HEALTH & FITNESS
ternatives

Alkalize For Life

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One concept that many of us may
recall from high-school chem-
istry class is the differentiation
between an acid and a base.
The acid, if you recall, was any sub-
stance that had a pH value of below 7.
Each value moving down the scale toward
1 had an exponential increase in the level
of acidity. On the contrary, any number
greater than 7 all the way up to 14 had a
basic (or alkaline) value. The greater the
number, the stronger the base.
At a pH of 7 right down the middle was
water, and it was considered neutral. Okay,
enough of a lesson in that. As it turns out,
however, the relative acidity or alkalinities
of foods have a great significance toward
maintaining a balance of internal tissues
and maintaining our health.
When most of us think of a lemon or a
citrus food, we likely consider it an acid.

of pH. The blood, for instance, must be
And yes, in nature this food has a relative
acidity. However, in terms of its influence
maintained within a pH of 7.35-7.45. That
is a slight alkalinity. The body will do
on our health, a lemon and most citric
everything to maintain that regard-
fruits are alkaline to our
less of the food choices that we
body. In fact, all foods from
consciously make.
fruits and vegetables, to
If the blood were to ever fall
meats and grains have what
outside of this narrow range, death
is referred to as an alkaline
would result. Mild acidity can actu-
or acid "ash" assigned to
ally be relieved through our breath,
them. What this means is
simply that as the nutrients
but stronger acids need to be buff-
ered by the kidneys for excretion
from a food are broken
through the urine. This is a more
down and utilized by our
Dr. Je ff
challenging process requiring more
body, the remaining resi-
Rosenb erg
due or "ash" that remains
resources.
Column 1st
From a nutritional perspective,
is either an acid or a base
it is very important to encour-
(alkaline).
age this slight alkalinity to the blood so
If my columns have stressed one thing
is that our bodies are very smart. In fact,
that the body is not forced to use other
resources to maintain this pH range. And
each fluid in our body must be main-
tained within a relatively narrow range
how do we best do this? Diet and alkaline

"ash" choices are an instrumental factor to
achieve this end.
I hate to speak in generalities, but for
the sake of this short column, most fruits
and vegetables have an alkalizing effect on
the body.
Almonds, apples, bananas, broccoli,
apricots and avocados are just a few of the
very most alkalizing of foods.
For a more complete list, I recommend
doing an Internet search under this topic.
You will find a wealth of information
available.
A healthy supply of alkaline food is
instrumental toward optimal health. El

Dr. Jeff Rosenberg is a chiropractor and a cer-
tified digestive health specialist. His practice,

the Vitality Center, is in Birmingham: (248)
540-1340, docjrdt@gmail.com or

www.pathtovitality.com.

ASK THE DOCTOR
New Options Available To Treat Spinal Fractures From Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, in which bones become fragile and easily broken, causes over 700,000 spinal fractures annually

What happens to you if you have a spinal fracture?

in the U.S.—more fractures than in the hip and wrist combined. Approximately two-thirds of all spinal fractures go
undiagnosed or untreated due to the absence of symptoms or difficulty determining the cause of symptoms, leading some
to call osteoporosis a "silent disease."

After experiencing one fracture, your risk of a second fracture is greatly increased. In addition, just one fracture affects
how weight is distributed through the spine, thus placing higher than normal stress on the front of the spine which
contributes to the risk of future fracture. With additional fractures, it can become progressively difficult to walk, eat,
and sleep due to pain and the unnatural spinal alignment. See a doctor to determine your condition and appropriate
treatment, as there may be different explanations for why you are experiencing back pain.

Since 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men older than 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their
lifetime and bone loss can begin as early as 30, now is the time to take a closer look at osteoporosis and new options
for treating fractures caused by osteoporosis. Through proper diagnosis and treatment, patients with spinal fractures
can significantly improve their ability to perform normal activities of daily living and enjoy an overall improvement in their
quality of life.

Dr. Louis Radden, Reconstructive Spine Surgeon with Spine Specialists of Michigan, offers
some answers.

How common is osteoporosis and to
what might it lead?

The National Osteoporosis Foundation
cites osteoporosis as a major public health
threat affecting 44 million Americans.
While a calcium-rich diet, weight-bearing
exercise and the avoidance of smoking
and excessive alcohol can help prevent
bone mass loss, osteoporosis ranks
second only to cardiovascular disease
as a leading healthcare problem according
to the World Health Organization.

With osteoporosis, bones in our spine, hip and wrist deteriorate and become susceptible to fractures. In the spine,
small fractures lead to compression of the vertebral body (called vertebral compression fractures or VCFs). Left
untreated, these VCFs create a curvature of the spine, sometimes referred to as "dowager's hump." Over time, this
curvature can become more pronounced, painful and debilitating.

How do I know if I have osteoporosis?

Bone loss happens without symptoms—it doesn't hurt or cause much trouble at first, though left unchecked it
might cause a lifetime of disability and even hasten death. Talk to your doctor about bone health and taking a
bone density test.

6621 W. Maple Rd,

West Bloomfield
248-661.4700

B16

April 24 a 2008

14555 Levan Rd. Suite 116

Livonia
734-464-0400

What options are there if I have a spinal fracture?

Traditional treatments for spinal fractures include extended bed rest, pain medication and back braces, all of which
can relieve pain but do not address the deformity caused by the fracture. Open surgery is also an option, but it is more
invasive than non-surgical management and is typically reserved for patients with neurological complications. Balloon
Kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure, is designed to treat the fracture and restore the vertebra to the correct
position. Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to significantly reduce back pain, correct spinal deformity and
improve quality of life.

How is Balloon Kyphoplasty performed?

Balloon Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure performed by a spine specialist. It can be performed using
either a local or general anesthesia. It typically takes about one half hour to treat each fracture and may require an
overnight hospital stay.

Does insurance cover Balloon Kyphoplasty?

In most cases, Medicare provides coverage for kyphoplasty. Other insurance may also provide coverage. Check with
your insurance carrier or doctor to find out about coverage.

What can Balloon Kyphoplasty do for me if I have a spinal fracture?

If you have a spinal fracture, Balloon Kyphoplasty can restore vertebral body height, significantly reduce back pain and
increase mobility, often shortly after the procedure. In addition to pain reduction, patients experience an increased
ability to return to such simple, everyday activities as walking, reaching, bending and lifting. Patients also report
improved mental health, vitality, social function and emotional health.

Are there risks associated with Balloon Kyphoplasty?

Although the complication rate with Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as with most surgical
procedures, there are risks associated with Balloon Kyphoplasty, including serious complications. Complications can
include myocardial infarction (heart attack), cerebrovascular accident (stroke), pulmonary embolism (bone cement
leakage migrates to the lungs), cardiac arrest (heart stops beating) or nerve or spinal cord injury that may cause pain,
weakness or paralysis.

30055 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 270

Farmington Hills
248-866-4262

SPINE SPECIALISTS OF MICHIGAN RC.

Dr. Louis Nr Radden

RECONSTRUCTIVE SPINE SURGERY

