LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

allergies

EARLY LIFE ANTIBIOTIC EXPOSURE – (08-28-06)

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Atopic wheezing and early life antibiotic exposure: a nested case control study

With all the research pointing to just how darn important a good, balanced, healthy bacterial flora in our GI tract is, you would hope at SOME point pediatricians would back off on antibiotic usage for everything that comes through their office.

But hey–give the 3 month old antibiotics for the ear infections caused by cow’s milk formula, and you’re practically guaranteed that you’ll get some extra visits with the child gets older and develops allergies and asthma. Talk about practice building techniques!!!

Read entire article here

SUBLINGUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY IS HIGHLY SAFE AND BENEFICIAL – (02-27-06)

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Immune mechanisms of allergen-specific sublingual immunotherapy

While still not well accepted by many physicians in this country, the research behind sublingual immunotherapy is growing. It’s safety is very high, and every study I’ve come across finds a benefit. Basically, the patient’s allergies are identified, and they are given a vial of liquid that they put under their tongue.

Most likely, this route gets down to the immune cells surrounding the gut (the GALT). The GALT then evaluates this small amount of allergen, kind of twisting it around in it’s little white blood cell hands, sees nothing threatening, and sends the signal of “no problem” to the rest of the immune system.

This works to tone down the allergic response to that particular substance. It is truly working on fixing the problem.

Read entire article here

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF CLIMATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALLERGIES IN INFANTS? – (01-26-08)

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Before-birth climatologic data may play a role in the development of allergies in infants

Quite a forward thinking research study. The researchers looked at whether the season of birth correlated with whether or not the child had allergies by 12 months of age. Spring and summer births fared the best, with the infants being born with 3 months of sunshine topping the list. Given how important vitamin D is for a well balanced immune system, this should come as no surprise.

The bottom line is that pregnant women should supplement with relatively high levels of vitamin D in the last trimester or spend some good solid time in the sunshine.

Read entire article here

INCREASE INTAKE OF HIGH PHYTONUTRIENT FOODS REDUCES ASTHMA – (11-24-08)

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Oral administration of the purple passion fruit peel extract reduces wheeze and cough and improves shortness of breath in adults with asthma

Asthma and allergies are two conditions that can be greatly impacted by lifestyle choices, but these changes need to be rather all encompassing to have a stronger effect. However, sometimes simple but powerful natural products can have significant effects, as we see in this study with a high polyphenol fruit. One thing I always try to impress upon patients is the need to increase our intake of high phytonutrient foods such as dark berries, nuts, dark colored vegetables and spices. These items truly are very easy to add to our diets if we’re just aware of the concept.

Read entire article here

OVERUSE OF TYMPANOSTOMY TUBES – (09-01-09)

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Overuse of tympanostomy tubes in New York metropolitan area: evidence from five hospital cohort

Wow. And ANYONE has rights to throw stones at the chiropractic profession? This is sickening. Unforgivable. Not only did these children have a completely unnecessary surgery, but no one ever thought to actually fix what was wrong with these children (allergies, destruction of normal, protective flora) before six. Without fixing the problem, you are dooming these young patients to altered physiology and immune dysfunction for the rest of their lives. Do you think these surgeons got paid?

Read entire article here

INCIDENCE OF ALLERGIC MANIFESTATIONS AND INFECTIONS (02-23-09)

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Early Dietary Intervention with a Mixture of Prebiotic Oligosaccharides Reduces the Incidence of Allergic Manifestations and Infections during the First Two Years of Life

It should come as no surprise that I continue to be amazed at the complete lack of reverence in the pediatric practice for normal bacterial flora. And we could even go as far as to include to OBs as well, since mom needs a healthy flora during delivery and nursing. The amount of research suggesting that these bacteria are absolutely essential for normal immune system development is staggering, and the near ubitquitous inappropriate use of antibiotics without follow up with probiotics is inexcusable. Any physician charged with the care of their patients health has an absolute responsibility to stay current with the medical literature. This is not happening in medicine, with particular blame on the pediatricians.

Now that my rant is over, I’d like to point out that this is yet another study linking healthy bacterial flora (the oligosacchardides used in this study are given to support the growth of healthy bacterial flora) and protection against both infections and allergies.

Read entire article here

INFANTS, PETS AND ALLERGIES–A GOOD COMBO

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Our ancestors were continually exposed to all kinds of infectious agents. Bacteria, viruses, dirt. You name it. There was no antibacterial hand lotion. No running water. No sani-wipes. Interestingly, as we have continued to live in a more and more sterile environment, under the mistaken idea that it is good for us, rates of atopic disorders like allergies and asthma have gone up. Why?

Our immune system needs to be trained. Just like our muscles it needs to be worked out. Especially as we are just starting out in this world as newborns and infants. The term is immunotolerance. The ability of our immune system to respond to what it is supposed to respond to and not respond to stuff it’s not (which also includes our own tissues).

Arguably the most critically time in our lives is up until about 2 years of age. After this point the immune system is a little more set in its ways. Thus, the exposure to healthy bacterial flora in the gut from vaginal birth, from nursing, from avoiding antibiotics to avoiding overuse of vaccination, contributes to the healthy development of our immune system.  Also, I strongly promote the use of locally grown (must be local!!) honey to expose the developing immune system to local pollens, protecting against allergies much the same way pets do in this study.  Of course, just to be safe, avoid the use of honey in  infants under a year to avoid the low, but potential risk of botulism.

With all of these factors in mind, it should come as no surprise that this current study finds that exposure to cats or dogs in our first year of life cuts risk of being allergic to either dogs or cats by a whopping 50%. Interestingly, the protection was even greater (67% lower risk, if the child was born via C-section. Makes you want to go “Hmmm….”

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2011.03747.x/abstract

EAT THIS FOR YOUR ALLERGIES

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Allergies are a tough one to overcome.  Many times dietary allergies are driving the bulk of the allergies.  I know that people have the skin scratch testing and blood testing and tarot card readings to see what they are allergic to and it always seems to be pollens and grass with an occasional dog dander thrown in. 

The reality is that many of us routinely eat foods we are sensitive to.  In doing so, the immune system that surrounds the gut (up to 2/3 of the immune system is actually centered around the gastrointestinal tract) gets set on alert, increasing the likelihood that we will react to other items that we may get exposed to, such as pollens.  It is not the pollen that is the problem–it is our body’s response to the pollen. 

Avoiding allergies actually starts in the womb.  Avoiding Tylenol (known to increase risk for asthma in utero), making sure that mom is loaded with good bacteria, vaginal birth, NO antibiotics, breastfeeding as long as possible, being discriminate in vaccination and having some animals in the house will all go a long way towards lowering the risk for developing allergies and asthma in the first place.  Once they are old enough, locally grown honey can help tone the immune system to local pollens and lower the risk of allergies as well.

This particular review suggests that high intake of polyphenols–those brilliant colors, flavors, scents and tastes that Nature gives us–may prevent or mitigate allergies.  So throw out the processed food and eat stuff that doesn’t come with an ingredient label and you’ll go a long way towards managing allergies.  As well as every other chronic disease…

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2011.03773.x/abstract