October 2000

Chiropractic Adjustments Affect the Autonomic Nervous System, Study Shows

In a recent study published in the September 2000 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics, researchers showed that chiropractic adjustments have an effect on the Autonomic Nervous System.  This research was designed to measure the changes in "Edge Light Pupil Cycle Time" (ELPCT) which is one of the light reflexes of the eyes.  This reflex is controlled by the Autonomic Nervous System.  The results showed a decrease in the Edge Light Pupil Cycle Time therefore showing a direct link between a chiropractic adjustment and a response in the Autonomic Nervous System.

The implications of this research go well beyond the eye itself.  The Autonomic Nervous System is that part of the nervous system responsible for the control and function of internal body organs.  Chiropractors have said for over 100 years that interference to the nervous system creates a situation whereby various parts of the body will not be functioning at their fullest innate potential.  Despite all the reported cases of people with a variety of internal problems responding to chiropractic care, the medical community would always dismiss these cases as a coincidence. 

This new research adds much credibility to the reports of miraculous results under chiropractic by scientifically showing a link between chiropractic adjustments of the spine and the part of the nervous system responsible for the control of internal organs.  This clearly validates and reinforces the great results that chiropractors have reported to see over the last 100 years. Chiropractic care can have a positive affect on organ system health problems. 

Drug Companies Promoting Drugs for Uses not Approved by US Government

According to an article from the September 20, 2000 New York Times, retail drug spending has seen a major increase due to drug companies advertising directly to the public.  This was according to a new study published by the National Institute for Health Care Management, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that conducts research on health care issues. The study stated that, "25 of the most heavily advertised drugs accounted for more than 40 percent of the increase in retail drug spending last year."  

The study disclosed that spending on consumer advertising went from $1.3 billion in 1998, to $1.8 billion in 1999.  This resulted in an increase in consumer spending for retail drugs from $93.4 billion in 1998 to $111.1 billion in 1999.  Consumer advertising of drug products has been made possible since the Food and Drug Administration relaxed the rules on direct marketing of prescription drugs to consumers in 1997.

The NY Times article went on to say, "The study did not discuss the accuracy of drug advertising. But in the last three years, the government has repeatedly reprimanded drug companies after finding false or misleading claims in TV commercials and magazine advertisements."  The article concluded with the following;  "The F.D.A. has admonished companies about commercials advertising drugs for allergies, asthma, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, hair loss and sexually transmitted diseases, among others. In many cases, the government said, the advertisements violated the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act because they overstated the benefits of a particular drug, minimized the risks or falsely suggested that one drug was superior to another. The F.D.A. also found that many companies had been promoting their drugs for uses not approved by the government."

Ritalin Maker and American Psychiatric Association Sued for Conspiracy 

Lawsuits, filed in federal courts in New Jersey and California allege that Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the manufacturer of Ritalin, and the American Psychiatric Association, conspired to create a market for Ritalin and expand its use.  Stories appearing in the September 14, 2000 issue of the "New York Times" and the Sept 15 "On Health with Web MD", both report on these class action suits.  

Over the past decade prescriptions for Ritalin have skyrocketed as have the diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).  This has prompted controversy related to the correctness of the increase in diagnosis, the over prescribing of the medication, or the unstudied effects on children of long term use of this psychotropic drug.

One of the lawyers  involved in the Ritalin lawsuits, John Coale of Washington DC, said the litigation was brought because Novartis and the psychiatric group expanded the market for the drug by promoting the idea that many children had attention deficit order and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  He stated, "They were giving this stuff away like candy,"

Baby Boomers Believe Chiropractic Helps Them be Healthy. 

In the Sept. 19, 2000  /PRNewswire was a report by the American Chiropractic Association on a survey of "Baby Boomers" conducted in the fall of 1999.  The survey of baby boomers was conducted  by Sorelli B, a national research firm.  The survey found that more than one third of those surveyed said chiropractic care prevented the need for prescription drugs and physical therapy.  Additionally, many respondents believe chiropractic care had helped them avoid back surgery and hospital stays.  

The survey results strongly showed many participants desire for chiropractic care when it found that, they are willing to pay for the services out-of-pocket, although they would prefer to have the care covered by their insurance plans.  The report also stated that nearly 60 percent of those surveyed said they would be willing to sign a petition asking their insurance companies to include chiropractic as a core component of their health plan.

One of the more telling quotes from the news story was the following, "most of the baby boomers surveyed in the recent study said they were influenced more often by their doctor of chiropractic than by their medical doctor or osteopath. And doctors of chiropractic received higher ratings in the area of patient satisfaction than did their medical counterparts." They concluded that, "Overall, 60 percent of the regular patients surveyed believe their doctor of chiropractic has improved their quality of life."  

Pacifier Use May Increase Risk of Ear Infections

September 5, 2000 MSNBC reports that, "Infants who use pacifiers continuously after six months of age are at higher risk of ear infections, according to researchers."  These finding come from the results of a study done on more than 400 Finnish children at the  University of Oulu.  The researchers estimate that between 75 percent and 85 percent of children in Western countries habitually use pacifiers.

One possible reason given by the researchers for the link between pacifiers and ear infections was that the sucking on a pacifier may upset the air pressure in the ear therefore blocking proper drainage. “It is reasonable to assume that the effect may lie in an alteration in the pressure equilibrium between the middle ear cavity and the nasopharynx, which apparently impairs the functioning of the Eustachian tube,”

The Eustachian tube is the passage that connects the back of the nose and the middle ear. It assists hearing and acts as a drain for the middle ear by opening when needed to regulate air pressure. If the Eustachian tube gets blocked it may prevent proper drainage and result in infections.  The only recommendations given to the parents in the article by the researchers were to restrict pacifier use to the moments when older babies are falling asleep.

Increase in Chiropractic Patients With Work-Related Injuries

The above headline comes from a Healthmall.com report of a release from the July 21st 2000 Journal of the American Chiropractic Association.  In this article it is reported that there is more evidence of chiropractic effectiveness in returning injured workers back to work both quicker, and more affordably than other forms of care.  According to the report one such study showed a consistent 2 to 1 advantage of chiropractic care over medical care for injured workers. As far as expenses for such care, another study showed that costs in cases managed by doctors of chiropractic increased only 12% between 1986 and 1989, while treatment costs in cases managed by medical doctors increased 71% during the same period.

Historically, the medical community has been slow to embrace the chiropractic approach for injured workers however, based on new evidence the article reports that, "some doctors of chiropractic are experiencing an increase in the number of patients with work-related injuries who are being referred to them by medical doctors."

FDA Drug Advisers Have Financial Conflict of Interest

In two recent articles on September 25, 2000 by both Reuters News  and USA Today came reports that  that 54 percent of the experts the FDA asks for advice on which medicines should be approved for sale had a direct financial interest in the drugs or topics they were evaluating. These financial conflicts or interest typically include stock ownership, consulting fees or research grants.

Federal law prohibits the FDA from using experts with financial conflicts of interest, but the FDA has waived the restriction more than 800 times since 1998.  Although the FDA does reveal when financial conflicts exist, since 1992 it has kept the details of any conflict secret so it is not possible to determine the amount of money or the drug company involved.

The USA Today article stated, "These pharmaceutical experts, about 300 on 18 advisory committees, make decisions that affect the health of millions of Americans and billions of dollars in drugs sales. With few exceptions, the FDA follows the committees' advice." 

USA TODAY conducted an analysis of financial conflicts at 159 FDA advisory committee meetings from Jan. 1, 1998, through last June 30. The following are listed in the article as their findings:

Larry Sasich of the advocacy group, "Public Citizen",  concluded by saying, "The industry has more influence on the process than people realize."

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