Redmond Chiropractor

Spinal Alignment

2012-01-06T15:00:00.000-08:00

Although alignment is important for your whole body, chiropractors specialize in alignment of the spine. The spine (comprising 24 vertebrae plus the sacrum and coccyx) creates a hollow tube in which the spinal cord - a sensitive collection of nerve tissue - can be found. The peripheral nerves originate from the spinal cord, and then branch out to all other areas of the body. The spinal cord plus all peripheral nerves function collectively as the communication network that allows the brain to monitor and regulate the entire body – via electronic signals. If the spine is not aligned properly, this can disrupt this important messaging network of nerves and nerve impulses, leading to dysregulation and disease in any area of the body!

As early as 1921, medical scientists were revealing the importance of the spine. In a landmark study conducted by Dr. Henry Winsor, he showed that ‘minor curvatures of the spine’ (subluxations) were directly associated with organ disease in 50 human cadavers. Out of 139 diseased organs found in the dissections, 128 of these cases directly correlated to abnormal minor curvatures of the spine in the exact location of the sympathetic nerve supply to that organ! And, for the 9 other diseased organs, minor curvatures of the spine affected the adjacent segments, in areas where nerve filaments could still exit the spine to supply those organs. Dr. Winsor concluded that there was nearly a 100% correlation between minor curvatures of the spine (vertebral subluxations) and diseased organ tissue!

Proper Alignment

2012-01-02T14:00:00.000-08:00

You may have heard chiropractors such as myself saying that proper "alignment" is good for your health, but what does it really mean to have good alignment?

Depending upon its intended purpose, a joint is designed to move in a number of different directions (i.e. a hinge joint, or a ball-andsocket joint). Alignment helps to insure the proper balance of stability and mobility. When the alignment of the two connecting parts is ideal, the joint will function as it was originally intended. When the connecting parts are out of alignment, natural movements ar restricted. Different parts of the joint make contact with each other, creating friction and resistance. Increased friction also results in requiring more energy to perform routine motions.

Not only can this affect functionality, but it also leads to abnormal wear and tear – causing the lifespan of the joint to shorten. Think of the body: the knee joint functions as a simple hinge, with movement in two directions – flexion and extension. If there is misalignment coming from above or below the knee, this can lead to excessive friction and heat in the knee itself (inflammation), which can lead to early degeneration (osteoarthritis).

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T15:35:00.001-08:00

May your new year be filled with success, growth, and great relationships!

Acquiring Good Posture

2011-11-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

Since the early days of its development, chiropractic has always known the power of mind-body communication. Subluxations interfere with the communication between nerves and the brain. If you have a pinched nerve in your vertebra, your tissues that are connected to this nerve will be unable to properly relay information to your brain. Chiropractic adjustments improve communication between your mind and body. As well as relieving pain, adjustments reduce both physical and mental stress so you have better overall well-being.
Posture is the way your body is held in space – whether standing, sitting, or lying down. Certain physical structures in your body line up correctly with your center of gravity. If your body has proper posture, there is a perfect balance to your physical structures, and you are able to hold your body in a healthy position with minimal effort. Ask us to assess your posture to see if these anatomical areas are correctly aligned.

You can also help yourself by following these good posture tips.

1. Be aware. Practicing awareness of your posture is the first step to correcting it.

2. Take regular breaks from sitting at a computer. Research shows a strong connection between neck pain and intense computer usage.

3. Check the ergonomics of your workstation or desk.

4. Stretch tight muscles, and strengthen weak postural muscles. Your chiropractor can show you the correct techniques to use.

5. Get regular chiropractic adjustments. When it moves properly, your spine has the best chance to position itself properly.

The Importance of Good Posture

2011-11-17T15:00:00.000-08:00

Stop! Before you read the rest of this post, check your posture. Is it in the correct position? Or is it slumped? Do you know the fundamentals of correct posture? Many of us do not give much thought to the subject. This is unfortunate because keeping your spine in the optimal position can deliver a lot more than just a pain-free back. Posture can affect other areas of your body, including your respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems. New evidence also reveals the close connection between your posture and how you think about yourself.
Making the effort to be aware of your posture can go a long way to reducing pain and feeling better about yourself. Incorrect posture can actually cause pain to intensify and persist. New research published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found when individuals adopted dominant, upright postures they were able to endure more pain compared to individuals who assumed submissive postures. The researchers believe assuming a dominant posture signals to the brain that it has more control of its current condition and environment, and it may cause hormonal changes in the body that boost pain-killing hormones. Aside from pain, chronic posture problems can lead to joint and disk degeneration and damage to ligaments, muscles and cartilage.
While it helps lessen pain, good posture also impacts internal thoughts. Employment coaches recommend job seekers maintain excellent posture because it communicates selfconfidence to job interviewers, but new research shows posture affects your internal confidence. The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University recently published a study that showed people who used proper posture and expansive body positions actually increased their sense of power and likelihood of taking action, regardless of their job title or position within an organization. The authors of the Kellogg study were surprised that a person’s job position, whether at the top of the corporate ladder or at the bottom, did not seem to have a significant effect on self-confidence. Instead, consistently good posture actually had a bigger impact on how likely you are to believe your own thoughts.

Maintaining a Healthy Liver

2011-11-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

You can do your liver a big favor by not abusing alcohol, eating a healthy diet and keeping your weight level in an appropriate range. Are there other ways to help keep your liver running smoothly? Health researchers have determined some herbal substances that may be beneficial for your liver. Although they are natural, these herbal substances may react dangerously with some medications and certain health conditions. Always talk to your chiropractor before using supplements and herbal remedies.

Milk Thistle

The tall milk thistle plant has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years. Physicians in ancient Rome and Greece used the seeds from the milk thistle’s fruit to detoxify the liver and to treat snake bites. Today, healthcare practitioners prescribe it for cleaning your liver and reducing damage from alcohol and some chemotherapy medications. The most powerful therapeutic ingredient in milk thistle is silymarin, which is a robust antioxidant.

Turmeric

Part of the ginger family, turmeric is a spice widely used in India, especially in curried foods. But it also has a long history of medicinal use in India and Chinese traditional medicine. Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric that delivers most of this spice’s medicinal properties. Like silymarin in milk thistle, curcumin is a strong antioxidant. Throughout its long medical history, turmeric was prescribed for liver disease, flushing out toxins and soothing digestive disorders. Turmeric is available in supplement form, such as capsules, tablets and tinctures.

Dangers to the Liver

2011-11-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is the 12th leading cause of death from disease in North America. Cirrhosis is a progressive condition where scar tissue overtakes normal liver tissue. The overwhelming cause of cirrhosis is alcohol abuse, although other causes, such as hepatitis, fatty liver (see below) and environmental toxins, can spur cirrhosis. As the scarring destroys healthy tissue, the liver starts to malfunction. Making lifestyle and dietary changes can help slow damage. In serious cases, a liver transplant is required.

Fatty Liver Disease

This condition has seen a dramatic rise in our population, and the obesity epidemic can take part of the blame. Fatty liver occurs when this organ is overwhelmed by fat, and its proper function is affected by inflammation. Without medical intervention, this can progress to liver cirrhosis, and even life-threatening liver failure. Alcohol abuse contributes to creating fatty liver as do metabolic problems, gastric bypass surgery and some medications. However, the increasing rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease – where alcohol abuse is not a factor – is often associated with excessive body fat.

Hepatitis

The two types of this viral infection that affect the liver most significantly are hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Hepatitis B does not always show symptoms. It is spread through contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids. A long term infection of hepatitis B can harm the liver. Hepatitis C is spread through blood and not by sexual contact. If an infected person progresses to the chronic type of hepatitis C, liver damage can be severe. Like hepatitis B, this type of hepatitis does not always show symptoms; the disease can easily go undiagnosed for years. Blood tests can detect hepatitis.

Your Liver And You

2011-11-07T15:00:00.000-08:00

When it comes to keeping our internal organs healthy, we usually hear lots of advice for the brain and heart. We do not hear too much information on how best to take care of our liver. Although it may not have a high profile in the health media like the brain and heart do, our liver is extremely important to our survival.

The liver performs a number of important functions:

• Filters blood and remove toxins

• Produces substances important for blood clotting

• Stores nutrients for future use

• Processes medicine

• Breaks down saturated fat
It is impossible to live without a liver (except on short-term liver dialysis), as its functions are unique and play a major role in the body's metabolism.

The Benefits of Stretching

2011-11-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

Stretching is integral to your health, as it helps maintain proper mobility, alignment and function. Although there are a number of stretching techniques that have developed over the years, there are two basic stretching protocols: dynamic and static.
Dynamic stretching involves movement to increase range of motion (like performing arm circles). Static stretching involves little or no movement while increasing your end-range (holding a stretch). Static stretching usually involves a more relaxed mindset and can be considered more effective for postural muscles. Dynamic stretching is more commonly used before strenuous exercise. There are also stretching techniques such as PNF, whereby muscles are stretched immediately following a strong contraction - taking advantage of neuromuscular reflexes to achieve better results.
Regardless of which technique is used, the goal is always the same: warm up the muscles first with some gentle calisthenics, then bring the target muscle into an elongated position and encourage it to stay there. As the muscles are trained to stay in their lengthened position, less pressure is exerted on the joints, and a more natural, balanced state will be achieved in the musculoskeletal system.

Muscle Problems

2011-10-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

Although a certain degree of tension in a muscle is necessary, too much tension can create imbalance, functional restrictions and/or pain. Whether it is caused by stress, overuse, repetitive strain or acute trauma, abnormal muscle tightness is unhealthy for your body. It places an excessive amount of stress and strain on the joints involved, predisposing them to arthritis and early degeneration. In addition, many nerves and blood vessels pass directly through muscle. If the muscle is too tight, this can irritate the nerves or compress the blood vessels, causing numbness, tingling, pain or decreased circulation.

Problems in muscles are usually quite obvious, as direct touching of the affected areas is usually uncomfortable for the patient. Tight muscles located in your spine may contribute to vertebral subluxations. Misalignment of the vertebrae is particularly damaging, as this can cause irritation of the nerves exiting the spine. This can further disturb normal muscle function, leading to more symptoms. Thankfully, chiropractic adjustments are particularly effective at reducing nerve irritation caused by spinal joint dysfunction!

The Musculoskeletal System

2011-10-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

Your skeleton is a collection of over 200 bones that give your body its shape and structure. In between adjacent bones you have joints, and holding the joints together, are ligaments. These are what gives your body support, protects your vital organs, and allows for the foundation around which movement occurs.

The skeletal system is a static structure on its own. However, when you add muscles you create a dynamic, functional musculoskeletal system capable of performing work, maintaining an upright posture, transporting your body from one place to another, and allowing for personal expression using language and gestures.

With few exceptions (like the movement of the eye or tongue), a muscle attaches to two separate bones. As it contracts and shortens, the muscle creates relative movement of these bones by bringing the two ends of the muscle closer together. The coordination of muscles turning off and on allow for the complete range of human performance. Examples include the powerful, explosive movements created by a sprinter’s legs, or the delicate, intricate finger movements of a professional violinist. This coordination is facilitated by a constant loop of feedback messages among the muscles, the nerves and the brain.

Multivitamins and Disease

2011-10-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

Multivitamins are a long-time staple in the ever expanding world of supplements. They have been around for decades and have been the subject of much debate among health researchers. Can multivitamins actually help prevent serious diseases? The debate is still not over. However, most health professionals agree people in North America do not eat enough healthy foods and frequently fail to meet their daily minimum nutritional requirements. Studies show calcium, magnesium, vitamins C, D and E are especially low in our population.

The support for daily multivitamin use is confirmed by a number of well-regarded medical institutions, including the Harvard Medical School. In an article that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Harvard medical specialists commented that low nutrient intake increases the risk of long-latency deficiency diseases, including cancer,cardiovascular disease and neurological problems. Taking a multivitamin with minerals has proven effective at protecting health in numerous studies. Research reveals consistent multivitamin use may help your body by reducing inflammation, cutting the risk of chronic disease, boosting the immune system and protecting neurological function.

However, the National Institutes of Health responded to the Harvard article by cautioning people that more research is needed, and taking a multivitamin does not guarantee protection from developing serious diseases. Also, multivitamins do not contain fiber and some other beneficial plant nutrients, which is why eating plenty of healthy whole foods is important. Of course, it is also important that you exercise and maintain an appropriate weight level.

Recovering from Car Accidents

2011-09-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

Most of the time, you should rest and remain immobile for the first 48-72 hours immediately following an automobile accident. Your body will respond to any injury with an inflammatory reaction. This makes the damaged area both swollen and pain sensitive. Attempted movements during this time will usually cause more pain. Muscles around the injured area tend to spasm – effectively splinting the area and preventing further damage. Muscle spasm can also cause greater compression and/or irritation of the joints, leading to more pain.

This pain-spasm-pain cycle should be prevented as much as possible, especially early in the recovery process following a motor vehicle accident. Cooling the immediate area of injury with ice for 5-10 minutes at a time may help limit the painful effects of inflammation. In addition, resting or lying down during the first few days will ease the postural strain felt around the neck and shoulders, and help promote healing.
After this initial inflammatory stage, a patient is recommended to resume normal movements as soon as possible – within a reasonable range and within the patient’s pain tolerance. If immobility is prolonged, muscle atrophy and weakness can make recovery and rehabilitation from a whiplash injury more difficult. If movement is not encouraged, muscle spasm can often persist, causing a ncreased compressive load on the discs and joints of the neck, potentially leading to chronic problems.

Vertebral subluxations in the neck and upper back are commonly found in those who experience car accidents. Therefore, at any stage of healing and recovery from whiplash-associated injuries, chiropractic adjustments can reduce pain and restore normal function.

Hidden Problems in Car Accidents

2011-09-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

When it comes to car accidents, paramedics are often the first health care professionals who attend to your needs. However, many accidents do not involve life-threatening injuries and many people think they are fine, when in fact they may still have serious problems. Some people encounter pain and tension right away. For others, the symptoms may get worse over time. Whether the impact occurs from the front or the rear, your neck is usually the most vulnerable area of your body in any motor vehicle accident. Car collisions involve rapid changes in acceleration and deceleration. Your body is held relatively still by a seat belt, whereas your head and neck are free to move.

This typically results in the neck moving very rapidly through an excessive range of motion, contributing to hyperflexion-hyperextension injuries that can affect soft tissues in the neck, as well as joint capsules and intervertebral discs. Whiplash is the name often associated with car accident neck injuries. Symptoms from whiplash may include any or all of the following: neck pain and inflammation, arm pain, numbness or tingling, headaches, nausea, and dizziness.

Depending upon the degree of injury, your recommended course of action will differ. To determine what you should do, first consult with your chiropractor as they specialize in problems related to the nerves, muscles, joints and connective tissues of the spine.

Professional Athletes' Opinions on Chiropractic

2011-09-13T14:00:00.001-07:00

Many professional athletes have gone on record, attributing their great performances to chiropractic care, which they usually have just before their competitions. This is what some of these athletes had to say about chiropractic:

“The team wasn’t just riders. It was mechanics, masseurs, chefs, soigneurs & doctors. But the most important man on the team may have been the chiropractor.” - Lance Armstrong (professional cyclist, world record 7- time Tour de France winner)

“Lifting weights and seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis has made me a better golfer. I’ve been going to chiropractors as long as I can remember. It's as important to my training as practicing my swing.” - Tiger Woods (professional golfer, world ranked #1 for a record 623 weeks)

“I did a lot of things to stay in the game, but regular visits to my chiropractor were among the most important.” - Jerry Rice (13-time ProBowl NFL football player, and SuperBowl XXIII MVP)

You don’t have to be a professional athlete to benefit from chiropractic care. But if chiropractic adjustments can help these elite athletes stay at the top of their game, imagine what it could do for people like you and me!

Chiropractic in Sports

2011-08-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Athletes place a high physical demand on their bodies. They ask the body to work like a finely tuned, well-oiled machine. The rigorous training and competition schedules leave little time for injuries. Perhaps this is why almost every professional team in sports has a chiropractor looking after its athletes. As an example, 95% of NFL teams will employ chiropractors regularly to treat their players.

Chiropractic is a healing art that focuses its attention on the function of the spine, and the precious nerve tissue (the spinal cord) that is encased in it. When it is aligned properly, the spine’s hard bony shell protects the spinal cord from damage, while its 26 separate moving parts (the vertebrae) provide a perfect combination of stability and flexibility to allow for a myriad of functional movements. When even a single vertebra is out of place (a subluxation), the effects are not only painful, but can also result in diminished function of the nervous system, which is required to coordinate the rest of the musculoskeletal system. When the nervous system is even a little off target, the results can be quite dramatic.

If the subluxation is in an area that affects the function of the shoulder, the milliseconds difference in muscle-firing patterns can mean the difference, for a baseball pitcher, between a well-placed, high-speed strike and an off-target ball in the dirt. If the subluxation involves the lower back, and this athlete is a professional golfer, the difference in core stability can mean a loss of several yards off the tee, leaving a much more difficult approach shot to the green. And, if the subluxation affects the pelvis or legs of a world-class sprinter, this slight difference can be all it takes to turn a gold medal into a 5th-place finish.

Getting the Most out of Exercise

2011-08-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

When preparing for a workout routine, some light movements help to get the musculoskeletal system primed for an increased workload. Five to ten minutes of light calisthenics, followed by some stretching of the muscles to be used most in the workout, helps prevent injury.

As the temperature increases, our bodies tend to perspire more with exercise. Proper hydration keeps your circulatory system flowing so that every cell of your body receives the nutrients it requires. Signs of dehydration usually include a dry mouth or excessive thirst, but may also include nausea, headaches and fatigue. On average, you should consume about 2 liters of water per day, but this amount may need to be increased on the days that you are more physically active.

Every person and every situation is different. Even the experts do not always know how far you can go on any given day. Only you do. Your body will let you know when it has had enough. Rest when you need to. Stop to catch your breath and if something does not feel right, it probably is not. Listening to the body’s early warning signs can go a long way in reducing serious injury. Take note of what you were doing when that strange feeling came up, and tell your chiropractor. Little aches and pains are clues that something is wrong, and it is almost always easier to fix shortly after they first appear. Waiting too long before addressing an issue usually leads to other problems, as the body tries to compensate for injured or weak areas. Once you have multiple areas of pain and dysfunction, it is more difficult to treat, and it also becomes more difficult to diagnose the main problem.

Preparing an Exercise Routine

2011-08-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

Exercise is one of the best things you can do to keep healthy. This is especially true for your muscles, bones and joints. However, any time you shift from a more sedentary lifestyle to one that is more physically demanding, there is a greater likelihood for strain on these tissues. Small imbalances, or slight weaknesses, can become exaggerated as you begin to place a greater workload on your body.
One of the keys to preventing those injuries is to get advice from an expert before you begin a new exercise program. Schedule a check-up with your chiropractor to see if everything is aligned and working properly. If your body starts off in better balance, you will reduce the risk of strains and sprains later.

Another good way to prevent injury is to increase the intensity of your exercise gradually. If you are planning to start a new exercise program, consider consulting with a personal trainer. A knowledgeable trainer can provide you with proper instruction and give you a detailed program that outlines how far and how fast you can safely go.

What Can Vitamin K Do For You?

2011-08-16T14:51:00.000-07:00

Consuming an adequate amount of vitamin K is essential in helping prevent bone fractures. In a review of vitamin K studies that appeared in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers showed evidence that indicates hip fractures were reduced by 77% and vertebral fractures were reduced by 60% for people using vitamin K supplements. In a seven-year study on elderly men and women, participants who consumed the highest dietary amounts of vitamin K had a 65% lower risk of hip fracture than those who consumed lower amounts of the vitamin.

The scientific community is increasingly interested in vitamin K’s impact on some forms of cancer. In a study released last year, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota discovered that people who consume higher dietary levels of vitamin K had a 45% lower risk of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system involving tumors that develop in a specific type of white blood cell. The authors of the study believe vitamin K may block inflammatory cytokines, which are chemicals released from immune system cells and are involved in the growth of this type of cancer.

Vitamin K and diabetes is also on the radar among medical researchers. The Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center conducted a study on insulin resistance – a condition that causes the body to stop using insulin properly (this problem often develops into diabetes). When researchers gave the test group multivitamins containing 500 micrograms of vitamin K, men in the group saw a slower progression of insulin resistance compared to the control group. As a reminder, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, kale, citrus fruits, milk and eggs are good sources of this vitamin.

Obscure Vitamin K May Provide Big Health Benefits

2011-08-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

More likely than not, you have not heard much about vitamin K. In fact, you may have never heard of it at all. It certainly does not have the high profile of other vitamins. But as more research has been devoted to this nutrient, vitamin K has become a rising star over the last five years.

Vitamin K plays an important role in both blood and bone health by assisting in blood clotting (coagulation). When a blood vessel is damaged, the blood forms clots to prevent blood loss and promote healing. Vitamin K helps develop proteins vital for proper blood clotting. It also assists the protein known as osteocalcin, which is crucial in promoting healthy bone growth, repairing bone fractures and helping prevent osteoporosis.

To get adequate amounts of vitamin K from your diet, you should choose spinach, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, kale and citrus fruits. Milk and eggs are also a good source of this vitamin. Scientific study indicates that vitamin K is a hardy nutrient, which keeps most of its nutritional value even when heated. When you cook with oil, opt for canola, soybean or olive - all are rich in vitamin K.

Blogs Returning Soon

2011-07-30T08:40:00.001-07:00

I've taken a bit of a break from blogging recently but not to worry. Informational and hopefully fun blogs to return very soon.
CN

Chiropractic: The Right Care?

2011-06-19T15:34:00.000-07:00

Approximately 80-85% of the population experience at least one episode of disabling back pain in their lives. Most of these people report disturbances in their daily lives for a week or longer, and the vast majority of back pain sufferers say their back pain is a recurring problem. Unfortunately most people go to their doctor to fix their problems, but most MDs can only provide explanations for your symptoms or provide medication to relieve inflammation or pain, only offering temporary relief.

The other option is for your MD to refer you to someone who specializes in the treatment of back pain such as an orthopedic surgeon, chiropractor, physiotherapist, massage therapsit, or acupuncturist. Chiropractic is listed consistently in scholarly publications as an effective tool for back pain. It has also been shown to be a relatively safe option for those seeking treatments with less side effects. When compared to other options, consultation with a chiropractor was found to be just as effective as one with an MD or DO while costing 20-40% less. Studies have also shown that among the most popular therapists to consult for back pain (family physician, chiropractor, physical therapist, and acupuncturist), chiropractors most often received the highest rating of satisfaction among all other professionals in the group.

From this, it is clear that chiropractic is the best choice for back pain. Overall chiropractic has shown to be more therapeutically effective, cost-effective, and satisfying to the patient.

How to Avoid Lifting Injuries to Your Back

2011-06-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Bending at the waist is one of the greatest reasons for strain that affects the lower back, as opposed to bending your knees to reach for an object that is on the ground. In addition, any twisting of the torso while returning to an upright position creates the greatest risk for disc herniation.

To lift correctly:
1. Think ahead and plan the maneuver before you plan to lift anything awkward or heavy.
2. Lift mostly with the arms and legs. It is better to bend the knees than the back!
3. Keep the object close to your body. The stress and strain on your lower back increases significantly the further the object is away from your core.
4. Assess the weight of the object. If an object looks too heavy to lift, it probably is.
5. Keep your nose between your toes. If your nose stays between your toes, then your spine will not experience any twisting/shear loads and will reduce the risk of disc injuries.

Activator Chiropractic Adjustment Demonstration

2011-02-26T14:04:00.000-08:00

This is the second part of the presentation I did for a local business group. Here I show what an Activator adjustment is really like. Most people think of a chiropractic adjustment as involving popping and cracking of the spine. We don't need to do that when we use an Activator instrument. It moves the bone using a very fast force and no cracking is needed.

Exercise for Heart Health

2011-02-25T13:55:00.000-08:00

As you might suspect, exercise is good for your heart, particularly aerobic. This forces your heart to pump more blood, which then transports more oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Exercise also reduces cholesterol and lowers high blood pressure.

The good news is even moderate amounts of exercise can bring great benefits to your heart. The American Heart Association reports that women who walk at least two hours a week at any pace had a 30% lower risk of stroke.

Walking is also a safe exercise for most people, but check with your chiropractor before starting an exercise regime. After you begin regular walking, you may want to consider adding some interval training - increasing your exercise intensity for short bursts. You might intensify your walking speed for 15 to 20 seconds before returning to a more reasonable rate. Interval training can deliver cardio benefits of longer, steady pace exercise but in less time. Check with me to see if interval training is appropriate for you.

What is Chiropractic?

2011-02-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

This is a brief explanation of Chiropractic that I recently gave to a business group.

Supplements for Heart Health

2011-02-21T16:40:00.000-08:00

Following our theme of heart related topics for February, here is some info on supplement for your heart.

While it is always ideal to get as much of your nutrients through food as possible, you will find situations where you may need to boost your intake of vitamins, minerals, and similar nutritional substances with supplements.

Fish Oil

As mentioned earlier, omega 3 fatty acids found in many species of fish provide exceptional benefits for keeping your heart pumping strong. But there are several reasons why you might want to use fish oil supplements as well, including dislike of seafood and availability of fresh fish. Some people report indigestion when using fish oil supplements. You can help limit these problems by freezing the fish oil or consuming it right before a meal.

Coenzyme Q10

This natural compound is found in many body tissues. As well as being a potent antioxidant, coenzyme Q10 is important for maintaining a healthy heart rhythm, blocking blood clot development, and assisting cellular energy production. It is primarily found in organ meats, which are not widely consumed in North America.

As you age, your natural supply of coenzyme Q10 decreases. Some medications also rob your body of this substance, especially cholesterol-lowering stating drugs. Although generally considered safe, coenzyme Q10 may interfere with some blood thinning medications. Discuss with a qualified healthcare professional before using supplements.

Magnesium

For heart health, magnesium is important for reducing the risk of cardiac arrhythmias and decreasing the negative impact of stress on cardiovascular function. Magnesium deficiency can boost the risk of hypertension and sudden cardiac death.

A lot of seniors are deficient in magnesium due to food absorption problems and medications, which deplete this mineral. Magnesium supplements may be especially beneficial for people in this age group.

Heart Healthy Food

2011-02-17T16:39:00.000-08:00

Since this is the month for heart related stuff, here are some tips on heart healthy foods.

Health experts recommend fish because it is an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids. These fats offer profound health benefits. A diet high in omega 3 acids helps stop arteries from getting clogged, reduces cholesterol levels, and soothes inflammation. The fish that are the best sources of omega 3 are sardines, salmon, halibut, mackerel, herring, rainbow trout, and tuna.

The omega 3 fatty acids you hear the most about are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Two servings of fish deliver about 500 milligrams of EPA and DHA. If you are concerned about mercury and other toxins often found in fish, you may want to balance your dietary intake with fish oil supplements.

Don't care for the taste of fish? You can still find plenty of other choices served up by Mother Nature. Many of the recommended foods include fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts.

Inflammation is a key component in heart disease. Along with fish, anti-inflammatory foods include berries, kale, spinach, and broccoli. Research conducted by the American College of Cardiology found that a diet rich in these plant-based foods slashes inflammation, cuts triglycerides, and keeps blood sugar levels balanced.

To meet your protein requirements, opt for soybeans, kidney beans and nuts. According to a physicians' health study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, men who consumed nuts at least twice weekly lowered their risk of sudden cardiac death and coronary heart disease death. Another study on nuts and cardiovascular health also revealed benefits for women, stating that a plentiful diet of nuts lowers the risk of coronary artery disease for post-menopausal women.

B Vitamins

2011-01-17T09:14:00.000-08:00

I don't often discuss supplements in my blogs because it can be taken as promo for the latest "miracle pill." There is no miracle pill, let's be very clear about that. However, there are many excellent supplements that can make a huge difference in a person's health. This is mostly an individual consideration that is best made in direct consultation with a chiropractor, naturopath, or other provider with solid nutritional training. Most medical doctors do not fall into this category as they receive very little nutritional education in medical school unless they have sought it out for themselves.

With all that said, the B-vitamins are important for nearly everyone to be sure they are getting adequate amounts. As always, my recommendation is to eat a very healthy, well-balanced diet (guided by food sensitivities that you may have) that includes meat, dairy products, and lots of fruits and vegetables. As it turns out those are the best sources of B-vitamins. Meat and dairy are the best sources but they are also found in smaller amounts in green vegetables, potatoes, beans, nuts, bananas, and citrus fruits.

Currently we have a weekly newsletter that has a lot more information about the specific benefits of each B-vitamin. If you would like a copy ask for one when you visit or call us at 425-867-1119 and we will mail one to you.

Sleep and Chiropractic

2011-01-09T09:09:00.000-08:00

As you might expect we have a lot of patients from Microsoft, AT&T, T-Mobile, Nintendo and others all around Redmond. One thing may of these patient have in common is difficulty in getting enough sleep. Of course, most often this comes from the demands of the job and not allowing enough time to sleep.

However, I encourge them, (and you) to make an effort to improve their sleep. Being sleep deprived lowers your immunity and impairs cognitive function among other things. This may ultimately make you miss work or be less effective at work.

If a person has difficulty sleeping, I recommend two things which end up helping most people. Chiropractic adjustments help the body be more relaxed and less tense. They also help with pain if that is part of the problem in your sleep. The other thing is melatonin. Taken at night it can support your natural sleep cycles.

So in the New Year, resolve to get even just 30-60 minutes of extra sleep over what you do now. It can make all the difference.

5 Steps to Creating a Successful Exercise Program

2011-01-03T08:57:00.000-08:00

Today is the big day at gyms all across America. People have made their New Year's resolutions about getting back in shape or loosing a few pounds. They are determined to start the year off right but there is more to it than just showing up at the gym and paying your money. Of course both of those things are required but here's few more things to consider that might help you achieve your exercise objectives.

Set a specific goal. Clearly define what you want to accomplish and by when. For example, I want to be able to press X pounds by April 1. I want to loose 10 pounds and two inches from my waist by March 1. The more clear the goal, the better the chance that it will be achieved. The date gives it a sense of urgency and allows you check points toward the result.

Be realistic. Like the goals above, those are things that can be done but that are not too easy. The goal needs to be big enough to be exciting but not so big that you could potentially hurt yourseft in the process. You may also want to get an appointment to see me and describe what you want to do. We can work out a good gradient so that you will achieve your goals safely.

Create a plan. Keep the end in mind and figure out what you will need to get there. Do you have a gym membership or home exercise equipment? Do you have the clothes and shoes that you might need? Have you carved out time in your schedule for at least 2-3 workouts per week? Do you have that appointment with us?

Establish a support system. Get a workout partner or an accountability partner. Ask us to help in this regard. Tell a friend your goal. Write down your goals and post them where you will see them every day.

Monitor your progress and celebrate when you reach a goal. Setting some mid-point goals can be helpful to remind you to celebrate not only the success but the process! Make it fun and interesting adn you will greatly improve your chances of a successful program. Happy New Year!

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T21:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! Here's to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2011

Natural Remedies for the Common Cold

2010-12-31T11:33:00.000-08:00

Why do people still suffer so much from the common cold? Hopefully this blog will help you better understand the nature of a cold and how you can better prevent and treat them.

A cold is a viral infection that affects the upper respiratory tract. Because it is a virus, a cold does not respond to antibiotics, which are only for bacterial infections. There are several variations of virus than can cause a cold so it is hard to find a treatment in standard medicine which is usually targeting an individual virus.

Strictly speaking, the cold weather does not cause a cold. But there are many stresses on the immune system in colder weather that may make you more susceptible. For example, just the extra energy you must expend to stay warm may take energy away from your immune system. Going in and out of the cold air requires more energy. Being indoors or in enclosed spaces makes it easier to spread the virus. If your immune system is weak anyway from poor nutrition, stress, or lack of exercise, this is even more of a problem. I would say that this is the biggest problem.

The most important thing you can do to prevent a cold is to stay healthy. As simple as that sounds, it really goes back to all the basics of good health that you have probably already heard about (but may not do :)). Eating right, moderate exercise, chiropractic care, reducing stress, and avoidance of drugs and toxins will go a long way towards strengthening your immune system. Each item could have multiple blog posts or articles written about it. Suffice it to say that doing those things is much more important than a miracle drug or herb to cure a cold.

But what if you already have a cold? The following herbs and products have been found to be helpful. Astragalus has been used for thousands of years to boost the immune system. Andrographis paniculata does as well and has been found in at least one study to be effective at treating upper respiratory infections. Cat's claw has both anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant properties. Elderberry may be effective in treating colds and flu as it is loaded with antioxidants. Eucalyptus oil is best used by putting a few drops in hot water and inhaling the steam. Juice Plus is a supplement that combines many fruits and vegetables dried in capsule form. The antioxidant powers appear to be quite high.

Again, the most important thing is to strengthen your immune system on a regular basis by healthful living. I hope that this article has helped you think about some ways to begin or improve that process.

6 Strategies to Overcome Worry

2010-12-29T15:26:00.000-08:00

I've noticed that the economy seems to be improving somewhat but that there is still an environment of fear and uncertainty. Science reveals that some people are more wired for worry than others. This can be a result of several factors, including genetics, environment, and upbringing. From a biological stand-point, consistent worriers may have highly sensitive nervous systems.

Whether you worry all the time or only occasionally, you may feel helpless or vulnerable. But even if you have a biological disposition for worry, you can still tackle troublesome thoughts and lower your stress level. Try these six techniques:

1. Write away your worries. When these thoughts constantly float around in your brain, worries seem intangible and much bigger than they need to be. Writing them down gives you more control over them. Also write down possible solutions for each concern. In one study, people wrote down their worries for 14 days. When they reviewed their lists after that period, they found that 85% of their worries never came to pass.

2. Cut yourself some slack. Self-criticism is a huge problem. It lowers self-esteem and increases the risk for depression. The number one requirement for healthy change is a sense of worth. Self-criticism destroys that. Some think that constant self-assessment and criticism will spur them toward their goals when in reality it usually has the opposite effect.

3. Be in the present without judgement or self-evaluation. Spending time feeling guilt about the past or worrying about the future keeps us from being in the present. Psychologist Richard Carlson said, "As you focus on becoming more peaceful with where you are, rather than focusing on where you'd rather be, you begin to find peace right now, in the present."

4. Meditate. This helps boost your present time consciousness. Techniques vary but most focus on breathing. Try setting aside a few minutes morning and evening. Settle into a comfortable position and just breath deeply. You can also try focusing on an object to keep your concentration. Random thoughts or worries may intrude at first. That is normal. Accept that and then let them float away and return your focus on breathing.

5. Play time warp. Pretend you are in the future. Look back on the problems you are worrying about today. Do they look as difficult or scary as they do today? Frequently you will find that this perspective helps to see your current difficulties in a different light.

6. Be grateful. Gratitude can have a profound effect on calming fears, reducing envy and cooling anger. When you look at the rest of the world, where hundreds of millions of people struggle every day to find enough food to eat and clean water to drink, most of us in North America have much to be grateful for. One study revealed that people who kept a gratitude journal were significantly happier than those who did not. Gratitude creates a healthier perspective and a more hopeful outlook on life.

How Does Chiropractic Promote Wellness?

2010-12-07T21:25:00.000-08:00

Many people seek Chiropractic care for back or neck pain. But chiropractors know that adjustments are good for your general health too.

The nervous system is the one system in the body that directly affects every other system. This is because nerves conduct sensory information from every part of the body and deliver it to the brain. Once there, the brain analyzes the information to determine what the body needs to maintain a healthy state. So the health of this system is critical to the good health of the rest of the body.

Misalignments in the spine can interfere with the proper nervous system function. These "subluxations" cause imbalance, irritation, and inflammation. That then affects the flow of information transmitted along the nerve. Loss of correct communication within the body leads to poor health. Chiropractors are the only health care professionals specifically trained to locate and correct spinal subluxations.

Resveratrol

2010-10-25T07:17:00.000-07:00

What if I told you that there was a compound that if taken regularly could reduce blood pressure, cut obesity, decrease inflammation, control blood sugar, reduce strokes, and fight cancer, would you want some?

Recent studies have shown that resveratrol can help with all those things. Resveratrol is a natural substance used by some plants to protect themselves from fungus and bacteria. The best sources are red grapes, pomegranates, and blueberries.

So eat more red grapes. Add fresh or frozen blueberries to your diet on a regular basis. Pomegranate juices are widely available but watch out for the added sugar. Red wine is also a good source. In fact, that is how this gained public attention. It was noticed that the French eat a relatively high fat diet but have lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than North Americans. Many believe that the difference is that the French drink considerably more red wine. Enjoy!

Sacroiliac Joints and Chiropractic

2010-10-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

What are the sacroiliac joints you might be thinking. They are two large very important joints in the pelvis. They play a key role in lower body stability and movement. When they get strained repetitively, the ligaments around the joints can lose some of their structural integrity. Since these joints work together, if one becomes unstable or restricted in it's motion, the other joint will often be affected too.

They are also part of the foundation of your spine and if malfunctioning can cause stress and strain at many places above. The hip joints can be affected as well. In my practice I commonly see patients with hip pain where the likely cause is chronic S-I malfunction. Sometimes people will come in with groin pain, pain into the buttocks, or pain down the leg like sciatica. Frequently these symptoms are related to S-I problems too.

The best possible treatment for S-I problems is chiropractic adjustments. You may also need stretching or strengthening exercises, orthotics (arch supports), braces, massage or other treatments. However, the first step for best results is the adjustment.

Medications affect nutrients

2010-10-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

Many Americans eat a diet high in fat and sugar and low in fruits and vegetables. We also take a very large amount of prescription drugs. 48% of the population has taken a prescription drug in the last month. These two issues are very interrelated.

Eating a diet like that will cause depletion of many nutrients and an inadequate intake of many others as well. Plus, half of the top 20 most prescribed drugs cause nutrient depletion. This doesn't mean you should just stop taking your medications however. Talk with your doctors, pharmacists, and other professionals. Become educated on which ones can cause this type of problem. If you take medications regularly, ask your doctor if there are more natural alternatives or if one or more medications could be eliminated.

For more information, ask me for a copy of our newsletter of the week which goes in to more detail about specific types of drugs and the associated nutrient depletions.

Can Chiropractic help depression?

2010-10-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

Although most people originally seek chiropractic care for back or neck pain, many people are surprised by the positive effect chiropractic adjustments can also have on their state of mind. In fact, people with depression are much more likely to also be experiencing chronic pain. So when we relieve that pain, it is a great emotional relief as well. I see it almost every day in the faces of my patients.

Just recently a patient came in who had been in chronic pain for over a year. She had many tests, blood work, MRI's, and etc. The doctors suggested that it was in her head. She was of course depressed over that and the fact that she was almost always in pain. After just her first adjustment, there was relief. She slept better than she had in a very long time. The relief and a good nights sleep made all the difference for her. I could see in her facial expressions that she had a totally improved attitude.

The irritation to the nervous system that spinal problems can cause not only brings you down physically but mentally as well.

Joint Supplements

2010-10-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

Many people ask me if there are supplements that can help with spine and joint healing. While everyone will benefit from a healthy balanced diet, that is one of the chief recommendations I have when healing from spine and joint problems. Many people eat far too much sugar and other refined carbohydrates such as white flour. Among other things, high amounts of this in your diet promote inflammation. This is a fundamental problem in the type of conditions I see everyday. So a good diet is really your best supplement.

However, one other supplement can be quite helpful and that is glucosamine. It is the most widely used supplement for relieving joint pain. But it also serves as a building block for the development of cartilage molecules. Glucosamine is well tolerated by most people. Some forms are derived from shellfish so if you have a shellfish allergy, avoid those. One study showed that over the long term, glucosamine offered the same level of pain relief as aspirin. However, aspirin contributed to increased levels of arthritis in joints so affected while glucosamine helped lubricate the surfaces of the joints and thus slowed arthritis.

So many times we see the latest wonder supplement and wonder if it is right for us. I don't recommend that everyone with a sore back take glucosamine. But when there are long-term problems such as chronic pain or arthritis, it can be very helpful. Ask us if you have any questions about whether it is appropriate for you.

iPad Winner!!!

2010-09-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Will D.! He is the winner of our Founder's day iPad contest. We also drew winners of 6 runner up prizes, movie tickets for two. Kelly B., Darwin S., Emily H., Debbie C., Arnie A., and Michi S. get to go to the movies on us. Thanks to everyone who took the time to care for someone else and help them get answers to their health problems. The response was terrific and I hope everyone had fun as well.

Weekend Warrior Syndrome

2010-09-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Are you one of those people that works 10-14 hour days and then tries to cram all his exercise into one or two weekend days? This would be the philosophy that some exercise is better than no exercise. Unfortunately this may not be true. Saving all your physical activities for the weekend boosts your risk of injury and does little to improve your fitness.

A better strategy is to include at least some activity throughout the week. For example, take a brisk 15 minute walk during lunch. Stretch for a few minutes afterward. You will have done a lot to keep your joints moving and lubricated, your muscles free and strong, and your heart and lungs working effectively.

Can you take it a step further? Go to the gym or allow a longer time 2-3 days per week for a more comprehensive exercise routine. Saving it up for the weekend will no longer be necessary.

Rib Cage Pain

2010-09-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

Patients often ask me if I can help pain in the chest or rib area. This is especially common in people who work at Microsoft or other places where they are in front of a computer most of the day. The main causes of rib cage and chest pain are mechanical, trauma, nerve inflammation, and organ issues.

Chiropractic care is very effective for the first three causes and much less effective for the last. The problem is that if you experience sudden onset of pain in this area it can be hard to tell what you should do. If you think you might be having a heart attack or have significant shortness of breath, the best action is to call 911 right away.

Otherwise, we can evaluate this sort of problem to determine the cause and whether we can help. Many times, the pain is from the spine or ribs simply not moving correctly. That is something that usually responds very well to chiropractic care.

To prevent problems be sure to get up from your computer on a regular basis and move around even if it is only for a coupe minutes. Breathe deeply to expand the chest. This keeps movement in the area as well as refreshes the air in your lungs. Engage in regular physical activitiy. Both cardio and weight training have benefits for your core and chest area. Let me know if I can be of any help in evaluating a problem you are having or in recommending further exercises.

Back To School Back Stress

2010-09-20T16:07:00.000-07:00

Now that the kids are back to school, it's good to keep several things in mind that can impact your kids spinal health. Kids are transitioning from summer with all it's outdoor activities to sitting much more in class and doing homework. Motion is extremely important for spinal health. So try to plan more physical activity at this time of year. School sports and PE can help but make special effort to get your kids doing some type of sport or regular exercise activity.

Every parent has probably noticed their kids posture at some point. Repeated poor positions and postures become normal after a time. So, just like your mother told you, sit up straight, stand up straight, yes, it's really important!

Backpacks are a frequent problem as well. It's not so much the pack as the amount placed in it. Many kids use a backpack that is too large for them and then they can easily overload it. This then creates overload on the lower back joints and discs. It can even lead to back pain. For all of our patients we provide a free backpack evaluation at our Redmond office. This would include looking at the fit and usage of your students pack as well as an evaluation of it's weight.

TMJ Problems

2010-09-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

Many people know that TMJ stand for temporomandibular joint. That because problems with the TMJ or jaw joint, are extremely common. This little joint has to put up with substantial forces when chewing food or even just with talking. This makes it very susceptible to damage and injury.

Factors that aggravate the TMJ are dental problems such as misaligned or broken teeth, trauma, and postural stress. Emotional stress and grinding of the teeth can both cause TMJ injury and be a symptom of it. Other symptoms can include pain on one or both sides, pain in the teeth, headaches, and noises when you open your mouth.

Here's a tip to test if your TMJ is in trouble. Hold your fingers together and then bend the index finger. Open your mouth as far as you can comfortably. You should be able to easily fit the three straight fingers between your teeth.

Another tip to help your TMJ is to do a light massage on some of the muscles that affect it. To do this, clench your teeth together while holding the first two fingers of both hands about two inches in front of your ears. You should feel a muscle pop up as you clench. Once you find that, relax your mouth. Then do a light circular massage on these muscles with the same two fingers. The pressure should be very light but you can do about 1-200 circles over these muscle once or twice per day.

If none of this helps, the next step is to see your chiropractor. We work with TMJ on a daily basis and can let you know if we can help of if other evaluation is necessary.

Something Free from Your Chiropractor

2010-09-07T11:35:00.000-07:00

How many of you know that Sept. 18 is the 115th birthday of chiropractic? I'm sure most of you know it's back to school time. What do these two things have in common you might ask?

Simply that they are occurring at the same time. So we thought we'd integrate the two with a special drawing here at the office. We are giving away an iPad!

Win by referring a patient to us before Sept. 18th. You will automatically be entered in our drawing for a new iPad and other great prizes. Ask us if you have any questions about things we help or if you need a free referral gift certificate.

The big question will be if you win the iPad do you get it or the kids who are going back to school???

Thought for the day

2010-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.--Henry John Kaiser

Thought for the day

2010-07-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.--William Shakespeare

Thought for the day

2010-07-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.--Theodore Roosevelt

Thought for the day

2010-07-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.--Anatole France

Thought for the day

2010-07-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.--Booker T. Washington

Thought for the day

2010-07-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

He that will not sail till all dangers are over must never put to sea.--Thomas Fuller

Thought for the day

2010-07-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

I think one's feelings waste themselves in words, they ought all to be distilled into actions and into actions which bring results.--Florence Nightingale

Thought for the day

2010-07-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.--Pearl S Buck

Thought for the day

2010-07-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinions; it is easy in solitude to live after your own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thought for the day

2010-07-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.--Francis Bacon

Thought for the day

2010-07-11T12:05:00.001-07:00

I have generally found that a man who is good at excuses is usually good at nothing else.--Benjamin Franklin

Today's Thought

2010-07-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

The greatest discovery of my generation is that you can change your circumstances by changing your attitudes of mind.
--William James

Today's Thought

2010-07-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it--but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.
--Oliver Wendell Holmes

Today's Thought

2010-07-05T17:12:00.000-07:00

There is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go.
--Tennessee Williams

Today's Thought

2010-07-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.
--Abraham Maslow

Today's Thought

2010-07-02T17:04:00.000-07:00

Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.
--Dwight D. Eisenhower

A Thought

2010-07-01T17:04:00.000-07:00

I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.
--Booker T. Washington

Brain Health

2010-06-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

I thought that this was a great topic. As I get older (39 now again!) I want to be sure my brain stays in as good a condition as possible. Senility is not for me! So here are 10 ways to keep your brain in top shape.

1. Learn or continue playing a musical instrument. Multiple areas of the brain are stimulated and it even improves your math skills.

2. Listen to music. Particularly, harmonius music elevates memory and emotion. It also helps focus, social skills, and concentration.

3. Learn something new. Like number 1 above, it stimulates brain function much more than our routine daily activities. It has even been shown to reduce the chances of Alzheimer's disease.

4. Stay social. There are a lot of advantages to this but specifically a good social network has been shown to enhance neurological fitness. Facebook can be helpful but face-to-face communication is the best.

5. Get enough sleep. Studies have shown that lack of sleep reduces regeneration of the brain. It also appears to increase stress hormones.

6. Stay (or get) active. We all know about the physical benefits of activity but it helps your brain too. Keeping all that blood and oxygen flowing freely to the brain cleans out toxins, brings in fresh nutrients and as mentioned above reduces stress hormones. A recent study showed that inactive people increase their risk of Alzheimer's by 250%!

7. Eat brain food. While an overall healthy diet low in white flour and white sugar and high in fruits and vegetables is very important, the brain needs fat too. The best fats contain lots of Omega 3 fatty acids. This is found easily in fish oil supplements and in fish such as our abundant Northwest salmon, tuna, and sardines.

8. Pray or meditate. People who engage in regular spiritual activities have been shown to have lower stress levels and are less likely to develop depression and anxiety.

9. Watch less TV. Studies have linked excess TV time to many diseases. It has also been shown that the single worst thing a parent can do that would impede their students learning is to put a TV in their bedroom.

10. Get regular chiropractic adjustments. You might have wondered if I would get to this. Once you understand the effects of subluxation (especially impeded nerve and blood flow) it is easy to see how staying well adjusted would help your overall health as well as brain health.

I hope that these ideas are useful. If they seem a little overwhelming, at least try to do two or three of them. As I've said in prior posts, take your next step to better health, don't worry about taking all the steps at once. Just get started!

New Research on the Benefits of Chiropractic

2010-06-05T06:05:00.000-07:00

There is on-going research into the benefits and effectiveness of chiropractic. Here are some studies that we have been talking about at the office lately.

How long lasting are the effects of chiropractic adjustments on colicky babies. A study from last fall surveyed 200 sets of parents with colicky babies. Half were treated with chiropractic care several years prior. The results showed that the untreated infants were still twice as likely to display disturbed behavior and sleep problems than those who did receive chiropractic care. This suggests that chiropractic care has not only short-term but long-term as well.

Another study from 2009 desired to determine what proportion of pre-adolescent children report having recurring neck pain and/or headaches. She also wanted to discover if those who suffered these problems had neck subluxations. They found about 40% of the children reported having recurring neck pain and/or headaches. Of those with symptoms, only one of the factors from the physical exam could be significantly tied to the students pain: neck subluxations. This shows that from an early age subluxations can negatively affect a person's quality of life.

Finally, a study from this year wanted to find out whether the pop heard during the manual type of chiropractic adjustment really makes any difference to the level of pain relief perceived by the patient versus when no noise was heard during the adjustment. 40 asymptomatic patients were tested for heat sensitivity on their legs and lower backs. Then they underwent a lumbar adjustment. For some there was a popping sound for others not. The subjects were then retested. Researchers found that there was a significant reduction in thermal pain sensitivity after the lumbar adjustment, whether or not a sound was heard during the maneuver! So, you don't need to hear a pop to know that the chiropractic adjustment is helping you. Especially here at Nelson Chiropractic since we use the Activator Method.

High Blood Pressure

2010-06-03T17:47:00.000-07:00

High blood pressure affects 80 million people in North America. Even though it's the most common cardiovascular disease it's called the silent killer. Many people are completely unaware that they have it and it can cause significant damage without producing any symptoms. (This is just like subluxation.) It is linked to a higher risk of heart attack, kidney damage, and stroke.

Many factors increase your risk of high blood pressure. Smoking, lack of exercise, being overweight, and eating a lot of salt and fat can all raise blood pressure. But so can age, race, and genetics. So be sure to have your blood pressure checked at least annually but much more often if you are in a high risk category.

Here's a few more ideas on things you can do to reduce your risk. Eat 1500 milligrams or less of sodium per day. Avoid packaged, prepared foods that are often high in fat and sodium. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables raw or only lightly cooked. Eat foods high in potassium such as bananas and tofu to help balance your sodium intake. Choose low-fat dairy products and limit meat to two meals per day with smaller servings than is common in America.

Get more exercise. Cardiovascular exercise of at least 30 minutes three times per week helps a lot. Weight lifting is also very helpful in balancing appetite and blood sugar. Take a fish oil supplement high in omega 3 fatty acids. Not only does this appear to help blood pressure but it has numerous benefits for many organs and tissues including your brain.

Be proactive, don't wait until you have been diagnosed. If you notice, many of the suggestions I have given are simply good healthy living. Make a decision to improve your diet and lifestyle today. Even 1 or 2 steps can be helpful. Think in terms of your next right step so you are not overwhelmed by trying to change everything all at once. Best wishes for a healthier life!

Chiropractic is for more than the spine

2010-06-01T05:38:00.000-07:00

Chiropractic affects joints, muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons. But most people think that only relates to the spine. Actually chiropractors can help with extremities as well. Ankle and knee problems are quite common and both respond well to chiropractic adjustments. We also work with orthotics as needed to help balance these areas and the effect they have on the spine.

Wrist and shoulder problems are also quite common in people who work at desks. Of course proper posture and ergonomics are important. But if you already have an injury in these areas, chiropractic may be quite helpful. You can also have problems in your neck that can either mimic arm problems or contribute to them. Chiropractic evaluation will help sort that out.

Chiropractors seek to return these joints to proper function. Then we can give you ergonomic tips and exercises to help keep them that way!

Huge Memorial Day Special on Orthotics

2010-05-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

I am very excited about this orthotic special. Foot Levelers, our orthotic company has never offered something like this before. Here's the details:

Just 2 days left on the huge Memorial Day special on all reordered orthotics. If you are reordering, you can purchase any new pair of orthotics for $190.00. Normally these range from $220.00 to $320.00 depending on the style. But just for these few days, all reorders are only $190.00. This is a great chance to get a new pair of orthotics or a second pair to minimize shuffling back and forth between shoes. Call right away if you want to take advantage of this as it expires Friday the 28th.
Happy Memorial Day

Vitamin D

2010-05-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

Have you been hearing lots of news about vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin? I certainly have. Recently I made a point to ask manyof patients about it and at least half were already taking it! Vitamin D has gotten a lot of attention in the media lately and rightly so. Some studies have indicated that 80% of North Americans are deficient, especially those with dark skin.

Dark skin does not appear to be as efficient in producing vitamin D. Most of us work inside now. In years gone by, many people were engaged in farming and other outdoor activities and received lots of sunshine. Also, the farther north you live, the more likely you are deficient especially, in the winter.

The research is also showing us that vitamin D may be important in preventing many diseases such as cancer, diabetes, the flu, back pain, and arthritis. In fact, a review of vitamin D research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that it's consumption lowered the risk of death from any cause! A report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that post-menopausal women who took at least 1,100 IU of vitamin D per day had reductions in all types of cancer.

Ask us whether vitamin D supplements are appropriate in your case. If you need a supplement, we carry a very good one from the Biotics company. It costs only $19.00 and will last over 6 months for the average person.

Balance, Body Awareness, and Chiropractic

2010-04-14T12:14:00.000-07:00

Here in Redmond, as you sit at your computer at Microsoft (or other companies) working away, do you look at your fingers? If not, have you ever wondered how your brain knows where they are and what they are doing without looking at them? Your joints are the key. They provide huge amounts of information about their position, whether they are moving or not, and what sorts of pressure they are being subject to. These nerves are called proprioceptors and feed into a part of the brain that is responsible for coordinating body movements and posture.

Your eyes and ears are also very important for body balance, movement, and posture. Anyone who has had an ear infection and gotten dizzy can attest to that. Obviously your eyes can tell you whether your head is moving or if you are leaning to one side.

Less obvious is the role of the joints so I'd like to focus on that for today. An important problem is when you have a loss of movement in a specific joint. This can be due to acute inflammation or more long term ligament change. The joint is usually misaligned in this case and often does not correct itself from this problem. We call this a vertebral subluxation when it is in the spine and simply a subluxation if it is in another joint. There may be several components of a subluxation but let's discuss the motion aspect for now.

The motion stimulates the proprioceptors to tell the brain how the joint is moving and changing. It also tells the brain what direction and how fast the joint is moving. This is quite useful in something like typing. Without looking I can tell where my fingers are moving and at what rate. Therefore I can send messages to them to direct various key strokes.

On a bigger scale, the combination of several joints and this movement information allow us to walk and balance ourselves on one foot. They also allow us to stand still and in a straight and upright posture. The loss of this information then, is very detrimental for us. You might feel as though "good" posture feels wrong. You might be getting clumsier. You might find that you are losing dexterity in your fingers or bumping into things more often. You could even get vertigo or other balance disorders.

The handling for this is relatively simple. The chiropractor needs to isolate which joints are functioning incorrectly and restore that motion. He will likely recommend movement exercises as well to aid in your recovery. Would exercise alone handle this problem? Not likely. Exercising the spine in particular, moves many joints not just the specific one with a problem. And if you are diligent and do a very good exercise routine it may very well cover up the problem. Then it will just come right back when you stop exercising and may be causing joint deterioration the whole time anyway. A far better solution is to get the spine adjusted AND do the exercise. That will allow both activities to support each other and give you a far better result.

That Evil Belly Fat!

2010-04-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

We all know how problematic belly fat can be. But did you know there are actually two kinds of fat? Subcutaneous fat is jiggly fat that rests between your skin and abdominal wall. Visceral fat is the next layer and surrounds your internal organs. Visceral fat is biologically active. That means it produces an excess of hormones. This may increase the risk of insulin resistance which may lead to diabetes. Visceral fat also boosts inflammation throughout your body and raises the risk of breast cancer in women.

Poor diet, lack of exercise, and genetics can all play a role in the accumulation of this problem. As a society our work activities are becomming less physically active. Americans love unhealthy fatty foods and refined carbohydrates (white flour and white sugar.) It's much too easy to develop far more belly fat than what is healthful.

How much is too much? Experts say that a bare abdominal measurement just above the hips of 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women is a tipping point. At and above this level, the risk for various diseases increases substantially.

I'm ready. Let's get rid of it! Good, start with exercise. Even just a walk around the block is a good start. Work into the activity on a gradient so that you are not overwhelmed. Try to work up to at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three times per week. Begin to include exercise with weights. By increasing your muscle mass, you speed up your metabolism. And did you know, muscles burn calories all day and all night?

Eat less and eat better. Take smaller portions. No seconds. At restaurants always leave enough on your plate to require a doggy bag. Eat only whole grains. Avoid all refined (white) sugar and flour. Not only will this help you loose some of the belly fat, it lowers the overall inflammatory level in your body. That lowers your risk of many illnesses including heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and diabetes.

Can Chiropractic Help With Allergies?

2010-04-11T09:30:00.000-07:00

Since the beneficial effects of chiropractic adjustments on the nervous system are well documented, it's not surprising that many chiropractic patients report a reduction of allergy symptoms when treated regularly for vertebral subluxations. These misalignment or dysfunctional movements of vertebra can cause a local irritation in the spine which then creates an abnormal signal received by the central nervous system. When this incorrect signal occurs along the same pathway required for the input of normal environmental messages, the body may not interpret the information correctly. When this occurs, an allergic reaction can result.

Although scientific research shows chiropractic adjustments do not cause an improvement in all allergy cases, they're definitely beneficial for some. The reason for the inconsistency may be because there are a number of different causes for a patient's hypersensitivity. Vertebral subluxation is only one of many potential causes.

If you suffer allergies, consider chiropractic as one of your potential options. Even if it does not result in a reduction of your allergic symptoms, removing subluxations from your spine has several positive effects on your nervous system. And that reduces your overall physical stress level.

Golfers Love Chiropractic

2010-04-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

The motions required in golf are very demanding on the body. They require a lot of flexibility, good posture, and repetitive one-sided motion. Unfortunately many people do not have good flexibility. They also exhibit several types of poor posture and just about anyone's spine is stressed by repetitive unbalanced movement.

Chiropractic comes into play because we can detect joints in the spine and extremities that are not functioning at their full potential. Having all your joints working together in a balanced way will allow your body to produce the level of motion necessary to prevent golf injuries and even to take several strokes off your game!

Your chiropractor may also help with your posture. Having poor posture locks up your body and reduces it's ability to move fully. Try and experiment to see for yourself. Sit on a bench and slouch over. Cross your arms genie style and then try to rotate as far as you can to the left and right. Then sit up straight with good posture and repeat the rotational test. Notice how much further you can move? Chiropractors not only coach you on good posture, but by restoring the normal motion to all the joints it is simply easier to hold yourself in good posture.

Of course it is also your responsibility to maintain these changes and help avoid injury. Be sure to warm-up before each game. Get your blood and body moving, do some stretching and ask your chiropractor for a good core stabilization program. Fore!

Food and Your Mood

2010-04-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

Foods can have a much greater affect on your mood than most people realize. Of course we know that some people get pretty grouchy if they are hungry. But I'm referring to how what you eat now will likely affect how you feel later.

As you may have already guessed, sugar is one of the biggest culprits in causing mood problems. When you eat a high sugar food like candy, soda pop, or cake it gives you a temporary lift but you are very likely causing significant blood sugar fluctuations later. After the spike in blood sugar wears off your mood is likely to worsen. It can even lead to blood sugar instability the next day!

Caffeine is another problem when used as so many do to support their mood and mental activity on a regular basis. As with sugar, when it wears off your mood will drop significantly. That leads many people to reach for more caffeine or sugary items.

It's far better to minimize the consumption of foods like that. Eating more complex carbohydrates, proteins, fruits in moderation, and vegetables will keep your blood sugar much more consistent. This directly translates into a more balanced mood and energy level. Yes, this takes some planning but is very worthwhile. Once you experience the more natural balance that will occur in your mood from improved nutrition, you'll see how much healthier this approach is rather than relying on sugar and caffeine.

Shoulder Problems

2010-02-16T18:17:00.000-08:00

The shoulder is a very remarkable joint. It is called upon to have an enourmous amount of movement but also strength and stability. It is a ball and socket joint like your hip but it is much more shallow to allow greater movement. However, it is then inherently more unstable. So there are several muscles that work together to support and stabilize while moving it at the same time.

Good posture is extremely important in promoting balance in the shoulder. With increased computer use more people are spending more hours in bad posture. A key problem here is that the shoulders are held in a forward position which shortens the muscles of the chest and neck. Additionally the muscles of the back become lengthened and weakened. This creates further bad posture and places substantial stress on the spine and shoulder joints.

Be alert to slouched and head forward posture as you work. Several times during the day get up and move around. Stretch the arms and neck (gently) backward to counteract the shortening of the chest muscles. Contact me if you would like more specific stretches or advice on these issues.

Attention All Garlic Lovers!

2010-02-16T18:04:00.001-08:00

Maybe you like garlic as much as I do. But did you also know that it is very good for you? People have known garlic is healthy since the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese. But why? It's not just the anti-oxidants and minerals. Like any whole food, there are a myriad of compounds, known and unknown that likely give it it's healthful benefits.

We know now from scientific study that it is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, and beneficial to the heart. It helps open blood vessesl and it lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol. It also reduces triglycerides which may help prevent coronary artery disease.

More recently a study from Canada showed that one of the active compounds in garlic, called allicin, can attack dangerous free radicals. This effect was much more pronounced than any other known anti-oxidant. This may help repair damaged DNA and block cancer development.

So how much should we all be eating. The more the better I say but for those of us less in love with garlic, here are some guides. If fresh, about one clove per day is helpful. If you are using garlic powder then 1.2 grams per day is needed or if oil then 2-5 milligrams. A garlic extract (a pill) should contain between 300 and 1000 milligrams as a daily dosage.

Happy eating!

Why is Posture Important?

2010-02-08T09:23:00.000-08:00

We all know what our mother used to nag us about. But guess what? She was right. Bad posture causes many aspects of the spinal problems I see in my office all day long. One of the worst problems is forward head posture. Holding your head out in front of your body puts substantial stress on the neck and upper back as well as your jaw, your heart, and your lungs.

The spinal adjustments we perform are very effective at restoring function. But if you continue to move through life with poor posture, you will be undoing the corrections that I can make. This means more neck pain, headaches, arm pain, upper back pain and tension and eventually arthritic changes in the spine.

What does it mean to have "good posture?" The best way to tell if your posture is optimum is to be check by a chiropractor. We can do an analysis that is very hard to do on yourself. But there are a couple of things you can check at home to get an idea of your postural status.

First, look in the mirror. Your ears, shoulders, and hips should all be level.

Next stand against a wall with your back and buttocks touching it. Have your feet no more than 6 inches out from the wall. Is your head resting on the wall too? If it is not, your head posture in too far forward.

Finally, lie down on your back on the floor. Can you easily lie your head on the floor too? With your head on the floor are you looking straight up to the ceiling? If it feels uncomfortable to put your head on the floor or if you are looking anywhere but straight up, your head posture may be off.

If you find a problem with any of these tests, contact us for further evaluation. In the meantime, take some common sense steps to improve your posture. Sit up straight at your desk. Adjust your monitor so that you are looking straight ahead into it. Take breaks from your work and move around or stretch. Check your pillow to see if it is contributing to the problem. Does your neck hurt in the morning or feel tight? You may need a new or different type of pillow.

Also, it's almost Valentine's Day. Call your mom and let her know that she was right after all!

Healthy Ways to Dine Out

2010-02-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

In our quest to reform our nutrition in the New Year dining out is often an area of sabotage. Many people use the convenience of fast food or restaurants to save time or due to fatigue after a long work day. But there are some complications to watch out for that could result in weight gain, increase fat intake, and increased salt intake. Doing that once isn't a big deal but on a regular basis it becomes easy to blow your best made dietary plans.

Many times a restaurant meal can be the calorie equivalent of several home-cooked meals. The ubiquitous soft drinks (with free refills!) are calorie bombs plus being very high in sugar, they throw off your insulin response and thus increase your appetite later on or the next day. Add to that the high amounts of fat and salt and low amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables, restaurant meals leave a lot to be desired

So what to do? Here's are several tips to help you eat less junk and more nutritious food.

Check for the restaurant menu online before you go. This way you can plan a healthier meal ahead of time.
Eat something like fruit or nuts before you go out. This way you are not starving when you arrive at the restaurant.
Avoid buffets at all costs! It is virtually impossible to have a healthy meal at a buffet.
If you know you are going out in the evening, eat a small lunch to save up some of your daily caloric intake for the meal out. But remember to have that snack right before you go out so you are not ravenous.
Order all salad dressings on the side and use only about 1/2 of what they give you.
Choose skinless broiled or baked chicken where ever possible.
Avoid cream sauces. These are generally loaded with fat. For pastas, red sauces are usually much lower in calories.
For a beverage, order water with lemon even if you also have something else.
Plan from the start to take 1/2 of your meal home with you.
Share an entree with a friend.
Watch out for high calorie coffee beverages. Cream, syrups, whipped cream, and milk all add a lot of calories to an otherwise low calorie beverage. Try some black or herbal tea with just a small amount of milk instead.
Eat slowly. Chew your food thoroughly. This allows you to enjoy each bite more and also gives your body a better chance to tell you when you've had enough.
Try not to eat while distracted by the TV or a newspaper. You will tend to eat more if distracted and not enjoy the food as much.

In short, there are many ways to enjoy your meal and still have it be healthy. Bon Appetit!

What is subluxation degeneration?

2010-01-20T11:06:00.000-08:00

A subluxation is an improper alignment of or function in a joint. The main purpose of chiropractic care is to identify these problems and help you get rid of them. Subluxation degeneration occurs when these malfunctions are left untreated over many years. It is similar to the way your tires will wear unevenly if you leave them unaligned for a long time.

There are several phases to this degeneration starting with inflammation and scarring and leading to perhaps severe loss of disc thickness and bone spurs. Symptoms can vary greatly over the course of the condition. Sometimes there can be no symptoms at all especially in the early phases. Other times there may be weakness or pain in the area. The good news is that with early intervention the degeneration can be prevented or if already present, slowed. Even patients who have advanced degeneration that cannot be reversed report good relief of the associated pain.

There is no self test for this condition. The best way to evaluate it is to consult your chiropractor. It is also helpful to keep moving and stay active. It is thought that this condition is more frequent and more rapidly advancing in sedentary individuals. Just one more reason to get out for that walk or head for the gym.

Interval Training

2010-01-20T10:55:00.000-08:00

Being physically active is tremendously helpful to your body whether you are receiving chiropractic care or not. But many people complain that they do not have time in their busy schedules to make exercise a regular event. I also see people on the street and at the gym doing things that might be good overall but are using up huge amounts of time. If they have that available then fine, but many people don't.

A great way to use your time more effectively is interval training. This means that you vary your cardiovascular routine in ways that produce more results in less time. A simple example is if you are taking a 20-30 minute walk, several times during the walk increase your speed for 15-60 seconds. As simple as that sounds, it makes a big difference. Not only does it up the fitness potential but it burns more calories and adds variety to the activity.

A recent study using participants on stationary bikes showed that 20 minutes of interval training three times per week for four months resulted in more weight loss than 40 minutes of non-interval training over the same time frame. So start slow but whatever your fitness level, adding interval training will be a great benefit.

Have more energy for the holidays

2009-12-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

This time of year can be very celebratory or exhausting, or both! Here are a few tips to help it be more of the former and less of the latter.

Maintain your sleep schedule as closely as possible. Aim for the same number of hours as well as the same bedtime and wake-up time. Experts recommend that these be within one hour all week. So if you normally get up at 6:00 during the week, try to get up no later than 7:00 on the weekend. Sleeping in to 9 or 10 may actually make you more tired and make it harder to get back on schedule the next week.

Instead of reaching for that extra cup of coffee, get some Asian ginseng. It comes in creams, teas, and pill form. This is a very popular herb that boosts mental and physical energy. Rhodiola herb helps the body fight stress. It is used frequently in Russia as a tea for this purpose.

Also, regular chiropractic adjustments keep your body in top shape. This reduces stress and helps keep you physically and mentally balanced. It also saves body energy when all your joints are working smoothly, just like the proper oil in your car.

Enjoy the holidays!

Holiday Help

2009-11-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

This time of year can be a very exciting time with lots of fun and enjoyable activities. However, it can also be a time where we are thrown off our schedules and especially our diet. Here's a few tips to help with those holiday indulgences and dietary variations.

First, try to stick to the same eating schedule as much as possible. Certainly on Thanksgiving Day you may not have a lot of choice. That can set the stage for several days of imbalance. Try to get back on track the very next day. If you are out early shopping, stop around the time you would normally eat breakfast and get a healthy snack. Even just a banana will help to let your body know to get back on schedule. Drink some extra water before a big meal. It helps to fill you up a little and not be as tempted to overeat. It also helps reduce your consumption of alcohol by satisfying your thirst with the fluid your body really needs.

If you end up drinking too much, be very sure to get at least one to two glasses of water before bedtime. When you wake up the next day, have another one to two glasses of water before you do anything else. There are many remedies for what we might call "post-indulgence syndrome" but the single most important thing you can do is increase your water intake.

I hope these few tips will help make this Holiday your best ever!

The Flu

2009-11-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

Interested in preventing the flu naturally? We've all heard the ususal wash your hands frequently and get more water. That's good advice but I also see a lot of relationship to stress and fatigue. Many times we push ourselves so hard that our immune system is compromised. As we move into fall and winter make an extra effort to get more rest. Maybe that means going to bed 1/2 to 1 hour earlier. Maybe that means a 20-30 minute nap at mid-day. Whatever works for you that allows a bit more rest. Also try to keep up your exercise program even as the holidays approach. That will help with stress reduction and keeping your body moving. Daily movement is best even if it isn't a full work out.

Finally, reduce the amount of sugar, junk food, and caffeine you eat and drink. All of those are linked to decreased immune function. Instead eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Have two at each meal and for between meal snacks. Next time, I'll discuss more about natural supplements and remedies to prevent or treat the flu.

Head and neck pain

2009-10-08T14:57:00.000-07:00

Are you having a pain in your neck or head somewhere? Here are a few tips to figure out what is causing it.

Is there any obvious reason why you have it ? If you were just hit there or had a little too much to drink last night, you'll just need to give it some time. Of course if it was a major injury or you are bleeding uncontrollably, you should consult a doctor immediately.

But if nothing is that clear, try just having a drink of cool not cold water. Dehydration results in lots of this type of problem. Have you had this before? If it is a recurring problem you should consult our office and have a more thorough evaluation. If this is the first time, try an ice pack. Only use it for 15 minutes on your neck or 10 minutes at a time on your head. You might also try getting some extra rest and relaxation. Even just an extra hour can make a difference.
If you need more advice, we are available for phone consultations at no charge. Just call us at 425-867-1119.

What's That "Cracking" Sound?

2009-09-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Not everyone has to get "cracked," but everyone would benefit from a chiropractic adjustment. If you've considered chiropractic and wondered if it was right for you, give us a call today for a no-charge consultation.

Dan O'Brien And Chiropractic

2009-09-21T13:27:00.001-07:00

If Dan O'Brien Needs Chiropractic maybe you could use it too? Give us a call today!

Don't Quit Before You Start - Truly Inspirational

2009-08-28T06:31:00.000-07:00

A Day In The Life Of A Spine...

2009-08-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

Does your spine need the help of a Redmond Chiropractor? Give us a call!

Some Basketball Inspriration...

2009-08-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

TMJ

2009-08-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

The TMJ or temporomandibular joint, causes problems for many people. Lately we have been seeing a lot of people who come to us for other reasons and then casually mention that they are also having TMJ problems. I'm glad they mention it, but it's unfortuante that they had to suffer unecessarily with it just because they didn't know what to do.

The TMJ is a joint much like many others in your body. It connects the jawbone (mandible) to your head. It is the pivot point allowing you to chew food. Unlike some joints, it has a disc on the inside called a meniscus. This serves to cushion the joint and allow a greater degree of motion.

Due to various stresses (injuries, muscle trauma, mental stress, and dental work among others) the TMJ can become damaged or out of balance. The symptoms may include pain in the jaw, loss of full mouth opening, difficulty chewing, grinding or noises in the joint, headaches, and ringing in the ear. Standard treatment has consisted of bite plates (appliances,) medication, and psychosocial counseling. Seldom is surgery performed.

However, using the Activator Method, we have been achieving very good results with TMJ problems for many years. This consists of several tests and evaluation of the head, TMJ, and cervical spine (neck.) If indicated, we make a series of very gentle corrective thursts to the TMJ using the Activator instrument. Often there are contributory cervical spine problems that we will address at the same time.

We only accept mild to moderate cases for treatment (refering more severe cases to a dentist or orthodontist) and our results are very good. Over 90% of our patients get substantial or total relief of their symptoms and similar restoration of function.

Our sincere wish is that more people would call us right away when they experience any of the above symptoms. While we can help those with chronic TMJ-related problems, we hate to see needless suffering, so visit our Redmond Chiropractic office.

Chiropractic for Ear Infections?

2009-07-08T14:19:00.000-07:00

Need a Redmond Chiropractor? Give us a call!

Jerry Rice Speaks Out For Chiropractic

2009-06-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

Need a Chiropractor in Redmond? Give us a call!

Consumer Reports - Chiropractic # 1!

2009-06-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

Need a Redmond Chiropractor? Call us today!

Nelson Chiropractic starts a blog!

2009-05-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

Dr. Nelson is starting a blog to educate the Redmond, WA community about all things healthy! Check back often and find out new information to help you get and stay healthy. Check out our Redmond Chiropractic office today!