article archive
September 2006
Long-term care
by Dr. Christopher Kent
Health care in the United States currently consumes about
one in every six dollars spent , and will consume an estimated
one in every five dollars by the year 2015. It is projected
that by the end of the next decade, the government will be
paying about half of the nation's medical costs. A report
from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimated
that both government and private spending for health care
will average $12,320 per person in 2015, almost double the
2005 figure of $6,683. The nation's health care bill could
total more than $4 trillion in 10 years. (US Health Care
Bill by 2015: $4 Trillion. abcnews.com 2/22/06). Despite
this, medical mistakes and iatrogenic illnesses are a leading
cause of death in the US. [1] The US ranks 37th in overall
health care performance according to the World Health Organization.
In
my 33 years as a chiropractor, I have seen the profession
face many difficulties. Our profession has survived these
challenges for two reasons: 1) the powerful, positive effect
of chiropractic care on human health; and 2) our commitment
to those we serve.
The Chiropractic Leadership Alliance (CLA)
is proud to have supported a landmark study where chiropractors
collaborating with researchers at the University of Lund found
that chiropractic care could influence basic physiological
processes affecting oxidative stress and DNA repair. The study
examined serum thiols in patients under short‑term and long‑term
chiropractic care. Serum thiols are primary antioxidants,
and serve as a measure of human health status. The test provides
a surrogate estimate of DNA repair enzyme activity, which
has been shown to correlate with lifespan and aging.
Comparing
serum thiol levels in nearly 50 patients receiving short‑ or long‑term
chiropractic care with controls, researchers found:
*** Independent
of age, sex or taking nutritional supplements, long‑term chiropractic care of two or more years re‑established
a normal physiological state in patients.
*** Patients receiving
chiropractic care showed higher mean serum thiol levels, compared
to patients with active disease, and produced some values that
were higher than normal wellness values.
Simply stated, as we
live life, we are subjected to physical, biochemical, and psychological
stress. Our ability to repair damaged DNA is an important factor
in health and longevity. Oxidative stress is now a broadly
accepted theory of how we age and develop disease. Oxidative
stress results in DNA damage, and inhibits DNA repair. In short,
we now have evidence that chiropractic adjustments affect the
chemistry of biological processes on a cellular level. [2]
Another
important study was conducted by Dr. Ron Rupert and his team
at Parker College. The study surveyed 311 chiropractic patients,
aged 65 years and older, who had received chiropractic care
for five years or longer.
*** Despite similar health status,
chiropractic patients receiving "maintenance care" for
five years or longer, when compared with US citizens of the
same age, spent only 31% of the national average for health
care services.
*** The chiropractic patients also experienced
50% fewer medical provider visits than their comparable peers.
[3]
Can you imagine the potential economic impact of cutting
medical provider visits by 50%?
As chiropractors, we hold an
important key to solving the nation's health care crisis. However,
the health benefits and cost savings that can change the health
care landscape were only seen in patients who were under long‑term
care.
If your patients quit when their pain disappears, or their
benefits run out, they will not experience the full potential
of chiropractic care. This places an awesome responsibility
on your shoulders, that of effectively communicating the
need for care and objectively demonstrating improved function
after the symptoms have disappeared.
References
1. Null G, Dean C, Feldman, M, Rasio, D, Smith D: "Death
by Medicine." Life Extension. March, 2004. www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/mar2004_awsi_death_01.htm
2.
Blanks RHI, Schuster TL, Dobson M: "A retrospective
assessment of Network care using a survey of self‑reported
health, wellness and quality of life." Journal of Vertebral
Subluxation Research 1997;1(4):15. http://www.jvsr.com
3. Rupert
RL, Manello D, Sandefur R: "Maintenance care:
health promotion services administered to US chiropractic
patients aged 65 or older, Part II." Journal of Manipulative
and Physiological Therapeutics 2000;23(1):10.
(Dr. Christopher
Kent, president of the Council on Chiropractic Practice,
is a 1973 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. The
WCA's "Chiropractic Researcher of the Year" in
1994, and recipient of that honor from the ICA in 1991, he
was also named ICA "Chiropractor of the Year" in
1998. He is director of research and a co‑founder of
Chiropractic Leadership Alliance. An attorney as well as
a chiropractor, Dr. Kent is a member of the California bar.
With Dr. Patrick Gentempo, Jr., Dr. Kent produces a monthly
audio series, "On Purpose," covering current events
in science, politics and philosophy of vital interest to
the practicing chiropractor. For subscription information
call 800‑892‑6463.)