Health Myth #3

Chiropractors do not have as much education as Medical Doctors

Answer:  Not True, see comparison of course work below

Subject Hours Comparison Between DC's and MD's

You may be surprised to learn that chiropractic doctors receive more class and study time in many important subjects compared with their medical counterparts.

Subjects	Class Hours Chiropractic Students	Class Hours Medical Students
Anatomy	540	510
Chemistry	165	325
Diagnosis	630	325
Microbiology	120	115
Neurology	320	110
Obstetrics	60	150
Orthopedics	210	155
Pathology	360	400
Physiology	240	325
Psychiatry	60	145
Radiology	360	150
HOURS	3,065	2,710
	Additionally Required Studies
	Spinal Manipulation Nutrition Physiotherapy Advanced Radiology	Pharmacology Immunology General Surgery
Total Hours	4,485	4,250

See also this link:  http://yourchiropractorsandiego.com/index.php?p=246466#a6

Health Myth # 2

Does cold weather make you sick?

Answer:  NO

In studies of cold transmission, people who are chilled are no more likely to get sick than those who were not. It may be that cold weather keeps people indoors, where germs are more likely to catch up with you.  Most contagious germs survive and thrive in colder weather, so there are more around to get you sick.  That is why you get a fever when you're sick, because your body is trying to eat up internally to kill of the bacteria and viruses in your body that are making you ill.  Cold temperature can compromise your nervous system making it work overtime.  Your blood vessels and skin will constrict and your hairs will stand on end in an effort to keep you warmer.  That is also why you shiver.  When the core body temperature drops, the shivering reflex is triggered to maintain homeostasis. Muscle groups around the vital organs begin to shake in small movements in an attempt to create warmth by expending energy. Shivering can also be a response to a fever, as a person may feel cold, though their core temperature is already elevated.

Health Myth #1

Does cracking your knuckles cause arthritis?

Answer:  No, it most certainly does not.  Cracking or popping your knuckles does nothing more than release different gases from your synovial joints.  When the pressurized liquid in the synovial joint capsule between the bones of your fingers is popped it depressurizes and turns to a gaseous state, making the popping sound.  It is very similar to when you pop open a carbonated beverage.  The worst that can happen from cracking your knuckles is ligament laxity.  The reason it doesn't influence arthritic degeneration is that the bones themselves are not grinding in to each other which would be necessary for arthritic change.  I do not recommend popping your knuckles ten times a day, but once a day will actually prevent arthritic changes.  Stay tuned for more answers to health myths.