Archive for July, 2010

Stress

StressA funny thing happens as we grow older; time seems to go by faster and faster. Our lives tend to become cluttered with to-do lists. Not only do we make demands on ourselves, but other people seem to enjoy putting demands on us also.

Many of us have gone to seminars to learn time management, but somehow, there are still not enough hours in the day.  Because of this, we spend most of our day in reaction. We feel like we are constantly putting out fires which leaves us feeling out of control and stressed.

Stress is interesting! Events that cause you stress, might not cause someone else any stress at all.  In fact, the other person may totally enjoy the event that stresses you.  This means that stress is an individual thing. Stress is simply how we interpret events.  William Shakespeare once said, ” Nothing has any meaning, accept that which we give it.” Think about that, we give things and events meaning.

The Consequences of Living a Stressful Life.

When stressed, your heart beats faster, your blood pressure becomes elevated and you take shallower breaths.  Our body was actually designed to do this, so we could respond to danger and live to tell about it. However, the intent was to use this only on occasion. Unfortunately, for a lot of people, this is an occurrence that happens several times a day.  This leads to a breakdown of the body.

One of the most significant effects stress has on the human body is on the immune system. The immune system is a wonderful thing. As you are reading this article, there are cells in your body killing off invading organisms. You don’t even have to think about it. When you are stressed, however, these little attack cells are reproduced at a much slower rate. This of course allows the invading organisms to over-power-us and make us sick.  Getting sick is a sign that our immunity has been compromised. By the way, becoming ill is Feedback!  It’s our body’s way of telling us we need to make changes.

Tips on Dealing with Stress

  1. Develop Empowering Beliefs. Reflect back on the problems you have had in the past. Problems that at the time, you thought could not be dealt with but you dealt with them and eventually they were handled.  Current problems are no different, regardless of their size.  Always remember, “all” problems have a beginning and an end.
  2. Exercise. Exercise does marvelous things to counteract the effects of stress. Exercise strengthens the immune system, strengthens the heart, makes blood vessels more pliable and helps you to think more clearly. At the end of the day you will ba able to unwind faster and get a better night’s sleep.
  3. Diet. Most people are digging their grave with their teeth. Begin to eliminate  processed foods out of your diet.  Try to eat fresh fruits and vegetables organically grown if you can find them.  Reduce stimulating substances like sugar, chocolate and coffee. Drink more water!

Let me know how this helps you.

Yours in Health,

Dr. Gould

Headaches

headache.bmpAlthough the International Headache Society lists 129 different types of headaches, the general categories are Tension, Cluster and Migraine with associate pain being described as sharp, stabbing, dull, throbbing and vice-like. Migraine with or without aura is the most common form of acute recurrent headache in children.

Different types of physical, chemical and emotional stress— including fatigue, worry, noise, fluorescent lights, travel, improper sleep, smoke and food additives such as MSG and nitrates, often trigger headaches.

Although these things may trigger a headache, the actual cause of the headache is often a series of traumatic or repetitive micro-traumatic events—including motor vehicle accidents, contact sports, postural habits, whiplash and occupational tasks. Headaches and other symptoms may take weeks, months and even years to manifest.

It’s estimated that 25% of the population has a headache right at this moment. Headaches have many causes. Some of which are benign others not so benign. Because of this, it is crucial to get a thorough workup. Once all the examination and diagnostic findings are correlated the appropriate treatment can begin or a referral is made.

A frequently overlooked cause of many types of headaches is structural. Structural problems are due to misaligned spinal bones (subluxations) in the neck and upper back. When the vertebrae in the spine, lose their normal position (become subluxated) this sets in motion a variety of events that ultimately leads nerve irritation, changes in blood flow, muscle spasm and PAIN! If you live in the greater Cincinnati area and are suffering with headaches and are tired of the pain, call me.

Sacroiliac Pain

The two main causes of Sacroiliac Pain:

1. Trauma – Due to lifting, slipping, or sudden unexpected movements.
2. Poor Posture – Due to occupation (improper workstation fit) or bad habits. It can take years in some cases for pain to manifest from postural problems.

How do I know that the pain is coming from my Sacroiliac Joint?

This question can only be answered after a thorough history has been taken, followed by an examination and the appropriate diagnostics. In many instances, an individual suffering from a sacroiliac problem will have trouble turning over in bed or getting out of a chair.

My treatment goals for patients with sacroiliac problems:

1. Pain reduction.
2. Stabilizing the patient’s posture.
3. Restoring normal function to the patient’s sacroiliac joints.
4. Creating an exercise regiment to help prevent future problems.

Sacroiliac problems are very common. I tend to see more of this type of problem in the spring and the fall, usually from sports in the springtime and yard work in the fall. So if you live in the greater Cincinnati area and feel like you may have a sacroiliac problem, give me a call.

Blood Pressure Study

In a Pilot Study Conducted at the University of Chicago

c1.bmpA one-time specialized chiropractic adjustment, delivered to patients suffering from high blood pressure and misaligned C1 vertebrae (this is the first vertebrae located directly under your skull), resulted in significant reductions in diastolic and systolic BP compared to controls.

According to a press release from the University of Chicago Medical Center, Office of Public Affairs, the decrease in BP was equivalent to that seen with concurrent administration of two blood pressure drugs. None of the patients took any antihypertensive medications during the study period.

Half of the 50 patients received a specific C1 adjustment, while the remaining half received a sham procedure, carefully designed to mimic the actual adjustment in order to ensure blinding. This was possible due to the delicate nature of the C1 adjustment. The primary outcome measure, assessed after eight weeks, was change in systolic and diastolic BP compared to baseline readings. Average age of the study participants was 52.7 years; 70 percent were male.

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Chiropractic has always been and will always be about normalizing the body’s function.

Yours in Health!

Dr. Gould