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More and more Americans are turning to alternative medicine to treat a wide variety of health problems. One of the most popular is chiropractic medicine.
Every year millions of Americans visit chiropractors for help in treating back and neck injuries.
But a study by researchers at UC San Francisco says manipulation of the neck can increase the chances of a dissection, or tear in the arteries of the head and neck, putting you at increased risk of a stroke.
Dr. Wade Smith, PhD./ UCSF Neurologist: "THE PEOPLE WHO HAD DISSECTIONS CAUSING THEIR STROKE TENDED TO BE HEALTHIER, BUT ALSO SAW A CHIROPRACTOR MORE FREQUENTLY WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS. IN FACT, THERE WAS A SIX FOLD INCREASE IN THAT AS A RISK FACTOR."
Dr. Wade Smith says the problem is that at the top of the neck the vetebral artery loops around the spine, making it vulnerable to sudden, twisting movements.
DR. WADE SMITH: "YOU CAN SEE THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS EXTEND YOUR NECK BACKWARDS, WHERE YOU COULD POTENTIALLY EMBARRASS THIS VESSEL AND CAUSE INJURY TO IT."
But Dr. Gerard Clum, president of Life Chiropractic College-- a training college for chiropractors-- says the researchers do not make it clear if the manipulation is being done by a qualified chiropractor or someone else.
And he says going back 30 days makes it impossible to say there is a link between adjustments and strokes.
Gerald Clum, D.C./ Life Chiropractic College: "THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL PRESENT NEUROLOGICALLY WITHIN 3 DAYS OF THEIR ONSET AND EVEN GREATER WITHIN A WEEK. SO LOOKING AT A 30 DAYS PRIOR TO ANY GIVEN EVENT, THAT MAY NOT HAVE ANY RELATIONSHIP TO IT WHATSOEVER."
The researchers say they are just trying to make sure patients are aware of the potential risk, no matter how rare, and to help e-r doctors identify causes of stroke so they can treat it promptly and properly.
Even though this is a rare condition, it's something to be aware of.
