All posts by Dr. Brad
Heart Disease And Your Posture
“Here’s How Heart Disease Relates To Your Posture”
For those of you who have investigated chiropractic to one degree or another, you probably have an idea of our claims about how your posture can affect the health of your internal organs.
For those of you who do not believe such a connection exists, or you are not totally convinced that such a connection exists, then this is just for you.
This was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in October of 2004.
This journal is one of the most read & most reputable journals in the world in the field of medicine.
TITLE: Hyperkyphotic Posture Predicts Mortality in Older Community-Dwelling Men and Women: A Prospective Study
The objectives of this study were to determine the association between hyperkyphotic posture and rate of mortality & cause-specific mortality in older persons.
Hyperkyphotic posture is when you have a hump in your upper spine and/or you have forward head posture. This hump has been called a widowers hump in the past but the scary thing is that it is now quite prevalent in young adults & even teenagers due to the huge increase in modern technology injuries now affecting our society.
The study was conducted by several doctors from the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, San Diego.
The subjects of the study were 1353 residents of a retirement dwelling in Rancho Bernardo, California who had measurements of hyperkyphotic posture discovered during an osteoporosis assessment.
The participants were followed for an average of 4.2 years, with mortality & cause of death confirmed using review of death certificates.
The conclusion: “ … persons with hyperkyphotic posture had a 1.44 greater rate of mortality. “ In other words, older men and older women with poor posture have higher mortality rates, which means they die sooner. And when they investigated cause-specific mortality analysis ( ie. what did these people actually die from? ), “ hyperkyphotic posture was specifically associated with an increase rate of death due to atherosclerosis.”
So, what this means is that when you have poor posture, specifically hyperkyphosis ( forward head posture &/or hump back ), you will die sooner from a heart attack or some type of heart disease.
Now, remember that this was published in one of the most reputable journals in the world in the medical field. But, did your family doctor tell you about this? Most of them do read these types of journals, by the way. And, how important do you think it is to know that poor posture can actually cause you to have a heart attack? I am sure that most of you will agree that it is very important to know and now you do.
So, what should you do now?
What you should do is take the measures to find out if you are at risk. And this is where a chiropractic assessment is in high order. Remember that posture & spinal health is our specialty & we can easily determine your degree of risk using a computerized posture scan and a simple xray.
And at what age should you do this? As soon as you are old enough to use a cell phone, video game or computer because one of the biggest concerns with modern technology injuries is forward head posture &/or hump back; a major cause of heart disease as you now know. Never has the old saying ‘as the twig is bent, so grows the tree’ been more fitting.
At Life Chiropractic, we use an advanced approach to specifically diagnose & treat forward head posture & hump back. And why we focus so much on this is because heart disease is now becoming a very serious concern in our younger generations.
But what is really scary is it is now estimated that 40% of the time, your first symptom that you have heart disease is a fatal heart attack! [Fatal means you do not get a second chance.]
To schedule an appointment for your free initial consultation is easy. All you have to do is call us at 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ).
We will even include the computerized posture scan and remember that family appointments are also available.
The reason that we recommend family appointments is because subluxations ( these are what cause forward head posture & hump back ) run in families, so it is critical that we check all your children as well.
Click Here to Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Treating Backyard Trampoline Injuries
“What All Parents Should Know About Backyard Trampolines And The Injuries That Can Result From Having One”
It is springtime and not only do parents tend to urge their kids to get out of the house and play outside after a long winter, but most kids do so with utmost enthusiasm.
Backyard trampolines have become very popular over the past 20 years, but with their popularity comes inherent dangers.
As a parent, here is what you need to know about trampoline use purely for the sake of the safety and the health and well-being of your children.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/04.02.2013.trampoline.brad-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/trampoline.jpg width=500 height=299 /]• As early as 1977, the American Academy of Pediatrics ( AAP ) issued warnings about the dangers of trampoline use.
• In 1998, an article in Science Daily reported that there were a quarter million ( 250,000 ) trampoline-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms between 1990 and 1995. And the annual number of injuries had grown from 29,600 per year to 58,400 per year.
• In 1998, the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery revealed that 43% of all injuries were sustained by children between 5 and 9 years of age, 28% were sustained by children between 10 and 14 years of age and even more distressing ; 15% of all injuries were sustained by children under 4 years of age!
• The journal Pediatric Neurosurgery reported that in the year 2000, trampolines were responsible for more than 6500 cervical spine ( neck ) injuries in 1998.
• In 2001, the Consumer Product and Safety Commission reported that since 1990, there had been 11 trampoline-related deaths, 6 of which involved children under the age of 15.
• Consumer Reports released a study in 2004 stating 98,000 people were treated in ER because of trampoline –related injuries in 2003, and more than 50,000 of these cases involved children.
• In 2007, the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System reported a 133% increase in trampoline-related injuries between 1990 and 2005.
• Studies have proven that despite attempts to educate people/parents about the risks, the number of injuries has increased exponentially each year leading the AAP to declare trampoline injuries among children as an epidemic and to recommend banning them from home use entirely.
• Safety nets placed around the outside of trampolines do not correct the problem of the dangerously large gaps between the springs or stopping more than 1 child from being on a trampoline at one time.
• From a chiropractic perspective, there are several regions of the spine which you should be concerned about when your child has been injured on a trampoline: the neck, the tailbone and the lumbar spine or lower back. Other common injuries include dislocations or fractures involving the upper extremities ( arms ), facial abrasions and sprain/strain type injuries.
So, my best recommendation to you if are considering buying a trampoline is NOT TO.
If you already have one, make sure that your children are closely supervised by an adult at all times, and there is only 1 kid at a time on a trampoline.
Should your child have any complaints after trampoline use, it warrants further orthopedic and neurological evaluation and possibly an xray.
This is where we can help. All you have to do is call 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ) and schedule an appointment for your free initial consultation.
Family appointments are also available which means we can check your whole family at the same time.
Helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy drug-free lives for over 25 years.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The Burlington Clinic
Cures For Kids Clinic
Cures For Kids Clinics Exclusively At Life Chiropractic Centre In Burlington
May is recognized as Spinal Health Month by the chiropractic profession in Ontario, and we always like to provide a community service for both our practice members and non-practice members alike.
We will be holding 3 Cures for Kids Clinics during the entire month of May on the following Mondays; 6th, 13th and 27th.
This is a free clinic and open to children of all ages.
Now, why would you want to bring your kids to one of our clinics?
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/03.25.2013.spinal.health.may.brad-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/cures.for_.kids_.jpg width=500 height=299 /]Well, if they have never had a proper & thorough spinal examination, this is their opportunity to get one.
But especially if they suffer from headaches, frequent colds, ear infections, or they have conditions such as asthma or allergies, or they complain of pain in their lower back or their legs ( growing pains ); we can help with all of these and there are no drugs & no surgery involved.
Also, if you have noticed that your kids have poor posture and they slouch a lot, we will even provide a special computerized posture scan to show you any areas of concern.
This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn about chiropractic and how it can benefit the health of your children, and there are absolutely no obligations on your part.
Cures for Kids Clinic at Life Chiropractic Centre.
Monday May 6th, 13th & 27th, 2013.
6:30 pm sharp.
To confirm your attendance or for more information please call us at 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ).
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation For You And Your Family With Dr. Brad
Lower Back Pain And Neck Pain
Disability Cases Driven By Lower Back Pain And Neck Pain
There was a huge research study recently conducted by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) along with several other high profile health institutions from around the world regarding the impact of musculoskeletal conditions on the human population.
The findings of this research study revealed that lower back pain is the number one leading cause of disability in the world, and that neck pain is the 4th leading cause of disability in the world.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/03.19.2013.lower.back.pain.bi-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/lower.back_.and_.neck_.pain_.jpg width=500 height=299 /]Now, I know that a lot of you who visit this web-site suffer from one or both of these conditions and if you are the type who hopes it will just ‘go away’, or you attempt to ‘mask the pain’ with medication, maybe you should re-think things!
There is now indisputable evidence that lower back pain and neck pain are a real serious concern in our society.
So, if you are suffering from one or both of these conditions and you are not under regular chiropractic care, now is the time to start. Lower back pain and neck pain are two of the most common conditions that we treat.
And, it has been proven time and time again that chiropractic care is highly effective and is the treatment of choice for both of these conditions.
But the best thing about it …. there is no medication involved and there is no surgery involved!
All our treatments are totally natural.
And this is not just for adults. Children and teenagers often times suffer from lower back pain and neck pain and we can help them too.
To find out more about how we can help, all you have to do is call us at 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ) and schedule an appointment for your free initial consultation. We will also include a computerized posture analysis and feel free to bring your children along.
We can check your whole family at the same time because these types of problems tend to run in families.
Take this to heart when I say that your spine/back will either be your greatest asset as you age or your greatest liability.
And this all depends upon how you take care of it right now ,today.
Our job is to make sure that it never, ever becomes a liability.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Back Pain #1 Cause Of Disability
“Back Pain Is Now The #1 Cause Of Disability Worldwide”
A series of studies emerging from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 Project, a massive collaboration between the World Health Organization, the Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation, the University of Queensland School of Population Health, Harvard School of Public Health, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the University of Tokyo, Imperial College London, clarifies the worldwide health burden of musculoskeletal conditions, particularly back & neck pain, in crystal-clear fashion, with lower back pain identified as the number-one cause of disability world-wide and neck pain the number-four cause.
Overall, musculoskeletal conditions represent the second leading cause of global disability.
Findings emphasize the shift in global health that has resulted from disability making an increasingly larger footprint on the burden of disease compared to a mere 20-30 years ago.
In addition, while more people are living longer, the flip-side is that they do so with an increasing risk of living with the burden of pain, disability & disease compared to past generations.
Dr Scott Haldeman, who chaired the 2000-2010 Bone and Joint Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders, and is currently president and CEO of World Spine Care, provides an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease 2010 findings, highlighted as follows:
• Musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, neck pain and arthritis affect more than 1.7 billion people worldwide and have a greater impact on the health of the world population ( death & disability ) than HIV/AIDS, tropical diseases including malaria, the forces of war and nature, and all neurological conditions combined.
• When considering death & disability in the health equation, musculoskeletal disorders cause 21.3% of all years lived with disability ( YLD’s ), second only to mental and behavioral disorders, which account for 22.7% of YLD’s.
• Musculoskeletal conditions represent the 6th leading cause of death & disability, with only cardiovascular and circulatory diseases, neonatal diseases, neoplasms, and mental and behavioral disorders accounting for more death and disability worldwide.
• Low back pain is the most dominant musculoskeletal condition, accounting for nearly one-half of all musculoskeletal YLD’s. Neck pain accounts for one-fifth of musculoskeletal YLD’s.
• Low back pain is the sixth most important contributor to the global disease burden ( death & disability ), and has a greater impact on global health than malaria, pre-term birth complications, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ), tuberculosis, diabetes or lung cancer.
• When combined with neck pain ( 21st most important contributor to the global disease burden – death and disability ), painful spinal disorders are second only to ischemic heart disease in terms of their impact on the global burden of disease. Spinal disorders have a greater impact than HIV/AIDS, malaria, lower respiratory infections, stroke, breast & lung cancer combined, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, depression or traffic injuries.
• Current estimates suggest that 632.045 million people worldwide suffer from low back pain and 332.049 million people worldwide suffer from neck pain.
“ The Global Burden of Disease Study provides indisputable evidence that musculoskeletal conditions are an enormous and emerging problem in all parts of the world and need to be given the same priority for policy and resources as other major conditions like cancer, mental health and cardiovascular disease,” says Dr Haldeman.
It is important to note here that chiropractic care is the treatment of choice for most musculoskeletal conditions.
Lower back pain & neck pain are two of the most common conditions that we can help.
Not only is it the treatment of choice, but it has been proven time & time again to be highly effective for both of these conditions.
Chiropractic care also deals specifically with the cause as opposed to drugs, medications and surgery which deal with the effects or symptoms only.
You do not need a medical referral for chiropractic care.
You can call directly to schedule an appointment for your first visit.
We would welcome the opportunity to have you join our practice.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ).
An ounce of prevention is worth a hundred pounds of cure when it comes to your spine because it can never, ever be replaced.You do not have to leave your best years at your place of employment.
You do have a choice.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The Burlington Clinic
Car Accident Injuries
“Information You Need To Know About Car Accident Injuries”
If you have been injured in a car accident, there are a few very important things that you need to know.
And the reason I need to make you aware of these things is to ensure that you get the care that you deserve to make sure that your physical injuries are properly addressed, and that you get any settlement monies that you are entitled to because you should never try to deal with your insurance company on your own.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/02.28.2013.car.accidents.bi2-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/car.accident.jpg width=500 height=299 /]The first thing I strongly recommend you do is to get a chiropractic check-up as soon as you can.
It is very rare that you are involved in a car accident without injuring your spine, especially your neck.
And if you have suffered a whiplash, then a chiropractic check-up is exactly what you need because one of our specialties is to assess spinal injuries.
But please do not make this mistake… just because you may not be feeling any immediate pain or discomfort, do not assume that you’re OK.
Often times the symptoms make take days, weeks or even months to appear but we will be able to detect your injuries right away.
The next thing you need to know is that we work specifically with a personal injury lawyer from a major law firm here in the GTA who specializes in these types of cases.
Their job is to make sure that you get any settlement monies that you may be entitled to.
And, there are no up-front legal fees and they will even come and meet with you at your own home if you cannot travel due to your injuries or loss of transportation.
And finally, the support staff here at Life Chiropractic are well experienced and very proficient at dealing with insurance companies.
There is often times a lot of paper-work ( which is by design, of course ) which can discourage car accident victims from filing a claim, but we will help you get through it all with minimal stress.
So, if you have been injured in car accident, you need to call Life Chiropractic Centre right away. We will do everything we can to help you get better and to make sure that your future interests are well protected.
Our phone number is 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ) and remember that consultations are always free of charge.
Please note: you only have 2 YEARS from your accident date to file a claim, and it is always better to file sooner than later.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad
Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs
“Warning To Parents From Our Burlington Clinic – Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs Causing Kidney Failure In Children”
If you give your children nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs when they have a cold, fever or for any other reason, you absolutely need to be aware of the possible dangerous side-effects.
Recently, it was reported that nearly 3% of cases of pediatric acute kidney injury (AKI ) over 11 years could be traced directly to having taken nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/02.19.2013.non.steroidal.anti.imflamatory.bi-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/non-steroidal-anti-inflam.jpg width=500 height=299 /]These findings were published in an online article by the Journal of Pediatrics. Jason Misurac, MD and colleagues from IU and Butler University reported that NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen affect kidney function by restricting blood flow to the kidneys, especially if children are dehydrated due to vomiting or diarrhea.
Many parents who do not understand or have not been informed, give their children NSAIDs when they are ill, especially when they have a fever. Remember that fevers are a sign that the child’s immune system is working and that it is counterproductive to lower it with NSAIDs or acetaminophen.
There are 3 things that all parents need to know about fevers …
Fevers are how everyone’s body fights off unwanted germs.
Kids fevers can seem worse than adult fevers because their immune systems are learning, developing and maturing.
It is very, very rare that someone’s body would create a fever that would be injurious to itself.
[ This can happen but there would have to be a serious condition such as meningitis, encephalitis or a reaction to a vaccination. ]So, there is really no sense to using medication to lower a fever in most cases, especially when you take into consideration the potentially dangerous side-effects.
Here is a bit of very useful information that you may not know …
Chiropractic care can help your child’s immune system function optimally by using gentle spinal adjustments which remove any interference to your child’s innate healing ability.
To find out more about how chiropractic can help your children stay drug-free, all you have to do is call us at 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ).
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available.
Life Chiropractic Centre – helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives in Burlington for over 25 years.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Appointment With Dr. Brad At The Burlington Clinic
Side Effects Of Aspirin
“New Side Effects Found Of An Old Wonder Drug – Read This Warning Before You Cannot See!”
There was a study released in the Dec. 19th, 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
This study showed that the daily use of aspirin over a 10 yr period can cause an increased rate of Age-related Macular Degeneration ( AMD ).
AMD usually affects older adults and results in a loss of vision in the centre of the visual field ( macula ) because of damage to the retina.
It occurs in wet and dry forms and is a major cause of blindness and visual impairments in adults over 50 years of age.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/02.14.2013.aspirin.bi-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/aspirin.jpg width=500 height=299 /]AMD can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces.
How would this serve the aging population who love to read, admire their grandchildren and watch them growing up? You kind of need your eyes for these things!
Numerous other studies have shown daily aspirin use linked to a number of problems including intestinal bleeding and other bleeding issues.
The Star-Tribune article warned in an article in June of 2012 that “ unless you are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, you probably shouldn’t take a low-dose aspirin every day, a new study suggests.
Researchers report that daily use low-dose aspirin use may significantly increase the chance of major gastro-intestinal (stomach) or cerebral ( brain ) bleeding.”
What?!!! – isn’t it aspirin that your family doctor recommends to help prevent heart attacks and strokes ( bleeding of the brain )?
What is going on here? Have we been lied to about the wonder drug called aspirin? The current study showed that daily aspirin usage for a 10 year period could double your risk of blindness from AMD!
Lead author Barbara E.K. Klein, MD from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health commented in an article covering the study by saying, “ There a lot of people taking aspirin for cardioprotection.
Heart attacks have a high risk of death, so the question is: is it worth the possible increase in [ risk for ] age-related macular degeneration, compared to the risk of getting a heart attack?”
It is up to the individual person to decide this for themselves, but may I offer something else for you to think about; there are other ways to help prevent heart disease that will not damage your eyes.
To find out more about this topic or any other health issues you or your family may have, you can contact us at 905 335 LIFE (5433).
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Appointment With Dr. Brad At The Burlington Clinic
Persistent And Reoccuring Colds
“What To Do If Your Kids Get A Lot Of Colds Or Have A Hard Time Getting Rid Of Colds”
Here is some extremely important information for you if your kids get a lot of colds or just seem to go from one cold to another.
Even though it is not unusual for kids to get more colds than adults because their immune systems are learning, developing and maturing, it should not seem like they are fighting a cold most of the time.
This is not considered to be normal.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/02.05.2013.colds.bi-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/persistent.colds_.jpg width=500 height=299 /]As a parent, there are 3 things that you need to know about colds and what you can do to combat them effectively without having to rely on antibiotics or medications.
1—sugar; sugar is never good for anybody but if your kids consume a lot of sugar in their diet, this will actually make them prone to getting more colds.
2—dairy; if your kids consume a lot of dairy products ( milk and ice cream especially ) these things will actually make a cold last a lot longer than it should.
3 – and this may be something that you are not aware of, but chiropractic adjustments have a huge impact on immune system function and when your kids get chiropractic care on a regular basis, you will notice that they will be healthier and get colds less often.
So, if your kids are struggling with colds –whether it is too many or they last too long – my best advice to you is to eliminate all forms of sugar from their diet, minimize how much dairy they consume especially when they have a cold and most importantly, make sure they get chiropractic check-ups on a regular basis.
For more information on this topic or any other health concerns you may have, please call us at 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ).
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available.
Helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives.
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad At The Burlington Clinic
Xray Myths and Misconceptions
“Here Are Some Myths and Misconceptions About X-rays That You Should Know About”
In this post we are going to clear up some myths and misconceptions that many of you have about xrays because often times when you go to a chiropractor, xrays are required to properly assess your posture.
And, according to researchers there is a significant lack of evidence that low doses of ionizing radiation ( xrays ) pose any health risks. In fact, some studies suggest that there may actually be health benefits to such practices.
[flashvideo file=http://lifechiropractic.s3.amazonaws.com/01.29.2013.xrays5.bi-1.mp4 image=https://lifechiropracticcentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/xrays.jpg width=500 height=299 /]There is the 100 YEAR STUDY OF BRITISH RADIOLOGISTS ( doctors who worked in and around xrays ) and they compared these radiologists to all male medical doctors ( non-radiologists ) and Social Class 1 males.
This study determined that British radiologists never demonstrated an increase in cancer mortality compared to the other 2 groups and in fact had a lower cancer mortality rate than the average for the whole population of England and Wales.
In another study, the US Atomic Energy Commission reported that people who live in the 6 US states with the highest level of background radiation had a 15% lower cancer mortality rate comparing to the national average.
Another study performed at the John Hopkins University called the NUCLEAR SHIPYARD WORKERS STUDY compared 3 different groups of workers; 27,800 workers exposed to radiation, 10,300 workers who had minimal exposure to radiation and 32,500 un-exposed workers.
This study found that the exposed workers death rate from cancer was actually lower that the un-exposed workers.
And for centuries, millions and millions of people around the world have sought out health spas with high levels of radiation.
These types of spas are common in some parts of Japan and studies show that people living near these spas have significantly lower cancer-induced mortality rates than people living further away.
So, the conclusion combining the data of these studies – and there are several others that I did not mention – suggest that humans need a level of radiation above the natural level of background radiation found in most areas of the world.
Now considering that exposure to radiation from diagnostic or spinal xrays is less than that of background radiation, most people should have no concerns about having the occasional spinal xray.
For more information on this topic or any other health concerns you may have, please contact us at 905 335 LIFE ( 5433 ).
Click Here To Book A Free Initial Consultation With Dr. Brad