Ventura Spinal Care Center » wellness

It's Not Too Late to Hydrate!

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:39:19 +0000

Chiropractors, like Dr. Alff, are determined to educate their patients about the importance of drinking plenty of water each day. The positive repetitive stress is on “Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!” For humans to survive, they must have air and water (in that order). An astonishing 75 percent of individuals in this country are mildly and chronically dehydrated, even though drinking enough water would appear to be as visceral as breathing in a healthy amount of air. (Most people aren’t getting enough oxygen either, but that topic is for another time.) Water is absolutely crucial for good health. Drinking plenty of water assists every cell, tissue, and organ in the human body and keeps all its systems functioning. Your saliva, and the fluids surrounding your joints, are essentially water. Water regulates the temperature and metabolism of the body, and keeps the blood circulating. The improvement of nutrient absorption and toxin removal, as well as the reduction of heartburn, hypertension, exhaustion, headaches, and even backaches have been attributed to staying well-hydrated.

Athletes are particularly at risk when it comes to conditions caused by dehydration. Researcher, Susan Yeargin, assistant professor of athletic training in Indiana State’s College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services, said of athletes,”Physiologically, their core body temperature could be higher than it should have been if they were hydrated. Their heart rate will be higher, and they’re going to perceive that they’re working harder than they actually are.” According to researchers at Indiana State University, a high percentage of collegiate and professional athletes begin the season dehydrated, putting their health at risk even before they begin strenuous workouts. In fact, Pre-season physical examinations, in fact, found that 80 percent of football players presented with.

Just how much water is enough water might be a little confusing. Chiropractors, like the majority of other health care professionals, suggest no less than eight, 8-ounce glasses of water daily for most patients, though for our athletic patients, or for those who are overweight or exercise or work in a hot environment, we advise even more. There is a fairly uncomplicated way for you to be sure that you’re drinking an adequate amount of water. The color of your urine is a good guide. If it is a light, pale yellow, it’s evidence that you’re well-hydrated!

Technorati Tags: backaches, chiropractors, drinking enough water, exhaustion, headaches, heartburn, hydration, hypertension

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Ventura Chiropractic Advice: There's No "Silver Bullet" For Good Health

admin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:38:10 +0000

Just the other day I found an article on sciencedaily.com how caffeine improved memory loss in aged mice induced to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The article lead with the angle that “Coffee drinkers may have another reason to pour that extra cup.” It went on to discuss a sequence of studies published online July 6 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that proved that caffeine significantly decreased abnormal levels of the protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease, both in the brains and in the blood of mice displaying symptoms of the disease.

But, before you make a decision to add another cuppa to your daily routine, let me add that under “Related Stories” on the website were at least two articles regarding studies that professed to prove the not-so-healthy effects of caffeine, “Morning Jolt of Caffeine May Mask Serious Sleep Problems,” and “Coffee Consumption Linked To Increased Risk Of Heart Attack For Persons With Certain Gene Variation.”

Nearly every angle of thought, I’ve noticed, particularly when it has to do with health and longevity, can be confirmed, or at least bolstered, by a number of specific studies. The “good/bad” studies related to caffeine certainly aren’t, of course, the only ones. But, it did get me to thinking about the reasonableness that there will never be simply “one thing” that will absolutely aid we, humans, in living longer, healthier lives. We are dynamic, biological beings. We are actively engaged in life. We’re not confined to a cage! And, moreover, though Alzheimer’s disease apparently is on the rise, obviously none of us has been “bred to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” so caffeine isn’t entirely the “one thing” that will reverse or prevent it.

The human body is an exquisite, involved system that is designed to function homeostasis (balance). Consequently good health is cultivated by a healthy, balanced attitude towards living, instead of our jumping on the bandwagon of the latest health study and “doing” or “overdoing” one specific thing under the illusion that it will reverse all of the other immoderate and harmful things we do to our bodies.

As a doctor of chiropractic, it is my belief that every moment of the day we have an opportunity to make decisions that will assist us to live longer, healthier lives, healthy choices for our body and mind. When it comes to what is good for our body, we know what truly “feels” right and what doesn’t. So, I just wanted to pass along a little something for you to keep in mind the next time you reach for that extra cup of coffee or second glass of red wine. Neither one of those things is the “one thing” that will do “everything” for your good health.

Technorati Tags: age-related health issues, caffeine, chiropractor, health, longevity, red wine

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Help for PMS At Last!

admin — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:06:59 +0000

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) disturbs an estimated 90% of women, at one time or another, and nearly 20% of those women afflicted undergo severe to disabling symptoms. Telling a woman that her PMS is “just in her head” can be not only just plain dangerous, it’s also just plain wrong! In the majority of cases, there are physiological reasons for PMS, including one that might surprise you — spinal misalignment. That’s right. Your back could actually be the culprit. Spinal subluxations, especially in the lower back, can commonly produce a diverse variety of female health problems in addition to Premenstrual Syndrome, such as pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, incontinence, and even infertility.

Are you wondering how chiropractic can relieve the symptoms of PMS? Chiropractic adjustments get rid of nerve impingement in your body. Your nervous system instructs and regulates every cell, fiber, tissue, organ, and system in your body. This includes your reproductive system. If your reproductive system isn’t performing properly due to nerve impingement, it can produce an array of symptoms such as those associated with PMS. You would most likely experience agitation, pain, heavy bleeding, or severe cramping if your reproductive system were overactive. Under-activity can cause missed periods or infertility. The good news is that if nerve impedance is creating your PMS symptoms, then chiropractic care can help because adjustments restore unimpeded activity to your nervous system and, as a result, assisting it in functioning more normally.

Along with improved general health, many women experience recovered reproductive health, as well, while under chiropractic care. So, if you’ve been thinking that your PMS is just in head, think again! Then call your Ventura Chiropractor. Chiropractic care provides an all natural solution for PMS that could assist you in avoiding periodic misery, without medication, and keep you symptom-free and energetic all month long.

Technorati Tags: chiropractic, chiropractor, cramping, heavy bleeding, PMS

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Lifestyle Changes in Middle-Age Can Make a Big Difference

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:20:59 +0000

Doesn’t it seem that healthy lifestyle information is everywhere you look these days? There are magazines and TV shows all about healthy foods and beneficial exercises. There are even recipes for nutritious meals in the newspaper. But, even though more Americans today are aware that eating nutritious meals, getting exercise, and keeping their body weight down is essential for health and longevity, a new study reported in the June 2009 issue of the American Journal of Medicine has found that the number of middle-aged and older Americans who have adopted a healthy lifestyle has actually declined substantially in the past two decades. Using data from a large government health survey, researchers found that in 2006, only 26 percent of Americans ages 40 to 74 said they ate five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day. That’s down 16 percent from the 42 percent who responded in the 1988 survey! When it came to exercise, the same kind of decline was reported. Only 43 percent said they worked out at least 12 times per month, versus 53 percent in 1988. Not surprisingly, the rate of obesity in the United States went in the opposite direction, from 28 percent in 1988 to 36 percent in 2006.

The findings were based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a regularly conducted government health survey. Researchers focused on surveys conducted between 1988 and 1994 and between 2001 and 2006, which together included more than 15,000 Americans between the ages of 40 and 74. They looked at rates of five lifestyle factors involved in preventing a range of health risks: maintaining a normal weight, getting regular exercise, eating enough fruits and vegetables, not smoking, and drinking moderate amounts of alcohol.

Though the study cannot tell us why healthy lifestyle habits are on the decline, lead researcher, Dr. Dana E. King, of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, said that one reason may be that these changes are just difficult to make. “People’s increasingly hectic lives may be making it hard to fit in regular exercise, or to sit down to healthier, home-cooked meals rather than eating take-out.” He suggested some simple steps can make a difference. “It’s not hard, for example, to take some fruit to work with you, instead of going to the vending machine.” (Parking a little farther away from your destination and walking a bit can help, too.) Most importantly, Dr. King stressed that “it’s never too late” for middle-aged and older adults to make lifestyle changes for the better. In fact, in an earlier study, King and his colleagues found that when middle-aged adults newly adopted a healthier lifestyle — including regular exercise and eating more fruits and vegetables — their risk of developing cardiovascular disease or dying over the next several years fell by as much as 40 percent.

If you think about it, there aren’t many things in life that carry an “it’s never too late” guarantee. So, why not start today, no matter what your age may be? Your healthy future is depending on you!

Technorati Tags: Cardiovascular disease, healthy lifestyle, middle-aged adults

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