The Negative Potential of Technology on Your Health.

It seems that people with a technology device in hand reading, texting, taking a selfie and all in the name of immediate social response.  Combine this with the overstuffed, improperly worn backpacks and we are setting ourselves up for a critical storm.  These poorly worn and over used devices are putting undue stress on our spine and nervous system affecting the structure, function and physiology of our bodies.  

The spine is made up of 24 vertebrae.  When positioned and functioning properly, the spine is designed to resist the heaviest of loads.  Take away the ideal position combined with repetitive static loads and the spine becomes weakened and subject to premature wearing, pain, and stiffness. The compromised tissues structure over time will increase our susceptibility to sudden injury and even sickness.

Research found that abnormal spinal health and posture leads to an imbalance in hormones. A study from 2014 cited that repetitive poor posture, particularly of the head and neck caused LOW T(testosterone), reduced serotonin, increased cortisol and more. In the 2014 study, published in the Surgical Technology International Journal, billions of people were found to be using cell phone devices daily. Stresses on the spine from constantly looking down at a cell phone is very damaging to short and long term health. This study evaluated forward head flexion stress on the human spine and corresponding body function. The findings were remarkable: 

*The study assessed the forces placed on the spine as the head is tilted forward into worsening posture.

*The study evaluated the stress using an average head weight of 13.2 pounds

*The weight added to the spine dramatically increases when flexing for varying degrees. 0° increased weight on the neck by 10 to 12 pounds. 15° increased weight on the neck by 27 pounds. 30° increased the weight on the neck by 40 pounds. 45° increased the weight on the neck by 49pounds. And 60° increased the weight on the neck by 60 pounds.  Can’t grasp the significance of 60 pounds? Imagine carrying an 8-year-old around your neck several hours per day.

*Loss of the natural curve of the cervical spine leads to incrementally increased stresses about the cervical spine. The stresses may lead to early wear, tear, degeneration, and possibly surgeries.

*Good posture is defined as ears aligned with the shoulders and shoulders retracted. With proper alignment, spinal stress is diminished.

*Good posture was associated with much more than just bad backs or bad necks. Good posture helped increase good hormones. Good posture was linked to higher testosterone, increases in serotonin, decreases in cortisol, and increased feelings of power. Poor posture is associated with reductions in testosterone levels, reduced serotonin, increased cortisol, and reduced feelings of power.

*Poor posture occurs with the head in a tilted forward position and the shoulders drooping forward in a rounded position.

*An average person spends 2 to 4 hours a day with their heads tilted forward for reading and texting on their smart phones, amassing 700 to 1400 hours of excess, abnormal cervical spine stress per year. It was also noted that a high school student may even spend an extra 5000 hours in poor posture per year.

Beyond spinal and muscle injuries, improper posture influences all aspect of human performance through the endocrine system. As evidenced through research, poor posture negatively influences levels of testosterone, serotonin, cortisol, and feelings of power.  Bad posture has been linked to a host of other medical problems, including headaches and other neurological problems, depression, constipation, and heart disease. At a minimum, constant slouching is likely to cause a lot of chronic pain.

As technology continues to govern more and more of societal functions, the need for practitioners who positively influence posture increases. Unfortunately, most of society still believes that poor posture is more of a cosmetic issue than a health issue. Because of this, awareness and education is the key to making change. 
 

Chiropractors are key leaders to improving quality and longevity of life in all men and women by improving the health and function through postural alignment.

Quick tips to minimize the costly damages of technology and backpacks.

1.                   Limit use of technology

2.                   Maintain proper posture while using technology & backpacks

3.                   Do regular spinal postural stretching and movement exercises

4.                   Drink the proper amount of daily water

5.                   Stand, stretch and move regularly 

If you feel problems are persisting find a chiropractor to do a postural analysis to assess the potential damages and discuss options for correcting the problem.

Yours in Better Health

Dr. Russell Heller

                                       

 Surgical Technology International Journal 2014 Nov;25: 277-9. Hansraj, KK.

All is Not Lost to Respiratory Viruses Like COVID-19 (Corona Virus)

As with all viruses they are diseases of opportunity.  In other words they infect when given the opportunity in a receptive host (body) that is less than healthy. This is proved by the fact that we are surrounded by germs and viruses everyday yet only occasionally if seldom get sick.  So, the person best equipped to take care of you is you. Keeping your body and immune system as healthy as possible. Your routine through the day can have a great impact on your body's resistance to viral infections.

Here are some tips from our friends at NCMIC to help you and your family feel safe and ready to face the world.

In General

Wash, wash, wash your hands. Did you know soap and water are more effective than hand sanitizer
(and apparently easier to find right now)? To really get rid of any germs, wash for at least 20 seconds – which just happens to be how long it takes to hum Row-Row-Row Your Boat three times.

Be sneeze- and cough-courteous. Coughing or sneezing into the inner crook of your arm catches the droplets that would otherwise end up in the air or on the surfaces around you. The COVID-19 virus is transmitted through droplets, not through breathing, so this is important.

Save the mask for Halloween. The benefit of a mask is that it controls the outbound expression of germs when someone coughs or sneezes. If you’re healthy, a mask won’t be very effective in preventing the spread of germs. If you’re sick and need to be out in the world, a mask can help protect those around you from the germs you send out when you cough or sneeze.

Don’t touch your face! The easiest way to get sick (with any kind of virus) is to introduce germs from your hands to mucus membranes – like your eyes, nose and mouth.

Netflix and chill. If you’re not feeling well (whether it’s coronavirus or an old-school cold) please stay home, cuddle with your dog and catch up on your favorite show.

Out in the World

Wipe it out. Many of us do this anyway, but grab one of those wet wipes at the grocery store entrance to clean the cart (buggy for you southerners) handle.

Declutter! A clean desk or counter makes it easier to run a cleaning cloth across.

Personal space. Keep at least 3 feet between you and someone who is sneezing or coughing.
 
Sharing = caring? Not right now! We’re usually all about sharing, but for now the kindest thing you can do is avoid sharing food, drinks, even lotion or sanitizers – and the germs that ride with them.

Breathe in, breathe out. Ventilation is a good thing. Weather and location permitting, crack a window.

Taking Care of Yourself

Be on your best behavior. Keep yourself in good shape by getting plenty of sleep, being physically active, drinking lots of water and
eating nutritious foods. A stressed body is a weak body, so manage your stress through exercise, meditation or conversation with a trusted friend.

Self-care matters. Caring for yourself is the best thing you can do for your overall health.

Websites

For additional trusted resources about the coronavirus, we recommend these websites:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus

Corona Virus, Spanish Flu and Chiropractic

Listening to the news reports one can not help but believe that we are all doomed to fall victim to the Corona virus making its way out of China.  Yes, it seems to be quite virulent and mortality from it is higher than typical viruses;  however, as with most viruses our best defense is to use proper hygene and keep our immune system supported.  Healthy immune function is important for everything from the cold and a runny nose, to influenza, cancer, and heart disease.  This entails getting adequate sleep, eating right (avoiding over consumption of processed foods and their additives, watching our sweetener intake), drinking plenty of fluids  and consuming vitamin C and D which have been shown to improve the resistance of the immune system.

As I thought about this, it reminded me of an historical chiropractic point.  Chiropractic came into its own during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919. (<-This link downloads a PDF)  Chiropractic historians have marked the 1918 Flu Pandemic as a major factor in the success and proliferation of the chiropractic profession as a whole.   During the time before the take over of healthcare by the pharmaceutical industry, chiropractic was actually licensed and utilized to treat many infectious disease and disorders; even polio up to the 1950’s.   As mentioned above, the best defense is a strong immune system.  So how did chiropractic help?  Multiple studies show the positive benefits of the chiropractic adjustment  here and here.  

Specifically, chiropractic has been shown to  reduce the production of pro inflammatory substances in the body,  stimulate the production of immune boosting white blood cells and enhance their activity.   Spinal adjustments have been found to increase and even kick off the production immunoglobulins which act as anti bodies against disease causing organisms.

How effective was chiropractic in its efforts against the Spanish flu?  In Davenport, Iowa, 50 medical doctors treated 4,953 cases, with 274 deaths. Throughout Iowa, excluding Davenport, 4,735 patients were treated by chiropractors with a loss of only 6 cases.   Epidemic reports show that in New York City, during the influenza epidemic of 1918, out of every 10,000 cases medically treated, 950 died.  The same reports show that chiropractors cared for 3,490 cases of influenza with only 7 deaths.  In Oklahoma there is a clear record showing that chiropractors were called in 233 cases where medical doctors had cared for the patients, and finally gave them up as lost. The chiropractors saved all but 25 of these “lost” cases.  National figures show that 1,142 chiropractors treated 46,394 patients for influenza during 1918, with a loss of only 54 patients.  These figures clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of chiropractic care in helping our bodies fight against disease.

This is only one aspect of the amazing benefits of chiropractic.  Numerous studies and research have shown profound affects of the adjustment on the musculoskeletal system, neurology, hormonal balance, immunology and even psycho-emotional states by way of modulating the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) and its effect on the body, all with virtually no negative side effects.

I would urge you to consider putting the powerful effects of chiropractic care into your wellness regime before you need to depend on the medico-pharmaceutical establishment for crisis care.  We welcome all patients, whether you are looking for an alternative or addition to your medical care.

Your Posture and Your Health

Your Posture and Your Health

Why is posture such a big deal to our health? It’s the missing ingredient that has long been ignored in our health care system.

Numerous studies over the past decade have shown posture to have an immense impact on our body’s
function and overall health. Postural changes due to the bones out of position create body and joint pains, nerve problems, decrease our breathing efficiency, our digestion, our circulation; and it can even affect hormonal production in the body.

Ideal Posture

Ideal posture is a balanced posture.  While standing, breathing in and out letting your body relax into a slump (don't push them just let them relax), your body should not fall forward at the head, the shoulders or the hips. Your body should stay upright with almost no effort.  Balanced, “ideal” posture
as viewed from  the side is described as a line drawn from the top down passing through the ear canal, the center of the shoulder, the center of the hip joint, the center of the knee and just in front of the ankle joint.  Any movement of these parts of the body away from this balance line leads to harmful changes in the structure and function of the body.

You probably think that poor posture and the bent over look in the elderly is due to old age. If that were true, all young people would have ideal, upright posture. Look around you, this is not so. This “humped” posture is due to the body’s compensations for the misalignments which it cannot correct. By correcting the body’s problems with ABC™, our patients find that their posture improves as well as their breathing and energy levels. So don’t let your body make you grow old any faster than necessary.

With ABC™ correcting your body structure, Not only will you feel better, healthier and younger, you will literally find yourself able to do physical activities you have not been able to do in decades — that is not just hype, it is what all our clients, young and old, tell us.

Lancet Medical Journal Points to Chiropractic for Low Back Pain

The Lancet Defines Low Back Pain 

and Calls for Effective Care in Brand-New Three-Part Series

San Jose, Calif. – March 23, 2018 – This week, The Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal, published a three-part series on low back pain, which addresses the associated ailment, the disability caused by low back pain and provides call-to-actions to meet the challenges associated with the prevention and management of low back pain. The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the value of chiropractic care, notes that Good Morning America – the most watched morning show for most of 2017– referred to The Lancet’s series as the Magnum Opus of low back pain, and referenced spinal manipulation as a recommended approach to manage low back pain.

“Ninety-four percent of spinal manipulations in the U.S. are performed by a doctor of chiropractic,” shares Sherry McAllister, DC, executive vice president, F4CP, who notes that chiropractic care is proven to yield improved clinical outcomes, reduced costs and high patient satisfaction. “With

approximately 80 percent of the population bound to experience back pain at some point in their lives, the Foundation commends The Lancet for publishing a series that accurately communicates the education and action items necessary to establish more effective, patient-centered care, which may include spinal manipulation, surrounding low back pain to a global audience.”

Key findings from each of the three papers published in The Lancet:

• What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention
• Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is common among individuals of all ages, demographics and socio-economic statuses. The burden of low back pain must be addressed through amplified research and global initiatives.
• Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions
• Potential solutions to effectively manage low back pain may include but are not limited to focused strategies that can implement best practice, the redesign of clinical pathways, integrated health and occupational interventions to reduce work disability, changes in compensation and disability claims policies, and public health and prevention strategies.
• Low back pain: a call for action
• One call to action encourages the promotion of living well with low back pain through enhanced, patient-centered care which focuses on self-management and healthy lifestyles as a means of restoring and maintaining function and high-quality of life.

Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) receive a minimum of seven years of higher education and are specifically trained to diagnose, evaluate and provide non-pharmaceutical care and rehabilitation to individuals suffering from acute and chronic back, low back and neck pain, headaches, neuro-musculoskeletal conditions and general health and wellness.

Dr. McAllister continues, “With the number of individuals effected worldwide by low back pain, The Lancet’s new published series should spark an interest among providers across all disciplines to collaborate and provide patients with the safest, most effective care for the management of low back pain.”

About Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) informs and educates the general public about the value of chiropractic care and its role in drug-free pain management. Visit www.f4cp.com; call 866-901-F4CP (3427). Social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube.

Avoid NSAID's, Reduce Inflammation, Live Better

My readers may have seen in past blogs and Facebook posts information regarding the dangers of analgesics (pain reducers), over the counter and prescription.  The question then arises, what can I do to help control pain.  Aside from addressing the body's structural problems, which lead to pain, with chiropractic evaluation and care, one of our recommendations is Turmeric.  Turmeric has been proven to reduce or eliminate pain better than leading prescription medications. [1]

A 2004 study published in the journal Oncogene [2] found that turmeric was an effective alternative to the drugs; aspirin, ibuprofen, sulindac, phenylbutazone, naproxen and diclofenac and the like, generally considered NSAID's (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories).

Turmeric does not just fight pain and inflammation, it does so much more. [3]

Simple root, Profound action

Most researchers agree that the turmeric’s profound healing abilities can be traced to its powerful anti-inflammatory action.

Full-spectrum turmeric (whole root, as opposed to an isolated curcumin extract) is especially effective because it operates by both mechanisms of anti-inflammatory action.

Most anti-inflammatory foods, work in one of the following ways...

1. They neutralize free radicals in the body which causes inflammation, with a flood of antioxidants or

2. They stop the body from producing the chemicals that initiate inflammation in the first place (this is how aspirin and OTC pain meds work)

What is unique about turmeric is that it combats inflammation through both of these mechanisms.... simultaneously! Its multi-pronged approach allows it to work wonders for aches, pains, and arthritis (by stopping inflammation at the source), while also strongly supporting the immune system with antioxidants.
 

Nearly all diseases and ailments can be traced back to inflammation and oxidative stress…it appears there’s almost nothing that turmeric can’t help.

Not all forms of turmeric are created equal…

Most of the turmeric supplements you see in stores come in the form of encapsulated powders. Many are just the isolated curcuminoids and as we mentioned above the whole root, with complimentary components appear to be most beneficial.

 

The truth is with turmeric powder you may be getting very little actual benefit.  Turmeric powder has a fairly low bioavailability (meaning that a good portion of it isn’t properly absorbed by your body), it often isn’t very fresh, and it’s sometimes made with harsh processes that can destroy or degrade turmeric’s healthful components.

 

Our recommendation;  buy a quality, full spectrum (whole root) supplement or what my family prefers is buying fresh whole root and grate it ourselves as needed. You can crush it or grind it, we purchased an inexpensive "micro grater", it works wonderfully and easy to clean up.  You can also use it for other root foods like garlic and ginger.   It can be difficult to find turmeric root in smaller communities and expensive when you do find it in major chain grocery stores.  We have great luck at Asian markets.  Most usages in cooking or dosing call for a teaspoon or less.  

 

Through experimentation our family has learned to use it in a number of home cooked dishes.  We also enjoy "Golden milk" or "Turmeric tea".   By using turmeric in these ways you can also increase its bioavailability (absorption).  Studies have found that absorption of turmeric components can be increased by either heating the ground up root, adding healthy fats or adding black pepper. Golden milk can do all three.

So, save your liver and kidneys from the abuse of NSAID use and consider giving turmeric a try.  Aside from the pain relieving properties tumeric has also been found to protect the brain, repair the liver, protect the heart after surgery, helps asthma patients and the list could go on and on.  Turmeric has been found to be as effective as 25 drugs, without the side effects.

 

 

 

References:
1. Analgesic Efficacy and Safety of Curcuminoids in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: Pain Med. 2015 Dec 14. Epub 2015 Dec 14. PMID: 26814259
2. Green Med Info: greenmedinfo.com/blog/science-confirms-turmeric-effective-14-drugs
3. Zingiberaceae extracts for pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis: Nutr J. 2015 ;14:50. Epub 2015 May 14. PMID: 25972154