Home

www.roadtovitality.com

A Straight Neck Can Kill You

RSS Feed

Posted on 2009-06-08 10:19:50

What is up with a blog title reading

"A Straight Neck Can Kill You?" 

Pretty shocking right?   

 


Before continuing to read this post will you quickly sign-up for our award winning newsletter to the right.  You'll be glad you did. 


Most of you are probably thinking, "What, I thought I was supposed to have a straight neck.  Is this guy crazy?"  2007_022_2.jpg

No I am not crazy, but let me clarify. 

 

Yes, your neck should be straight...if looking at it from the front like in this picture. 

 

 

Post.jpg

When looking at your neck from the side, it is Not supposed to be straight.  It should have a curve of 45 degrees from back to front.   Check out the correct side picture. 

Many health problems are the result of or made worse by a straightened (side or lateral) curve.  Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Hypothyroidism, ADHD, Scoliosis & Fibromyalgia are some examples.  I'll give that a moment to sink in.....

curve_mortality.JPG

Yes, even MultipleSclerosis is caused/made worse by a straightened cervical curve.  Dr. Alf Brieg M.D., a German surgeon and M.S. specialist was famous for discovering this link in his M.S. patients when he decided to do exploratory surgery.  If you are a bit queezy with surgery stuff, skip the next paragraph. 

Through his care with his MS patients he noticed one common characteristic, a straight neck.  So with a group of his MS patients he decided that he was going to change their cervical spine (neck) so that they had normal curves in their neck.  So he performed reconstructive surgery to their necks.  He cut the back of their necks open, and with a hammer and chissel literally pounded a curve into them.  

OUCH!  Talk about waking up with a whopper of a hangover! 

Once they woke up after feeling like they had been hit by a train, they were tested and found to have had a remission of all MS symptoms.  However, since Dr. Brieg did not exercise them so their curves stayed put, what do you think happened to them months later once they shifted out of alignment again?  

Yah, the MS symptoms returned!  (Did I mention that in our office we EASILY shift the curves in to proper position with adjustments and strengthening exercises so they stay put?)

Now that you have some background, let's get back to our actual blog topic "Straight Neck Can Kill You."  A recent study was just performed that stated that the mortality of women is increased in those who have straightened lateral curves in thier neck.  Guys I am pretty sure this pertains to us too, so don't get excited that we have immunity.  For some terminology to understand the following pasted technical data: kyphosis=reversal of the normal cervical curve where the head bends forward of the shoulders. 

Results: In age-adjusted models, each SD increase in kyphosis carried a 1.14-fold increased risk for death (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.27; P = 0.023). After adjustment for age and other predictors of mortality, including such osteoporosis-related factors as low bone density, moderate and severe prevalent vertebral fractures, and number of prevalent vertebral fractures, women with greater kyphosis were at increased risk for earlier death (relative hazard per SD increase, 1.15 [CI, 1.01 to 1.30]; P = 0.029). On stratification by prevalent vertebral fracture status, only women with prevalent fractures were at increased mortality risk from hyperkyphosis, independent of age, self-reported health, smoking, spine bone mineral density, number of vertebral fractures, and severe vertebral fractures (relative hazard per SD increase, 1.58 [CI, 1.06 to 2.35]; P = 0.024).

Conclusion: In older women with vertebral fractures, hyperkyphosis predicts an increased risk for death, independent of underlying spinal osteoporosis and the extent and severity of vertebral fractures.

WHY?

Very simply put here you go.  Part of the reason for this is that when the neck is curved mri_20brain_20and_20spine.jpgnaturally it allows for all the strength and energy from the brain to be conducted down through the spinal cord to all areas of the body stimulating function and regeneration.  Would you like a word picture?  Imagine a cascading mountain waterfall.   When there is a faulty curve or lack of curve in the neck, there is an interferrence in the strength and energy that is conducted through the cord.  Now imagine a kinked hose.  What results is a lapse or dysfunction in the regeneration cycles of organs in the body and faulty control causing organ dysfunction. 

 

You tell me...what happens when something is dysfunctioning for a long enough time?  

It starts to breakdown.  Right?

And what happens when something in your body starts to breakdown?

It becomes disease-like. Agreed?

AND if something is disease-like for a long enough period of time, what happens?

It actually becomes a disease!  You are right.  

How long can the body live with a disease?  

Who knows but, would you agree that you could live longer without disease? 

 

For 10 seconds, please, close your eyes and imagine this cascade of events in that cause sickness and disease and possibly even premature death. 

 

The last question I have for you is... If you know you have a straightened curve in your neck, how long will you let it go before you do something about it?  Will it shorten your life?  

And if you don't know what your neck curve looks like, how long before you get to a qualified chiropractor to get it evaluated?  Will you wait too long?

I hope not. 

Click Here for a link to the study. 

Your RoadToVitality.com Health Mentor, Dr. Rob Anderson President of Vitality Chiropractic serving the greater Highlands Ranch and Littleton.  Did you sign up for our free and spam free award winning newsletter to the top right of the screen.  

Please leave some feedback.  Let me know what you think.. 

Dr Steve said:

Your community is lucky to have you. This is cutting edge stuff. Thanks for keeping us chiros accountable.

2009-06-10 18:05:49

Sally Stephens said:

Thanks Doc. I heard about this post following you on twitter. Can you direct me to a doc that does what you do in Fort Collins?

2009-06-18 20:52:33

Amanda H said:

Very interesting! Keep up the tips on how we can maintain our strength & health!

2009-06-22 12:20:32

To leave a comment, please login as a member

Exclusive Offer Image

New Practice Members receive introductory 60 minute massage for $47.

Sign-up using the form or call us at 303-346-7095 to take advantage of this exclusive offer.

Captcha Verification Image
Top

New_Member_Paperwork_199x282.jpg

Newsletter Sign Up











3D Spine Simulator


Launch 3D Spine Simulator

Did you know that all fans of Vitality on Facebook receive special offers and coupons?

Facebook.jpg  Fan us now

RoadToVitality

RoadToVitalitySport

Contact

Road To Vitality-Highlands Ranch Chiropractic & Massage BodyWork
541 W. Highlands Ranch Pkwy. #104
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Get Directions
  • Phone: 303-346-7095
  • Fax: 303-346-7097
  • Email Us

Day
Monday7:00am-12:00pm2:00pm-5:30pm
Tuesday7:00am-12:00am
Wednesday7:00am-12:00pm2:00pm-5:30pm
Thursday7:00am-12:00pm2:00pm-5:30pm
Friday8:30am-4pm
Saturday
Sunday

Community Content

Highlands Ranch Chiropractic

303-346-7095