All posts by Dr. Brad
Computer Neck And Child Posture
“Computer Neck In Kids And Why Parents Should Be Concerned”
Here is some very important information for parents whose kids sit a lot at computers.
There is an ever growing problem that I’m seeing in kids these days called computer neck.
Computer neck is a condition where someone’s neck is aligned out in front of their shoulders instead of directly on top of their shoulders which is the norm.
How you can check to see if your child is suffering from computer neck is to have them stand comfortably in their bare feet [ this is best if done while they are in their underwear by the way, and observe their posture from the side.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/04.10.2012.computer.neck.brad31.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/computer.neck_.jpg width=500 height=299 /] Now , look at the opening to their ear canal and see if it is aligned with the mid-point of their shoulder. If you notice that the opening to their ear canal is aligned anywhere in front of the mid-point of their shoulder, then your child has computer neck.Now, you may be saying or thinking to yourself; ‘so what, my kid spends a lot of time sitting at the computer or playing video games or both.’ But, as a parent you need to know that computer neck is never good for your child’s health for a number of reasons.
Number 1 – computer necks will become arthritic in a rapid fashion causing a great deal of unnecessary pain and stiffness.
Number 2 – computer necks will lead to a very unsightly posture commonly known as hump back.
Number 3 – computer necks put an incredible amount of stress and tension on the spinal cord and the nerves in the neck and upper back area which will cause a wide variety of health problems.
This is by far the greatest danger with computer necks and to understand why, please refer to The Chart of Effects of Spinal Misalignments found on this web-site.
There you can review for yourself all the possible health problems that can result from spinal misalignments caused by computer neck.
An even more important thing that every parent must know is that chiropractic care can help to correct this serious problem.
For more information on how we can help or to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation for you and your child, all you have to do is call us at 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ).
And remember that we are here to help families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Treating Nose Bleeds
“What Can You Do To Stop Those Mysterious Nosebleeds
Your Children Get?”
If your child is suffering from nosebleeds, this information will help you understand why and as a parent, what you can do about them.
In children, nosebleeds usually occur for 1 of 2 reasons. These are aside of course, from any serious medical conditions that would have to be diagnosed by your family doctor or an ear/nose/throat specialist.
First of all, nosebleeds in children can result from things classified as local factors.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/04.03.2012.nose.bleeds.bi1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/nosebleeds.jpg width=500 height=299 /]Examples of local factors are blunt trauma; direct blows to the nose such as a fall onto the nose or a punch in the nose, foreign bodies in the nose such as candies or the eraser of the end of a pencil, and inflammatory reactions such as upper respiratory infections, sinus infections and severe allergies.
These nosebleeds are not a huge concern as they are all circumstantial.
The second reason kids get nosebleeds is due to spinal misalignments or subluxations in their neck.
To understand how this happens, please refer to the Chart of Effects of Spinal Misalignments found on this website.
You will see that the nerve from the C4 level in the neck goes directly to the nose including the nasal tissues.
Now let me ask you a question; if this nerve were compressed due to a misalignment, would that be good for the nose or would it be not so good?
If you answered ‘not so good ‘ you are right because nasal tissue will be prone to bleeding if it is receiving poor nerve supply.
And, this is how chiropractic can help children who suffer from those seemingly mysterious nosebleeds.
Nasal tissue will be less likely to bleed if it is getting a good, healthy nerve supply.
This can only happen if their neck is aligned properly.
So, if your child is suffering from nosebleeds and you do not know what else to do, why don’t you call us at 905 335 5433 for more information on how chiropractic can help, or you can always schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation.
And please remember that we are here to help families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Improving Child Eyesight
“Here’s How Chiropractic Care May Help Your Child’s Eyesight”
Here is some very eye-opening information for parents who have children with vision problems such as far-sightedness, near-sightedness or they cannot hold their eyes looking straight.
These conditions are mostly due to imbalances and/or weaknesses in the muscles that focus the eye or move the eyeball from top to bottom and side to side.
Your family eye doctor would determine the exact nature of the problem and then will usually prescribe a set of corrective lenses for your child.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/03.27.2012.vision.issues.brad1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/vision.problems.jpg width=500 height=299 /]Most of the time, corrective lenses serve only to correct the problem, not cure it.
And there is a big difference between correction and curing when it comes to eyesight.
Now, for those of you who visit this web-site on a regular basis you may be thinking that surely I am not going to suggest that chiropractic care can help improve one’s eyesight.
Well, I am here to tell you that it can and I have seen it happen several times over the past 25 years especially in children.
Here is what can happen ….. some of the muscles that are responsible for controlling your eyes and your vision can be affected by misalignments of the first 2 vertebrae in the spine.
These 2 vertebrae are found at the base of the skull at the very top of your neck and when they become misaligned they can impair the function of the tiny muscles that focus the eye and the larger muscles that move the eye itself.
Chiropractic treatments can improve the nerve supply to these important muscles making them work better and in a small percentage of children, cured their vision totally.
Still other children realized improved vision and were able to decrease the strength of their prescription lenses which is better for the eyes in the long run.
So, if your child is having troubles with their eyes and you would like to find out if chiropractic care can help, please call us at 905 335 5433.
Consultations are always free of charge and remember that we are here to help families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Natural Child Fever Treatment
“What Parents Can Do To Add Comfort To Their Children During A Fever”
In our last 2 entries, we learned about fevers, the purpose of a fever and the warning signs to help parents differentiate between a good/healthy fever and a potentially dangerous fever.
Now, you will learn what you can do to help your child feel more comfortable while they are having a fever.
Remember that fevers are part of the body’s immune system function so it is not advisable to get rid of them with alcohol rubs, cold baths or medications.
These will impair what the immune system is trying to accomplish which is to kill germs with a fever.
This is not to say there is nothing you can do to help your child feel more comfortable while their temperature is up.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/03.08..2012.child.fever.3a.brad1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/child.comfort.fever_.jpg width=500 height=299 /]
Here are the things that you can do while at the same time letting the immune system go about its business; if your child is tired and wants to sleep, let them.
A fever will often times consume a lot of energy making their body tired, so let them rest.
And if they have little or no appetite for a few days, that’s ok.
But water is very important to keep them hydrated even if it is just a table-spoon full every few minutes.
If they get cranky or develop a bad temper, this is normal and you just have to tolerate it.
If they require more physical attention from you, give it to them.
You may notice these changes in behavior a day or 2 before the onset of their fever.
Remember, it is normal for your child’s temperature to rise and fall very quickly as their body is cycling through a fever.
So, it is ok to remove some clothing when they are hot, add clothing when they are shivering and a cool face-cloth placed on the forehead will also help. These techniques will not interfere with the due process.
You need to understand that kids immune systems are learning and maturing each time they are exposed to germs and this is why the whole fever process can seem rather intense at times, but rest assured this is normal.
Chiropractic treatments ( adjustments ) are very effective in helping soothe the aches and pains that accompany a fever and they can also serve to speed up the whole process which will benefit both mother and child.
In conclusion, now that you have a good idea how to manage a fever and what danger signs to look out for, if there ever is any doubt or you are not sure, call your primary health care provider right away.
For more information on this topic, or any other questions or concerns you may have about your child’s health, you can call us at 905 335 LIFE (5433).
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and that we are here to help families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Good Fevers Versus Bad Fevers
“How To Tell A Healthy Fever From A Potentially Dangerous Fever – A Must Read For All Parents From Our Burlington Clinic”
Last week we discussed fevers and that most fevers are good for your children.
And I know for a lot of you, this bit of information really rocked your world.
So, here is where I would like to take the opportunity to teach you how to differentiate between a good, healthy fever and a potentially dangerous fever.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/03.08.2012.child.fever.2.brad1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/healthy.fever_.jpg width=500 height=299 /]And, it is my opinion that every parent must know how to do this.
The 1st thing you need to know is what normal body temperature is. In Celsius degrees, it is 36 – 36.8. In Farenheit it is 97.7 – 99.1 degrees. So, anything above 36.8C or 99.1F would constitute a fever.
Now, the easiest way for a parent to take their child’s temperature is orally with a traditional thermometer or in the ear canal with a special ear thermometer but remember that it is not unusual for temperature to fluctuate especially in small children.
For this reason, you may have to take a few measurements/readings to determine if they have a fever or not.
Now, here is the most important part; the signs and symptoms that every parent must know to be able to differentiate between a safe, healthy fever and a potentially dangerous fever.
They are as follows; a fever of 38C or more for 3days in a row, or 101 or more for 3 days in a row in Farenheit degrees, unusual behaviour – screaming, prolonged crying spells, drowsiness, seizures, hallucinations, pain and stiffness in the neck, shortness of breath, persistent diarrhea or skin rashes of any kind.
If any of these signs or symptoms are present, you must get your child to your family doc or an emergency room right away as medical intervention is most likely required and especially if your child has just been vaccinated.
If none of these signs or symptoms are present, then your child is having a healthy fever and there is no immediate concern for you as a parent.
But it is always a good idea to keep a watch out for any of the danger signs until the fever is completely gone.
Next time we will discuss what you can do to keep your child comfortable when they are having a good fever, but in the meantime if you would like more information on this topic or you have any other questions or concerns about your child’s health, call us at 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ).
Please remember that consultations are always free and we are here to help families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Heavy Metal Toxicity In Children
“Heavy Metal Toxicity In Children And What You Need To Watch Out For”
Mercury is the 2nd most toxic substance on the planet.
It has an affinity for our brains and organs ( heart, liver, kidneys ), and it can enter the body through our eyes, nose, skin and mouth.
It is still found in many consumer products, even those administered by health professionals.
Mercury bio-accumulates which means it builds up in your body.
Here are some signs and symptoms to watch out for …. sensitivity to sound, anxiety, depression, inability to concentrate ( brain fog ), tender teeth, ringing in the ears, insomnia, eyelid or facial twitches, constipation, dizziness and irritability.
The more amalgam fillings you have, the more mercury you will have in your body.
Mercury levels in a fetus, newborn and young children are directly proportional to the number of fillings in their mother.
Health Canada currently does not restrict dental amalgam in Canada.
For nearly 25 years, removed dental amalgams have been considered hazardous waste!
The most common cause of mercury exposure in kids is vaccination.
25% of vaccinations today still contain mercury as do most flu shots.
The average child can tolerate 0.3 micrograms of mercury at one time. A 2 month old receiving all 4 ‘scheduled vaccines’ will have a mercury level of 62.5 micrograms! This is approximately 200 TIMES the reference dose for a child.
Parents, for the sake of your children, please be careful!
Managing Child Fevers
“Burlington Chiropractor Discusses Whether Fevers Are Actually Good For Your Children”
Here is some very enlightening information for you if you are quick to bring the temperature down if your child is having a fever.
As you already know, we live in a world that is full of germs, viruses and bacteria.
When your child gets run down or gets subluxations in their spine, and everybody does, the germs will often times multiply to vast numbers creating an infection.
This is when the body’s immune system kicks in and generates a fever.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/03.08.2012.child.fever.1.brad-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/child.fevers.jpg width=500 height=299 /]Now, we have been told as were our parents and our parents’ parents that fevers are bad for you and that we should do everything that we can to get rid of them.
And the most popular way that is recommended for us to get rid of a fever is to take medication.
Parents, you need to understand that when it comes to fevers, you have been lied to!
The truth is most fevers are not bad for your children.
In fact, they are a good thing because they are part of your defense mechanism against germs, viruses and bacteria.
The body creates the extra heat on its own so that the germs that are causing the infection cannot survive.
Even though actions taken to reduce a fever may make one feel more comfortable, they are not desirable when someone is fighting off an infection.
And the reason they are not desirable is this; without a proper fever, the germs that are causing the infection will survive longer than they should which means that you child will be sick longer than they should.
We will learn more about fevers next week, but in the meantime if you would like more information on this topic or you have other questions or concerns about your child’s health, call us at 903 335 LIFE (5433).
Please remember that consultations are always free of charge and that we are here to help families just like yours build healthy, vibrant, drug-free lives.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Appointment With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Impacts Of Prolonged Sitting
“Prolonged Sitting – How Much Time Should Your Child Spend Sitting Down?”
Here is some very important information every parent should know about how much time their children should spend sitting down.
Now, there are many, many things that kids do that require them to sit; at the dinner table, in school, doing their homework or practising a musical instrument but this should be the extent of it.
And I know you are asking yourself “why?”, so let men explain as this is very, very important. In fact, it is vitally important!
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/02.28.2012.prolonged.sitting.brad-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/prolonged.sitting.jpg width=500 height=299 /]Every parent must understand that their children’s spines are highly plastic and will mold to the activities that they do most often.
Prolonged sitting will eventually change the spine from its healthy, normal S-posture to the unhealthy and dangerous C-posture.
The reason why the C-posture is dangerous is because it restricts normal breathing and compresses vital organs that were designed to function while upright and while in motion.
Also, it has been shown that too much sitting will slow down your metabolism ( which means that you will gain weight ), impair your cardio-vascular health, impair your immune system function and your digestive function.
Not only are the effects of sitting detrimental to your health, they will actually increase your mortality rate exponentially! This means they will decrease your life expectancy.
It is so true that people who live long lives and healthy lives are people who do not spend their days sitting. So, for the sake of your children’s health, parents please keep an eye on how much time your kids spend sitting.
And , if you would like more information on how chiropractic can help your kids maintain a healthy posture ( because this is what chiropractor’s do ), call us at 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ) or you can always schedule an appointment to have their posture examined.
Consultations are always free and remember that we are here to help families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives.
Please call today.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Treating Tonsillitis
What Every Parent Needs To Know About Tonsillitis From Our Burlington Clinic
Here is some very important information for parents with children suffering from tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis is a condition where the tonsils become inflamed, swollen and sore making swallowing very painful and difficult.
The most popular forms of medical treatment are anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotic therapy or removal of the tonsils by tonsillectomy.
What concerns me however is that most parents do not realize that your tonsils are immuno-competent tissue and are your immune systems first line of defense against germs entering the body through either the nose or mouth.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/02.21.2012.tonsollitis.brad-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/tonsillitus.jpg width=500 height=299 /]
When the tonsils are removed, so too is the first line of defense which will allow the germs to penetrate deeper into the throat, bronchial tubes and lungs.
This is why it is not uncommon for kids who have no tonsils to experience more bronchial infections and lung infections.
From a chiropractic perspective, if a certain body part is prone to infections, this means the nerve supply is not adequate enough creating fertile ground for germs to flourish.
And this is often the case in kids who have spinal misalignments and pinched nerves in the upper neck region.
This is a common place for misalignments to occur and tonsillitis is a common result.
As a parent you need to know that chiropractic care has helped thousands and thousands of kids recover from to nsillitis by correcting spinal misalignments in the neck.
And, you will also appreciate that chiropractic treatments are all natural and do not involve the use of drugs ,medications or surgery.
Now, if you would like more information on how chiropractic care can help your child with their tonsillitis, please call 905 335 LIFE (5433) or you can always schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation.
Remember, we are here to help families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Improving Child Nutrition
“How You Can Save Money And Improve Your Children’s Health At The Same Time”
Here is some very important information for all parents regarding snacks for their children from our Burlington Clinic.
Let me tell you a story ….
The other day I was waiting for one of my kids to finish their exercise class and I noticed a bunch of parents bringing in snacks for their kids who were on a break. What alarmed me was that all the kids were brought either donuts, cookies, muffins, french fries, fast-food hamburgers, coffee or a huge container of pop.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/02.14.2012.child.nutrition.brad-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/child.nutrition.jpg width=500 height=299 /]Except for one who was already snacking on celery sticks, carrots and drinking a bottle of water.
Despite all the information available regarding nutrition and what is good to eat and what is not, it seems that a lot of parents still do not know.
So, for the sake of the health and well-being of our children, let us review the importance of good nutrition.
All the doughy foods ( donuts, cookies etc.) are high in fat and calories and provide very little nutritional value.
These types of foods are quickly converted into sugar once they enter the body which shocks the pancreas into pouring out insulin.
Insulin is required to regulate your blood sugar levels and soft-drinks which can contain up to 40 gm of sugar will have the same effect.
If the pancreas is secreting high levels of insulin on a regular basis, the body can eventually become insulin resistant.
Insulin resistance can then lead to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
The french fries and fast-food hamburger are also high in fat and calories, so they too pose the risk of obesity but another danger with these types of foods is the trans-fatty acids.
There have been several nutritional studies that show time and time again that trans-fatty acids increase your risk of developing heart disease.
And, I would almost guarantee that the fast-food hamburger meat is not organic which means it is full of filler, growth-hormone and antibiotics.
These things are not good for anyone’s health.
And feeding your children coffee or caffeine in any form is not a good idea.
It is a drug which means that it is addictive and it is a stimulant which means that it is dangerous to give to kids, especially if they are participating in sports.
The danger lies in the increased stress caffeine places upon the heart.
So, the best choice by far was the child eating the celery sticks, carrots and water.
These cost way less to purchase, they are nutritious, safe and they have no future consequences.
Always consider the future consequences when buying food for your family.
That way you will automatically make better choices.
Parents remember this … for the first time in modern history, the life expectancy of the current generation of kids is LESS THAN THEIR PARENTS! And, this is due in a large part, to the foods that they eat.
For more information regarding this topic or any other questions or concerns that you may have about your child’s health, please call 905 335 LIFE (5433).
Remember that we are here to help families just like yours build healthy, vibrant and drug-free lives.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Appointment With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic