Feb
1
Whether from icy conditions, personal clumsiness, or any cause in between, falls can be a painful and harmful interruption to your daily life. While caution and attention to your surroundings can help you avoid potential fall situations, this isn’t always sufficient to protect yourself. As we age, our balance begins to decrease, and what once was an easy task, can now cause harm and fear.
More and more people are recognizing the need to work on balance. And a great way to start is to find your nearest Tai Chi class. With Tai Chi and routine Chiropractic adjustments, you’ll quickly be on your way to healthy living – and to reduced falls.
Skeptics might question the validity of such an approach, but recent studies have shown that there are definite benefits to this combination. Recently published guidelines from the American Geriatrics Society state that the combination of Tai Chi and Chiropractic were beneficial for helping reduce falls in seniors.
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Jan
12
10 Tips For Healthy Living in 2011
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It is a New Year and that means resolutions. One of the most common resolutions is the vow to get healthy. There are many ways to live a healthy life and many of them go beyond just eating right. The following ten tips will have you living 2011 in the healthiest, happiest way possible.
1. Follow a healthy diet – Eating healthy does not mean deprivation. Simply controlling your portion sizes and cutting back on fats will make a huge difference. Indulge your cravings in moderation.
2. Get moving – Exercise is the key to health. You can be on the strictest diet, but if you are not moving, you will not get the desired results. Exercise releases endorphins that will have you feeling your best.
3. Treat yourself – Stress and tension lead to high blood pressure and heart attacks. Make time for yourself at least once a month. Spend the day at the spa and get a high-quality massage. You will be amazed at how this regular splurge relieves your stress.
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Jan
5
The holidays are over and we are standing at the brink of a New Year. So what are your resolutions this year? Do you plan to lose weight? Do you hope to take better care of yourself? Whatever your New Year’s resolutions are, you might be wondering how to make them last. We are all very familiar with the New Year’s resolution that becomes a January resolution. So how are you going to make this year different? How can you set New Year’s resolutions you will keep?
1. Be realistic – As you set your resolutions be honest with yourself. In a best case scenario, will you be able to complete your resolution this year? If the answer is yes, now consider, will you be able to complete your resolution this year with a less than best case scenario? If the answer is still yes, then you probably did OK as far as being realistic with your goals.
2. Make small goals - Especially if you have one or several larger resolutions on your list, be sure to break each of them down into smaller goals. For instance, if you plan on losing 40 pounds this year, consider setting a goal to lose 3 pounds a month. And if you plan on taking better care of yourself, choose one thing to get started on, like finding a chiropractor. This helps keep things in perspective, and keeps you from getting discouraged. Read more
Nov
11
Instant Stress Relief Tips
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For most people today, life seems to be a constant flow of motion. We move from one activity to another, and each day begins with a to-do list that even Superman might find daunting. How can we deal with the stress that our busy schedule naturally causes? Here are some instant stress relief tips you can put into your life.
Walk away – Sometimes the best stress relief is walking. Separate yourself from the situation and work off some of that pent up frustration by taking a quick walk around the block. Exercise can help renew your mind and give you a fresh look at the problem.
Save some time for you - Set aside some time in your busy schedule (at least once a week) to do something you enjoy. Put away everything work (or stress) related and have some you-time. We can only give of what we have, so take time to give to yourself before trying to give to everyone else.
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Nov
4
Tips for Healthy Aging
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Aging is a natural (and inescapable) part of life. However, as you discover new aches and less energy, this does not mean you have to surrender to old age. You can fight back and take charge of your life. You can take a stand and protect yourself against the long list of age related issues. Here are a few simple, yet very effective tips to follow for happy, healthy aging.
1.Eat Right – You are what you eat. So give your body the sort of fuel it really needs and help yourself to a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables. Keep your protein in balance and make sure to get plenty of omega 3 rich fish. Avoid high fat or sugar foods. Healthy eating is the most basic step for healthy aging.
2.Exercise - Another basic, but vitally important aspect of healthy aging is exercise. If you want your body to keep working for you, you have to keep it working. Keep moving. Find some form of physical exercise that you can enjoy and stick with it.
Aug
4
Understanding How The Spine Works
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What’s the most important part of your body? While you could convincingly argue a number of ways, your spine would be at the top of the list. Your spine gives your body structure and support. You couldn’t stand, sit, run, jump or play without it. It allows you to bend and move freely, and be flexible to do anything you choose to do in this world.
The spine is also designed to protect your spinal cord, which connects a series of nerves to your brain, and allows you to control your movement. Without your spinal cord, you could not move, and your organs could not function. In order to stay healthy, keeping your spine and spinal cord healthy and functional should be at the top of your list.
The spine is made of 24 bones, called vertebrae. A normal spine will have an S-shaped curve when you look at it from the side. This allows for an even distribution of weight, and keeps you healthy as you move day to day. When you experience stress, injury, disease, or trauma, this curve can begin to change. Nerves are affected or injured, and respond accordingly. Over time, this can have a profound impact on your overall health.
Chiropractic care is designed to keep your spine adjusted and working properly. When the spine doesn’t function properly, it loses its ability to protect your nerves. And if your nerve system isn’t protected, it allows problems to creep in, causing damage throughout your system. If caught early enough, adjustments can improve the condition of your spine. While it may not be able to correct your spine to original condition, major improvements can be made over time. And the only way you can see if chiropractic care is a solution for you is to start with comprehensive initial consultation.
We are a Blair Chiropractic office, and start with a series of x-rays to find out the current condition of your spine. We believe in educating you along the way – the only way to gain improvement is if you take control over your health, and help your body improve.
Are you ready for better health? Stop by for your initial consultation today.
Jun
30
Tips To Manage Your Stress
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The fact is, stress is real. It’s something you can actually track and measure. Science shows that higher stress levels can lead to a variety of health problems. The good news is your stress can be managed.
Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress aren’t always obvious, and it’s all too easy to overlook your own stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sure, you may know that you’re constantly worried about work deadlines. But maybe it’s your procrastination, rather than the actual job demands, that leads to deadline stress.
If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater emotional and physical health, it’s time to find healthier ones. There are many healthy ways to manage and cope with stress, but they all require change. You can either change the situation or change your reaction. When deciding which option to choose, it’s helpful to think of the four A’s: avoid, alter, adapt, or accept.
Learn how to say “no”
Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re close to reaching the goal. Taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe for stress.
Avoid people who stress you out
If someone consistently causes stress in your life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend with that person or end the relationship entirely.
Take control of your environment
If the evening news makes you anxious, turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online.
Avoid hot-button topics
If you get upset over religion or politics, cross them off your conversation list. If you repeatedly argue about the same subject with the same people, stop bringing it up or excuse yourself when it’s the topic of discussion.
Pare down your to-do list
Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “shoulds” and the “musts.” Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely.
Take time for yourself
It doesn’t have to be hours every day; even something simple can do the trick. A bubble bath before bed. Reading a chapter in a book when you get home from work. A great massage once a month. And your regular trip to the chiropractor to help keep your body in top shape.
You can take control of your stress – are you ready?
Jun
11
How Safe Are Our Prescription Drugs
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The pharmaceutical drug industry is the most profitable business on the planet. In fact, it is an industry so profitable, they are able to spend $16 Billion (Billion with a B) on advertising each year.
Yes, there are times when the drugs that they produce save lives. I am not disputing that. However, most of the drugs they produce and market have nothing to do with saving lives; they are symptom cover ups and quick fixes for things that healthy living and a positive attitude would correct. It’s a branch of legal drug trade that I have a problem with. We now have 1 in 6 adults in this country on Prozac or a similar “lifestyle” drugs, we have nearly 8 million children on Ritalin, we have antibiotics that are over prescribed by at least 50%, and the list goes on and on.
Let’s face it; we have a massive drug problem. In 1998 the U.S. spent $93 Billion on prescription drugs, and in the same year, spent $96 Billion to treat the side effects of those drugs. Not to mention the real kicker: prescription drugs properly prescribed and taken KILL 106,000 Americans each year, and that’s only in hospitals and does not take into account nursing homes, people taking drugs at home or any drugs that are taken or given improperly.
You may ask why I encourage patients to stay drug-free or why I push you to refer friends and family to our office for what chiropractic has to offer – well – look at the alternative!
The scariest part of it all is that while you are reading this article the legal drug trade has marketing executives in fancy suits, in fancy board rooms figuring out ways to get more drugs into you, your friends and your family. To make it even worse, some of those executives are there just to figure out how to get more drugs to our children.
In the words of the band, the Temptations, “I ain’t too proud to beg!” I beg you to tell people you care about to try chiropractic, to come find out what chiropractic has to offer. If we can merely keep someone you love from taking unnecessary medication we may literally save their life! We may keep them from becoming one of the 106,000 Americans that lose their lives to the most profitable business on the planet: The legal drug trade.
Feb
10
7 Tips For Healthy Eating
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Healthy eating isn’t about strict diets and avoiding the foods you love. Instead it’s about learning the best food choices for you, ways to prepare foods to benefit your body the most, and making a healthy eating habit enjoyable as well.
Making healthy choices will not only improve your health today, it can also counter your risk for such illnesses as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Combine healthy eating with daily exercise and regular chiropractic care, and you’ll be on track for having a long, healthy life.
1. Eat a wide variety of foods. Instead of trying unhealthy diet fads, make wise choices from each of the food groups. Vegetables, whole grains and fruits are all great choices, and should be added to every meal.
2. Keep portions moderate. Meal portions have grown bigger every year, especially in restaurants. Try splitting an entrée with a friends, or taking half home for lunch or dinner the following day.
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Feb
2
How To Relieve Stress At Your Desk
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How many hours of the day do you find yourself sitting at your desk? Sitting in one place staring at a screen all day can definitely add stress and tension to your body, and make you feel tired by the end of the day. 
Instead of letting the tension build, why not give yourself a mini-vacation?
1. Breathe deeply.
One of the best ways to relax and feel the tension slip away is by breathing deeply. Use this a couple of times per day, or whenever you are feeling particularly stressed. Close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Breathe in and out slowly 10 times, focusing on your breath and relaxing. Slowly open your eyes, and enjoy feeling more centered, and a lot calmer.
2. Stretch out your neck.
There is a right and wrong way to stretch the muscles in your neck. Think of a plus sign. Slowly move your head forwards and back, touching your chin down to your chest, and lifting your chin towards the sky. Then slowly turn your head, looking over your left shoulder, and turn again to look over your right shoulder.
3. Take a meditation break.
After you’ve practiced your breathing and stretching, why not continue with a five-minute break and meditate? Take advantage of your relaxed state, and focus inward. Continue to let the tension in the rest of your body dissolve, and remain calm and relaxed.
Not only can a few minutes a day help you become healthier, and live a life with less stress, it can also help you achieve more at work. A few minutes relaxing can help you be more focused on particular points of your job, and help you define answers in a new way. You’ll be surprised at how much quicker an answer may come to you after a few minutes away from your desk.
