Optimal Health University, a professional service of PreventiCare Publishing, had a recent health care topic of the week outlining the Top Ten Ways Chiropractic Can Improve Your Life. This week's blog is an abridged version of that article.
#10: Chiropractic Alleviates Pain. Chiropractic adjustments get to the root cause of your pain not just cover up symptoms. Muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory medication and pain killers do what they are designed to do. When there is a mechanical dysfunction in the spine swelling, spasm and joint restriction occur. All of these cause pain. Through a series of chiropractic adjustments the chiropractor corrects the vertebral subluxation. This in itself can alleviate pain.
#9: Chiropractic Prevents Other Conditions. As you may remember from a previous blog vertebral subluxations can effect nerve function therefore body function. The brain and nervous system control and coordinate all functions and systems of the body. Nerve pressure caused by misaligned vertebra effect this nerve function. Conditions and disorders such as PMS, high blood pressure, impotence, and ear infections (as well as many other conditions) have been known to respond to Chiropractic care.
#8: Chiropractic Boosts Productivity. Athletes like Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong rely on chiropractic care to reach optimal performance capacity. Spinal adjustments help maintain the best possible joint motion and function, this in turn helps to keep swelling down and maintain normal muscle tone. All of this helps keep the mobility needed to perform the action of sports and work. Sitting, standing, lifting and twisting all day need normal motion and muscle tone. Chiropractic treatment does this.
#7: Chiropractic May Make You Smarter. Two different research studies, one involving 500 people and another involving 30 people mapped brain activity and reaction time before and after cervical spine adjustments. Researchers found that "cervical manipulation activates specific neurological pathways" in the brain, potentially stimulating cognitive function as well as improved response selection.
#6: Chiropractic Boosts Immunity. Two different small studies were done and researchers found that regular chiropractic treatment may boost the body's immune response. A powerful immune system is a key component of chiropractic's all-natural preventative strategy.
#5: Chiropractic Reduces Stress. Increased mobility, decreased swelling, decreased spasm and increased muscle tone are all effects of spinal adjustments. This allows you to be free of the physical restriction to regular exercise. Exercise is a key component to busting stress and preventing stress related anxiety and depression.
#4: Chiropractic Increases Physical Activity. A feeling of comfort, rest and ease of mobility all give you confidence and motivation to exercise regularly. The more you exercise, the more you want to exercise. When you don't hurt you are more likely to do the things you like to do.
#3: Chiropractic Allows Patients To Avoid Unnecessary Medication. Chiropractic adjustments along with proper rest, a good diet with proper nutrition and supplements when necessary, exercise and a good positive mental attitude give you the best formula for being able to function your life without the need for drugs. Drugs may cause as many side affects and symptoms just like the ones that you are trying to get rid of.
#2: Chiropractic Improves Sleep Quality. This particular aspect of improved quality of life using chiropractic care needs only one statement from me. In my 30 years of practice the most common statement I here from patients after their first adjustment is not "I feel better" but "I haven't slept this good in years". I really don't care what researchers have to say about this. I do care what my patients say though. Chiropractic helps you rest better for all the same reasons you feel better. Reduced spasm, swelling, pain and increased motion all help you relax and rest better.
#1: Chiropractic Creates Wellness. A sense of well-being, confidence in the response to treatment and the encouragement to do all the right things to be healthy and stay healthy catapults you to optimal health, increased longevity and a heightened quality of life.
Chiropractic can improve your life. Regular chiropractic treatment is an investment in your health not an expense. For the cost of a CT scan or an MRI you can get many treatments. Try conservative care first. Why use a shot gun when a BB gun may get the job done.
IF YOU ARE A PATIENT OF MINE READING THIS ARTICLE, MENTION THIS TO ME AT YOUR NEXT VISIT AND YOUR TREATMENT WILL BE MY TREAT FOR THAT VISIT. THIS IS AVAILABLE UNTIL THE END OF MARCH.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A HEALTHY HEART
It's Valentine's Day weekend so I felt this would be a great time to do a write-up on heart health. You can go to www.medicinenet.com to learn much more than I'm putting here.
A healthy heart requires you to participate. Of course there are a lot of "stay away froms". Fast foods, excessive alcohol, high fat foods, junk foods, excessive caffeine; just to name a few.
1) FOODS for a healthy heart:
Salmon, flax seed, oatmeal, black or kidney beans, almonds, red wine, tuna, tofu, brown rice, soy milk, blueberries, carrots, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, red bell peppers, asparagus, oranges, tomatoes, acorn squash, cantaloupe, papaya, dark chocolate, and tea.
2) VITAMINS and SUPPLEMENTS for a healthy heart:
Vitamin E, vitamin C, the B complex (it's OK to take individual B vitamins but best to take the complex and add the needed extra B to that), Calcium and vitamin D, Magnesium, Selenium(added to the trace minerals supplement), CoQ10, Omega-3 fatty acids.
3) EXERCISES for a healthy heart:
Stretching: a)this will help prepare your muscles for the more strenuous exercises and will help lessen injury. b) this will increase your range of motion and flexibility.
Cardiovascular/aerobic: this form of exercise will help strengthen your heart and lungs and improve the body's use of oxygen, over time this will decrease the heart rate and blood pressure as well as improving the breathing.
Examples of aerobic exercises: walking, jogging, bicycling(stationary or outdoor bikes), skiing, skating(ice or roller), rowing, low impact aerobics, water aerobics. Gradually work up to 20-30 minutes per day 3 to 4 days per week. Follow a set routine with your exercises, use a trainer if necessary. a) warm up with your stretching exercises first. b) do your choice of exercise-this will burn calories and help you gain the aerobic benefit. watch your heart rate--don't over do it.
c) cool down with stretching exercises; don't just sit or lie down, stretch or walk around for another 5 minutes.
Go to www.medicinenet.com for more info and as always don't begin an exercise program, start a diet or add supplements without talking with your physician first.
A healthy heart requires you to participate. Of course there are a lot of "stay away froms". Fast foods, excessive alcohol, high fat foods, junk foods, excessive caffeine; just to name a few.
1) FOODS for a healthy heart:
Salmon, flax seed, oatmeal, black or kidney beans, almonds, red wine, tuna, tofu, brown rice, soy milk, blueberries, carrots, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, red bell peppers, asparagus, oranges, tomatoes, acorn squash, cantaloupe, papaya, dark chocolate, and tea.
2) VITAMINS and SUPPLEMENTS for a healthy heart:
Vitamin E, vitamin C, the B complex (it's OK to take individual B vitamins but best to take the complex and add the needed extra B to that), Calcium and vitamin D, Magnesium, Selenium(added to the trace minerals supplement), CoQ10, Omega-3 fatty acids.
3) EXERCISES for a healthy heart:
Stretching: a)this will help prepare your muscles for the more strenuous exercises and will help lessen injury. b) this will increase your range of motion and flexibility.
Cardiovascular/aerobic: this form of exercise will help strengthen your heart and lungs and improve the body's use of oxygen, over time this will decrease the heart rate and blood pressure as well as improving the breathing.
Examples of aerobic exercises: walking, jogging, bicycling(stationary or outdoor bikes), skiing, skating(ice or roller), rowing, low impact aerobics, water aerobics. Gradually work up to 20-30 minutes per day 3 to 4 days per week. Follow a set routine with your exercises, use a trainer if necessary. a) warm up with your stretching exercises first. b) do your choice of exercise-this will burn calories and help you gain the aerobic benefit. watch your heart rate--don't over do it.
c) cool down with stretching exercises; don't just sit or lie down, stretch or walk around for another 5 minutes.
Go to www.medicinenet.com for more info and as always don't begin an exercise program, start a diet or add supplements without talking with your physician first.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
What IS Chirpractic? Part II
This is the second part of "what is chiropractic?". I always tell my patients in our health orientation class "if you don't here anything else I say the rest of the class, pay close attention to this, THIS IS CHIROPRACTIC.
5. The Nervous System: The very first part of our bodies that form when we are inside our mom's womb is the brain and the spinal cord. The purpose of the brain and nervous system is to control and coordinate all the functions of the body. From the formation of the brain and spinal cord every other body part will form. EVERY part of our body is controlled by the brain and the nervous system. Nothing in our body can function without the direct or indirect control of the nervous system. They proved this with the guillotine. The brain sends messages to the body part to tell it what to do and the brain can receive messages from the different body parts. This message can be disrupted by what is referred to as a vertebral subluxation. This subluxation of any one of the vertebra of the spine can effect the nerve flow to a body part. Just the pressure of a leaf or a child's balloon put on the nerve root (that's the part of the nerve that comes off of the spinal cord between the spinal vertebra)can stop the flow of the nerve transmission to a body part by 60%. This means something in the body is only getting 40% nerve supply. There can be a 5% or a15% shut down. It doesn't really matter. Understand that it is the misalignment that is the concern at this point. This "pinched nerve" is caused by the closing off of the foremen(the hole created where the two spinal vertebra come together). The narrowing of the foremen is caused by soft tissue swelling, muscle spasm, and/or misalignment of the two vertebra. Of course, this can cause radiating pain also. You would feel this leg pain, arm pain, headaches, etc.. This misalignment can be caused by trauma such as falls, auto accidents, lifting improperly, sitting or lying down awkwardly,sports injuries, or even childhood mishaps like wrestling with your brother or sister. You have probably heard of someone that is a paraplegic or quadriplegic. If this person fractured the vertebra due to some injury there would be enough pressure on the spinal cord to basically shut down nearly all function from that level on down. Misalignment of the vertebra and the subsequent nerve pressure is similar to this but on a smaller scale. As a body part weakens through the next weeks, months, or years it is more susceptible to outside pathogens like viral or bacterial infection. If this nerve supply decrease is affecting the natural immune system of the body then your resistance is weakened. I had a man come to me with serious low back problems and relate to me that he was also impotent. After several treatments not only did he see great improvement in his low back condition but he also was no longer impotent. His wife came in to hug me! Another young women that came to me for a back problem related to me that she was told, per her medical doctor, that she would be unable to have children. After a period of time with treatment of her back problem she actually was able to get pregnant. It didn't really sound too good when she said "she went to her Chiropractor and got pregnant" though. Both of these are true stories. This is not hocus pocus. Simply, as the misalignment of the spine were corrected and stabilized the nerve pressure was reduced and this allowed the body part to function normally. Not every one responds to Chiropractic care. Of course there are many other reasons that a person could have either one of these conditions. It's just that until they went to a Chiropractor they had not "tried everything". 85% to 90% of all the patients that use Chiropractic care see results. If a patient comes to us that we know needs medical care we make the appropriate referral. All we ask is that you "give us a chance".
5. The Nervous System: The very first part of our bodies that form when we are inside our mom's womb is the brain and the spinal cord. The purpose of the brain and nervous system is to control and coordinate all the functions of the body. From the formation of the brain and spinal cord every other body part will form. EVERY part of our body is controlled by the brain and the nervous system. Nothing in our body can function without the direct or indirect control of the nervous system. They proved this with the guillotine. The brain sends messages to the body part to tell it what to do and the brain can receive messages from the different body parts. This message can be disrupted by what is referred to as a vertebral subluxation. This subluxation of any one of the vertebra of the spine can effect the nerve flow to a body part. Just the pressure of a leaf or a child's balloon put on the nerve root (that's the part of the nerve that comes off of the spinal cord between the spinal vertebra)can stop the flow of the nerve transmission to a body part by 60%. This means something in the body is only getting 40% nerve supply. There can be a 5% or a15% shut down. It doesn't really matter. Understand that it is the misalignment that is the concern at this point. This "pinched nerve" is caused by the closing off of the foremen(the hole created where the two spinal vertebra come together). The narrowing of the foremen is caused by soft tissue swelling, muscle spasm, and/or misalignment of the two vertebra. Of course, this can cause radiating pain also. You would feel this leg pain, arm pain, headaches, etc.. This misalignment can be caused by trauma such as falls, auto accidents, lifting improperly, sitting or lying down awkwardly,sports injuries, or even childhood mishaps like wrestling with your brother or sister. You have probably heard of someone that is a paraplegic or quadriplegic. If this person fractured the vertebra due to some injury there would be enough pressure on the spinal cord to basically shut down nearly all function from that level on down. Misalignment of the vertebra and the subsequent nerve pressure is similar to this but on a smaller scale. As a body part weakens through the next weeks, months, or years it is more susceptible to outside pathogens like viral or bacterial infection. If this nerve supply decrease is affecting the natural immune system of the body then your resistance is weakened. I had a man come to me with serious low back problems and relate to me that he was also impotent. After several treatments not only did he see great improvement in his low back condition but he also was no longer impotent. His wife came in to hug me! Another young women that came to me for a back problem related to me that she was told, per her medical doctor, that she would be unable to have children. After a period of time with treatment of her back problem she actually was able to get pregnant. It didn't really sound too good when she said "she went to her Chiropractor and got pregnant" though. Both of these are true stories. This is not hocus pocus. Simply, as the misalignment of the spine were corrected and stabilized the nerve pressure was reduced and this allowed the body part to function normally. Not every one responds to Chiropractic care. Of course there are many other reasons that a person could have either one of these conditions. It's just that until they went to a Chiropractor they had not "tried everything". 85% to 90% of all the patients that use Chiropractic care see results. If a patient comes to us that we know needs medical care we make the appropriate referral. All we ask is that you "give us a chance".
Sunday, February 1, 2009
What IS Chiropractic? Part I
Opinions abound. These are mine. There are many aspects of our life that effect our overall health. Most of them are totally up to you to control.
1. Exercise: You have got to do something over and above your normal daily routine. Walk a mile a day. Do 25 push-ups and 25 sit-ups a day. Or, for you heavy duty people go to the gym and work out with weights or do an aerobic class or a spin class (stationary bicycle aerobics). Most recently my wife has begun Wii Fit--amazing the work out she gets right in front of the TV. Basically, do 20 minutes worth of something every day or 1-2 hours 3 days a week.
2. Eat right: Last weeks blog on diet has some good ideas and the first blog on water is a good guide too. The big key is to work at it every day, don't get frustrated, keep working at it consistently. You know what's right; just do it. Keep fast food to a minimum and keep your portions reasonable and stay away of the in between stuff(junk).
3. Rest: Most people can do very well on 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night(sadly this means we are sleeping 1/3 of our life). Some people can go all day on 4 to 5 hours per night(I wish I could). The big key is to rest well. You need a good firm mattress, in my opinion. I have found this to be true for the greatest majority of my patients. Try not to sleep on your stomach, if you sleep on your back use a support under your neck like a rolled up towel(there are special pillows for this also). Doing this helps to keep the natural forward curve in the neck. Also, put a pillow under your knees. If you sleep on your side put the extra pillow between your knees and situate your pillow to keep your head in the center of your shoulders. Take mini rest breaks during the day. Stop two to four times per day for five minute breaks. Sit back relaxed, close your eyes and take deep breaths until you almost feel dozy. You'll be amazed at how much this will make you feel rested after a long day at work.
4. Positive Mental Attitude: To me,the second most important aspect of over all good health is a positive mental attitude. If you look at the glass half empty instead of half full you'll never be totally healthy. You can't stay angry or stay wound up all the time and stay healthy. From a practical stand point if you have 7 headaches a week and after 4 weeks of Chiropractic treatment you are now only having 2 headaches a week, did we make progress? Sure, but if your mindset is "I'm still having headaches" you're the type that will always have something. Find the good; "I'm resting better", "I have more energy", "I get up and down easier", anything that gives you confidence that you are doing the right thing and you are in the right place. You will continue to see good results and hopefully resolve the problem completely. Just keep it up.
Next week I'll talk about #5- The most important of all. If you have never been to Chiropractor, this will help give you answers to what separates us from traditional medicine. I have had patients come in for neck or back problems and after a series of treatments tell that her menstrual cramps haven't been as bad or his sinus problem improved. I'll discuss the connection.
1. Exercise: You have got to do something over and above your normal daily routine. Walk a mile a day. Do 25 push-ups and 25 sit-ups a day. Or, for you heavy duty people go to the gym and work out with weights or do an aerobic class or a spin class (stationary bicycle aerobics). Most recently my wife has begun Wii Fit--amazing the work out she gets right in front of the TV. Basically, do 20 minutes worth of something every day or 1-2 hours 3 days a week.
2. Eat right: Last weeks blog on diet has some good ideas and the first blog on water is a good guide too. The big key is to work at it every day, don't get frustrated, keep working at it consistently. You know what's right; just do it. Keep fast food to a minimum and keep your portions reasonable and stay away of the in between stuff(junk).
3. Rest: Most people can do very well on 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night(sadly this means we are sleeping 1/3 of our life). Some people can go all day on 4 to 5 hours per night(I wish I could). The big key is to rest well. You need a good firm mattress, in my opinion. I have found this to be true for the greatest majority of my patients. Try not to sleep on your stomach, if you sleep on your back use a support under your neck like a rolled up towel(there are special pillows for this also). Doing this helps to keep the natural forward curve in the neck. Also, put a pillow under your knees. If you sleep on your side put the extra pillow between your knees and situate your pillow to keep your head in the center of your shoulders. Take mini rest breaks during the day. Stop two to four times per day for five minute breaks. Sit back relaxed, close your eyes and take deep breaths until you almost feel dozy. You'll be amazed at how much this will make you feel rested after a long day at work.
4. Positive Mental Attitude: To me,the second most important aspect of over all good health is a positive mental attitude. If you look at the glass half empty instead of half full you'll never be totally healthy. You can't stay angry or stay wound up all the time and stay healthy. From a practical stand point if you have 7 headaches a week and after 4 weeks of Chiropractic treatment you are now only having 2 headaches a week, did we make progress? Sure, but if your mindset is "I'm still having headaches" you're the type that will always have something. Find the good; "I'm resting better", "I have more energy", "I get up and down easier", anything that gives you confidence that you are doing the right thing and you are in the right place. You will continue to see good results and hopefully resolve the problem completely. Just keep it up.
Next week I'll talk about #5- The most important of all. If you have never been to Chiropractor, this will help give you answers to what separates us from traditional medicine. I have had patients come in for neck or back problems and after a series of treatments tell that her menstrual cramps haven't been as bad or his sinus problem improved. I'll discuss the connection.
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