlottesville VA Chiropractic, Health and Wellness | Leave a comment

Charlottesville VA Chiropractor