All posts by Dr. Brad
Managing Stress Part 1
“Tips On How To Effectively Manage Stress For You And Your Family From Our Burlington Clinic”
This is an 8 part series on Stress Management
Here’s PART 1
Let’s start with a definition…..
Stress is the sum of all the biological reactions to any adverse stimulus [ physical, mental/emotional , chemical ], internal or external that tends to disturb an organisms HOMEOSTASIS. Homeostasis is the stability of normal physiological states of an organism.
Why do we need to learn how to manage stress for ourselves & our children?
Because medical research is now suggesting that up to 80% of all illnesses are stress related!
Here are the most common stress-related conditions/symptoms that I see in my practice: insomnia, anxiety, depression, headaches, spinal pain ( neck, lower back ), muscle tension, eating disorders, bowel problems ( constipation ), suppressed immune function, skin disorders ( eczema, psoriasis ), hormone imbalances, high blood pressure, fatigue, addictions & substance abuse, & stomach disorders ( indigestion, heartburn, ulcers ).
If you have even one of these, then you are most likely not managing your stress effectively.
Part 2 – next week – will explain how stress effects the human body.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Child Constipation
“Here Is Some Very Helpful Information For You If Your Child Is Suffering From Constipation From Our Burlington Clinic”
Constipation is typically characterized by infrequent bowel movements and/or difficult and hard bowel movements.
You need to understand that if your bowels are working properly, you should be having a bowel movement within an hour after each andamp; every major meal.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/08.11.2011.constipation.brad-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/constipation.jpg width=500 height=299 /]Now, it is generally accepted within the medical community that 1 bowel movement per day is sufficient, but if your child is having only 1 to 3 bowel movements per week or even less, then there is a definite constipation problem.
And this would not be good for anyone’s health – adult or child – as waste material is toxic and needs to be eliminated from the body in a timely fashion.
Constipation is caused by several different things such as improper diet, drugs and medications, spinal misalignments and more serious complications such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome ( IBS ) and Crohn’s disease.
Here we will discuss the spinal cause of constipation as this is my area of expertise.
However, as with any type of health problem, it is very important to rule out the potentially dangerous causes before commencing any type of treatment.
So, you are probably wondering how chiropractic care can help someone who is suffering with constipation.
And aside from poor immune function andamp; poor posture, constipation is one of the main reasons that parents bring their newborns and young children to the chiropractor.
You need to know that spinal misalignments in the lower back area can irritate the nerves that go directly into the large intestine ( bowel ).
If you check the right hand column of the website for the Chart of Effects of Spinal Misalignments, you will see that it is the nerve associated with the L1 vertebra specifically.
This vertebra can become misaligned in several different ways – during the birth process, from falling on the tush which happens frequently as toddlers are learning to stand and walk – but irrespective of how it happens, when the L1 vertebra compresses the nerve, constipation is a very common side-effect.
So, the chiropractic approach to helping constipation involves gentle treatments aimed at restoring proper nerve supply so that the bowels can function properly.
If you would like more information on how chiropractic can help constipation, please call our office or you can always schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation.
Our phone # is 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ) and please remember that we are here to help in any way that we can.
Artificial Sweetners Impact On Your Health
“Here’s What Our Burlington Clinic Has To Say About Artificial Sweeteners And How They Impact Your Health And Your Children’s Health”
All artificial sweeteners are toxic! ie. sweet’n’low, saccharin, splenda, sucralose.
ASPARTAME is a potent neurotoxin & accounts for 75% of all reported adverse reactions to food additives.
It has actually caused seizures & death.
Here are some of the 90 different health issues currently linked to aspartame:
Headaches, migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, irritability, fatigue, racing heart beat, insomnia, visual disturbances, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, ringing in ears, vertigo, memory loss & joint pain.
Research has found that aspartame can cause brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia & diabetes.
Also known as : Nutra-sweet, Equal & Spoonful.
Now you understand why ALL aspartame containing products carry a warning.
So, take home no artificial sweeteners period! “Diet” or “Sugar-Free” on the label means artificial sweeteners 99% of the time!
It is so much safer & healthier to use raw cane sugar, cocoa & if you do not want to use either one of these, you can use a natural & safe sweetener called Stevia.
Life Chiropractic Centre – helping families build healthy, vibrant, drug-free lives.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Health C0nsultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Antioxidant
“Natures Best Antioxidants”
A recent study conducted at Miguel Hernandez University (Spain) sought to determine which household spice was the best natural antioxidant.
The winner was CLOVES, coming in first place ahead of its other counterparts: oregano, thyme, rosemary & sage. Cloves were chosen as the best natural antioxidant mainly due to its ability to reduce lipid oxidation.
Lipid oxidation is one of the main reasons food deteriorates.
To combat food deterioration, the food industry uses synthetic antioxidants which are usually chemical compounds.
Recently , questions have been raised regarding the potential toxicity and side-effects of these chemical compounds. [ long overdue !!! ]
As a result, there is a growing interest in using natural plant-based products, such as cloves, to control food deterioration rather than chemical compounds.
So here are a couple of tips for you …….
When you are reading your food labels, if you cannot pronounce one or more of the ingredients, don’t buy it.
There is more than likely a chemical additive.
Use cloves or powdered cloves to control your own food preservation especially if you buy organic which everybody should.
Organic food typically contains no preservatives or chemical additives which is why it is much safer for and your children.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Treating Colic
“How To Treat A Colicky Baby Information From Our Burlington Clinic”
Please consider if you are the parent of a colicky baby.
And, if you are unsure if your baby has colic, see if the rule of 3 applies.
The rule of 3 is used to differentiate a diagnosis of colic and these are the 3 things you need to watch for:
- at least 3 hours of inconsolable crying per day,
- at least 3 days per week for
- at least 3 weeks in a row.
If you baby meets these criteria, and in the absence of more serious complications, then he or she is most likely suffering from colic.
And I know from over 25 years of family practice that this can be a horribly stressful situation especially for new parents.
You desperately want your newborn to be happy, healthy & content but you just do not know what to do to stop the crying.
And like many parents, you may have tried everything from car-rides to gripe water which would cause a great deal of concern for any parent.
Colic has been attributed to many different things such as the mother’s diet, the new mother’s anxiety level & spinal misalignments.
I would like to explain more to you about spinal misalignments as this is my area of expertise.
As your child is being born, the vertebrae of the neck & back can often times go out of alignment due to all the compressing, twisting & stretching that takes place during the birth process. Difficult deliveries ( forceps, prolonged labour, vacuum assist, breech, base posterior etc. ) can significantly increase the chances of getting spinal misalignments.
These misalignments can generally cause your baby to be cranky, uncomfortable & a fussy eater but when they affect the nerves to the digestive system specifically, colic or colic-like symptoms are sure to result.
As a parent, you need to know that chiropractic care has helped hundreds & hundreds of colicky babies and there are several research studies and case histories to support its effectiveness.
So, if you are frustrated with a colicky baby of your own, I strongly urge you to read the article found on this website about Chiropractic & Colic.
Or, you can always call to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation.
Our phone # is 905 335 5433 & we would welcome the opportunity to help you & your family.
Feel free to call us anytime.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Smoothie Nutrition
For All You Health Food And Exercise Junkies, This Is What You Need To Know If You Like To Grab A Smoothie After A Work-Out Or As A Snack.
Tim Horton’s Real Fruit Smoothies
These do not contain any fiber because the fruit flavor is made up fruit puree & juice concentrates. Not whole fruits.
As well, all 3 flavors contain added sugars: glucose-fructose ( high fructose corn syrup ), glucose & molasses.
The culprit – Mixed berry Fruit Smoothie with Yogurt 18 oz. 290 calories! 67g of carbs from 60g of sugar! Only 5g of protein.
McDonalds Real Fruit Smoothies
Sold in 2 flavours with or without yogurt. The fruit is from puree & juice concentrate with cellulose powder added for fibre. All contain
added sugar & artificial flavours.
The culprit – Strawberry Banana with Yogurt 22 oz. 330 calories! 77g of carbs mostly from 70g of sugar! Only 3 g of protein.
Booster Juice
Even though these are made with fresh frozen fruit, they can pack a big calorie punch.
The culprit – Funky Monkey 24oz. 585 calories! 8.8g of fat! 110g of carbs. Even the 12oz size has twice the calories & carbs you would
need for a snack.
Second Cup
Sugar is the 2nd or 3rd ingredient listed for Fruit Chillers & they do not have any protein!
The culprit – Strawberry Fruit Chiller 24oz.
570 calories! 141g of sugar largely from 135g of sugar!
PS a 24.7oz. Coke contains 320 calories & 82g of carbs.
Cultures
Most smoothies contain natural frozen yogurt.
The culprit – Moka 7.6oz.
290 calories & only 1g of fibre!
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Health Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Sinus Congestion
“Here’s How We Treat Sinus Congestion At Our Burlington Clinic”
If you suffer from SINUS CONGESTION whether due to allergies or colds, you should consider the following especially if you are using medications for relief.
As you are probably well aware, sinus medications rarely work.
And they are probably going to make you feel groggy and sleepy at best.
And just FYI, you are not having sinus congestion because you do not have enough sinus decongestant drugs in your diet!
When sinuses become congested due to a cold or allergies, sometimes they get so stuffed and sometimes inflamed that they cannot expel the mucous.
Well, the good news is that there is a treatment called SINUS REFLEX TECHNIQUE which is a manual [ by hand ] treatment to help relieve sinus pressure and sinus congestion especially in the frontal, ethmoidal and maxillary sinuses.
These are the sinuses found across the fore-head and around the nose and cheeks.
The treatment can be performed by most chiropractors and involves a gentle manipulation of the affected sinus tissue and the Eustachian tubes if there is accompanying ear pressure.
This will have the effect of breaking up the congestion & allowing your sinuses to drain which will relieve the pressure and any associated headaches.
I have been doing this for 25 years with my patients, adults and children alike with excellent results.
So, if you or someone you know is suffering from sinus congestion, why don’t you give chiropractic a try.
Consultations are always free of charge and our phone number is 905 335 5433.
Seasonal Allergies
“Information For If Your Child Is Suffering From Seasonal Allergies From Our Burlington Clinic”
Seasonal allergies can affect children at any time during the year but are most common in the spring, winter and fall.
I know that it can be very frustrating and upsetting for parents to see their children struggle with allergies and I also know from talking to parents that many are not too pleased with the usual recommended treatment which is drugs and allergy shots.
They are concerned about the potentially harmful side-effects associated with allergy medication and every parent must do their due diligence whenever anything is injected into their child’s body.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/18.10.2011.allergies.brad-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/seasonal.allergies.jpg width=500 height=300 /]
What is important for you to understand first and foremost is that watery eyes, runny noses and sneezing are normal allergic responses and do not necessarily mean you’re sick.
Let me explain …. these allergic responses are part of what is referred to as a histamine reaction and this is the way your body expels whatever it is allergic to.
Let’s use ragweed pollen as an example.
Now, when you take an anti-histamine drug which are frequently prescribed in these situations, it may prevent the watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing but then the ragweed pollen will remain inside the body instead of being eliminated from the body.
You can imagine that this would not be good for your child’s health or anyone’s health for that matter and this is why allergy medications just do not make any sense to me.
Here Are Some Allergy Facts You Need To Consider
There are scientific research studies showing that people who use chiropractic on a regular basis have immune systems that respond better when challenged that those who do not use chiropractic.
And did you know that one of the main reasons allergies will ever develop in the first place is due to a sluggish immune system?
Well, you will be glad to know that it has been my clinical experience after 25 years in family practice that most chiropractic patients, children included, do not have sluggish immune systems.
In fact, it is quite the contrary. Kids who get chiropractic care seem to be healthier kids. Less colds, less sickness, less allergies.
And what you will really enjoy as a parent is that all of our treatments are totally natural.
So, if you would like to know more about what we can do to help, why don’t you call us to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation?
Our phone number is 905 335 5433 & we would welcome the opportunity to help you & your children.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Child Ear Infections
“Here Is Some Very Valuable Information From Our Burlington Clinic If Your Child Is Suffering From
Ear Infections”
I do not have to tell you how painful ear infections can be especially in children but what is even more upsetting is that many parents do not realize that is a natural and safer solution available to them.
And it is not antibiotic therapy or ear tubes as these are the types of treatments that we are trying to avoid anyway because of their unfavorable side-effects.
Now contrary to what you may have been told, ear infections are not really caused by bacteria and viruses.
They are the result however of a poorly functioning immune system.
And any doctor will tell you that your immune system will only work as well as your central nerve system.
So when the immune system becomes compromised, the normal viruses and bacteria found in the body can multiply to abnormal numbers and this is what causes an infection.
It is important for you to understand that one of the main reasons an immune system can become compromised is due to spinal nerve stress (SNS).
And when this occurs in children, ear infections are often the result.
Another even more important thing for you to understand is that chiropractic adjustments have proven to be very effective in helping children with ear infections because they act to reduce SNS.
Reducing spinal nerve stress will ensure that your central nerve system will function at optimal potential and the benefit of this will be a stronger immune system which will better defend against sickness and infections.
So, if you are frustrated with the number of ear infections your child is getting, please call to make an appointment for a free initial consultation.
Then I can show you exactly how we can help & in most cases we can get started with treatments right away.
Our phone #is 905 335 5433. Please call today!
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The 2501 Guelph Line Clinic
Children Suffering From Asthma
“For Parents Who Have Children Suffering From Asthma”
For parents who have children suffering from asthma, here is something for you to consider.
As you know, asthma is a condition where breathing becomes difficult and laborious due to spasmodic contractions of the bronchial tubes.
And, the condition is often times aggravated by exertion or physical exercise.
This can especially be a problem for kids who are actively involved in sports and athletics.
Medication is most often prescribed for asthmatic children in the form of puffers.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/04.10.2011.asthma-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/13.10.2011.asthma.jpg width=500 height=300 /]
Oral medications and injections may also be used but it is very important for you to understand that any medication is for crisis management only and they do nothing to address the real cause of the problem.
What is even more important for you to be aware of are some of the potentially dangerous side-effects associated with asthma medication.
Side –effects of short acting puffers: poor growth, decreased bone density, easy bruising, cataracts, glaucoma, adrenal gland suppression.
Side – effects of long acting puffers: increased severity of asthma attacks, increased risk of fatal asthma episodes.
Side – effects of oral medications: headaches, stomach upset, skin rash, liver problems, sore throat.
Side –effects of injections: slight risk of anaphylactic shock & cancer.
Now, I know that if you are the parent of an asthmatic child, you would prefer if they weren’t taking any medication or they did not have asthma at all.
Well, even though it is not a cure, you should know that chiropractic care has proven to be very helpful for children who suffer with asthma.
I have seen many asthmatic patients in my 25 years of family practice either decrease their drug dependency or get off of their asthma medication completely once the flexibility in their spine and rib-cage has been restored.
This is what chiropractic care can do.
It will allow the child to breathe easier and can also reduce the number of bronchial spasms.
So, if you are concerned about how you are treating your child’s asthma & would like to try a natural alternative, why don’t you call us to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation so we can discuss this further.
Our phone number is 905 335 5433 & we have office hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & most Saturday mornings.
Please give us a call today.