HEALTH & FITNESS
alternatives
Bacteria We Want
A
ntibiotics are a useful tool for
eliminating a severe infection, but
they also bring with them some
side effects. You may have noticed intestinal
problems or yeast infections occur after
taking a course of antibiotics.
That is because antibiotics kill all bac-
teria in our intestines — the harmful
bacteria that are infecting the body, but also
the good bacteria that live there naturally.
The problem with clearing all bacteria from
the intestine is that this leaves you open to
yeast or other bacteria moving in. One of
the best things we can do to prevent side
effects from antibiotics is to replace the
good bacteria by taking a high-quality aci-
dophilus supplement or enriched yogurt.
Part of what keeps the gut healthy
is a balanced environment. If there are
enough good bacteria living there, then it
is just harder for yeast or other bacteria to
reproduce to the point where they become
a health problem. The word we use to
describe these good bacteria that are ben-
eficial to our bodies is probiotics.
Many of us tend to think of an infection
as something harmful that has snuck inside
our bodies. In fact, many of the
organisms that can cause prob-
lems are always naturally pres-
ent in our intestines. It is just
that the healthy population of
probiotics keeps them in check.
Probiotics are an excellent
tool to counter the side effects
of antibiotics, but they support
our health in many other ways
as well. They help us to digest
our food and produce nutrients
like biotin. In addition, they help
to regulate our immune system,
which means fewer allergies or
asthma.
In children, there is research to support
their use in treating colic, eczema, allergies,
asthma, respiratory tract infections, Crohn's
disease, recurrent urinary tract infections,
juvenile arthritis and low-birthweight
infants. Because of all these other benefits,
I recommend not only using probiotics
to replenish gut bacteria after
antibiotics, but also giving it as a
supplement to treat many pedi-
atric health issues.
When choosing your pro-
biotics, it is important to get
a high-quality brand that has
been refrigerated and is within
its expiration date. Taking pro-
biotics to repopulate your intes-
tine is like choosing a healthy
seedling for your garden. A baby
plant needs to be cared for in the
store in order to take root prop-
erly in your garden. Probiotics
are live bacteria, so they need to be refriger-
ated or they will die in the capsule.
Many probiotic supplements have been
sitting on the shelf too long and so they
no longer contain live bacteria that can be
"transplanted" to your intestines. Some
good brands include Genestra HMF, New
Chapter's All Flora and Culturelle. Also,
make sure to use probiotics at a different
time of day than your antibiotic pills so that
the antibiotic will not kill the good bacteria.
You should also continue taking probiot-
ics for 10-30 days after a course of antibiot-
ics to really make sure everything gets back
to normal. Make sure to use the probiotics
as directed on the bottle.
Remember, whenever you take antibiot-
ics, probiotics are a type of bacteria you
definitely want to have around! ❑
Jen Green is a naturopathic doctor who inte-
grates nutrition, herbs, homeopathy, environ-
mental medicine and mind-body medicine. She
is a researcher, parent and clinician in private
practice in West Bloomfield. Her Web site is:
www.NDaccess.com/DrJenGreen . Her e-mail
address is: jengreennd@msn.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
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."
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
A36
June 26 • 2008
What happens to you if you have a spinal fracture?
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.
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.
14555 Levan Rd. Suite 116
30055 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 270
SPINE SPECIALISTS OF MICHIGAN P.C.
Livonia
734-464-0400
Farmington Hills
248-865-4262
Dr. Louis N. Radden
RECONSTRUCTIVE SPINE SURGERY