Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Are you good at throwing pity parties? Take comfort in the fact that most things we worry about never happen!

Ever meet someone who is a “worry wart”? Maybe you are one yourself. Where does it all get you and how does it affect your life on a daily basis?

Worry leads to stress and stress takes its toll on your body. How? By breaking it down. By affecting your nervous system. By making you sick…literally. In fact, the stress caused by worrying can actually kill you or, at the very least, shorten your lifespan. And furthermore…is this really any way to live? Hardly.

So what can you do about it? Why not try some of these suggestions:

• Decide what you can do about your worry right here and right now. Is it in your control to do anything about it? No? Then move on and let life take its course – as it will – in God’s time.

• It’s okay to plan ahead, but don’t expect anything or worry about outcomes that might occur as a result of your planning. Move on to the next task at hand and do your best to rest easy about it for the time being.

• Don’t sit and daydream, conjuring up “worst-case scenarios.” It’s completely counterproductive and a waste of time and energy that could be used in more constructive ways.

• Recognize your human limitations and the things over which you have little or no control. Let the Power that be, who has a much broader perspective than you, take care of it.

• Do not procrastinate. Adrenaline rushes really don’t feel all that great and no, you don’t do your best work under pressure because, well, you’re under pressure which equals stress!

• Don’t lie in bed, either in the morning or during the night, allowing your worries to control your thoughts and keep you either from sleeping or getting up. Get up and do something constructive that either makes you tired or starts your engine (how about some exercise?).

• When approaching a project, don’t look at it as a whole, insurmountable amount of work. Break it down into manageable pieces that allow you to see results as you go along.

Worry only allows you to hold your own private pity party, feeling powerless and sorry for yourself. Afterward you still have to face whatever it was you didn’t want to confront.

Keep in mind that chiropractic care helps your body deal with the stress that results from worry. So, stay on track with your appointments and remember that 95% of what you worry about never happens, and the rest you rarely have control over – so stop worrying and start living!

Shoreview, Mn Chiropractor

651-484-0151

Chiropractic is Scientific!

Chiropractic is Scientific

How do you define “scientific?”

It's a scientific fact that your nervous system controls everything.

If you define it as the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment and then testing the resulting hypotheses, then today’s chiropractic is quite scientific. Because it's based on the scientific fact that the nervous system controls and regulates virtually every cell, tissue, organ and system of the body.

Don't be misled by the "low-tech" nature of chiropractic adjustments! There are a growing number of studies that suggest the chiropractic approach to reducing nerve disturbance along the spine, may enhance the ability of the brain and nerve system to control and regulate the body. These include published research documenting the results of chiropractic care on asthma, infantile colic, immune function, dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), improving vision and brain function, lower back pain, one's overall health status and many others.

The "scientific" argument is largely a red herring and the sign of a double standard. Medical economist David Eddy, MD, Ph.D., observes that only 15% of medical procedures have ever been scientifically verified, and the other 85% of common medical procedures have no "scientific basis!"

Ultimately, the proof is in the pudding. Ask our delighted patients whether chiropractic is scientific.

References:

Gray's Anatomy, Henry Gray F.R.S.

Smith, R. Where is the wisdom? BMJ 1991; 303(Oct 5): 798-799.

Paul Shekelle, MD, MPH, Head of a back study of RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, 1992, Medicine, Monopolies and Malice, pp. 49, 199, 208.

John Carey, Medical Guesswork. Business Week, May 29, 2006, 73-79.

Shoreview, MN Chiropractic

Dr Douglas Yost

651-484-0151

Time to Go Nuts!

Nuts to You!

Many people avoid eating nuts because of their high caloric and fat content. The problem is, if you’re like most people, once you start eating them, you often can’t stop! But if you can exercise some self-control …the health benefits you derive from eating nuts may be well worth the effort!

How do nuts keep you healthy? Here are just a few of the ways:

Nuts taste good, plus they have the “good” kind of fat that helps lower cholesterol.
• Those who eat nuts on a daily basis are less likely to have a heart attack
  
  
• Eating nuts lowers the risk of stroke and developing type 2 diabetes, advanced macular degeneration (a disease of the eye), dementia and gallstones
  
  
• Those who eat nuts regularly add two years to their expected life expectancy
  
  
• Nuts have relatively high levels of unsaturated fats and low levels of saturated fats which lower cholesterol levels and therefore, lowers your risk for heart disease
  
  
• Nuts are rich in fiber, antioxidants and trace minerals

Studies show that eating one to two ounces of nuts each day provides the maximum benefit. What nuts are best? Experts suggest that almonds, peanuts, pine nuts, walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts seem to have the greatest heart-health benefits.

Many fear the weight-gain effects of nut consumption, but studies also show that those who eat nuts are usually a bit thinner than those who rarely eat them. In fact, there is even a diet, detailed in a book written by Holly McCord, titled The Peanut Butter Diet, touted as a great way to slim down while eating something that tastes great. (Sounds like a nutty idea!)

So add some nuts to your daily diet…but remember – moderation is the key!

Dr Douglas Yost 651-484-0151

Shoreview, MN Chiropractor

Women and High Blood Pressure

Women and High Blood Pressure

Women have unique needs when it comes to high blood pressure.

Besides reducing the risk of having a baby born with spina bifida, new research suggests that women who increase their daily intake of folic acid can also reduce their risk of high blood pressure.

The results of two studies presented at a hypertension conference of the American Heart Association examined the health consequences of over 150,000 female nurses. At the start of the 8-year study, none of the women had high blood pressure.

As in many studies, the women first completed detailed questionnaires about their health habits, physical activity levels and diet (including folic acid intake). Their blood pressure was recorded every 2 years.

Bottom line? Those who consumed 800 micrograms of folic acid per day (or more) had a significantly lower risk of hypertension.

How can you be sure that you get enough folic acid?

While folic acid supplements can be helpful, several foods are known to be high in folate, including citrus fruits, asparagus, brussels sprouts, spinach, baked beans, brown rice, chickpeas, kidney beans and lentils. Items rarely featured at your local fast food establishment or the frozen food aisle at your supermarket!

Shoreview, MN Chiropractor

651-484-0151

Is Your Head on Straight?

Is Your Head on Straight?

Your mother was right: good posture IS important!

Rene Cailliet, M.D., director of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Southern California, has written about the importance of the relationship between our head and our cervical spine (neck).

Gravity, poor posture, the weight of the head or past injury (such as a car accident) can cause something called the "Forward Head" syndrome. This is where your chin juts out in front of your shoulders and chest, causing stress to your spinal cord and brain stem. It’s crucial for your head to sit back, centered above your shoulders.

According to Cailliet, when your head is jutting abnormally forward, it can add significant pressure to your cervical spine. Besides fatigue, it can produce other health-robbing affects:

1. Impaired lung capacity
2. Loss of proper bowel movement
3. Reduced vitality
4. Chronic pain

Postural changes reduce your ability to turn and bend and can impair the function of your nervous system. Eventually the entire body can be affected, producing the telltale hunched posture.

Chiropractic care has helped restore the proper relationship between the head and neck for countless millions of people. But it takes time! The Forward Head syndrome takes time to show up and even longer to resolve.

Keep a keen eye out for people with this all too common condition and refer them to our practice for a no-obligation evaluation.

Shoreview, MN Chiropractor

651-484-0151

It's like the chicken and egg question... when to use ice, and when to use heat?

Hot or Cold?

Don't make an injury worse by making the wrong choice!

When should you apply heat? When should you use ice? Confusion abounds about these simple, yet helpful, procedures. Use heat in the wrong circumstances and you can make the problem worse. Here’s what to do and when to do it:

Think back to high school chemistry. How do you slow down a reaction? You make it cool. So, if you’re trying to reduce the inflammation resulting from a new injury, use ice. Ice constricts blood vessels, helping to avoid muscle spasms and reduce swelling. It can also slow nerve transmission of painful symptoms. Ice, when used properly, becomes a natural pain reliever. Apply an ice pack for short periods of time (15 to 20 minutes). Allow an equal amount of time between applications of ice so you don't compound the problem by risking frostbite!

On the other hand, if you want to speed up a reaction, add heat. Topical (or tropical!) heat can help increase blood circulation and help improve flexibility. If you have a history of chronic, long-standing joint and muscle stiffness, it can show temporary improvement with the application of moist heat or a hot bath. Just avoid the dry heat of a heating pad.

Dr Douglas Yost Shoreview, MN 651-484-0151

http://www.acwclinic.com

Your baby screams, and nothing seems to soothe her... Can chiropractic help?

Colic? Try Chiropractic!

Why let your baby - and you - suffer, when chiropractic may be able to help?

Infantile colic is a persistent crying that affects as many as 20% of babies. Infants appear distressed and act as if responding to pain. They probably are in pain, but lacking language, they communicate in the only way they can: crying.

In a landmark project over twenty years ago in Denmark, a group of 316 infants suffering with colic were selected as part of a study. After thorough examinations, each baby received a series of chiropractic adjustments. Naturally, these adjustments were significantly different from the adjustments you are used to receiving.

The results? Mothers reported “no colic” or “colic improved” in 94% of the cases within the first several weeks.

Although the study, funded by the Vilhelm Krause Research Foundation, the Danish Pro-Chiropractic Association, and the European Chiropractic Union did not meet the protocols of the clincial tests that new drugs are subjected to, mothers reported a significant reduction in crying on the very first day of chiropractic care.

If your baby is suffering, why not give us a call?

Dr Douglas Yost Shoreview, MN 651-484-0151

http://www.acwclinic.com/doctor/chiropractor/10454S.htm

Just what exactly is sciatica, anyway?

Sciatica: The River of Nerves

Several pairs of nerves exit the spine to form the sciatic nerves.

How do you know if you have sciatica?

• Pain in the buttocks or leg that worsens when sitting
• Burning or tingling down one or both legs
• Weakness, numbness or difficulty using your leg or foot
• A shooting pain that makes standing difficult

If these symptoms sound familiar, you’re likely in your 40’s or 50’s and have pain when coughing, sneezing or any kind of movement. You probably have sciatica.

Like a large river created by smaller streams, four or five pairs of nerves exit the spine in the lower back to form the two sciatic nerves. The soft pulpy disc between each spinal bone is often involved. While a disc can’t “slip,” it can bulge, herniate or rupture. This can put direct pressure on the nearby nerves. The result? Swelling. Inflammation. Pain.

Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also radiate down to the foot or toes.

“While sciatica can be distracting,” observes Dr. Yost, “if attended to promptly it rarely produces permanent nerve damage.”

The only challenge seems to be impatient patients who expect instant results. Unlike artificial solutions such as drugs or more drastic surgery, the intent of chiropractic care is to help restore the proper relationships between bones, discs and nerves. This natural approach, relying on the healing ability of your body, moves at its own pace. Do you know someone who could be helped?

Shoreview Chiropractic

651-484-0151

Can Your Feet Actually Cause Your Low Back Pain?

Can Your Feet Actually Cause Your Low Back Pain?

Your feet. The source of many lower back pain comlaints!

Problems down here can often show up in your knees, hips, lower back and even your neck.

They carry us everywhere we want to go and support virtually every sized and shaped body frame. They are thrust into narrow spaces, where they are pinched, or raised up on four-inch platforms to give us height. They fall victim to bunions, calluses, plantars warts, and blisters and we subject them to hot sand, hard gravel and stones in the summer. Once in awhile we treat them to a pedicure – how nice! And believe it or not – they may actually be the cause of that pain in your lower back! We’re talking about feet.

Perhaps the most important part of our feet are the arches. Normal arches are built to be strong and flexible, like “shock absorbers,” to provide the balance necessary to support the body. When arches are flat, the muscles in the lower back become strained as they work harder to balance the body over both feet.

One way to compensate for low arches and to reduce back pain is to invest in a good foot orthotics. Worn in each shoe, orthotics bring back form and function to the feet so that proper balance can be stabilized or restored. In order to heal, it’s important to wear orthotics in your shoes whenever you’re standing, walking, running or biking. Part–time use will offer little help.

Orthotics can be made to accommodate any size foot. They usually replace your current shoe insole. By changing the way your feet work, which can relieve the muscle strain, and therefore, the pain in your lower back. Many notice more energy and less fatigue.

Of course, orthotics are merely adjuncts to something even more important: your chiropractic adjustments! Contact our office for an examination if you are experiencing low back pain, whatever the source. We are always just a phone call away!

Dr Douglas Yost

651-484-0151 www.acwclinic.com

The Low Down on High Heels, The Health Costs of High Fashion

The Health Costs of High Fashion

High Heels.

They may be a fashion statement but high heels can make an even greater statement about your health.

For years, women have worn high heels to add inches to their height, to make a “fashion statement” or to accentuate a long lean leg. All this “fashion non-sense” has wreaked havoc on women’s spines, necks, legs and backs.

Ask most women why they wear high heels and they might respond, “They complement my outfit,” or “They make me look taller.” Ask these same women if these shoes are comfortable and most will respond with a resounding “NO!” What they may not understand is that wearing these types of shoes can alter the forward curve in the spine, causing the pelvis to tip forward. This affects the body’s ability to maintain its center of gravity. Because of this, wearing high heels can actually increase your risk of falling!

When I see a woman walking down the street with high heels and a two-ton bag, I want to stop her and make her aware of what she is doing to her body.

Your legs are an important part of your musculoskeletal system. When you stand bare-footed you have the best opportunity to balance yourself. Your hamstring muscles along the back of your legs are taut and both parts of the pelvis are stabilized. But by raising your heel, you shorten and actually weaken these crucial support muscles.

Aside from all the stress you place on your spine by wearing high heels, they can also cause damage to your feet, such as corns, calluses and bunions that can last for a lifetime. They can even change the shape of your foot!

The solution? Wear flat shoes or lower heels with the proper arch support as often as possible. And if you’re concerned about the long-term effects that wearing heels may have had on your spine, mention it on your next visit.

Shoreview, MN Chiropractor

Oh My Aching Head!

Oh My Aching Head!

Headaches and Neck Pain

Researchers are discovering that chiropractic care often decreases the frequency and length of headaches as well as reducing the need for pain relievers.

It’s back again – that dull steady pain that starts at the back of your head and moves forward, making you feel as though your head is being squeezed in a vice. Sometimes it lasts for a half hour, other times it may last for weeks on end. Tension headaches, also known as stress headaches, affect nearly 40% of all adults and teenagers, making them the most common type of headache.

Tension headache causes include stress, hormones, depression, fatigue, dehydration, holding your head in the same position for long periods of time (i.e., working at a computer, performing research using a microscope, and other types of “close” work), anxiety, TMJ, and spinal conditions, such as degenerative disc disease or arthritis.

So what do you do when you experience this type of headache? Do you pop a few pain relievers and go to bed? Grin and bear it? Take a prescription pain pill? Do you realize that these so-called solutions to your pain only address the symptom (the pain) and not the cause of your headaches? Do you realize that chronic pill popping can actually cause more headaches (known as the “rebound effect)? Are these “solutions” really working for you?

Headaches are the most common condition for which patients seek help in our practice. Why? Because chiropractic has shown impressive results in reducing both the number and the duration of tension headaches.

A recent study, conducted by Dr. Niels Nilsson of Odense University in Denmark, and Dr. Geoffrey Bove of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, examined the impact of chiropractic treatment on headaches. The researchers found that chiropractic adjustments often decrease the frequency and length of headaches as well as the number of painkillers needed for relief.

Chiropractic care seeks to discover the cause of your headaches; it doesn’t just address symptoms, hoping that they’ll go away. Tension headaches are often the result of muscle tension in the neck, and chiropractors are trained to locate and correct this muscle tension which can wreak havoc on your nervous system, causing problems throughout your body.

If you or someone you know is tired of “solutions” for tension headaches that do nothing more than treat symptoms, let us know! We have many patient testimonials that praise the safety and success of chiropractic care in our practice.

Dr Douglas Yost

651-484-0151

www.acwclinic.com

Does Chiropractic Cure Disease?

Many of our patients are surprised to learn that chiropractic doesn't cure anything. So, how do you explain diseases that have obviously improved with chiropractic care?

The fundamental truth is: health is normal. If you're not healthy, something is interfering with this normal state. The only thing that doctors of any type can do is to remove interferences that may be preventing your body from expressing your normal health potential.

Our focus is on your nervous system, which controls and regulates every aspect of your body. Restoring better brain/body communications permit a more normal expression of health. The fact that your illness may improve in the process is an expression of better nervous system control of your body.

Thus, chiropractic doesn't cure anything. Only you can do that. If there isn't any interference!

Dr Douglas Yost

www.acwclinic.com