The Niles Star

Thinking about your health will help prevent the H1N1 flu

To the editor:
Here we are in flu season once again, and what’s worse, is now we have the swine flu and seasonal flu to worry about. Did you know, however, that in 1918 a pandemic flu swept across the world, killing more than 20 million and around 500,000 here in the U.S.?

Public health records from the time show that in Iowa, medical doctors treated 93,590 patients, with 6,116 deaths – a loss of one patient for every 15. In the same state, 4,735 patients were treated by chiropractors with the death of six patients – a loss of one patient in 789.

National figures show that 1,142 chiropractors treated 46,394 patients for influenza during the 1918 pandemic with a loss of 54 patients – one of every 886. Reports from New York City show that for every 10,000 people treated medically, 950 died, and for every 10,000 cases of pneumonia, a complication of the flu, 6,400 died. These figures are exact because New York requires reported of these diseases. So the statistics basically amount to this: for influenza and those treated medically, for every 10,000 patients, 950 died; for those treated with chiropractic, for every 10,000 patients, 25 died. In cases of pneumonia, for every 10,000 treated medically, 6,400 died; for every 10,000 treated by a chiropractor, only 100 died.

During this same pandemic, records show that chiropractors in Oklahoma treated 3,490 cases of influenza with only seven deaths. But, what’s particularly interesting is, in Oklahoma there is a clear record showing that chiropractors were called in 223 cases where medical doctors had cared for the patients and finally gave them up as lost. The chiropractors saved all these lost cases but 25 patients.

Hopefully, our country and world will never again have to deal with such an outbreak. My comments aren’t meant as a criticism of medical care because many lives were saved in 1918 because of the dedication of many good medical doctors. What these statistics should show us, however, is that more medicines weren’t the answer then, and they aren’t the answer today.

Recent studies show that even simple measures such as school children washing their hands more frequently reduces the incidence of influenza, and absence from school is reduced as a result. Other measures, such as a healthy diet and moderate sun exposure promote the production of vitamin D, thus boosting natural immunity. The flu is coming whether we’re ready or not. Think about your health and work to preserve and boost your natural immunity through regular exercise, healthy diet, stress reduction and even a natural multi-vitamin supplement. Your body will begin to function better and you’ll probably notice a healthy savings in what you’re spending on health care.

Dr. Jeff D. Bolton, D.C.
Niles