Wednesday, November 24, 2010

What Many People Don’t Know About Chiropractic And What We Can Do For YOU* *Especially if you have back pain

What Many People Don’t Know About Chiropractic And What We Can Do For YOU*

*Especially if you have back pain


In just a moment I’m going to tell you some very interesting information about Chiropractic that most people do not know – but more importantly – what it can do for you and how it might even change your life. 

            This is really good stuff… especially if you have back pain now or have ever had back pain in the past. 

            But first, there is something else you should know about.  I think you’ll really like it.

            Did you the use of Aspirin dates all the way back to around 400 B.C.?  It’s true.  The father of medicine, Hippocrates, who lived sometime between 460 B.C. and 377 B.C., left historical records that included the use of the bark of the willow tree to treat fever, headache and various pains.

            It wasn’t until 1829 that scientists started figuring out what was going on.  That’s when they discovered a compound called salicin in the willow plant was responsible for the pain relief.

            In that same year, scientists were able to turn salicin into salicylic acid.  The problem was that salicylic acid was very rough of the stomach and mouth… which limited its use.  Then, in 1853 a German scientist named Charles Frederic Gerhardt buffered (neutralized) the harshness of the acid by coating salicylic acid with sodium and acetyl chloride.  Although it worked, it was time consuming and Gerhardt stopped working on it because he didn’t think it was worth it.

OOOOPS!

            In 1897 a German pharmacist working for a German pharmaceutical company Bayer, started looking for a solution for his father's rheumatism.  His name was Felix Hoffmann and he “re-discovered” Gerhardt’s work and in 1899 patented a “new” pain reliever under the name Aspirin.

            As a quick and interesting aside: During that same month, Hoffmann synthesized heroin by accident.  His discovery of heroin obviously didn’t end up working out as well as aspirin! But, one of the truly remarkable thing about all this is: 

Scientists did not have a clue how aspirin worked until 1971!  In that year, John Vane theorized how it worked for which he was awarded a Nobel prize in 1982.  

Today, over 70 million pounds of aspirin are produced annually all over the world making it the world's most widely used drug… and scientists still theorize about the exact mechanisms of aspirin.

So what’s all this have to do with
Chiropractic and your back pain?

Here’s what:  Believe it or not – Chiropractic and aspirin have many things in common.

First -- they can both be traced WAY back in history. 

In fact, Hippocrates, who used a form of aspirin back in 400 B.C., also used a form of spinal manipulation.… and so did ancient Egyptians and many other cultures.

But, it was not until 1895 that D.D. Palmer invented “Chiropractic.”   Chiropractic was new and different because Palmer theorized the nervous system controlled every function of the body and Chiropractic adjustments (specific spinal manipulations) removed interference to blocked or pinched nerves.  This, in turn, not only relieved pain… it helped the entire body function better and heal from all sorts of illnesses and diseases.

Just like willow bark and eventually aspirin, spinal manipulation got results and became very popular… but the mechanisms were not understood.

But here’s where Chiropractic & Aspirin differ –
In a very big way…

Doctors and scientists had no clue how aspirin worked – but it was hailed by the medical community as a wonder drug and mass-produced.

Doctors and scientists were not sure how Chiropractic worked – so it was branded unscientific and quackery.

Seems a little unfair – don’t you think?

Thank goodness in many areas, research has finally caught up with Chiropractic!

For example, Chiropractic’s ability to help relieve back pain is well researched.  It is a safe, effective and cost-effective way to relieve back pain.


How Does Chiropractic Work?...FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK:

            Many times when you have back pain it is caused by a spinal joint sprain – or “subluxation.”  Ligaments hold two bones together to form a joint and a sprain occurs when a ligament is injured by over stretching it.

            This can happen due to small micro traumas over several years or one acute event like a car accident, sports injury or slip and fall.  When the ligament becomes stretched and injured joints do not function properly, delicate nerve fibers can be injured.

            Over time, even if untreated, pain can go away even though the spinal joint is not functioning properly.  This can lead to flare-ups in the future and degeneration as the joint moves improperly and wears out.  This is why something small – like bending over to pick up a pencil – can cause severe back pain.

            Chiropractic adjustments and treatments are designed to normalize spinal motion as much as possible.  This allows the spinal joints to heal better.

Here’s a simple way to look at it:

If you broke your arm and didn’t get the bone set properly – it would heal out of place and crooked.  The pain might go away in the short term – but there would most likely be big problems in the future.  The best thing to do is put everything in place and then let it heal properly.

            Chiropractors are experts at getting your spinal bones and joint “in place” and working properly so they can heal correctly.

            Chiropractors are also experts at keeping spines functioning properly to minimize future problems – much like periodic Dental check-ups and cleaning prevent tooth decay and loss down the road.

            So, if you have back pain, you might want to try something that has a history starting in 400 B.C. with the father of medicine – Hippocrates – and has been practiced, improved and proven to help back pain.

            If you do, just give us a call at 651-484-0151 and we will help you in any way that we can; conservatively and affordably!

            I hope you found this information interesting and helpful.

            Sincerely,

            Dr. Douglas Yost


Monday, November 22, 2010

Is there a "right" way to hold your head?

Know Someone With Forward Head Posture?

Forward head posture
Forward head posture
No wonder you’re always tired. You have a forward head posture!


Neck pain, fatigue, carpel tunnel syndrome, TMJ syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches ~ can how you hold your head be the cause of all these conditions? If you, or someone you know, suffers from forward head posture, and an estimated 90% of the population do, then the answer is definitely yes!

With correct head posture, the ear is centered over the shoulder. If the ear is off center to the front of the shoulder, this is known as forward head posture. For every inch the head is forward of this center position, it exerts an additional 10 pounds of pressure on the muscles in your neck and upper back, causing them to work harder to keep your head erect and your chin up!

But how do you get into the habit of a forward head posture? Today’s use of computers, television and video games may contribute to this condition which ultimately compresses discs and causes extensive damage.

Here are several ways to help correct this condition:

  • Receive regular chiropractic adjustments
  • Make sure your child’s backpack doesn’t exceed 15% of his body weight
  • Take regular breaks from sitting at the computer
It may be hard to believe, but how you hold your head may be an important key to your health!

Shoreview Sports Chiropractor

Osteoporosis in Men?

Backaches and sciatica image.
Backaches and sciatica image.
It's not just women who suffer from osteoporosis.

When you think of Osteoporosis, which gender comes to mind? Women? Then you’d be surprised to learn that almost one-fifth of people diagnosed with this condition are men.

Osteoporosis, a condition in which bones lose their calcium content and become brittle, brings with it an increased risk of bone fractures. It has traditionally been regarded as a women’s disease, resulting from a decrease in estrogen in the post-menopause years.


A recent Australian study reported that one in three males, over the age of 60, will experience a fracture each year because of osteoporosis. A much higher percentage of men over women who suffer from a hip fracture require nursing home care. And of the men who suffer a hip fracture, 20 percent die, usually within six months.
Alarming statistics?

Perhaps, but the same study also suggests that the number of hip fractures in men will double in the next 10 years.
What are the risk factors for osteoporosis in men?
  • Poor nutrition – not enough calcium or Vitamin D in diet
  • Low levels of the male sex hormone testosterone
  • Heredity – if a man’s father has a low bone mineral density
  • Unhealthy habits – smoking, alcohol, caffeine consumption
  • Insufficient exercise – appropriate stress strengthens bones
  • Age – the older a man is, the more likely bone mass loss
  • Medical conditions, particularly those related to the thyroid
  • Ethnicity – Caucasian and Asian men are more vulnerable
  • Small stature – Men who are thinner tend to be more at risk
Some of these risk factors are controllable; others are not. For example, you have some control over your diet and harmful habits, while there isn’t much you can do about your gene pool.

And chiropractic adjustments for patients with osteoporosis? According to a March 2006 article in The Boston Globe, there is little information that suggests that those with osteoporosis are injured by chiropractic adjustments. We can use ''low-force techniques" with patients who have osteoporosis.  

Sports Chiropractor Shoreview, MN

Sweeteners Aren't So Sweet

Diet and nutrition image.
Diet and nutrition image.
Whether natural or artificial, sweeteners can have serious side affects.

Aspartame, Sucralose and Saccharin are all artificial sweeteners. They are alike in that they all give foods and beverages a sweet taste, minus the calories and carbohydrates of regular sugar. But how do they differ and, more importantly, are they safe?

Aspartame, marketed under the names Equal® and NutriSweet®, was approved for food use in the early 1980s. It is used in literally hundreds of food products including cereals, dairy products, fruit juices, drugs, teas and coffees and soft drinks. However, although it is used by people who are dieting, aspartame may actually increase your appetite!

On his website, www.mercola.com, Dr. Joseph Mercola reports “aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA.” He also notes that certain chronic illnesses can result, or be made worse, by ingesting aspartame, including brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia and diabetes.

If you think sucralose, marketed under the name Splenda®, is any better, think again. Sucralose is made by adding chlorine to sugar molecules. With limited human testing, sucralose was approved for use in the late 1990s. In laboratory animals, sucralose has resulted in decreased red blood cell count, slower growth rate, spontaneous abortion, longer pregnancies, reduced birth weight, enlarged liver and kidneys. Many who have used Splenda® have reported incidences of depression that disappeared once they stopped using it.

Saccharin, the “granddaddy” of all artificial sweeteners, has been around for 125 years. In 1977, it was determined that saccharin caused bladder cancer in laboratory animals. Consequently, the in the US the Food and Drug Administration ordered that all saccharine-containing products carry a warning label.

Abstinence from these sugar substitutes, and from sugar itself, could be in your best interest if you are feeling any negative effects from their use!

Shoreview Chiropractic

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

What Exactly is a Subluxation?

Instead of treating disease (the practice of medicine), chiropractors locate and reduce nerve interference, usually along the spine, that prevent your body from working correctly. There are three common causes


What Exactly is a Subluxation?

HEADACHES AND NECK PAIN
HEADACHES AND NECK PAIN
Subluxations occur when vertebrae in the spine are misaligned or move out of place.

It goes by different names – Subluxation, Vertebral Subluxation, Vertebral Subluxation Complex or simply Nerve Interference. Whatever you call it, it’s the same thing and chiropractors are the only ones who know how to find it and correct it. But what exactly is it?

Let’s use the term ‘subluxation.’ Subluxations occur when vertebrae in the spine become misaligned or move out of place. When an individual vertebra moves out of its proper position, it can press on the nerves that pass from the spinal column out through the space either above or below it. Because nerves carry messages between your brain and your body at lightning speed (think about how fast you move your hand when you touch something hot), nerve interference caused by a spinal misalignment can cause the body to malfunction.

Simply put, subluxations interrupt normal nerve function, causing a breakdown in the body’s communication center, the central nervous system.

How do subluxations occur? There are three main causes:
    Physical causes, such as a car accident, a slip or fall, a sports injury, repetitive movements, such as lifting all day on a job, improper sleeping positions, inadequate sleep and bad posture.Emotional causes, such as grief over the death of a loved one, anger and other negative emotions that cause too much stress in your body and result in damage to your body’s immune system.Chemical causes, that result from improper nutrition (fast food), smoking, alcohol and substance abuse and toxins in your external environment, food and water.
Chiropractors receive special training to adjust the spine, which moves the misplaced vertebrae back into their proper position. It may take time for your body to “hold” an adjustment and for the vertebrae and the surrounding muscles, ligaments and tissue to recognize the new position as being “normal.”

However, once the subluxation is corrected, the nervous system becomes fully functional again, allowing your body to heal.

The biggest problem with subluxations is the fact that you often don’t even know that you have one until you experience symptoms, such as pain or a breakdown in the functioning of a major organ, and then it might be too late.

Receiving regular chiropractic adjustments keeps your nervous system in prime working order, much the same as receiving regular dental care keeps your teeth and gums healthy. If you have any questions about subluxations or the effects that they can have on your health, please be sure to ask us at your next visit.


Chiropractic Subluxation

Does Scoliosis Mean Surgery?

Diagnosis for Surgery?

Your child receives a diagnosis of scoliosis after a routine exam. Naturally you’re concerned – what parent wouldn’t be? But does a scoliosis diagnosis always mean spinal fusion surgery is the only option?
Pregnant woman suffering with back pain.
Pregnant woman suffering with back pain.
Surgical solutions for scoliosis are invasive, drastic and should be considered as a last resort. Seek natural chiropractic care first!

Instead of surgery or "wait andsee," more and more parents are consulting a chiropractor.

The initial treatment of scoliosis usually focuses on preventing the curve from becoming worse. At this stage, bracing is often the first-line of traditional treatment. If the scoliosis has already progressed beyond a 45° – 50° curve in the spine, a medical doctor will generally recommend spinal fusion. This surgery involves the placement of steel rods, hooks and screws to mechanically straighten the spine; these are then covered with bone fragments that fuse together with the spine.

This surgery has risks and complications. They include bowel problems, infection, neurological complications, collapsed lung, back pain and broken rods. These are sometimes handled with medication or still more surgeries.

In recent years, chiropractic research studies have shown great promise with scoliosis, particularly in children. Post-chiropractic X-rays, when compared to pre-chiropractic X-rays, often demonstrate a sizeable reduction in the degree of curvature, after 12 weeks of chiropractic care, so surgery is no longer appropriate.

Many adults and children are becoming increasingly aware of alternatives to the traditional medical treatment of this condition and for good reason…the risks often do not outweigh the benefits!

If you or a loved one is concerned about scoliosis, or needs to be examined to determine whether scoliosis is present, please speak to us at your next visit – we are only to happy to share our knowledge and experience with you!

Scoliosis Shoreview, MN

How To Get Calcium Naturally?

Natural Calcium for Healthy Bones

Womens Health
When you eat the right foods, you can often get the quantity and quality of calcium you need.

The most essential ingredient for healthy bones is calcium.

Calcium intake is important during a child’s growing years to build strong teeth and bones. It becomes less important during the middle years when it is needed to keep bones strong. And then, it becomes much more important as you reach the menopausal and post-menopausal years when bone mass tends to decrease, leaving many woman vulnerable to osteoporosis.

Did you know that you store 99% of your body’s calcium in your teeth and bones and the other 1% is in your blood and your body’s soft tissue? When you neglect eating the right amount of calcium, your body is forced to take the calcium it needs from the built up stores in your teeth and bones. If your body does this over long periods of time, you will most likely develop osteoporosis, a serious disease which causes your bones to become brittle, making them break easier.

Making sure you consume the proper daily calcium requirement helps to promote bone health and prevent osteoporosis. The recommended amount of daily calcium for women over the age of 50 is 1000-1200 mg. However, it is advised that you limit your daily intake to 2500 mg or less because calcium is not easily absorbed and Vitamin D intake is also essential for the calcium you ingest to be useful.

Food sources are better alternatives than supplements for ingesting the proper amounts of calcium that your body needs to ward off osteoporosis. Some of the best natural food sources for calcium include whole grain cereals, fish (such as salmon), green vegetables (such as broccoli), beans and nuts.

Your body prefers smaller amounts of calcium at a time, so it is best to space your intake throughout the day to avoid consuming more than 500-600 mg of calcium at any one meal. Please keep on mind that certain foods hinder your body’s ability to hold on to the calcium you have ingested. These include excess salt and caffeine that cause calcium to be lost through urination. If you add milk to your coffee and reduce or eliminate your salt intake, you can help prevent this.

Keep in mind too that regular chiropractic adjustments are important as a means to keep your body functioning well, no matter what age you are! If you have any bone mass concerns or questions, be sure to ask us about them at your next visit!

Minnesota Chiropractor

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Whiplash Predicts Future Problems?

Many patients who consult us have whiplash injuries from five or 10 years ago or longer. Can the headaches, neck pain and arm tingling be related all these years later?



Headaches and Neck Pain
Headaches and Neck Pain
While traditional bracing is a common treatment, it rarely addresses the underlying structural damage, resulting in symptoms months or years later.


You’re sitting in your car at a stop light when all of a sudden “BAM,” another car hits you from behind. The driver was playing with his radio and never even saw you stopped. You’re taken for emergency treatment, complete with X-rays, muscle relaxers and maybe even a sedative or two to calm your nerves, and are promptly released with no serious complications…yet.

Whiplash is one of the most misunderstood of all conditions; many doctors and insurance companies view it simply as a means to get more money from insurance companies. What many health care providers fail to realize is that the real damage caused by a whiplash injury may take years to show up, and when it does, it can be quite serious, even debilitating.

A whiplash neck injury occurs when there is a sudden backward and forward “whipping movement” of the neck that is most like to result from a rear end automobile crash. Consider the fact that a car, travelling at even slow speeds can generate tremendous force on the victim’s neck.

The result of a sudden hit like this can stretch or sprain muscles and ligaments that provide proper range of motion. As time goes by, this can change the entire structure of the spine, causing degenerative disc disease, and other conditions, that could have been avoided if proper chiropractic adjustments were started right after the accident occurred.

Many patients think that if the pain they feel the day after an accident is minor, then they are “saved.” Then, years later, they begin to experience extreme neck and back trauma that branches out to other parts of the body through the nervous system. Others experience significant neck pain that goes away after a month or so. Then, perhaps 10-20 years later, they may begin to experience symptoms such as extreme neck pain, tingling down the arms into the fingers, and trouble sleeping that all relate back to the original whiplash injury!

The moral of this story is to let you know the importance of seeking an extensive chiropractic evaluation and proper treatment following any whiplash injury, however minor you may think it is. Early detection of an injury to the cervical (neck) spine can save you severe pain and the development of more serious conditions in future years.

Please be sure to let us know in your health history (or at any time if you forgot while filling out you original paperwork) whether you’ve been in an automobile accident. This can have an effect on our evaluation of your present health status.

St Paul Chiropractor