40 Year Old Olympian Credits Chiropractic

The following is reprinted from Forbes.com

At age 40, Jeff Hartwig goes on record as the oldest member of the 2008 Olympic U.S. Track and Field team, competing in the pole vault event. A two time Olympian and four-time national champion, Hartwig holds the American indoor pole vaulting record and attributes much of his athletic success to chiropractic care.

"The first time I was treated by a chiropractor was akin to a miracle -- a much better option than simply using conventional medicine because my injuries healed faster and my whole body felt better," said Hartwig during an interview conducted a week prior to the Olympic events.

Just shy of his 41st birthday, Jeff is one of the three U.S. pole vault athletes competing in Beijing. He vaulted 18 feet, eight inches to become the oldest American to qualify for the Olympic team in his event. Hartwig finished 11th at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and went on to set the American record in 1998 at 19 feet, 9 1/4 inches.

"Without chiropractic care, I doubt that I would ever have been able to reach these levels or be able to train at such an intense level," said Hartwig.

Jeff is treated by U.S. Olympic Committee team chiropractor Ted Forcum, D.C. of Tigard, Ore., one of four doctors of chiropractic joining the 62-member U.S. Olympic healthcare team for the 2008 Olympic Games.

"Chiropractic fulfills a niche need, not only by treating injuries but also by aiding in recovery and positively impacting athletic performance," said Forcum. "Chiropractors promote active care and treatment with a commitment to healthy progression and rehabilitation."

Since the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, chiropractors have provided healthcare services to elite performers, and this year chiropractors will assume an even greater role in the integrated healthcare team, which includes medical doctors, massage therapists, and certified athletic trainers.
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Watch Jeff Hartwig in action in Monaco. Absolutely Amazing!
It's not in English, but it is very impressive to watch.

The Secret to Long Life

Former assistant surgeon general Dr. Douglas Kamerow tells us what is the most significant factor for longevity.

Hint: It's not what you eat or how much you exercise.

Click Here to Listen


Source:
All Things Considered, January 1, 2008

Faith Can Heal Say Medical Researchers

This is a time of year that many of us are thinking about Faith. You should be pleased to know that your faith and your health work together! There are hundreds of studies that document a link between faith and health. Here are just a few of those findings:

Longevity
A nationwide study of 21,000 people found that those who regularly attend religious services (more than once a week) live on average 7 years longer than those who never attend.

Blood Pressure
Duke University found a significant protective effect against high blood pressure among Caucasian males who considered religion very important and who attended church regularly.

Recovery From Surgery
A Dartmouth Medical School study found that patients who are comforted by their faith were 3 times more likely to be alive 6 months after open heart surgery than those who found no comfort in religion.

Heart Health
A study in India found that those who prayed regularly were 70% less likely to have coronary heart disease.

Why the relationship between faith and health? That is obviously the subject of much debate. Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School explains that humans under psychological stress experience raised blood pressure, raised heart rates and lowered immunity. He finds that the opposite response can be elicited by combining two steps: repeating a prayer, a word, a sound, a phrase or movement, and disregarding all other thoughts. Meditation, prayer, tai chi and yoga all provoke this healthful state.

Generally the health benefits described above are not attributable to any one particular religion. These positive effects have been noted in observers of many faiths.


Source:
The above is based on the article titled "Heaven Can Wait", by Elena Serocki and published in Readers Digest, May 2001

The Key to Better Aging is Mobility Says New Study

In a paper published in the September issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers closely examined the factors that affected Health-Related Quality-of-Life for a group of older Americans. The study revealed that mobility is a key factor impacting quality of life for older adults.

The researchers concluded that "Taken together with past research, which has demonstrated that loss of mobility predicts loss of independence, mortality, and nursing home admission, it is clear that interventions that can preserve or improve mobility in older adults could produce increases in both quantity and quality of life."

As a chiropractor I have always taught my patients that when it comes to their physical health, they must "use it or lose it". Mild stretching along with moderate exercise are a great start for most patients. Add to this a daily 30 minute walk during which you focus your mind in meditation, re-affirm your daily decisions and pray and you have a recipe for a long, happy, healthy life! Chiropractic adjustments are designed not only to improve nerve flow and relieve pain, but to restore your range of motion and balance.

The New Year is right around the corner. Maintain your mobility with stretching, exercise, regular adjustments and a hearty daily walk! Thus you will add "Years to Your Life and Life to Your Years!"

Reference:
Science Daily
American Journal of Preventive Medicine

One Secret to a Longer Life: Keep Learning

The one social factor that has been consistently linked to longer life, regardless of country, is education. It is far more important a factor than even health insurance. A few extra years of school is associated with extra years of life, as well as vastly improved health during old age.
Not only have studies consistently shown this connection, but there is no limit beyond which more years of school stop adding to a person's life span. There are several theories as to why this may be the case, including a better ability to plan for the future.
Other factors that seem to greatly affect health include tight social networks of friends and relatives, and income level.

New York Times January 3, 2007

The Ledger January 3, 2006

The Review of Economic Studies January 2005; 72(1): 189-221 Free Full-Text PDF

Source: Mercola.com
© Copyright Dr. Joseph Mercola, 2007. All Rights Reserved. This content may be copied in full, as long as copyright, contact, and creation information is given, only if used only in a not-for-profit format. If possible, I would also appreciate an endorsement and encouragement to subscribe to the newsletter. If any other use is desired, written permission is required.