Dec
15
Tis the season for overindulging. As you move from party to party, chances are you’re having a few too many cookies and extras along the way. Maybe those jeans are now hard to button. And maybe your back hurts as you get out of bed in the morning.
So invariably you make your New Years resolutions list to include things like “diet” and “get healthy”.
With just a few simple and practical lifestyle changes, you can be on your way to not only a healthy New Year, but a healthy lifestyle for the rest of your life. It doesn’t take a lot of work. Instead it takes thought and commitment.
Limit caffeinated drinks. If you are a regular at the local coffee house, change your routine. Caffeinated drinks also cause dehydration. Instead, focus on increasing your intake of water, decaffeinated teas and other natural beverages during the day. Read more
Dec
5
Better Health Means Eating Right
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“You are what you eat.”
You’ve probably heard that saying many times over the years. And while it may make sense as you read it, it probably doesn’t stick with you when it comes time to choosing something for dinner, or making selections at the grocery store.
When you head to the store, its hard to know where to begin. You might do what a lot of people do, and look at the nutrition facts listed on almost every food in the store. Nutrition facts are based off of a 2000 calorie diet, a standard used for energy requirements for the average person. So one of the easiest ways of looking for quality foods is to count calories. Yet with this type of eating, you’ll more than likely have a diet of empty calories, meaning you’ll still lack nourishment in the foods you need the most.
To properly read food labels:
Start with the serving size. If the serving size is extremely small, the manufacturer is simply trying to keep calories, total fats and proteins at a reasonable level. In order to accomplish this, they have to reduce the portion size to something unreasonable that the majority of people will never abide by. Read more
Nov
15
Exercises That Can Help Your Back Pain
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When you suffer from back pain, you want relief as quickly as possible. While your physician may prescribe painkillers or advise you to take an over-the-counter medication, medicine may not always do the trick, nor may it be the best thing for you. Sometimes, you need to try other things to get relief from your back pain. Exercise is one of the most natural ways you can help ease your back pain. Through a series of stretching and other mild exercises, you can increase your flexibility and relieve your back pain.
Passive Stretches – these stretching exercises help keep your joints moving. Hold each stretch for about 20 seconds.
Back Stretch – Lie on the floor on your stomach. Using your arms, push the upper part of your body up, making a gentle curve of your back. Relax your stretch and repeat. Read more
Nov
7
When you suffer from pain, whether it is in your back, neck, joints or other parts of your body, one of the places you may not consider for treatment is the chiropractor. Chiropractors help alleviate pain by making simple adjustments to the bones in your body. They also use heat and cold therapy, as well as deep tissue massage, to provide pain relief. If you are considering seeking treatment from a chiropractor, the only thing stopping you may be the cost. Many people wonder if chiropractic care is covered by insurance.
While some chiropractic care offices may indeed accept certain types of insurance, there are many ways to pay for treatment. Chiropractors deal with this question all the time, and most are willing to talk to you about the many options available to you.
Start with a FSA, or flexible savings account. Many insurance programs today offer you the option of having a low cost insurance option, combined with a flexible savings account that you fund and use at your discretion. Once you have money in your account, you simply write checks to pay for medical expenses you deem necessary. If you talk with your chiropractor about a year long plan, you’ll quickly learn how much you’ll need over the coming year, and how much to budget into your account. Read more
Oct
27
Do you have a tingling sensation in your hands and wrists? Do they become numb or painful? You might find yourself wondering if you have joined the ranks plagued by a common complaint of our day: carpal tunnel syndrome.
Did you know that carpal tunnel syndrome is not the only problem that can cause the symptoms you are suffering with? In fact, quite often what is diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome actually has nothing to do with a wrist issue at all. Read more
Oct
20
What Is Whiplash?
Filed Under Chiropractic Care | 1 Comment
Being involved in an automobile accident is a stressful and, sometimes, painful event.
The stress comes from having to deal with the legal portion of the accident – filling out a police report, filing a claim with your insurance company, and dealing with auto repairs.
The painful portion comes from possible injuries. Some accidents cause severe injuries, while others cause less severe, but still painful, injuries. One of the most common injuries sustained in automobile accidents is whiplash.
Most occurrences of whiplash result from rear-end collisions. As the two cars collide, the occupants’ heads are violently “lashed” forward and backward, like a whip.
Whiplash is a painful neck injury that can display a number of painful problems. Herniated discs can occur from whiplash. The vertebrae of the spine have tiny discs in between and whiplash can cause small tears that cause the discs to bulge out. The bulging disc can come into contact with nerve endings and cause a great deal of physical pain in the body.
Joint problems are another possible result of whiplash. The strain on the joints from the impact can leave the joints with less resiliency, making it painful to move. Read more
Oct
14
Winter is quickly approaching and with it comes ski season. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, it is important to be prepared before you hit the slopes. Skiing can leave your body in rough shape if you are not properly equipped. The following tips will help you prepare for the impending ski season and make your skiing days more enjoyable.
Schedule regular adjustments with your chiropractor before the season starts. This will help to keep you muscles, spine and ligaments in top shape, making a minor tumble less likely to leave lasting pain. Read more
Oct
6
Having a headache can be very uncomfortable and disruptive to your day.
Having a migraine can be a traumatic experience, causing pain so severe that you are literally unable to function.
There are many over-the-counter and prescription medications for headaches and migraines. However, one of the keys to solving your painful predicaments is knowing what is causing the pain. Narrowing down the culprit can help you prevent headache and migraine “triggers” and stop the pain before it ever starts. Read more
Sep
29
When you have back or neck pain, have you ever wondered exactly where the source of the pain is? Have you ever thought about the various bones that make up your spine and their particular functions? Probably not, right? Most people do not give their bones a second thought – until they hurt.
A very important bone in your spine – one that is often overlooked and forgotten – is the Atlas vertebra. The next time you have pain in your neck, this bone could be the source.
The Atlas vertebra is a small bone at the top of your neck. It weighs only two ounces and supports the entire weight of your head. This tiny bone protects the upper part of your spinal cord, as well as your brain stem. It is a very important bone – quite possibly the most important bone in your body. Just like any other bone, it can become damaged and cause significant trouble. Read more
Sep
23
As the weather brings cooler temperatures, you may find yourself falling into some unhealthy living habits. You may start eating more foods as a way to “stay warm”, like yummy soups and stews. And because the nights are longer, and the temperatures are colder, you’ll probably wind up spending more time on the couch, under a blanket enjoying a good book or movie. After all, colder weather is likely to have you avoid the outdoor temperatures. These tips for healthy living will help you maintain your healthy lifestyle, no matter what the season.
Avoid heartburn from all of the delicious, holiday foods by eating smaller portions, by staying active after eating a full meal, and by knowing what foods to avoid. Certain foods trigger heartburn, so knowing what your “triggers” are will help you avoid the burn and enjoy your holiday meals.
Use meditation for reducing stress. As the autumn approaches, so does the stress of the holidays. You can help unwind after a busy day of shopping or after a long day of family gatherings with some meditation. Meditation can also lower your blood pressure and give your immunity a little boost, helping protect you from cold-weather illnesses. Read more
