Broadway Chiropractic Blog

Derry, NH Chiropractor | Empowering you to live a longer, healthier life

Physical stress
More
Physical stress, both positive and negative, has an important role in overall health
Biochemical stress
More
Biochemical stress represents either deficiencies or toxicities in the things we put in or on our bodies
Emotional stress
More
Emotional stress is what people usually associate with the word stress and can take many forms

“I can fix you in three visits”

June 27th 2011 Posted at Biochemical stress, Emotional Stress, Physical stress
2 Comments

“I can fix you in three visits” is a comment I have heard from more than one health care provider when it comes to pain.  That type of statement begs one simple question: What do you mean by “fix”?  If by fix you mean relieve symptoms or pain, that can also often be accomplished by medication, pain relief shots, or better yet, a good bottle of wine.  On the other hand, if by fix you mean not only relieve symptoms but also correct the underlying causes of the problem like muscle imbalances, poor posture and gait patterns, and general alignment problems then those would be an impressive three visits.  Perhaps if each ‘visit’ was a one week stay with treatment and rehabilitation included you had a chance.  Even then, would you really be able to truly ‘fix’ a problem that more than likely was not the result of one particular event but is a chronic issue as a result of a lifetime of stresses and traumas, both minor and major?  No amount of visits in the world could truly ‘fix’ a chronic problem if those stresses that caused the problem are not also addressed.

You see, the truth is that no doctor or provider anywhere should claim that they can ‘fix’ anything.  All we can hope for is to restore the body to its optimal potential, so that it is best able to take care of problems on its own, as it was intended.  Sometimes that may involve some patches along the way but in the end the patches are only going to be temporary and the problem will keep coming back if we don’t make sure that our body is functioning optimally.  There is a lot that goes into optimal function, including diet, exercise, mental well-being, and of course, a well functioning spine and nervous system.  All of these various aspects need to be addressed in order to even attempt to ‘fix’ something, and it certainly will take a lot more than three pain based visits.

“It’s like sugar but it’s good for you”

February 10th 2011 Posted at Biochemical stress
0 Comments

One of our friends recently recounted a funny story to us about being in line at a Dunkin Donuts.  Well it would be funny if it wasn’t disturbing.

A man had just ordered a coffee and had asked for splenda.  His four year old son asked, “Daddy, what’s splenda?”  The man replied, “It’s like sugar but it’s good for you.”

Now, there are a few things wrong with this statement.   Hopefully we all know that splenda is not an essential part of a diet that is ‘good for you’.  The man was just trying to simplify things for his son, but unfortunately used the same concept that artificial sweetener manufacturers use in their advertising – the concept that sugar substitutes are ‘better’ for you than sugar because they have zero calories.  I won’t even get into how much we over-emphasize calorie counts, I’ll save that for a later post.  This post is about artificial sweeteners.

There are many studies showing the pr0blems that can arise from ingesting chemically altered sweeteners.  Debate continues as to whether they are carcinogenic or not, depending on how you choose to interpret the studies that have been done linking them to cancer.  There is less debate on the front of whether they contribute to weight gain and obesity.  Here is a good article from ABC news: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4271246&page=1 .  New studies also show a link to strokes: http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/ap/us_med_stroke_younger_victims .  My favorite line in this article: “Researchers found that people who said they drank diet soda every day had a 48 percent higher risk of stroke or heart attack than people who drank no soda of any kind.”

Bottom line is this: if you can’t or don’t want to have sugar, don’t be fooled into thinking that the artificial stuff is any better for you.  Just skip it like you skip the sugar.  Not easily done at first, but it all comes down to habit.

Spinal Care

January 21st 2011 Posted at Biochemical stress, Emotional Stress, Physical stress
0 Comments

Proper spinal care doesn’t start and end at our office.  We try to make sure people know how to take better care of their back and their health in general with the right home care.  Part of that is asking all of our patients to attend one of our spinal care classes, during which we go over a lot of home care topics.  The classes are free on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm at our office (food is provided), and anyone is welcome.  Ofcourse, not everyone is able to make it to one of these classes, so we taped one of them.  Here is Part 1 of 6:

You can view the other 5 parts on our website, www.broadway-chiro.com, or just come to one of our classes in the future!

Restful Sleep

October 27th 2010 Posted at Emotional Stress, Physical stress
3 Comments

One of the most common topics we discuss with our patients pertains to sleep.  The position you sleep in, what type of mattress you use, or your favorite pillow all play a factor in how well rested you feel in the morning.  Sleep is when our body does most of its repair work, so it’s very important to get a good nights rest.  I could probably go on about a dozen different topics that pertain to sleep but I’m going to focus on those three I already mentioned.

What sleep position is best?

There is no ‘best’ sleep position, but there are two positions you should try to avoid: sleeping on your stomach, or on your side curled up into a ball.  The reasons are simple – both of these positions do not allow your spine to rest with its natural curves in proper alignment. 

Sleeping on your stomach also means that you end up having to turn your head to one side in order to breath, and sleeping with your neck turned to one side all night long is somewhat like spending half a day with your head turned over one shoulder – not good.

One other good tip for sleep position is to use a pillow between the legs if you sleep on your side.  This can take a lot of pressure of the lower back and hips.

What type of mattress should I use?

No one mattress is the magic answer for all people.  Every BODY is different.  When it comes to posture-pedics and sleep numbers, I have had some patients swear by them, and others get rid of them within a year.  You just won’t know until you sleep on it for a few months.  Hopefully the return policy is a friendly one, in case you don’t end up liking it. 

Personally I am partial to good, high quality, independent high coil count mattresses.  You want it to be firm, but not so firm that you feel like you are lying on a board.  A good quick test is to lie on your back on the mattress and slide your hand underneath your lower back.  If the mattress is too firm your hand will slide easily in and out; if the mattress is too soft you will feel your back sagging into and compressing your hand.  For this reason I am not a fan of pillow tops – they tend to not offer enough support.  Also with most pillow tops, you can’t flip the mattress every six months or so.  Flipping the mattress allows the mattress to last longer and gives you more support in the long run. 

Above all always remember you get what you pay for with mattresses as with many other things - those bargains usually mean your quality of sleep will be affected and you’ll be buying a new mattress sooner than expected.  In my experience buying a mattress is like buying a used car – maybe you’ll find that ’steal’ or maybe it will turn out to be a lemon.  And sleeping on a lemon just doesn’t sound very appealing.  (quick hint – even when buying an expensive mattress, you will find that there is some degree of price negotiating you can take advantage of, especially when the salesman is working on commission)

I think that’s enough for now, I’ll save my pillow talk for another post.  If you were really hanging on the edge of your seat for that pillow information I’ll try to answer any questions in the comments section.

Don’t Be Gloomy!

October 1st 2010 Posted at Emotional Stress
0 Comments

The apples are ripe and the leaves are turning.  Pumpkins and mums decorate the landscape.  Fall is here again.  As we move toward cooler temps and shorter days, many of us find it a little tougher to “rise and shine”.    Sunlight has an uplifting effect on our mood, but in the fall and winter months we don’t get nearly as much of it.  We must do other things to help keep us motivated and cheerful.

 To avoid a gloomy rut, there are a few simple steps you can take.  First of all, get outside as often as possible.  A nice walk on an autumn day can do wonders for the soul; take in the beautiful scenery and let the crisp air fill your lungs.  Even in the winter, a walk outside can be quite refreshing.  Secondly, whether you can get outside or not, physical activity is a very important factor in keeping your mood lifted.  Exercise has been proven very effective in keeping depression at bay.  In addition to these steps, it is also very important to eat a well balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as plenty of protein to keep energy levels up.  Avoiding sugar can also be helpful since it suppresses the immune system.

As you increase your energy and motivation with these tips, don’t forget to make sure that your nerve system is free of interference.  Regular chiropractic check-ups ensure that we are able to perform at our best!

Carry it Correctly!

August 23rd 2010 Posted at Physical stress
0 Comments

Well, it’s time to head back to school! For many kids, one of the most exciting things about this time of year is all the new clothes and gear. One very important item that deserves extra attention is your child’s backpack. You want to be sure that they have a good one, that it’s packed properly and that they are wearing it correctly. An improperly worn backpack can promote poor posture and set the stage for long-term damage to their developing spines.

The most spine-friendly backpacks have two thickly-padded straps and a waist buckle, all of which should be used! When the pack is slung over only one shoulder it misaligns the spine and changes overall posture. Also, you’ll want to be sure that the heaviest items are packed closest to the body to avoid extra strain. Another good general rule is that the pack should weigh no more than 15% of your child’s body weight. Most backpacks are packed far too heavy. This often causes the child to lean forward, which results in increased stress on the back and neck. Try to encourage your child to stop by his/her locker between classes instead of carrying everything at once, and see if extra copies of textbooks are available so they don’t have to be lugged back and forth from school.

You can do a quick check of your child’s posture at home. First, stand behind your child and have your child close his/her eyes. See if ears, shoulders and hips are level. If not, there may be an underlying spinal curvature. Also check the side view: the ears, shoulders, hips and knees should all be in line with one another. Then do this same quick check with the child wearing the backpack to be sure that his or her posture is still good. If you have any questions about backpack safety, feel free to ask Dr. Jessica or Dr. Phil.

Slow down!

June 22nd 2010 Posted at Emotional Stress
1 Comment

Yesterday was the first official day of summer and I know a lot of people are gearing up for all the things they intend to do with their summer vacation. Whether that means a few months off, a week, or a weekend, don’t forgot what is most important about taking a vacation: to relax.  So many times we try to do something (or many things) fun and exciting but then end up exhausted when our vacation is over.  In the fast-paced, high-tech world we live in, most of us are in desperate need of some time off to unwind, reconnect and recharge.  Running around an amusement park trying to hit every ride possible in the time given or sticking to a strict schedule in order to make it to all three graduation parties in one day is not at all relaxing or rejuvenating.  This is not to say that we shouldn’t go fun places or attend family get-togethers, but sometimes we need to make a conscious effort to not fill every free second that we have.  Take a moment, or several, to just sit in the warm sunshine or on a cool back porch and “chill”.  Read a book.  Take a long, slow walk. Rest your body and your mind. Get reacquainted with yourself and what is most important to you.  You won’t miss anything by slowing down - in fact you just might discover a few new things.

Bone Density – What’s in a number?

June 11th 2010 Posted at Biochemical stress, Physical stress
1 Comment

One of the most common things we hear about when we go over medical history is bone density issues, including osteoporosis and osteopenia.  As with many health care stats these days, people are concerned over their bone density number.  What most people don’t realize is that bone density and bone strength can be two separate issues. 

For an interesting article on the subject check out: http://www.ccjm.org/content/76/6/331.full.  This Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine article talks alot about bone quality and how bone density is only one of the factors in determining overall quality. 

I usually try to keep things simple when explaining bone strength.  You can supplement with calcium or be on any one of a number of drugs, but you have to remember that no matter what, bone gets deposited along lines of stress.  So if you are taking something to increase your bone density but not doing any type of activity to tell your body where to deposit that extra calcium, then it gets deposited randomly or worse yet in areas you never needed it to be deposited like blood vessels and other soft tissues.  The bone ‘density’ may actually increase while taking supplements or drugs, but that does not mean it is stronger. 

Think of it this way – if you had a handful of straws and you put them on end and pushed down on them, then you would encounter decent resistance.  Now lets say you added straws but they were at all sorts of angles and very few were on end – if you push down from the top you get much less resistance.  Weight bearing exercise is how our body knows to put these extra ’straws’ or stress lines in the proper direction.  You can take all the supplements or drugs you want, but if you just spend time on the couch then your bones will not increase in strength like they were meant to.  In fact exercising with light weights and walking many times increases bone density as well as strength without any help from outside chemicals.  Just like with everything else, remember there are no shortcuts to being healthy.

Getting Adjusted To Pregnancy

June 4th 2010 Posted at Physical stress
0 Comments

Knowing the importance of chiropractic care during pregnancy, I have been adjusting pregnant women for several years.   I now have an even greater appreciation from a personal standpoint.  As many folks reading this blog already know, I am in my eighth month of pregnancy and have been getting adjusted all along the way.  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to experience chiropractic care on a regular basis.  I truly feel that is the biggest reason that I am still able to practice this far into pregnancy.  I have been able to stay very active with hardly any discomfort so far (let’s hope that continues!) which is certainly easier to do when everything is in proper alignment and moving well.  Of course I also eat well, exercise, get plenty of rest, practice yoga, etc. which are other very important factors in a healthy pregnancy.  However, making sure that your spine and especially your pelvis are in the best alignment possible is essential for a comfortable pregnancy and a smoother labor and delivery. 

Another key benefit to receiving chiropractic care is to make sure that there is a clear connection between your brain and the rest of your body by removing any interference to the nerve system.  All the nerves that go to various organs and tissues of the body come through the spine at some point and if there is a misalignment that can irritate the nerves.  When this happens, the organ or tissue supplied by that nerve is not going to function at its best.  Obviously pregnancy is a very important time to be running on all cylinders!  I know chiropractic care has kept me feeling and functioning great throughout these past 8 months and truly feel that every woman deserves to experience the same throughout her pregnancy.

Dr. Jessica

Where do allergies come from?

May 17th 2010 Posted at Biochemical stress
0 Comments

So I read a lot of health articles that catch my interest, which may end up being a common theme on this blog.  Here is an article on the rise of peanut allergies: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100513/sc_livescience/peanutallergycasestriplein10years
According to this article, cases of peanut allergies in children have more than tripled between ‘97 and ‘08.  The article goes on with a pretty good explanation of why allergies occur in the first place.  Basically they are an over-reaction of an impaired immune system to a harmless substance.

So why is the immune system impaired? “One idea for the cause called the hygiene hypothesis posits we’re too clean.  Squeaky-clean living and the use of medications to prevent and quickly treat infections leaves the immune system under-stimulated.  This “bored” immune system then goes and attacks harmless proteins like those in foods, pollens and animal dander.”

Instead of talking about what we can do to change things so that we eliminate this hypothesis as being part of the problem, the article talks about predicting allergies earlier so that we can avoid the allergen earlier.  Good idea, but what’s the problem here?  The rise in allergies, right?  So what do we do to reduce allergies?  Well, according to the ‘hygiene hypothesis’: ‘the use of medications to prevent and quickly treat infections leaves the immune system under-stimulated.’  That is not a hypothesis, that is simple biological fact.  Our immune system develops and gains strength every time we get ’sick’.  What are some ways that people try to keep from getting sick?  Vaccinations, antibiotics, antibacterial cleaners, etc.  Are all these things bad?  No, some have saved people from much pain and suffering.  But all of these interventions need to be looked at as ways that we not only try to prevent disease, but also prevent our immune system from working as it was meant to work.  As the amount of vaccines and antibiotics kids are given continues to increase and the rates of autoimmune disorders (asthma, allergies, etc.) also continue to increase the correlation becomes impossible to ignore.  There are other factors involved of course, but when it comes to ‘under-stimulated’ immune systems these are some of the issues that need to be addressed.  I know this can be a controversial topic so please post any comments or questions.

« Older Entries

Copyright 2010 Broadway Chiropractic Blog | Powered by WordPress | Designed by Diamonds Designers