A Lot More Than You May Think Depends On Your Health
ENJOY A MORE SATISFYING SEX LIFE! Okay, now that I’ve gotten your attention, let’s talk about your health. As a chiropractor I advise my patients everyday about the need to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially as they age. An individual’s “invincible” 20s give way to a few health challenges in their 30s, and then almost exponentially an unhealthy lifestyle starts showing up frequently in the organ and musculoskeletal systems of the body. But, even given an armful of reasons to get and stay healthy, a lot of people still continue along the slippery slope of bad health choices. So, here’s a reason that will, no doubt, be put on the top of the heap, for getting and staying healthy: A new study making “breaking news” today shows that people who are in good health are nearly twice as likely to be interested in sex in middle and older age and also more likely to report having a busy and satisfying sex life.
Sexual activity has long been associated with health benefits and longevity, but these reseachers say that this is the first study to look at how general health affects the quality of sex as people age and to calculate what they call a person’s “sexually-active life expectancy.”
The researchers gathered information from more than 6,000 men and women in midlife and later life. The researchers estimated that at age 55, the average sexually active life expectancy is 15 years for men and 10.6 years for women. But, here’s the kicker. Researcher Stacy Tessler Lindau, an associate professor at the University of Chicago wrote in the journal BMJ, “Although the period is longer for men, they lose more years of sexually-active life as a result of poor health than women.”
The study found both men and women in very good health were 1.5 to 1.8 times more likely to report an interest in sex than those in poorer health. And, among those who were sexually active, good health was not only associated with more frequent sex (once or more weekly) in men, but with a good-quality sex life in men and women.
So, if you haven’t been interested in developing a healthy lifestyle, but you’re still interested in a healthy sex life, you may want to reevaluate your current diet, increase the amount of exercise you get on a regular basis, learn to deal effectively with your life stresses, and start drinking plenty of water every day. Because now you have one more good reason to get healthy and stay that way.
When It Comes to Reducing Arthritis Pain, There Are Natural Alternatives That Can Help
As a chiropractor, I know from experience that chiropractic treatment can help to reduce the pain experienced by many arthritis sufferers. Getting the musculoskeletal system in good alignment and helping to increase mobility in arthritic joints can do wonders to decrease an arthritis sufferer’s current pain and also to help to slow the degenerative changes that may add to future arthritic problems. In addition to chiropractic treatment, there are other alternative, drug free approaches that can help to reduce inflammation, neutralize free radicals, and sustain bone mass. Below is an article I just read on Current Arthritis News and Research that I found extremely useful. I think that you will too. Read on…
Many arthritis sufferers have tried unusual and rather nasty ‘cures’ for their disease like enduring bee-stings or covering themselves in cow-manure. The benefits must have been rather less spectacular than the cures or else everyone else would have done the same.
One arthritis cure suggests that half a glass of raw potato juice followed by chewing two or three juniper berries will do the trick! While this may be so, many doctors and scientists researching arthritis have studied the benefits of taking nutritional substances like vitamins. In fact, studies have shown that people with arthritis are mostly deficient in the B group of vitamins, though whether this is due to the disease or to the fact that taking aspirin depletes the body’s stores of this vitamin is not clear.
Vitamin C, E and beta-carotenes are powerful antioxidants that help to neutralize free radicals. These oxygen-reactive free radical molecules are thought to contribute significantly to disease and tissue damage. It has been found that cells from damaged knee cartilage can release great amounts of free radicals. In fact, studies have shown that those who have a high Vitamin C intake have a two-thirds reduction in the risk of further damage to their knees. Well-known scientist Dr. Linus Pauling recommends 18 grams of V-C per day as an arthritis preventative measure.
Osteoarthritis can cause thinning of the bones, and so can prednisone, often given to treat it. It makes sense then to increase the amount of Vitamin D and calcium, both of which are bone-builders. As far back as 1974, British scientists found that lack of vitamin D contributed to bone fractures in the elderly with arthritis. Lack of sunlight and an unhealthy diet both contributed to the lack. The recommended daily dose of Vitamin D is 400 IU or 600 IU if for those over the age of 60. A daily dose of 1200 IU is the limit as this vitamin is toxic if too much is taken.
Vitamin E is also an antioxidant; working in a similar way to vitamin C. Studies in Germany have proven that it can help to reduce pain. Good sources of this vitamin can be found in wheat germ, sunflower seed, corn oil, legumes and whole grains.
While some people swear by the arthritis cure that their copper bracelet brought, there is no scientific link to copper as being an aid to arthritis. In fact the opposite is true. Those with RA often have higher levels of copper in their blood. Too much copper can make you sick.
Selenium deficiency can cause a particular type of arthritis called Kashin-Bek disease, but it is more common where the soil is deficient in selenium, though sufferers of RA have less in their blood than others. Fish, organ meats, whole grains, nuts and beans will provide selenium.
Zinc may help reduce pain, stiffness and swelling. Some trials showed this was true, though others gave conflicting results. Oysters, cheese and tofu are all good sources of zinc.
Santa Clara Chiropractor: "No Pain, No Gain?" Not When It Comes to Aging
It probably goes without saying that as we age our body doesn’t feel or respond the same way as it used to when we were younger. It hardly seems right that as our mind appears to improve and become more “inventive,” our body seems to become less “cooperative.” We’re stiff in the morning; many of the activities we do during the day make us sore at night; and, if we’re not cautious, even a motion as simple as turning too hastily or reaching down to pick up a dropped piece of paper, can cause our back or some other muscle group to go into spasm. The good news is that there is natural treatment accessible that can not only slow down the aging process of the body, but help us to avoid some of those problems altogether.
For instance, arthritis. In point of fact, with the exception of pharmaceuticals, allopathic medicine fails to address this age-related affliction. What is the reason? The answer is that most medical practitioners are only concerned with the symptoms of arthritis. The chiropractic procedure is to look for the cause of the problem and relieve the pain at its source. For over one hundred years, chiropractors, like your Santa Clara Chiropractor, have been treating men and women suffering from back pain and other conditions produced by arthritic changes in the musculoskeletal system.
Arthritic changes happen as your body ages because, over time, wear of various joints takes place as a consequence of repetitive stresses, and years of incorrect gait, improper posture, and insufficient movement. Chiropractic treatment restores motion back into your joints and reduces pain, and it readjusts any vertebral misalignment that may be causing irritation and restriction. In addition to causing arthritic changes in the spine and increasing pain, did you know that misaligned vertebra can also reduce your resistance and immunity? It’s true, and this could be one of the reasons why it may seem to you that as you get older you experience more health problems and that it frequently takes longer for you to feel better again. According to studies done on older individuals, those who received regular chiropractic care stayed healthier. To put it another way, as you get older, chiropractic care is good for what ails you!
When it comes to the health of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are highly knowledgeable whether it’s the small, growing frame of an infant or the full-grown body of a mature adult. Your chiropractor is experienced in working with the aging process of the body and has singular observational and diagnostic skills that help in locating spinal misalignments and joint degeneration. A chiropractic examination can, in fact, frequently reveal certain age-related conditions before they’ve begun to create noticeable pain. In addition, your Santa Clara Chiropractor can assess your posture and check your gait to ascertain if there are any faulty patterns that might cause further arthritic changes.
So, if feeling your age has become a painful experience, make an appointment with your Santa Clara Chiropractor today!
Even We “Non-Olympians” Can Push the Boundaries of Our Human Potential
As a chiropractor I am always interested in new ways to get my patients to move their bodies more. When we’re run, dance, play a sport, and exercise in our life, we will stay active for many years than those who choose to be sedentary observers. As they say, “Life is not a spectator sport.” So, it would seem that if anyone could inspire physical action and mental focus, it is an Olympic athlete. I just read some excellent tips provided on the Medical News Today website that I think you will find interesting as well, “Six Things We Can Learn From Olympians.” You can learn about those six things on the link provided, but here’s a “teaser” that, hopefully, will get you interested enough to make the “click.” It’s well worth the read.
Olympic athletes inspire us with their fierce discipline and natural talent as they smash records, going higher, further and faster. Their can-do spirit encourages us all to take on new challenges. Whether your goal is to complete your first marathon, improve your golf game or compete in a triathlon competition, there are lessons to be learned from the best of the best. “The Olympics symbolize the chance for all of us to push the boundaries of human potential,” said Chris Sebelski, assistant professor of physical therapy at Saint Louis University. “As I tell my students, if you want to compete at a high level, mimic the strategies of those at the top.” Read on…
Your Oxnard Chiropractor Offers An Unexpected Solution to Your Allergy Discomfort
Your Chiropractor in Oxnard, Donald Bolt, DC, understands that allergic reactions can make your everyday life miserable. A stroll in the park, a yarn ball toss with Fluffy, a shellfish pasta, or merely something as minute as a nut has the capability to result in such uncomfortable symptoms as itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, or a skin rash.
Then again, many times a sufferer’s allergic reactions can go from simply uncomfortable to acute and life-threatening as the air passageway begins to shut and breathing becomes labored. Such acceleration of difficulties can typically bring about a state of acute anxiety and as a result a trip to the emergency room.
Allergic reactions can, indeed, develop into quite a difficult upheaval and make you feel sidelined and not able to participate in everyday activities. Actually, should you be one of the numerous sufferers who have allergies, it may perhaps seem to you that, every so often, your surroundings are a extremely antagonistic space and that natural environment around you is, virtually, out to get you!
You might ask yourself why it is that other human beings seem to be so invulnerable to the identical environmental stresses that send your body into overwhelm. Other people seem to be either unaware of or plainly`totally unresponsive to the would-be irritants that lie in wait at just about every turn, while your system reacts, or rather overreacts, to them. Why you? A valid question. The fact is that a lot of men and women, just like yourself, have a hyperactive immune system that basically “goes crazy” whenever you are exposed to typical substances like pollen, dander, shellfish, or nuts.
Can your Chiropractor in Oxnard assist you in finally getting a lasting reduction in your allergy symptoms? Happily, the answer is a unquestionable “Yes,” and the reason possibly will surprise you. Numerous chiropractic patients have noticed that they experience freedom from their allergy symptoms after a chiropractic adjustment, although chiropractic care does not essentially treat allergies, per se. The scientific explanation for the abatement of allergy symptoms is because chiropractic treatment impacts the complete nervous system, which includes your autoimmune system, which is the cause of your hypersensitive responses. Whenever there is a dysfunction within the nervous system, in conjunction with other problems, the autoimmune system, whose duty it is to help you to adjust and react in a healthy way to your environment, can become under-active or overactive. When it comes to your allergies, the breakdown is the latter (it becomes overactive).
Considering that chiropractic adjustments are meant to reduce or even totally get rid of disturbances in the nervous system and recreate symmetry and relaxation to the entire body, in conjunction with a number of other corrections, the adjustments generate homeostasis to the autoimmune system also. A healthy immune system reacts properly to so-called allergens within the environment.
So, as stated previously, your Oxnard Chiropractor doesn’t literally apply treatment to allergies, then again that doesn’t imply your allergies won’t improve or disappear for good. On the other hand, one could point out, instead, that relief from your allergies is simply the “side-effect” of your well-adjusted nervous system. If you would like to get back into a happy relationship with your surroundings as soon as you can, call Dr. Bolt, your Chiropractor in Oxnard, today. He will help you get your life back!
"Wellness" Is a Deep Subject
I just read an excellent article that I want to pass along to you:
A life of wellness… or not?
By Gilles Lamarche, DC
The term wellness has been utilized within the chiropractic profession for decades.
Now, when you look around, you will notice it being utilized in so many other industries, as well.
What is the definition of wellness? You hear it in the news, you read it on billboards, you see it on commercial signs, people talk about it in social settings and at work, but interestingly enough, there is no universally accepted definition.
You would think that the definition would certainly relate to health. The definition of health as described by The World Health Organization (WHO) is as follows:
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”1 This definition has not been amended since 1948.
If this is the case, then why are we such a sick society? Why have most healthcare practitioners not embraced the definition and what can you as a chiropractor do to help humanity discover improved health and well-being?
The goal is to get you to embrace this concept and serve your patients so they will get the “big idea.”
The WHO definition embraces total health, which can also be referred to as wellness — which in most circles is a tough word to define.
Charles B. Corbin of Arizona State University gives this definition: “Wellness is a multidimensional state of being describing the existence of positive health in an individual as exemplified by quality-of-life and a sense of well-being.”
This is not much different than the definition written by WHO 60 years ago. Even though the words may be different, the concept is not. Wellness is an ongoing and active process of becoming aware and making consistent wise choices toward a more successful and fulfilling life.
If you break that down it means:
• Process shows that improvement is possible;.
• Awareness means we are seeking information on how to improve;
• Choice refers to having options, and our capacity to select options in our best interest; and
• Success is determined by each person. In the context of health, most would consider success to be related to the capacity of living a fulfilled life based on each individual’s expectations — living a life filled with joy, vitality, energy, and an overall sense of accomplishment.
The most commonly described subdimensions of wellness include: physical, mental, spiritual, social, occupational, financial, emotional, and family well-being.
Physical, mental, and spiritual well-being relate directly to the art, science, and philosophy of chiropractic. Since subluxations can be caused by physical, chemical, or emotional stresses, it makes sense to communicate a clear and consistent message relating to the appropriateness and effectiveness of chiropractic care in order to improve the health of the nation.(Read more at: chiroeco.com)
No Evidence that Chiropractic Causes Stroke According to Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation
Amidst a great deal of emotion and rhetoric coming out of Connecticut this week regarding the stroke issue The Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation has just released a very clear position statement on the issue of chiropractic and strokes. Atlanta, GA, January 07, 2010 –(PR.com)– According to the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation there is no human experimental evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations are causally related to strokes. “While plaintiff’s attorneys and expert witness make claims and statements contending that such a causative link exists, the fact remains that these are based largely on anecdotes, case reports, and case controlled studies and cannot be used to prove causation” stated Foundation President Christopher Kent DC, JD a chiropractic researcher and attorney. According to researchers and the scientific method itself there are all sorts of biases and distortions that effect conclusions drawn from such studies and other criteria must be used to determine whether such a link exists. “What this boils down to is a simple lack of understanding of biostatistics and epidemiology” stated Foundation Vice President Matthew McCoy DC, MPH, a chiropractic researcher and public health expert. “Words like ‘association’ and ‘causation’ and ‘risk’ have very specific meanings when it comes to their use in epidemiology and it’s clear that laypersons involved in this debate are using these terms inappropriately.” While the experience of a stroke can be devastating and no one would suggest ignoring the concerns of those who have suffered one, the reality is that when it comes to the contention that chiropractic causes strokes – the evidence just isn’t there. And while the strokes these people have experienced are indeed real, McCoy suggests there are often other issues involved and offered an example. “Millions of people visit a dentist every year and a certain number of those same people get into car accidents on their way home. If we were to run the stats on it we might find that there is a statistical association between visiting a dentist and getting into a car accident on the way home. But no one would even consider suggesting that the dentists are causing the car accidents.” Self described chiropractic stroke victims say there is a risk and that people should be advised about it prior to undergoing chiropractic care. The majority of chiropractors would agree that patients should be informed of the risks, benefits and alternatives of any health care intervention, but according to Dr. Kent “Such informed consent must be based on appropriate information and since there is no scientific evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations actually cause strokes, it is inappropriate to require a doctor to suggest that such a risk exists.” Dr. McCoy added another often overlooked issue “Chiropractors utilize a number of techniques to address joint dysfunction and vertebral subluxation and in fact there are over 300 named chiropractic techniques and many do not employ the type of manipulation that has been alleged to be a factor in vertebrobasilar accidents. This adds to the inappropriate nature of such a disclosure.” In the end, chiropractic has an impressive safety record compared to traditional medical care with estimates are that anywhere from 100,000 (Institute of medicine) to 750,000 (Null et al) people die every year from medical care. In comparison, other than some minor soreness following chiropractic treatment, research has shown chiropractic to be very safe
Selling Food to Kids
() Have you watched Saturday morning cartoons with your kids recently? Do you notice how many advertisements are directed towards children? A July 2008 report by the Federal Trade Commission stated that the food industry spent over $1.6 billion dollars on marketing to kids. According to Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics, this number is probably underestimated. Last week the Federal Trade Commission held a public forum on marketing to children. The Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Foods Marketed to Children, brings together the FTC, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, the Centers for Disease Control and the Federal Drug Administration. It has has been charged with developing recommended nutritional standards for consumers under the age of 17 by July, 2010. While this may sound like a step in right direction, according to Nestle, these standards are voluntary, and it’s quite unlikely the industry will do what it promises.
Years of the industry’s “self-regulation” has not worked. We have seen an increase in childhood obesity and the rates of diabetes among young people are rising as well. The food industry can use front of package marketing suggesting that foods are a great source of fiber, calcium, folic acid, vitamins and minerals, etc. without mandatory regulation. As long as cartoon characters and prizes are included in the marketing of foods kids will continue to ask parents for them.
What do you think about the governments attempts to regulate the food industry?
For more information visit Marion Nestle’s website about Food Politics.
Sacramento Chiropractor: Get Conditioned to Avoid Golf Injuries
With any type of sport, injuries are not uncommon. The smart thing to do is to find out what injury is inclined to take place in a particular sport and then to do whatever it takes to avoid it. Unfortunately, sports injuries can’t always be avoided. Therefore, it’s beneficial to be physically fit to make incurring injury less predictable, or less traumatic. The most critical thing that you can do is to be certain that you have a suitable fitness level prior to beginning to play a sport, such as golf. You just might keep your body safe from injury if you follow these general guidelines: Perpetuate a healthy lifestyle; make sure your joints are mobile and your muscles are limber; warm and stretch your body prior to activity; use proper form and good postures while actively playing; give yourself plenty of cool down and relaxation time.
Golf injuries don’t simply happen to amateurs. It has been conjectured that nearly a third of pro golfers playing concurrently are playing with injury. The good news is that all-round good health and fitness can decrease the number of injuries that you may experience and may actually deter them completely.
It is crucial for you to have effectual body strength in the muscle regions most utilized while playing golf. However, it’s important to make certain your spine is in healthy alignment and that it has good mobility prior to setting out to build muscle strength. A proficient golf swing hinges on your spine’s ability to adequately move in a rotational action. Back injuries are the most common type of injuries sustained by golfers. To insure that your spine is in healthy alignment and there is effectual movement in the vertebrae, see your chiropractor in Sacramento. Chiropractic treatment can go a long way in helping you to prevent back injury.
It’s time to strengthen once you’re “straightened.” Being prepared to play your game is crucial to safe, injury-free action on the green. Golf stretching and flexibility exercises will warm up your muscles and make injury them less likely. Whole body range of motion (ROM) exercises will augment flexibility, relatively fast, in all regions of the body. Additionally, elastic band conditioning offers distinct golf range of motion benefits and can build needed power in the shoulders, hips and deep muscles of the core. Sports professionals, like your chiropractor, are adding elastic band training to their golf conditioning programs because the bands offer dynamic resistance that regular weight lifting does not offer.
Quite a few golfers have painful “Golfer’s Elbow” along with back injuries. There is a minor difference between golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow though they are nearly identical injuries. Tennis elbow affects the outside of the upper arm whereas golfer’s elbow disturbs the inner arm. Golfer’s elbow, like tennis elbow, can result from a single violent action, such as (in golf) striking the mat at the driving range or striking a hard fairway surface. Although, it generally develops from repetitive stress from smaller shocks. Moreover, it can happen to those who suddenly start playing too much golf. For example, if individuals that usually play golf once or twice a month decide to enter into a tournament, they are conceivably at risk for developing the injury.
Golf makes distinctive demands on our body. The game is usually longer than most other sports and that can result in fatigue. Whenever the body is fatigued, poor posture and impeded coordination normally follow. This combination can create a number of injuries. Moreover, the shoulder muscles are prone to injury due to the continuous swinging of the golf clubs. Just as it is crucial for you to stretch and warm up prior to starting your golf game, be sure that you rest your body properly between games.
An unexpected injury on occasion related to golf is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. But, as it an affliction that occurs as the result of repetitive stress, a numerous amount of games of golf played over several months constantly may cause this injury. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be a serious injury creating disability and on occasion requiring surgery. However, if a health professional, such as your chiropractor, discovers it at an early stage, chiropractic care and, sometimes, the use of a brace will relieve the problem.
Injuries are assumed to be an inescapable part of life for a good majority golfers. However, a healthy, mobile spine, judicious preparation, proper exercise and muscle conditioning, reaching and maintaining a an appropriate fitness level, and sensible rest and recuperation after your game is over, can assisting in making injuries far less a part of your golfing experience.
Dr. Yong Kim is a Sacramento chiropractor with over thirteen years of experience helping thousands of patients get out of pain and get their lives back. His office is located at 1707 Professional Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825. He has special training in the area of sports injuries. Dr Kim is himself an avid health enthusiast. For more information go to his website at http://www.sacramentochiropractor.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yong_J_Kim
How to Avoid Winter Snow-Shoveling Injuries
If you live where it snows or if you’re planning to following the “chill” until you find a snowy scene for the holidays, here’s a little advice from the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress.
Every winter, millions of Americans grab their shovels and start digging their way out of the snow and into pain. Shoveling snow improperly can lead to potential spasms, strains, and aches. When shoveling snow, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress suggests the following tips to maintain overall health:
- Always stretch and warm-up before shoveling
- Wear extra layers to maintain muscle warmth and flexibility
- Avoid sudden twisting and turning motions
- Limit the amount of weight lifted per load
- Bend your knees, not your back
– Take frequent breaks to avoid body fatigue
If you happen to experience discomfort or pain as a result of shoveling snow, please contact your local chiropractor.
To find out more information please visit the Foundation at www.yes2chiropractic.org or call 866-901-3427