Author: hyftechnologies

The natural world functions very well on its own. Left to their own devices, members of the tens of millions of species on our planet thrive and prosper without relying on outside agencies.

In order to grow abundantly, plants consume carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients from the soil. Likewise, herbivorous animals consume plants whereas carnivorous animals consume other animals. Insects eat a wide variety of foods, including plants, fruit, other insects, detritus (dead leaves, stems, and twigs), and even blood. Many types of bacteria and fungi recycle decomposing matter. Whales, the top predator in the oceans, may consume more than a ton of plankton per day in addition to fish, squid, and other crustaceans.

Every member of every species excepting humans (Homo sapiens sapiens) obtains everything it needs from the environment. Modern humanity is the only species for which the abundance provided by the global ecosystem is insufficient.

For instance, mountain lions, raccoons, and coyotes don’t need sleeping pills. But humans spend more than $1.5 billion per year on the sleep aid Ambien. Dolphins, antelope, and bluebirds don’t have problems with blood glucose levels. In stark contrast, the annual cost of diabetes medications in the United States was $12.5 billion in 2007. In the wild, oak trees, tuna, and elephants don’t need nutritional supplementation. Humans, however, spend more than $23 billion annually in the United States alone. What is wrong with this picture?

As a species, humans have the unprecedented ability to manipulate and drastically alter the world in which we live. Also aside from epidemic infectious disease, there exists no natural check on human population growth. As populations expand, resources become scarce. Populations flocking to urban enclaves not only leave behind the countryside but also local sources of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry. Canning, packaging, and transportation of food over long distances become necessary to supply the energy needs of cities. But only calories and not much else are obtained by these methods. Energy is provided but food quality is substantially reduced.

Chronic disease becomes widespread. Diabetes, cardiovascular disorders including high blood pressure, heart attacks, and stroke, and obesity are all the direct result of a severely compromised food supply.^1,2,3

Our disconnect from the natural world poses many additional challenges. Our bodies were designed to meet the demanding physical requirements of a hostile environment. But for the most part we don’t do physical work anymore. If we don’t find satisfactory substitutes for strenuous physical activity our musculoskeletal, metabolic, and endocrine systems easily deteriorate. The consequences include osteoporosis, chronic aches and pains, gastrointestinal problems, and anxiety and depression.

It takes a lot of effort to maintain good health when we’re so far removed from the natural world. We need to make sure our diets are healthy and we need to get sufficient and regular strenuous exercise. The short- and long-term benefits include happiness, self-esteem, and ongoing well-being.

¹Kesse-Guyot E, et al: Adherence to nutritional recommendations and subsequent cognitive performance: findings from the prospective Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals 2. Am J Clin Nutr Nov 24 2010 (Epub ahead of print)

²Wolfe AR, et al: Dietary protein and protein-rich food in relation to severely depressed mood: A 10 year follow-up of a national cohort. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry Nov 22 2010 (Epub ahead of print)

³Pekmezi DW, Demark-Wahnefried W: Updated evidence in support of diet and exercise interventions in cancer survivors. Acta Oncol Nov 24 2010 (Epub ahead of print)

In April 2010 the BP Deep Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in a catastrophic offshore oil spill. Millions of barrels of oil have spilled into the Gulf since the explosion, representing an unprecedented environmental disaster. Many complex ecosystems are affected by the oil spill, ranging from the Louisiana bayous and associated wetlands to as-yet-unexplored deep ocean ecologies.

The Deep Horizon explosion has focused public attention on ocean, gulf, and wetlands ecologies. The grave threats posed to these environmental ecosystems can also focus attention on our own internal ecosystems.

We tend not to think of our human physiology in terms of ecosystems. But in fact the analogy is a close one. For example, water comprises approximately 70% of the earth’s surface. The amount of water in the adult human body is estimated at between 60 and 70%. This is a startlingly similar correspondence. Water is the basis for human physiology, as it is the basis for the existence of life on earth. Our physiologic water is subject to the same ecologic stresses as is the water in our external environment.

Human blood is composed of approximately 90% water by volume. Your body attempts to control certain characteristics of blood very closely. For example, the acid-base balance of blood is maintained within a very tight range – a pH between 7.35 and 7.45. Blood levels of calcium are also tightly controlled, within a range of 8.5 to 10.5 milligrams for every 100 milliliters of blood. Lower calcium levels will cause calcium to be leeched out of bone to restore blood levels to within the normal range.

Just as oil has been washing up on the shores of the Louisiana coastline for many months during 2010, your body’s internal coastlines can be similarly breached. Prolonged elevated blood levels of cholesterol, for example, will cause cholesterol to “wash up” on the surfaces of cells lining the walls of small blood vessels. These endothelial cells normally constitute an effective barrier, protecting the structures of arterioles and capillaries. But these cardiovascular coastlines can be damaged by cholesterol “spills”, resulting in formation of arteriosclerotic plaque and narrowing of small blood vessels.¹

Similarly, high levels of blood glucose (as in diabetes) can cause these simple sugars to wash up on the shores of small blood vessels in the kidney, retina, and nerves. Serious damage to kidneys, the eyes, and nerves can result.^2,3

Failure to take appropriate precautions and heed warning signs is the likely cause of the Deep Horizon explosion. In order for us to ongoingly maintain a healthy inner ecology, we need to do what was not done in this oil-drilling operation. Making proactive lifestyle choices is a key to creating and supporting an inner ecology that will reward us with long-term health and well-being.

Engaging in regular chiropractic care is a one such lifestyle choice that helps support a healthy inner ecology.

¹Gooding HC, de Ferranti SD: Cardiovascular risk assessment and cholesterol management in adolescents: getting to the heart of the matter. Curr Opini Pediatr May 17 2010 (ahead of print)

²Shogbon AO, Levy SB: Intensive glucose control in the management of diabetes mellitus and inpatient hyperglycemia. Am J Health Syst Pharm 67(10):798-805, 2010

³Stolar MW, et al: Managing type 2 diabetes: going beyond glycemic control. J Manag Care Pharm 14(5 Suppl B):S2-S19, 2008

Everyone is aware of the extremely high cost of most health care services. These costs can be measured not only in cash outlays, but also in time spent at a doctor’s office. Waiting times can often be an hour or more for a comprehensive physical examination at a family physician’s or internist’s office. If you have a problem that requires same-day attention, the waiting time at a local hospital emergency room is open-ended and can easily range into several hours or more.

Those fortunate enough to have health insurance are able to buffer some of the monetary expenses. But even with an individual or family health insurance policy, annual out-of-pocket costs continue to rise steeply as monthly premiums, co-payments, and deductibles increase substantially year-over-year. For example, during the past five years monthly premiums for many policies have increased 15% or more annually. This means that monthly payments in 2013 would be approximately double those paid in 2008. Twice the cost for the same coverage. That’s a tough situation. Of course, the fees don’t stop at the monthly premium. Many policies have deductibles in the range of $5000 or more.

Thus, if we want to enjoy good financial health as well as good physical health, we might consider getting a “personal” health insurance policy. Such a “policy” requires more effort than that involved in writing a check. Your personal health insurance policy involves taking action in the two main lifestyle areas of diet/nutrition and exercise. A third lifestyle area, often ignored, involves personal well-being. This area includes building increasingly positive family relationships and friendships and developing a broader set of interests beyond one’s favorite television stations and websites.

It is now well-established that lifestyle matters greatly to one’s long-term health and well-being.^1,2 Numerous studies have shown that one in three Americans have one or more chronic diseases – diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. The personal and family costs, the financial costs, and the costs to society of chronic disease are high. By establishing habits of good nutrition, regular vigorous exercise, and rewarding relationships and activities, we help prevent these major health problems.³ By engaging in healthy lifestyles, we are taking action that will reap many rewards for ourselves and our families down the years.

The only requirement to begin receiving the benefits of improved health is the willingness to get started. Even if you haven’t done any regular exercise for many years, or if you can’t remember the last time you ate a serving of broccoli, fennel, or kale, you can still start the journey to better health today. And if you begin, it’s very possible that you’ll look back after 12 months, 6 months, or even 3 months and be very glad you did.

¹Thorgeirsson T, Kawachi I: Behavioral Economics: Merging Psychology and Economics for Lifestyle Interventions. Am J Prev Med 44(2):185-189, 2013

²Anderson AS, et al: Promoting changes in diet and physical activity in breast and colorectal cancer screening settings- an unexplored opportunity for endorsing healthy behaviours. Cancer Prev Res 2013 Jan 16 (Epub ahead of print)

³Mitra A, et al: Mechanistic studies of lifestyle interventions in type 2 diabetes. World J Diabetes 3(12):201-207, 2012

An old cliche for getting to know someone in a new social situation entails asking, “What’s your sign?” The notion, of course, is that a simple identifier such as astrological sign would provide grounding for a potential relationship – romance, friendship, or even a new bowling partner. As there are only twelve signs of the zodiac, the odds were good that you’d be able to make something out of your respective astrological signs and go from there. Many marriages, businesses, and contract bridge teams can trace their origins to what were considered favorable astrological pairings.

Although many believe that astrology can offer sound advice regarding matters of health and well-being, there are other more quantifiable categorizations that do impact your health and are backed by reproducible scientific study and research. One such series classifies physical body type into three groupings – ectomorphic, mesomorphic, and endomorphic. These body types are termed somatotypes. This useful classification is both predictive and prescriptive with respect to a person’s current and future levels of health.

Ectomorphs are those people who are relatively long and lean. Ballet dancers, competitive figure skaters, and distance runners are almost always ectomorphs. Fashion models are usually ectomorphs, as are many professional beach volleyball players. In baseball, shortstops, second basemen, and center fielders are typically ectomorphs. The character Dr. Gregory House is a typical ectomorph.

Mesomorphs are those people who are more heavily muscled. In football, running backs, linebackers, and safeties are usually metamorphs. Powerlifters are metamorphs, as are shotputters, discus and javelin throwers, and sprinters. Star Trek’s Lieutenant Worf is a typical metamorph.

Endomorphs are those people who have proportionately more body fat than muscle, with more of the body mass concentrated in the abdominal area. Endomorphs are more typically engaged in sedentary occupations. The fictional detective Nero Wolfe and Count Fosco of Wilkie Collins’s “The Woman in White” are famous endomorphs.

Overall, mesomorphs are characterized by musculoskeletal robustness and endomorphs are characterized by subcutaneous adipose tissue accumulation. In comparison to either group, ectomorphs are characterized by an increased tendency to musculoskeletal injury, including muscle and tendon strains and joint and ligament sprains. Overall, there is an increased risk for cardiovascular disease in those who are thin as well as in those who are more-than-moderately obese.

Chiropractic care can provide benefit to persons of any body type. By optimizing the flow of health-promoting information between your nerve system and the rest of your body, chiropractic care helps you function at peak efficiency. Your body type is a physical expression of the interaction between your genetic inheritance and innumerable environmental factors. Regular chiropractic care helps you make the most out of your physical structure and helps improve your health and well-being.

¹Yeung EH, et al: Childhood size and life course weight characteristics in association with the risk of incident type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, March 9, 2010 (Epub ahead of print)

²Singh AP, Singh SP: Somatotypic variations. An analysis of some traditional occupation. J Hum Ecol 19(4):249-251, 2006

³Peeters MW, et al: Heritability of somatotype components: a multivariate analysis. Int J Obesity 31:1295-1301, 2007

Your IQ that’s measured in school has to do with problem solving – mental gymnastics. Your spinal IQ also has to do with problem solving – these are “problems” of the physical kind.

How far to bend over to lift those grocery bags out of your car’s trunk? How much muscle force is necessary to pick up and carry your five-year-old child? What specific muscles are needed to maintain your “downward dog” position for 30 seconds in yoga class? How far can your back muscles stretch when you do a back bend at the ballet barre? These are the problems your spinal IQ tries to solve.

Spinal IQ is an inborn ability. Our bodies were designed for the rigors of physical work – they are very smart and very adaptable. One of our built-in control systems is the specialized set of nerve endings known as proprioceptors.

Proprioception is our internal awareness of position in three-dimensional space.^1,2 This three-dimensional positioning allows us to keep our balance when we walk or run. Proprioception tells our muscles and joints how to work together to throw a baseball from third to first, to drive to the basketball hoop and sink a lay-up, or to hit a tennis ball to the corner of the opponent’s service box and win the point.

Proprioception is very important in spinal IQ. The spine is a complex system of bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments – a smart proprioception system helps all the parts work together smoothly and seamlessly.

To keep all the parts functioning we need to take an active role. In modern society, if we’re not proactive, it’s easy for our bodies to break down. Two key strategies for maintaining high levels of spinal IQ are regular strenuous exercise and regular chiropractic check-ups.

Exercise helps our bodies stay smart.³ When we exercise, our joints are mechanically stressed and challenged throughout their complete ranges of motion. This activity stimulates proprioceptors – training them to do their job well and building new and stronger connections between nerve cells. Exercise also builds muscle strength and flexibility, and in the process the muscles are getting smarter, too.

Chiropractic care enhances the benefits of your exercise program by helping ensure optimal functioning of your spine and nerve system. With regular chiropractic care, your proprioceptive system is optimized and your body’s ability to adapt to physical challenges is restored.

Your chiropractor will be glad to assist you in designed an exercise program that will work for you, helping you to improve your spinal IQ and your health.

¹Armstrong B, et al: Head and neck position sense. Sports Med 38(2):101-117, 2008
²Chow DH, et al: Changes in spinal curvature and proprioception of schoolboys carrying different weights of backpack. Ergonomics 50(12):2148-2156, 2007
³Akuthota V, et al: Core stability exercise principles. Curr Sports Med Rep 7(1):39-44, 2008

“Who you are speaks so loudly I can’t hear what you’re saying.” This truism is well-known in human potential circles and can often be heard at personal growth-and-development seminars. But the implications of this meaningful phrase are often ignored in our day-to-day activities and relationships. Sometimes we pretend that others are unable to see through our facade of words and that they cannot recognize our hidden qualities, desires, and intentions.

In the world of Snow White, Sleepy, Grumpy, Bashful, and Happy were exactly that. The dwarves were their names! In our world, though, Madison, Cassidy, Jason, and Patrick don’t help us out that much. But people unknowingly present many signposts that function equally well as do names of the dwarves from Snow White. Tone of voice, eye contact, posture, and facial expressions are some of the clues to what’s really going on. In fact, if one is able to pay attention and accurately interpret the information available, other people might just as well be holding up pictures of the Seven Dwarves in front of their faces. The character of their inner selves is clear.

Other people really do know what’s going on with us. If we could get the full impact of this powerful proposition, all of our interactions would benefit. Also, our stress levels will usually go down. When we’re interacting meaningfully and communicating clearly, we become less stressed. The unlooked-for benefit is our health improves as a result.

Here’s a quick way to get how you’re being in the world. Do dogs growl when they pass you on the street or when you enter the home of a dog and its human companions? Similarly, do cats hiss at you? When you’re introduced to a baby or toddler, does the kid start to fuss or cry? These are all pretty good signs of a certain kind of personal vibe.

The flip side is also accurate. When dogs see you, do they start licking your hand, jumping around, and generally letting you know they want to play? Do cats rub around your legs and purr? Do babies smile and gurgle at you? Do little kids show you their toys and smile shyly at you? These are all signs of a different kind of vibe.

Animals and young children are excellent barometers of the qualities of the people around them. Who you are being is not a mystery to them. They get it all. Many of us lose this inner sight and interact with others based on what they say. In this respect, everyone loses – we think if we say the right words, it’ll all be ok.

The notion of being-in-the-world is important in health care interactions. The doctor you’ve waited two hours to see says nice words, but you sense he doesn’t really care – he just wants to move on to the next patient. Likewise at the front desk – they’re perfectly polite, but you’re aware they’re super-stressed and can’t wait to get out the door themselves.

In contrast, chiropractors are aware of the importance of the human component of their interactions with patients. A chiropractor’s office is a welcoming environment – people often say their chiropractor’s office “feels just like home”. You get the sense your chiropractor is authentically interested in your health and well-being, making sure to take the time to really listen to your concerns and make sure you’re getting the service you need. Chiropractic is a healing profession and the quality of the doctor-patient relationship is an important part of the healing process.

¹Seedat S, et al: Life stress and mental disorders in the South African stress and health study. S Afr Med J 99(5 Pt 2):375-382, 2009
²Beeri MS, et al: The effects of cardiovascuclar risk factors on cognitive compromise. Dialogues Clin Neurosci 11(2):201-212, 2009
³Koetaka H, et al: Long-term effects of lifestyle on multiple risk factors in male workers. Environ Health Prev Med 14(3):165-172, 2009

You may remember the public health slogan, “Vitamin D helps build strong bones”. This message could be seen on colorful school posters and heard on radio and television programs as early as the1950s. Getting enough Vitamin D was a major health issue, primarily for its role in preventing childhood rickets – “softening of the bones”.

More recently, and quite dramatically, vitamin D has been strongly associated with reduced cancer risks, preventing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, preventing cardiovascular disease, and even helping to prevent diabetes. Vitamin D seems to be a one-stop shop for helping combat many serious chronic diseases, and yet vitamin D deficiency is common in the United States. Very few foods are natural sources of vitamin D. The primary source of vitamin D for humans is sunlight – sunlight causes cells in the skin to produce vitamin D.

But most of us don’t spend enough time outside to get sufficient sunlight to provide us with our normal daily requirement of vitamin D. Supplementation is needed, in the form of fortified foods such as milk and in vitamin/mineral tablets. Interestingly, meeting our vitamin D and calcium daily requirements is only one step on the road to healthy, strong bones. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from the intestinal tract. Also, vitamin D helps bone cells utilize calcium to build new bone. But – in adults, new bone will only be built if there’s a need for it. Mechanical stress causes the body to produce new bone – and the best source for this kind of bone-building mechanical stress is exercise.

Yes, the E word. It’s not enough to passively swallow a bunch of supplements every day. We need to exercise regularly to get the most out of the nutrition we’re providing our bodies. When we exercise – particularly when we do strength training and other gravity-resisting activities such as running, walking, and bicycling – our bodies react not only by building new muscle but by building new bone as well. This response follows a physiologic principle known as Wolff’s Law – bone remodels along lines of physiologic stress.

In other words, bone responds to mechanical challenges by building more bone. The result is more dense, stronger bones. Such bones are significantly less likely to fracture. And. logically, exercise helps prevent loss of bone mass, a primary cause of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and older adults. Chiropractic health care helps provide assistance to these metabolic processes. All of our metabolic activities are directed by signals from the nerve system. Our nerve impulses tell our cells when to start and when to stop these complicated biochemical processes. Chiropractic care helps ensure proper flow of information throughout the nervous system, helping us maintain optimal physical health and well-being.

Your chiropractor is an expert in nutritional health and will be able to recommend a program and plan that will be right for you.

¹Lins P: Vitamin D physiology. Prog Biophys Mol Biol 92)1:4-8, 2006
²Cavalier E, et al:Vitamin D: current status and perspectives.Clin Chem Lab Med 47:1, 2009
³Holick Me, Chen TC: Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences. Am J Clin Nutr 87(4):10805-10865, 2008

Simon and Garfunkel [and later, The Bangles] had it right. Winter light is hazy – it’s more diffuse. The sun is lower in the sky and the sun’s rays reach the Earth at an angle, losing much of their power. And of course, there’s less sunlight during each 24-hour day of winter than during the rest of the year.

All these facts make it more important during winter to ensure you’re getting your daily dose of sunlight. Humans depend on sun exposure to satisfy daily requirements of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is classically associated with loss of bone mass, and is also associated with rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 1 diabetes.

Humans need sunshine. It’s not just a matter of aesthetics or a personality quirk like being a sun-worshipper. In Southern California and the rest of the Southwest there’s plenty of sunshine all year round. Everywhere else in the United States, though, direct sunlight is much harder to find.

Humans also need exercise. And, as time is a precious commodity for all of us, it makes sense during winter to exercise and get your daily dose of sunlight at the same time.

Doing aerobic exercise outdoors perfectly fulfills our requirements. Walking, running, and cycling get us out into the fresh air and sunshine. If you’re used to riding a stationary bike or walking or running on a treadmill at home or at the gym, winter is the time to take it outside.

Your bones will benefit greatly by increased contact with direct sunlight. And, interestingly, your entire body will benefit from your new outdoors focus. Machines such as treadmills and stationary bikes are great – they make it easy to exercise. But there’s a big difference in terms of overall benefit when you’re actually riding a real bike up a real hill or running on a real surface that changes configuration on almost every step.

The difference relates to proprioception – your body’s response to physical changes in three-dimensional space. Bottom line – the more overall use you make of your body, the more you’ll benefit. Exercising outdoors provides whole-body training in ways machines never can.

The need to actively seek out sunshine during winter creates a wonderful opportunity to broaden our exercise horizons. Make sure to dress appropriately and to wear UV-protecting sunglasses.

Many affordable brands of high-performance sportswear are available that wick moisture away from your skin and provide good insulation. Layering is the way to go. You can remove layers as you get warmer. Wicking-and-insulating caps and gloves are also available. It’s better to be a little too warm than a little too cold.

Be sure to consult with your chiropractor about the most effective forms of exercise for you. She will be able to help you design a customized exercise program that works for you.

¹Holick MF: Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr 80(6):1678S-1688S, 2004
²Mohr SB, et al:The association between ultraviolet B irradiance, vitamin D status and incidence rates of type 1 diabetes in 51 regions worldwide. Diabetologia 51(8):1391-1398, 2008
³Buccello-Stout RR, et al: Effects of sensorimotor adaptation training on functional mobility in older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 63(5):P295-300, 2008

You are the CEO of your own personal enterprise. In addition to whatever business you might be running or might be in, your personal corporation consists of the value you generate during your time on Earth.

Some persons such as government officials make choices and take actions that obviously affect the lives of many others. For most of us it may seem that we have less scope and reduced impact, but that is not necessarily so. Our choices and actions affect those people closest to us – our family, friends, and colleagues – and their choices and actions affect persons closest to them. An ever-widening series of ripples continues to flow, affecting more and more people, all stemming from the actions we take and the choices we make today. If we haven’t recognized this potential and this power, all that’s required is raising our gaze to the horizon and widening our field of view.

In order for a corporation – a personal corporation – to be effective it needs to have a sound balance sheet. If there’s a lot of red ink it’s going to be difficult to be able to provide goods and services. Depletion of resources leads to depletion of energy. We need to provide a steady stream of raw materials so we’re able to create new products that are desired in the marketplace.

Our personal corporations require specific raw materials ^1,2,3

• Healthful, nutritious food
• Regular vigorous exercise
• Sufficient rest
• A positive mental attitude

If we’re not receiving sufficient amounts of any of these inputs, the debit side of our balance sheet increases. We don’t have enough energy to accomplish our daily tasks, let alone do the things that will make our corporation profitable. With sufficient inputs we have energy to spare and our corporation thrives.

What are some outputs of a healthy personal corporation? A healthy, happy family. A creative work environment. Ongoing engagement in rewarding social activities. An ongoing experience of accomplishment. Self-expression. Peace. Joy.

In order for our personal corporation to continue to grow and prosper, it’s basic needs must be met. In addition, it’s always a good idea to make sure all the parts are working properly. That’s where chiropractic care comes in. Just as an accountant reviews the financial health of a corporation, your chiropractor reviews its physical health. She makes “adjustments” wherever and whenever necessary, enabling your personal corporation to continue to evolve.

¹Fitzbiggon ML, Beech BM: The role of culture in the context of school-based BMI screening. Pediatrics 124(Suppl 1):S50-S62, 2009
²Maizes V, et al: Integrative medicine and patient-centered care. Explore (NY) 5(5):277-289, 2009
³O’Donnell MP: Definition of health promotion 2.0: embracing passion, enhancing motivation, recognizing dynamic balance, and creating opportunities. Am J Health Promot 24(1):4, 2009

You’re at the doctor’s office because you think something might be wrong. Rationally, you know tests are probably necessary, but getting the tests done sometimes provokes a lot of anxiety in all of us. We want to know the results, but are very concerned about the outcome.”You need blood work” your doctor remarks casually. Your insides do an immediate flip-flop and you feel as if you’ve just begun hurtling down a very steep roller-coaster.

And when the results come back, it’s tough to understand the medical jargon, particularly if the tests are “positive”. We’ve all had the experience of “going south” and not listening to another word that’s said after the initial “your test results are positive”. Our minds are racing ahead, imagining all the awful possibilities.

Rarely, a considerate physician will be able to put the lab results in a less-worrisome perspective for the patient. For patients, it’s important to know some key facts – facts that will empower you any time you need lab tests done.

First, statistically one out of every 20 tests performed will be reported as “abnormal” – even though the result is “normal” for the person being tested. If you are perfectly healthy and have 20 tests done on your blood sample, one of those 20 test results will be “out of the normal range” based on statistics alone.¹

This is because a normal test range is calculated by eliminating the top 2.5% and the bottom 2.5% of results for a large group of normal people. This leaves the “normal range” as 95%. So if 20 tests are done, statistically one will be “abnormal”, because its results fall in the top or bottom 2.5%. The result is normal for you, but reported as “abnormal”.

Other factors to consider are the sensitivity and specificity of the lab test.² Sensitivity relates to the test’s precision in detecting the disease when the disease is present. If a test for colon cancer was 90% sensitive, it would miss ten cases of the disease out of every 100 cases. Specificity relates to whether a positive test actually indicates the presence of the disease you’re being tested for. If a test is 90% specific, in ten cases out of 100 positive results, the patient does not actually have the disease.

So if a test has low sensitivity, actual cases of the disease may be missed. If a test has low specificity, test results reporting the presence of the disease may be wrong. All these factors need to be considered in accurately interpreting test results. Things are not always as they seem.³

Bottom line – test results always need to be evaluated in the specific context of the patient. An isolated lab result – or set of results – needs to be related to the patient’s condition and circumstances. An accurate diagnosis is not based on lab results alone. That could be a big mistake. Similarly, x-ray, ultrasound, or MRI results need to be interpreted in context also.
Trying to interpret an x-ray without any clinical information is likely to lead to a wrong conclusion. Context is everything. If you have questions, we will be able to explain why certain tests are necessary.

¹Thomas SL, et al: How accurate are diagnoses for rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis in the general practice research database? Arthritis Rheum 59(9):1314-1321, 2008
²Friston KJ, et al: Classical and Bayesian inference in neuroimaging: theory. Neuroimage 16(2):465-483, 2002
³Kobayashi M, et al: Intraindividual variation in total and percent free prostate-specific antigen levels in prostate cancer suspects. Urol Int 74(3):198-202, 2005