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Doylestown Chiropractor asks “Have You Tried Just About Everything For Your Allergies?”
Wheezing, sniffling & sneezing. 
No, these are not the dwarfs, but just a few of the many symptoms that local allergy sufferers experience this time of year.
The earth comes alive, bursting with new growth and the wind is spreading the news. As spring blossoms, the pollen will flow and walk in the park or a play date with your dog or cat can result in red itchy eyes, nasal congestion and overall awfulness. Commercials bombard us with idyllic images of allergy medication from pills to nasal sprays.
More Pills Are Not The Solution
A common treatment for allergies is the ‘take some medication and wait and see’ method.
While this may be necessary for temporary relief of severe symptoms, using them long term is no way to live. Some of the more common drugs given: Benadryl, Zyrtec, Allegra & Claritin all of which have serious side effects, including drowsiness, fatigue, headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, among others.
The Likely Cause Of Your Problem
I am Dr. Jeff McQuaite of Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown and I’ve been helping people with allergies for more than 15 years.
You may question why it is that other people appear to be so unaffected by the environment, while your body reacts, or rather overreacts to it. It’s a valid question. Allergic responses are caused by a hyperactive immune system that “freaks out” when confronted with commonplace foods and other products such as pollen, dust, dander, shellfish or nuts.
Have you ever wondered if a chiropractor can help with your allergies? The fact is that many people have experienced relief from their allergy symptoms after receiving a chiropractic treatment. The reason for this is because chiropractic manipulation affects the complete nervous system, including the autoimmune system. When there is an impedance in the nervous system, along with other problems, the autoimmune system, whose job it is to assist us in adapting and responding appropriately to our environment, can become under-active or overactive. The problem is the latter when it comes to your allergies.
Because chiropractic manipulations lessen or remove disturbances in the nervous system and bring the body back into balance and harmony, the treatments provide that same balance and harmony to the auto-immune system as well. A healthy immune system reacts appropriately to supposed allergens in the environment.
By using gentle techniques, I am able to release the pressure that has built up on the nerve. This allows the nerve to heal and the symptoms to go away.
For example, numerous studies have proven chiropractic’s effectiveness in helping asthma and allergies.
Robert Mendelsohn, M.D, Northwestern University Medical College:
“Traditional medicine has no cure for allergies, only treatment” and “You can depend on most doctors to largely ignore the cause … unfortunately, their treatment is often worse than the disease, especially since the relatively safe folk-measures of yesteryear have been replaced by the sophisticated, dangerous drugs of modern medicine.”
Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health, 2009:
A 7-year-old male was presented by his parents for chiropractic evaluation and possible care. The suffered from chronic colds, allergies, and asthma since the age of 5 months. At the time of initial evaluation, the patient was on a 1x/day dose of prescription Alavert for allergies and Albuterol for asthma. The patient’s illness caused him to miss approximately 1–2 days a month of school due to colds and symptoms of asthma. His parents also indicated that his health problems resulted in monthly visits to his medical doctor.
Interventions and Outcomes: The patient was cared for using adjustments to address areas of vertebral subluxation in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral spine. Within two weeks of initiating chiropractic care, the patient was able to discontinue his allergy and asthma medications (as decided upon by his parents) and the use of his nebulizer. In the first 5 months after beginning chiropractic care, he has had only wellness checkups at the medical doctor. In the past school year, the patient has not missed any days of school due to illness.
Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, 1997:
In a study of 81 asthmatic children, 73 showed significant improvement after chiropractic adjustments; 25 of them voluntarily decreased their medication by an average of 66.5%. Several reports have shown lung volume to increase after chiropractic care. In another study of patients with chronic pulmonary disease (including bronchitis and emphysema) over 90% reported improvement in symptoms after spinal care.
Could Chiropractic Be Your Solution?
It’s time for you to find out if chiropractic will be your allergy solution. That’s no way to live, not when there could be an easy solution to your problem. Nothing’s worse than feeling great mentally, but physically feeling held back from life because of your allergies – and the pain just won’t go away!
Azzatori Chiropractic
295 Logan Street
Doylestown, Pa. 18901
267-247-7000
Chiropractor Serving Doylestown and Central Bucks Helps Patients To Recover from Auto Accident Injuries
Long time Doylestown Chiropractor, Dr. Jeff McQuaite of Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown is focusing his services on car accident injuries due to the sharp increase in automobile accidents in Pennsylvania and Central Bucks over the past year. The doctor offers innovative and advanced procedures for injury victims at his Doylestown chiropractic office.
Did you know that statistically, every American can expect to be in a motor vehicle collision once every ten years! Last year, there were 121,242 reported accidents in Pennsylvania, an increase of almost 5.5 percent from the previous year. Every day in Pennsylvania there was 332 reportable traffic crashes, or about 14 every hour. This increase has led to many new car accident injuries that have caused a lot of pain and dysfunction in the victims affected. Dr. Jeff McQuaite of Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown has seen many patients come in with auto accident injuries that threatened their lives and their health; however, he has watched them all leave as healthier and more carefree individuals. All of this was possible thanks to the advanced technology, attentive application and innovative techniques utilized by his staff at Azzatori Chiropractic.
Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown is run by a doctor who applies his knowledge and skill to treat each car accident injury with precision and care. A car accident injury can affect essentially any part of the body; however, the most commonly reported injuries occur in the back and neck area. These injuries can often be very painful and reduce the patient’s ability to function normally. According to medical studies:
• It is estimated that 15-40% of those who are injured in a motor vehicle collision will suffer from ongoing chronic pain.(Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 2007)
•Whiplash injuries not only increase the incidence of chronic neck and shoulder pain; it also significantly increases the incidence of other systemic ill health effects. In other words, whiplash injuries cause more than neck pain and headache; it hurts the health of the entire body.(Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2001)
•That essentially 100% of those who are suffering from chronic pain caused by a whiplash injury will have an abnormal psychological profile with standard assessments, and the only way to resolve the abnormal psychological profile was to successfully treat the chronic spinal pain. Psychotherapy was not able to improve the abnormal psychological profile, nor was it able to improve the patient’s chronic pain complaint.(Pain, 1997)
• In the longest study ever performed on whiplash-injured patients (a study looking at the health status 17 years after injury), 55% of the patients still suffered from pain caused by the original trauma.(Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2002)
• 90% of those who are initially given a cervical collar for their whiplash injuries will be suffering from chronic neck pain 6 months later.(Spine, 2000)
•2% of whiplash-injured patients will have severe pain and problems that require ongoing medical investigations and drugs 7.5 years after being injured.(Injury, 2005)
•1 in every 100 (1%) people on our planet suffer from chronic neck pain caused by whiplash injury.(Pain, 1994)
Dr. McQuaite has extensive experience providing care and assistance to patients with auto accident injuries. “An auto accident is a traumatic time for anyone and we want to help ease that pain here at Azzatori Chiropractic Center with fast and effective chiropractic care,” says Dr. Jeff McQuaite. Auto accident injuries can include a variety of patient issues, such as whiplash, back pain, neck pain, knee and shoulder trauma, as well as spinal cord damage. Azzatori Chiropractic Center of Doylestown treats these patient conditions and injuries with chiropractic care and spinal manipulations, physiotherapy, massage therapy, and rehabilitative exercises.
Dr. McQuaite stated, “By offering both massage and chiropractic care in our office, we provide comprehensive care for patients to help them recover quicker and prevent future injuries.” “Chiropractic care is helpful in preventing long term injury for patients that have been involved in auto accidents. We rehabilitate the injury and target any associated pain or stiffness relating to the injury for long term relief. In addition, there are no out of pocket charges for any patient whom receives Chiropractic care as a result of injuries from their car accident, in 99% of cases”
Along with providing rehabilitation for auto accident patients, the Doylestown chiropractor maintains a professional relationship with several personal injury attorneys. Dr. McQuaite and the attorneys work together to assist auto accident and work-related injury patients with navigating the legal and medical claims process.
For more information on car accident injuries, call:
Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown
295 Logan Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
267-247-7000
www.azzatorichiropractic.com
www.mcquaitechiropractic.com
Doylestown Chiropractor Offers Allergy Relief Tips
If you are a local Doylestown resident who is one of the nearly 40 million Americans-that’s 25% of the total population- who suffer from asthma and other allergies, torture time is just around the corner. As spring blossoms, the pollen will flow and walk in the park or a play date with your dog or cat can result in red itchy eyes, nasal congestion and overall awfulness.
However, sometimes a person’s allergic reactions can go from just plain irritating to dangerous and life-threatening as the air passageway constricts and breathing becomes a problem. This progression of symptoms can frequently produce a state of panic. Nor is it cheap — allergies and allergy-driven asthma cost the U.S. an estimated $32 billion a year.
Unhappily, if you are one of the many people who suffers from chronic allergies, it may even seem to you, on occasion, that your environment is quite inhospitable and alien!
You may question why it is that other people appear to be so unaffected by the environment, while your body reacts, or rather overreacts to it. It’s a valid question. Allergic responses are caused by a hyperactive immune system that “freaks out” when confronted with commonplace foods and other products such as pollen, dust, dander, shellfish or nuts.
Have you been wondering if a chiropractor can help with your allergies? The fact is that many people have experienced relief from their allergy symptoms after receiving a chiropractic treatment. The reason why, however, may surprise you because chiroprators don’t actually treat allergies. The reason for this is because chiropractic manipulation affects the complete nervous system, including the autoimmune system. When there is an impedance in the nervous system, along with other problems, the autoimmune system, whose job it is to assist us in adapting and responding appropriately to our environment, can become under-active or overactive. The problem is the latter when it comes to your allergies. Because chiropractic manipulations lessen or remove disturbances in the nervous system and bring the body back into balance and harmony, the treatments provide that same balance and harmony to the auto-immune system as well. A healthy immune system reacts appropriately to supposed allergens in the environment.
Dr. Jeff McQuaite of Azzatori Chiropractic recommends these simple ways to fight seasonal allergies naturally:
Keep allergens out — Pollen can collect on your clothes, skin, and hair, and be tracked into your home, where it mixes with household dust. A shower and change of clothes will cut down on the irritants you inhale. Keeping windows closed and turning on the air-conditioning can also reduce allergy symptoms by filtering out pollen (just be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the filter).
Use a Cool-Mist Humidifier – You might be tempted to pack up the humidifier now that spring is here, but hold off. When it’s still a little cool at night and indoor humidity is low, using a cool-mist humidifier can help get allergens out of the air. Water droplets bind to the allergens, and they get heavy and fall to the floor so you don’t inhale them.
Air Purifier with a HEPA Filter – Using a HEPA filter—especially in the bedroom—is the best way to remove spores and pollen from the air.
Perk up puffy eyes — The histamines released during an allergy attack cause blood vessels to dilate, making eyes swollen and watery. For quick relief, try cold compresses or eye creams whose ingredients include caffeine; cold and caffeine both reduce swelling that can help people to look and feel better.
Go natural — Eat bee pollen and/or pure, raw honey. If you are familiar with the concept of vaccinations, this is Mother Nature’s all-natural, seasonal allergy vaccination. Consuming local bee pollen and/or pure, raw honey will allow your immune system to build natural antibodies to the pollens you are most frequently exposed to. Bee pollen is much more effective than honey and is also free of sugar. Be aware: honey that is not 100 percent raw will have limited benefits, if any. This is best to start before allergy season. Also try using Quercetin. This substance, which is found in the skin of onions and apples, is a natural antihistamine
Nasal irrigation — Nasal irrigation can wash away allergens (like pollen) and excess mucus. When you experience a flare-up, fill a neti pot (a small, spouted dish) with saline water, then tilt your head to one side and pour it into the upper nostril. The water will flush out of the lower nostril. Bromelain may reduce inflammation inside the nasal passages and may also be taken as a supplement.
See your Doylestown chiropractor — The next time you sneeze, it may be a good time to visit a chiropractor. Most people never think about it, but chiropractic care can help provide allergy relief by helping to temper an overactive immune system that can lead to bad allergy symptoms.
So, there you go, the “mystery” is solved: A chiropractor doesn’t treat allergies and asthma, per se, but your allergy symptoms will likely respond, nonetheless. You could say, instead, that relief from your allergies is simply the by-product of a well-adjusted nervous system. Make an appointment, today, to see a chiropractor and get back into harmony with your environment.
Doylestown Chiropractor Having “Spring Into Good Health” Community Appreciation Week!
Dr. Jeff McQuaite and his team at Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown are celebrating their 1st anniversary at their location in Doylestown by having a “Spring Into Good Health” Community Appreciation Week from April4-8, 2011!
Dr. McQuaite and his team are asking that you please join them with your family and friends as they celebrate their 1st anniversary in Doylestown. “This past year we have met many wonderful people who have become friends and patients, seen some amazing results and have had tremendous growth!” “As our way of saying “THANKS”, we will be having a full week of free and discounted services, fun, food and prizes!”
All new patients will receive:
$20 Exam, X-rays & Treatment
Free 30 minute massage
Discounted massages for the month of April
Sign-ups for special events
Much, much more!
Dr. Jeff McQuaite has been helping the residents of Central Bucks rediscover a life without pain for over 15 years. He has distinguished itself from other practices by offering a more wellness based approach to their health care. “I am striving to get my patients to understand the importance of corrective care and to be more proactive than reactive in regards to their health.” “That is why we are called a TEAM. We Teach our patients, Educate our patients, Adjust our patients and Motivate them to be active participants in their health care.”
Dr. Jeff says that “this type of care is geared towards those individuals who are looking for a more permanent solution to chronic aches and pains.” Patients with complaints of pain in the neck, lower back and hips, or even those with recurring headaches and dizziness, are given a comprehensive chiropractic program that is customized to their specific needs with the end goal of long-term recovery.
It all starts off with high frequency x-ray imaging where the doctor takes a close look at the state of your spine and compare your spine’s shape and form to that of a normal healthy spine. This allows him to focus in on the main problem areas. The gentle treatments offered at his office consists of conservative chiropractic adjustments, traction, ice/heat therapy, massage and other rehabilitative methods in order to slowly but steadily bring your body back to healthy alignment. The doctor will customize the treatment based on the individual and will also offer life style modification, exercises and stretching techniques that the patients can do at home to further along the process.
For more information, please call:
Azzatori Chiropractic
295 Logan Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
267-247-7000
Doylestown chiropractor shares video of chiropractic adjustment on the Dr. Oz show.
Chiropractic continues to get main stream exposure! On the March 3, 2011 of the Dr. Oz show, Dr. Oz discussed the topic of chiropractic. The segment focused on the findings in a new Cochrane study which showed that Chiropractic manipulation was just as effective for treating lower back pain as traditional treatment, such as pain medication.
Anyone who has ever suffered a serious back injury knows about the frustration, the debilitating pain, and the complete, grinding halt it can put to your life. Dr. Mehmet Oz explained that 80% of Americans experience back pain and many could benefit from visiting a chiropractor and receiving chiropractic adjustments. He explained how the spine can get out of alignment and cause pressure on the discs and nerves, which in turn, causes pain. Dr. Oz said that even simple things such as sleeping wrong or getting groceries out of the car can force the spine out of alignment. He also said that a misaligned spine can result in disc problems which can cause a lot of pain and takes quite a while to heal.
Dr. Oz had Dr Steven Shoshany, a chiropractor, on the show who proceeded to give an audience member a chiropractic adjustment. After the adjustment was given, the doctor explained to Dr. Oz and the audience the philosophy of chiropractic and how realignment of the spine reduces interference to the nervous system and lets the body heal itself. Dr. Steve also explained that pain medications only mask the symptoms, but do not treat the underlying cause of back pain.
Dr. Oz has praised the benefits of chiropractic treatment before on previous shows. The majority of Doylestown area chiropractic offices offer spinal and joint adjustments, massage, electrical stimulation, heat, cold, and life style modification programs to reduce patients pain.
At my office, Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown, we sometimes find that spinal misalignments or a herniated disc are the cause of the back problem, so we utilize a non-surgical, drugless approach to our treatment plans.
Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown
295 Logan Street
Doylestown, Pa. 18901
267-247-7000
Dr. Jeff McQuaite, a Doylestown Chiropractor, added to the Stop Sports Injuries Campaign
Dr. Jeff McQuaite of Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown is pleased to announce he has recently been added to the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s (AOSSM) “STOP Sports Injuries Campaign.”
The Campaign is designed to help parents, coaches, healthcare providers and athletes learn more about the prevention, treatment and long-term consequences of overuse and trauma injury. Armed with the correct information and tools, today’s youth athletes can remain healthy, play safe and stay in the game for life.
“Our growing support will dramatically increase the campaign’s ability to help keep youth athletes healthy, safe and out of the operating room,” said James Andrews, MD, campaign co-chair and President of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Dr. Andrews has performed thousands of elbow, shoulder and knees surgeries on the likes of Sam Bradford, Drew Brees, Bo Jackson, John Smoltz and Brett Favre.
Dr. Jeff McQuaite has treated athletes from High School and College up through the Professional level, as well as all the “weekend warriors” in our area. Dr. McQuaite and the STOP Sports Injuries Campaign will reach out to the youth sports community through a variety of resources, including:
- Public service announcements
- STOP Sports Injuries website with podcasts, videos and educational information for parents, athletes, healthcare providers and coaches
- National media campaign
- Injury prevention tip sheets on 12 sports
Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown
295 Logan Street
Doylestown, Pa. 18901
267-247-7000
Doylestown Chiropractor Gives Healthy Tips For Halloween
With the chance to dress up in costume and stock up on sweets, Halloween is the highlight of the year for many kids — from toddlers to teens.
But since it’s high season for candy, it can also be an exasperating time for parents who encourage kids to eat healthy foods and make sweets a limited part of a balanced and nutritious diet.
For health-conscious parents, Halloween can be tricky. Do you set limits? Do you let kids decide how much to eat? There isn’t just one right answer. Instead, use your best judgment given what you know about your child’s personality and eating habits.
On the one hand, you want to let kids indulge and enjoy the holiday. On the other, you don’t want to undermine all the work you do the rest of the year maintaining a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. And you don’t want to confuse kids with mixed messages.
“Building a healthy lifestyle for your family means making smart choices 365 days a year,” said Anita Harvey, executive director of the YMCA’s Broadway branch, “and Halloween is a great opportunity to focus your family’s attention on physical activity and eating habits and to demonstrate that ‘everything in moderation’ doesn’t mean it’s OK to eat candy until you’re sick to your stomach.”
Use your best judgment given what you know about your child’s personality and eating habits. Before kids go trick-or-treating, try to serve a healthy meal so they’re not hungry when the candy starts coming in.
Kids who generally eat just a couple of pieces and save the rest might be trusted to decide how much to eat. But if your child tends to overdo it, consider setting limits.
Here are some more tips for handling the Halloween treats:
- Know how much candy your child has collected and store it somewhere other than the child’s room. Having it so handy can be an irresistible temptation for many kids.
- Consider being somewhat lenient about candy eating on Halloween, within reason, and talk about how the rest of the candy will be handled. Candy and snacks shouldn’t get in the way of kids eating healthy meals.
- If a child is overweight — or you’d just like to reduce the Halloween stash — consider buying back some or all of the remaining Halloween candy. This acknowledges the candy belongs to the child and provides a treat in the form of a little spending money.
- Be a role model by eating Halloween candy in moderation yourself. To help avoid temptation, buy your candy at the last minute and get rid of any leftovers.
- Encourage your child to be mindful of the amount of candy and snacks eaten — and to stop before feeling full or sick.
- Just because it’s Halloween doesn’t mean that all of the treats must be chocolate and sugar-loaded. Alternative treats include pretzels, granola bars, raisins and juice boxes.
Many parents said that after letting kids indulge in some treats right after trick-or-treating, they limit their kids to a certain number of pieces each day or put the candy stash out of reach and out of sight. Then kids have to ask for it — that is, if they remember that it’s there!
Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown
295 Logan Street
Doylestown, Pa. 18901
267-247-7000
Doylestown Chiropractor Celebrates National Chiropractic Health Month
Is Pain Your Obstacle to Fitness? Chiropractic Can Help
Are aches and pains getting in the way of your weight loss goals? Jeffrey McQuaite, DC, of Azzatori Chiropractic, a Doylestown doctor of chiropractic can help. This fall, doctors of chiropractic across the country will highlight how they can help patients focus on getting past the roadblocks to fitness and better health during National Chiropractic Health Month. The theme for the 2010 observance is “Why Weight? Get Healthy!”
More than 60 percent of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese, according to CDC statistics, and obesity is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and some types of cancer. However, many people are unaware that even modest weight loss, such as 5 to 10 percent of a person’s total body weight, could improve blood pressure as well as blood cholesterol and blood sugars levels. That’s only 10 to 20 pounds for a person who weighs 200 pounds.
Yet losing weight can be a struggle, and many people wonder where to begin. The answer for some may be in the office of a doctor of chiropractic (DC). “Diet pills and extreme diets do not offer long-term solutions,” says Dr. Rick McMichael, president of the American Chiropractic Association. “Doctors of chiropractic, on the other hand, offer natural approaches such as exercise, diet and hands-on care to help keep you active and able to achieve your weight-loss goals in the short term, and also help you maintain your fitness level and thereby avoid some chronic conditions down the line.”
Consultation with a DC is particularly important when you consider that the effects of obesity on the musculoskeletal system—osteoarthritis, back pain, neck pain and joint pain—often cause overweight people to avoid physical activity and exercise when they need it most.
“If you’re carrying more weight than the load-bearing structures of your body—spine, legs, etc.—can handle, there’s going to be pain, loss of movement and degeneration in the joints,” adds Dr. McQuaite. “Particularly if you’re carrying most of your weight in your abdomen, the low back and the spine will need to work harder to hold you upright. This adds extra stress and tension on your muscles, which in turn creates stiffness.”
Sponsored by ACA, National Chiropractic Health Month is held each October. The event helps raise public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care and its natural, whole-person, patient-centered approach to health and wellness.
In conjunction with this special month and the Community Wellness Day we were a part of, we are offering our initial visit, which includes 2 x-rays, exam and treatment for $20, which will then be donated to A Women’s Place.
Dr. Jeff McQuaite has been helping the residents of Doylestown, Jamison, Warrington, Buckingham and the entire Central Bucks region rediscover a life without pain for over 15 years.
Azzatori Chiropractic
Dr. Jeff McQuaite
295 Logan Street
Doylestown, Pa. 18901
267-247-7000
Doylestown Chiropractor, Prescription drug overdoses on the rise in U.S.
Prescription drug overdoses on the rise in U.S.
By Megan Brooks
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – More and more Americans are landing in the hospital due to poisoning by powerful prescription painkillers, sedatives and tranquilizers, according to a report released today. City-living middle-aged women seem particularly vulnerable.
“People have seen the headlines related to Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith and they think that’s tragic but maybe contained to Hollywood,” Dr. Jeffrey H. Coben of West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown told Reuters Health.
“But the fact of the matter is we are seeing, across the country, very significant increases in serious overdoses associated with these prescription drugs,” Coben warned.
Between 1999 and 2006, US hospital admissions due to poisoning by prescription opioids, sedatives and tranquilizers rose from approximately 43,000 to about 71,000.
That increase of 65 percent is about double the increase observed in hospitalizations for poisoning by other drugs and medicines, Coben and colleagues found.
Opioids — examples include morphine, methadone, OxyContin and the active ingredient in Percocet — are powerful narcotic painkillers that can be habit-forming. Some examples of sedatives or tranquilizers include Valium, Xanax, and Ativan.
What’s behind the rise in poisoning by prescription painkillers, sedatives and tranquilizers? “There is not any single cause,” Coben said. “There is increasing availability of powerful prescription drugs in the community and attitudes toward their use tend to be different than attitudes toward using other drugs, especially among young people, who report that prescription drugs are easy to obtain, and they think they are less addictive and less dangerous than street drugs like heroin and cocaine.”
Accidental – or unintentional — poisoning by opioids, sedatives and tranquilizers rose by 37 percent during the 7-year study period, while unintentional poisonings by other substances increased by just 21 percent.
“Unintentional poisoning is now the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in the US,” Coben and colleagues note in their report. Among people 35 to 54 years old, unintentional poisoning surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of unintentional injury death in 2005.
Even people who take opioid painkillers for legitimate medical reasons are at risk of overdosing. In a study reported by Reuters Health earlier this year, researchers followed nearly 10,000 adults who had received at least three opioid prescriptions within 90 days to treat chronic pain like back pain. Of these, 51 experienced at least one overdose, and six died as a result. The researchers also found that the higher the painkiller dose, the more likely the patients were to overdose.
In the current study, Coben’s team found that intentional poisonings – suicide, self-inflicted poisoning, or poisoning someone else — from prescription opioids, sedatives, and tranquilizers more than doubled, from about 10,000 in 1999 to nearly 24,000 in 2006. That compared to just a 53 percent increase in intentional poisonings from other substances.
The biggest percent increase in hospitalizations for poisoning for a specific drug was a quintupling for methadone, according to the team’s report published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. This may be due to the more than 10-fold increase in overall retail sales of this drug from 1997 to 2006, they state.
Poisoning by benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Ativan — drugs that possess sedative, hypnotic, anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant activities — rose 39 percent over the study period.
Poisoning by barbiturates, which also have sedative, hypnotic and anti-anxiety actions, actually fell 41 percent, as did hospitalizations for poisoning by antidepressants (a decrease of 13 percent).
Hospitalizations from prescription drug poisonings most often involved women 35 to 54 years old living in urban settings and most of the cases were unintentional, “although the intent of a large number of cases was undetermined,” Coben and colleagues note in their report.
Their findings stem from a comprehensive look at the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a database that contains records for roughly 8 million Americans hospitalized annually.
“A multifaceted approach is needed” to stem the tide in poisoning by opioids, sedatives and tranquilizers, Coben said. “Doctors need to perhaps rethink the types and quantities of medications they are prescribing,” he told Reuters Health. “And we need to get better messages out to the public in terms of the dangers associated with these medications and combinations of these medications that are being used.”
“We also need to think about law enforcement strategies with regard to illegal markets for distributing prescription drugs,” Coben said.
SOURCE: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, April 2010.
Welcome to Dr. Jeff McQuaite’s Blog
Welcome to my first blog! I plan on using this blog to inform Doylestown, Jamison, Warrington, Buckingham and the entire Central Bucks area on the benefits of chiropractic and its related success stories. I have been in practice for over 14 years and have recently merged my practice with Dr. John Azzatori, owner of Azzatori Chiropractic Centers. We bring over 30 years of experience to the community and look forward to be a vital part of our neighborhood. Our new office is located at 295 Logan Street, directly across from CB West. We have on site parking and plenty of safe on street parking. For more information, please see our websites:
http://www.mcquaitechiropractic.com
http://www.azzatorichiropractic.com
Doylestown Chiropractor's Blog 
