Health: Your Most Valuable Possession

Bottom Line:

What is the most valuable thing in the world to you? As the great physician Hippocrates once said: “A wise man ought to realize that health is his most valuable possession.” We agree. All the cars, watches, and bitcoins in the world has never improved anyone's health. That’s why we are so passionate about helping you get well and stay well with Chiropractic care - and we aren’t alone. A recent study in the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine showed that Chiropractic care had an extremely high perceived value for people suffering from neck pain. In other words, people loved getting adjusted!

Why it Matters:

Whether you’re recovering from an injury or just looking to improve your quality of life, maintaining optimal health is a process - so you should have fun doing it! It’s a lot easier to get well and stay well when you enjoy the care and treatment. People love Chiropractic care not only because of the pain relief they receive but also because Chiropractors can help them to live a healthier lifestyle.

-        An incredible 94% of people receiving adjustments reported high patient satisfaction.

-        Chiropractors are trained to help people live a healthy, active lifestyle, using natural treatment options.

-        Chiropractic is supported by top research journals like SPINE and the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Next Steps:

If you know someone who appreciates natural healthcare and wants to maintain an active lifestyle, then share this Research That Matters paper with them. Without any exposure to Chiropractic care, they may have to rely on dangerous medications or surgery to reduce the pain in their neck, but we believe there is a better way with Chiropractic.

Science Source(s):

Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise With Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain- A Randomized Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, Volume 156, 2012

Safety of Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine. SPINE, Volume 32, 2007

Perceived Value of Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Exercise Among Seniors with Chronic Neck Pain: A Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2014

Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Chiropractic Treatment of Adults with Neck Pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Volume 37. 2014

Outcomes from Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Confirmed Symptomatic Cervical Disk Herniation Patients Treated with High-Velocity, Low-Amplitude Spinal Manipulative Therapy. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2013

How Safe is Chiropractic Care?

Bottom Line:

Safety first. Not only is “do no harm” part of the oath that doctors take, but it’s also a pretty good principle for all of us to live by. No matter how safe you are, there are times when you get hurt or injured, and finding a healthcare option that is safe, provides excellent results, and has high patient satisfaction can be tricky. Or is it? In 2007, SPINE (one of the worlds most respected research journals) looked at data from over 50,000 Chiropractic adjustments given to nearly 20,000 patients, and they found Chiropractic care to be incredibly safe and effective.

Why it Matters:

Awkward sleeping positions, poor posture, and long hours at a computer can all lead to neck pain. By staying active, taking periodic breaks to stretch throughout the day, and setting up your workstation to minimize the stress on your spine, you can dramatically reduce the likelihood you will encounter a bout of neck pain. It’s great to know that if you do end up experiencing neck pain, Chiropractic adjustments are one of the safest and most effective options to help get you back on track.

-        Research has shown Chiropractic care to be extremely safe.

-        SPINE examined nearly 20,000 patients and found zero complications.

-        Up to 85% of people with acute neck pain found relief with Chiropractic adjustments.

Next Steps:

Believe it or not, many people are nervous to start Chiropractic care. The truth is that Chiropractic care is safer than many medications and has far less risk than surgery. Sharing research like this with your friends and family is a great idea. It will inspire them to make a smart decision using the Research That Matters!

Science Source:

Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise With Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain- A Randomized Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, Volume 156, 2012

Safety of Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine. SPINE, Volume 32, 2007

Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Chiropractic Treatment of Adults with Neck Pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Volume 37. 2014

Risk of Vertebrobasilar Stroke and Chiropractic Care. SPINE, Volume 33. 2008

Your Arm Pain May Be Coming From Your Neck

Bottom Line:

Cervical radiculopathy is the medical term for when a spinal disc in your neck is irritating or compressing a nerve root, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm and hand. Specific neck movements, like twisting or bending, may increase the pain. This can happen because of injury or degenerative changes in the spine. The good news is that over 95% of people get well with natural healthcare like Chiropractic.

Why it Matters:

A pinched nerve in your neck can cause a lot of pain, and it can be tempting to reach for medications to find relief. However, research shows us you may want to contact your Chiropractor before reaching for any pills. The Annals of Internal Medicine found that Chiropractic adjustments provided more pain relief than medications for people suffering from neck pain and the relief was long-lasting. The patients in the study experienced statistically significant relief up to 1 year after the initial treatment!

-        Discs in your neck can compress or irritate your nerves causing pain, numbness, or weakness.

-        Research has shown that adjustments were more effective than medication in the short and long-term.

-        Chronic neck pain can be reduced by up to 75% or more after Chiropractic adjustments.

Next Steps:

Research has shown that Chiropractic is an extremely safe and effective healthcare option for treating neck pain or pinched nerves. Additionally, Chiropractors are trained to help you proactively combat neck pain and to prevent it from showing up in the first place. Ask us about some simple stretches and exercises you can perform to help improve your range of motion while keeping your discs and nerves healthy and happy.

Science Source:

Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise With Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain- A Randomized Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, Volume 156, 2012

Safety of Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine. SPINE, Volume 32, 2007

Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Chiropractic Treatment of Adults with Neck Pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Volume 37. 2014

Outcomes from Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Confirmed Symptomatic Cervical Disk Herniation Patients Treated with High-Velocity, Low-Amplitude Spinal Manipulative Therapy. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2013

Reducing Inflammation Naturally

Bottom Line:

Reducing inflammation starts on your plate. Yes, that's right! The choices you make about what you eat can play a huge role in your body’s hormone balance, immune response and inflammatory state. Each meal is an opportunity to turn up, or turn down, inflammation. And with inflammation leading to pain and even chronic disease, it's best to make good decisions now to reduce your risk of health challenges in the future.

Why it Matters:

Creating an anti-inflammatory diet doesn't mean you need to make massive changes. As a matter of fact, some simple additions in terms of spices can make a big difference. Adding flavorful spices like turmeric, ginger, and even leafy green vegetables, can improve the health and taste of your next meal.

•        Tumeric has been shown to reduce inflammation in people suffering from painful arthritis.

•        Ginger can limit the production of inflammatory mediators like cytokines.

•        Leafy green vegetables are high in antioxidants.

Next Steps:

Next time you're getting ready to cook a meal, look for an opportunity to add some anti-inflammatory spices. If you aren't into food that's spicy, don't worry! Spices like turmeric and ginger add more flavor than heat. One final tip is to reduce carbohydrates like bread and increase the amount of green vegetables. These small changes to your meals and diet can pay substantial health dividends down the road!

Science Source(s):

Which herbs help reduce inflammation? Medical News Today. 2019.

The Link Between Chronic Disease and Inflammation

Bottom Line:

Studies have shown that chronic inflammation is directly linked to many of the most common chronic diseases we encounter in our lives. Over 60% of people are affected with at least one condition associated with chronic inflammation. The number of people with heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer continues to soar as a result of the stress and dysfunction caused by chronic inflammation.

Why it Matters:

The process of chronic inflammation begins with your body doing the right thing. Hormones are released due to injury, stress or your diet which causes your immune system to react. If the injury doesn't heal, the stress doesn't end or the diet doesn't change, this normally healthy process can turn into chronic inflammation and disease. If your immune system doesn't "turn off," a vicious cycle of tissue damage can lead to long term inflammation & future health issues.

•        Chronic inflammation results in an imbalanced immune response, which can lead to chronic disease.

•        When inflammatory mediators are overproduced, it can lead to tissue damage.

•        Taking a pro-active approach to your health now can lower your risk for developing chronic disease later.

Next Steps:

A few of the most common risk factors associated with chronic inflammation include age, obesity, diet, smoking, hormone imbalances and sleep disorders. While age is something you can't control, nearly all the other risk factors can be altered with your daily habits. Be sure to attend our upcoming workshop - Don't Burn Out: The Truth About Inflammation - to get practical tips on how to reduce or eliminate chronic inflammation!

Science Source(s):

Chronic Inflammation. StatPearls. Pubmed. 2018.

Inflammation and Your Health

Bottom Line:

Researchers have identified inflammation as one of the most beneficial and harmful processes in your body. How is that possible? Well, acute inflammation is your body’s natural repair and healing response to an accident or injury. However, chronic inflammation is a different matter. Many major diseases, including coronary artery disease, diabetes, and cancer, have a common cause: chronic inflammation. 

Why it Matters:

All the systems in your body are balanced and regulated by your hormones and nervous system. This balance, or intelligent design, can activate your immune system to fight a cold or heal after a fall.  However, if your lymphocytes keep producing antibodies, then this process can become very destructive. The key to good health and to reducing chronic inflammation is to make daily lifestyle choices that don't result in a constant state of stress, which is known to be a trigger for chronic inflammation.

•        Acute inflammation is your body’s natural healing process, while chronic inflammation is a destructive process linked to many chronic diseases.

•        Lymphocytes are white blood cells responsible for your immune system.

•        Making healthy decisions each day around your stress level can help your nervous system maintain a balance that reduces chronic inflammation.

Next Steps:

The decisions you make now will determine your health later. Your body is designed to manage stress effectively; chronic inflammation only begins as the last resort. We want you to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and a high quality of life for decades to come. If you have questions about how you can reduce the stress in your life, ask! We are here to be your partners in health!

Science Source(s):

Inflammation: A unifying theory of disease. Harvard Health. 2006.

What is Inflammation?

Bottom Line:

If you've ever cut your finger or twisted your ankle, then you have first-hand experience with inflammation. The redness, swelling, pain and heat are all hallmarks of the inflammatory process. In some ways, this is the first step of the healing process as your body begins to repair the injured tissue. However, there is another side to inflammation that can be extremely damaging to your overall health…chronic inflammation.

Why it Matters:

Chronic inflammation occurs when the body is unable to complete the healing process. Your immune system may continue to produce white blood cells that create oxidative stress for months or even years. This long-term stress, or chronic inflammation, has been linked to diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Some of the risk factors for developing chronic inflammation include smoking, obesity, poor diet, stress and sleep disorders.

·        Chronic inflammation is a long-term inflammation that can last for months or years.

·        Diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease have been linked to chronic inflammation.

·        Reducing stress through exercise & diet can help reduce chronic inflammation and create a healthier you.

Next Steps:

You can reduce or eliminate chronic inflammation naturally with a few simple steps. Researchers have discovered that daily exercise and weight loss can cause a dramatic reduction in chronic inflammation. Additionally, reducing the stress on your muscles and joints through Chiropractic care may provide additional benefits on your way to curbing chronic inflammation.

Science Source(s):

Understanding Inflammation. Harvard Health Publishing. 2019