Doctors of chiropractic are drawn to researched-based, scientifically sound, but wholly natural solutions to health issues. Sharing health information with patients is part of our role. Because most of our patients are also seeing medical doctors, and many of those are taking prescription medications, we must be conversant on those drugs, their side effects and their impact on overall health.
Many of our patients with cholesterol problems are taking a cholesterol buster (a "statin" drug). They sometimes work well, but there are unwanted side effects that are well known.
The very mechanism of the statin drugs that make them successful creates another dangerous problem that is not stressed sufficiently to consumers: they deplete Co-enzyme Q10 — in some patients, up to 40 percent. Co-Q10 is a co-enzyme, a vitamin-like substance that facilitates and mediates 95 percent of energy production in the body by helping to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the mitochondria. It has been extensively studied for over 30 years.
Since 2001, four long-term studies have examined the utility of glucosamine and/or chondroitin supplementation versus placebo in patients suffering from osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee (1-4). One long-term study compared glucosamine sulfate with placebo in patients with OA of the hip (5). To date, there has yet to be a trial with glucosamine/chondroitin for spinal OA, although one case history has been published (6).
While there is no guarantee for a perfectly happy and healthy life, if you follow the listed thirteen steps, you improve your chances of boosting your quality of life. Disregard them, and you may well be taking a big gamble with your mental and emotional well being.
