Dear Steve,

DID YOU KNOW that the increasing use of mobile devices has led to a rise in forward head posture, or "text neck"?

A fascinating study in Cureus performed on adults aged 19-45 years found that heightened sympathetic activity occurs in those using their mobile phones with forward head posture or "text neck." More importantly, they discovered that text neck showed decreased parasympathetic activity.

Why is this incredibly important? Think of sympathetic activity as being excited and parasympathetic activity as being relaxed. We want to be relaxed as possible. We can't be when we have "text neck."

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Steve: For almost 60 years, measuring cholesterol levels in the blood from a lipid panel has been the standard way to identify individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease. But for the last 10 years and counting, it has been the antiquated way to measure cardiovascular risk.

We've constantly harped upon the fact that cholesterol only makes up about 25% of the cardiac risk pie. The other 25% is triglycerides and the other 50% is inflammation. Moreover, measuring LDL and HDL is not even the best cholesterol testing.

Cholesterol and other fats are carried through the blood by specialized particles called lipoproteins, which are divided into four main classes. Three of these classes have a special protein on their surface called apolipoprotein B (apoB). When present in excess, these lipoproteins can deposit cholesterol in the walls of blood vessels. Because of this, the cholesterol they carry is often called "bad cholesterol." In contrast, the fourth main class helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream and transports it back to the liver - this is often referred to as "good cholesterol" because of its beneficial role.

Since cholesterol cannot circulate or cause damage without its lipoprotein carrier, researchers have increasingly focused on measuring the lipoproteins that carry the "bad cholesterol", as a likely better indicator of future cardiovascular disease risk. This is done by measuring apoB.

Moreover, even with high lipoproteins, this does not mean plaque is being formed. You have no way of knowing this without a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) test, which measures inflammation in the vasculature. Plaque formation creates inflammation. Thus, if your HsCRP level is low, there is no inflammation and likely no plaque is being formed.

Another critical test not commonly performed is lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a). High levels can increase smooth muscle fiber proliferation and inhibit the breakdown of blood clots, which means higher risk for plaque formation and elevated heart attack risk.

Implore that your doctor test apoB, HsCRP, and Lp(a) in addition to the standard, antiquated lipid panel.

A young woman came to see Steve with multiple diagnosed autoimmune and GI disorders including IBS, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and most recently rheumatoid arthritis. She was home-bound and had difficulty doing much of anything without getting extremely fatigued. One of her goals was to avoid going on rheumatoid arthritis medication.

After looking at her blood work, intake forms and GI-Map stool analysis, he went over all aspects of how to best optimize her diet and lifestyle. They agreed to give it six months to see if she could improve to a level where medication would not be necessary.

They had to make several modifications over the first few months, but this was a recent update: "My husband noticed my pupils are getting smaller. Mine have been enlarged as long as I can remember. My fatigue has dramatically improved. I'm able to use the recumbent bike without issue. I haven't needed a nap during the day which is nice. Constipation is improving and having regular bowel movements for the first time in years. No colon pain which is fantastic to report. Still have neuropathy and muscle pains. Still have temperature dysregulation."

Still have a ways to go, but numerous measurable improvements. A testament to her hard work and trusting the process!  

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Disclaimer: Case reports are not intended for self-healing. Case reports are for references purposes only and should be discussed with your health professional.

The May 2025 issue of The American Chiropractor cites studies on the benefits of laser therapy for the jaw. Patients may have jaw pain, restricted movement of the jaw including pain when opening the mouth or chewing. Approximately 10%-15% of U.S. adults are affected by this. 

A systematic review of 32 studies involved 1,172 patients, and 73% reported significant pain reduction using laser therapy compared to conventional therapies. Another review of studies reported better jaw motion, better ability to chew and less emotional distress after treatment of the jaw. This demonstrates the broad effects of laser for overall wellbeing. 

The most common wavelengths used ranged from 633nm to 940nm, with infrared wavelengths providing the deepest penetration. Treatments may be 4 to 10 times, once a week to create the desired effect or more frequently if there’s an acute jaw problem. A promising and comfortable noninvasive treatment.

Dr. Liselotte Schuster is a Holistic Family Chiropractor and has been in practice with Nutritional Concepts since 1989. She uses a variety of techniques, including low level laser, to help patients reach their full potential. Contact Dr. Schuster at (847) 509-9067 or drliloschuster@sbcglobal.net.

PureInsight (formerly )Genomics harnesses the science of nutrigenomics so you can understand the relationship between your genes, nutrition, and wellness at the deepest level. Covering 72 genes in 11 trait categories, we've used Pure Insight since 2015 to help clients live longer with better quality of life.

How to Get Started

1. Order a genetic kit directly from Ancestry.com (AncestryDNA for $99) and send back your saliva specimen. When your results are ready, request that we set up a PureInsight account for you. We just need your full name, email address, and date of birth. You will receive an email invitation from PureInsight with a link to set up your account and instructions for how to upload your Ancestry data. You will receive a confirmation from PureInsight when your report is ready and we can then set up an appointment to go over your results.

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Bonnie, Steve, Lilo, Cindy, Diana, Marisa, and Sally