HealthBytes^TM

CHIROPRACTIC

"The body is a marvelous thing."

Chiropractic holds that life is intelligent and that the human body has an inborn, innate potential to maintain a natural state of health. It does this through an intricate network called the nervous system, the master control system of the body.

A doctor’s role should be to help the body heal itself in a natural, normal manner. Chiropractors do this safely and naturally by adjusting spinal misalignments called subluxations. Subluxations may disturb body function by causing nerve pressure to the spinal nerves.

Thirty-one pair of nerves emit from openings between the spinal bones. Along with nerves directly from the brain, these nerves control all the organs, glands, muscles, and tissues of the human body!

By adjusting subluxations, chiropractors endeavor to promote a free flow of nerve energy throughout the human body to ensure proper function and to allow your body’s natural healing system to express optimum health.

SUBLUXATION

"Look to the spine."

A subluxation is the misalignment of spinal bones (vertebrae) which may cause interference to the spinal nerves. This interference can cause pain, but often it is not painful at all and can go undetected or ignored for many months or years. Because all organs and tissues depend upon the nervous system to function properly, a subluxation left uncorrected may lead to serious health problems.

Thousands of years ago, Hippocrates said, "Look well to the spine for the cause of disease." With this statement, chiropractors heartily agree. Prevention is the key to good health, and correcting spinal subluxations is the way your chiropractor can help promote optimum health.

SYMPTOM CARE

"I need relief!"

There are three phases of chiropractic care: (1) condition-based care, (2) health care, and (3) wellness care. These work together as a system to promote true health and wellness for chiropractic patients.

Condition-based care focuses on a patient’s symptoms and pain. Because most patients first visit a chiropractic office because of pain or an injury, condition-based care strives to diminish such symptoms. This phase of care could last from a series of visits to several months, depending upon the severity of the problem and the patient’s prior health status.

Correcting spinal misalignments, called subluxations, takes time. Once your spinal problem and discomfort are under control, your chiropractor will give you the opportunity to enter the second phase of care, "health care," which works to restore normal spinal contours and promote spinal stability to help prevent symptoms from returning.

HEALTH CARE

"Between relief and wellness"

Chiropractic does much more than simply care for back pain. Once care for symptoms and pain is complete, your chiropractor will give you the opportunity to enter into a health care program. The health care phase strives to restore normal spinal contours, reduce chronic subluxations, and produce spinal stability. Many patients find that though they initially came to the office for pain relief, having regular spinal adjustments changes many other aspects of their health. They relate that they simply feel better, have improved energy and sleep, get sick less often, have fewer headaches, benefit from better digestion, etc.

We should all realize that it is better to maintain health and prevent disease, than to just treat the symptoms of the body when it is sick. Actually only the body, not your doctor, can heal. The only thing any doctor can do for you is to remove obstructions to healing. By correcting spinal problems, your chiropractor removes obstructions to the nervous system so that your body can achieve health.

WELLNESS CARE

"Stay well for life!"

Once optimum health and spinal stability are achieved through chiropractic health care, patients may choose to enter the wellness phase of the chiropractic care program. Similar to dental care, chiropractic wellness care is designed to provide periodic spinal checkups and adjustments as needed. The goal of wellness care is to maintain the progress that has been made and to aid in the prevention of future illness and injury. The old adage, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" certainly applies to the spine.

A wellness care plan is custom fit to provide for the needs of individual patients. Taking into account various issues such as previous injuries, stress, occupations, and your family history of health, your chiropractor will formulate a wellness schedule ideal for you.

Rather than waiting for illness to strike, promote wellness through regular chiropractic care.

REAL HEALTH

"What is Real Health?"

According to Dorland’s Medical Dictionary, health is a state of optimum physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease. Just because you do not feel sick, does not mean that you are really healthy. Chiropractic realizes that health is not simply how you feel but also how you are functioning. Many so-called diseases are simply warning signs that the body is not functioning properly.

Optimum physical, mental, and social well-being implies that a balance in the body must exist. This cannot always be achieved by simply eating right, exercising, sleeping properly, and having a good mental attitude; it also requires a properly functioning nervous system. Chiropractic care strives to promote health through specific spinal adjustments in an effort to free the body of nerve pressures that may impact your overall body function.

Discover how chiropractic care can enhance the quality of your life.

SPORTS

"No pain, no gain."

"No pain, no gain"? Although studies have shown moderate exercise can improve your overall health, many sports activities also carry the risk of injury. While bumps and bruises may not affect your athletic performance or health, sports-related spinal or extremity misalignments called subluxations certainly can! That is why so many professional athletes and Olympic teams engage the services of a chiropractor.

Athletes strive to function at their optimum performance level, and they want to heal efficiently. Athletes receiving chiropractic care report significant improvement in muscle strength and performance. Remember, sports activities can cause injury to adults and children alike; so do as the great athletes do, include chiropractic care in your health maintenance program.

PREGNANCY

"I just felt the baby KICK!"

Some of the most common problems associated with pregnancy include backache, leg pains, and swelling of the lower limbs. The hormones of pregnancy that serve to soften ligaments and soft tissues to ease the birth process may also decrease the stability of the spine and pelvic joints. As the baby develops and the weight of the baby adds an additional burden to the spine, spinal stability is even harder to maintain. Spinal misalignments, called subluxations, may result.

Pregnant women may benefit from chiropractic care throughout the course of their pregnancy. Regular care may prevent the subluxations that create nerve pressure to the legs, hips, muscles, and organs of the body. Proper nervous system health during pregnancy is crucial not only for mother but also for the optimum development of the baby. In addition, regular chiropractic care may contribute to a normal, trouble-free delivery! Include chiropractic in your health care routine during pregnancy.

CHILDREN

"Do kids really need chiropractic?"

Infants can’t tell you where they hurt, and children often find it difficult to describe their discomfort. From the trauma of childbirth to the bumps and falls of childhood, kids need spinal checkups. An easily correctable spinal problem early in life can develop into a serious condition in later life.

The spine houses the spinal nerves, and misalignments (subluxations) of the spine can create nerve interference that may affect the function of the tissues, muscles, bones, glands, and organs of the human body.

Many children with ear infections, childhood asthma, colic, headache, decreased immunity, bed-wetting, and hyperactivity have experienced dramatic improvements while under chiropractic care.

Most children enjoy and benefit from chiropractic care. Have your infants and children checked regularly by your chiropractor.

SENIOR YEARS

"It comes with age…"

What is it that truly makes a person look "old"? A stiff, bent, and stooped posture is the answer. Regardless of your facial appearance, if you walk stiff and stooped over, you simply look old.

The spine provides for the posture that is linked to full body mobility and vitality. Chiropractic adjustments align the spine to help keep the spine mobile and free from problems in the joints and extremities.

A healthy routine including exercise, a good diet, and regular chiropractic care is important for preventing osteoporosis, heart disease, and arthritis. Chiropractors are trained in a variety of spinal adjusting techniques appropriate for older patients. In the later years of life, the importance of chiropractic care cannot be overemphasized. Talk to your chiropractor about the potential benefits of chiropractic care in your senior years.

BACK PAIN

"Oh, my aching back!"

Back pain often occurs suddenly; it can be the result of simply lifting or sleeping wrong. Even though the pain may come on suddenly, it can be from a spinal condition that has taken years to develop.

The most common form of back pain can be the result of spinal and pelvic misalignments called subluxations. When all segments of the spine are in perfect alignment, we can bend, twist, and move with comfort and ease. When this is not the case, pain is a warning signal, and back pain is not a matter to be taken lightly. When misaligned, the bones of the spine may move abnormally; some joints becoming restricted, and some moving too much. This abnormal motion can lead to degeneration of the spinal bones, nerves, or discs. This, in turn, can lead to serious health problems later in life.

Rather than taking painkillers to cover up the pain, consult your Doctor of Chiropractic to correct the cause of the problems rather than just numb the pain. Numerous studies have shown chiropractic to be effective for back pain, particularly pain in the lower back.

NECK PAIN

"I’ve got a kink in my neck!"

Neck pain is such a universal problem that you often see people moving their necks around to ease the pain. Some people even use their hands to forcibly make their neck "pop" to ease the discomfort.

What are they trying to do? The answer is that they are instinctively trying to ease the stress of spinal misalignments (subluxations). Such self-treatment can be dangerous to the arteries, nerves, and other soft tissues associated with the spine. Even chiropractors cannot adjust their own spines.

Through careful examination and specific spinal adjustment, chiropractors correct subluxations safely and effectively. Do not wait until misalignments in your neck create problems (such as headaches, numbness, or dizziness) that affect the entire body. Neck pain is a warning signal. Covering up the pain with medications may cause dangerous side effects to the other systems of the body. Consult your chiropractor for natural care of your neck problem.

HEADACHE

"My head is pounding!"

Headache is often a pain in the neck! This is true in more ways than one. Nerve pressure and pressure to the blood vessels in the neck caused by vertebral misalignments (called subluxations) may contribute to various types of headaches.

Millions of people have been adjusted by chiropractors since 1895. Many have experienced relief from headaches while under chiropractic care. Scientific investigations are underway to explore the connection between chiropractic spinal adjustments and the relief of headaches.

But as it is often said, "The proof is in the pudding." If you, a friend, or a family member suffers from headaches, why not try the simple, safe, and natural form of care – chiropractic. A careful examination may determine that you have a subluxation, and a spinal adjustment by your chiropractor may well put you on the road to recovery from headaches.

ARM/HAND PAIN

"It’s ruining my golf game."

The nerves that supply your shoulders, arms, and hands emit from the neck and upper back regions. Spinal misalignments, called subluxations, may contribute to conditions such as bursitis, neuritis, tendonitis, epicondylitis, numbness, tingling, weakness, or carpal tunnel syndrome.

If shoulder, arm, and hand conditions hinder your golf or tennis game, or if everyday tasks such as dressing, using a computer, or picking up your children cause you discomfort, a subluxation may be present. Through careful examination, your chiropractor can often trace the source of your symptoms to the spine. The correction of spinal subluxations may eliminate the nerve pressure that has contributed to the malfunction and pain.

Ignoring the pain, or masking the pain with drugs, can cause serious damage to tissues of your arm, shoulder, or hand. Consult your chiropractor; spinal adjustments may well solve your problem.

SCIATICA

"I have a shooting pain down my leg!"

"Sciatica" is characterized by shooting or aching pains in the leg. The pain can be very severe and is often due to nerve pressure upon nerve roots as they exit from between the vertebrae in the spine. Nerve roots from the low back come together to form the sciatic nerve. Therefore, misalignments of the vertebrae and pelvis (subluxations) may put stress on the spinal nerves that may result in pain and discomfort.

A chiropractic examination for subluxations can often trace the cause of sciatic pain directly to the spine. Subluxations of the vertebrae in the lumbar spine (low back), cervical spine (neck), and pelvic bones (hips) have been implicated in many different types of leg pain. Chiropractic adjustments reduce and correct subluxations, often addressing the cause of sciatic pain.

Remember, do not ignore minor leg pain, which can progress into the more severe pain of sciatica. Consult your chiropractor for an examination to see if chiropractic spinal adjustments can help eliminate the cause of your problem.

ASTHMA & KIDS

"I can’t breathe!"

Asthma is a muscular constriction of the smaller bronchial tubes of the lungs accompanied by mucus secretion and tissue swelling that causes difficult breathing. Because the constriction of the bronchial tubes is controlled by the action of nerve impulses, and increases in mucus flow can also be due to nerve irritation, chiropractors look to the spinal nerves when caring for asthma patients. Spinal segments in the neck and mid-back region house the nerve roots that supply the lungs and bronchial tubes. Spinal misalignments (subluxations) causing pressure on these nerves, may play a role in bronchial problems.

"Perhaps the child will outgrow it" is a popular phrase. This may happen if spinal misalignments change enough with growth to relieve pressure on the nerves. Chiropractic care can correct spinal subluxations; so why wait? Have your Doctor of Chiropractic evaluate your child’s spine for the existence of subluxations.

BED WETTING

"It rained in my bed last night."

"It rained in my bed again last night," were the very words a young lad wrote on a note to hand to his doctor, thus expressing the reluctance and embarrassment of children to admit they have wet the bed.

Bed wetting, or Nocturnal Enuresis, is a complex problem that may be the result of many factors. One factor can be related to a disturbance of the phrenic reflex. When young children sleep, their respiration slows until the increased levels of carbon dioxide in the body trigger a breathing mechanism called the "phrenic reflex." If the reflex is disturbed, carbon dioxide in the system becomes high. This, in turn, causes the involuntary muscles of the body to relax, including the opening at the bottom of the urinary bladder, allowing the urine in the bladder to be released.

In some children, the phrenic reflex is slow to develop. But in others, this reflex may be disturbed by a vertebral subluxation, which can be corrected by your chiropractor. If your child is suffering the anguish of bed wetting, consider chiropractic care.

EAR INFECTION

"Mom, my ear hurts!"

Ear infections are quite common in young children and are not always simply infections. Occasionally the nerve and/or blood supply to the middle ear is disturbed by spinal misalignments, called subluxations. In that case, the ear’s natural drainage may be affected, leading to a build-up of pressure, pain, and perhaps infection.

Studies have shown that frequent use of antibiotics often leads to antibiotic-resistant "super infections" and recurring health problems. It simply makes sense to choose the most conservative and natural care first before resorting to drugs and surgery for ear infections.

Chiropractors adjust the spine in an effort to eliminate nerve interference so that the tissues of the ear may return to normal function. Consult your Doctor of Chiropractic to see if spinal adjustments can alleviate one potential cause of your child’s ear problems.

HEARTBURN

"I can’t believe I ate…"

When a person suffers symptoms of "heartburn", the sphincter, or valve, between the stomach and esophagus is often to blame. When this valve malfunctions, stomach acid backs up into the throat where the tissues cannot withstand the acidity; a burning pain is the result.

Some people believe that certain foods bother them, such as tomatoes or spicy meals. But foods are not always the cause; faulty function can be to blame. Taking drugs, acids, and antacids does not address the cause of the malfunction. What controls the muscular function of the stomach valves? The answer is the nervous system!

Chiropractic adjustments of spinal misalignments (subluxations) may influence the nerves leading to the stomach. In this way, chiropractors strive to restore normal nerve supply to the stomach, with the goal of improving function. Consult your Doctor of Chiropractic for an examination to see if spinal adjustments can benefit you.

SCOLIOSIS

"My child’s back looks crooked."

60% to 80% of scoliosis cases occur in school-age girls. The condition may first be discovered in a child when one shoulder seems higher than the other, when clothes do not hang straight, or when one hip seems more prominent. Initially, pain is seldom expressed by the child; they may only mention fatigue in the low or mid-back after prolonged standing or sitting.

"As the tree is bent, so shall it grow."

Misalignments of the spine in youth can lead to the curvatures and scolioses that cause discomfort and pain in later life. Many chiropractors report excellent results in the care of scoliosis. If caught early, curve reductions and corrections can often be made through appropriate chiropractic care.

So before resorting to bracing and/or surgery for scoliosis, consider chiropractic care. From birth to adolescence and beyond, have your children checked regularly by your chiropractor for the prevention of spinal subluxations that may lead to curvatures and scoliosis.