LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnancy Outcome Following Gestational Exposure to Echinacea – (12-07-00)

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Pregnancy Outcome Following Gestational Exposure to Echinacea

So now we have research outlining the safety of echinacea in pregnancy. It still amazes me that the safety was in question despite hundreds of years of safe use. On the other hand, with only several years of use of many pharmaceuticals that have shown some potential for damage in pregnancy, the “risk vs benefit” idea is used to justify their use. Another good example is vitamin A and pregnancy. Everyone knows to avoid high dose vitamin A during pregnancy (greater than 10,000 IU/day), and yet the number of recorded birth defects from vitamin A (not including retinoic acid) is a mere handful.

Pregnancy Outcome Following Gestational Exposure to Echinacea: A Prospective Controlled Study

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Exercise and Pregnancy: Can You Do Both? – (08-30-02)

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Exercise and Pregnancy: Can You Do Both?

Over the years, there has been considerable debate regarding the importance (and safety) of physical activity during pregnancy. Recently, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) published new guidelines for exercise during pregnancy and the period immediately after giving birth.

This article examines various recommendations related to exercise during pregnancy, but the authors’ conclusion sums it up best: “Pregnancy should not be a state of confinement, and pregnant women should be encouraged to continue and engage in physical activities. … Despite the fact that pregnancy is associated with profound anatomical and physiological changes, exercise has minimal risks and confirmed benefits for most women.”

As these guidelines emphasize, if you’re expecting a child, certain physical activities are safe and even beneficial; on the other hand, some activities may be dangerous. Before you begin any exercise program during pregnancy, talk to your doctor to ensure that you and your growing child stay as healthy as possible.

For more information on women’s health, visit http://www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout/women.html. Reference:Artal R, O’Toole M. Guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2003;37:6-12.

 

Treatment of multiple sclerosis with the pregnancy hormone estriol – (06-17-03)

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Treatment of multiple sclerosis with the pregnancy hormone estriol

I’ll take this opportunity to freshen up on female hormones. The human produces three estrogens; estradiol, estrione and estriol. Estriol is generally considered the friendly hormone, and many regimens of natural HRT rely heavily upon estriol. In this study we see estriol as possibly being protective against MS. This study tried to figure out why MS symptoms seem to be reduced or in remission while a woman is pregnant (a condition where estiol levels are high) and found that estriol may be a factor.

Entrez-PubMed

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Low seafood in early pregnancy as risk factor for preterm delivery – (02-27-02)

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Low seafood in early pregnancy as risk factor for preterm delivery

There is now a wealth of evidence pointing to the importance of essential fatty acids, most notably DHA and EPA in normal brain development. This article looks at the benefits from another angle. However, always remember that, when choosing your source of fish to stick with cold water deep fish to lower risk of exposure to heavy metals and other “junk” that is filling our waters. I personally always try to stay away from fresh water fish and eating canned tuna more than every few weeks.

bmj.com Abstracts: Olsen and Secher 324 (7335): 447

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Metformin on Early Pregnancy Loss in the Polycystic Ovary – (02-11-02)

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Metformin on Early Pregnancy Loss in the Polycystic Ovary

I think this is somewhat of a landmark article. Not that the concepts are, but to see them all together is always exciting. A few interesting things here. First, using metformin, which increases insulin sensitivity, can dramatically drop the risk of miscarriage in patients with PCOS. PCOS has been linked strongly with hyperinsulinemia and this would be a natural progression from there. Interestingly, the standard OB/GYN approach the PCOS is the birth control pill, which is well documented to increase insulin resistance. Go figure that one out!! And, of course, instead of metformin I would rather see a program of exercise, whole grain instead of refined carb intake, and supplementation with chromium, vanadium and possibly CLA.

JCEM — Abstracts: Jakubowicz et al. 87 (2): 524

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Do This in Pregnancy and You May Harm Your Baby

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Stress seems to predominate in society today.  While I seem to have this internal broken record playing that line over and over in my head, it’s really just because the medical research demonstrating associations between chronic disease and stress is so overwhelming.

Stress destroys you.  Period.  No matter how much you try to rationalize it to yourself, few things you actually are stressing about right now are worth the destruction it is causing you inside.

Of course, it is bad enough when the stress affects only your health.

But what about your unborn baby?

Stress shortens your life.  But what if it can shorten your baby’s life even BEFORE he or she is born??

I have discussed the concept of telomeres in a previous blog article that can be read by clicking here.  In summary, telomeres are like the wicks on the end of the DNA in your cells.  The shorter the wick, the less life that cell has left in it.  And much like the wick of a candle, as it burns down you don’t get more of it.

That means that anything you can do to preserve the length of the telomeres inside of your cells is a good thing.  We have solid research on the lifestyle choices that help to preserve telomere length.  Stress is on this “short” list.

Conversely, we have research that shows that shortened telomeres are associated with many chronic diseases like cancer.

With this knowledge, we can move back to this particular study.

Researchers evaluated a small group of pregnant women and measured the level of psychosocial stress the mothers were under during pregnancy.  They then evaluated the white blood cells (leukocytes) present in the cord blood at birth.

There was a clear association between stress levels in the mom and the length of the telomeres in the cord blood.

Now.  If you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant in the near future, ask yourself if the things you stress about are worth setting up your baby for chronic disease before they are even out of the womb.  If you’re having an internal debate right now, let me settle it–it’s NOT.

Beyond reconciling with the stressors, there are also powerful tools that you can use to manage stress.  These can include:

  1. Transcedental meditation
  2. Relaxation audio (CDs, MP3)
  3. Relaxation programs
  4. Biofeedback devices like the Resperate
  5. Exercise
  6. Pregnancy massage (ALWAYS a good idea…)

Fix it.  Now.  The stakes are higher than you can imagine.

Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy – (07-21-03)

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Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy

Since morning sickness is such a common occurrence with pregnancy, this article should provide some useful info. Of particular importance is the mention of ginger and B6 to reduce nausea and vomiting. One thing that is not covered but I see frequently in my office is that many cases of morning sickness are actually a result of poor quality (read: prescription/pharmaceutical) prenatal vitamins.

The OB/GYN answer–take your multi just before bed so you sleep through the nausea. Forget the fact that it is the poor quality of the vitamin causing the sensations and furthermore, taking it at night is probably the worst time for absorption (which is ALREADY reduced due to the poor quality…). It always amazes me that a pharmaceutical brand prenatal usually runs about $30 to $45, but most patients have their insurance cover it. This cost would be fine for a high quality vitamin, but for the incredibly low quality of these the cost is ridiculous.

Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy – July 1, 2003 – American Family Physician.

Read entire article here

Malnutrition in Pregnancy and later heart disease risk – (01-08-01)

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CVD in Offspring Linked to Maternal Malnutrition in Early Gestation

I often say that it’s never too early and never too late to make changes towards a healthy lifestyle. This mantra of mine really seems to be coming under assault lately!! We really need to focus on maintaining proper nutrition throughout periconception, pregnancy and lactation. For the high numbers of women experiencing nausea preventing proper nutrition, ginger has worked wonders for many women.

Heart 2000;84:595-598 The first evidence to link maternal malnutrition during early gestation with the development of coronary heart disease in offspring is reported by Dutch researchers. “Prenatal undernutrition had permanent effects on cardiovascular risk factors, Dr. Roseboom told Reuters Health. “We found that people who were exposed to the famine in early gestation had an increased risk of coronary heart disease in later life.” The prevalence of coronary heart disease in those exposed to famine during early gestation was 8.8% compared with 3.2% for those not exposed. However, the investigators observed no increase in the prevalence of coronary heart disease in subjects exposed to famine during middle and late gestation, compared with the nonexposed group. Although individuals with coronary heart disease tended to have lower birthweights and smaller head circumferences at birth, Dr. Roseboom’s group found the relationship between early e! xposure to famine and coronary heart disease to be independent of birthweight. These findings suggest “that we may be able to prevent coronary heart disease by optimizing maternal diet during pregnancy,” she concluded. “Pregnant women are very eager to change their lifestyle for the sake of their babies, so it may be a very efficient way of preventing coronary heart disease in future generations.”

Gamma-Tocopherol Associated w/ Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer** This concept of antioxidants lowering levels of many diseases is nothing new, but I thought I would use this chance to enlighten. Gamma-tocopherol is what most people think of when Vit E is mentioned, but nature actually makes many types of tocopherols. By eating whole fruits, veggies and whole grains we get a wide range of these tocopherols.

J Natl Cancer Inst 2000;92:1966-1967,2018-2023 High concentrations of gamma-tocopherol, the most common dietary form of vitamin E, are associated with a statistically significant reduction in the risk of prostate cancer, study results suggest. Dr. Kathy J. Helzlsouer, of Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, and a multicenter team conducted a nested case-control study of 117 men with prostate cancer and 233 cancer-free men. Concentrations of selenium, gamma-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol were measured in plasma and toenail samples. The researchers report that higher concentrations of alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and selenium were associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer, but only the association with gamma-tocopherol was statistically significant. The risk of developing prostate cancer was five times lower in men with the highest fifth of gamma-tocopherol levels than in men with the lowest fifth. The beneficial effects! of alpha-tocopherol and selenium appeared to be related to levels of gamma-tocopherol, according to the report. For these substances, “protective associations with prostate cancer risk were observed when gamma-tocopherol concentrations were above the control subject-based median value,” the authors write in the December 20th issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The results suggest that increasing the concentration of gamma-tocopherol may magnify the risk reduction, according to the report. In an editorial that accompanies the study, Dr. Edward Giovannucci, of Harvard Medical School in Boston, notes that the findings raise the question of whether displacement of gamma-tocopherol by alpha-tocopherol in vitamin E supplements has adverse health effects. “The balance of these agents, as well as potential modifiers of risk, such as smoking, should be considered in the design and interpretation of results of future ob! servational and intervention studies,” he concludes.