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Chiropractic helps sensory processing disorders and how to survive a desk job

By Newsletter

Chiropractic Care for Children with Sensory Processing Disorders

Sensory processing disorders (SPD) are impairments in responding and detecting to sensory stimuli. It has been found that 5% of children met the criteria for a SPD. SPD ranges in many different ways and also exhibits a large overlap in symptoms with other conditions such as learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.

Chiropractic care was included in the care of SPD children and found an improvement in neurodevelopment. In a case study of a 4 year old child who exhibited symptoms of aggressiveness, eating a substantial amount of food and breaking out in blotchy rashes, was diagnosed with PSD. The child then received Chiropractic care and adjustments were only given on the left side of the body in an attempt to stimulate the right cerebral hemisphere.

After 10 weeks of care, the child experienced a dramatic increase in his attention span and ability to focus on one thing at a time. Moreover, his sensory stimulating behaviours, physical outbursts and behavioural outbursts significantly decreased as well. This successful intervention of Chiropractic focused on the power of vertebral subluxation removal for children battling SPD.

Studies show that subluxation results in an imbalance of sensory input into one or both sides of the brain. Then, this imbalance leads to an asymmetric function of the brain, thus leads to the loss of function. The result of the case study of the 4 year old child, Chiropractic care brought major improvement in regards to his quality of life.

Olafsson, J.T.. (2011). Improvement in a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder Following Subluxation Based Chiropractic Care & Dietary Changes. J. Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health., pp. 111-114.

How to Live a Healthy Life with a Desk Job

Desk jobs can be hard on you because they often come with deadlines, stressors, and long hours. Unfortunately, this leads to physical issues because sitting at a desk for long periods of time is bad for the body. Just like other professions have their health hazards, desk jobs come with its own and being aware of these hazards will allow you to keep your health in check for years to come. It doesn’t take a manual labor job to put your body at risk for physical health hazards; sitting for hours on end will do it for you. Take a look at what kinds of health issues happen from desk jobs and how you can live a healthy life with yours.

What kinds of health issues come up

When it comes to desk jobs, you aren’t risking your life like someone in the line of duty, risking pulling a muscle from heavy lifting like a medical professional might, or risking injury from standing for too long during the day like a waitress. Instead, you are weakening certain muscles from sitting, putting strain on your back, and tightening your joints. Sitting too long is one of the most common workplace hazards since the majority of jobs are at a desk for several hours each day. It can lead a higher risk of disease like heart disease and even shorten your life expectancy.

The good news is that there are ways to combat this problem with simple strategies. With around 80% of our country’s workforce being in a seated position for work all day, it’s more important than ever to make sure professionals are taking the time to care for their body to avoid a health issue pulling them out of work or away from their family life, and to avoid shortening their life expectancy from this poor health habit.

It’s actually been compared to the dangers of smoking for your health, in which in the short term it seems harmless but over time, it’s slowly causing the body to deteriorate. When you take the time to take a break every half hour from your desk to stand or walk around, you give your body a chance to circulate blood, stretch, and loosen up from any strains. When you choose the stairs over the elevator, you sneak in some exercise in your day so that if you miss the gym, you’ve gotten some sort of physical movement into your day.

Sometimes even parking farther away from the door or using a printer that is farther from your desk is all you need to remind your body to move around more often and keep your blood flowing. One of the best solutions though is the new standing desk, in which your computer and work space is setup to be at a standing height, which works to reduce back pain, chance of heart disease, improving energy levels, and improving mood.

Making a long-term plan

In addition to these daily solutions, be sure to make a long-term plan to combat desk job health hazards. Create the optimal work station in which your desk chair supports your back, your screen is a healthy distance from your face, and you maintain good posture. Be sure to exercise before a long day of work, get proper sleep, and maintain a healthy diet. In addition, seeing your chiropractor for regular adjustments will ensure that your spine is aligned and your back and neck aren’t overly strained causing headaches and other health issues.

Use these tips to make sure you are maintaining a healthy life with your desk job.

 

 

Here are some tips for keeping your neck and back safe this spring

By Newsletter

Keeping Your Back Safe While Gardening

If you love to garden, you’ve likely suffered a backache or two from maintaining your garden beds. It can be a multiple-season routine, depending on what you are planting or trying to grow, which means your back is regularly getting put under stress from bending over and over again. For others, they are doing most of the work during just one season of the year, which means their back may not be used to this type of labor.

While a few backaches may not seem like a big deal, you are actually putting your back in danger when you work in the garden improperly. Take a look at these few steps you can take to protect your back while gardening this year and what to do for that nasty back pain you hope you won’t experience.

Don’t wait for garden season to prepare your back

One of the biggest mistakes people make is that they will sit around on the couch during the cold seasons and then start doing work in the garden out of nowhere when the weather warms back up. The problem with this is that your back is not used to this kind of manual labor that can take up to 12 hours a day of work.

When you keep up a fitness routine during the winter season that keeps your back strong, working on your garden beds is suddenly not so different than the usual routine. Make sure you are exercising and spending less time on the couch over the winter in order to keep up your back strength during the warmer months of gardening.

Make sure you take breaks

Another common mistake among those that end up with back pain from gardening is that they get so into what they are working on, that they forget to take breaks. It’s important that every half hour you take a break. Try to schedule the work you need to do in 30 minute increments with breaks to stretch, sit down, and rehydrate. You won’t feel decent if you work at it non-stop all day or weekend and then try to resume your daily activity.

Help with muscle confusion by varying tasks

Just like a fitness instructor would tell you, muscle confusion during a workout or gardening session is great for toning the body and giving your muscles a rest. When you keep your tasks varied during gardening, it will help you to avoid hurting yourself. Don’t spend your whole day bending over to pick your weeds, but take some of that time to squat while pulling the weeds, dig while pulling, and other times bending. Your back will get a break and you’ll rely on other muscles to get you through the tasks.

Bring in some help

Lastly, when you see neighbor kids interested in what you’re doing, consider hiring them for a little bit of help. It will be a great bonding experience, a chance for the kids to learn about hard work, and an inexpensive way for you while a child would love a chance to earn some money. You won’t be dealing with back pain all week and you might get the work done in half the time.

Don’t allow the gardening season to put your back in danger. Make sure to end your sessions with a short walk to active your muscles and loosen things up, and then schedule a visit to your chiropractor for an adjustment before and after the work. You’ll feel better and you won’t harm your back during this year’s gardening season.

 

How to Prevent Neck Pain During Cycling

Getting pain from a cycling session can be frustrating. You are trying to improve your skill and you end up with neck pain, putting you out for the next cycling day. Neck pain from this sport is really common and is usually caused from weak muscles or poor posture.

It’s not hard to overuse your muscles and injuring yourself. Sometimes it’s just a matter of choosing a better bike fit or changing your posture just slightly. You don’t have to give up your favorite hobby due to that neck pain you keep getting. Use this guide to determine what’s causing your neck pain and learn how to prevent it going forward.

What could be causing the pain?

While neck pain and injury is common from cycling, it can be frustrating if you’re not sure what is causing it. There are a few possible causes to your problem and solutions to these problems. The first may be that you are unaware of prevention methods that would help you avoid the neck pain or numbness, such as properly fitting bikes, the right equipment, or not stretching the right areas. Having the wrong alignment or forgetting to stretch after being stiff for too long can cause serious injury after prolonged periods of time.

About bike fit

Getting properly fitted for your bike is one of the most important things you could do for regular cycling. If you don’t have a good bike fit, it might be that your frame is too big or small for you. the handlebars may be too wide or narrow or your stem may need to be adjusted to be just shorter or longer than it is now. This all affects your posture for a long cycling session. Working with a professional could help you to make tiny adjustments that will help you prevent pain and numbness.

You’ll also want to make sure your posture allows your shoulder blades to be engaged and held back away from ears. Your head shouldn’t be cocked back too far either. Make sure your bike gloves have padding for the bike you are using to avoid hand numbness and add tape to your handle bars if you ride on roads.

Learn proper stretching

You may find that you don’t have any pain until a couple of hours after cycling, which could mean that it’s more of a weak muscle issue. Not having strong enough muscles to support your head’s weight for a long period of time could be the reason for your pain.

This is because the trapezius muscles along your neck and shoulder attached to the base of your head are tensed for a long period of time, and it causes your muscles to lack in blood oxygen from the lack of blood flow to the area. When you experience muscle spasms and other pain, this is the reason behind it. Simply remembering to strengthen and stretch this area is the perfect way to relieve this problem.

Proper stretching includes doing:

  • Chin tucks in a neutral position
  • Right and left head rotations to stretch the neck
  • Right and left lateral flexion of your neck to the shoulder
  • Extension by tilting your head back to stretch the back of the neck
  • Flexion of the neck while standing or sitting upright to stretch the muscles in the back of your neck

If you aren’t using all of the gear you need, have a bike that is just slightly off, or forget to strengthen your muscles, you could end up with pain and numbness when you cycle. Make sure to check all of these items out before cycling again to make sure you are keeping your body healthy and strong.

 

Can Kids Benefit from a Chiropractor?

Even though you go to the chiropractor regularly, you may have never thought to take the kids in for their own appointment, did you? You may be surprised to learn that kids can actually benefit greatly from chiropractic care, just like adults do, and that starting them off early is a great way to keep them healthy and balanced.

Not only can your chiropractor help relieve an injury or illness, but your kids can benefit by getting immune system support, taking advantage of preventative care, and help with problems like colic or recovering from birth trauma. Take a look at these scenarios where your child can see an improvement after visiting the chiropractor.

Preventative care

Speaking of preventative care, this is another key reason that the chiropractor can help your children thrive, just like you can experience as an adult. Rather than trying to treat sick children, it’s easier to take them to the chiropractor and give them a stronger body that will improve their chances of fighting off illness before it affects them. Stop thinking of a chiropractor as the fixer of a problem, but think of them more as the doctor that helps you before something happens in order to maintain your health.

Birth and beginning of life care

Have you ever wondered if there was a natural way to help with your baby’s postnatal care? The chiropractor is another great source for this area of things, specifically when it comes to birth trauma recovery and issues with colic.

While the bird may be hard on mom and a colicky baby can be a challenge, these things take a toll on baby too. The physical stress of birth on an infant can sometimes cause physical injury for an infant, but sometimes not knowing if there is an injury can make things worse.

A chiropractic evaluation can help you to see if your baby was injured during birth or is healing properly after the experience. If you find you have a colicky baby, chiropractic care is proven to improve the crying behavior of infants.

Getting immune system support

Kids tend to get sick often, especially being around other kids at school where germs are everywhere. Having a way to get some extra immune system support is a great way to fight off a cold or fever, or simply try to avoid catching it from others.

Having the kids visit a chiropractor is a great preventative practice for cold and flu season since the chances of catching a cold, cough, or fever is higher for kids. Chiropractors notice improvement in kids’ immune systems after getting regular adjustments.

Kids can enjoy fewer missed days of school since chiropractors are reporting quicker recovery times or patients that aren’t getting the cold or flu at all. This is likely because your chiropractor is keeping your nervous system and immune systems working optimally, and because the lymph nodes have an easier time carrying the immune cells through the musculoskeletal system of the body.

Injuries

You may have already been doing this but if you haven’t, keep in mind that chiropractic care is great for kids that have fallen or have become injured. Treating an injury or fall is common for chiropractors, but you should remember these other areas where a chiropractor can help too. Even if your child hasn’t broken an arm, you may want to take your child in to be sure there wasn’t a small trauma that is less noticeable. An adjustment can be sure that things are in place and working properly.

If you’ve ever wondered if your kids can benefit from chiropractic care, wait no further to take them in. children of all ages can see big benefits from the chiropractor and they don’t need to have an ailment before they go in for a visit.

 

Is Back Surgery Necessary? How Can Chiropractic Help Those with ADHD?

By Newsletter

The Case Against Back Surgery Becoming More Evident

Are you and your physician considering having you undergo back surgery? It’s a huge decision that you wouldn’t take lightly, but for many it may seem like the only solution. There are actually around 600,000 back surgeries performed every year in North America, but some are beginning to question the need and effectiveness of them.

What are the most common back surgeries performed?

If there are so many back surgeries being performed annually, you may begin to wonder why. What surgeries are so common that everyone seems to need them at some point in their life? Are there other treatment options but many choose surgery anyway, or is surgery the only option?

The most common surgeries for the back are boiled down to four types. The first is a discectomy which is the removal of a portion of a herniated disc and the back of a vertebra, a surgery needed for common disc issues. The next would be a fusion which is going to connect two or more bones in your spine. Another is a laminectomy which removes the bone overlying the spinal canal. Lastly would be surgery to implant artificial disks.

How to decide on back surgery

Some of these surgeries could be related to lifestyle choices, making it one of the reasons that back surgery isn’t always necessary. For example, if you are overweight or sitting too often throughout the day, you may end up with disc issues that could have been prevented, but you could treat this by making better choices and getting the adjustments from a chiropractor.

Deciding on back surgery is a huge decision and you should take plenty of time to decide. Don’t rush into a back surgery decision; you should have all of the information first and time to think about it before going through with it.

If you ask the right questions and a get a second opinion, you’re on the right track of deciding on the surgery. You’ll want to know what the operation is, if it’s necessary, and what the risks and benefits are to such a procedure. It’s important to ask if there are other options that may be more conservative than the extreme of surgery.

Talk to another doctor since sometimes another doctor will tell you that they have another opinion about your condition. Your insurance company may actually require you to get a second opinion on a surgical procedure in order to use your insurance to cover it. Since it would be an electric surgery, you need to have a good reason to be doing it.

Are you willing to try a more natural and less invasive approach before agreeing to surgery? You may find that lifestyle changes and adjustments from your chiropractor over time can correct the problem which would save you from having to go through a surgery. These are the types of questions to ask yourself and your physicians before scheduling surgery.

Why some are finding a case against them

Some experts are starting to find that back surgery isn’t the answer. In fact failed surgeries are starting to become common, putting patients and their families through more than they bargained for. With back pain being one of the top reasons that patients call the doctor, spinal fusion procedures are increasing in a huge way in the last 15 years.

Fortunately, major names in healthcare are starting to point out that surgery isn’t always the best option, leading many people to take a pause before thinking surgery is the only answer.

In fact studies are showing that those with disc issues that get surgery end up unable to return to work within a couple of years while those that treat it without surgery are often more likely to return to work in the same timeframe. In addition, those that get surgery are often becoming addicted to their painkiller medicine.

While you may think surgery is the only answer, you may want to talk to your us about your back pain and avoid surgery altogether.  Your body will appreciate the natural approach and you’re more likely to see the results you want and in a more permanent capacity!

 

Chiropractic Care Benefits a Patient with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been on the rise for years and the disorder is now believed to be one of the most frequent neurobehavioural disorders that affect children. ADHD typically originates during childhood and the effects can be lifelong. This disorder affects males three times more frequently than females. Those who suffer from ADHD are also more inclined to develop conduct disorder, antisocial behaviour, and drug abuse. Children with ADHD are at an increased risk of burns, fractures, head trauma and food poisoning.

The treatment for this disorder is done with the use of drugs which are aimed to decrease symptoms while improving function and well-being. Although, there is heavy debate regarding whether or not the benefits of this treatment outweigh the potential negative side effects that arise from the use of these drugs. Various side effects involve growth rate reductions, increased blood pressure and heart rate, insomnia, reduced appetite which may lead to anorexia, upset stomach and dizziness. An alternative to using these drugs that are accompanied with these side effects can be chiropractic care.

The focal point in this case study was a male who is three and a half years of age with symptoms that are similar to ADHD. The patient had been experiencing episodes of anger, irritability and violence while
been in school. He also had several incidents of falls, ear infections and respiratory viruses. After meeting with a Chiropractor, the young male child was diagnosed with a subluxation in the upper cervical segment of the spinal cord, lack of neuromuscular coordination and a functional leg length discrepancy.

The patient was scheduled to participate in Chiropractic care at a frequency of twice each month and would not be using any of the usually drug therapies for patients with ADHD. After only one month of the Chiropractic care and regular scans it was noted that the thermal scan results had seen positive improvements. The parents and teachers had also observed and explained that the child displayed better attention, energy levels and has done better in school. Chiropractic care has many positive benefits for patients with ADHD.

Stone-McCoy,P.A., & Przybysz, L. (2009). Chiropractic Management of a Child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder & Vertebral Subluxation: A Case Study. Journal Of Pediatric, Maternal, & Family Health, pp. 1-8

 

How to Get Your Workouts in When You’re Busy

Life gets busy and most people struggle to fit everything into 24 hours. That’s why many people skip a regular workout routine, knowing that that’s one of those things that can be skipped in order to have more time getting their work done, spending time with their family, or finishing all of the chores at night.

The problem is we are not doing any favors for our health. Getting exercise is just as important as your daily shower or eating dinner, but it’s often overlooked as something that will be done only if there’s time. That’s why busy people are finding way to sneak in some exercise during the day without taking away from other things. Find out how you can squeeze in a workout even when you’re too busy.

Make your chores a workout

Have you ever noticed that you get tired after finishing the chores? Whether it’s cooking a 3-course meal for dinner, vacuuming the floors, or dusting the house, these activities involve movement and can count as exercise.

Instead of putting off the chores for another night, make the chores your exercise for today to kill two birds with one stone. Between the moving, the lifting, bending over, and scrubbing, you’re going to be working all kinds of muscles. Your chores can be a workout from hauling a load of clothes to the washing machine to walking around the entire lawn with your mower.

Doing something is better than nothing

Sometimes you have to remember that it’s better to do something that nothing at all. Even if you can’t hit the gym, you probably have time for a 15 minute walk around the neighborhood or playing with the kids at the park before dinner. Find opportunities for fitness during the day, even if it’s as simple as a walk around the office or a dance party with the kids before bed.

Make easy tasks harder

One trick that many fit people use is that they will make thing a little bit harder just for the exercise benefits that comes with it. For example, don’t park at that prime parking spot at the grocery store but instead take the farthest spot to give you an extra walk today.

Walk to the farthest bathroom from your office instead of the convenient one around the corner. Walk or bike to your lunch destination rather than getting in the car again. Skip the elevator to take the stairs. Look for opportunities to turn your easy tasks a little bit longer and more fitness-friendly.

Multi-tasking makes a difference

Lastly, make sure to find opportunities to exercise even during the most menial tasks. Multi-tasking can be found anywhere, whether it’s doing crunches during a conference call, stretching in the waiting room at an appointment, or doing lunges as you push your cart full of groceries around the store. Find opportunities to sneak something physical in while completing daily tasks.

You can get a workout in even during the busiest of schedules. Try these tips to become a little more fit even when life is too busy for it. 

Ways to lessen anxiety, and how are your brain and gut connected

By Newsletter

How to Lessen Anxiety Naturally

Do you struggle with relieving your anxiety? Between breathing techniques and trying a prescription from the doctor, it doesn’t seem like enough to treat the problem. It’s one of those problems that affects so many and can last a lifetime, but there are several great ways to treat it completely naturally.

If you feel an anxiety attack coming on or are going through something that is triggering the anxiety more than normal, having these alternatives at your disposal can make a world of difference. From the food you eat to the activities you do, here is a look at a few methods for treating your anxiety and bringing yourself back to a healthy balance again.

Exercising and Vitamin D

This one may be obvious, but remembering to get exercise is a great way to cure your anxiety. It may sound like the polar opposite of a relaxing, anxious-free activity, but exercise actually releases endorphins and helps to elevate your mood.

When you feel anxious or depressed, getting something exercise in your system will actually help your brain cope with these issues. Choose a favorite activity like dance, jogging, or Zumba to get yourself moving and smiling again.

A great way to have two aids working on your side at once is to choose to exercise outdoors. When you get some natural sunlight, your mood will increase from the Vitamin D exposure. Perhaps a walk in the park is all you need to calm down, or spending your weekend hiking with a friend or a dog. These will be great ways to regulate your mood, fight your anxiety, and alter your mind with positivity and a working memory.

What are you eating?

The next thing to look at is your diet. The things you put into your body will have a huge influence on your anxiety. Be sure to include more omega-3’s into your day because these work directly with the function of your serotonin, or the area of your body that is correlated with anxiety.

By eating more omega-3’s like chia seeds, fresh salmon, and walnuts, you can lower your adrenaline and cortisol, calming your body down from anxiety. Help your serotonin and lower your adrenaline and cortisol by choosing omega-3’s throughout the day.

Speaking of things you consume, you can benefit greatly from choosing chamomile tea to drink today too. Chamomile is known for soothing going back to the days of ancient Egypt, and today it is liked to decreasing anxiety. It also works to protect you from cancer, to boost your immune system, and to improve your cardiovascular system. You can also take it in capsule form, but the tea offers great benefits.

Visit the chiropractor

One problem you could be struggling with is that your body is not functioning at its best potential. Even if you are eating and drinking everything right, your body may need adjustments to keep all of its systems functioning well. Be sure to get regular adjustments to feel better and reduce anxiety from tense areas you are carrying around every day.

Incorporate lavender

Lastly, don’t forget to incorporate more lavender into your day. This is a naturally healing scent often used in essential oils, soaps, candles, and even foods. Get a massage using lavender oils or spray some lavender oil onto your pillow for a sleep aid and relaxation of the nervous system. It’s the perfect way to calm down during a bath or when going to sleep.

Don’t let anxiety run your life anymore. Use these tricks to cure your anxiety and bring your levels back to a health balance again.

Are the Brain and Gut Connected?

Is it possible that your gut and your brain could have any connection to one another? They may have more of a connection than you may have thought. Right now Parkinson’s Disease, a movement disorder, has been found to have origins in the gut.

This discovery has led to more evidence supporting that connection between your gut and your brain. take a closer look that the connections between the two and what’s being studied.

Scientists and medical professionals agree

Your central nervous system, the system in which your brain and spinal cord are comprised, as well as the gut, are strongly connected according to the scientific and medical communities. They’ve actually created a new field of medicine for specializing and studying this connection further known as “neurogastroenterology,” meaning the study that which relates to the nervous system and digestive system. What this means is the bacteria that resides in your gut directly affects your brain, causing risks for things like Parkinson’s disease, depression, and anxiety.

More about Parkinson’s

There are studies being done to further correlate the two parts of your body, especially studying Parkinson’s disease. The gut microbiome is showing to correlate with the growth of Parkinson’s because it’s believed that gut bacteria is influencing it through the build-up of too much alpha-synuclein.

The disorder shows itself in patients through slower and decreased movements, resting tremors, and muscle rigidity. It’s a progressive degenerative disorder and these motor symptoms are thought to be related to decreased dopamine production.

While treatment for the disease is often dopamine replacement therapy, it can’t prevent the progression of the disease. Dopamine is so important for the body because it’s a neurotransmitter that regulates movement, controls the brain’s pleasure centers, and regulates emotional responses.

While the cause behind the decrease in dopamine in the brain hasn’t been determined, evidence is suggesting that gut bacteria could be the culprit. With the build-up of the alpha-synuclein, the protein found at the tips of nerve cells, dopamine isn’t regulated and individuals end up with abnormal amounts of alpha-synuclein which disrupts smooth movement.

How this is being studied further

Scientists have been able to test their theories on animals by transplanting gut bacteria to mice that is modified in order to produce alpha-synuclein. By testing mice with Parkinson’s disease gut bacteria vs. healthy gut bacteria, scientists can see that that gut bacteria of Parkinson’s shows a decline in motor function in the mice.

The normal gut bacteria mice were still transplanted with gut bacteria modified to produce alpha-synuclein which meant that there was still a slight decline in motor function, but not nearly as quickly as the mice with the Parkinson’s gut bacteria. Since the mice were genetically the same with only the difference being the gut microbes, it was easy to see the correlation of the gut and the brain in disease. Furthermore, you’ll often see gastrointestinal issues for those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Despite the research on Parkinson’s being done on mice, it’s easy to see that the evidence of this, in addition to Parkinson’s gastrointestinal issue symptoms as well as the new medical specialty of neurogastroenterology, that the brain and gut are definitely connected. With time and more studies, we’ll likely learn that how we treat our gut can directly affect our mental status.

Be sure to practice a healthy diet and get regular chiropractic adjustments to be sure your gut health is in check.

Chiropractic Care for Individuals with ADHD, Learning Disabilities and Depression

It is critical for chiropractors to approach the growing number of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities and depression cases in order to restore and correct subluxations for optimal health. Chiropractors are working hard to gain knowledge from epidemiological research in order to apply to clinical recommendations when treating individuals who suffer from mental disorders. Ultimately, chiropractic case studies hold a critical place in reducing mortality from disease process through interventions.

A case study of an 8 year old boy who suffers from ADHD and learning disorder experienced significant improvement from subluxation based chiropractic care. Since medications appeared to negatively impact his health, he was introduced to chiropractic care as an alternative treatment to manage his concerns. The boy received 1-2 chiropractic adjustments per week and nutritional counseling. The outcome of this intervention resulted in improvement after the second visit. After two months of care, re-evaluation was performed to show considerably large improvement in mood swings, memory, social interaction, temper, energy and immune function. Three months of care showed full correction of the left thoracic and major improvement in the rotation of his skull.

All in all, the effect of subluxation based adjustments on individuals with ADHD focus on restoration of the cervical curve. Adjustments have been shown to improve outcomes of individuals with ADHD, learning disability and social behaviour disturbances via chiropractic care in order to reduce vertebral subluxation and ultimately, improve quality of life.

Zielinski, E., Mankal, K. (2014). An Epidemiological Approach to the Effects of Subluxation-Based Chiropractic Care on the Management of ADHD, Depression and Learning Disabilities in an 8-Year Old: A Case Study. A. Vertebral Subluxation Res., pp. 153-160.

Retrieved from: http://www.mccoypress.net/annals/docs/2014-1334_adhd.pdf

Chiropractic can help sleep apnea, and Top 5 Ways to Manage Your Stress

By Newsletter

Happy 2018!

Sleeping can Take Your Breath Away…Literally – Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Chiropractic

Many individuals experience breathing difficulties during sleep. Such difficulties may include snoring, choking, or a form of sleep apnea. Of particular interest in today’s article is a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which causes abnormal pauses in breathing that are typically the result of obstruction of the upper airway. Some symptoms of OSA include excessive daytime sleepiness, unrefreshed sleep, difficulty concentrating, and fatigue. In addition, several factors increase one’s risk of developing OSA such as obesity, male gender, age, family history, menopause, craniofacial abnormalities, smoking, alcohol use, and more.

Moderate and severe cases of OSA are typically treated with the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This machine provides continuous pressurized airflow to individuals with OSA in order to promote an open airway during sleep. Other common methods of intervention include lifestyle changes, surgery, and dental appliances.

The prevalence of OSA continues to rise along with the demand for alternative treatments. As the following case study suggests, chiropractic adjustments may be quite effective in providing positive outcomes for OSA patients.

Case Study: A 34-year- old male with OSA presented to the chiropractor with the following symptoms: daytime drowsiness, lack of energy, loud snoring, and difficulty breathing during sleep. The use of a CPAP machine as prescribed by his medical doctor provided some relief but nevertheless, he sought chiropractic consultation. The patient’s treatment plan began with 3 visits per week for the first 3 months which was later decreased to 1 visit per week. Some of the techniques that were utilized are known as Diversified Technique, Full Spine Technique, and Pettibon Technique.

The patient’s number of visits per week was reduced at the 3 month mark in light of the following improvements: increased energy, cessation of snoring and daytime drowsiness, increased cervical curve, reduction of forward head placement, decreased paraspinal hypertoniciy, and finally, termination of CPAP machine use.

OSA can greatly diminish one’s quality of life. In this particular case, the patient experienced improvements in symptoms as well as in other aspects of his life. More specifically, in addition to the positive outcomes listed above, the patient reported that his anxiety and acid reflux had subsided which; in turn led to discontinuation of associated medications. Further research is required to support current findings.

Jockers, D., & Waite, H. (2014). Resolution of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Patient Undergoing Corrective Chiropractic Care: A Case Study. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research.

Never Call in Sick to the Chiropractor

Have you caught a bug and you’re thinking about cancelling your chiropractic visit? Don’t call in sick to this appointment like you would for school or work. You chiropractor is one person you’ll definitely want to see while you’re sick because you can get the adjustment you need to heel faster and receive a more natural treatment. This is due to the link between the nervous system and the immune system that is working in overdrive right now. Take a look at why you should never call in sick to the chiropractor.

Go even if you’re contagious

Talk to your chiropractor if you have caught something that is causing you flu-like symptoms, to find out when the best time to come into the office would be. When you are still contagious because the symptoms just started, your chiropractor can likely schedule you for the very beginning of the day or at the end of the day when other patients won’t be around.

The office staff can help ensure you don’t spread the illness around by taking additional measures to protect other patients that arrive after you. You’ll want to go regardless of the stage of illness you are in.

How your body fights illness

Your immune system is working in overdrive when you are ill to help you fight off the illness you have. While the symptoms associated with it can be the worst of the struggle, it’s there to help you by serving the purpose of letting you know that your body is doing the work to fight it off itself. When you have a runny nose, it’s your body’s way of telling you that it’s trying to excrete the virus or organisms.

When your appetite is gone, it’s because your body is using your digestive cycle’s energy in your immune system instead. When you have watery eyes, it’s because your eyes are trying to cool themselves so that they are not damaged by the fever since they are heat sensitive. That mild fever is there to stimulate the immune system and create the environment your body needs to fight off foreign bodies.

How chiropractic care can help

You may be thinking that a chiropractor is the wrong person to see during an illness. In fact, the chiropractor is the best place to go when you’re ill because the chiropractor is helping you to have a healthy spiny which in turn helps you to have a fully functioning nervous system that has a direct link to your immune system.

The nervous system is linked to the immune system through the adrenal glands, as well as the chemicals and hormones that talk to the cells of the immune system from the nervous system. When you’re under the weather, your chiropractic adjustments can improve your nervous system’s function which will control the regulation of the immune system that is fighting your illness. Taking care of your brain stem and spinal cord will help to regulate the rest of your body’s functions.

Don’t call in sick to the chiropractor; this is the doctor you need to see when you feel important symptoms that your body is fighting off illness.

Top 5 Ways to Manage Your Stress

Stress management is always a difficult task for many. There are so many pressures in life to excel at your career, be there for your family, stay healthy, and to enjoy yourself despite all of the pressure. All of this is possible with the right tools under your belt to maintain all of these daily and weekly goals.

Even when work has you overwhelmed, your children need all of your free time, and you feel there is no room for healthy eating and exercise, there are some important ways to manage your stress that will make all areas of your life seem a lot more manageable and enjoyable.

Take a look at these top five stress management tools that will help you when the negative stress in your life is getting in the way of the good stresses that help you in your daily life, relationships, and your health.

Exercise

Not only does exercise make you strong physically, but it works to fight off the mental effects of stress as well. Exercise is known for giving you endorphins and improving your mood, while also making you feel strong and confident.

You’ll have a hard time feeling the stress at this morning’s board meeting after the strength you’ve gained from that workout earlier in the AM. Whether it’s a weekly yoga class, a high-intensity workout video, a run around the neighborhood, or dancing when no one’s watching, your body will thank you for it by fighting the stress and equipping you to manage the negative stress that comes your way each week. Don’t forget to turn on some music to get your brain going too. 

Nature and solitude

There is something to be said about the effects of nature on the mind. Getting outside each day for a moment of silence and appreciation your surroundings is really important. Even if it’s raining or snowing, it’s important that you get out and enjoy the feel of the wind, the smell of the grass, and the beauty of the trees.

Getting outside makes it much easier to put things into perspective and manage your stress. While a day at the park with your family may be the solution, some people take a moment for some solitude in nature to manage their stress. Take a walk to a nearby waterfall or read a book by a tree during your lunch hour without your cell phone bothering you and you may find your brain gets the rest it needs to problem solve later.

A sense of community

What you may need right now more than ever is a better sense of community by spending time around people that make you feel alive. Find time for family, new friends, or colleagues that you enjoy being around in order to lower your stress and your cortisol levels. Your health will improve when you share experiences with other people and have people to support you during difficult periods.

Take on a new hobby

In the busyness of life, you may forget to take time for your personal endeavors. Use your weekends to start up a new hobby you’ve always wanted to try. Learning makes us feel alive and gives us something different to focus on than the normal obligations.

You are never too old to learn something new and get good at something that is just for you. Learning a new skill will give you confidence, a new focus in your spare time, and something exciting to show off to your family.

Preventative care

One of the best ways to manage your stress is to take care of yourself before there is a problem. Preventative care is so important to keep yourself healthy. Eating healthy now will help you prevent the chances of becoming overweight or getting diabetes. Exercising now will help you be strong as you get older and your body naturally gets weaker.

Going to the doctor for an annual physical will help you spot potential problems in your body early on so that they can be healed and corrected from the start. That is why so many choose chiropractic care as a preventative measure, knowing that their body will benefit from adjustments when stress in the week can sometimes make things go out of whack. Be sure to eat well, exercise, and seek preventative care with a chiropractor to make sure your body is functioning at full capacity.

Use these tips to manage life’s stressors because self-care is so important to your health and happiness.

Does Chiropractic really help your immune system and addition problems?

By Newsletter

Health-E-News November 2017
empowering you to optimal health

Addiction and Chiropractic Care

When it comes to chiropractic, many believe that its focus is to relieve patients of symptoms that are largely associated with musculoskeletal conditions and/or everyday aches and pains. However, research suggests that chiropractic intervention can be beneficial for patients who suffer from substance abuse.

Substances of abuse affect the structure and function of neurons that are localized in the brain’s reward system. This in turn, can cause long-lasting changes that lead to addictive behavior.  Repeated use of cocaine for example, causes dendritic sprouting in several areas of the brain that increase synaptic sensitivity and increase craving and relapse. This makes it incredibly difficult for individuals to control their addiction and dampens their potential for recovery.

A 63-year-old male with a history of cocaine abuse presented to the chiropractor with the following symptoms and conditions: low back pain, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, gastritis, benign prostate hypertrophy, obesity, venous insufficiency and significant cognitive impairment. At the time of his initial assessment, the patient also indicated the use of several medications such as Lisinopril, Prevacid, Aspirin, Hydrochlorothiazide, Potassium Chloride, ProAir inhaler, Spiriva, Symbiocort, Flomax, Flinasteride, and Seroquel. 

The patient’s chiropractic treatment consisted of Torque Release Technique (TRT), P300 wave testing, surface EMG and thermography by Insight Subluxation Station, and Addiction Severity Index (ASI) scores. He was seen three times per week over the course of an 8 month period whereby his progress was tracked using psychological assessments pre and post treatment. These assessments revealed an increase in the patient’s quality of life and an accompanying decrease in the symptoms mentioned above.

This case study provides evidence of positive health outcomes as a result of chiropractic care in the treatment of a patient with a cocaine addiction. In combination with a typical drug addiction treatment, the patient showed great improvement.

Holder, J.M., & Shriner, B. E. (2012). Subluxation Based Chiropractic Care in the Management of Cocaine Addiction: A Case Report. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research.

A Natural Way to Relieve Childhood Congestion

Do the kids suffer from childhood congestion that you just can’t seem to get control of? You may not have heard that the chiropractor can be a good source of relief for this issue. If you’re hesitant to take the kids to a chiropractor for adjustments while they have a growing body, keep in mind that it’s not only safe, but it’s recommended for great health.

Not only will their body be functioning with optimal health, but things like childhood congestion won’t be as big of an issue for your household like it may be for others. Take a look at why children are seeing congestive relief from chiropractic adjustments.

Why chiropractic adjustments are safe for little ones

You may be hesitant to take the little ones to the chiropractor seeing that you may view their bodies as small, fragile, and delicate as they grow into adults. In reality, chiropractic visits for kids is great for their health and not harmful at all. It’s actually a non-invasive treatment method for ailments or preventative care that is much more beneficial than invasive pharmaceuticals or surgeries. A chiropractic adjustment is a gentle therapy, perfect for developing bodies, and offers many benefits to children and adults.

Seeing the chiropractor for congestive issues

When kids end up catching that cold going around at school, you may want to run to the doctor’s office for these chronic cold symptoms. It seems like colds can go on for months and that your children are going to have runny noses and persistent coughing until the springtime, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Rather than seeing a prescription from the doctor, try a chiropractic adjustment to see if something in the body isn’t functioning at 100%.

How can a child’s congestive issues get healed at the chiropractor? Since chiropractic adjustments boost immune systems and treat cold or sinus infections, it’s easier and takes less time to heal from a cold. Your chiropractor may do an upper cervical neck adjustment to relieve the tension on your brain stem, relaxing the throat in the process and draining the sinus passages in the head.

When there is so much tension in the neck, your nervous system struggles to communicate to the sinus passages which prevent drainage from excess pressure. Not only does this cause endless symptoms all winter, but bacteria may start to grow requiring an antibiotic to kill the bacteria. Getting your adjustments will not only relieve symptoms, but you’ll heal faster and avoid killing good and bad bacteria in your body with an antibiotic. Kids will feel better in a matter of minutes!

You don’t have to fear taking the kids to the chiropractor for treatment or preventative are. It’s actually the best time to take them as they are growing and developing their spine and nervous systems. Chiropractic adjustments can relieve those congestive issues and get their body working at optimal conditions in no time!

Can a Lack of Vitamin C & Too Much Sugar Cause a Cold?

You’ve likely heard it before; Vitamin C is the best medicine during a cold, along with a lot of rest and liquids. The question is, why is Vitamin C the automatic go-to suggestion for someone suffering from a cold? It turns out that the lack of Vitamin C could contribute to causing a cold in the first place.

In addition, scientists are learning that excessive sugar in your diet could make you more immune to catching a cold as well. You may notice that kids start getting sick right after Halloween and Christmas when candy eating has been at an all-time high. While the holidays are a fun time to indulge, it’s important to make sure that you are cutting back on the sugar and keeping up on your Vitamin C needs. Take a look at how these two areas affect your likelihood of catching a cold this winter.

The Effect of Vitamin C and Sugar on your Immune System

If your mom told you to take Vitamin C when you caught a cold growing up, it’s because she knew that Vitamin C is associated with supported your white blood cell function being an antioxidant. Since it’s essential to have a healthy white blood cell function for a proper immune system, things that affect this part of your body need to be considered when you catch a cold.

One thing that that keeps this part of your body healthy is Vitamin C and one thing that inhibits your white blood cells from working properly is sugar. Through the process of phagocytosis, your white blood cells aren’t able to attack bacteria and viruses as well due to excessive sugar.

How do I avoid this?

If you’re concerned about your sweet tooth around the holidays, along with your forgetfulness to seek out healthy choices containing Vitamin C between all of the holiday dishes you enjoy, there are still ways to enjoy the best of both worlds. While overindulging in sweets, alcohol, and carbs is a popular choice over the holidays and chilly winter season, it’s important to remember that life is all about enjoying things in moderation. Limiting your sugar intake is the best choice you can make this year.

You’ll be tempted by delicious chocolate candy, your favorite holiday breads, alcoholic drinks to ring in the New Year, and more, but all of these items contain hidden sugars that can make excessive intake all too easy.

Make sure to choose a favorite dish, treat, or drink and enjoy it with some healthier options. Bake your own holiday treats for your next party that contains natural sweeteners like fruits. Choose drinks like wine or liquor with very little sweet mixers added, rather than mixed drinks and beer. Try  to limit the egg nog and enjoy a bit more water this season to make up for the other treats you’re already enjoying.

Along with limiting your sugar intake and increasing water to allow your white blood cells to function normally during the cold season, it’s a good idea to incorporate plenty of Vitamin C foods into your daily diet. The more you can prepare your body for fighting against viruses and bacteria, the less likely you are to catch a bug. Choose the vitamin and nutrient-rich foods this season more than ever to fight off the likelihood of catching an infection from anyone carrying it that may not even know it yet.

Use these tips to make sure you are staying healthy this season with primarily focusing on limiting sugar and increasing Vitamin C before a bug can get into your system.

Sit all day? Here’s how you can avoid back pain.

By Newsletter

Health-E-News October 2017
empowering you to optimal health

Avoiding Back Pain from a Desk Job

We’ve all been there. Working at a computer for too long is bound to cause a backache. One of the reasons could be that computer tasks are rarely a quick ordeal and it’s easy to sit at one for hours on end.

Most people are working at a computer for their job or find themselves completing a lot of daily tasks on a computer, whether it’s paying bills, working on the budget, or shopping for a gift for a loved one. There are already enough things in life trying to work against your back health, so don’t let your computer work be one of them. Here is a look at how to avoid back pain from your desk job in the future.

Facing the facts

You may be tempted to believe that you can avoid back pain because you’ve purchased a really great chair or that the pain you have is related to your mattress or fitness routine. Back pain from computer pain is common and not going anywhere, but you can lessen the damage and even prevent it all together.

Start with an ergonomics assessment of your current setup to see how badly you are being affected and be willing to accept the fact that computer work and desk jobs are going to cause you back pain unless you go out of your way to avoid.

Complete an assessment to see if that is the cause of the back pain by simply checking to see if you have to reach your elbow more than 90 degrees to use your mouse and keyboard. Leaning forward in the chair towards the screen or using a chair that isn’t adjustable could be the main source of your problems.

Why it’s hard to avoid

The main reason that people struggle to avoid back pain when working at a computer or a desk job is that it’s easy to forget to take breaks. Unless you are aware of your fitness needs day in and out, you are likely sitting at a computer for hours on end, only stopping for a restroom break or lunch. For some, even their desk chair lacks an arm rest to allow for any kind of break and rest. It’s important to take breaks not only for your back, but also for your eyes that are staring at a screen, your skin that craves sunlight, and your hands that type and click.

How to prevent this problem

If you’re ready to make a change and avoid back pain in the future at your desk job or during computer work, start by getting the proper chair that will help with you ergonomically. Start sitting up straighter at your desk and change your muscle activation patterns. Make sure you are working on good joint function in the spine using your nervous system, so that you can avoid spasms or flaccidity when your spine is in need of support.

The best thing you can do is to see your chiropractor regularly for an adjustment. Your adjustments will make sure your spine is moving better, the tension is lessened on your nervous system, and to find out if you are damaging your back without realizing it. Your chiropractor can adjust you in order to allow you to sit up with better posture for longer periods of time without becoming tired as quickly.

You can’t avoid back pain with your desk job, but you can make a huge difference by becoming aware of what harms your back and taking the steps to prevent and treat pain. Use this guide to make sure you are staying safe in front of the computer.

How Chiropractic Helps Hypertension & High Blood Pressure

Are you struggling with high blood pressure? It’s becoming more and more common as around 70 million North Americans suffer from hypertension. This equates to one-third of the adult population and it starts with 1 in 3 North Americans having higher than normal blood pressure readings. 

In addition to this epidemic, 1 in 5 adults don’t even realize they have it since there aren’t really symptoms that would advise them otherwise. Unless you are getting regular physicals, you may not realize you are suffering from this. Take a look at how chiropractic care can help you treat or avoid hypertension.

All about blood pressure and risks of hypertension

Blood pressure refers to blood pumping into your body’s arteries each time your heart beats. The pressure part of thing is the force of the blood being pushed against the walls of your arteries. You can get a blood pressure reading from your doctor which will show you your systolic and diastolic readings.

The systolic or top number is used to measure the pressure in the artier from your heart beating, while the diastolic is the bottom number showing the pressure in the arteries between beats. You want a reading that stays within normal levels of 120 over 180 or lower.

If your reading is 120-139 over 80-89, you are in prehypertension levels. If your blood pressure shows 140-159 over 90-99, you have hypertension stage 1, while those in hypertension stage 2 would have a reading of 160 over 100 or higher. Emergency care would be required at hypertension crisis of 180 over 110 or higher.

What causes some to experience hypertension? It’s a common condition that is dangerous and fatal, being the primary cause of nearly 1,000 deaths per day, according to the CDC. High blood pressure causes other dangerous conditions, including first heart attack, first stroke, kidney failure, and chronic heart failure.

In fact, 70% of adults will have their first heart attack with hypertension and that same number of adults will get chronic heart failure from high blood pressure, but a whopping 80% will have their first stroke due to their high blood pressure.

How to treat high blood pressure

The biggest question many have is how to treat high blood pressure if you suspect you may have it. There are prescription medicines you can take to control hypertension, but the medicines can have a strong effect on the body during treatment and after coming off of the medicine. There are natural ways to cure your high blood pressure that will allow you to avoid the medicine, but you have to put the work in to do it.

The natural methods to control hypertension would be to lower your blood pressure through lifestyle changes and chiropractic care. When you have too high of a sodium intake, drink too much alcohol, smoke, and have too much caffeine, you are contributing to high blood pressure.

The biggest causes behind it are being overweight and not exercising regularly, along with high levels of stress. Making changes to reduce your weight and bad habits, while incorporating regular chiropractic care can offer you a natural remedy to your hypertension. Chiropractic spinal adjustments to the atlas vertebra, the first bone in your neck, located at the base of the skull, have been shown to decrease hypertension in as little as eight weeks of care. 

You don’t have to run to your family doctor for prescription drugs when you learn you have high blood pressure. Make lifestyle change and work with your chiropractor so that your body can naturally heal itself.

Modern Day Problem Reversed With Chiropractic Care

Good posture, or rather, neutral posture refers to the body maintaining a natural, unexaggerated curvature, such that the muscles of the body are positioned to support an aligned spine. Specifically, this would equate to the cervical spine possessing a natural anterior curve (or lordotic curve), the thoracic spine curving posteriorly, and the lumbar spine curving anteriorly (creating a second lordotic curve). In this very position, the body is in a position to breathe optimally, hold the weight of the body, maintain balance, enhance cognitive functions, as well as increase energy flow throughout the body. However, a generational outbreak has broken loose, disrupting these biological and psychological processes, and subsequently hindering the overall quality of one’s life. This outbreak, unaware but possessed by many is known as forward head posture and is characterized by the head being anterior to the rest of the body, thus being anterior to the centre of gravity.

As this curvature stabilizes, the increased loads on the neck lead to abnormal muscular activity, thereby degenerating the cervical spine at a rate much higher than historically seen. The expected culprit of this abnormality is technological advances, which promote cell phone and computer usage in a head-tilting state. In the current day, people (on average) spend at least two hours per day with their heads tilted attempting to read electronic devices, which leaves us with no surprise to consider that 66% of the population suffers from abnormal cervical postures. As the posterior neural arch is responsible for ‘evening out’ the loads to the rest of the body, this anterior head tilt induces abnormal strain in the upper-neck region, subsequently degenerating cervical lordosis (and promoting cervical kyphosis).

In simpler terms, those who suffer from forward head posture do not benefit from the positive effects of a neutral spine, thus hindering daily functioning. In its most severe form, this cervical kyphosis tends to develop into Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy, which is increased tension between the spinal cord and vertebral bodies, consequently compressing and flattening the spinal cord. This domino effect ends with neuronal loss and demyelination of the spinal cord.

As shown, once forward head posture comes to fruition, it seemingly spirals downhill. In a sense, this is true. Neutral spine posture is under involuntary control and uses cervical joint mechanoreceptors and afferent input from ligament and musculotendinous sources to maintain alignment. However, in the case of forward head posture, as the increased strain lead to dysafferentation and a loss of proprioception, the reactivity equates to increased voluntary activity required to maintain a neutral spine (i.e. more effort is required). However, this does not always need to be the case.

In the case of a 21-year- old male patient who suffered from forward head posture, he spent only three weeks (~5 visits per week) doing–Z axis drop adjustments, as well as corresponding procedures to mobilize the cervicothoracic spinal via chiropractoric. As a result, the patient had regained one-fifth of his cervical curve, which is outstanding to say the least. To consider that a lifetime of postural misalignments can be healed (to a greater extent) by chiropractic care speaks volume to how simple it really is to increase one’s quality of life. Bottom-line—regardless of how “late” you believe it is, chiropractic care will always be an easy and simple solution to helping you complete your day to day tasks without unnecessary pain.

Forward Head Posture and Decreased Lordotic Curvature of the Cervical Spine – The Potential Sequelae of Abnormal Alignment 
Grant Tully, B.S., D.C. [March 28, 2016, pp 21-24]

Fighting Your Allergies with Diet, How Chiropractic Helps Tremors

By Newsletter

Health-E-News September 2017
empowering you to optimal health

Fighting Your Allergies with Diet

Do you suffer from allergies? You’ve likely tried all of the medicine under the sun and maybe even avoided leaving the house on the days when allergies have got you feeling under the weather. What you may not have known is that sometimes your diet can actually improve your allergy situation.

Eating certain foods actually can work as an all-natural treatment for allergy symptoms, just like seeing your chiropractor can help fight ailments that you would normally get a prescription for. Take a look at a few foods you may want to try next time you suffer from allergies and want to skip the prescription drugs.

Fish with omega-3’s

You may think to avoid fatty foods, but fatty foods aren’t the problem. In fact, fatty fish is actually great for your body and for fighting allergies. Make sure to incorporate fatty fish in your diet to gain the omega-3 that you need to decrease allergic reactions. This could include Atlantic mackerel, freshwater salmon, or Alaskan salmon.

Kefir

If you’re not currently getting probiotics in your diet, make sure to start enjoying kefir for your gut’s health and improvement of the body’s allergic response. This yogurt-based beverage can be found at the grocery or a health food store and works to improve the healthy bacteria in your gut to improve digestion and reduce allergies.

Garlic

Who doesn’t love garlic? Did you know that garlic actually works to improve your immune system while you’re just enjoying this delicious addition to your lunch or dinner? Add garlic to your veggies, in a soup, or to your steak to create an amazing flavor and actually benefit your body simultaneously. Fresh garlic will decrease your body’s allergic reactions by strengthening your immune system.

Collard Greens

Leafy greens in your daily salad are a great way to get your daily vegetable needs met, but make sure you make it with collard greens included. This leafy green is great for blocking histamines because it’s rich in carotenoids. You can sauté them in olive oil or include them in a green smoothie.

Green Tea

When you’re craving a hot tea in the morning, choose green tea with a squeeze of lemon. Not only does this help with weight loss, but it contains antihistamines for fighting off allergies. It’s a great way to start the day.

Pineapple

Do you love pineapple in the summertime or on top of your pizza? Choose it regularly to get the allergy-fighting benefits that come with it. This superfood contains an active ingredient called bromelain, which works to relive inflammation in the enzymes through its function of being an irritation suppressant.

Cauliflower

If you don’t already incorporate cauliflower into your diet, make sure to start doing so. Cauliflower is a great vegetable option whether you want a raw snack, a grilled entrée, or an alternative to your mashed potatoes.

Choose cauliflower more often to benefit from its allergy-fighting properties, which are to combat symptoms by blocking your immune system cells from releasing histamines through the quercetin. Without histamines causing your allergy symptoms, you’ll be breathing easier and enjoying other great health benefits from this excellent vegetable.

If you didn’t know it before, food can heal all kinds of things in your body. Allow it to heal your allergies too, so that you can heal the body from feeling the effects of allergies once and for all.

 

Top 5 Things To Know About Chiropractic Treatment

If you are visiting a chiropractor for the first time, you may not know what to expect. You’ve heard great things but you’re not really sure why people see chiropractors or why this treatment is different or better than seeing a physician. Chiropractic treatment results can be wonderful for your body and they can help to heal issues in an all-natural approach.

There are no age limits to receiving this type of care and it can go hand-in-hand with the care from your physician. You will benefit going to the chiropractor on a regular basis, knowing that the care you give your body at home correlates to the level of benefits you can get from your chiropractor at his or her office. Take a look at the top five things you may not have known about chiropractic treatment and why you should make your first appointment.

While pain may bring you in, the problem may have been there for a while

It may seem strange that when you start feeling pain in your body that it doesn’t mean the issue is just beginning. Likely, the pain you’re feeling is a result of a problem that has been plaguing you for weeks, months, or even years.

Since your body is so adaptive and self-healing, it may have been fighting off the pain before you even experienced symptoms. While the pain may bring you into a chiropractor, you may not have known your issue has been plaguing you long before the pain started.

Treatments can be tailored to you

You may not have realized that chiropractic treatments can be specific to the patient and to the issue. All of your adjustments can vary for personalized care. Just like you and your pain is unique, your chiropractic care can be tailored to an individual plan that meets your needs. This means that when you have a problem area that needs specific care, it’s easier to figure out the root of the cause with your chiropractor.

You have to do some of the work from home

While adjustments will make you feel better and get your body functioning properly again, you won’t see the best results unless you do the work at home. This means that you need to take care of your body through rest, hydration, good nutrition, exercise, and reducing your stress. Doing this while getting regular visits to help the nervous system work correctly is the key to a healthy body.

Any age can be helped

You may be surprised to hear that people of any age can see a chiropractor and benefit from the treatments. It’s not just meant for adults or the young; a chiropractor can help newborn babies to senior citizens. Adjusting techniques are tailored depending on your individual issue, along with your size and weight.

It’s helping the body help itself

While it may seem like these natural remedies are too good to be true, it’s really all about helping the body to help itself. This isn’t a magical fix; it’s a method of making the body regain its health and wellness again. Chiropractic care works to help the nervous system function optimally for healing and self-regulation.

If you’ve ever wondered why people go the chiropractor or if it could help you, these five things to know about chiropractic treatment may explain it better!

 

Essential Tremors – How Chiropractic can Help

There are many types of tremors that vary in origin and severity. The most common type is known as an essential tremor (ET) or benign tremor which occurs in approximately 3 to 4 people for every 100 and targets individuals that are 60 years of age and older. ET is characterized by postural and/or kinetic tremors which, over time, decrease in amplitude and increase in frequency.

ET treatments are extremely limited for several reasons. The epidemiology and pathology of ET requires deeper investigation considering that ET is misdiagnosed up to 50% of the time and only one pharmaceutical drug has been FDA approved as of 2009. Moreover, some medications that are available for individuals with ETs are used to treat other conditions such as seizures and hypertension and only 30% to 50% of these patients respond to them.

Researchers are seeking alternative interventions in the treatment of ET of which one is chiropractic care. Take this case study for example: A 38 year old male with tremors in his upper extremity sought chiropractic help. The patient explained that the tremors began 15 years prior and had no distinct origin. These tremors were impeding everyday life activities such as writing and lifting beverages which diminished his quality of life. In an effort to relieve symptoms, the patient underwent chiropractic evaluation which revealed the presence nerve interference and a subsequent need for chiropractic intervention.

The patient’s treatment plan consisted of 21 visits over the course of 5 and a half months that utilized various hand instruments, pressure adjustments, and a maneuver known as the ‘toggle set.’ After merely one adjustment, the patient reported improvements in his symptoms. More specifically, he was able to move his right hand in a ‘cup raising’ motion towards his mouth with minimal display of tremors. The completion of his treatment plan resulted in the following improvements: 75% improvement in tremors in both arms, 99% improvement in tremors in the head, 90% improvement his low back pain, and 60% improvement in his quality of life.

Berner, N., & Kustarz, K. (2013). Reduction of Essential Tremors in a 38 Year Old Male
Undergoing Chiropractic Care for the Reduction of Vertebral Subluxation: A Case Report.

How does Chiropractic help pregnancy, and what is ‘Text Neck’?

By Newsletter

Health-E-News July 2017
empowering you to optimal health

Can Chiropractic Treatment Help Pregnancy?

Pregnant women go through many changes during the time before baby arrives, from prenatal visits to diet changes. Visiting the doctor during pregnancy can allow for questions to be answered and baby to be checked on, and many women like to get more information on how to treat the pains that come with a growing belly and baby.

In addition to what the doctor may be able to provide, women whom are pregnant would benefit from chiropractic treatment in order to cure some of those aches and pains. Chiropractic care not only can offer some pain relief, but it can help keep baby in position in utero, while you benefit from your regular prenatal care. If you’ve ever wondered if it was safe to visit the chiropractor during pregnancy, here is a look at why it’s not only safe, but also a huge benefit to pregnant women.

Why chiropractic care is great for pregnancy

Since your chiropractor already works to keep your body in alignment and keeping your body’s functions working properly, it only makes sense that he or she would be able to assist in keeping baby healthy and aligned as well.

Your regular chiropractic care helps to keep regular aches and pains at bay, just like this care can do for a pregnant woman experiencing common pregnancy pains. When the body is aligned regularly, it allows for common pains like back pains, headaches, and fatigue to work itself out, but when a pregnant woman gets treatment from the chiropractor during a change in the body, it can work to reduce the pain associated with these changes during the nine months.

What does the chiropractor do for a pregnant woman?

Pregnancy causes many changes in the body, from changes in the curve of the back to the protrusion of the abdomen. Chiropractic care is a great way to ease symptoms of changes in the back and abdomen, as well as the ligaments, pelvis, and overall musculoskeletal system as your body grows. Keeping the pelvis aligned and balanced, just like you would for the tires of your car, allows for a better position for the baby when it’s time to delivery or as your car drives down the road.

Benefits for pregnant women and babies

Along with reducing the pain of pregnancy, you’ll find many benefits from chiropractic visits. It’s going to offer an overall maintenance of a healthy pregnancy, but its’ aslo going to reduce your labor and delivery time, control your morning sickness, and relieve pain in the back, neck, and joints. It has even shown to lower the chances of C-section. You’ll find relief from your lower back pain and all of this is done with a non-invasive non-pharmaceutical method.

The baby will benefit too. There is a technique that was developed called Webster’s Technique which was created by a chiropractor to help with reducing the effects of sacral subluxation, or a misalignment in the sacrum. This is found at the base of the spine between your pelvic bones, and the technique works to reduce the chances of joint dysfunction since the sacroiliac joints attach the pelvis and the sacrum. By relieving this musculoskeletal area which causes intrauterine constraint, the baby is less likely to be breach and need a C-section due to relief from Webster’s Technique.

If you weren’t sure about getting chiropractic treatment during your pregnancy, be sure to prioritize this natural option, alongside your regular doctor’s appointments, to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

 

If you or your child suffers from Otitis Media (ear infections), Chiropractic Care can help!

In this case study, Chiropractic care helped a 2-year-old girl who suffered with with chronic otitis media (chronic ear infections), difficulty sleeping, irritability, skin sensitivities to clothes and avoided being held or touched.

Otitis media is defined as inflammation of the middle ear and is one of the most common infections in children that are sick. Some factors that increase the risk of experiencing otitis media are family history, males, formula fed infants, exposure to second hand smoke, seasonal effects and allergies.

In this case study, a 2-year old infant was brought in to see a Chiropractor for care. The child’s mother reported that it would take at least 2 hours to get the child to sleep and she would not sleep for more than 4 hours at a time. Case history shows that the child has had over 20 ear infections, severe allergies, and behaviour problems including temper tantrums.

After Chiropractic care, the child showed immediate results. After three adjustments, the child was able to sleep through the night for the first time. After the fourth adjustment, fewer outbursts were noted. After four months of care her ear infections had resolved, she consistently slept through the night, her skin sensitivities had resolved and she did not have issues with being held or touched.

Lanjopoulos, C. & Lanjopoulos, D. (2012). Resolution of Chronic Otitis Media, Difficulty Sleeping, and Tactile Hypersensitivity in a Child Undergoing Subluxation-Based Chiropractic Care. J. Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health – September 24, 2012.

 

Why Does Your Neck Hurt When you Wake Up?

It’s no fun to wake up with neck pain in the morning. After a restful night of sleep, it’s important to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Pain of any kind can ruin that feeling before you’ve even had a chance to start a morning workout. If you’re waking up with neck pain in the morning, you are likely sleeping in a way that is unhealthy for your body.

Whether it’s your sleep position, your pillow choice, or something else, it’s time to solve this problem and get you waking up feeling great again. Take a look at a few reasons that your neck might hurt when you wake up and see how you can correct this issue tonight.

How pillows affect your sleep

It may sound strange but choosing the right pillow is very important for your nightly slumber. Choosing a pillow that is too full and causes your head to rest too high compared to the rest of your body is going to cause some problems. You also should watch out for old foam pillows, feather pillows that bunch up in the wrong ways, or a pillow that’s gone too flat. One of the main causes of your neck pain is likely twisting it or bending it too far in a direction for a long period of time, a common problem with a poor pillow selection.

Choose a pillow that works for you individually. Everyone has their own preferences of comfort but pillows should properly support your head and neck in the right position. The goal is to avoid losing the slight curve of your neck when you are lying on the pillow. Choose a pillow that prevents neck pain and choose one based on your sleeping position of your back, your side, or your stomach.

Types of pillows and how they work for or against you

How do you determine the right type of pillow that will work well for a good night’s rest? There are many options to choose from that will offer a variety of levels of support on your neck. You want a pillow that will keep your neck in that neutral, natural position because otherwise, your neck will be at risk for bending or twisting for a long period of time.

Common options for pillows include your standard feather pillows that will mold nicely to the shape of your head with little resistance, orthopedic pillows for a more modern option that maintains the natural curve of your neck, and cervical pillows that offer a roll-shaped design to encourage the relief of neck pain. You can also try a water-filled pillow which will help absorb and redistribute your head’s weight to allow for the perfect amount of support. You can alter the amount of support in a water pillow by adding or removing water.

Make sure to choose a pillow that best supports your favorite sleep position, with your back and side being optimal choices for proper sleep.

Sleeping positions and neck pain

The way you sleep is often another reason that you end up with neck pain in the morning. It also coincides with the type of pillow you’re choosing. It’s common that people will choose the right pillow but when their sleep position changes it no longer is the optimal pillow to be using. Back sleepers will find that sleeping on a neck roll that supports the neck but also allows the head to drop back works best. Side sleepers wouldn’t do well with this option though as they need a thicker pillow with a high density foam to allow for enough thickness to cover the distance for the side of the head and the outside edge of the shoulder.

If you do happen to sleep on your stomach, your neck is more likely to hurt and no pillow is going to be able to correct this issue. Lying on your front side with your head rotated for a long period of time is really hard on your neck and could start to cause imbalances in your neck. Try to sleep on your back with a neck roll to support the curve or on your side with a thicker pillow. Sometimes having multiple pillows for these different sleeping positions is the best solution.

Support your head is the most important thing you can do at night and if you are choosing the wrong pillow or sleeping in a funny position, you are bound to wake up with neck pain. Start waking up refreshed by talking to your chiropractor about the best pillow options for your body.

 

Improvements seen in a child with Pervasive Developmental Disorder undergoing Chiropractic care

If your child has been diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder, Chiropractic care may help.

A child is diagnosed with autistic disorder based on problems in social interaction skills, communication skills and repetitive or restrictive behavior and or interests. Other problems noted in autism is the lack of meaningful language skills, empathic abilities, motor in coordination, and problems with executive functioning. Children with autism never develop communicative speech therefore become easily distressed with normal everyday life occurrences and activities.

In this case study, a 3 year old diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder is presented to chiropractic care. The child had communication problems, apraxia and speech delay. Prior to seeking chiropractic care; the child has also been visiting a speech pathologist, developmental pediatrician, occupational therapist and an applied behavioural analyst. Physical examination revealed diminished range of motion, poor gait coordination and foot position abnormalities. Stimulation of cranial nerves was also found to be insufficient; sensory function, alertness, communication skills and oculo-motor tracking difficulties.

The chiropractic care plan consisted of 1 visit per week with a reassessment every month. A diversified technique was used during each adjustment. After the first reassessments, foot position abnormalities and cranial nerve insufficiencies were resolved. Other health care providers also reported the patient was performing much better following chiropractic care. By the final reassessment, the patient has continued to improve and respond well to treatment. The patient has reported to start attending school again and teachers reported much growth in the child’s abilities. The patient had also made friends, become more interactive and overall happier.

Overall, this cases study shows the success of chiropractic care in the improvement in the physical functioning, quality of life and social function of a young male suffering from pervasive developmental disorder.

Handt, M. (2011). Improvement in a Child with Pervasive Developmental Disorder Undergoing Chiropractic Care. Journal Of Pediatric Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic4, 4 (2)

Chiropractic helps loss of smell and taste!

By Newsletter

Health-E-News July 2017
empowering you to optimal health

Resolution of loss of smell and taste of 64 year old woman

Chiropractic is known to helps some people with rather unique health challenges, and here is such a case:

Anosmia is described as loss of smell and ageusia is described the loss of taste. One of the most common causes of smell and taste disorder is a previous injury to the head and/or neck. The olfactory system and gustatory system are responsible for providing the sense of smell and taste Although the loss of either sense is not life threatening, it can have a significant impact on the quality of life.

In this case study, a 64 year old woman is presented to chiropractic care with complaints of neck pain, right sided knee pain, anosmia and aguesia. The patient reported having anosmia and ageuisa for 9 months prior to the visit. The chiropractic examination revealed asymmetry and decreased range of motion in the cervical spine. The patient care plan consisted of upper cervical adjustments for three months.

After each adjustment, there was no report of adverse symptoms other than mild soreness in the area of the correction. The patient noted that improvements and positive changes throughout the course of care. By the third month the patient noted the anosmia and ageusia had completely resolved.

This case study shows the successful resolution of anosmia and aguesia following upper cervical chiropractic care.

Blom, G. (2014). Resolution of Anosmia and Ageusia Following Knee Chest Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic Care: A Case Report. Journal of Upper Cervical– Chiropractic4 (1)

If you or a loved one suffers from the loss of smell (anosmia) or taste (ageusia), share this study with them and let them know chiropractic can help.

Which Foods Contain the Most and Least Pesticides?

Conventionally grown, non-organic fruits and vegetables almost always contain pesticides. Many people have switched to an all-organic or nearly all-organic diet to avoid putting these toxic chemicals in their body. However, eating organic isn’t always easy.

Sometimes, it’s hard to find your favorite fruits and vegetables in the organic form. Other times, it’s hard to rationalize spending the higher price for the organic item. Here’s a look at the fruits and vegetables with the highest amount of pesticides and the lowest amount of pesticides when grown conventionally.

Highest Levels of Pesticides

The foods on this list should be avoided at all cost, unless bought organic. These fruits and vegetables contain the highest levels of pesticides. Every year, the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit advocate for the environment, publishes a list of the foods containing the highest levels of pesticides. This year’s list includes:

  • Strawberries
  • Celery
  • Peaches
  • Grapes
  • Cherries
  • Tomatoes
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Cucumbers
  • Apples
  • Nectarines
  • Cherries
  • Sweet Bell Peppers

Strawberries may be the worst on the list. An article published on the EWG website stated, “Nearly all strawberry samples – 98 percent – tested by federal officials had detectable pesticide residues. Forty percent had residues of 10 or more pesticides and some had residues of 17 different pesticides.”

Lowest Levels of Pesticides

The foods with the lowest levels of pesticides were also published as a list by EWG. This list contains foods testing positive for four or less types of pesticide and many for one or less. The list includes:

  • Avocados
  • Pineapples
  • Sweet Peas (frozen)
  • Mango
  • Kiwi
  • Asparagus
  • Onion
  • Sweet Corn
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Papaya
  • Honeydew Melon
  • Eggplant
  • Grapefruit
  • Cantaloupe

All of these foods are relatively safe to buy in their conventional form.

Harm of Pesticides

Pesticides have been linked to many issues in the human body. Remember, these are poisons used to kill bugs and other pests. If you were to buy a pesticide for your own garden, you’d quickly realize these products are littered with warnings.

Pesticides may cause many illnesses in humans. They have been linked to headaches, nausea, reproductive harm, endocrine disruption and even cancer. Avoiding foods laced with pesticides is one of the best ways to keep your body clean and healthy.

Using this List for your Diet

The best way to incorporate this list of foods into your diet, if you’re trying to eat organically, is to print it out and take it grocery shopping with you. If the food is listed on the high pesticide list only buy it in the organic form. If it’s on the low pesticide list, buy it in either the organic or conventional form.

This list will also become very handy when you create your grocery list. If you don’t want to refer to the list at the grocery store, simply mark an “O” next to the items you MUST buy in organic form. This will give you a quick reference at the store to ensure you’re not buying produce covered in poison.

Chiropractic helps those with Fibromyalgia

If you or a loved one suffers from fibromyalgia, chiropractic care may be right for you. Fibromyalgia is the most common cause of widespread pain. Women are more 10 to 20 times more likely to have fibromyalgia than men. Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic diffuse pain that is longer than 3 months accompanied by 11 of 18 soft tissue tender points. The condition is frequently associated with stiffness, fatigue, lack of sleep, paresthesia, headaches, dysmenorrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome. The treatments of the condition are unknown. However some treatment plans have included: prescription of low-dose antidepressant medications, light aerobic exercise and cognitive behavioural therapy.

In this case study, a 64 year old female is presented to chiropractic care with previous diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The woman had been diagnosed 6 years prior to presentation. Other complaints included sleep apnea, loss of coordination, glaucoma, and degenerative disk disease. She also had state complaints of arthritis, depressed, photophobia, indigestion, changes in her bowel habits, frequent urination, sinusitis, allergies, muscle pain and high cholesterol and hypertension. She could not walk long distances without assistance and described her neck and upper back pain as moderate. She described the low back pain as severe and shoulder pain as mild.

The patient’s care plan consisted of 3 visits a week for one month and then 2 visits a week for two months. At the first reassessment, the patient has state that her neck, shoulder, middle back pain had improved as well as her eye sight. During her second reassessment, she reported having much more energy and strength as she was able to stand and walk for a longer period of time with no pain. The patient is still currently under care measures of the patient’s progress and improvements and still being monitored.

The progress of this case study shows an improvement of a patients suffering from fibromyalgia with upper cervical chiropractic care.

Bennett, C. (2012). Improvement in a Patient with Fibromyalgia Following Knee Upper Cervical Specific Care: A Case Report. Journal Of Pediatric Maternal & Family Health – Chiropractic4, 4 (2)

How to Prevent Neck Pain During Cycling

Getting pain from a cycling session can be frustrating. You are trying to improve your skill and you end up with neck pain, putting you out for the next cycling day. Neck pain from this sport is really common and is usually caused from weak muscles or poor posture.

It’s not hard to overuse your muscles and injuring yourself. Sometimes it’s just a matter of choosing a better bike fit or changing your posture just slightly. You don’t have to give up your favorite hobby due to that neck pain you keep getting. Use this guide to determine what’s causing your neck pain and learn how to prevent it going forward.

What could be causing the pain?

While neck pain and injury is common from cycling, it can be frustrating if you’re not sure what is causing it. There are a few possible causes to your problem and solutions to these problems. The first may be that you are unaware of prevention methods that would help you avoid the neck pain or numbness, such as properly fitting bikes, the right equipment, or not stretching the right areas. Having the wrong alignment or forgetting to stretch after being stiff for too long can cause serious injury after prolonged periods of time.

About bike fit

Getting properly fitted for your bike is one of the most important things you could do for regular cycling. If you don’t have a good bike fit, it might be that your frame is too big or small for you. the handlebars may be too wide or narrow or your stem may need to be adjusted to be just shorter or longer than it is now. This all affects your posture for a long cycling session. Working with a professional could help you to make tiny adjustments that will help you prevent pain and numbness.

You’ll also want to make sure your posture allows your shoulder blades to be engaged and held back away from ears. Your head shouldn’t be cocked back too far either. Make sure your bike gloves have padding for the bike you are using to avoid hand numbness and add tape to your handle bars if you ride on roads.

Learn proper stretching

You may find that you don’t have any pain until a couple of hours after cycling, which could mean that it’s more of a weak muscle issue. Not having strong enough muscles to support your head’s weight for a long period of time could be the reason for your pain.

This is because the trapezius muscles along your neck and shoulder attached to the base of your head are tensed for a long period of time, and it causes your muscles to lack in blood oxygen from the lack of blood flow to the area. When you experience muscle spasms and other pain, this is the reason behind it. Simply remembering to strengthen and stretch this area is the perfect way to relieve this problem.

Proper stretching includes doing:

  • Chin tucks in a neutral position
  • Right and left head rotations to stretch the neck
  • Right and left lateral flexion of your neck to the shoulder
  • Extension by tilting your head back to stretch the back of the neck
  • Flexion of the neck while standing or sitting upright to stretch the muscles in the back of your neck

If you aren’t using all of the gear you need, have a bike that is just slightly off, or forget to strengthen your muscles, you could end up with pain and numbness when you cycle. Make sure to check all of these items out before cycling again to make sure you are keeping your body healthy and strong.