All posts by Dr. Brad
Alternative Treatment For Anxiety
“Natural Alternatives For The Treatment of General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)”
Over the next few weeks we will be discussing alternative/holistic treatments for General Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Even though medication may be the treatment of choice for some patients and in some situations, it is always a good idea to keep the following in mind in the event you choose to manage your anxiety without medication or at least with less medication.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other forms of talk therapy have been shown to be very effective in treating anxiety. Neuro-feedback therapy (learning how to manage the electrical signals in your brain) has also helped people manage their anxiety.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/04.01.2014.alternative.treatment.anxiety-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/alterantive.treatment.anxiety.jpg width=500 height=305 /]And TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) has also proven to be helpful. As with chiropractic, TCM recognizes that there is no separation between mind and body. And from a TCM perspective, dysfunction in the spleen organ system can cause anxiety so this is where they would focus their attention.
Herbal remedies such as valerian and passionflower prove beneficial for some and it has been shown that deficiencies in calcium/magnesium and the essential fatty acids can lead to anxiety.
And unfortunately, the typical North American diet is deficient in all of these.
The B-vitamins are also very important as they are crucial for normal and healthy brain, spinal cord and nerve function so it is very important to make sure your are getting enough of these in your diet. Sources are green leafy vegetables, fortified cereals, bananas, poultry, tuna, salmon and avocados to name a few.
If you are taking any medication for the treatment of anxiety, you should not incorporate any of these alternative treatments without discussing with your specialist or doctor first.
We will continue discussing alternative treatments for GAD next week, 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 or contact us via email.
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available because spinal problems and subluxations tend to run in families.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE (5433) and email contact can be found on our home page.
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
Causes And Treatment Of Anxiety
“Here Are Some Potential Causes And Treatment Of General Anxiety Disorder”
Today we are going to continue our discussion on General Anxiety Disorder (GAD ) – its causes and what you need to know about the most popular forms of treatment for this condition.
Currently there is no known cause for GAD. But there are a number of suspected causes.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/03.25.2014.cause.treatment.anxiety-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/causes.treatment.anxiety.jpg width=500 height=305 /]Let’s take a closer look at four potential causes.
- Genetics – this means you could inherit the condition from a blood relative who has it.
- Neurotransmitters – these are chemicals in your brain that are responsible for allowing one brain cell to communicate with another. In other words, the passage of information from one brain cell to another. When the neurotransmitters are out of balance , this can lead to confusion within the brain which can then cause anxiety within the individual.
- Environment – stressful situations or traumatic events such as abuse (sexual, physical, mental), death of a loved one or even changing schools can cause anxiety. Also, use of or withdrawal from addictive substances ( drugs, alcohol, medication etc. ) can also cause GAD.
- Physical health issues – serious or chronic health issues such as Crohn’s disease or cancer can lead to anxiety.
Patients often begin to worry about their own mortality, the implications on their family and the funding future treatment in some instances.
Regarding the most popular forms of treatment for this condition which is medication, you need to know that there are over 100 different side-effects associated with the top 5 anti-anxiety medications alone!
Even though these are sometimes necessary, you need to be aware of side-effects such as depression, suicidal thoughts, confusion, hyperactivity, hostile behavior, hallucinations and chest pains just to name a few.
You can easily research the side-effects of any medication you or someone you care about is taking on the internet.
Next time we are going to start learning about natural treatment options for GAD but in the meantime if you have any questions about this topic or any other health concerns you or your family may have, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available because spinal problems and subluxations tend to run in families.
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 At The Burlington Clinic
Anxiety Symptoms And Risk Factors
“Here’s What You Need To Know About Anxiety Symptoms And Risk Factors”
Over the next few weeks we will be discussing anxiety and my goal is to help you better understand this condition and to help you make a more informed decision if you need to seek treatment for this condition for yourself or for someone who is close to you.
Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some point in their life either through a family member, friend or colleague.
Mental illness of which anxiety is one type will directly affect 20% of the Canadian population ( that is over 7 million people! ) regardless of age, income, education or culture.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/03.17.2014.general.anxiety.disorder-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/general.anxiety.disorder.jpg width=500 height=305 /]The economic burden of mental illness in Canada is estimated to be 51 billion dollars per year.
And the disease burden of mental illness in Ontario is 1.5 times higher than all cancers put together! We have a problem !!
Even though there are about 10 different types of anxiety, we will be focusing on GAD or General Anxiety Disorder.
Anxiety is considered to be a normal part of the human experience. We all get it from time to time.
But when it starts to or persistently interferes with work, school, sleep and relationships, this is not considered to be normal.
The physiological effects of anxiety are as follows: fear, breathlessness, choking sensations, restlessness, heart palpitations and increased muscular tension. Certain risk factors have been identified that could pre-dispose you to developing anxiety.
They are as follows: being female, a family history of the disease, having suffered a childhood trauma ( physically, emotionally, sexually )and drug or alcohol abuse.
In our next post, we will be discussing the probable causes of GAD and what you need to know about the most popular and current forms of treatment.
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.
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available because subluxations and spinal problems do run in families.
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.
Treating Anxiety
“Treating Anxiety In Both
Children And Adults”
Over the next few weeks we are going to discuss a condition that has become a growing concern both with children and adults, and that condition is anxiety.
What you are going to learn is you will gain a better understanding of what anxiety really is, what you need to know about the popular medical treatments for this condition and what you can do if you choose to treat it without relying on drugs or medications.
And of course, you will find out how chiropractic care has helped hundreds of patients who have suffered from this condition.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/03.11.2014.anxiety.bi-1.m4v image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/anxiety.jpg width=500 height=305 /]If you have a genuine interest in this condition either because of yourself or another family member, another thing you need to know is that I will be doing a 1 hour workshop on anxiety at the Goodness Me Natural Food Market on Fairview St. here in Burlington.
Date: Tuesday, March 18th. Time: 12 noon sharp in the seminar room at the front of the store.
If you are interested in attending this workshop, you need to RSVP your attendance by calling 905 631 8404
905 631 8404 or you can register online at …
www.goodnessme.ca/calendar
.
I hope to see you at the workshop.
I am sure you will find it very informative and educational.
But otherwise, you can visit us here again next week when we will begin our video series on anxiety.
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
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