Visit
151 Heritage Park Drive #401
Call
615-203-3505
Contact
drdee@favoriteborochiro.com
Hours
M: 1-7pm | T: 7am-1pm | W: 9-11am, 2-6pm | Th: 1-7PM | F: 7-10:30am
Book Appointment

Category: Chiropractic

Why Spending Time Outdoors Is Great for Your Health

The latest finding by the Environmental Protection Agency shows that the average person in the US spends 97% of their whole life indoors. Of this share, 87% represents time spent inside a building and 6% represents time spent in automobiles. However, the research concludes by recommending more outdoor time. With the kind of work that most of us do, it can be difficult to spend time outdoors. But still, it’s important to find a window of opportunity to be outside in the park or the forest for a breather and to interact with nature.

Are you aware that spending time outdoors is a natural medicine? Well, it helps to improve your physical, spiritual, and mental wellbeing. Simply, it can help you avoid the risk of early death. In general, spending time outdoors is great for your health because of the following 10 reasons:

  1. Distressing Effects

The outdoors normally changes your mental expressions. One study records that students who take time in the outdoors experience reduced stress levels. This is because cortisol, the stress hormone, does not fully express itself when you are out there interacting with nature. The other effect of the outdoors is a reduced heart rate. This is according to another study. The study recommends having time to enjoy nature even if it’s to observe things from your window.

  1. General Happiness

So many people suffer from anxiety and depression because of spending so much time in a confined space. This robs them the opportunity to experience what real happiness is like. A certain study shows that spending time in the outdoors will not just bring about stress relief but will also enhance your mood and lower anxiety. Basically, you become calmer and positive when you interact with nature. Actually, another finding recommends the outdoors as a supplementary treatment to your existing depression treatment.

  1. Prevents Inflammation and Fatigue

Inflammation is associated with autoimmune disorders, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease. Such conditions can be prevented by spending time outdoors. One study shows that people who spend most of their time in the woods register lower incidences of inflammation when compared to those who spend most of their time indoors. Another research shows that the outdoors boost your mental energy and this helps to prevent fatigue. This is because you are able to expose your brain to a restorative environment when you go out often.

  1. Memory Boost

Are you aware that your memory is much improved when you are outside than when you are indoors? Well, research shows that your short-term recognition ability is improved by 20% when you go outside. Whether you go for a walk or just a brief breather in the outdoors, it helps you to remember things that you wouldn’t have remembered had you stayed indoors.

  1. Improved Immunity

Your body’s natural defense can be improved significantly by nature. It becomes easier to fight off health threats like cold and flu. A 2010 review actually recommends the forest environment for an immunity boost. According to this review, the forest allows you to inhale a natural immune booster known as Phytoncide. The chemical naturally kills unhealthy cells and infectious agents that are introduced into your body. What’s incredible from this study is that the Phytoncide effects are realized up to 30 days after a forest adventure. Essentially, this means that you can go for a forest adventure once a month.

  1. Vitamin D Synthesis

You probably know from elementary school that the sun is good for vitamin D. However, not everyone is making the effort of getting enough vitamin D and this why risks like hip fractures, cognitive decline conditions, cancers, heart disease, and pregnancy complications are so common. Even though you can get vitamin D from foods and supplements, the main source is the sun and there are no questions about it. For this reason, you should try to spend at least 25 minutes daily under the sun so as to stimulate vitamin D synthesis. You don’t have to do it when the sun’s rays are too strong. Just do it when it’s convenient for you, more so the morning hours.

  1. Better Eyesight

Studies show that doing an outdoor activity has protective benefits on your eyes and may help to reduce myopia (shortsightedness) risks. This is more important for children than for adults. But still, an adult who’s active in the outdoors has better eyesight than the one who spends most time indoors. So, you need to reduce the amount of time that you stay glued to the screen and learn to go out often. Besides, staring on the screen is not healthy for your eyes as the rays are often too strong. Conversely, allowing your eyes to focus on a distant thing in the outdoors improves your visual range as opposed to focusing on a near thing in the indoors.

  1. Improved Concentration

As discussed, nature exposes your brain to a restorative environment. This means that you can concentrate much better when outside than when inside. One investigation that featured two groups (one in the city and the other in the woods) shows that the latter group focuses more than the former. The same goes for kids. Nature helps them to concentrate much better and it can be used to manage ADHD (Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder).

  1. Better Sleep

So often, sleeping patterns are dictated by two factors; melatonin and natural rhythm. Melatonin is a hormone that aids in sleeping. The effectiveness of these two factors is influenced by the sun. Spending time in the outdoors, especially under the sun, helps to boost them. In the long run, it becomes easy to fight insomnia and nighttime wakefulness. Basically, you need natural light to sleep better.

  1. Reduced Hypertension

Hypertension (high blood pressure) can be a serious risk if it’s not managed. The good thing is that you can lower it by spending time outdoors. Going for a short walk may help to bring down blood pressure to a manageable level. According to a Japanese study, you can lower blood pressure and average pulse by 2-4%. This may look like a small margin but may be the difference between life and death.

Closing Thought:

With all these benefits, it’s motivational to start spending more time outdoors. Whether it’s going for a hike, exercising in the outdoors, eating out or taking your kids to school, you need to do it diligently; knowing that it’s good for your health. Simply, every opportunity of spending time outdoors is worth grabbing.

Chiropractic Care for Migraines

It’s estimated that 38 million Americans suffer from different forms of migraines. Sadly, the statistic also includes children. On a global scale, the number rises to a billion. As a matter of fact, migraines are among the top three most prevalent conditions globally. The sad reality is that a majority of patients are unable to function as normal when attacked.

Generally, migraines can be severely painful when they attack and the pain can be difficult to control. So, the best treatment approach for the condition has to be a preventive one. You need to stop it from occurring. Seeking chiropractic care is one of the few preventive approaches that you can seek.

What Are the Symptoms?

We’ve mentioned a severe and hard-to-stop kind of headache. It’s important, nonetheless, to know that the pain can be experienced either on one side or both sides of the head. Additionally, pain is usually throbbing. You may feel like your head wants to explode. Other symptoms that show up are:

  • Hypersensitivity to the sense of touch, smell, and taste.
  • Lightheadedness
  • Sometimes, fainting
  • Light sensitivity

In an extreme case, a migraine can result in partial paralysis. Most people experience warning signs (auras) before a migraine attack. They include signs like flashing lights, nausea, and blurry vision. This gives them roughly 30 minutes to either prevent the attack or find ways to minimize it. It’s generally important to know what you can do when you face the auras. You can talk to your doctor about it. But before that, knowing what causes migraines is the first treatment approach. This is because you are able to avoid contact with the trigger.

What Are the Causes?

Migraines can be triggered by so many factors and they vary from individual to individual. The commonest are:

  • Alcohol (more so wine) and caffeine-based drinks
  • Some food s (for example, chocolate, cheese, and salty foods)
  • Low blood sugar (especially after skipping meals)
  • A change in weather
  • Hormonal changes in women (during pregnancy and menstruation)
  • Some medications (for example, oral contraceptives)
  • Psychological stress
  • Sensory stimuli (for example, a strong smell or bright light)
  • Sleep issues ( either not sleeping adequately or oversleeping)
  • Intense physical activity

Researchers argue that the reason you experience a migraine attack after exposure to any of the above triggers is that your serotonin levels fall below the normal levels. As a result, insufficient serotonin is not able to control pain and other symptoms of a migraine attack.

What Are the Treatments?

We’ve already mentioned chiropractic care; which we’ll look at shortly. The other option is medication treatment. However, it’s important to know that migraine treatment can either be preventive or abortive. Preventive treatment involves taking daily prescriptions so as to reduce the likelihood of suffering a migraine and to also reduce its severity in case it attacks. An abortive treatment, on the other hand, refers to medications given to treat the symptoms once you are attacked. It’s meant to stop the migraine attack. The prescriptions have to originate from your doctor.

Besides medications and chiropractic care, other treatments for migraine are:

  • Nutritional supplements – Supplements such as vitamin D, Omega-3, and magnesium are important in treating migraines. Nonetheless, it’s advisable to first talk to your chiropractor or GP before taking any supplement for migraine management.
  • Acupuncture – In the case of alternative medicine, acupuncture is just as popular as chiropractic care. So, you can also consider the technique for migraine. It’s one of the oldest and most effective treatments for a range of illnesses.

What is the Role Played By Chiropractic Care?

When it comes to chiropractic care, it’s both a preventive and abortive approach. This makes it a great treatment. Normally, the objective of chiropractic treatment is to not only reduce the severity of migraine pain but to also minimize its frequency. In this case, a chiropractor will employ different manual techniques to try to address the migraine and other contributory factors such as muscle tension on the neck, back, and shoulders, neck stiffness, and postural issue. Some of the techniques that a chiropractor may employ to treat migraine are:

  1. Spinal Adjustments

Here, a chiropractor will target to restore motion ranges by gently manipulating the spine and its surrounding tissues. The technique is meant to bring relief to the spine and eventually to your head. You may feel some ‘off’ symptoms like slight headache and general tiredness. Such symptoms clear over time.

  1. Muscle Release

This technique is all about relaxation. It may involve some forms of gentle massage on muscle tissues. The objective is to clear muscle stiffness and tension. Tight muscle knots are also cleared. The technique is normally done on your neck and back. In the long run, the migraine is managed since its sources are shut by muscle release.

  1. Hot and Cold Therapy

When it comes to reducing the intensity of throbbing pain, a chiropractor may resort to this option. It involves using either hot packs or cold ice packs on the area. Some chiropractor may combine the two. The technique can be used before or after spinal manipulation.

In addition to the three techniques, a chiropractor may also recommend the following:

  1. Lifestyle Changes

By identifying the triggers for your migraine, a chiropractor may recommend a few changes in your sleeping pattern, diet, and workout routine. For example, if some foods are not kind to you, the chiropractor will assist you to find their alternatives. Simply, the expert may help you arrive at a healthy diet. Of course, you have the option of consulting your nutritionist. Furthermore, a chiropractor may also recommend home stretching exercises that you can do at home.

  1. Relaxation Techniques

The goal of relaxation techniques is to alleviate stress. Basically, a chiropractor helps you to find ways that you can manage anxiety at home. Some of the relaxation techniques that the expert may recommend are:

  • Meditation
  • Breathing exercises
  • Massage therapy
  • Yoga

Closing Thought:

Though there are different techniques that Dr. Dee at Healing Hands Chiropractic can use to treat migraines, the expert knows which one is right for you. So, you just have to trust them. you are guaranteed some amazing results in the long run. If you have been looking for a way to finally manage migraines, then it’s time to calling Healing Hands Chiropractic today!

Chiropractic’s Role in Preventative Health Care

Most people consider seeing a chiropractor when they are hit with unmanageable pain on their back and spine or when their neck is too stiff to allow them to turn. While these are enough reasons to see the expert, you don’t have to wait until such a point. If you do, it may take longer to diagnose the root cause and the same goes with the recovery. Not forgetting how much you’ll spend when the condition is severe. This brings us to preventive chiropractic care.

Basically, it’s all about seeing a chiropractor before you experience a major problem on your spine, back, shoulder, head, or any other issue that falls under the docket of the expert. Generally, preventative chiropractic intervention is all about maintaining your health just as it’s about addressing health issues before they turn severe. At the end of the day, your body becomes a well-oiled machine that’s able to work like brand new. We recommend visiting Healing Hands Chiropractic, located in Murfreesboro, TN, for your chiropractic care! It can help play the following roles in preventative health care:

  1. Prevents Injury Risks

So many athletes around the world suffer from injuries because their muscles and bones are not conditioned to take extra stress or physical aggression. However, seeking preventative chiropractic treatment helps a long way in streamlining your bones and tissues so as they are able to withstand the physical demands that come with the sport. Whether it’s on the main field or on the training ground, you are able to stay in great shape. This also applies to work-related injuries. So many people suffer from back pain because they overwork or sit at the same place for too long. Preventative care helps them to reduce the risk tremendously since misalignments on the spine are easily diagnosed and treated early.

  1. Keeps You Physically Active

Not everyone needs the same number of chiropractic visits. Some people are more active than others and so they may need fewer visits. However, all of them have the same objective – they want to stay active. Depending on your goal, a chiropractor can help you. The expert will help you find an ideal long-term commitment that’ll boost your level of activeness in your respective discipline. Whether it’s a sport or work, you are able to perform remarkably. For example, a chiropractor may work with your sports therapist to ensure that your on-field performance is improved. Likewise, a chiropractor may work with your physiotherapist to ensure that you are able to do manual work at home without risking your back or spine.

  1. Improves Posture and Motion

Not many people can claim that they have perfect posture. Unfortunately, a majority of them develop issues such as a curved back before their time. While such an issue is associated with old age, it’s not a good sign when you are still young. You need chiropractic care to correct misalignments within your spine so as to regain your posture. The technique employed is called spinal adjustment. The same technique can be used to improve your motion. You become more flexible and agile. Simply, you regain your youthfulness after the treatments.

  1. Treats Chronic Pain at a Less Serious Stage

People experience different forms of chronic pain every single day. They range from back pain to migraines. But, did you know that chronic pain is treatable even before it can be pronounced ‘chronic’? Well, leave it to chiropractic experts. They know what to do to stop your body from aching. They do this by establishing the real triggers for your chronic pain and dealing with it at an early stage. But still, you have to make several visits to a chiropractor before chronic pain is totally managed.

  1. Promotes a Healthier Lifestyle

As part of your consultation, a chiropractor will help you make a few lifestyle adjustments so as to help you enjoy better long-term health. Issues that the expert may touch on include better sleep, healthier diet, and ideal exercises. With respect to better sleep, a chiropractor may recommend a certain sleeping position or pattern or even a change of the mattress. In the case of a healthier diet, a chiropractor will take you through nutritional counseling so as to help you know what foods you should take and what not to. Lastly, a chiropractor will suggest the perfect stretching exercises that you can do at home routinely to keep you healthy.

  1. Boosts Natural Immunity

Research has proven over and over again that chiropractic care is good for your immunity. Actually, regular spinal adjustments go a long way in preventing common issues like cold, flu, and allergies. Such conditions happen when communication between the immune system and the nervous system is shut by spinal misalignment. A chiropractor is able to treat the misalignment through spinal adjustment and this ensures that effective communication between the two systems is restored. Also, it becomes easier to fight infectious agents as a whole when your immunity is boosted.

  1. Improves General Wellbeing

You need preventive chiropractic intervention to improve your physical and emotional wellbeing. Emotionally, you need chiropractic treatment to enjoy stress relief and improved mood. The right chiropractic care will help bring calmness to your body and mind. Physically, you need preventative care to sleep better, walk better, and to avoid different forms of aches. Simply, chiropractic care plays a significant role in all aspects of your health. This makes it one of the most crucial preventative health practices.

  1. Saves You Money

Lastly, when seeking preventive chiropractic care, you are focusing on addressing a health issue before it becomes complicated. As you already know, complicated health issues affecting the spine, back, and neck are expensive to diagnose and treat. They require expensive tests and sometimes even surgery. Although visiting a chiropractor periodically may cost you money, it’s not as much as what you can spend on MRI and X-ray or what you can pay for a surgery.

Conclusion

Preventive chiropractic care is important for your health. Whether you are seeking it to improve your health, to prevent future health problems or to avoid a relapse, the decision is always a smart one.Contact Healing Hands Chiropractic today to get started! As they say, prevention is better than cure. This is clearly evident in the above discussion.

Is Sitting the New Smoking?

Whether you are having dinner, studying, driving, typing or watching TV in your living room, all these activities have one thing in common; they involve sitting. So, it’s quite illogic to think that you can avoid sitting in totality. However, Dr. Elliot O’Connor of UW Sports Medicine warns that there are so many risks associated with prolonged sitting, a condition called Sitting Disease. In fact, Dr. O’Connor calls sitting the new smoking. But why?

According to the doctor, sitting doesn’t kill you right away but does it over time. This is the same thing with tobacco smoking. His sentiments are seconded by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. According to the journal, sitting just like smoking exposes you to the risks of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In addition, there are other risks such as diabetes, obesity, and disability.

Another study by Annals of Internal Medicine shows that Sitting Disease leads to early death among adults. This is with respect to those who spend 6 hours or more sitting on a daily basis. However, the study shows that more inactive women (at 94%) are affected than inactive men (at 48%). You may argue, “But I work out?” Unfortunately, you are not off the hook. According to Dr. O’Connor, even a person who works out but later lives a sedentary life is at risk of suffering Sitting Disease.

Dr. Brian Liem, also from UW Sports Medicine, insists on including standing in everything that you do that involves sitting more than an hour as the best way to prevent Sitting Disease. The doctor argues that it helps to strengthen the postural muscles and this eventually leads to a better posture. The doctor concludes that standing is equally as important as sitting and thus the two should be alternated.

What Sitting Does to Your Body

A new British Campaign dabbed “Get Britain Standing” calls prolonged sitting ill-health. This is because over £1 billion is used yearly to combat complications resulting from Sitting Disease. According to Gavin Bradley, the man behind the Get Britain Standing initiative, prolonged sitting is bad for us but we never realize it until a complication arises. This is the case of smoking. Mr. Bradley argues that one thing happens when you sit for long – your metabolism slows down and this affects processes like fat breakdown and glucose regulation.

In the end, this improves the risk of becoming obese and suffering serious conditions like heart attack, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. A finding by Mayo Clinic concludes that you conserve about 352 calories in every two hours of sitting and this is a leading cause of obesity. Doctors generally recommend physical activities as a way to improve metabolism and this includes standing and walking more as opposed to sitting.

Additionally, a sedentary lifestyle affects you in the following ways:

  • It weakens and wastes your gluteal and leg muscles.
  • Shortens your hip flexors, leading to hip problems.
  • Interferes with your overall body posture

Technology and Sitting

In this age, it’s hard to do some things without resorting to technology. The problem is that most devices require you to take a sit. Without realizing it, you find yourself spending hours sitting at the same place without even making a move. It’s likely that you own a smartphone, a TV or a computer at home. Think of how many hours you sit down staring at the screen. If you work in an office, then you probably spend three-quarter of your office hours behind the desk.

Even though technology is an important part of our lives, it doesn’t mean that you should give in to the demands of a sedentary life. For starters, staring at your PC contributes to the shortening of the hip flexors and abdominal muscles. It also makes your chest to curve and the shoulders to weaken. This may manifest itself in form of a hump on your upper back. Even though these symptoms are quite uncommon, Dr. O’Connor argues that they are a real possibility.

Aging and Sitting

According to a REGARDS study, the older you get, the more you sit. in the long run, this increases the risk of suffering from conditions like stroke and heart attack which are known to cause early deaths. The mental functions are also affected as you become more sedentary. Studies show that an older person sits at least 9 hours a day. This is a risk by itself since it provides the body with little time to stretch.

What’s the Solution?

You probably are wondering what to do after learning the dangers of Sitting Disease. Considering that it’s almost impossible to use a computer or a phone without taking a seat, the solution is to inculcate standing in between the sitting. For example, you should stand after every 30 minutes of sitting. This will ensure that your back and hip muscles are stretched enough and you enjoy a better posture. Actually, the American Heart Association recommends sitting less and moving more as a way to overcome heart conditions related to Sitting Disease. Other things that you can do include:

  • Stretch where you are – You can do it under the desk, when you halt your car, and on your sofa while watching TV. This is meant to readjust your muscles and to help you gain a better posture.
  • Stand when having your lunch – If the lunch break is the only time that you can stand for a reasonable amount of time when at work, you should take advantage of it and eat while standing. It doesn’t make sense to sit again after coming from the office.
  • Do the one-leg balance when brushing your teeth or when watching TV – This encourages proper blood supply and combats back muscle stiffness.
  • Performing aerobic exercises – There are simple aerobic routines such as leg raising and arm stretching routines that you can do regularly to stretch your body. The WHO recommends doing moderate aerobic routines for at least 2.5 hours every week.
  • Take the stairs if possible, instead of the elevator, to encourage stretching.
  • Park a distance away to encourage more walking.
  • Find a fun activity to do like swimming, dancing, and yoga.

Chiropractic Treatment for Headaches

Headaches are so common in the sense that two-out-of-three people in the world suffer from them. A headache can be frequent or occasional. It can also be throbbing or dull. Others are complicated by nausea, a running nose, and swelling. It all depends on the trigger or cause. You can suffer a headache because of an environmental stimulus like noise, unsafe light from a computer or a smartphone, and because of stress. You can also suffer a headache from driving, sitting behind a desk, sleeping on your tummy, and playing computer games for long.

Research shows that 5% of the headaches are caused by physical triggers. However, the remaining 95% of the cases do not have a specific trigger since a headache itself is the primary trigger. So, they are not associated with any other ailment besides a headache. A good example is migraines. Regardless of the type, studies show that headaches can be treated by chiropractic care. So that you may understand what the role that chiropractic treatments play in managing headaches, let’s briefly look at the headache types that are treated by the traditional practice.

Common Types of Headaches Treatable by Chiropractic Care

  1. Migraines

Migraines, according to most people, are the most severe form of a headache. The unfortunate thing is that they are not just painful but they are also characterized by symptoms like light sensitivity, temporary loss of vision, and vomiting. In addition, these symptoms are recurrent. There is no apparent trigger for the condition as they can range from foods to sleep patterns. Seeking chiropractic care is key to addressing the real trigger of your migraines and overcoming the condition.

  1. Cluster Headache

A cluster headache can be as severe as a migraine. Nonetheless, it doesn’t last as long as migraines and has the habit of recurring often. You are likely to experience one-sided pain alongside nasal congestion and tears. According to experts, a cluster headache is seasonal and may be mistaken for an allergy. The pain is usually associated with a misalignment of the cervical area and you need chiropractic care to correct it.

  1. A Tension Headache

Some people confuse tension headaches with migraines. Unlike migraines, tension headaches are generally the least severe. The condition won’t inhibit you from continuing with your normal routine. You also don’t suffer an issue like vision loss as it’s the case of migraines. However, it’s characterized by symptoms like poor posture and sleep interference. You need chiropractic help to address these symptoms.

  1. A Rebound Headache

Are you a painkiller addict? Then, it’s likely that the headaches that you experience most of the time are a rebound type. It occurs when you overuse OTC prescriptions such as Advil and Tylenol. The symptoms of this headache are similar to the withdrawal effects of alcohol. Chiropractic treatments will not only help you treat the condition but also to prevent it.

  1. A Sinus Headache

This type of a headache is characterized by a running nose. In a severe case, the face may swell. So, it’s generally a rough experience. The funny thing though is that once the swelling subsides or the running nose stops, the headache fades. Even though a salt water spray or a decongestant may help, you need to talk to a chiropractor about the right adjustment. The expert will advise you on the ideal treatment depending on your headache.

Headaches and Chiropractic Treatments

Headaches are among the most popular conditions treated by chiropractic care. Studies show that 10% of patients who visit a chiropractor do it solely to treat headaches. 90% of them are likely to see a reduction in their headaches. Dr. Dee at Healing Hands Chiropractic may perform any of the following practices to help you treat a headache:

  1. Perform a spinal manipulation technique on you: This is meant to try to improve your spinal function. The techniques will also target to alleviate the weight and stress that’s placed on your spinal system. They include:
  • Spinal mobilization – The role of this technique is to reduce oxidative stress. The stress causes damage to your body by triggering a headache, among other concerns. Therefore, a chiropractor will try to relieve the stressed spine by gently manipulating it using hands.
  • Maintenance care – This is meant to prevent a headache from recurring. In this case, a chiropractor will perform minor massages on the back of your head to help get rid of and prevent recurring headaches.
  • Muscle rub – This involves using a traditional remedy like cayenne to rub your tensed muscles. Cayenne helps to promote circulation and in the long run, treats and prevents headaches.
  • Essential oils massage – The chiropractor may also decide to use lavender oil, peppermint oil or any other essential oil to reduce your sensitivity to headaches. Using the oils, the expert will massage you gently on the head.
  1. Provide posture and workout advice: The expert will suggest physical routines like yoga postures that you can do to improve your body positioning and to relax at home. The routines will help to relieve muscle tension.
  2. Recommend a nutrition plan: The expert may suggest a change in diet, for example, a gluten-free diet, to help to prevent headaches.

Preventive Approaches

According to the American Chiropractic Association, there are a number of chiropractic practices that you can do to prevent headaches. They include:

  • Learn to take a break when doing something that involves long hours of sitting or long hours of staring at a screen. Whether it’s reading over the internet or typing for long hours, learn to take pauses every 30 minutes. This will help to stretch your head and to position it into a comfortable position.
  • Take at least 8 glasses of clean water a day to rehydrate your body. Since headaches are related to dehydration, you are able to counter the effects by drinking plenty of water.
  • Engage in low-impact physical exercises such as aerobics and walking.
  • Avoid clenching your teeth even when disappointed or angry as this stress your TMJ (temporomandibular joint). The Irritation of the joint easily translates to a headache.

Closing Thought:

There is no doubt that better chiropractic care is key to preventing and treating the most common headaches. Dr. Dee is well trained to help you get rid of the discomfort. They know the relationship between your spine and the head and so they are the ideal people to consider when either of the parts has an issue. If you been trying different treatments for headaches to no avail, it’s time you seek chiropractic help. Contact Healing Hands Chiropractic today!

 

 

Chiropractic Care for Athletes

So often in a competitive sport, the difference between winners and losers are a few microseconds. For this reason, athletes need all the extra speed and strength that they can amass to try and beat each other with any possible time difference. As they struggle to do it, the likelihood of them sustaining an injury is high. This is why injuries are widespread in competitive disciplines like football, basketball, basketball, sprinting, swimming, and skating. But despite this risk, sportspersons are always eager to impress as no one wants to lose. Some of them will even go as far as using banned substances so as to recover fast from injuries.

Injuries, however, are not the only concern for athletes. Since athletes want to step up their performances whenever they get to the field, this has led to some of them relying on performance-enhancing substances. Unfortunately, a majority of these substances are illegal but sportspersons still take chances. The good news though is that they can boost their on-field performance without using any banned performance enhancers. Similarly, they can prevent injuries and recover from them without using any illegal prescription. The solution is in a hands-on technique called chiropractic care.

About Chiropractic Care

In this technique, Dr. Dee at Healing Hands Chiropractic, located in Murfressboro, TN, gently and methodically manipulates the spine and the injured parts so as to realign them. The aim is to clear subluxations(misalignments). There basically is no drug used or surgical procedure done. Unlike drugs which may bring about adverse reactions or the possibility of an addiction or the need for surgery which may bench you for months, you have a better chance of a safe and quick recovery with chiropractic care.

For so many years, chiropractic care has been a key consideration in the competitive sports sector. Actually, studies show that 90% of athletes in the world employ chiropractic cared to improve their on-field performance and to also prevent injuries. The primary aim of chiropractic care is pain relief but it can also achieve other objectives. Generally, here are the main goals of chiropractic care for athletes.

Injury Prevention

In a competitive sport, two things are key in winning; range of motion and flexibility. Apparently, these two factors are what causes injuries when your body can’t cope with the demands. Chiropractic care prepares your body for both factors so as to limit the chances of sustaining an injury when your body is asked to give more on the field. A spinal misalignment (what we are calling a subluxation) normally puts unnecessary stress on your whole body. This often increases the risk of suffering an injury as you compete. Chiropractic care helps to get rid of the extra burden that’s placed on your misaligned spine by clearing subluxations. This is how you are able to regain postural balance when competing and are able to do it without risking an injury.

Improved Training

A good number of athletes get injured while training. This is because they either stretch themselves too much or they carry weights that their body cannot sustain. So, joint problems are a key thing in the training grounds and the gyms. This, nonetheless, doesn’t have to be the case always since chiropractic care can help. It’s designed to help you train more effectively by boosting your joint adaptability and muscular strength. So, when you try to overstretch, your body is able to cope with the demand. This is one of the reasons who most athletes’ trainers turn to chiropractic care when they realize that their students are prone to injuries when training. Normally, a good sports chiropractor will examine your whole body – knees, shoulders, elbows, back, hips, and neck. This is meant to ensure that all is well when training and you are able to do it with agility and strength.

Enhanced On-Field Performance

Chiropractic care is crucial in improving your overall competitiveness in sports. A subluxation, however, has the power to interrupt the functioning of other systems. This is because they are all connected to the spine, directly or indirectly. This makes your level of performance to dwindle. With regular chiropractic care, the spine is adjusted accordingly so as to treat subluxations completely. This means that your spine is able to regain its effectiveness and so as the other affected systems.

In the long run, this translates to enhanced field performance. You become more agile, stronger, and faster. According to a study, chiropractic care improves the eye coordination ability of an athlete by 30% and general performance by 6.12% just within three months of therapy. The biggest beneficiaries based on the study are footballers, basketballers, and MLB players. Therefore, there is no doubt that you stand to step up your overall athleticism on the field.

Enhanced ROM (Range of Motion)

As an athlete in a competitive discipline, you are likely to put extra pressure on your body, more so the back when working out or competing. Such pressure can have a detrimental impact on your spine and this limits your range of motion. This is why you feel discomforts in form of stiff joints and muscle cramps. Regular chiropractic care is meant to improve your ROM. This means that your spine doesn’t have to suffer when stretching, running or jumping. You are able to do it without worrying about pain. According to a 2017 study, it’s pain that limits one’s range of motion and employing chiropractic care is key to achieving maximum pain relief. This means more ROM in the end.

Rapid Healing

By relieving you from possible pain and by fixing spinal misalignment, chiropractic care plays an important role in ensuring a speedy recovery process following an injury. So, you are guaranteed a shorter healing period. Some of the routines used by a chiropractor to facilitate this include:

  • Combination of motion movement with massage therapy to bring about muscle relaxation.
  • Muscle stimulation aimed at releasing muscle tension.
  • Dry needling aimed at fighting muscle tension.
  • Stainless steel technique aimed at disintegrating scar tissues.

As a sportsperson, there is nothing you’ll ever wish than to spend minimal time on the bench after sustaining an injury. This is not always the case with most therapies.

Bottomline

Generally, chiropractic care helps all types of athletes to become more competitive. Right from the training to the field, they are able to attain optimal success. No wonder athletes around the world are turning out in masses to seek chiropractic care! Whether you are a member of a professional sports team, a high school athlete, a trainer, or someone who just like keeping fit, Dr. Dee at Healing Hands Chiropractic can help you!

 

Chiropractic Treatment for TMJD

So many people associate the term chiropractor with either the spine or the back. While these areas are the most handled by the expert, a chiropractor can also help correct discomforts in other areas. For example, the expert can help to reduce jaw discomfort and pain. One major problem affecting your jaw that can be handled by a chiropractor is the dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Temporomandibular joint disorder (JMJD) is a very common problem globally. Surprisingly, a majority of people are not aware of the condition until they are diagnosed by a doctor. According to a recent report by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), about 75% of individuals in the US show signs of JMJD. Before we go any further, let’s first understand the disorder.

What Exactly is TMJD?

The temporomandibular joint is what connects your lower jaw to the skull (just in front of the ear). A number of facial muscles are attached to it. The joint allows you to chew, yawn, and dialog. You can locate your TMJ easily by just opening your mouth and feeling with your fingers the part that’s in front of the ear. If there is a problem with the TMJ, the resulting effect is a TMJD.

What Causes the Condition?

There are generally different causes of TMJD. The commonest is physical injury. it’s a common cause of acute TMJD. It causes a sharp but brief pain in the temporomandibular joint. A physical injury, in this case, may be in form of:

  • A dislocated jaw
  • A sprain in the jaw
  • A whiplash

Other causes include:

  • Grinding of the teeth when you are sleeping. This is because the jaws are overworked unnecessarily.
  • Hereditary conditions – Some forms of TMJD can be inherited from a parent.
  • A serious infection such as arthritis and fibromyalgia.
  • A traumatic experience in the mouth following dental surgery.

How Can You Know If You Are Having TMJD?

The simplest way to do it is to identify the symptoms. TMJD is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • Throbbing pain: This the primary symptom for TMJD. The pain is massively felt in the jaw area. There are cases where the ears, the teeth, and the head experience ache. In some limited cases, the pain stretches to the shoulders, the arm, and the back.
  • Restricted Mobility: Since the temporomandibular joint is affected, mobility in the area is limited. It can also be locked in a chronic case. Patients with a locked TMJ are not able to either open or close their mouth.
  • Vertigo: Vertigo is a condition where you find it difficult to hear things. Since the TMJ runs close to the ear, you can be sure that your hearing will be hampered.
  • Difficulty in swallowing: The TMJ muscles that are responsible for facilitating swallowing are rendered ineffective. In a severe case, it becomes impossible to swallow anything at all.
  • Bite alterations: Some people feel like they are not chewing anything even if they are struggling to do it. This is because they can’t feel the teeth coming into contact with each other. There are others who can’t chew at all.
  • Jaw click: This happens when you open or close your mouth. It’s a possible indicator of a headache problem that originates from the TMJ even if the jaws themselves are not painful.

The Role That Chiropractic Treatments Play in TMJD Correction

Traditionally, TMJD treatments have been the responsibility of the oral surgeons, orthodontists, pain managers, and rheumatologists. Nowadays, chiropractors are joining in. They are taking an active role because TMJD is a neuromusculoskeletal condition and this is their field of specialization. A good number of patients respond well to chiropractic treatments and there are indicators that the technique is one of the most reliable TMJD treatment options. Recently, the NIDCR and the NIH (National Institute of Health) endorsed chiropractic treatments as an alternative to dental surgery when it comes to treating TMJD. Unlike dental surgery, chiropractic care is non-invasive, thus kinder to you.

What Happens During the Diagnosis?

Once you show the discussed TMJD symptoms, the chiropractor will run a conclusive diagnosis to establish that it’s really TMJD. The diagnosis will involve physical exams and x-rays. Physically, the chiropractor will ask you to perform repetitive chewing motions as he or she observes the performance of the jaws. The expert will also look for possible inflammation in the joint. The x-ray is done to just ascertain the extent of the dysfunction. The images will clearly indicate everything that is happening in your mouth.

What Happens During the Treatment?

The objective of chiropractic treatment is to readjust and realign your jaw so that the temporomandibular joint can click back into position. This will help to clear the dysfunction. During the jaw adjustment process, your chiropractor will apply some pressure either on the jaw or on other TMJ related parts such as the skull and the upper spine. In addition to the pressing, the chiropractor will include a soft tissue-based therapy like Active Release Technique (ART) to reinforce the jaw adjustment process. The technique is done to disintegrate scars tissues, abnormal adhesions, and other buildups on your temporomandibular joint. ART can work on its own but it gives the best performance when combined with other chiropractic treatments.

What Is Expected After TMJD Treatment?

It’s important not to overwork or hurt your temporomandibular joint after the treatment. In this case, you should:

  • Eat soft foods such as stewed vegetables, soup, and milkshakes. The foods will give you sufficient nutrients and will allow you to stay away from hard foods no matter how nutritious or yummy they are.
  • Avoid putting ice on your jaw. This may stir pain and discomfort. You need to let the healing and restoration happen naturally.
  • Avoid chewing gums or any other activity that involves repetitive jaw mobility until the joint completely heals.

Bottomline

TMJD is a dysfunction that causes pain and discomfort. In addition, a majority of functions are hampered. Therefore, you have to take the right treatment action to correct it. As seen above, there’s no doubt about the effectiveness of chiropractic care in treating TMJD. The therapy will help to restore the temporomandibular joint to its original purposeful status. Contact Dr. Dee at Healing Hands Chiropractic, located in Murfreesboro, TN today to get help!

Health Benefits of Cinnamon

Сіnnаmоn іs оnе оf thе wоrld’s оldеst knоwn sрісеs. Тhе trее іs nаtіvе tо Ѕrі Lаnkа whеrе іt wаs fоund thоusаnds оf уеаrs аgо. Іt іs thе bеst sрісе аvаіlаblе іn tеrms оf іts nutrіtіоn аnd hеаlth. Іt соntаіns unіquе hеаlthу аnd hеаlіng рrореrtу соmеs frоm thе асtіvе соmроnеnts іn thе еssеntіаl оіls fоund іn іts bаrk. Сіnnаmоn hаs ехtrеmеlу hіgh аntіохіdаnt асtіvіtу duе tо whісh іt hаs numеrоus hеаlth bеnеfіts. Аsіdе frоm bеіng usеd аs а mеdісіnе bу оthеr сulturеs sіnсе аnсіеnt tіmеs, thе hеаlth bеnеfіts mау аlsо соmе frоm еаtіng іt whісh саn bе lіstеd аs fоllоws:

Lоwеrs Сhоlеstеrоl:

Ѕtudіеs hаvе shоwn thаt јust 1/2 tеаsрооn оf сіnnаmоn іnсludеd іn а dаіlу dіеt саn lоwеr сhоlеstеrоl.

Аlsо, Сіnnаmоn mау sіgnіfісаntlу lоwеr LDL “bаd” сhоlеstеrоl, аnd trіglусеrіdеs (fаttу асіds іn thе blооd) аnd tоtаl сhоlеstеrоl.

Rеduсеs blооd sugаr lеvеls аnd trеаtіng Туре 2 Dіаbеtеs:

Ѕеvеrаl studіеs hаvе shоwn іmрrоvеd іnsulіn sеnsіtіvіtу аnd blооd gluсоsе соntrоl bу tаkіng аs lіttlе аs ½ tеаsрооn оf сіnnаmоn реr dау. Іmрrоvіng іnsulіn rеsіstаnсе саn hеlр іn wеіght соntrоl аs wеll аs dесrеаsіng thе rіsk оf hеаrt dіsеаsе.

Неаrt Dіsеаsе:

Сіnnаmоn strеngthеns thе саrdіоvаsсulаr sуstеm thеrеbу shіеldіng thе bоdу frоm hеаrt-rеlаtеd dіsоrdеrs. Іt іs bеlіеvеd thаt thе саlсіum аnd fіbrе рrеsеnt іn сіnnаmоn рrоvіdеs рrоtесtіоn аgаіnst hеаrt dіsеаsеs.

Іnсludіng а lіttlе сіnnаmоn іn thе fооd hеlрs thоsе suffеrіng frоm соrоnаrу аrtеrу dіsеаsе аnd hіgh blооd рrеssurе.

Fіghts Саnсеr :

А studу rеlеаsеd bу rеsеаrсhеrs аt thе U.Ѕ. Dераrtmеnt оf Аgrісulturе іn Маrуlаnd shоwеd thаt сіnnаmоn rеduсеd thе рrоlіfеrаtіоn оf lеukаеmіа аnd lуmрhоmа саnсеr сеlls.

Веsіdеs, thе соmbіnаtіоn оf саlсіum аnd fіbrе fоund іn Сіnnаmоn саn hеlр tо rеmоvе bіlе, whісh рrеvеnts dаmаgе tо соlоn сеlls, thus рrеvеnts соlоn саnсеr.

Тооth dесау аnd mоuth frеshеnеr:

Сіnnаmоn hаs trаdіtіоnаllу bееn usеd tо trеаt а tооthасhе аnd fіght bаd brеаth. Ѕmаll ріесеs оf сіnnаmоn саn bе сhеwеd, оr gаrglеd wіth сіnnаmоn wаtеr whісh sеrvеs аs а gооd mоuth frеshеnеr.

Сurеs Rеsріrаtоrу Рrоblеms:

Сіnnаmоn іs а vеrу usеful hоmе rеmеdу fоr соmmоn оr sеvеrе соlds. А реrsоn suffеrіng shоuld tаkе оnе tаblеsрооn оf hоnеу wіth 1/4 tеаsрооn сіnnаmоn роwdеr dаіlу fоr 3 dауs. Тhіs рrосеss wіll сurе mоst сhrоnіс соugh, соld аnd сlеаr thе sіnusеs.

Сіnnаmоn аlsо fоund tо сurе flu, іnfluеnzа, sоrе thrоаt аnd соngеstіоn.

Вrаіn Тоnіс:

Сіnnаmоn bооsts thе асtіvіtу оf thе brаіn аnd hеnсе асts аs а gооd brаіn tоnіс. Іt hеlрs іn rеmоvіng nеrvоus tеnsіоn аnd mеmоrу lоss.

Аlsо, studіеs hаvе shоwn thаt smеllіng сіnnаmоn mау bооst соgnіtіvе funсtіоn, mеmоrу, thе реrfоrmаnсе оf сеrtаіn tаsks аnd іnсrеаsеs оnе’s аlеrtnеss аnd соnсеntrаtіоn.

Іnfесtіоns:

Duе tо іts аntіfungаl, аntіbасtеrіаl, аntіvіrаl, аntі-раrаsіtіс аnd аntіsерtіс рrореrtіеs, іt іs еffесtіvе оn ехtеrnаl аs wеll аs іntеrnаl іnfесtіоns. Сіnnаmоn hаs bееn fоund tо bе еffесtіvе іn fіghtіng vаgіnаl уеаst іnfесtіоns, оrаl уеаst іnfесtіоns, stоmасh ulсеrs аnd hеаd lісе.

Еаsеs mеnstruаtіоn сусlеs:

Сіnnаmоn hаs аlsо bееn fоund usеful fоr wоmеn’s hеаlth аs іt hеlрs іn рrоvіdіng rеlіеf frоm mеnstruаl сrаmріng аnd оthеr fеmіnіnе dіsсоmfоrts.

Віrth Соntrоl:

Сіnnаmоn аlsо hеlрs іn nаturаl bіrth соntrоl. Rеgulаr соnsumрtіоn оf сіnnаmоn аftеr сhіldbіrth dеlауs mеnstruаtіоn аnd thus hеlрs іn аvоіdіng соnсерtіоn.

Вrеаstfееdіng:

Іt іs аlsо bеlіеvеd thаt сіnnаmоn аіds іn thе sесrеtіоn оf brеаst mіlk.

Rеduсеs Аrthrіtіs Раіn:

Сіnnаmоn sрісе соntаіns аntі-іnflаmmаtоrу соmроunds whісh саn bе usеful іn rеduсіng раіn аnd іnflаmmаtіоn аssосіаtеd wіth аrthrіtіs.

А studу соnduсtеd аt Сореnhаgеn Unіvеrsіtу, whеrе раtіеnts wеrе gіvеn hаlf а tеаsрооn оf сіnnаmоn роwdеr соmbіnеd wіth оnе tаblеsрооn оf hоnеу еvеrу mоrnіng hаd sіgnіfісаnt rеlіеf іn аrthrіtіs раіn аftеr оnе wееk аnd соuld wаlk wіthоut раіn wіthіn оnе mоnth

Dіgеstіvе Тоnіс:

Сіnnаmоn shоuld bе аddеd tо mоst rесіреs. Араrt frоm аddіng flаvоur tо thе fооd, іt аlsо аіds іn dіgеstіоn. Сіnnаmоn іs vеrу еffесtіvе fоr іndіgеstіоn, nаusеа, vоmіtіng, uрsеt stоmасh, dіаrrhоеа аnd flаtulеnсе. Іt іs vеrу hеlрful іn rеmоvіng gаs frоm thе stоmасh аnd іntеstіnеs. Іt аlsо rеmоvеs асіdіtу, dіаrrhоеа аnd mоrnіng sісknеss. Іt іs оftеn rеfеrrеd tо аs а dіgеstіvе tоnіс.

Rеduсеs Urіnаrу trасt іnfесtіоns:

Реорlе whо еаt сіnnаmоn оn а rеgulаr bаsіs rероrt а lоwеr іnсіdеnсе оf urіnаrу trасt іnfесtіоns. Сіnnаmоn іs dіurеtіс іn nаturе аnd hеlрs іn sесrеtіоn аnd dіsсhаrgе оf urіnе.

Аntі-сlоttіng Асtіоns:

А соmроund fоund іn Сіnnаmоn саllеd аs сіnnаmаldеhуdе hаs bееn wеll-rеsеаrсhеd fоr іts еffесts оn blооd рlаtеlеts. [Рlаtеlеts аrе соnstіtuеnts оf blооd thаt аrе mеаnt tо сlumр tоgеthеr undеr еmеrgеnсу сіrсumstаnсеs (lіkе а рhуsісаl іnјurу) аs а wау tо stор blееdіng, but undеr nоrmаl сіrсumstаnсеs, thеу саn mаkе thе blооd flоw іnаdеquаtе іf thеу сlumр tоgеthеr tоо muсh]. Тhе сіnnаmаldеhуdе іn сіnnаmоn hеlрs рrеvеnt unwаntеd сlumріng оf blооd рlаtеlеts.

Νаturаl Fооd Рrеsеrvеr:

Whеn аddеd tо fооd, іt рrеvеnts bасtеrіаl grоwth аnd fооd sроіlаgе, mаkіng іt а nаturаl fооd рrеsеrvаtіvе.

Неаdасhеs аnd mіgrаіnе:

А hеаdасhе duе tо thе ехроsurе tо соld wіnd іs rеаdіlу сurеd bу аррlуіng а thіn раstе оf роwdеrеd сіnnаmоn mіхеd іn wаtеr оn thе tеmрlеs & fоrеhеаd.

Ріmрlеs аnd Вlасkhеаds:

Сіnnаmоn hеlрs іn rеmоvіng blооd іmрurіtіеs. Тhеrеfоrе іt іs оftеn rесоmmеndеd fоr ріmрlеs.

Аlsо, thе ехtеrnаl аррlісаtіоn оf а раstе оf сіnnаmоn роwdеr wіth а fеw drорs оf frеsh lеmоn јuісе оvеr ріmрlеs & blасkhеаds wоuld gіvе thе bеnеfісіаl rеsult.

Тhіnnіng оf thе blооd аnd іmрrоvеs blооd сіrсulаtіоn:

Сіnnаmоn іs а blооd thіnnіng аgеnt whісh аlsо асts tо іnсrеаsе сіrсulаtіоn. Тhіs blооd сіrсulаtіоn hеlрs sіgnіfісаntlу іn rеmоvіng раіn. Gооd blооd сіrсulаtіоn аlsо еnsurеs охуgеn suррlу tо thе bоdу сеlls lеаdіng tо hіghеr mеtаbоlіс асtіvіtу. Yоu sіgnіfісаntlу rеduсе thе сhаnсе оf gеttіng а hеаrt аttасk bу rеgulаrlу соnsumіng сіnnаmоn.

Тоnіng оf tіssuеs:

Соnsіdеrаblе аnесdоtаl еvіdеnсе ехіsts tо suggеst thаt сіnnаmоn mау hаvе thе аbіlіtу tо tоnе аnd соnstrісt tіssuеs іn thе bоdу.

Мusсlе аnd јоіnt раіn rеlіеf:

Тhоsе whо еаt сіnnаmоn оn а rеgulаr bаsіs оftеn rероrt thаt thеіr musсlе аnd јоіnt раіn, аs wеll аs stіffnеss, іs rеduсеd оr еvеn еlіmіnаtеd.

Іmmunе Ѕуstеm:

Ноnеу аnd сіnnаmоn раstе іs gооd fоr bооstіng thе іmmunе sуstеm, rеmоvіng rеgulаr fаtіguе аnd іnсrеаsіng thе lоngеvіtу оf аn іndіvіduаl. Іt іs аlsо knоwn tо hаvе аntі-аgеіng рrореrtіеs.

Іtсhіng:

А раstе оf hоnеу аnd сіnnаmоn іs оftеn usеd tо trеаt іnsесt bіtеs.

Іt іs а grеаt sоurсе оf mаngаnеsе, fіbrе, іrоn, аnd саlсіum.

Неаlіng: Сіnnаmоn hеlрs іn stорріng thе blееdіng. Тhеrеfоrе іt fасіlіtаtеs thе hеаlіng рrосеss.

Іndееd, сіnnаmоn hаs sеvеrаl hеаlth bеnеfіts аs hіghlіghtеd аbоvе thаt саn bе usеd tо іmрrоvе оnе’s hеаlth аnd bооst оnе’s іmmunе sуstеm. Тhіs іs а grеаt rеаsоn tо kеер sоmе сіnnаmоn аrоund. Ѕрrіnklе іt іn уоur tеа оr соffее, оvеr оаtmеаl оr а swееt роtаtо аnd, thіs wіll dо wоndеrs fоr уоur hеаlth.

Chiropractic Treatment of Herniated Disks

Speaking of excruciating pain, that’s what people that are suffering from herniated disc feel. This condition is terrible and makes one feel so uncomfortable. The body system is fashioned in such a way that if one particular part of the body is unhealthy, there is a high tendency that ten more places will be affected. That’s exactly the case with Herniated disk. The symptoms associated with the herniated disk is trouble on its own. So many people think that the only solution to this excruciating pain is surgery. However, if they know what chiropractic care can do to heal the disease and also take away the pain. Before going any further, we need to ask yourself some questions.

WHAT IS A HERNIATED DISK

The condition which is otherwise known as bulging discs is a situation in which a disc in the vertebra column displaces slightly from its normal position thereby protruding outwards away from the radius. This condition normal hide itself behind the back doors to the extent that an individual may not even be aware of the anomalies in his or her body for a long period of time until the condition becomes worse. The symptoms associated with herniated disk only appears when the protruded disk begins to press against the nerve along the spine.

The nerve is a sensitive tissue and any pressure will cause pain in different parts of the body that’s connected to it. Although the pain varies, it depends on the location on the spine. In some severe case, herniated disk causes involuntary movement and inability to control the movement of the body.

Chiropractic care is the best alternative to surgery when considering a treatment method that can be used to find a lasting solution to herniated discs. There are so many centres that this can be done all across the world and it has proven to even be a better replacement for surgery, especially when the condition is not that severe.

GENERAL SYMPTOMS OF HERNIATED DISK

Just as it was mentioned earlier, the severity of herniated disc varies, so does its symptoms. It also depends on the location that is affected by the spine. Since nerves are involved, this symptoms can travel to any part of the body and cause excruciating pain in those areas. However, below are some symptoms that seem to be general:

  • Excruciating pain in certain parts of the body which includes, the neck, back, arm, and leg.
  • The spine becomes tender or very stiff
  • General weakness of the body especially the most affected nerve area
  • In some certain cases, pain can also be felt around the buttocks and foot.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF HERNIATED DISKS

This disease is mostly associated with old people. This further means that a larger percentage of those that suffer at the hands of the herniated disk is the elderly ones. Then, there comes another question, what is responsible for the herniated disk in old people? As we become older, there is a shock absorber in the vertebra that helps in the absorption of shock. As the absorber losses its water content and elasticity with age, the spinal disc starts becoming stiff and become more prone to damage.

Based on the deterioration that occurs in this region, the spines become weak, any trauma around this area increases or put more pressure on the central core of the disk, thereby putting more stress which in turn stresses the outer layer out.

Although, age is not the only factor responsible for a herniated disk, there are couple more factors that could be responsible for this pain. These includes:

  • Activities that are done repeatedly which involves standing, bending, driving and many more can also be responsible for a herniated disk.
  • Sporting activities is another major cause.
  • Habits like Smoking and drinking also play a major role in herniated disk problem
  • Accidental falls and car accidents could also be a major cause
  • The lifting of objects in an improper manner or way

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR HERNIATED DISC

What chiropractic care brings to the table is worth more than you can imagine. Instead of sharing all the benefits, I will be giving out just two important ones.

Chiropractic care is drug-free: The more you take painkillers, the more they become more addictive. More so, drugs won’t solve the main problem, it will only take the pain away for a while. Whereas, Chiropractic care relieves the pain without the use of drugs and it also helps to heal the affected spines

Chiropractic care helps to reduce inflammation: This care also helps to reduce the accumulated pressure that the nerves are experiencing. In doing so, the body releases anti-inflammatory substances. This substances work on the nervous system and helps to reduce inflammation and the excruciating pain.

HOW DOES CHIROPRACTOR DO TO CURE HERNIATED DISC?

A chiropractor uses a particular technique called flexion distraction technique to achieve this. In this technique, the chiropractor works in such a way that he or she stretches the spine itself. In the process, the affected area is isolated. Then the spine is flexed in a rhythm that is gentle and soft. The major thing that this technique does is to help move away from the herniated disc from the affected nerve. In doing so, the pressure on the nerve root is reduced and also free from inflammation.

CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT

Chiropractic treatment is the safest means of treating Herniated disc. The very first thing that a chiropractor does is to do a detailed analysis of the patients medical history, this is achieved by analyzing all previous health-related issues. After that must have been done, a personal examination of the physical well-being of the patient is carried out. Based on all these, a chiropractor is able to find out what and where the issue is. Just Incase, a Chiropractor may also conduct an MRI to find out additional information. After all, these have been done all the necessary information collected, a treatment plan is then put in place to eradicate the pain and the primary source of the problem.

Chiropractic care is the perfect replacement for all other treatment options.

7 Benefits of Coffee

Most people start out their mornings with a cup of coffee to help them wake up and prepare for the day and it now seems as if people have another reason to make sure they start their days with this tasty hot beverage; the nutrients within it that impart the health benefits of coffee. The two main coffee species being grown currently are called Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee. The more popular coffee type is the Arabica, and it gives a better flavor than the Robusta. The Robusta has higher caffeine content, but its flavor isn’t as well-liked.

As people research coffee and the differences between those who drink it and those who don’t, they discover very interesting facts about the good things coffee can do for the body. For example, those who drink coffee have to experience these benefits:

  1. Type II Diabetes

In order to help prevent Type II Diabetes, people will need to drink at least six to seven cups of coffee per day. This amount of coffee each day lowers a person’s risk of Type II Diabetes by 35 percent. Because patients diagnosed with Type II Diabetes also have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, coffee is also given the credit for decreasing the amount of heart disease and strokes that people experience.

A further effect of coffee is that it reduces the instances of disturbances in heart rhythm. These disturbances have been found to increase both men’s and women’s rate of heart attacks and strokes. Because coffee lowers the number of people who have disturbances of their heart rhythms, it also indirectly decreases the numbers of heart attacks and strokes that all people endure.

  1. Parkinson’s disease and Dementia

Coffee drinkers have a decreased risk of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers are confident of the link between Parkinson’s disease and the caffeine that coffee contains, although they cannot explain what the effect caffeine has on preventing Parkinson’s disease. It also benefits dementia; drinking between three and five cups of coffee per day was found in one study to reduce dementia by 65 percent.

  1. Coffee and Liver Cancer

Cаnсеr is оnе оf thе wоrld’ѕ lеаdіng саuѕеѕ оf dеаth аnd іѕ сhаrасtеrіzеd bу unсоntrоllеd grоwth оf cells іn thе bоdу. Cоffее арреаrѕ tо bе рrоtесtіvе against twо tуреѕ of саnсеr… lіvеr саnсеr аnd соlоrесtаl саnсеr. Lіvеr саnсеr is thе thіrd lеаdіng саuѕе оf саnсеr dеаth іn thе wоrld, whіlе соlоrесtаl cancer rаnkѕ fоurth.

Researchers can’t state definitively how, but coffee appears to decrease the instances of liver cancer. With every test researchers have done on this issue, they have arrived at the same results; liver cancer is less likely in people who are regular coffee drinkers. It turns out that coffee may protect against cirrhosis. People who drink 4 or more cups per day have up to an 80% lower risk.

  1. Omega-6 Fatty Acids

The body needs omega-6 fatty acids and it’s not capable of producing them itself. Coffee is a great source of omega-6 fatty acids containing 27.6 milligrams in each fluid ounce. Omega-6 fatty acids, also called polyunsaturated fats, are essential for maintaining brain function, promoting growth, encouraging the growth of healthy skin, bone growth, keeping the body’s metabolism in its healthiest state and keeping the body’s reproductive system in good shape.

  1. Cоffее Cаn Imрrоvе Energy Lеvеlѕ аnd Mаkе Yоu Smаrtеr

Cоffее саn hеlр people fееl lеѕѕ tired аnd increase еnеrgу levels. Thіѕ is because it соntаіnѕ a stimulant саllеd саffеіnе, whісh is actually the mоѕt соmmоnlу соnѕumеd рѕусhоасtіvе ѕubѕtаnсе in thе world. Aftеr you drіnk соffее, thе саffеіnе is аbѕоrbеd іntо the bloodstream.

Frоm thеrе, іt travels іntо thе brain. In the brаіn, саffеіnе blосkѕ an іnhіbіtоrу neurotransmitter саllеd Adеnоѕіnе. Whеn that happens, thе amount оf оthеr nеurоtrаnѕmіttеrѕ lіkе nоrеріnерhrіnе and dopamine асtuаllу increases, lеаdіng to еnhаnсеd fіrіng of neurons. Mаnу соntrоllеd trіаlѕ іn humans ѕhоw thаt соffее іmрrоvеѕ various аѕресtѕ оf brаіn funсtіоn. This іnсludеѕ mеmоrу, mооd, vigilance, еnеrgу lеvеlѕ, rеасtіоn tіmеѕ аnd gеnеrаl cognitive funсtіоn.

  1. Thе Cаffеіnе Cаn Drаѕtісаllу Imрrоvе Phуѕісаl Pеrfоrmаnсе

Cаffеіnе ѕtіmulаtеѕ thе nervous ѕуѕtеm, саuѕіng іt tо ѕеnd ѕіgnаlѕ tо thе fаt cells tо brеаk dоwn bоdу fаt. But caffeine аlѕо іnсrеаѕеѕ Eріnерhrіnе (Adrеnаlіnе) lеvеlѕ іn thе blооd. Thіѕ іѕ thе “fіght оr flіght” hоrmоnе, dеѕіgnеd tо mаkе оur bodies rеаdу fоr іntеnѕе рhуѕісаl еxеrtіоn. Cаffеіnе mаkеѕ thе fat cells brеаk dоwn bоdу fаt, rеlеаѕіng thеm іntо thе blооd аѕ frее fаttу асіdѕ аnd mаkіng thеm аvаіlаblе аѕ fuel. Gіvеn thеѕе еffесtѕ, іt іѕ nоt ѕurрrіѕіng tо see thаt саffеіnе саn іmрrоvе physical реrfоrmаnсе by 11-12%, оn аvеrаgе. Bесаuѕе оf thіѕ, it mаkеѕ ѕеnѕе tо hаvе a ѕtrоng сuр оf coffee аbоut a hаlf аn hоur bеfоrе уоu hеаd tо thе gуm.

  1. Cоffее Does Nоt Cаuѕе Hеаrt Dіѕеаѕе and Mау Lоwеr The Risk of Strоkе

It is often сlаіmеd thаt саffеіnе can increase blооd pressure. Thіѕ іѕ true, but the еffесt is ѕmаll (3-4 mm/Hg) аnd uѕuаllу gоеѕ аwау іf you drink соffее rеgulаrlу. Hоwеvеr, thе effect mау persist іn ѕоmе people, so kеер that іn mіnd if уоu hаvе еlеvаtеd blооd pressure. Thаt bеіng said, thе ѕtudіеѕ dо NOT ѕuрроrt the myth thаt соffее raises thе rіѕk оf heart dіѕеаѕе. In fасt, thеrе is some еvіdеnсе thаt wоmеn whо drіnk coffee have a reduced rіѕk of heart disease. Sоmе studies аlѕо ѕhоw that coffee drіnkеrѕ hаvе a 20% lower risk оf ѕtrоkе. Coffee drinkers do not have an increased risk of heart disease, but a slightly lower risk of stroke.

Given thаt соffее drіnkеrѕ аrе lеѕѕ lіkеlу tо get mаnу diseases, іt mаkеѕ ѕеnѕе that соffее соuld hеlр you lіvе lоngеr. Thеrе аrе асtuаllу ѕеvеrаl оbѕеrvаtіоnаl ѕtudіеѕ ѕhоwіng thаt соffее drinkers hаvе a lоwеr rіѕk оf dеаth. In two vеrу lаrgе ѕtudіеѕ, drinking соffее wаѕ associated wіth a 20% lоwеr rіѕk оf dеаth іn mеn аnd a 26% lower rіѕk оf dеаth іn wоmеn, оvеr a реrіоd оf 18-24 уеаrѕ. Thіѕ еffесt арреаrѕ tо bе раrtісulаrlу strong in tуре II dіаbеtісѕ. In one ѕtudу, diabetics whо drаnk соffее hаd a 30% lоwеr rіѕk оf dеаth durіng a 20 уеаr ѕtudу реrіоd.