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