Archive for April, 2010
You Can’t Afford to Injure Your Joints
I just read an interesting article in the health section of newyorktimes.com about the “financial” benefits of protecting your joints. As a chiropractor, when it comes to the health of the joints of the musculoskeletal system, protecting the joints from injury and unnecessary wear and tear are key to preventing painful and often debilitating problems as our body ages. As I mentioned in past articles, degenerative arthritis can be appreciably decreased and even avoided with proper education, exercise, and treatment. However, I have found that, unfortunately, it’s hard for people to “get motivated” now to do something about potential problems. But, adding a financial incentive may just do the trick!
Did you know that more than 400,000 people a year have one or more hips or knees replaced? And, did you know that the cost for a new hip or knee is $30,000 to $40,000? Even if you have insurance, your out-of-pocket expenses can still be quite substantial, especially when you include the cost of days off from work. The article offered several “preventative measures” that might help your joints to stay healthy longer. And, with the exception of its suggestion that glucosamine and chondroitin “probably are of limited benefit,” I am in agreement with the article’s joint protection suggestions.- control your weight
- stay active in “low impact” exercise and sports
- try to avoid injury
- get fit
- be skeptical*
The article in its entirety is well worth the read (and implementation), even if your current motivation is a only financial one. Click on the link for more information.
* I have witnessed the highly beneficial results of glucosamine ahd chondroitin supplementation.
Your Chiropractor in Oxnard Offers An Unexpected Solution to Your Allergy Discomfort
Dr. Donald Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard, is aware that allergic reactions can make your daily activities unpleasant. A stroll in the park, a play date with Kitty, a seafood dinner, or even something as small as a nut feasibly can result in such miserable symptoms as itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, or a skin rash.
However, quite often a person’s allergic reactions can increase from just plain aggravating to serious and even life-threatening as the air passageway begins to close and breathing becomes labored. This kind of development of difficulties can typically produce a state of extreme stress and also a trip to the ER.
Allergy symptoms can, indeed, change into an incredibly serious disburbance and cause you to feel sidelined and not able to take part in daily life. In point of fact, if you are one of those unfortunate individuals who have allergies, it may perhaps appear to you that, every once in awhile, your environment is a pretty antagonistic space and that the world around you is, actually, out to get you!
Perhaps you wonder why it is that other human beings seem to be so invulnerable to the identical environmental challenges that send your body into overwhelm. Others seem either unaware of or plainly`totally unresponsive to the would-be irritants that lie in wait at every turn, while your body reacts, or rather overreacts, to them. Why you? It’s a logical question. The answer is that many folks, such as you, have a hyperactive immune system that virtually “goes wild” whenever you come upon everyday substances such as pollen, dander, shellfish, or nuts.
Can your Oxnard Chiropractor assist you in obtaining a significant decrease in your allergy symptoms? Happily, the answer is a booming “Yes,” and the explanation might surprise you. Many chiropractic patients have noticed that they experience freedom from their allergy symptoms following a chiropractic treatment, even though chiropractic care doesn’t necessarily directly address allergies, per se. The scientific explanation for the decrease in allergy symptoms is because chiropractic manipulation affects your complete nervous system, which includes the autoimmune system, which is at the root of your allergic responses. Whenever there is a dysfunction within the nervous system, coupled with other problems, the autoimmune system, whose job it is to allow you to adapt and respond appropriately to your environment, has the potential to become under-active or overactive. When it comes to your allergies, the reaction is the latter (it becomes overactive).
Because chiropractic adjustments are intended to lessen or even entirely remove disruptions within the nervous system and recreate symmetry and relaxation to the entire body, together with a variety of corrections, the manipulations restore homeostasis to the autoimmune system also. A vigorous immune system responds properly to so-called allergens in the environment.
So, as pointed out previously, your Chiropractor in Oxnard doesn’t actually target allergy symptoms, nevertheless that doesn’t indicate your allergies won’t improve or go away completely. On the other hand, you could point out, instead, that relief from your allergies is solely the consequence of your rebalanced nervous system. If you would like to get back into harmony with your environment as quickly as is possible, visit Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard, today. He will help you get your life back!
Spring Is In The Air!
Aah, Springtime! The fragrance of daffodils, lilacs, and hyacinth fills the air. However, for some people it's "Achoo!" Springtime because, unfortunately, along with the lovely fragrance of spring blooms comes pollen and other materials that ride on the sweet air currents as well! Seasonal allergies can make your everyday life miserable. Rather than relaxation, a walk in the park can produce itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, or even a skin rash.
Fortunately, if you're one of those people whose immune system virtually "freaks out" when spring is in the air, chiropractic treatment may help to relieve your allergy symptoms. How?
Well, even though chiropractic care doesn't actually treat allergies, per se, chiropractic manipulation affects the entire nervous system, including the autoimmune system, which is the source of your allergic responses. When the detritus of spring floats your way, your autoimmune system, whose task it is to help you to adapt and respond appropriately to your environment, becomes overactive. Since chiropractic adjustments can lessen or even completely eliminate disturbances in the nervous system and bring back balance and harmony to the whole body, along with a variety of healthy corrections, chiropractic adjustments provide homeostasis to the autoimmune system as well. A healthy immune system responds appropriately to so-called allergens in the environment, including pollen.
So, if you want to get back into harmony with birds and the bees and the flowers and trees, give your chiropractor a call. Springtime should be nothing to sneeze at!
Chiropractor in Wichita Advises: Don’t Let The Pain of Sciatica Ruin Your Life
As a Wichita Chiropractor for more than twenty years, I have treated many individuals suffering from sciatic pain, I’m truly aware from experience just how disabling sciatic pain can be. Sciatica sufferers are regrettably all too familiar with the deep radiating pain that persists during the day and restricts almost all of their daily activities.
Could your low back pain be generated by sciatica? You are probably experiencing sciatica if your pain travels from your low back, through your buttock(s), down the large sciatic nerve in the back of your leg(s), and possibly radiates into your knee(s). Also, not solely motion, but even sitting can be painful. Frequently lying down will decrease, or occasionally even temporarily eliminate the pain. But, you should be alerted to the fact that sciatica cannot be corrected without proper care.
Radiculopathy
A radiculopathy is a medical term used to describe a condition where a disc has protruded from its natural position in the spine and is putting pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) that forms part of the sciatic nerve in the lower back. This type of pressure is extremely painful.
Additional pressure on the intervertebral discs, as well as imbalances in the muscles encasing the spine, can take place during and after long periods of sitting, especially in an awkward position. A specific event or injury isn’t generally the cause of sciatica, instead sciatica is likely to progress over time due to everyday wear and tear on the vertebrae of the lower spine. Over the course of time the lower spine can lose its normal functioning capabilities during common stresses.
When this occurs, the intervertebral disc undergoes small fissures or cracks that then let the soft nucleus to protrude the disc outward. If the disc pushes on sensitive tissues, it produces the pain that is commonly called a ruptured, or slipped, disc. Sciatica is the result of the disc pressing on the spinal nerve. Fortunately, most disc challenges, including sciatica, can be completely relieved with chiropractic treatment and management that often includes postural exercises.
Periformis Syndrome
Periformis syndrome is another cause of sciatic pain. Periformis syndrome develops when the periformis muscle, which is superficial to the sciatic nerve, goes into spasm and irritates the nerve. In combination with chiropractic treatment, this kind of sciatica can be significantly relieved by sciatica stretches that your chiropractor will advise you on.
If you are experiencing sciatic pain, it is essential for you to see your chiropractor for treatment. If you are in the Wichita area, as your Chiropractor in Wichita, I invite you to come in to see if I can get you out of pain and help you to get your life back!