A Possible Link Between Headache and High Blood Pressure
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Houston Area Chiropractor Comments: Headaches are one of the common pains we get. High blood pressure is also very common, affecting about 50 million Americans. Could they be linked? Yes, but not in the way you may think. Some doctors question whether taking pain pills actually corrects the cause of the headache. But there are also other, perhaps more seemingly silent concerns.
Is simply cutting the fire alarm when the house is on fire ever a good idea? If your headache is coming from a problem such as a sprained and subluxated neck, is taking a pill going to do anything to help the joint injury?
We all see the TV commercials and the long pill aisles at the supermarket. We must be consuming quite a bit and that is true. But could our excessive use of these drugs be causing another problem, one that may not be explained on the pill bottle label?
Researchers have looked at over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) and ibuprofen (e.g. Advil), to see if taking them over the long-term elevates the risk for developing high blood pressure (Hypertension 2005;46:500. Women’s Health Study I and II) The study investigated 5,123 women between the ages of 34 and 77 and followed them over many years.
Compared with women who did not use acetaminophen, the relative risk for those who took >500 mg per day was 1.93 (1.30 to 2.88) among older women. and 1.99 (1.39 to 2.85) among younger women. A relative risk of 1.93 is a 93% increase in risk. The range was a 30% increase to a 185% increase.
For nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen), the risk of developing high blood pressure in older women also increased, ranging from a 78% to a 161% elevation. For younger women, the increased risks ranged from a 10% increase to a 132% increase.
Aspirin use was not associated with developing high blood pressure. The authors concluded that because acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used, they might contribute to the high prevalence (percent of the population with this disease) of high blood pressure in the United States.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Dr Beecher’s January 5 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, January 5th, 2015
Mental Attitude: Full-Day Preschool Increases Readiness for Kindergarten. Children who attend preschool full-time score better in areas such as language, math, socio-emotional development, physical health, literacy, and cognitive development when compared with kids who attend preschool for half the day. Lead author Dr. Arthur J. Reynolds writes, “Full-day preschool appears to be a promising strategy for school readiness… In addition to increased educational enrichment, full-day preschool benefits parents by providing children with a continually enriched environment throughout the day, thereby freeing parental time to pursue career and educational opportunities.” JAMA, November 2014
Health Alert: ER Visits on the Rise in the US. The number of emergency room visits in the United States (US) has risen from approximately 130 million in 2010 to an estimated 140 million in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nearly 30% of visits were for injuries, with the highest rates among individuals 75 years of age and older. Dr. Michael Gerardi, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, adds, “Given that our nation’s population is aging, and emergency departments have a critical role as the front line of responding to disasters and infectious disease outbreaks in America… we need to prepare for increased numbers of patients.” American College of Emergency Physicians, November 2014
Diet: Get Kids Cooking to Promote Healthy Eating. According to a new report, getting kids involved in cooking may make them more likely to choose healthier foods. The study found that cooking programs and classes for children seem to positively influence children’s food preferences and behaviors. Cooking education programs teach children about healthy foods and how to prepare them. These programs also stress the importance of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. If parents are unable to enroll their kids in a cooking class, then they can achieve similar benefits by simply having their children help them while they prepare meals at home in their own kitchen. Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice and Policy, November 2014
Exercise: Lowers Hypertension Risk. Using data from treadmill stress tests and blood pressure measurements from over 57,000 older men and women, researchers determined that individuals who are in good physical shape have at least a 20% lower risk for hypertension than those who are out of shape. JAMA, December 2014
Chiropractic: Why Does Your Back Hurt? The American Chiropractic Association offers the following explanation on what causes back pain: “The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can cause back pain, sometimes the simplest of movements—for example, picking up a pencil from the floor— can have painful results. In addition, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can cause or complicate back pain. Back pain can also directly result from disease of the internal organs, such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss.” ACA, December 2014
Wellness/Prevention: Simple Breath Test May Help Detect Type 1 Diabetes Earlier in Children. Researchers claim to have identified a chemical marker for type 1 diabetes that could pave the way for early diagnosis in children by using a simple breath test. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs when a severe lack of insulin causes the body to break down fats for energy. This process leads to an elevation of ketones in the blood, which can lead to diabetic coma or even death. In the study, researchers found the sweet smelling ketones disposed of through the breath may be used as an early indicator of ketone build-up in the blood. Researcher Dr. Gus Hancock adds, “After clinical trials, we hope that this will be used by people with type 1 diabetes to test whether or not they are heading for DKA when they are not feeling well.” Journal of Breath Research, November 2014
Quote: “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” ~ Ernest Hemingway
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or BeecherChiropractic.com .
