Many understand the benefits of reading to children - it promotes "bonding" time, improves cognitive development and IQ scores, and is enjoyable for both the child and the reader. But how many adults see the same benefits in reading for themselves? And more importantly, how many actually take the time to do it on a regular basis? Studies have shown that 1 in 4 adults didn't read a single book last year and there are always the standard list of excuses... Not enough time, too tired to after work, have too many household chores to do, would rather watch television, etc..
But did you know there are actual health benefits associated with reading a book? Consider this: Reading improves a healthy escape from the stresses and anxiety of daily life. Reading is a great tool to keep your brain active and "tuned up" in an effort to ward off conditions such as Alzheimer's. Reading is a great way to expand your horizons, to "visit" places in your mind. Reading can help adults to improve their vocabulary, spelling and comprehension skills in much the same way as it helps children, proving that you can teach an old dog new tricks! It's never too late to learn if you remain teachable. Reading helps you learn more about yourself and improve areas of your life you'd like to change - especially self-help book (aka the Bible). Reading is a good activity to engage in while you exercise - killing two birds with one stone and making that treadmill far more enjoyable. Picking up a good book may relax you and make you better informed! Knowledge is power! Stop by our Elkhorn Chiropractic office today and w
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Current statistics show that more than 50 million people in the United States suffer from acid reflux disease. What is acid reflux? Basically, acid reflux (GERD) is when hydrochloric acid backs up into your esophagus and causes burning pain, and even damage to the delicate tissue lining and windpipe. The most common signs and symptoms of this disorder are nausea, belching, constant bloating, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and occasional regurgitation of food.
How does one get this painful disorder? The perfect formula for acid reflux disease is the combination of acid causing foods, stress, smoking, being overweight, and taking medications. Does this sound like 90% of the population? We are more stressed than ever and the average American has a diet high in acid causing foods. Combine this with the statistic that the average American, over 55, takes 6 different prescription medications per day and we have the perfect storm for acid reflux. Unfortunately, the most common (not most appropriate) treatment for acid reflux is medication, prescription and over the counter drugs. This seems counter productive when you think about it. Take a prescription drug when that is one of the potential causes? Well, that treatment is so common that most of my patients that come in with acid reflux are prescribed drugs like Prilosec because of the other drugs they are taking. Sound familiar? Ask your friends and family taking these drugs, many of them will tell you the same. Lets not overlook devastating side effects of these commonly prescribed drugs. Here is a list of side effects of Prilosec straight from Drugs.com
You need to know there is a better way! As a wellness doctor my mission is to educate people that drugs are not the answer to improve body function and overall health. In fact, I know the more prescription drugs you take, the sicker you become. Prescription drugs are needed in many cases but not until all other safer and natural options have been exhausted. So let's look at acid reflux in a way that keeps our body functioning better. First, instead of looking at acid reflux as you body malfunctioning, lets look at why you have it. Back in high school chemistry we learned about acidity and alkalinity. These are opposite ends of the spectrum and need to be in balance to create good body chemistry. Lets suppose after getting into a heated debate with your boss, you go home, eat five tacos, drink a six pack of beer, and then go right to sleep. You will, more than likely, develop acid reflux symptoms. Your body responded appropriately to the environment you provided by producing copious amounts of acid. Your body did nothing wrong, YOU DID! Instead of recognizing this, you swallow a couple pills, which blocks your body from making the acid it needs to and you don't feel the pain. Therefore, you can continue to make those poor choices next time, knowing the pill will make you "feel better". Instead of living a cycle that obviously is proven to not work, try to incorporate these wellness solutions into your life. 1. Have some form of stress management in your life. 2. Exercise (this can be a form of stress management). This acts to help maintain proper body alkalinity and avoid chronic sympathetic distress. 3. Avoid drugs when all possible. All drugs (prescription or not) are toxic! 4. Incorporate more alkaline foods in your lifestyle. Think Green! 5. Have a wellness chiropractor on your health care team to make sure your nervous system is working to heal your body and not in sympathetic distress. Chiropractors work with the nervous system to help reduce nerve stress and keep the body functioning optimally and avoid Dis-Ease. The next time your body is experiencing symptoms. Ask yourself, "why is my body giving me these symptoms? I want to know the cause of the symptoms and not cover them up with drugs." LIFE itself is an absolute miracle. Many individuals do not understand the intricate details of how two half cells become one cell and from there, in a period of 9 months, we get a perfect human being that enters the world. His little heart starts beating at 24 days... Her eyes formed at 36 days... This miracle unfolds perfectly - unless there is interference.
At first glance most people don't see the connection between chiropractic care and pregnancy. However, there are four stages in which having an optimally working nervous system and structural support help both mother and child. Pre-Conception: Chiropractic care prior to conception promotes a regular menstrual cycle and optimal uterine function. Some couples who thought they were infertile have been helped by restoring proper nerve supply to reproductive organs. Pregnancy: About half of expectant mothers will develop low back pain during their pregnancy. Regular chiropractic care during pregnancy helps maintain balance, alignment and flexibility. Many report less morning sickness. When the baby is comfortable, he or she can assume the optimal birthing position. Labor and Birth: Mothers who get chiropractic care seem to require less high-tech intervention. Many report shorter, less traumatic births. With proper nerve supply, well-timed contractions move the baby more easily through the birth canal. Post Delivery: When your body tightens up the loose ligaments that developed during pregnancy, it is important to make sure your joints are aligned properly before your muscles return back to their pre-pregnancy state. You can relax knowing we use a light touch to be safe, comfortable and effective. A recent study titled: Infant and Neonatal Mortality for Primary Cesarean and Vaginal Births to Women with "No Indicated Risk," found that the risk of death to newborns delivered by voluntary caesarean section is much higher than previously believed. In this study of almost 6 million infants, researchers found that neonatal mortality rate for caesarean delivery is 3x's that of vaginal delivery.
Furthermore, the rate of allergies, sinus issues, asthma, colicky babies, autism and neurological spectrum disorders are on the rise. Although the cause of these is multifactorial, the root of the issue is always the same.... it's a problem with the central nervous system or the "wiring of your body". Whether a baby is born vaginally or cesarean, the risk of neck trauma is fairly high due to the fact that most infants are pulled out of the mother's body with some type of force (hands, forceps, vacuum, prescribed ptosis to help with contraction - forced delivery of the baby) from the doctor. All these neonatal and in-utero stresses cause the infant's nervous system to go into sympathetic distress. Sympathetic nervous system activation is a chronic stress response to something I call a SUBLUXATION. A subluxation has 3 components to it... 1. Misaligned vertebra (bone in the neck or back) 2. Fixation of the vertebra out of proper alignment 3. Which then causes STRESS on the nerves around it. The problem with this cycle, if not corrected, is the baby (or adult) is in a state of CHRONIC SYMPATHETIC DISTRESS. This weakens our immune system, alters our hormone balance, can cause ear infections, fatigue, digestive issues, ADD/ADHD, and even autism. I advise all parents to at least get their children checked 4 times in the first year of life to prevent these issues and avoid drugs/meds at all costs. Times to be checked: 1. Directly after birth 2. When the baby can hold their head up right. (cervical/neck curve begins to form) 3. When they begin to crawl (lumbar/low back curve begins to form) 4. When they are learning to walk (the average kid falls 5,000 times per year til the age of 5-6). The nervous system is the master controller of our body and if its communication channels become fuzzy, distorted or damaged then we experience all sorts of communication errors. For babies and children, this ineffective communication may play out as colic or irritability, an inability to suckle and breastfeed, poor sleep, developmental delays, digestion issues, asthma, behavioral problems, low energy, inability to concentrate, headaches, etc - the list is endless. In fact, regardless of what the end result or symptom may be, all roads to "optimal health" lead back to the body's ability to self-regulate, self-heal and function at peak level. While chiropractic may be able to help with a number of health issues, our focus is not treating or curing ailments; our focus is ensuring the nervous system has every opportunity to work efficiently and effectively.
Can you cook with the lights out? For example, imagine your nervous system is like the lighting system in your home. If the lights start to dim, you might not be able to cook dinner very well, you may start banging into furniture, you may trip or hurt yourself, you may feel frightened. How the dim lights influence you precisely will vary but the issue is still the same - there is a communication problem between the wiring and the light globe which needs detecting and fixing. In the same way, chiropractors spend years studying the nervous system to be able to detect and correct these "communication errors" (subluxations) in the body.
Other common reasons for children to see a chiropractor include difficulty nursing, colic, and ear/sinus infections, which are all conditions often caused by problems with the upper neck that likely were caused by birth trauma such as C-section or forceps delivery. Parents also bring their kids to a chiropractor for care of colds and flu-like issues.
Our office specializes in family wellness and we offer great family discount plans, allowing for the entire family to get their nervous system checked (with or without insurance) at a very affordable rate. Since chiropractic seeks to restore balance and proper function to the nervous system, chiropractic not only for mom and dad but for the entire family often has life-altering changes! |
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