All posts by Dr. Brad
Spinal Disc Overview
“Slipped Spinal Discs..Fact Or Fiction?”
I was consulting with a new patient recently and they were telling me their back pain was because someone else had told them it was because they had a slipped disc in their lower back.
So, I am going to clarify this issue for you because the fact of the matter is there is no such thing as a slipped disc.
First of all, let’s review what a spinal disc actually is.
You will find a spinal disc between each of the 24 vertebrae that make up your spine.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/03.04.2014.slipped.disc.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/slipped.disc_.jpg width=500 height=305 /]The disc is mostly made up of cartilage with a jelly-like substance in the centre.
The spinal disc has 2 very important functions. One is to separate the vertebra so that there is adequate room for the large nerve roots to exit the spine.
And they also act as shock absorbers for the spine.
The disc is firmly attached to the vertebra directly above it and the vertebra directly below it so it is virtually impossible to slip. BUT, a disc can decay (get thin when they should be plump), they can swell or bulge (like a bruise or a sprain), they can rupture (tear) and they can herniate where the jelly-like centre starts to leak out. This is by far the worst scenario because a herniated disc will require a surgical repair.
Remember that a spinal disc rarely becomes a problem unless a subluxation is present. When the vertebrae are misaligned, this puts an incredible amount of unnecessary stress on the spinal disc causing it to become weak and unstable and prone to these types of injuries.
So, another one of the many benefits of chiropractic care is that they help to keep your spinal discs healthy and strong and resistant to these types of injuries.
If you have any further questions about this topic or any other health concerns you and your family may have, please send us an email or give us a call at 905 335 LIFE (5433).
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available.
Life Chiropractic … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Baby Diarrhea
“Is Your Baby Having Too Many
Messy Diapers?”
Today we are going to wrap up our discussion about tummy upset in babies and young children and our topic will be ‘ what is it that causes those wet, messy diapers or diarrhea ? ‘.
A baby’s stool will be different colors, textures and odors depending upon your baby’s diet; formula, breast milk or solid foods.
But generally speaking, a baby’s stool is normally loose compared to older kids and a looser stool once in a while is no cause for alarm and is quite normal.
However frequent, very loose, profuse and/or explosive stools are not normal and this would be considered to be diarrhea.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/02.25.2014.baby.diarrhea.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/baby.diarrhea.jpg width=500 height=305 /]Diarrhea in babies and young children can be caused by a number of different things such as:
1. A bacterial, viral or parasitic infection in the gut.
2. Food allergies including lactose intolerance.
3. Sensitivity to medications especially antibiotics.
4. Drinking too much fruit juice.
5. Stress.
Remember that stress is what causes spinal misalignments (subluxations) and when these affect the nerves to the digestive system, diarrhea can surely be the result.
And this is where the chiropractic adjustment can be of a huge benefit.
Sources of stress at this age can be birth trauma (forceps, vacuum assisted birth), falls off of change tables or an unhealthy environment in the home (ie. child abuse, parental substance abuse, spousal abuse etc.).
Foods that have been linked to diarrhea; dietetic candy or chewing gum, sugar substitutes such as sorbitol or other artificial sweeteners, fried foods, fast foods, high fat content foods, citrus fruits, some types of veggies (cabbage), too much dietary fibre, dairy (milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt), wheat/gluten and certain spices (crushed or hot red peppers especially).
Normally, this condition is self-limiting and will resolve itself within 2 or 3 days ( the most common cause is viral – also known as stomach flu or intestinal flu), BUT if it lasts more than that or your child has diarrhea all the time or it is accompanied by any of the following symptoms: fever (102 degrees F or more), abdominal pain or rigidity, vomiting, lethargy or dehydration, you need to call your family doc or get to emergency right away because it is probably more than just a simple case of the runs.
In older children if you notice blood or pus in their stool, this could be indicative of an inflammatory bowel disease such as IBS, Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis and this would initially require a medical consultation.
If you require any further information on this topic or any other health concerns you or your family may have, please contact us via email or at 905 335 LIFE (5433). Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available.
Life Chiropractic… helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Gas And Bloating In Babies And Young Children
“is Your Child Bothered By Excessive Gas And Bloating In Their Tummy?”
Continuing with our theme of tummy upset in babies and young children, today we are going to discuss excessive gas and bloating.
Gas is normally created in the small intestine as a by-product of food digestion and also from sucking air in through the mouth.
But excessive gas and bloating is not normal and can cause your child to be very fussy and uncomfortable as you probably already know.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/02.11.2014.gas.and.bloating.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/gas.and_.bloating.jpg width=500 height=305 /]There are a few things that can account for this and one is over-stimulation of the nerves that go to the small intestine.
This is very common in newborns, infants and young children and in this case chiropractic care proves to be very helpful.
The spinal adjustments tend to calm and relax the nerves helping to soothe the small intestine.
Another cause is lactose intolerance. Individuals who are lactose intolerant will experience excessive gas, bloating, abdominal pain and cramping 1 to 2 hours after eating dairy products.
So in this case feeding your child cow’s milk may not be appropriate and the only way to know for sure is to eliminate it from their diet.
In breast-fed babies however, it may be something in the mother’s diet. Certain foods in the mother’s diet can result in excessive gas production in their babies and here is a detailed list of what to watch out for:
Veggies – artichokes, asparagus, beans, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, lentils, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, green peepers and turnips.
Fruits – apples, apricots, bananas, oranges, peaches, pears, prunes and raisins.
Dairy products – milk, cheese, ice cream and all processed foods containing milk or milk products.
Whole grains – barley, flax seed, oat bran and wheat.
Snack foods – sugar-free candies and gum, sunflower seeds and poppy seeds.
Drinks – sodas and other carbonated drinks, fruit drinks and fruit juices.
These would need to be eliminated from the mother’s diet 1 by 1 until you determine which food or food group is causing the problem in your child.
Another thing that parents need to be aware of is the brain-gut axis.
This a protective mechanism where the nerves in the stomach react when one becomes excited or scared.
This is what is referred to in adults as a ‘gut-feeling ‘, and in sensitive and over-stressed children it can lead to increased gassiness, bloating and abdominal discomfort.
We will learn more about tummy troubles again next time but if you have any immediate questions about this topic or any other health concerns you may have or your family may have, please call us right away.
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can contact us via email from our home page.
Life Chiropractic … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Diet And Constipation Link For Young Children
“Dietary Considerations For Constipation In Newborn’s And Young Children”
Constipation is particularly common at 3 times in an infant and child’s life.
1 – after starting cereal and pureed foods ( the transition period from breast milk to formula or solid foods ).
2 – during toilet training.
3 – when starting school. All parents need to be particularly aware of these high-risk times.
Straining, a red face or crying during a bowel movement &/or dry, hard pellets usually indicates constipation.
A BM every 1 to 2 days does not indicate constipation if the stool is reasonably soft.
And aside from spinal subluxations at the T12 and L1 levels as we discussed last time, certain foods can contribute to constipation.
Newborns should have 4 soft/liquid BM’s per day during the 1st week.
After that, breast fed babies should have 3 soft BM’s per day. These should always be within 30 to 60 after feeding.
Formula fed infants typically have fewer BM’s as soy-based formulas and dairy-based formulas typically lead to harder BM’s.
Breast fed babies are rarely constipated.
If your baby is constipated and on formula, the only way to know for sure if the formula is the cause is to remove it from their diet.
By the age of 2 and onwards, your child should have 1 to 2 formed BM’s per day.
Older babies who are constipated: make sure they drink 2 to 4 oz of water per day (filtered).
Also 2 to 4 oz of fruit juice per day ( apple/prune/pear).
If your baby is eating solid foods and constipated, try pureed pears/prunes and try barley cereal instead of rice cereal. Water and juice intake is always part of a well-balanced diet including whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables.
Always avoid fast foods, refined foods and processed foods.
There is nothing good with any of them!
A water-based lubricant around the anus can help with the passage of hard stools.
And this is worth repeating … a lot of children are unable to process the protein in cow’s milk which can lead to major digestive upset including constipation. Contrary to what you have been told, dairy is not good for the human body. So milk, cheese, yogurt and ice-cream need to be removed from your child’s diet.
Of course, symptoms such as infrequent and/or unusually large BM’s, poor appetite, weight loss, severe pain, vomiting and rectal bleeding require immediate medical attention and you have to get in to see your family doc right away.
More on this next time but in the meantime if you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you or your family may have, please give us a call at 905 335 LIFE (5433).
Or you can email us. The contact information can be found on our home page.
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available.
Why? … because subluxations and spinal problems tend to run in families.
Life Chiropractic … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The Burlington Clinic
Young Child And New Born Constipation
“Natural Cure For New Born And Young Child Constipation”
In this posting we are going to discuss how chiropractic care can help if your newborn or young child is constipated.
And the thing that we need to take a real close look at is spinal alignment.
Remember that a subluxation is when a vertebra is misaligned which can compress the nerve root.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/01.23.2014.new.born.constipation.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/newborn.child_.constipation.jpg width=500 height=305 /]When the T12 and L1 nerve roots are compressed this will affect the small and large intestine both. And you can verify this for yourself by referring to the Chart of Effects of Spinal Misalignments found on the right side of our home page.
Now I know you may be wondering …” how is it that my child could get a subluxation in their spine? “
Remember too that subluxations are caused by stress and one of the most stressful events that many of us will ever go through is the birth process itself. Especially if there are difficulties such as prolonged labor, breech positioning, base-posterior delivery, forceps assisted delivery and/or vacuum assisted delivery.
Constipation is a very, very common side-effect when little spines are subluxated but the good news is that gentle chiropractic adjustments get fantastic results with infantile constipation.
Now the only way to find out for sure if your child is subluxated is to get a chiropractic pediatric examination.
And this is where we can help.
All you have to do is give us a call to schedule an appointment for you and your child so I can take a closer look.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433).
Please visit us again next time when I will be discussing how diet and certain foods can affect your child’s constipation.
Dr Brad
Life Chiropractic … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Treating Baby Digestive Problems
“Are Your Kids having Tummy Troubles?”
I have noticed lately that a lot of mothers are complaining that their babies and young children are having issues with their tummies.
Issues such as constipation, diarrhea, gassy tummies, bloating and painful bowel movements.
So, over the next few weeks we are going to discuss what you can do to help if your child is struggling with such issues.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/01.23.2014.new.born.stomach.upset-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/new.born_.stomach.problems.jpg width=500 height=305 /]One of the most common complaints I hear from young mothers is that their baby or young child is constipated.
And when constipation becomes the norm rather than the exception, bowel movements will become painful.
Your child may then develop psychological issues about sitting on the potty.
When it comes to constipation, there are 2 aspects that need to be addressed. One is spinal alignments and posture.
The second is diet.
We will continue this discussion next time starting with spinal alignment/posture, but in the meantime if you have any concerns about your health or your family’s health, please give us a call at 905 335 LIFE (5433).
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available.
We have office hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and most Saturday mornings.
Life Chiropractic .. helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
No Pain No Gain
“No Pain No Gain …Fact or Fiction?”
The other day when I was exercising at the gym I overheard a couple of gym members talking. One was complaining about the burning sensation in their lower back and the other one then responded … “ you know how it is …no pain, no gain.”
And every time I hear this saying I cringe!!
today I would like to explain why.
We really need to change our thinking about pain.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/01.14.2014.pain.and.gain.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pain.gain_.jpg width=500 height=305 /]First of all, it is something you should never, ever try to work through.
Secondly, people far too often ignore their pain and just pop a bunch of pills hoping that it will go away.
This kind of thinking suggests that their pain is caused by a lack of pain-killers in their diet.
Absurd!
And lastly, many people do not realize that pain is the way your body alerts you that there is a problem.
And in this circumstance, the problem is typically with your skeletal joints or your spinal joints.
If these joints are not aligned properly, they will become stiff and then they will become painful when you use them.
So, what sense does it make to use them longer or use them harder?
It doesn’t!
This will only increase the pain and inflammation and eventually your joints will become arthritic.
So, what do you do?
Well, first of all you need to stop doing those things that are causing you the pain.
And secondly, you need to have your skeletal or spinal joints assessed.
And this is where I come in.
Remember, it is my specialty to assess, examine and correct the alignment of skeletal and spinal joints.
So, if you just can’t shake those nagging aches and pains, and they are getting in the way of your life, all you need to do is give us a call.
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and we have office hours on Monday’s, Wednesday’s, Thursday’s and most Saturday mornings.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433).
Life Chiropractic … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
January and February 2014 Events
Coming Events For January and February, 2014
Happy New Year to everyone and I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2014.
A couple of announcements to start off the new year ….
On Tuesday Jan 21st at the Goodness Me Natural Food Market on Fairview St. here in Burlington, I will be doing a Fibromyalgia workshop.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/01.07.2014.coming%2Cevents.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/coming.events.2014.jpg width=500 height=305 /]It will begin at 12 o’clock noon until 1 pm in the seminar room.
We will be discussing natural and alternative treatments for this condition so if you or anyone you know is suffering from fibromyalgia, I strongly urge you to attend.
And on Tuesday Feb 25th, I will be doing a Stress workshop at the same location.
Start time will again be 12 noon in the seminar room.
We will be discussing natural and alternative treatments for stress so if you or anyone you know is having difficulty managing stress, this is the workshop to attend.
Historically, these workshops are very well attended so if you are interested in attending one or both, I would recommend you give them a call to RSVP your attendance.
The phone number for Goodness Me is 905 631 8404 and I look forward to seeing you there.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Good Nutrition And Conception
“The Importance Of Good Nutrition When Trying To Conceive A Child”
Today we are going to conclude our discussions on infertility by discussing the importance of good nutrition if you are having difficulties conceiving a child.
According to dieticians at Loyola University, women who watch their weight and follow a Mediterranean –style diet high in vegetables, vegetable oils , fish and beans may increase their chances of getting pregnant.
Not only will a healthy diet and lifestyle potentially help with fertility, but it can also influence fetal well-being and reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/12.18.2013.nutrition.and.fertility.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/nutrition.and_.fertility.jpg width=500 height=305 /]Thirty percent of infertility is due to either being overweight or underweight according to the National Infertility Association.
Both of these extremes in weight cause a shift in hormones which can affect ovulation. Studies show that reducing weight by even 5% can enhance fertility.
Other nutritional considerations …
-reduce intake of foods with trans and saturated fats while increasing intake of monounsaturated fats such as avocados and olive oil.
-decrease intake of animal protein and add more vegetable protein to your diet.
-add more fibre to your diet (whole grains, vegetables, fruit ).
-incorporate more vegetarian sources of iron to your diet (legumes, tofu, nuts, seeds, whole grains).
-take a women’s multivitamin.
But it is NOT all on you ladies!
Approximately 40% of infertility issues are attributed to men, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Among them is low sperm count and poor sperm motility which are common in overweight and obese men.
Men who are looking to father a baby also have a responsibility to maintain a healthy body weight and consume a balanced diet because male obesity may affect fertility by altering testosterone and other important hormone levels.
I hope that you found this 4-part series on infertility helpful and as always, if you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you or your family may have, please send us an email or you can call us directly at 905 335 LIFE (5433).
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available because subluxations and spinal problems tend to run in families.
Life Chiropractic… helping families just like yours build healthy, vibrant, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Pelvic Adjustment And Reproduction
“Chiropractic Adjustment To Properly Align The Pelvis Can Reduce Infertility And Benefit The Reproduction System”
We have been discussing how chiropractic care can help if you have been having difficulty conceiving a child and another issue that you may need to consider if you are having difficulty getting pregnant is the alignment of your pelvis.
It is astounding how many people are walking around with a poorly aligned pelvis and do not even know it.
A poorly aligned pelvis means that it is either tipped (unlevel), twisted (torqued) or a combination of both.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/12.10.2013.pelvis.and.pregnancy-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/pelvic.adjustment.jpg width=500 height=305 /]So how can this affect your chances of getting pregnant? Remember that all your reproductive organs (ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus) are located inside your pelvis.
And if your pelvis is tipped or twisted, this can physically impair the function of your reproductive organs.
And the only way to know for sure if this is the case with you is to get an xray of your pelvis.
The xray will give us the right information required to correct your pelvic alignment as best as we can and reduce any physical impairment or irritation on your reproductive organs.
More on this topic next time but in the meantime if you have any questions about this topic or any other health concerns that you or your family may have, please send us an email (contact information is on our home page) or you can call us at 905 335 LIFE (5433).
Life Chiropractic…. helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
Click Here To Book a Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad