4 Essentials Of Health

“The Four Essentials For Good Health From Our Burlington Clinic”

As the new year approaches & people start thinking about their resolutions , I always like to take this opportunity to remind parents about the 4 Essentials of Health especially for the sake of their children.

To recap, the 4 essentials are food, water, oxygen & nerve impulse.

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Food: the food that you eat provides the fuel & building blocks for growth & reproduction of your cells & tissues. It consists of proteins, fats & carbohydrates & without these, our bodies would not survive. If these are not properly balanced in your diet, your health potential would suffer. Imagine what your heart & arteries would look like if you ate a lot of doughnuts & fast foods? Would these serve to increase your health potential or decrease your health potential? And as a parent, you really need to ask yourself if these types of foods would benefit your child.

Water: 75% of our body is made of water & it is used in almost every bodily function & without proper water intake, we would not survive. But what if you drink unhealthy fluids like coffee, alcohol, pop, tap-water or fluids filled with a lot of dyes & preservatives? Again, as a parent you need to ask yourself what effects these will have on your child’s health.

Oxygen: oxygen is also needed for most every reaction in the body & is carried by the lungs & the circulatory system. How we get our oxygen is by breathing & exercising. Researchers now tell us that oxygen deprivation can cause anything from fatigue to cancer & if you are not oxygenating properly or regularly, your health potential will suffer.

Nerve Impulse: this is the 4^th & most important component of the 4 essentials. Unfortunately, it is often over-looked by most parents. Nerve impulse is an electrochemical charge that is generated in the brain & is transmitted through the spinal cord & nerves to every part of the body. All bodily functions are dependent upon nerve impulse & if your brain stopped generating nerve impulse, you would die instantaneously. But what if your spine was kinked & the proper quality & quantity of nerve impulse was not flowing to your body?  I am sure you would agree that this would not be good for your health. And the only one who can tell you if this is the case is a chiropractor. Our specialty is to examine your spine to see if there are any blockages to your nerve impulses, & then remove these blockages so that your body can realize its’ full health potential.

For more information on this topic or any other questions or concerns you may have, please call 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ) or you can always schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation.

Life Chiropractic Centre—we help families build vibrant, healthy & drug-free lives.

Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic

Managing Stress Part 5

“Our Burlington Chiropractic Clinic Recommends Managing Stress Through The Practice Of Yoga”

Yoga is a spiritual, mental and physical discipline that involves stretching and breathing through different poses or positions.

Again, there are several different schools or ways to practice yoga and I could not begin to tell you which one would be best for you.

And the goals of the different practices would obviously be different.

Some would focus on the spiritual aspect of the practice, others the mental aspect and then there are those that will focus more on the physical aspect.

But generally speaking, there will be a spiritual, mental and physical benefit to you with any type of yoga.

Then there is something called hot yoga where you practice in a studio that is about 103 degrees F.

This is much more of a challenge but the added benefits are detox and purification of body fluids and weight loss if you need to shed a few pounds.

Again, do some research in the library or on your computer.

There are several good yoga studios here in Burlington and at least 3 that I know of offer hot yoga.

Most yoga studios will offer you a full week trial for anywhere between $20 and $40 so you can try different classes and instructors.

That way you will be able to find a studio, a method and an instructor(s) that you like.

And do not be intimidated just because you are a beginner.

Everyone has to start somewhere and remember that it is not a competition.

Yoga is a practice and there will always be someone who is better than you.

This is nothing to be concerned about.

As with anything, the more you do it the better you will be at it.

Most yoga studios will have booklets or pamphlets showing the names and positions of the various poses specific to their method of practice.

You should practice these at home so when the instructor calls out what position or pose they would like you to assume next, you don’t have to look around to see what everyone else is doing.

And the person next to you may not be doing it the right way anyway.

Yoga instructors usually walk around the room and will help you with your positioning if need be especially if you are in a beginners class.

Nonetheless, you will clearly realize the benefits with respect to stress management and it can be something you can do together as a family.

Part 6 will be a continuation of how to effectively manage your stress.

We will further our learning next week.

Click Here To Book A Free Initial Health Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic

Bed Wetting

“Bed Wetting And Burlington Chiropractic Care”

Here is some very important information for parents whose children are still wetting the bed at night.

Over the past 25 years, I have seen a lot of children in my practice & I must say that bed-wetting has been & still is one of the most common reasons why parents bring their children to the chiropractor.

And I know you are wondering “ how can chiropractic care help with bed-wetting? “, so please read on so I can explain.

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The first thing you need to do is refer to The Chart of Effects of Spinal Misalignments found on the web-site. When you are there, please look down near the bottom at the L3 and L4 levels.

Next, look at which organs are supplied by the L3 & L4 nerves and you will see that the bladder is included in the list.

Remember that when vertebrae become misaligned ( or subluxated ), they will compress upon the nerve decreasing the nerve supply to that specific organ.

Now ask yourself this … ‘ how can an organ be healthy & function properly if it is not receiving the right amount of nerve supply? ‘

Well, the answer to this question is …. it cannot !

And when the bladder does not receive the right nerve supply, bed-wetting can result along with other problems such as frequency of urination & recurring bladder infections.

How chiropractic can help is by restoring proper nerve supply to the bladder by making sure the L3 & L4 vertebrae are in proper alignment & not compressing upon the nerves.

So, if you are looking for a solution for your child & their bed-wetting, why don’t you give chiropractic a try? To get more information on how we can help, please call 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ) or you can always schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation. One of our customer service representatives will be more than happy to schedule an appointment for you at your convenience.

Please call today.

Managing Stress – Part 4

“Stress Reduction Series Burlington – Part 4

The next thing I suggest you learn how to do is meditate.

A very basic description regarding meditation is knowing how to train your mind to think about nothing.

Being able to shut down all the brain noise & your stinkin’ thinkin’ will have a profound effect on reducing body tension & mental tension.

The fact is , the more tension that you hold in your body, the less health potential you will have.

Always remember that the mind & body are inseparable.

The mind ( your thoughts ) will always have a significant impact on your physical body & health, & vice-versa.

There are several different schools & practices of meditation & I couldn’t begin to tell you which one to try.

But, what I can tell you is that your local library should have several instructional books & CD’s on meditation.

And, you can always do some research in the comfort of your own home on your computer.

Meditation has been practiced by various cultures for centuries & it is not uncommon in these cultures for children to learn how to meditate at an early age.

Some people who are committed to their cultural traditions or the practice of meditation in general will meditate twice per day usually for about 15 to 30 minutes each time.

This is usually done first thing in the morning to clear your mind for the day that is ahead of you & again in the evening before sleeping to let go of all the frustrations & challenges that you may have experienced during the day.

Find a style that you like and just do it.

Even if it is only 3 times per week [ which is better than nothing at all ].

Once you get good at it & experience it’s benefits with respect to stress management, I doubt you will ever want to stop.

Next week Part 5 will continue with stress management tips.

Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic

 

Spinal Curve Scoliosis

“What Parents Need To Know About Treating Scoliosis At Our Burlington Chiropractic Clinic”

We previously discussed how you can assess your own child’s posture for distortions and what you also need to know is that poor spinal alignment can also mean that your child has a spinal condition called scoliosis.

When you are checking your child’s posture, if there is noticeable tipping of the hips, shoulders or both, this could very well mean that they have scoliosis.

Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves into an abnormal C-shape or an abnormal S-shape. It can result from pathological ( disease ) conditions of the spine & it can also result from structural misalignments ( subluxations ) of the spine.

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But irrespective of the cause, if scoliosis is not identified immediately & treated appropriately, it can lead to a life of pain & varying degrees of disability.

Chiropractic care has proven to be very effective in helping children with scoliosis, especially scoliosis resulting from structural misalignments of the spine because this is our area of expertise.

Depending upon the severity of the curve & the age of the child, chiropractic results can range from a complete correction to stabilization of the existing curve.

In the latter case, the child can often times avoid the need to have spinal surgery.

It you have concerns about your child’s posture, it is very important that you have it checked out by someone who specializes in spinal health.

It is far better to be safe than sorry & early intervention is so critical when it comes to scoliosis.

Remember that consultations in our office are always free. All you need to do is call 905 335 5433 to schedule your appointment.

So, if you do have concerns, don’t hesitate & call today.

Life Chiropractic – helping families build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years!

Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic

Chiropractic Care For Concussions

“Here Is Some Valuable Information From Our Burlington Clinic About Chiropractic Care And It’s Role In The Treatment Of Concussions”

There has been a lot of attention surrounding this issue over the past few years especially with the number of high profile professional athletes who have been victimized by this injury.

And of course, because there is such a strong hockey culture here in Canada, most of us know how this injury affected Sidney Crosby who is arguably the best hockey player in the world.

What all concussion victims should know is that Sidney started seeing a chiropractor this past summer who specializes in neurology & brain injuries.

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And even though he was well cared for by his team doctors & other specialists, it was his treatments with this particular chiropractor that really accelerated his recovery.

In fact, he is now expected to return to play sometime before the end of November.

It is important to understand that a concussion is when the brain violently strikes the inside of the skull resulting in very simplistic terms, a bruise.

This can happen from either a direct blow to the head as it did with Sidney, or it can happen from a violent movement of the head & neck with minimal or no contact as would be the case in a whiplash injury.

The swelling of the brain tissue, which happens when any type of tissue is bruised, is what causes all the unfavourable symptoms associated with a concussion.

If you or your child has suffered one or more concussions, regular chiropractic adjustments can still be a huge benefit to you & will complement any medical treatments you may still be having.

Re-aligning any misaligned bones in the head, neck or jaw will assist the recovery process & will help heal the injured soft-tissues around the head & neck.

For more information on how we can help, please call 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ) or you can always schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation.

We look forward to meeting you & helping in any way that we can, so please call us today.

Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic

Managing Stress Part III

Effective Stress Management Will Address Both Mind And Body”

The  first thing you need to do is be mindful of your  rest, relaxation and sleep.

You need 7 to 9 hours of un-interrupted sleep per night.

No tossing or turning or TV’s and when you awaken you should feel well rested, refreshed and loose and flexible.

If you do not sleep comfortably ( tossing and turning ) and you are sore and stiff in the morning to the point where it takes you some time to straighten up and get going then you are probably not sleeping in the right position or on the right mattress.

Furthermore, once you get to 5 years of age, you should no longer be sleeping on your stomach.

This is not good for the neck or the lower back and will be a significant contributor to poor spinal hygiene.

Side sleeping or back sleeping is best and is facilitated by using the right pillow.

Contoured cervical ( neck ) pillows will help maintain proper sleeping posture and the vitally important cervical curve.

What kind of mattress to use? … I couldn’t tell you.

But what I can tell you is this.

If you are not sleeping comfortably for 7 to 9 hours and /or you are waking up sore and stiff , then your current mattress is not appropriate for you.

Whether to use a mattress that is hard or soft, a futon , a waterbed, an air mattress, a memory foam mattress etc. is up to you to determine.

Just make sure that when you buy a new mattress, you have a 60 or 90 day trial period.

You cannot tell if a mattress is good for you by sitting on it in the store.

You need to sleep on it for 10 -14 days to know for sure.

And make sure you take some time for yourself to do the things you love to do and are passionate about.

Have you ever been so engrossed in something that 3 hours only seemed like 15 minutes?

We all have.

Recent research on the mechanisms of aging tells us that if the mind perceives 3 hours as only 15 minutes ( for example ), than so does the physical body.

What effect do you think this will have on how your body ages?

Will it accelerate aging or slow it down?

Part 4 will continue with tips on how to effectively deal with your stress.

Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic

 

Cervical Spine Images

“Normal And Reversed Curve Cervical Spine Images”

WHY MAINTAINING A NORMAL AND HEALTHY CURVE IN THE NECK IS SO IMPORTANT

Science tells us that the state of your nerve system determines whether you have high or low resistance to disease.

If you are suffering from disease, the state of your nerve system will play decisive role in whether or not, or how rapidly you will recover.

By keeping your spinal column and nerve system free from stress, your health is optimized.

Book an appointment with us today.

GOOD POSTURE AND A HEALTHY SPINE = HEALTH, LONGEVITY AND INDEPENDENCE

An increase in the mid-back curve (humping) or a decrease or reversal in the neck curve decreases life expectancy. Older men and women with hyperkyphosis (humping of the middle back) or hypolordosis (straightening or reversing of the neck curve) die earlier. ref. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society -2004 ref. Men and Women: A Prospective Study Deborah M. Kado,MD,MS, et al

The neck must have a symmetrical curve to allow for proper health, longevity and function.

Any variation from normal places stress on the nerve system and decreases health potential. Ninety percent of the nerve system is for function NOT pain … which means that you can have a problem and not feel it.

Nerve Pressure is one of the things that have been proven to change the expression of your genes.

BAD genes can be activated with nerve pressure and GOOD genes get turned off with nerve pressure.

This is not good for any aspect of your health!

This is why people who consistently use strategies to improve their spinal function are healthier than those who do not.

Review the Chart of Effects of Spinal Misalignments found on this website that shows the typical symptoms a person would manifest with spinal problems in specific regions.

THE STATE OF YOUR NERVE SYSTEM EQUATES TO THE STATE OF YOUR HEALTH.
SICKNESS and DISEASE CAN BE MINIMIZED BY MAXIMIZING NERVE SYSTEM FUNCTION
CERVICAL / NECK ASSESSMENT IS CRUCIAL AND DONE VIA XRAY – IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM.

TO FIND OUT IF YOU and YOUR CHILDREN HAVE THE PROPER NECK CURVES, CALL OUR OFFICE AT 905 335 5433 AND WE WILL HELP YOU FIND OUT.

Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic

Managing Stress Part 2

“Stress Is Inescapable – Part Two Of Managing Stress From Our Burlington Clinic”

Dr Hans Seyle ( endocrinologist & stress expert ) says that stress is inescapable.

“ No one can live without experiencing some degree of stress all the time.

Crossing a busy intersection, exposure to a draft, or even sheer joy are enough to activate the body’s stress mechanism to some extent.

Stress is not even necessarily bad for you; it is also the spice of life for any emotion, any activity causes stress.

But of course, your system must be prepared to take it.

The same stress which makes one person sick can be an invigorating experience for another.”

So what happens when you face stress?

First, your body prepares itself for confrontation.

Messages of fight or flight are sent from your brain to your endocrine ( hormonal ) system.

If the stress stops, you revert to normal.

Secondly, if the stress continues, you go into a stage of resistance.

Your body adapts by putting up barricades.

You tense your muscles, raise your fever & struggle to prevail.

You either run from or fight the threat.

Third, if the stress still continues, you may pass into the stage of stress exhaustion.

Your body cannot stay continually in the fight or flight state, so your system falls prey to anxiety, ill-health & chronic dis-ease ( disharmony).

Understand that this bodily response to stress is not exclusive to adults.

It can happen to anyone at any age including children.

This is why parents must be able to identify the conditions & symptoms of stress in their children & then know what the appropriate measures are to protect their health.

Part 3 ( next week ) will begin to show you what you need to do & will cover the first of the 4 major components in effective stress management.

Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic

Newborn Head Movement

“This Is Very Important Information From Our Burlington Clinic For Any Parent To Read If Their Newborn Has Difficulty Turning Their Head To One Or Both Sides”

If you have noticed this to be the case, it is most likely due to a spinal strain ( having ruled out more serious complications ) which usually occurs during the birth process.

Because the baby’s head & neck are used as a lever to assist it through the birth canal, this can often times strain the spinal joints in the neck resulting in neck stiffness  & crooked posture.

Understand that all the twisting & pulling  associated with the birth process can result in up to 60 lbs of force on a neck that has yet to see one day of life outside of the womb!

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Ask yourself how you would feel as an adult if someone pulled on your head & twisted it & your neck with 60 lbs of force? [ FYI – manual chiropractic adjustments employ 3 -5 lbs of force applied in a specifically controlled direction. ]

If the birth process itself was difficult or complicated, ie. prolonged labour, a forceps delivery, a vacuum assisted delivery or the baby presented in the wrong position, then the chances of your baby suffering birth trauma to the neck are even greater.

Other things that you may have also noticed ; your baby has difficulty holding their head in the upright position, they always hold their head turned or tilted to the same side, & you  may even notice that they prefer to breast-feed from the same side only.

As a parent, you should not ignore these signs & symptoms as they are indicative of a definite spinal problem in the neck region. And in most cases, these injuries will not heal on their own & if left unattended they will set the stage for bad posture later in childhood & even degenerative spinal disease.

Early intervention is the key to preventing these things from happening and this is where chiropractic care can be of a huge benefit.

Gentle chiropractic treatments will help to heal the injured soft-tissues & correct the alignment of the delicate spinal joints.

This will ensure that as your baby grows, they will have good spinal flexibility & good posture both of which are essential for their overall health & well-being.

If you do have these or any other concerns about your child, you can call our office for more information on what we can do to help or you can always schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation.

Our phone # is 905 335 5433 & we have office hours on Mon,Wed,Thurs & most Sat mornings.

And, we have over 25 years experience helping children.

We would welcome the opportunity to help you & your family. Please call today.

Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic