6 Tips Chiropractic Patients Must Observe If They Are In a Car Crash

6 Tips Chiropractic Patients Must Observe If They Are In a Car Crash

By: Greg Millar DC CCEP; Ken Randolph DC ASBCE (AL Board of Chiropractic); Justin Walbom DC;
Ryan Friel DC; Jessica Davis DC; and Kay Bishop DC.
Millar Chiropractic Clinics - Huntsville, Madison, Jones Valley and Decatur Alabama

Few instances shatter our normal world into pieces more quickly than an automobile accident. Never expected, a wreck causes bodily injury, stress, and, in some cases, ongoing financial litigation issues.

Unfortunately, the vast number of vehicles on the road today, as well as drivers' penchant for distracted driving, dramatically increases an individual's chances of being involved in a crash. If you already suffer from an injury or medical condition, you must do your part to ensure it is not aggravated or exacerbated.

If a car crash happens to you, it's essential to recognize and follow these six tips to keep you safe and your injuries to a minimum.

Immediately take stock of the situation

The way you react seconds after a crash impacts the situation tremendously. First determine if your in a safe place. Is it safe to move or get out of the car? Are you in imminent danger in the vehicle?  Then think about your other occupants. For example, if the automobile is on fire, or you are sinking into a lake, rescue yourself and others as quickly as possible. Otherwise, stay inside your vehicle unless its not in a safe place.

Analyze your injured areas

Then do a simple body survey, where am I injured?  Do I have a red plumbing problem? If YES, Its severity will control your actions. How injured do you appear to be?  Keep in mind you are not a doctor. So, even if you feel fine, your neck or back could still have been impacted. Identify which areas of your body hurts, and the intensity of the pain. Then do the same for other occupants.

Wait for the authorities

Stay calm inside your vehicle and wait for the police and ambulance to arrive. This is imperative if your vehicle has flipped and you are hanging from your seatbelt. Many head and neck injuries result from automobile occupants releasing their seat belts after a crash that has left them upside down.

Inform the emergency technicians

Once help arrives, it's vital to explain to them, if you can, the areas of injury. If you have previously suffered from injury or medical condition to your neck, back, or spine, let them know that, too.

This information helps them formulate the form of extraction and emergency treatment that minimizes the chance of creating further harm. Be calm and specific when you relay the information, using simple language and the 1-10 pain scale to describe your level of discomfort.

Always go to the Hospital and be checked out for life threatening injuries

Again you are not a doctor, So go to the hospital and let the professionals check you out. We can not tell you how many patients we have seen with internal injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents. Of course internal injuries are not normally visible to the untrained eye.  

Visit your chiropractor

If your injuries are deemed not life threatening and you are released by the hospital, be happy and grateful that you were not hurt worse! Then, make an appointment with your chiropractor, and explain the nature of the wreck. Certain injuries take a few days to show up, and the crash could have impacted bones, joints, and ligaments that went undiscovered during the initial after-crash exam. Ask for a complete examination, and talk with your chiropractor about any treatment deemed necessary.

Minimize the chances of another automobile accident

While you cannot control being in a wreck, you can take measures to guard against the occurrence, and give yourself a greater chance to avoid injury. Always wear your seatbelt, avoid distracted driving (this means your cell phone), maintain your vehicle's brakes and tires, and understand the current traffic laws. Commit to driving at a safe speed depending on the weather conditions, and never, ever drive after imbibing alcohol.

Being in an automobile accident is scary business, and we hope it never happens to you. There is increased risk to individuals who already deal with medical conditions or bodily injuries from sports, work, or falls. However, by maintaining a clear head and following these six tips, you can minimize the chance of being seriously injured in many car wreck situations and return to your normal life quickly, putting this awful incident behind you.

If you are in a motor vehicle accident we at Millar Chiropractic Clinics offer a FREE* consultation to talk a one of our doctors about your accident. Please call the appointment center 1-800 462-4476 for appointments at all clinics.

FREE*: this is a free 20-30 min meeting/consultation with the doctor. No x-rays or treatment of any kind will be included. Some persons or insurances not allowed to receive free services if that is your case then this does not apply to you. Cash Value 40.01. Results Vary.

Millar Chiropractic Clinics
303 Williams Ave SW
Huntsville, Alabama 35801
(256) 830-0000

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5 Foods That Fight High Cholesterol

This article reposted from Harvard Medical School publications. Good information. Dr Greg Millar DC CCEP.  5 foods that fight high cholesterol It’s easy to eat your way to an alarmingly high cholesterol level. The reverse is true too — changing what you eat can lower your cholesterol and improve the armada of fats floating through your bloodstream. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and “good fats” are all part of a heart-healthy diet. But some foods are particularly good at helping bring down cholesterol. How? Some cholesterol-lowering foods deliver a good dose of soluble fiber, which binds cholesterol and its precursors in the digestive system and drags them out of the body before they get into circulation. Others provide polyunsaturated fats, which directly lower LDL. And those with plant sterols and stanols keep the body from absorbing cholesterol. Here are 5 of those foods: Oats. An easy way to start lowering cholesterol is to choose oatmeal or a cold oat-based cereal like Cheerios for breakfast. It gives you 1 to 2 grams of soluble fiber. Add a banana or some strawberries for another half-gram. Beans. Beans are especially rich in soluble fiber. They also take a while for the body to digest, meaning you feel full for longer after a meal. That’s one reason beans are a useful food for folks trying to lose weight. With so many choices — from navy and kidney beans to lentils, garbanzos, black-eyed peas, and beyond — and so many ways to prepare them, beans are a very versatile food. Nuts. A bushel of studies shows that eating almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and other nuts is good for the heart. Eating 2 ounces of nuts a day can slightly lower LDL, on the order of 5%. Nuts have additional nutrients that protect the heart in other ways. Foods fortified with sterols and stanols. Sterols and stanols extracted from plants gum up the body’s ability to absorb cholesterol from food. Companies are adding them to foods ranging from margarine and granola bars to orange juice and chocolate. They’re also available as supplements. Getting 2 grams of plant sterols or stanols a day can lower LDL cholesterol by about 10%. Fatty fish. Eating fish two or three times a week can lower LDL in two ways: by replacing meat, which has LDL-boosting saturated fats, and by delivering LDL-lowering omega-3 fats. Omega-3s reduce triglycerides in the bloodstream and also protect the heart by helping prevent the onset of abnormal heart rhythms. But stay away from... As you consider eating more of the foods that can help dial down cholesterol, keep in mind that avoiding certain foods can also improve your results. To keep cholesterol levels where you want them to be, limit intake of: Saturated fats. The saturated fats found in red meat, milk and other dairy foods, and coconut and palm oils directly boost LDL. So one way to lower your LDL is to cut back on saturated fat. Try substituting extra-lean ground beef for regular; low-fat or skim milk for whole milk; olive oil or a vegetable-oil margarine for butter; baked fish or chicken for fried. Trans fats. Trans fats are a byproduct of the chemical reaction that turns liquid vegetable oil into solid margarine or shortening and that prevents liquid vegetable oils from turning rancid. Trans fats boost LDL as much as saturated fats do. They also lower protective HDL, rev up inflammation, and increase the tendency for blood clots to form inside blood vessels. Although trans fats were once ubiquitous in prepared foods, many companies now use trans-free alternatives. Some restaurants and fast-food chains have yet to make the switch.

How Losing Weight Can Help Reduce Back Pain for Chiropractic Patients

How Losing Weight Can Help Reduce Back Pain for Chiropractic Patients
By: Dr. Greg Millar, DC CCEP and Dr. Justin Walbom, DC
Millar Chiropractic Clinics - Huntsville, Madison, Jones Valley, Decatur Alabama

Back pain is one of the most common and most troublesome problems that people experience. Eight out of 10 individuals will struggle with back pain during some point in their life, the US National Library of Medicine reports. Low and chronic back pain can be aggravated by many triggers. Mechanical stress, excessive strain, muscle weakness, poor sleeping position, lack of exercise and excessive weight could all contribute to making the situation worse.

The good news is that chiropractic ranks among the most popular and effective treatment options available today for back pain. Through the chiropractic adjustment, chiropractors not only help ease the pain but also work toward correcting the problem. According to chiropractors, spinal adjustments can deliver even better results when combined with weight loss.
In today’s article, we’ll exam the following:

1. How Obesity and Back Pain are Related
2. How Weight Loss Helps Reduce Back Pain
3. Improving Back Health through Chiropractic

How Obesity and Back Pain are Related

Individuals that are classified as overweight or obese are much more likely to experience back pain than people that aren’t according to the American Obesity Association.
Obesity prevents individuals from engaging in everyday physical activities, as well as healthy exercises. These are essential for strengthening the core muscles. A stronger core can take some of the burden away from the back, thus making back pain less likely.

In addition, the spinal cord becomes excessively burdened in the case of obese individuals. This is because it’s trying to compensate for the additional weight, which can cause tilting and uneven stress. Both of these can contribute to serious and chronic back pain. Thus the reason obesity is one of the most prominent aggravating factors in the case of lower back pain.

How Weight Loss Helps Reduce Back Pain

According to weight loss experts and chiropractors, weight loss can contribute to partial or complete reduction in the back pain symptoms. The research on the connection between weight loss and back pain is still insufficient but numerous practitioners report that they’ve seen cases of patients experiencing serious reduction in pain after losing weight.

Obviously, this occurs because the extra weight is taken off the spine. As a result, the spine doesn’t experience further stress. Especially when a chiropractor realigns the vertebral column through multiple sessions of chiropractic adjustments. According to the American Spine Society, individuals that stay within 10 pounds of their ideal weight are the ones least likely to experience spinal problems, particularly chronic lower back pain.

Improving Back Health through Chiropractic Care and Physical Activity

The combination of exercise and chiropractic care can produce noticeable, long-term improvements in spinal health. Besides aiding in weight loss, exercise is also great for strengthening the core muscles and guaranteeing a proper distribution of the body’s weight throughout the spine. Stronger muscles, less weight and better posture will provide amazing long-term benefits for chiropractic patients that suffer from back pain.

If you need more pointers on how to incorporate weight loss and exercise in your daily routine, speak to your local chiropractor. He or she is more than competent to guide you along the way. If you aren’t currently seeing a chiropractor, give us a call. We’re here to help!

Millar Chiropractic Clinics - Alabama Chiropractors
For Appointments Call the Appointment Center Toll Free 1-800 Go Chiro or (800) 462-4476 locally at (256) 830-0000 OR visit us online at www.millarchiro.com
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Is Your Lifestyle Making You Sick?

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

Is Your Lifestyle Making You Sick?

Make an Appointment for Healthy Living

Have you, like many people, been thinking about making positive lifestyle changes for a long time?  Would you love to lose some weight and to be one of those admirable souls who seem to somehow be able to fit daily exercise into their busy lives?  It's certainly easier for people who have the luxury of making their own schedules with plenty of leisure time to exercise and prepare healthy food. What about the rest of us who work long hours, especially if we are also raising a family?  In this case, it is more challenging to live a healthy lifestyle, but also perhaps even more critical, because a healthy lifestyle will help us combat stress and be there for our loved ones. Whatever your particular circumstances are, it's still up to you to determine how to find the time to do things that are in your long-term interest. To make sure you get regular exercise, try making it a priority and scheduling your workout first thing in the morning.  You may even have to get up a little bit earlier, but the pay-off will be a greater sense of well being and increased energy in the short-term, and knowing that you are doing something very positive for your long-term health and well-being. It gets much easier once it becomes an established habit, and you will eventually feel so much better that you won't want to miss a morning workout.

Does your overall lifestyle promote good health and wellness?  Are the choices you make helping to keep you and your family well and healthy over the long term?

Many people think that some of the most common causes of sickness and death, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer, are all strongly determined by either genetics or just plain luck of the draw.  That's not really the case, however.

For example, only about 10% of cancers are determined by a person's genetics.  Most of the time, cancer is linked to the way we live our lives - from the food we eat, the exercise we get or fail to get, our environment including exposure to toxins, and whether or not we have positive, loving and supportive relationships.

In recent years, research studies have shown a significant correlation between overweight/obesity and a person's likelihood of developing cancer.  The evidence seems to suggest that fat cells are not simply passive storehouses of excess energy in the form of fat. Instead, it appears that fat cells are more like tiny metabolic furnaces that spew out a wide range of chemicals, including various hormones and inflammatory agents that may cause normal cells and tissues to become cancerous.¹ The majority of people and even many physicians are completely unaware of this.

The connection between lifestyle and both type 2 diabetes and heart disease, on the other hand, tends to be much more obvious to many people.^2,3  But cancer, we now know, is also often the result of an unhealthy lifestyle. The great news is that by being willing to make health-enhancing lifestyle choices, we can stack the deck in our favor and create more positive long-term changes in our health and well-being.

 

The best news is that these choices are in your hands. Every day you get to decide for yourself whether or not to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Of course, it can be easier some days than others to consistently make those healthy choices.  If you travel a lot for work, it may be extra challenging to find good, healthy food and to fit exercise into your daily routine.  If that's the case, just do the best you can and remember that living a healthy lifestyle is a lifetime endeavor.  If you manage to eat a nutritious and healthy diet and get regular exercise most of the time, you can take a short break here and there without noticing too much of a negative effect, as long as you get back to your positive, healthy habits as soon as possible.  Thinking long term and making sure you choose a healthy lifestyle most of the time, will usually allow you to get back on track quickly.

Chiropractic care is another very important aspect of healthy living. Chiropractic care helps to make sure that your body is functioning optimally.  It also helps you to get the most benefit from the healthy food you're choosing and the regular, vigorous exercise you're getting. Your Millar chiropractor will be happy to assist you in creating an exercise and nutritional program designed to address your particular needs and concerns.

 

¹Chan AT, Giovannucci EL: Primary prevention of colorectal cancer. Gastroenterology 138(6):2029-2043, 2010

²Shi Y, et al: Cardiovascular determinants of life span. Pflugers Arch 459(2):315-324, 2010

3Ma J, et al: Evaluation of lifestyle interventions to treat elevated cardiometabolic risk in primary care (E-LITE): a randomized controlled trial. BMC Fam Pract 10:71, 2009

 

 

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Back Pain - Are You At Risk?

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

Back Pain - Are You At Risk?

Your Family History

Back injuries are most often caused by various mechanical issues, and the tendency to get such injuries is not inherited. On the other hand, people do have family-related behavioral tendencies, and while these particular behaviors are not literally "inherited", they are often passed down through the generations. These are the various habits of daily living we learned from our families, that can become ingrained and may eventually contribute to back injuries. A lack of interest in sports or exercise, poor posture, and a tendency to be overweight can be some of the behavioral patterns we learned from our family. As adults it's important to become conscious of and evaluate these unhealthful patterns, and to take an active role in developing a new more positive set of behaviors that can increase our health and overall well-being. In addition to these habits we picked up from our family, we may also have various health challenges that include a genetic component which can make us more susceptible to back problems. Your chiropractic physician can help you identify such additional risk factors.

 

Have you ever wondered what the risk factors are for back pain? Why some people suffer from it and some people don't?  What you can do to avoid being one of the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic back pain? Your Millar Chiropractic physician can help answer these very important questions.

One major risk factor is related to exercise.  We have all been admonished by health authorities to either "use it or lose it".  If you fail to get regular exercise, your back muscles can become deconditioned rather quickly.  When that happens, you are more vulnerable to the strains and sprains that can cause or contribute to back pain.

 

When your muscles are required to do work, they become stronger.  Another related benefit is that exercise helps to "train" the tendons and ligaments surrounding your joints.  These are crucial joint-supporting tissues, and regular exercise increases their ability to withstand mechanical stresses and loads without becoming injured. Basically, when you engage in regular vigorous exercise, your body gets "smarter", stronger and more resilient, and you're less likely to suffer from those annoying back problems.¹

Another major risk factor for back pain is weak abdominal muscles. When you were a young kid in gym class, did one of your teachers tell you to "suck in your stomach"?  As it turns out, that's not bad advice. Your abdominal muscles support the muscles of your lower back.  If you commonly let it "all hang out" letting your abdominal muscles droop rather than keeping them activated and engaged, your abdominal muscles can become weak and deconditioned from this continual lack of use.

 

When this happens, your lower back muscles end up having to hold up the weight of your torso, without the normal assistance of your abdominal muscles. Your lower back muscles are not designed to for that.  Their normal job is to help move your spine through its normal ranges of motion.  They're not designed to rigidly support your body weight without the assistance of your abdominal muscles. And if they're left as the sole support for your body weight, they will eventually give way under the continual excessive strain. The result is usually a very painful lower back injury.

Abdominal exercises are easy to do and don't take a lot of time. The key is to make sure that you actually do them several times a week, in addition to your other regular vigorous exercise. It is also very important to make sure to use your abdominal muscles as you go about your daily routine. Imagine these muscles are being pulled in and lifted up.  Think of "activating" your abdominal muscles rather than tightening them. Your body will know what to do, once you've started adding consistent abdominal training to your exercise routine.  You should also notice your posture improving as you get in the habit of keeping your abdominal muscles activated.  Your body will breathe a sigh of relief at finally being properly supported.

There are other back pain risk factors that may also be found in your personal and family medical history.² During your initial chiropractic visit, your doctor will ask you about surgeries and accidents you've experienced, and talk with you about any significant elements in your family history. For example, a surgery to remove your appendix or galllbladder or to repair a hernia may have weakened your abdominal muscles. Accidents involving a motor vehicle or a serious fall may have caused injuries that either healed incompletely or with soft tissue scarring, which can contribute to back pain.

Knowing about potential risk factors and taking appropriate action will help you have a healthier, stronger and more flexible lower back.

 

 

¹Jones MA, et al. Recurrent non-specific low-back pain in adolescents: the role of exercise. Ergonomics 50(10):1680-1688, 2007
²Plouvier S, et al. Biomechanical strains and low back disorders. Occup Environ Med 2007 (in press)

 

 

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Do I Need to Take Vitamins and Minerals?

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

Do I Need to Take Vitamins and Minerals?

Should I Eat According to the Food Pyramid?

The short answer is, probably not.  Not unless you'd like to become fat or obese, that is. The U.S. government's "food pyramid" recommends that the largest percentage of one's daily calories should come from whole grains.  This is despite the fact that there is a tremendous amount of evidence that grains break down into sugar in the body - increasing insulin resistance, encouraging an increase in fat storage, and increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other diseases. According to the highly respected natural health expert, Dr. Joseph Mercola, the reason grains and other unhealthful foods are promoted so heavily is because these are the foods that are subsidized by the U.S. government. Dr. Mercola has developed his own "food pyramid", as an alternative, which is based on nutritional science.  You can see it in the article linked above, or view it here.

People often wonder whether they should be taking any vitamin and mineral supplements. Are they worthwhile? Which supplements would be best for me?  The answer to these questions are yes, and ask your knowledgeable chiropractor for supplement recommendations.

Why should we even bother with vitamin and mineral supplementation? The objective is to make sure you have all your bases covered -- to make sure your body has everything it needs to be healthy. How can you be sure you diet is providing you with all the vitamins, minerals and cofactors your body needs to function properly? Not to mention all the important antioxidants needed to fight free radical formation and the various phyt­onutrients that seem to help slow down the aging process and lower your risk of cancer and other diseases.

Mineral deficiencies are rampant in the United States, largely due to the majority of our food supply being grown in mineral depleted soil.  It is difficult to obtain necessary minerals such as magnesium, iodine, chromium, calcium and selenium from diet alone.

Many people are also deficient in the B vitamins such as folate, B12 (cyanocobalamin), B2 (riboflavin),  B6 (pyridoxine), B1 (thiamin), and B3 (niacin). Taking a good multivitamin or a B vitamin supplement is an easy way to make sure that these requirements are met.

So which supplement brand is the best? There's really no single right answer to that question.  It depends on the individual's needs, and there are often various practical considerations. You can usually tell that a particular brand is the right choice for you if you notice some improvement after taking it regularly for several weeks. Your chiropractic physician can help you by providing expert advice and recommendations.  The important thing to remember is that vitamin and mineral supplementation is often necessary in order to optimize metabolic functioning and promote physical well-being.

What about taking specific supplements for specific health challenges, such as regularly taking a calcium supplement after a bone-density study has revealed a reduction in bone mass (osteoporosis)? Is this an effective therapy? Well, in the postmenopausal setting¹, it is critical to also perform regular weight-bearing exercise in order for your body to be stimulated to actually use the calcium to increase bone density.  If you only take calcium supplements but fail to exercise, the calcium with just be excreted, instead of being used to strengthen the bones.  

What about calcium supplements for younger women?  Once again, exercise is the of utmost importance in helping to prevent or minimize osteoporosis².  Making sure you are getting a sufficient amount of calcium each day is also important. The recommended daily requirement for calcium is 1000-1200 mg.  So, lets assume that a typical vitamin/mineral supplement supplies 500 mg of calcium. A small container of yogurt adds another 250 mg. A glass of milk or a piece of cheese can add another 250 mg. If you're avoiding dairy, other good sources of calcium include turnips, spinach, sardines (including bones), and calcium-fortified orange juice. So, you can get the recommended requirement by combining both a daily supplement and eating a variety of calcium rich foods.

Magnesium deficiency is another very common mineral deficiency in the United States.  Magnesium and calcium balance each other, so if you do supplement, look for a product that ideally contains equal amounts of both.  Having a lot of muscle tension may be a sign that you are low in magnesium.  Appropriate magnesium levels are also important for promoting cardiovascular health, regulating blood pressure and controlling blood sugar.  Spinach, almonds, pumpkin seeds, swiss chard, cashews, and black beans are all very good sources of magnesium.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are an easy way to make sure you are getting the nutritional support your body needs.  By supplementing your diet appropriately, you can make sure you are receiving a consistent and optimal dose of the most important nutrients. Eating a varied diet of healthy whole foods along with getting regular exercise, will help to ensure vibrant and glowing good health³.


1Rosen CJ: Clinical practice. Postmenopausall osteoporosis. N Engl J Med 353(6):595-603, 2005
2Swanenburg J, et al: Effects of exercise and nutrition on postural balance and risk of falling in elderly people. Clin Rehabil 21(6):523-34, 2007
3Speckerr B, Vukovich M: Evidence for an interaction between exercise and nutrition for improved bone health during growth. Med Sport Sci 51:50-63, 2007

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What's Your Vibe?

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

What's Your Vibe?

Being Present

We're not talking about raising your hand when your name is called.  No, we're talking about "being in the moment" as a way of being more centered and getting more joy out of life.  It's something that requires practice in order to make it your default way of being.  Even at that point, being present still requires a certain amount of ongoing attention for most people. And really, that's what "being present" is all about - paying attention to the present moment. After all, the present moment is all we truly have. We may have memories of the past and thoughts of the future, but the past is over and the future is not yet here.  (And will likely never be "here" exactly the way you imagine it.)  If we're not in the present moment, we're nowhere. The present is where your power resides, and when you're present, people around you can feel your energy.  You are more charismatic when you are present in the moment.  People will see you as authentic and a good listener, which is very appealing.  They'll want to spend time with you. There's no time like the present to begin "being present"

In the story of Snow White, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Bashful were precisely that.  The names of the seven dwarves accurately and literally represented their overall vibe. It doesn't usually work that way for us, but we give off plenty of subconscious signals that let people know who we are and how we're feeling.  The look in our eyes, the tone of our voice, our facial expressions and posture are just some of the clues that let other people intuit what's really going on with us. Often, the vibe we're giving off is a more accurate reflection of our inner being than the words we are saying.

Other people can usually tell what's really going on with us, no matter what we say or don't say.  But when we're communicating clearly and interacting meaningfully, we usually feel less stressed-out. The surprising benefit is that our health improves as a result.^1,2

Here's an easy way to determine whether you're sending out a negative or positive overall vibe - when you visit a friend who owns a dog or pass one on the street, does it growl at you or does it wag it's tail?  Do cats tend to hiss at you or do they instead offer a friendly purr? When someone introduces you to a toddler or baby, does he or she start to cry, or do they usually smile at you? These are all pretty reliable signs as to whether your personal vibe is more negative or positive.

Young children and animals are very perceptive and pick up on the subconscious signals people send out.  Who you are being is very clear to them.  Many of us lose this intuitive ability over time, and pay more attention to what people say than to the subtle clues they give off that can tell us more about how they are feeling in general, whether or not they are being honest with us, and how overall trustworthy they are.

Over time, people often get used to being a certain way, and may not even realize that they've become chronically grumpy, angry or pessimistic.   It's like they get stuck in an emotional rut, and may not even realize the way they are coming across to other people.  If animals and young children react negatively to you, it may do you some good to take stock of the vibe you're sending out.  Being chronically "negative" can also have a negative effect on your health.

Negative and positive vibes can "rub off" on you too, especially if you're a sensitive person.  If you spend time with a friend or acquaintance who is always very negative, and find that you end up feeling down, or angry, or depressed as a result, you would probably do well to limit the time you spend with them.

On another note, paying attention to the "vibe" can also be useful in health care interactions. You may wait for hours to see a doctor, and then even though they say nice words, you might sense that he doesn't really care about your well-being and just wants to finish with you and get on to the next patient. You may sense a similar vibe at the front desk - they behave politely, but you can tell that they're super-stressed and can't wait to get out the door themselves.

Most people will notice a significant difference between the vibe in a typical medical office and the vibe in a chiropractic office.  Chiropractors tend to place a high value on the human component of their interactions with patients. Chiropractic offices strive to be a very welcoming environment.  It is not unusual to hear people say that their chiropractor's office "feels just like home" and that the staff "feels like family".

You can tell that your chiropractor is genuinely interested in both your health and your well-being.  Chiropractors know that it's important to take the time to really listen to your concerns and to make sure you're getting the service and attention you need. Chiropractic is a wholistic healing profession which recognizes that the quality of the doctor-patient relationship is an important part of the healing process.


¹Seedat S, et al: Life stress and mental disorders in the South African stress and health study. S Afr Med J 99(5 Pt 2):375-382, 2009
²Koetaka H, et al: Long-term effects of lifestyle on multiple risk factors in male workers. Environ Health Prev Med 14(3):165-172, 2009

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How Chiropractic Can Help You Be More Fit

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

How Chiropractic Can Help You Be More Fit

Chiropractic - Helping Your Body Run More Efficiently

Everyone knows how important it is to get regular vigorous exercise and to eat the right foods to maximize our health. But what happens if you're in too much pain to be able to exercise comfortably or safely? What if your range of motion is limited by stiff joints and chronically achy muscles? By eliminating the chronic backaches, headaches, muscle tightness and nerve interference (which we refer to as subluxations) that result from misalignment of the spine, chiropractic helps to restore proper range of motion and optimal functioning of the body's systems so that you can fully enjoy being more active.

If you've been shopping for home appliances in the last few years, you know that efficiency is a major selling-point. And with rising gasoline prices, it has also become an important consideration when buying a car. Smart shoppers are asking the question, "How much energy will this use?" 

If we're buying a used car, we want to make sure that the car was properly cared for and that the owners followed the appropriate maintenance schedule. The applies to our bodies too. Just like it's very important that a car receive its appropriate regular maintenance, getting regular oil changes and tune-ups, it's similarly important to have our spines adjusted regularly.  Really, maintaining our spinal health is much more important because, unlike a car, you can't replace your spine. Good spinal health helps to ensure that all the body systems are fully supported and functioning properly.  This allows us to function better in all aspects of our lives.

Physical fitness is not a precise measurement, but we can think of it as maintaining an overall state of good health that includes being able to perform a wide range of activities with efficiency and ease - everything from participating in a strenuous workout to being able to work at your desk for extended periods of time without discomfort. The American College of Sports Medicine recognizes four interrelated types of fitness that are important for complete health:

• Cardio-respiratory fitness - including the heart, blood vessels and lungs.
• Muscular fitness - including both muscle endurance and muscle strength.
• Body composition - which is the percentage of body fat compared to other tissues such as bones, muscles, organs, etc.
• Flexibility - including ideal range of motion and muscle/tendon elasticity.

The various systems of your body work together, so the fitness of one body system affects all the others.

In order to maximize our health in all of the categories mentioned above for total fitness, it's important for us to eat a good diet, get regular exercise, pay attention to our body's signals, and get enough rest.  It's equally important to make sure we receive regular maintenance by having our spines properly aligned.   Regular chiropractic adjustments can be an important factor in increasing overall fitness. One of the objectives of chiropractic treatment is to balance the various systems of the body - muscles, bones, nerves, glands, and organs - by improving posture and alignment. Regular chiropractic care allows the whole body to perform optimally and efficiently, increasing energy reserves as it decreases the fatigue and stress that usually results from poor alignment.

In fact, many professional athletes depend upon chiropractic care to maintain their peak physical performance. Back in 2002, the U.S. teams for the Winter Olympics were the first to employ an official Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Robin Hunter, and they had one of the best showings ever. Was that purely coincidental? Dr. Hunter has stated the chiropractic care is all about "correcting bio-mechanical faults and misalignments, and treating injuries with hands-on work, so that the athletes can return to play faster and better." John Stockton, a pro basketball player that has turned to chiropractic to better his game says, "It's not just the adjustments, it's balancing muscles and overall health." And after a serious skiing accident, Schwarzenegger remarked, "I had one of those miracle moments when you call a chiropractor, they care for you and then days later you ski again like a champion on moguls."

Though it may feel like a miracle to many people who experience the benefits of chiropractic, the underlying principle is really quite simple. When the body is properly aligned, muscles, ligaments, and joints function together with greater ease. Internal organs aren't hindered, so the heart and lungs are better able to perform their jobs. Perhaps even more importantly, chiropractic care can help to prevent injuries that often result from overtaxing a particular part of the body that may already be compensating for those that aren't functioning as well.

Chiropractic care is like giving your body a tune-up. It helps us to function more efficiently and enjoy a greater sense of ease and well-being.

How would you rate your current level of physical fitness?  Would you like to learn how chiropractic care can help you with your goals?  The doctors of Millar Chiropractic are happy to help!

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Our Genetic Heritage

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

Our Genetic Heritage

Chiropractic and Your Genes

The genes you inherited from your parents determine all of your physical characteristics, such as your hair color and eye color. Your genetic heritage can also contribute to your personal interests, choice of profession, the activities you enjoy, and even your personality. Your genes are also very closely involved with your state of health and well-being. Of course, there is much more to who you are than just your DNA. The 30,000 genes that are tightly packed into each of your cells is only the beginning point. The ways in which your genes are expressed are also very much affected by diet, exercise,  socioeconomic, and environmental factors. A significant part of the environment we tend to overlook is the nerve system - the guiding system of our internal environment. If nerve signals are blocked or not flowing freely, gene expression may become disorganized and disordered. When the proper information repeatedly fails to get through, health begins to deteriorate. Chiropractic treatment can help to restore proper nerve system function, thereby helping to optimize both cellular function and normal genetic activity.

Species evolve over time as a way of attempting to better deal with their environment.  In many instances, our underlying DNA may stay the same, but our diet and other factors change the functional expression of our genes.  These functional changes are called "epigenetics" and can even be passed along through your genetic line.

The overall objective for a species is survival, and as such, it develops various survival strategies over time.  For example, when a person is exposed to a time of great famine, their epigenetic strategy may adapt to this by changing the function of the DNA so that the body stores more energy as body fat.  That can help a person successfully survive a famine.  The problem arises when this epigenetic tendency is passed along and remains a survival strategy even during times of plentiful food supply.  In this case, a person who carries this epigenetic strategy to survive famine, by way of an overly thrifty metabolism, is at much greater risk for diabetes and obesity.

 

This tendency toward a thrifty fat-storing metabolism gets passed along to the famine survivor's genetic descendants - who then have a survival strategy (store more fat) that doesn't necessarily match up with their current environment and food supply.  If your DNA instructs your body to have a slow metabolism and store more fat, you are very likely to struggle with weight gain issues no matter how much you exercise or how few calories you consume.  In fact, not eating enough or going on a crash diet can make a person with these tendencies even more likely to store (as body fat) most of the calories they consume. 

 

In his book, Change Your Genetic Destiny, Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo labels this thrifty genetic group GenoType 2 - "The Gatherer".  Through his years of research and treating patients, Dr. D'Adamo has found six different "GenoType" (genetic archetype) groupings, each with specific strengths and challenges. He has also developed a unique diet and exercise plan for each type that is specifically geared to each group's genetic tendencies.¹

Human DNA continues to evolve over time, although we remain personally unaware of the process. Our lives are short compared to the length of time it usually takes to notice significant genetic mutations in a species. By looking at archeological remains, we can see obvious differences in the average height and lifespans of today's humans compared to humans of 1,000 years ago. These are just two of the genetic changes that have occurred over the last millennium.

On an individual level we may not be able to alter our actual DNA, but we can often change whether or not we are affected by certain genes by changing our diet or other aspects of our lifestyle and environment.  This is the emerging science of epigenetics, which studies how the environment influences the expression of our DNA. 

 

We can make an effort to strengthen our bodies and to help ensure that our genetic and cellular processes are functioning at their highest level. Cells require the right fuel and the proper metabolic environment in order to function properly. So appropriate food in the proper quantities and the right amount of regular exercise are important. ² Another very important factor is to make sure the nerve system is functioning optimally, because the nerve system coordinates all your body's activities. You can think of the nerve system as the conductor of your own personal physiologic orchestra - making sure that everything works together smoothly and efficiently.

From the point of view of genetics and evolution, an individual human being has an advantage if she is well and healthy. If such a person has children it is likely they will be healthy and well too, especially if she is well-nourished during pregnancy and able to avoid excess stress. She will pass on whatever genetic advantages she has gained, as will her offspring under the same optimal conditions. A healthy nerve system is vital in helping to ensure health and wellness. Chiropractic care helps your nerve system function at peak efficiency, doing exactly what it's designed to do.

Chiropractic treatment works by improving the biomechanical function of spinal vertebrae, which in turn improves the free flow of nerve signals throughout your body. These nerve signals work to coordinate the various body systems so that your cells are able to receive the appropriate raw materials they need to function properly.  Your cells can then accurately duplicate themselves as they divide, and genetic function can be optimized.

Proper flow of instructions and information transmitted via the nerve system helps to ensure health and well-being at the deepest levels. Your genetic advantage is passed on when you're healthy and well. Chiropractic care plays a vital role in making this happen.

 

 

¹D'Adamo, Dr. Peter J.  Change Your Genetic Destiny (Originally published as The GenoType Diet in 2007, hardcover.) New York, NY.  Broadway Books, a division of Random House. 2009.
²Solomons NW: Developmental origins of health and disease. Concepts, caveats, and consequences for public health nutrition. Nutr Rev 67(Suppl 1):S12-S16, 2009

 

 

 

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Can We Stay Forever Young?

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

Can We Stay Forever Young?

The Fountain of Youth and Chiropractic Care

There is no literal fountain of youth, of course, but there are ways to enhance and extend our youthfulness. Anyone can do this by following a consistently healthy diet, getting regular vigorous exercise, and making sure to get sufficient rest. Additionally, when you add regular chiropractic care to your long-term program, all your efforts provide an even greater yield. Chiropractic care works by optimizing the functioning of your spinal system. The spinal column plays a very important role, housing and protecting the spinal nerves - branches of your central nervous system that carry messages and instructions to all the other parts of your body. When the various parts of your spinal column (the vertebrae) are working well together, messages can flow freely back and forth along the spinal nerves. By helping ensure this free flow of information, chiropractic treatment helps you get the most out of your exercise and nutrition programs.

Do you consider yourself young at heart, even if you're not actually young in years?  Do you wonder if it's possible to remain "forever young" in terms of good health and wellness? Of course, there are positive aspects to getting older that we shouldn't discount in our search for the fountain of youth. Most of us probably wouldn't want to trade our positive life experiences, accomplishments, and the personal growth we have achieved. Our life experiences contribute to our character growth and help us to gain a broader understanding and appreciation of life.

 

There are many positive aspects to getting older, including gaining skills and hopefully wisdom, but is it really necessary for our physical bodies to break down along the way? We may not be able to hold on to the full bloom of youth as we advance in years, but there are a few things that may help us retain much of our youthful glow and vigor as we get older. Perhaps we may not remain "forever young" in the truest sense, but we can certainly embrace the ideas that "50 is the new 30" and "60 is the new 40". Here are two simple suggestions that may seem rather obvious, but can actually be very effective if you implement them consistently over the long term.

 

Suggestion #1: Eat a high quality diet and do not overeat! Each individual has their own metabolic balancing point beyond which extra food, especially excess carbohydrates, will be stored as fat. If you are eating a nutrient dense diet - focusing on high quality protein, fats, and vegetables and keeping your average daily calorie consumption in balance with your energy expenditures - then all the energy in the food you eat will be used to repair your tissues and to support your physical functioning.

 

On the other hand, if you regularly overindulge in excess calories, especially carbohydrates, the excess calories will not be utilized, and will instead be stored as fat. These abnormal fat stores tend to eventually lead to chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. So for your highest likelihood of enjoying long-term health, it's very wise idea to avoid overeating, at least most of the time. Keep in mind that you don't have to be perfect.  If you eat a high-quality diet within your caloric range on six out of seven days each week, you can think of that seventh day as a free day when you can indulge a bit more.  The idea is to make eating well a lifestyle choice that you can maintain over the long-term, helping you to stay "forever young".¹

 

You may have heard the term "Intermittent Fasting" which has become increasingly popular as a way to receive the benefits of calorie restriction without restricting the amount of calories consumed.  Proponents suggest that you can receive all the benefits of "calorie restriction" by not reducing your total daily caloric intake, but instead eating the same number of calories each day during a smaller window of time - thereby fasting for at least 14-16 hours or more, with the balance of the day being your shortened "eating window".  The studies that have been done on this technique look promising except for one huge caveat.  Most of the studies have been done on men, and the few that have included women seem to indicate that intermittent fasting may have the opposite effect for women - causing hormonal disruptions, insomnia and even weight gain and increased insulin resistance.  For women especially, it is prudent to avoid prolonged fasting states, and instead follow the advice above - eating a high quality diet with an appropriate amount of calories - and spacing your meals throughout the day to keep your blood sugar and hormones balanced.

 

Suggestion #2: Get more exercise. Did you ever see a competitive swimmer, gymnast, or professional dancer who didn't look fantastic? These young men and women are in such good shape owing to the high volume of exercise they do every week. Do you know any older adults who were gymnasts or professional dancers in their younger days? Isn't that person still unusually healthy and fit? Such long-term fitness results from a lifelong habit of regular exercise. The wonderful news is that even if you haven't exercised in many, many years, you can still derive benefits for years to come by starting to exercise, right now.^2,3 It's never too late to start!  Begin wherever you are fitness-wise, and build up gradually.  Not only will regular exercise improve your waistline, it will also likely improve your mood, enhance your sense of well-being and even help you to have more energy during the day and sleep better at night. The most important thing is to begin and to be consistent.

 

Another caution, because many of us tend to think that if something is good for us, then a whole lot is much better.  We just finished advising you to get more exercise, and for most of us that is just what the doctor ordered.  However, please pay attention to your body.  Start slowly and build up.  It's easy to get caught up in an activity and overdo it.  Try to find activities you enjoy, and get some exercise every day.  Also, it is best to vary both the activities and the intensity. 

 

Although the vast majority of us don't get enough exercise, there is a small percentage of people that will tend to consistently push their bodies too long and too hard.  Too much intense exercise can actually stress the body.  Exercise creates free-radicals and you can eventually deplete your free-radical scavenging antioxidant stores if you continually overdo it, especially as you age. Just like with your caloric intake, it is prudent to find your "sweet spot" with regard to exercise - getting enough to enjoy all of the many benefits, but not so much that you are taxing your body and creating chronic stress.  Like most aspects of life, it's all about balance.  Exercised should leave you feeling good, relaxed and energized.  If you are feeling depleted or exhausted you are doing too much.  Back off a bit and give your body a break.

 

These two suggestions, eating less and exercising more (within reason), have been known for decades. But in order to reap the many benefits, what's required is to actually do these things. We can be "forever young", by taking these simple actions on our own behalf.

 

 

¹Campbell KL, et al: J Clin Oncol Reduced-Calorie Dietary Weight Loss, Exercise, and Sex Hormones in Postmenopausal Women: Randomized Controlled Trial. 2012 May 21 [Epub ahead of print] 

²Umpierre D: Physical activity advice only or structured exercise training and association with HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA 305(17):1790-1799, 2011

³Betof AS, et al: Effects and potential mechanisms of exercise training on cancer progression: A translational perspective. Brain Behav Immun 2012 May 17 [Epub ahead of print]

 

 

 

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The Human Body is a Very Complex System

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

The Human Body is a Very Complex System

Your Partner in Good Health - Chiropractic Care

Good health rarely happens by accident.  That is especially true these days, because the typical American diet and lifestyle stacks the odds against us. A very small number of fortunate people will enjoy good health no matter what they do. Perhaps you know one of these rare birds who do all the "wrong" things and in their advanced years, will tell anyone who will listen how they've never been sick a day even though they smoke, drank, ate fried foods etc. But for the rest of us, we need to make healthy lifestyle choices in order to enjoy long-term health and wellness. Perhaps our goal is simply to be consistently well enough that we can live an active life without chronic aches and pains interfering with it, or constantly worrying about our state of health and what might be going wrong. Chiropractic care is an important component of healthy lifestyle. Regular chiropractic care can help ensure that we get the most value out of the other healthy lifestyle choices we make. Regular chiropractic care can help us achieve the long-lasting good health and wellness that allows us to get the most out of life.

The concept of complexity is a useful way of helping us better understand the world around us.  Complexity theory is a scientific concept that has spread rapidly throughout the collective consciousness during the last several decades. Anyone who watches the television show "The Big Bang Theory" has heard various references to complex systems, chaos theory, and emergent phenomena. Perhaps surprisingly, these fascinating topics from the fields of mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry also have special importance for human health and wellness.

Examples of chaos and complexity are prevalent in the natural world. Weather systems are a good example of complex systems, which is why the weather is so difficult to predict, even in the short-term. This is primarily because the basic structure of a weather pattern can change in an instant.  The scientific understanding of chaos theory has been advanced by studying another natural phenomena - avalanches.  Another example in the natural world is the flocking behavior of birds, which demonstrates the ever-variable outcomes of a great number of factors.

An emergent phenomenon is one that cannot be predicted from studying the various parts that make up the whole. Emergent phenomena include the flocking behavior of birds in flight, in which large flocks create beautiful, shifting, dynamic patterns as they fly; the structure of beehives; and the World Wide Web. Even human consciousness may, from a certain perspective, be considered an emergent phenomenon.

From an individual health perspective, the relative health and wellness of any particular person is also an emergent phenomenon.^1,2, For example, fighting off the flu or a common cold is a dynamic process with many complex and chaotic interactions taking place in order to determine the outcome. The individual fighting off the flu or cold may be aware of how things are going in general, based upon how well or sick they are feeling, but they are not aware of each of the specific cellular and subcellular activities that are happening in their body.

Are our white blood cells working together effectively to keep us healthy?  Is their behavior organized? Do they know where they need to be in order to battle the invading forces? Or is their behavior uncoordinated and random causing us to end up sick as a result?

Consistent, long-term health and wellness emerge from a variety of prerequisites, including proper nutrition, sufficient rest and regular exercise. These activities are considered healthy lifestyle choices because they promote good health. Because the body's functions and the interactions with its environment are very complex, it is impossible to guarantee a specific outcome. But we can make an educated prediction based on historical data and analyzing the facts. It is clear that the outcomes we want - long-term health and wellness - are most likely to result from a set of healthy lifestyle choices that are made consistently over the long-term.

 

¹Koonin EV: Are there laws of genome evolution? PLoS Comput Biol Epub August 25, 2011

²Jayasinghe S: Conceptualising population health: from mechanistic thinking to complexity science. Emerg Themes Epidemiol 8(1):2, 2011

 

 

 

 

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Performing Complex Movements

 This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

 

Performing Complex Movements

Wall Push-ups for Beginners

Performing a regular push-up correctly and effectively requires a large amount of coordination and strength. If you are significantly overweight and/or haven't exercise in a while, regular push-ups performed on the floor may be too challenging, even if you do the easier version with your knees bent. You can work up to those more advanced push-ups by performing standing push-ups against a wall, until you build your strength.  Also, wall push-ups are often a better choice for people with back problems, because standard push-ups can stress the lower back. To perform wall push-ups, stand facing a wall and place your hands on it, slightly wider than your shoulders.  You should be standing far enough from the wall so that your hands touch the wall with you arms comfortably outstretched but not completely straight.  Your fingers should be pointing upward. Keep your tummy pulled in, and inhale while you bend your elbows and lean your body toward the wall. Exhale while you slowly push yourself back to your starting position.  Make your movements slow and controlled and make sure you're not arching your back.  Repeat several times until you can do a set of 8-12 repetitions.  As you get stronger, you can take a short rest and then repeat one or two additional sets. A wall push-up is a compound exercise because it helps to strengthen several major muscle groups, when performed correctly, including your arms, pectorals and core.

During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Mao Asada not only won a silver medal in Ladies Figure Skating, she also landed three triple axels during that competition which was a feat that no competitor had previously accomplished.  While all figure skating spins, jumps and other technical elements have varying levels of difficulty, the triple axel is especially challenging. A triple axel consists of many moving parts, which must all be perfectly coordinated in order to complete the requisite rotations in the air before landing safely on the ice.

How does a figure skater assemble all the various parts of this daring and beautiful element? Certainly not by thinking about them. The timing of this entire feat happens in a matter of seconds, while the individual moving parts of a triple axel happen in a fraction of a second. Therefore, if the skater tries to think about what is coming next, they will most likely end up falling instead.

Well-executed triple- axels, salchows, and flips combine exquisite beauty, athleticism and grace. Double and single jumps are also very impressive, requiring a very high level of coordination and skill.^1,2 A skater learns how to perform these elements by training, honing their ability to focus, and countless hours of practice. The months, and years of training result in these moves becoming second nature to a skater. At this point, generally speaking, thinking plays no part in performing these "tricks", because we can't think at skating speed.

So how can we bring a skater's level of excellence to our own training? Whether we're riding a bike, running, doing yoga, walking, swimming, dancing, or playing basketball or volleyball, a high level of commitment is necessary in order to excel.³ A half-hearted effort will not get you significant results. If we truly want to increase our health and well-being, it is necessary to commit to a regular exercise schedule. In order to do this, we need to plan and use our time efficiently, making sure that we set aside at least 30 minutes each day for our daily exercise activities.

We need to make sure that we optimize our exercise time to get the best results. The main objectives of exercise are to tone and strengthen our muscles, increase our aerobic capacity and increase our flexibility and the range of motion in our joints. In order to do this, it's important for various parts and systems of your body to communicate with each other efficiently, otherwise some of your effort will be wasted. The most effective way to ensure optimal functioning of all our physiologic systems is to make sure our nerve system is operating at full capacity. Chiropractic health care focuses on fulfilling this need.

Regular chiropractic care helps to restore and maintain optimal functioning of the all-important nerve system. This helps all the various body systems function effectively so that you can derive maximal benefit from your exercise efforts. Your body becomes smarter and able to perform at higher levels. You are supported in developing new physical skills and abilities. You may also notice an improvement in your sleep resulting from a better functioning nerve system, and perhaps even an increase in creativity and joy in your life.



¹Tanguy SG, et al: Are otolithic inputs interpreted better in figure skaters? Neuroreport 19(5):565-568, 2008
²Lockwood KL, et al: Landing for success: a biomechanical and perceptual analysis of on-ice jumps in figure skating. Sports Biomech 5(2)231-241, 2006
³Rinne M, et al: Is Generic Physical Activity Or Specific Exercise Associated With Motor Abilities? Med Sci Sports Exerc February 13, 2010 (Epub ahead of print)

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Maximizing Your Health Account

Maximizing Your Health Account

Deposits and Withdrawals from Your Health Account

In terms of your health and well-being it's very important to not to "overdraw your health account". Withdrawals should never exceed deposits. The trouble is that sometimes we don't even realize that we're making a withdrawal, or we forget to make sure we've had enough deposits to cover a big withdrawal. When this happens, we tend to get sick. Stress can cause a very large withdrawal from your health account. Your body will expend a large amount of resources as it tries to cope with stress. The result is the same whether the stress is psychological, emotional or physical - all types of ongoing stress result in ongoing withdrawals. When we are under a lot of stress, it's especially important to pay close attention to our health accounts. Proper nutrition, sufficient rest, and regular exercise become even more important when we're under increased stress. The trouble is, heightened stress levels go hand in hand with chronic exhaustion - so we tend to feel like we just don't have the energy necessary to do the things that will keep us healthy. We tell ourselves that we're too stressed out and we don't have enough time to workout or make an effort to buy and prepare healthy food. But the thing is, that's when it really is most important to make the effort and take the time to do what's best for our health.  Even if we don't really feel like it. Take the time now to pad your health accounts, so that you will have the necessary health resources down the road when you really need it.

Everyone wants to increase the balance in their bank accounts. The health of our finances is largely determined by the level of our resources. The more money we have in the bank, so to speak, the more secure we feel overall. If our resources are nicely diversified among liquid assets, property, stocks, and bonds, we are apt to feel even more secure.

We can similarly use this type of fiscal accounting as a metaphor for our physical well-being and health. The more resources we are able to accumulate in our "health account" the healthier we will likely end up being. To take it one step further, if we're able to diversify the assets in our health accounts, as it's prudent to do with our financial accounts, we're more likely to experience better outcomes with regard to our long-term health.

You may notice that your physical resources probably fluctuate as often as your financial resources.  With the metaphor of health accounting, we can still think in terms of income and expenses. If your "income" is greater than your "expenses", you will likely enjoy overall higher levels of health.  Of course, the opposite is also true - when expenses are greater than income, health tends to deteriorate.

What kinds of things can we use to pad our health accounts? The most obvious and crucial aspects are food,¹ exercise ² and rest.³  With each of these, quality is more important than quantity - especially when it comes to the food we eat.  Eating a large quantity of poor quality food will eventually lead to being overweight or obese.  On the other hand, when you focus on quality - enjoying a diet that primarily consists of high-quality protein, high-quality fats, and plenty of fresh vegetables and some fruits - you will usually become more fit and naturally lean.

When it comes to getting adequate rest, most people usually do best with seven to eight hours of sleep each night. There are exceptions, but for most people, getting less than six hours of sleep per night long-term will eventually deplete their health account. In rare cases, getting too much sleep long-term can also lead to negative effects. Just like with food though, quality can be more important than quantity (or at least equally important).

There are many additional sources of "income" that can increase the balance of our health accounts. Close and loving personal relationships with family and supportive friends, interesting and stimulating interests and activities, exploring new places and learning new skills all help to grow our health accounts, enhancing our long-term health and increasing our overall sense of well-being.

Chiropractic care is another wonderful source of "income" for our health accounts. Receiving regular chiropractic care can help a person maximize the value - on a physiological basis - of the food, rest and exercise they are getting. Chiropractic care assists people in getting the most out of their health resources, by optimizing their physiology and thereby improving their health and increasing their well-being.




¹Greenwald P, Dunn BK: Do we make optimal use of the potential of cancer prevention? Recent Results Cancer Res 181:3-17, 2009
²Jackson AS, et al: Role of lifestyle and aging on the longitudinal change in cardiorespiratory fitness. Arch Intern Med 169(19):1781-1787, 2009
³Smaldone A, et al: Sleepless in America: inadequate sleep and relationships to health and well-being of our nation's children. Pediatrics 119(Suppl 1):S29-S37, 2007

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Getting in Shape for Summer

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

Getting in Shape for Summer

Pay Attention to Your Body

Everybody likes to have fun. We work hard, and when we play, we like to go all out. When exercising or playing sports however, it's important to pay attention to the feedback our body is giving you.  If you ignore the friendly messages your body is sending you, your body will probably get your attention in a more unpleasant way. And when that happens, there may be significant recovery time involved. Paying attention to your body's signals can save a lot of downtime. Important warning signs include shortness of breath, feeling faint, and sometimes intense muscle soreness and other pain. Any of these symptoms mean you're working too hard, doing too much, or working beyond your current physical capabilities. Slow down and back off a bit. Tell yourself that's enough for the day and you'll be able to get back to it again tomorrow. Your chiropractic physician can help you design challenging and fun exercise routines that will work best for your particular body and current state of fitness. They will be able to recommend stretches, sports, and other activities that align with your fitness goals and interests - helping you to be active, healthy and well

Summer is finally here! It's time to have fun in the sun, making the most of these extra hours of daylight.  If you have let things go a bit, getting back into shape may seem like a very good idea right about now.  We all like to look good in our shorts, tank tops, swimsuits and other summer attire. Even more importantly, we want to be able to participate in all the fun activities we enjoy without huffing and puffing, and without having to constantly think about restrictions and limitations.

So how do we return to fitness? There are three main aspects on which to focus - losing excess weight, increasing strength and muscle tone with weight-training, and improving aerobic fitness.^1,2

Whether you want to lose ten or twenty pounds or more, the basic principles remain the same. First of all, watch the size of your portions, choosing to eat several small meals each day.  Eat slowly by putting your fork down between bites, chew your food well, and do not overeat.  You should never feel stuffed after eating.  In fact, you should really not even feel full.  Instead, pay attention to your body's cues that tell you you've had enough before you get too full.

In order to keep your energy up and keep your hunger at bay, make sure that each meal includes both protein and healthy fats such as pasture butter, organic coconut oil or organic olive oil. This will help to retrain your metabolism, helping you to become naturally leaner. This will also help to optimize your energy, balancing your insulin levels throughout the day. This is especially crucial for those who are pre-diabetic or hypoglycemic. Be sure to check with you doctor to make sure your new eating and fitness plans are appropriate for you.

Regaining aerobic fitness is very important for summer activities. The simplest way to begin is to start with a very basic walking program - just ten or fifteen minutes of easy walking each and every day. Chances are, you'll be surprised at how enjoyable it is.  After getting in the habit of enjoying this short walk each day for a week or two, slowly increase the length of your walks by a minute each day until you've built up to thirty-minutes. When it becomes very easy for you to walk for thirty minutes, increase your pace, but do it gradually over several weeks.

At some point, depending upon various factors such as your age, weight, general condition, cardiovascular health and any musculoskeletal concerns, you may want to consider alternating walking with a few short sprints.  Intermittent sprinting is very effective for losing weight and improving your metabolism, but it can be particularly challenging to your cardiovascular system and hard on your joints. Because of this, it is especially important to get advice from your doctor before beginning this type of high intensity intermittent training.  (Particularly if you are overweight and/or have any health issues.)

Please also make sure that you stay well hydrated.  This is especially important with the increased summer temperatures and humidity here in Alabama, and increased physical activity.  Avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day and don't be afraid to take a break if you feel yourself getting overheated.

Elliptical machines, treadmills, stair machines and stationary bikes can be a very good alternative for increasing your aerobic fitness - especially if you have joint problems that preclude sprinting as an option.  As with the walking program described above, it is very important to build up gradually. Building up to using high intensity interval training methods, with one or more of these activities, is a great way to get in shape and improve your cardiovascular fitness.  Most of these types of fitness equipment have options that you can choose that will alternate between easier and more difficult settings, providing an effective interval workout.

Weight-training is another important aspect of physical fitness.  It tones your muscles, prepares your body to do physical work, and best of all, it causes your metabolism to burn fat even while you're resting. There are many excellent books and workout videos available that can help you to begin your weight-training program. If you have a knowledgeable friend, ask them to check your form and offer advice.  Or take a few classes with an experienced instructor or trainer if you're feeling overwhelmed. That should give you the confidence to continue your workouts on your own.  Remember to start slow and use lighter weights with fewer repetitions than you think you can do, as your body gets used to the new movements. The benefits of strength training are well worth your efforts.

If at any time you experience DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) which will usually occur a day or two after overdoing it, try an abbreviated session doing the same types of movements with little or no weights, followed by plenty of stretching once your muscles are nice and warm.  This will usually help your body clear the lactic acid from your muscles, thereby reducing soreness.  And don't forget to visit your chiropractor to make sure you are in optimal condition for exercise.

You'll soon find that you're feeling better and stronger, and ready to enjoy all that summer has to offer.


¹Simkini-Silverman LR, et al. Lifestyle intervention can prevent weight gain during menopause. Ann Behav Med 26(3):212-220, 2003
²Knuttgen HG. Strength training and aerobic exercise: comparison and contrast. J Strength Cond Res 21(3):973-978, 2007

 

 

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