Chiropractic Works

Archive for June, 2009

Today, as never before, a greater number of Americans are disabled by asthma. It is one of this country’s most widespread and costly diseases. In fact, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, every day 40,000 people miss school or work due to asthma; 30,000 people experience an asthma attack; 5,000 people visit the emergency room due to asthma;1,000 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma;and, 11 people die from asthma.

Allergens or irritants that are inhaled into the lungs, and create inflammation that clogs and constricts airways, are routinely the cause of asthma symptoms. Symptoms include distressed breathing, wheezing, coughing, and tightness in the chest. In severe cases, asthma can be deadly. There is no medical cure for asthma though pharmaceuticals may transiently ease the symptoms.

Despite the fact that chiropractic is not a therapy for asthma, per se, recent research published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research recorded the results experienced by 81 children with asthma who were given chiropractic care. The two-month study disclosed that those under care saw a 45% decrease in the number of “attacks” and that 31% of the those involved in the study voluntarily chose to take less of their medication.

What is the method by which chiropractic care lessens the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks? What does an adjustment of the spine have to do with respiration? Nervous system interference is removed by chiropractic adjustments. The majority of nerves that are in charge of bodily functions are routed to their destinations after exiting between the spinal vertebrae. The nerves that affect the respiratory system are contained in this network. If restricted, nerves that control the diaphragm can have a detrimental effect on how well the respiratory system functions. It isn’t a mystery, then, why so many men, women and children under chiropractic care report better breathing and a decline in their asthmatic symptoms.

If you or someone you love has asthma, and it is produced by, or aggravated due to spinal subluxations, chiropractic may be beneficial. Chiropractic may help you to breathe a little easier. Call your chiropractor today!

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If you sit for extended periods at a computer, you may be experiencing lower back pain, upper back pain, and/or neck pain that also radiates down one or both of your arms generating additional pain, pins and needles, or numbness. Neck and shoulder pain are, in fact, the most common upper-extremity musculoskeletal problems among computer users. In a 2002 study tracking 632 computer users newly hired at major Atlanta companies, Dr. Fredric E. Gerr, an occupational medicine physician and ergonomics investigator at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and colleagues observed that roughly 60 percent developed neck or shoulder pain in the first year, though the study did not track how long symptoms persisted.

Younger generations growing up in the digital age are also joining the ranks of the “typing wounded.” Surveys at two universities found that 40 to 50 percent of undergraduates experienced upper-extremity pain from using their computers. Colleges do not build dormitory furniture to be ergonomically adjustable, said Dr. Benjamin Amick, scientific director of the Institute for Work and Health in Toronto, who was a co-author of those studies. “They build it to be indestructible.”

In addition to repetitive stress problems, sitting at your computer too long places your upper back in a sustained, stressful posture, especially if you tend to lean forward when you’re working. This also puts your neck at an unnatural and strained angle. Lower back pain, in addition to being generated by simply sitting for long periods of time without getting up and moving around, is aggravated by bad posture.

Problems caused by extended computer use can not only lead to an inability to perform your work duties, but can keep you from enjoying the rest of your life, too. Your chiropractor can assist in eliminating the lower back pain, upper back pain, and/or neck pain that you are currently experiencing. After that, it is important for you to become mindful of your body as you sit at your computer, and to give your body what it naturally needs. You can cultivate the habit of both sitting straight in your chair (as opposed to slouching) and relaxing your shoulders. This will help to relieve tension in your lower and upper back and neck. Take time to stretch periodically to ease muscle tension and encourage healthy blood flow. If your work station permits, sitting on an exercise ball can not only aide in keeping you in a beneficial posture, but can help to strengthen your core muscles as well. (Make sure that the ball is the right size so that when you are seated on it your arms are at a ninety-degree angle to your keyboard.)

Good posture for ease of movement, variety in the motions that you do, and short breaks to relax and stretch will go a long way in keeping your computer work (or play) pain-free.

Partial source: The New York Times, Health Review, June 22, 2009

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Chiropractors, like me, agree that “motion is life.” We, humans, were designed to walk, to run, to dance, and to move all the muscles of our body for our entire lifespan. So, naturally, it follows that we either “move it or lose it!” Our aging “Baby Boomer” population is discovering just how true this cautionary advice is when it comes to energy, vitality, mobility, and good health in later years. With every year of our life, we have much to gain from being physically active…and plenty to lose by living an immobile or sedentary lifestyle.

As our age-related risks of chronic disease increase, regular physical activity can actually slow down the trend. In addition, research has shown that people who have already developed coronary artery disease, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Type 2 diabetes, and other age-related chronic diseases can benefit substantially by increasing their physical activity and, therefore, often can manage their chronic illness with fewer medicines.

Furthermore, some studies suggest that the cardiovascular benefits an individual gets from physical activity may also help the brain stay healthy. “Physical activity influences the frontal region of the brain,” says Dr. Bradley Hatfield, professor of Sports Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. So, if you’ve been wondering what the best thing is that you can do to keep your brain young, the answer may be for you to take a long walk. A key factor is that exercise thickens the brain tissue and builds more synapses in the brain.  The brain has 10 billion nerve cells, called neurons, and on average, neurons are connected to each other through 10,000 synapses.  Every time we exercise, more synapses form and the active brain gets stronger.

On a regular basis, being physically active increases the quality of life (period). Some of the benefits include improved energy levels, mental sharpness, balance, strength, flexibility, and weight control. Moreover, regular aerobic exericise has been shown to help in the management of depression, anxiety, and stress.

So, even though the facts point conclusively to the validity of the “move it or lose it!” warning, they also confirm that it is never to late for you to “move it” and regain your health!

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You may have read on this website, or elsewhere, about recent studies that have shown that physical activity is requisite to getting and staying healthy, especially as we age. But, if you’ve been inactive for awhile, even the idea of exercise might seem “exhausting.” The best way, then, to approach this much-needed addition to your lifestyle is, literally and figuratively, to do it one step at a time. A smart “first step” is to see a health care professional, like your chiropractor, for a full physical examination. Once it is confirmed that you won’t make matters worse through movement, then the next step is simply to start moving a bit each day.

Any movement is a step towards better health and physical fitness. Walk a lap (or two) around your house or apartment. Put that TV remote away and get up to change the channels. As your body becomes accustomed to moving again, you will probably discover that you actually want to move more. Then you can slowly add additional movement to your daily routine. Increase the walk around your house to a walk around the block, a walk in the park, or even a walk through the shopping mall. Walking with a friend can often help to keep you on track(especially on those days when you’d rather sit and veg, then get your body moving). If you are physically able, take the stairs instead of using the elevator as often as you can. Park farther away from the entrance to the supermarket and make it a goal to put more and more parking spots between you and the entrance.

After a few weeks of regular physical activity, you will begin to feel the healthful benefits of movement. Then you’ll be ready for new ways to build flexibility, fitness, and muscle strength. Your chiropractor can advise you on how to become more physically active and help you to development an individualized program.

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I just read about a recent Consumer Reports survey of its readers that I, as your chiropractor, found “highly satisfying.” The survey, which included 14,000 Consumer Reports subscribers, found that “hands-on” therapies, led by chiropractic care, were the top-rated treatments for people suffering from back pain. In fact, chiropractors were given the highest “satisfaction with care” ratings, well above those given to medical doctors who administered various forms of care to back pain sufferers

The survey, reported in the publication’s May 2009 issue, found that more than half of the respondents had “pain (that) severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred throughout the year.” The report stated that while many go to a primary care physician first for diagnosis and treatment, the majority were disappointed with the results.

On the other hand, 59 percent reported that they were “highly satisfied” with the care they received from chiropractors. The next highest rated practitioners were physical therapists (55 percent) and acupuncturists (53 percent), followed by “specialized” physicians (44 percent) and primary care physicians (34 percent).

Respondents were also asked to rate the types of treatments they received. Again, chiropractic/spinal manipulation got top honors, with 58 percent rating it as “helping a lot.” Spinal injections were next highest, rated at 51 percent, followed by massage (48 percent) and physical therapy (46 percent). Other highly rated treatments included prescription medications (45 percent), yoga (44 percent), movement therapy and acupuncture (both 41 percent).

According to a Dynamic Chiropractic article on that report, “Chiropractic ranked first out of 11 treatments, including massage, acupuncture, and exercise, in its ability to treat back pain. More readers said that chiropractic ‘helped me feel much better’ than any of the other therapies.” Prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs ranked eighth and 10th, respectively.

So, if you’ve been “highly satisfied” with your chiropractic care, you’re not alone! In fact, more and more people are turning to chiropractic treatment not only for back pain relief, but for a wide variety of painful conditions from sports and repetitive stress injuries to arthritis.

A public version of the report can be found on the Consumer Reports Web site

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Everyday life can be miserable if you suffer from allergies. A walk in the garden, a play date with Fluffy, a shellfish stew, or even something as small as a nut can generate such unwelcome symptoms as itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, or a skin rash. But, occasionally our allergic reactions can progress from just plain irritating to dangerous and life-threatening as our air passageway constricts and we have a difficult time breathing. If you have allergies, it may seem that, from time-to-time, your environment is a very antagonistic place and that the world around you is, in fact, out to get you!

You may wonder why it is that other individuals appear to be so unaffected by the environment, while your body reacts, or rather overreacts, to it It’s a good question. The answer is that some people, like you, have a hyperactive immune system that literally “freaks out” when they are confronted with ordinary substances such as pollen, dander, shellfish, or nuts.

Can your chiropractor help with your allergy symptoms? The answer may surprise you. Even though chiropractic care doesn’t treat allergies, a lot of men, women, and children notice that they experience relief from their allergy symptoms after receiving chiropractic adjustments. The reason for this is because chiropractic manipulation affects the whole nervous system, including the autoimmune system. When there’s an impedance in the nervous system, in addition to other problems, the autoimmune system, whose job it is to help us adapt and respond appropriately to our environment, can become under-active or overactive. The dysfunction is the latter when it comes to your allergies. Since chiropractic manipulations lessen or eliminate disturbances in the nervous system and bring the body back into balance and harmony, the treatments provide that same balance and harmony to the auto-immune system as well. A vital immune system responds appropriately to supposed allergens in the environment.

So, as pointed out above, your chiropractor doesn’t directly treat allergies. You could say, instead, that ease from your allergies is clearly the by-product of a healthy nervous system. If you want to get back into harmony with your surroundings as soon as possible, make an appointment with chiropractor today.

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Allergies can make our everyday life a misery. Unwelcome symptoms like itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, or a skin rash can be the consequence of a simple walk in the garden, a play date with Fluffy, a shellfish stew, or even something as small as a nut. To make things worse, for some of us allergic reactions can progress from just plain irritating to dangerous and life-threatening as our air passageway becomes constricted and we have a difficult time breathing. It may even seem to you, from time to time, that your environment is a pretty unfriendly place and that the world around you is, in fact, out to get you!

Why does your body react, or rather overreact, to the environment with such an intense allergic reaction while other people appear to be unaffected? It’s a great question. The answer is that some individuals, like you, have a hyperactive immune system that literally “freaks out” when they are confronted with common substances such as pollen, dander, shellfish, or nuts.

Can your chiropractor help with your allergy symptoms? You may be surprised by the answer. Even though chiropractic care doesn’t treat allergies, many individuals notice that they experience ease from their allergy symptoms after receiving chiropractic adjustments. The reason for this is because chiropractic adjustments affect the complete nervous system, including the autoimmune system. When there’s a disruption in the nervous system, in conjunction with other problems, the autoimmune system, whose responsibility it is to assist us in adapting and responding appropriately to our environment, can become under-active or overactive. In the case of your allergies, the problem is the latter. Because chiropractic adjustments reduce or remove disturbances in the nervous system and bring back balance and harmony to the body, the treatments bring that same balance and harmony to the auto-immune system as well. A healthy immune system responds appropriately to commonly named allergens in the environment.

So, as pointed out above, your chiropractor doesn’t actually treat allergies. You could say, rather, that a decrease in your allergies is simply a part of a healthy nervous system. Make an appointment, today, to see your chiropractor and get back into harmony with your environment.

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