13? Oh no the scariest number ever!

Most of us know that the number 13 is a very mystical and scary number.  Thank you pagens and Jason Voorhis.  Well I actually was thinking about how the number can be a positive and uplifting thing, so I am going to present THIRTEEN reasons to get your spine checked on a regular basis.  This will be the first six, I had to leave it as a cliff hanger.   I am sorry I did not post this 10 days ago you can all shake your fist in my general direction,  towards Texas.

1. MORE ENERGY

        The vital energy that runs your body comes from the brain (agreed), travels over the nerves and gives vitality and vigor to your body.  Logic says that if that energy is interfered with your body will not work at its fullest potential. 

2. CLEARER THINKING, CONCENTRATION, and MEMORY

        Did you every have a day when your mind was extra sharp, thoughts and ideas come quickly or your memory was especially good?  Ever have just the opposite type of day?  Well, your body chemistry determines to a great extent your ability to think, concentrate and remember.  Body chemistry is controlled by your nervous system and your nervous system works better without interference (vertebral subluxation).

3. LESS STRESS

        How can getting adjusted make your job easier or cause your kids to give you less problems?  I'm sure some of you are thinking "Man, I don't know".  Well, it cannot (tricked you).  But there is a difference between adversity and stress.  Adversities are circumstances of life.  You cannot change them.  Stress is the inability to handle those adversities.  How well your body is working will determine to some degree how much adversity you can handle and how much stress you have in your life.  

4. A LONGER LIFE

        Here is a reason based on logic.  All things being equal, you will live longer if you take care of yourself, barring any unforeseen trauma, of course.  Taking care of yourself, in no small measure, means keeping your nervous system free of interference due to vertebral subluxation.  

5. MORE SLEEP

        All sleep was not created equal.  Just because you get ten hours (that is way too much but lets just go with it for this example) doesn't mean you are getting the kind of rest you need.  At different times, we all have awaked refreshed, sluggish, or tired from the same amount of sleep.  How well your body is working will determine how much of your sleep is real sleep and not just "down time".

6. GREATER VALUE FROM YOUR EXERCISE

        We all need to exercise regularly.  Some of us do not have the energy to get up off the couch and begin a workout, although that is an issue we have already addressed.  Some of us have an interference in the nervous system that keeps the muscles of our body from receiving a full complement of vital life energy.  It is like trying to exercise a paralyzed muscle.  There is not enough energy going to those muscles.  That is what happens when there is interference in the nerve system due to a vertebral subluxation.  

      

optimalwellnesstx.com

Lift with your legs...no wait. I meant DON'T lift with your legs.

Everyone knows but do we all take the time to really think and stop lifting with our legs.  Improper lifting form is probably one of the most common causes of back pain in our country, even if it doesn't occur right away we can have long lasting effects.

If you have ever "thrown out" your back while doing a seemingly simply task -- lifting a package, moving a piece of furniture, carrying a child -- you have learned firsthand the importance of safe lifting techniques for protecting your back.  Safe lifting is easy to learn, simple to do, and may be one of the most important skills you will ever learn.  Safe lifting techniques keep your back in balance and can protect you and your back from accidental strain and overload.  It makes sense -- to keep your back working smoothly and problem free, lift right.

1) Visualize the load:  The first step in safe lifting is thinking.  "Can I lift it by myself?"  "Can I hold it close to my body?"  If the load is manageable, then follow the remaining tips.

2) Tuck your pelvis:  By tightening your stomach muscles, you can "tuck" your pelvis to keep your back's three curves in balance.

3)Bend you knees:  Bend your knees instead of your waist (even if you are only getting a pencil off the ground).  Let the large muscles in your legs support your back and carry the weight.

4) "Hug" the load:  Try to hold the object you're lifting as close to your body as possible, as you gradually straighten your legs to a standing position.  Try this exercise out at home, hold a gallon of water/milk/juice out in front of you with arms extend.  Then hold the same object "hugged" into your body.  How long were you able to hold the object in both positions?

5) Avoid Twisting:  This one I can not stress enough, and it goes with everything we carry.  Twisting while you lift or carry increases the load on your spine and can lead to serious injury.  To avoid twisting be sure that your knees and torso are moving in the same direction when lifting.

optimalwellnesstx.com

Just say No! To surgery that is...but still applies to the DARE slogan.

Low back pain is the second leading reason for patient visits to their primary care physician; up to 90% of people suffer from it at least once in their adult lives.  A recent review of related studies in the Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation showed that the highest rate of back surgery in the developed world is in the U.S., with the most common surgical procedure of the lower spine being removal of disc herniation.  Despite these statistics, the cause of low back pain remains elusive and there is conflicting evidence over the best form of treatment.

The authors of this literature review evaluated studies on current surgical and nonsurgical treatments for lumbar (low back) disc herniations, to determine the short- and long-term results of each.  Several different approaches were discussed.

No statistical difference was noted in long-term outcomes between surgical and nonsurgical options for low back pain treatment.  Only short-term relief of hip pain was shown as more successful through surgical intervention. (Note: Recent studies in the literature have shown comparable results between nonsurgical and surgical approaches to hip pain.)  The authors recommend that aggressive rehabilitation combined with pain control may be the best treatment option for low back pain.

Surgery remains a controversial treatment option for low back pain.  When you consider the costs and complications associated with surgery, almost any option may be better.

Memmo PA, Nadler S, Malanga G. Lumbar disc herniations: A review of surgical and non-surgical indications and outcomes. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation 200: 14(3), pp 79-88.www.optimalwellnesstx.com

The second part about the 13 reasons to get adjusted...

As the title says this is the end of what I posted a little while ago.  I thought I would break it up so the post wasn't long.

7. MORE BALANCED CHEMISTRY
        The proper balance of your body's chemistry is unique for you.  Only the innate wisdom of your body knows exactly what it should be (no you were not born with a lack of aspirin in your body).  People can only guess.  The organs, glands and cells of the body must be working properly to produce just the right amounts at just the right time.  Your nervous system is critical in the coordination of that function.

8. MORE HOURS in YOUR DAY
        How can you get more than 24 hours a day from chiropractic visits, especially when the visit itself is going to take up some of your time?  Well, time-management experts will tell you that it is the efficient use of your time, not the total number of hours that is the issue.  If you mind and body are working as well as they possibly can, you will be more efficient and more than make up for the time it takes to visit your chiropractor.

9. INCREASE INCOME EARNING CAPACITY
        What? No way!!!  Lets think about this logically.  If you had more energy, clearer thinking, a better ability to handle adversity, more alertness, and were more efficient and physically, mentally, and emotionally functioning at a higher level, you work more, work harder, get a better job or possibly a promotion, or even start a business of your own (which many say is the only way to become finically independent.)  So yes we are taking a long route but it does make sense.

10. IMPROVED RELATIONSHIPS
        Why is it some people seem to be able to get along with people that you cannot stand?  Perhaps it is you!  If you were functioning at a higher level, if your body chemistry was balanced, perhaps you could handle them better and not be bothered by whatever it is about them that affects your relationship.  Even better, get them to a chiropractor and you could, perhaps, become best of friends.

11. IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
         With an improved nerve supply, all your performance levels will be elevated.  Whether that improvement is enough to make a difference is an individual matter.  As the advertisement says, "Results may vary."  But why not try this safe treatment.  However, getting adjusted and doing some other healthy things will have a cumulative effect and result in noticeable changes.  It just makes sense to do everything possible to improve performance, including having a good nerve supply.

12. BETTER DIGESTION
        There are probably hundreds of reasons why certain food affect certain people.  Most times, the cause can be traced back to the inability of the body to handle that food.  If it was the food, then it would effect everyone negatively.  There are many reason why your body, in general, and your nervous system, in particular, may not work properly.  One of those reasons, an interference in the nervous system due to vertebral subluxation, can be addressed by regular visits to the chiropractor.

13.  ENJOY LIFE MORE
        The bottom line is to have a happier and more fulfilled life.  If you see improvement in the areas above and on the last post, your life has to be more enjoyable.  Even some of the things you do not enjoy now could become more pleasurable and rewarding.

Poor us, bones? Not a clever skeleton joke...

Osteoporosis, or porous bone (get it now), is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures, especially of the hip, spine, and wrist, although any bone can be affected.  It is often called a "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms.  People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a fracture or a vertebra to collapse.  Collapsed vertebrae may initially be felt or seen in the form or severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as kyphosis or stooped posture.

Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, or 55 percent of the people 50 years of age or older.  In the U.S.. 10 million individuals are estimated to already have the disease and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis.

Of the 10 million American estimated to have osteoporosis, eight million are women and two million are men.

By about age 20, the average woman has acquired 98 percent of her skeletal mass.  Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis later.  There are five steps which together can optimize bone health and help prevent osteoporosis.

1. A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
2. Weight-bearing and resistance-training exercises
3. A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake
4. Talking to one's healthcare professional about bone health
5. Bone density testing and medication when appropriate

Not the Hulkling, but active children

In a world where video games are becoming almost as crisp and bright as our most vivid imaginations and the percentage of childhood obesity is on the rise, we need to teach our children to cherish exercise and playing outside.  Now I know we all want our children to study and get great jobs and flourish, but I think we need to compromise on this little thing.  Let's say that your child gets out of school at 3, and you make him do his/her homework before they can play or watch TV.  Well if your child has say 3 hours of homework and you have dinner at 6, which takes an hour when is that child able to play outside?  That is correct they probably aren't.  Why don't we let children play for a couple of hours after school say from 3-5, then an hour of homework, dinner at 6, and finish the two hours up after dinner.  This would mean that your child would be in bed by 9pm.  I think that is pretty far given the state at which our waistlines are headed.

Evidence suggest that behaviors established at a young age persist in adulthood.  If you're a parent, you probably believe in the evidence -- thats why you don't want your children "picking up bad habits" from other children, or hanging out with "the wrong crowd."  But this "evidence" might not be quite accurate, at least not when we consider a potential "good" behavior -- physical activity.  According to a recent study, simply increasing the amount of exercise as a child doesn't necessarily mean that your children will exercise as adults.  The study compared two adult groups: one that received five hours of physical education weekly for six years during primary school, and a group that received only the standard physical activity requirements (about 40 minutes per week).  Questionnaires completed by the groups showed that childhood physical activity did not have a significant effect on attitudes toward, frequency of, or intentions to exercise as adults.  The authors believe that consistent exposure to the process of exercise, and to an overall health-oriented program in childhood, may be a more important contributor to positive exercise/fitness patterns in adulthood.  Don't just encourage (or pressure) your children to participate in sports.  Teach your children the value of staying healthy and active, and schedule them for regular visits with your family chiropractor to main fitness level.optimalwellnesstx.com

The second 9...

Since I have talked a little about golf, I figured you might want a little more because remember just like Chubbs Peterson once said "It's all in the hips".  So I thought why not put out a few more tips on how to save your back during a round and how if you do get injured to recognize the symptoms.  Most of this information is coming from "Chiropractic tips & Advice to improve your golf game and save your back"


Golfers put their bodies in oddly twisted postures, that generate a great deal of torque (i.e Tiger out of the rough when he was younger:).  Couple these motions with a bent-over stance, repeat this 70-120 times, mix in the weather, the fatigue from walking and what you get is a good workout and potential back trouble.


Most golfers go until they get hurt to look for help.  According to Dr David Stude, founding fellow of the National Golf Fitness Society "Back pain is a warning sign that there is an underlying problem responsible for a symptom that will likely get worse.  Doctors of chiropractic look for the cause of the symptom and help reduce the likelihood of future injury."


Dr Strude suggests some simple but effective measures to help avoid pain or injury and improve your game.

• Get your equipment fitted, don't adapt your swing to clubs that are not right for you
• Women, please don't use "hand me downs" from your husband they can be too long and too stiff for you
• Stretch before you play, I know we all want to be John Daily and just roll up and hit the ball of the first tee.  Without a proper warm up we can increase our aversion for injury.
• Take lessons to learn proper technique; at the end of the swim you want to be standing up straight, the back should not be twisted.
• Take the "drop"!  One bad swing striking a root or a rock with your club can cause damage to your wrist, neck or back.

Doctors of chiropractic are trained and licensed to treat the entire neuromusculoskeletal system.  Doctors of chiropractic can address other health concerns, such as shoulder, knee, arm, and wrist pain that can affect your game.  It you golf consistently, you will no doubt feel the stress of the game, but by following a few simple prevention tips, it is possible to play without pain for a lifetime.

FOOOORRRREEE! Golf and chiropractic

V

Since Tiger broke onto to the scene what now seems like a lifetime ago, the popularity of golf is growing. Well as more people start to "swing the wrenches" the incident of "wrenching" you back has also gone up (everyone see my lame joke).  Many of us who are amateur golfers don't take the proper time to warm up, we grab our sticks out of the car and run to the first tee as our buddies are calling us on our phones.  This is the John Daly method of golf no warm up just grip it and rip it.  Well as with other actives with out a proper warm-up we can do more harm than good.


Dr Tom La Fountain is a chiropractor who travels with the PGA tour and regularly provides chiropractic to the pros.  Dr La Fountain reports that up to 85 percent of the injuries on the PGA Tour and Senior Tour relate to the spine, and about 70 to 75 percent of those golfers received regular chiropractic care.  The August 21, 2000 issue of the Salt Lake Tribune reported that senior pro golfer, Doug Tewell was delayed entering the Senior PGA tour due to spinal problems.  Twell injured his back while playing a round of golf whit his son in Oklahoma.  The injury kept him in bed for three days and required the use of a walker for two week. On the recommendation of below pro Bob Tway, Twell decided to see a chiropractor.  His comments in the Tribune article summed up his reactions, "the most incredible thing, just a few little jerks," Tewell said.  "I thought I had met Oral Roberts."  Professional women golfers also utilize chiropractic.  Dr David E Stude, a chiropractor and associate professor and faculty clinician at Northwestern Health Sciences University, lectures across the country with Lisa Masters, an LPGA  golf pro, emphasizing the importance of chiropractic care for golfers.  Dr Stude states, "Normally, each vertebra in the spine mods indecently a certain number of degrees when our whole body is in involved in an activity.  If that isn not happening, for example, if two or more segments move as a whole unit, rather than moving independently, it can lead to one kind of vertebral mechanical dysfunction."

Some quick tips to help you not feel like guy in the foursome ahead of you.

• Improve the entire body's balance, stability and coordination, which translates into a smoother swing and reduced fatigue.  (stretch, and work out away from the course)
• Avoid metal spikes (most course haven't allowed these since the '90's).  If you are using metal spikes first its time to upgrade your shoes, second metal spikes increase stress on the back.  While soft spikes allow for greater motion.
• Warm up before each round.   I know we all want to be like John Daily and just smoke heaters and drink Diet Coke right before we tee off but this is terrible for you and your game.  Stretching before and after 18 holes is the best way to reduce post-game stiffness and soreness.  
• Pull don't carry your bag, even better ride.  Carrying your bad if you don't have a double strap cause disc and nerve irritation on one side of the body as well as compression of the vertebrae.  Make sure while you are riding to walk to one shot per hole.
• Keep your entire body involved.  Most if not all of us are not switch hitters with a golf club, every third hole on the tee box take some practice swings with your opposite hand.  This will keep your muscles balanced and even out stress on the back
• DRINK LOTS OF WATER.  Dehydration can cause fatigue. leading you to compensate by adjusting your swing, thus increasing your chances for injury.  Have a couple cans of "swing right"/"adult pops" can dehydrate you even further.  This is why course put out water stations, please use them.

Now remember a bad day at the golf course is better than a good day any where else.

www.optimalwellnesstx.com

Water, WATER, WAAAATTTEEERRR

Our bodies need water, they are made of mostly water.  Water is necessary for you body to digest and absorb vitamins and nutrients.  It also detoxifies your liver and kidneys, and carries ways waste from the body.  When it comes to digestion, it just cannot happen without water.  Fiber alone cannot aid proper digestive function by itself.  In fact without water as its partner good fiber goes bad, causing constipation and extreme discomfort.  Also if you are dehydrated your blood literally thickens, and you body has to wrk much harder to help blood circulate.  As a result, the brain becomes less active, its hard to concentrate, your body fells fatigued, and you just feel drained.  Water can also aide in a healthy diet.  Water is a natural appetite suppressant, so developing a good water drinking habit can be a long-term aid in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.  Its also impotent to remember that when the body is dehydrated, fat cells get "rubbery" and cannot be easily metabolized.  This means that its harder to lose weight when you don't drink enough water.

Quick ways to get and stay Hydrated

• Have a glass of water when you first get up each day
• Have a water bottle at your desk and try and drink half of it each hour
• Don't wait until you are thirsty to have a drink- you are already dehydrated if you feel thirsty
• Prepare for exercise by hydrating with water before you begin.
• Sip water while exercising to replace what is lost as you perspire in order to keep your energy levels high
• Add fruit, vegetables, or a bit of juice to flavor up your water.  You will also receive the added benefits of getting more vitamins and minerals.

The rule of thumb for intake of water is 1 ounce for every 2 pounds of body weight.  150lbs/2 = 75 ounces of water per day.  This is a minimum!

May the 4th be with you! (I know lame nerd joke)

Well, today is May the 4th and everyone who has ever gotten into a debate about who shot first will most likely have some sort of Stars Wars discussion, watch the Original Trilogy, or wear something dealing with a galaxy far, far away.  I am going to make a quick case about why chiropractors are like Jedi, no we don't have command of light sabers and probably can't make the X-Wing rise.  What chiropractors do use is the Force (wait didn't I just say we couldn't make the X-Wing rise).

The Force I am talking about is Innate Intelligence, now what Innate Intelligence is the bodies ability to heal it self.  Think when you cut yourself, what happens?  That is correct the body bleeds a little then it forms a clot.  Did you have to think about your body clotting or did you start yelling at the cut like Sam Kinison?  No way, your body knew what to do and it sprung into action (insert Super Hero/Star Wars Hero analogy).  So how do chiropractors use something that is in grained in all of us?  Simply my friends, your brain is the worlds fastest and most complex super computer in the world.  What happens is our brains without us knowing or telling it does a multitude of processes every second.  Your brain communicates with the body through the spinal cord, and from the spinal cord out to spinal nerves and so forth.  The spinal cord is protected by the spinal column (the same thing that chiropractors work on day in and day on millions of patients).  What happens if the spinal column gets out of place and puts pressure on a spinal nerve (nerve interference or subluxation), do you think that spinal nerve can send and receive signal from our brain and body?  Think about when you take a hose that is running then kink it, yep the water slows or stops entirely.  That happens on a daily basis with some of us, PAIN.  Pain is our body telling us that something is wrong somewhere and we need to correct it.

What a chiropractor does is remove the subluxation or nerve interference so your body can function at 100% percent (think Yoda teaching Luke how to use the force, Yoda did not teach Luke but let Luke open his mind to the Force).  When you body is function at 100% the Innate Intelligence can fend of almost anything you might come in contact with.  Most people don't think that a chiropractor is a preventative and wellness doctor and we only deal with pain.  That couldn't be farther from the truth, also because of the world we live in and the spending of pharmaceutical companies on advertising many people think that some conditions are normal.  Just a few of these conditions are Headaches, Allergies (not food or pet), Sinus Infections, Heart Burn.

This is getting a little long but I just wanted to give you a little insight on how Chiropractors are like Jedi and I hope that you get checked for nerve interference before you have a symptom so you too can have your body functioning at 100%

How not to break your pencils from stress!!

PC Load Letter?  What the F is PC Load Letter?  Most of us know what happened to that poor copy machine, (damn it feels good to be a gangster) I mean Micheal Bolton went to work on it.  Many of us are stressed out, and a lot of us get tight shoulders as a result of "carrying" your stress in your shoulders.  Here a few little tips on how to "de-stress" and live a little cooler.  Lastly little point did you know that stress causes or worsen 90% of all diseases and illnesses.

1) Don’t Just Sit There. Move! According to many psychologists, motion creates “emotion”. You might notice that when you are idle, it’s easier to become depressed. Your heart rate slows down, less oxygen travels to your brain, and you are slumped somewhere in a chair blocking air from reaching your lungs. I challenge you right now, regardless of how you are feeling, to get up and walk around at a fast tempo. Maybe you might want to go to an empty room and jump up and down a little bit. Movement is everything. Jumping up and down may sound silly but the results speak for themselves. Try it now for a few minutes. By now, if you just did some type of movement, you should feel more energetic and in a better mood. It works like “magic”.
2) Smell The Roses. “Stop and smell the roses.” How do you smell the roses? How about investing some money to go on that one trip you’ve been dreaming about? Would Paris do? There you will find lots of exotic places to jolt your imagination and spur your creativity. You can also visit the Caribbean and learn how to scuba dive. Can you imagine swimming deep under the beautiful blue water alongside some of the most beautiful creatures you have ever seen? If you can’t do that, just plan a short trip to a town nearby so you can get away from it all. Do it for a day. “What an exceptional way to smell the roses!”
3) Get Some Company. If you’re like me, you have many acquaintances, but you only have a few true friends. This isn’t because you’re introverted. It is because you’re very selective about who you let enter your territory. You’ve worked too hard to build your house—your dream—and you won’t let anyone destroy it for you in the blink of an eye. When you’re feeling down, call your true friends and share what it is that you’re going through. Ask for their advice or input. While their advice or suggestions may be helpful, often you’ll find that simply verbalizing your problems will help you feel better.  It works. Try it next time you are having some difficulties.
4) Help Others Cope With Their Problems. It is very therapeutic when you engross yourself in helping others. You will be surprised how many people’s problems are worse than those you may be facing. You can offer others assistance in countless ways. Don’t curl up in your bed and let depression and stress take hold of you. Get out and help somebody. There are many charitable organizations that can use your help right now. Call the National Federation of the Blind so that they can tell you how to get involved. Remember, you’re dealing with STRESS!
5) Laugh A Little. By now you’ve heard that laughter is a good internal medicine. It relieves tension and loosens the muscles. It causes blood to flow to the heart and brain. More importantly, laughter releases a chemical that rids the body of pains. Yet, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Every day, researchers discover new benefits of laughter. Let me ask you this question: “Can you use a good dose of belly-shaking laughter every now and then?” Of course you can.

Pills V "Pops"!!! Almost as good as Clubber V Rocky

V

Many people turn to Ibuprofen when they are in pain, and don't think about what actually created that symptom.  Yes, pain is a symptom that something isn't right with your body. Of course if we have a slip or fall then pain is a normal reaction.  My fellow chiropractors will probably disown me for using "pops" but it got your attention. Would you feel comfortable flying in plane if you knew one crashed every day?  That is how many people die each year from taking prescription medication.  Would you take a medication if you knew that 16,500 people died from side effects each year?  That is how many people die from taking NSAIDs every year.


The World Federation of Chiropractic defines chiropractic as, "A health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and the effects of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health."

Ibuprofen is in a class of drugs called non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).  Ibuprofen works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.

Serious side effects from spinal manipulation are rare, I like to say you have a better chance of winning the Powerball and MegaMillions in the same week then getting a serious side effect from chiropractic.  However, the incidence of adverse events from manipulation is about 1 in 100 million.  The stories you usually hear about some one getting seriously hurt typically the manipulation is not done by a chiropractor, but a laymen or another health care practitioner who was not trained fully in spinal manipulation.

Side effects from Ibuprofen can be blood in the vomit or bloody, black, or tarry stools, an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); muscle cramps, numbness, or tingling; ulcers (open sores) in the mouth; rapid weight gain (fluid retention); seizures; decreased hearing or ringing in the ears; yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice); abdominal cramping, indigestion, or heartburn.  Less serious side effects but, side effects you are more likely to have occur dizziness or headache; nausea; gaseousness; diarrhea, or constipation; depression fatigue or weakness; dry mouth; or irregular menstrual periods.

More than 100,000 people die every year from an adverse reaction to improperly prescribed and/or commonly used over the counter medications.  Many adverse drug reactions and deaths can her prevented if patients were properly warned or better yet take responsibility themselves to find out the serious side effects of any medications they decided to take.  After reading all of this information why anyone would choose the medicinal route vs chiropractic, a treatment that has been well documented over the past as having tremendous results for different ailments, AMAZES me!

  

Last but certainly not least, I hope you got down to this point because its the show stopper!!!  Do pills like ibuprofen treat the cause of any symptom?  Well of course not boys and girls!  Does a chiropractic adjustment treat the cause of any symptom?  Fooled you, Not in the slightest.  But what chiropractic does is increase the bodies ability to treat itself by increasing nerve function.

Chocolate, not just a Johnny Deep movie.

Most of us crave it, sometimes we eat too much, and just like Chief Wiggum once said in the Simpsons "Sure, we melted for him. Now he's gonna do likewise" in reference to the movie Chocolate.  It has been a long standing notion that dark chocolate is good for us but why and how?  

A Reuters Health article from August 27, 2003 repost on research that shows that eating dark chocolate, not milk chocolate, raises plasma antioxidant levels, an effect that could help protect against heart disease. The new study from the University of Glasgow, showed eating chocolate increases blood antioxidants but consuming milk at the same time cancels the health benefits.  What are antioxidants?  They are compounds that combine free radicals in the body and neutralize their damaging effects.  What are free radicals?  The are highly reactive molecules that are produced through normal body processes, as well as external stimuli such as air pollution and tobacco smoke.  There free radicals react with billions of cells in the body and may lead to the development of a number of chronic diseases including cancer, cataracts, and heart disease.  There are many studies in the medical journals demonstrating the posited effects of antioxidants on large populations to decrease the frequency of new cancers as well as decrease the recurrence rates in people who already have cancer.  Additionally, antioxidants have been shown to have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system by decreasing the heart attack rate.  Volunteers in the University of Glasgow study were given either plain (dark) chocolate or milk chocolate.  Some were also given milk in the double-blind experiment.  Then their antioxidant levels were tested.  Blood analysis one-hour after dark chocolate was eaten revealed a significant rise in antioxidant levels.  "Those volunteers who had dark chocolate had a 20 percent increase in antioxidants in their plasma," said Alan Crozier, one of the research team.  "But those who had milk chocolate, or milk with their dark chocolate, showed no increase in epicatechin plasma levels."

That 2:30 feeling??? Really

So as 2:30 comes upon us here in the central time zone, and 5 hour energy has done such a great job marketing (personally I don't like taste and have tried it and it does nothing for me) but I yawn about this time so I thought some people sleep in their cubes or at home wherever you may be.  I just figured why not find the zaniest reason for skipping that 5 hour energy and napping it out.

5 "This is just a 15min power-nap like they raved about in that time management course you sent me to"

4 "I wasn't sleeping! I was mediating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm" (My personal favorite)

3 "I was doing a highly specific yoga exercise to relieve work-related stress. Do you discriminate towards people who practice yoga?"

2 "Dang! Why did you interrupt me?  I almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem!"  (I like to substitute biggest problem for The Matrix, yes I know I am nerd)

1 "...in Jesus' name, Amen."

Headaches

Now I don't know if you know the story of me battling with headaches as a child, but when I was younger I suffered from very severe headaches that caused me to black out and throw up.  My parents went to great lengths to find out what was causing me to have such terrible headaches and were very worried for my health.  Well after one cat scan reveled nothing, the doctors on the case just assumed there had to be pressure somewhere surrounding my brain that caused my headaches.  Well, then it was suggested that surgeons drill random holes into me head time.  Luckily for me, my parents were against this but were still at a lose.  I was then involved in a car accident with my father, after this accident I am not sure how but we went to see a chiropractor.  Well after the chiropractic exam the doctor said I think I can help with your headaches.  So about 8 months after treatment I was headache free, and I continued this way to this day (as long as I get a "tune up").  If you know someone who might be suffering from headaches and would like to see if chiropractic can help them please get them to your local chiropractor.

In a recent poll, done by ABC News, USA Today, and the Stanford University Medical Center, of 1,204 American Adults more than half of respondents reported chronic or recurrent pain and nearly as many said that they have had pain in the previous two weeks.  Of pain types listed, headache pain was the third most common experienced.  This isn’t surprising given that an estimated 90% of men and 95% of women have had at least one headache in the previous 12 months.  What’s surprising is that the poll also shows that 48% of those in pain said they had no idea what was causing their pain- and 33% said they used over the counter drugs every day or at least once a week.  Pain relieving medications generally fail to address the cause of the pain and they certainly can’t prevent future pain, and in the case of headaches, it is possible that abrupt withdrawal of the drug can cause additional pain, known as rebound headaches.   Wouldn’t it make sense to seek a method that of treatment that first explores the cause of your headaches and then addresses the cause while also working to relive your pain?  Fortunately, your Doctor of Chiropractic intends to do just that – diagnose treat, and prevent headaches.  If clinically necessary, diagnostic tests may include x-rays, neurological, orthopedic, and laboratory work-up.  Treatment can only happen after a diagnosis of your headache type and a conclusion is reached as to what causes your pain have been established, then treatment can begin.  If chiropractic care will best meet your needs, treatment will begin after it is first outlined and explained to you.  Chiropractic uses several means of treatment to reach the desired results.  To know how to avoid future headaches, you must first know what is causing them.  As this will be a crucial part of your chiropractic experience, headache avoidance will be much easier post-chiropractic.  Because everyone’s headaches are cause by different factors, it is impossible to predict what means will be necessary for you to prevent headache pain.  If you often have headaches following skipped meals, for instance, you will be advised to eat at regular intervals.  If your headaches are carcinogenic in nature, advice on maintaining normality in the structures of the neck – such as improved posture, stretching and relaxation techniques, may be discussed.