Back pain affects more than 1 in 4 adults every year and is one of the most common health complaints with Americans spending at least $50 billion each year in search of relief. Back pain is also the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work, resulting in an estimated 150 million workdays lost each year.

Unfortunately, the majority of people suffering from back pain don't know that they have access to effective methods of pain relief.  According to a joint clinical study by the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society, spinal manipulation (chiropractic), massage therapy and acupuncture treatments are among the recommendations.

And in a recent Washington Post article, Wolf Mehling, a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco's Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, stated "Generally, patients who go to a massage therapist or a chiropractor are much happier with results of their treatments than those who go to their family doctor." 

If you or someone you know is suffering with back pain, make an appointment to see us today so you can experience life pain-free!

According to a recent study, common chemicals in food and household items containing endocrine disruptors showed adverse affects on male fertility.  "For the first time, we have shown a direct link between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals from industrial products and adverse effects on human sperm function," stated study co-author Dr. Niels E. Skakkebaek, a professor at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, in a written statement.  (Huffington Post)

Scientists in Germany and Denmark tested 96 endocrine disrupting chemicals on human sperm, both individually and in various combinations. Around one-third of the chemicals had a negative effect. The researchers found that these chemicals affect the sperm's mobility and ability to penetrate the egg for fertilization.  (CNN)

Some of the chemicals involved in the tests included: ultraviolet-filtering chemicals like 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) used in some sunscreens; the antibacterial agent Triclosan, which is used in some toothpaste; and di-n-butylphthalate (DnBP) used in some glue products. 

As men, women, and especially children are susceptible to adverse reactions from these chemicals, we encourage you to visit the Dr. Heidi's Recommended Links in this newsletter to learn more.

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that may interfere with the body's endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in both humans and wildlife. Studies show human health effects including lowered fertility and an increased incidence of endometriosis and some cancers. Research shows that endocrine disruptors may pose the greatest risk during prenatal and early postnatal development when organ and neural systems are forming. 

A wide range of substances, both natural and man-made, are thought to cause endocrine disruption, including pharmaceuticals, dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, DDT and other pesticides, and plasticizers such as bisphenol A. 

Endocrine disruptors may be found in many everyday products- including plastic bottles, metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, food, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides. 

The Environmental Working Group has assembled a list of the Top 12 Worst Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals:

1. Bisophenol A
2. Dioxin
3. Atrazine
4. Phthalates
5. Perchlorate
6. Fire retardants
7. Lead
8. Mercury
9. Arsenic
10. Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)
11. Organophosplate pesticides
12. Glycol ethers

Two-thirds of the human body is made up of water and every cell and organ depends on water to perform essential functions including:

• Removing waste and toxins
• Transporting nutrients and oxygen
• Controlling heart rate and blood pressure
• Regulating body temperature
• Lubricating joints
• Protecting organs and tissue, including the eyes, ears, and heart
• Creating saliva