A Question for our readers: To Blog or NOT To Blog!

It has been a concern for us for sometime now that we are not getting the readership from our blog site that we used to.  Most of the comments that we receive are spam from outside or third party sources.  So we are questioning whether or not to continue updating this site.  If there is an actual human being out there that reads this blog site, please reply to this thread and we will determine what the fate of this site will be.  We will wait for two weeks and if we do not receive an actual reply from an actual reader, then we will shut this site down.  Thank you to those of you who may actually read this, but we will see what happens.  Thank you.

Topic of the Week: Chiropractic: A Manual Therapy for Chronic Asthma

Many chronic asthma sufferers have turned to chiropractic care to help treat or prevent asthma attacks or symptoms. Asthma is a chronic lung disease that involves inflammation and swelling in the lung’s airways. The inflamed airways of an asthmatic are extremely sensitive and often react strongly to allergens and other irritants. With asthma, the muscles surrounding the airways become too tight - a situation known as bronchospasm. Asthma, notes the UC Davis Health System, is episodic, may be accompanied by sinus problems, is usually seasonal and may be reversible.

What is the role of chiropractic care in treating chronic or long-term, asthma? An article published on the Dynamic Chiropractic website describes a case study in which one young patient with asthma experienced a significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks with chiropractic care - a clinical outcome reported by many chiropractors and chiropractic patients.



How Chiropractic Care May Help

As mentioned above, asthma is an abnormal constriction of the lung’s airways. To understand how chiropractic care - spinal adjustments, specifically - may help treat asthma, it is important to understand why the lung’s airways constrict. Airway constriction may be caused by many different factors, including a communication problem between the nerves and the bronchial muscles (i.e., the bands of muscle that surround your airways). It is thought by some in the chiropractic community that physical pressure on a spinal nerve (in the upper thoracic spine, or mid-back) may affect the nerve signal that controls bronchial muscle tone.

The idea is that by adjusting the spine and restoring normal spinal joint motion, any nerve interference that may be causing bronchial constriction can be resolved and lung function restored. This is one theory in the chiropractic community of why spinal adjustments may help relieve asthma symptoms in chronic asthma sufferers.



What the Evidence Says

Research evidence into the effects of chiropractic care on chronic asthma are mixed. Some studies show favorable effects while others fail to draw any significant conclusions about the benefits of chiropractic care for this health problem. One study, published in 2008 in the Chiropractic Journal of Australia, reports that a multi-modal chiropractic treatment approach may help reduce asthmaassociated symptoms in selected cases. A review article, published in 2013 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, notes that the use of manual techniques (e.g., chiropractic care, osteopathic medicine, and massage) on children with respiratory diseases (including asthma) appears to be beneficial. Another review article published in 2012 in the journal Clinical Chiropractic, states that chiropractic care may be a viable alternative care method for asthma sufferers. Still, there is some research evidence that fails to show significant benefits of chiropractic care for asthma. Many of these studies conclude that larger randomized controlled studies are required to examine the effects of chiropractic care and other manual therapies on asthma.



Other Helpful Natural Treatments

Chiropractic care is just one part of a comprehensive natural treatment approach to chronic asthma. According to the American Chiropractic Association, other helpful measures include using air filters to improve the air quality in your home, avoiding sulfites and monosodium glutamate (MSG) in foods, eating foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids (e.g., fish or fish oil), supplementing your diet with vitamin C, covering your bedding (e.g., mattresses and pillows) with dust covers and using hypoallergenic bed linens to minimize your exposure to dust mites.

Exercise-induced asthma - coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath during or after exercise - is another form of the condition that may respond well to natural treatment approaches. If you suffer from this problem, your chiropractor can prescribe for you an individualized exercise plan that will reduce the likelihood of asthma symptoms during physical activity.

Your chiropractor will also explain to you how this exercise plan fits in with your overall asthma treatment plan.



Conclusion

Your chiropractor can further counsel you on the possible merits of chiropractic care for chronic asthma. Some research evidence does indeed show that chiropractic spinal adjustments may be helpful for this health problem - a conclusion that many chiropractors have already drawn from their clinical experience. Ask your chiropractor about a natural, comprehensive, and individualized approach to treating your asthma.





Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - Wellness ExpressTM

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Exercise of the Week: Pelvic Rotations - Leg Straight

Topic of the Week: Zap Your Zits Using Natural Methods

Acne vulgaris, or simply acne, affects 40 to 50 million Americans and almost 85 percent of all people develop acne at some point in their lives, states the American Academy of Dermatology. Many observers note that acne is a disease of Western civilization, that it is rare in indigenous cultures (except in those individuals or groups who adopt Western dietary and lifestyle habits).

Acne is an often distressing and persistent health problem, especially among teens. Acne lesions most commonly appear on the face, neck, chest, back, and shoulders, and can cause significant emotional distress and skin scarring.
Conventional approaches to acne treatment vary considerably from more natural methods. In this edition of the Wellness Express, we will examine the factors that lead to acne and discuss several powerful natural methods of resolving this health problem. Ask your chiropractor about his or her thoughts on this health topic before making any treatment decisions about your - or your child’s - acne.

Important Factors to Consider
When it comes to acne and its underlying causes, there are 3 important factors to consider: bacteria, sebum, and terrain. Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors:
• Bacteria: Bacteria, specifically Propionibacterium acnes, is linked to the skin condition acne. In people with acne, this bacteria generates byproducts that weaken the cell walls of follicles and cause inflammation.
• Sebum: Sebum is the oily and waxy product of sebaceous glands, which are primarily located on the scalp and face. Sebum helps lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair. P. acnes proliferates in sebum, altering the skin and forming plugs, called comedones. The sebum produced in people with acne is of poor quality, and P. acnes bacteria living off this poor quality sebum generate further acne-inducing byproducts.
• Terrain: Terrain refers to the skin itself, specifically the health of the skin and the factors that influence the development of skin diseases. Improper diet (more on this later) can start a cascade of events that narrow the sebum canal and pores leading to acne.

What Are Conventional Therapies?
The conventional medical treatment of acne attempts to inhibit sebum production, kill bacteria, reduce inflammation and boost skin cell turnover, notes the Mayo Clinic. Some of the most common conventional acne therapies include the following: over-the-counter topical treatments, prescription topical treatments, antibiotics, oral contraceptives (in women) and other prescription medications. Listed below are several of the most potent natural treatment methods. Natural approaches are designed to encourage healthy bacteria (in both the skin and colon), promote healthy sebum production and reduce inflammation.

Natural Method #1: Fasting
Fasting can be an extremely helpful natural approach to acne. A fast presents an opportunity to reduce dependence on addictive substances (sugar, caffeine, nicotine) and step away from foods that can aggravate or worsen acne, such as chocolate, cola, coffee, nuts, milk products and greasy or salty foods. Dairy products and carbohydrate-rich foods (bread, bagels, chips), notes the Mayo Clinic, may be particularly likely to trigger acne. Therapeutic fasting plays an important role in decreasing the burden of acne-inducing foods on your body and optimizing wellness, and it can be helpful for treating and preventing acne, especially when it is combined with a well-rounded treatment plan that targets acne’s fundamental cause. Fasting can also be an excellent way to identify food sensitivities.

Natural Method #2: Eliminating Refined Sugar From Your Diet
If you change only one aspect of your diet to help treat your acne, let it be the elimination of refined sugar. According to a 2007 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a low glycemic-load diet improved acne lesions in young males.5 Another study, published in 2008 in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, states that diets with a high glycemic load may aggravate some of the factors (such as sex hormones and insulin growth factors) associated with acne development.6 A further study, still, published in 2009 in the International Journal of Dermatology, reports that the hormonal effects of certain dietary components, including glycemic index levels, can control the effect of diet on acne risk.

Botanical Medicines
Botanical medicines have long been used to help control or eliminate acne. Botanical medicines can have strong effects on the body and should always be used with caution (and only under the supervision of your chiropractor or other healthcare professional). Botanical medicines that have historically been used topically to help treat acne include tea tree oil, azelaic acid and Calendula succus. Botanical medicines that have historically been used internally to help treat acne include chastetree (for hormone imbalances), gugulipid, Oregon grape, usnea, and gumweed.

Considerations
Speak with your chiropractor before using any therapeutic approach to help treat your acne. Your chiropractor can instruct you on the safest and most effective way to use natural approaches to help resolve your acne, as well as suggest other treatment approaches that may be more appropriate for your specific health circumstances.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - Wellness Express NewsYM

Exercise of the Week: Pelvic Rotations - Cross Over

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Topic of the Week: The Role of Chiropractic in Treating Childhood Bedwetting

Childhood bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, is a relatively common phenomenon affecting approximately 5 million children in the United States alone, reports the Cleveland Clinic. The Clinic also notes that, of individuals over the age of 18, about 2 to 3 percent experience nocturnal enuresis. This health problem, which involves the accidental release of urine during sleep, occurs with greater regularity in boys and commonly occurs even after children have been toilet-trained. Bedwetting, though not a serious health condition, can cause significant stress, shame, or embarrassment for the child and concern among adults. In this edition of the Wellness Express newsletter, we will take a closer look at childhood bedwetting to determine what causes this problem and how natural approaches, including chiropractic care, can help resolve it.

Types & Causes of Bedwetting
The two principle types of bedwetting are primary and secondary nocturnal enuresis. Primary nocturnal enuresis, the most common form of bedwetting, is diagnosed when a child has reached the age where he or she should stay dry through the night but continues to wet the bed 2 nights per week on average, with no long periods of dryness.
Secondary nocturnal enuresis is diagnosed when a child (who has wet the bed in the past) begins wetting the bed again after a dry period of 6 months or longer. In many cases, secondary nocturnal enuresis is associated with other medical or psychological health concerns. According to the Mayo Clinic the true underlying cause of bedwetting is still a mystery but a number of factors may play a role, including small bladder size, inability to recognize a full bladder, a hormone imbalance, stress, urinary tract infection, sleep apnea, diabetes, chronic constipation and structural problems in the urinary tract or nervous system.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help
To those who are unfamiliar with chiropractic care, it might not be immediately apparent that chiropractors treat childhood bedwetting or that chiropractic adjustments and care may be helpful for non-spinal conditions. However, many young patients who suffer from bedwetting have been helped with chiropractic care. Some research studies (along with the clinical experience of many chiropractors) suggest that chiropractic care is indeed helpful for this health problem. According to a 2009 case series published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, chiropractic care was responsible for a 67 percent resolution rate of primary nocturnal enuresis in children and teenagers with this condition. Another study, published in the same journal, draws a similar conclusion: chiropractic treatment for primary nocturnal enuresis appeared to be an effective therapy in 46 children with this condition.
A case study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics states that lumbar spine manipulation was successful in resolving an 8-year-old boy’s primary nocturnal enuresis, and that the resolution of his condition happened in a way that was independent of time or placebo effect. Another case study, published in 2010 in the Chiropractic Journal of Australia, notes that chiropractic car (spinal and cranial adjustments, specifically) helped eliminate bedwetting, asthma, and allergy symptoms in a 4-year-old boy.

A Holistic Approach to Bedwetting
A holistic, or comprehensive, approach to bedwetting involves first ruling out any major medical causes. Your child’s environment, psychological well-being, toileting skills, medication and supplements are all factors that his or her chiropractor will take into consideration before developing a treatment plan to address the bedwetting. Other natural treatment and prevention approaches (besides chiropractic care), notes Dr. Ray Sahelian, a medical doctor and author, include restricting fluid intake before bed, using an alarm device that sounds when your child wets the bed and having your child assist with clean up in a non-punitive manner.

Considerations
Bedwetting can cause your child considerable embarrassment. This health problem may lead to fear avoidance behavior, such as skipping sleep-overs, camping trips and other group activities because they are concerned about the possibility of bedwetting in a vulnerable situation.
Your chiropractor can counsel you further on the merits of natural approaches to bedwetting for your child.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - Wellness Express NewsTM

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Exercise of the Week: Pelvic Rotations - Knees Together

Topic of the Week: 4 Reasons to Take a Break from Your Computer Screen

Let’s face it: many of us spend a lot of time in front of our computer screens - in some cases, probably too much time. It can be difficult to break away from the computer screen but there are a number of compelling reasons to carve out some screen-free time in your life every week. According to the Mayo Clinic, avoiding screens (television, computer, etc.) is an important health habit, particularly for children, as too much screen time has been linked to the following problems: obesity, irregular sleep, behavioral issues and impaired academic performance.
In this edition of the Wellness Express, we will take a closer look at how reducing your computer screen time can benefit your health. Your chiropractor can expand upon these health benefits to give you a more comprehensive picture of the merits of this important health habit.

Reason #1: It Can Save
Your Spine & Joints Reducing your screen time can have a hugely beneficial effect on your spine and joints. Sitting for prolonged periods in front of a computer screen can (in the absence of perfect posture) place a significant amount of strain on your spine and its supporting structures. The Spine Health website states that the leading contributor to neck pain is forward head and shoulder posture - a posture that computer users commonly adopt when working at a computer for hours on end. Sitting in front of a computer can also place a tremendous amount of stress and strain on your mid and lower back joints and tissues and may lead to chronic back pain. Spending more time away from your computer screen can reduce the burden on your spine and improve the health of your spinal joints.

Reason #2: It Can Ease the Burden on Your Eyes
Staring at a computer screen for hours at a time places a large burden on your eyes and may lead to a problem called Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS. According to the American Optometric Association, CVS may cause eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes, and it is most commonly caused by poor lighting, computer screen glare, improper viewing distances, poor posture, uncorrected vision problems or any combination of these factors. A review article published in 2005 in the journal Survey of Ophthalmology states that proper lighting, anti-glare filters, ergonomic positioning of your computer monitor, and frequent breaks from your computer screen may help boost your visual comfort, or ease the burden on your eyes.

Reason #3: It Can Help You Keep Your Weight in Check
Limiting screen time can be an effective anti-obesity tool. Devoting some or all of the time to physical activity that you would have otherwise used to compute can have a profoundly beneficial effect on your weight. The Harvard School of Public Health notes that sedentary activities, including using computers, burn very few calories, replace more active pursuits and promote obesity by changing what and how people eat. It is this unfavorable alteration in diet that may be most significant for weight gain, even more so than the reduction in physical activity, states the School.

Reason #4: It Can Help You Recharge Your Batteries
One of the most important (and least discussed) reasons to step away from your computer screen from time to time is the restorative effect this action can have on your energy levels and sense of well-being. It is easy to fall into a pattern of checking email dozens of times every day, communicating with your friends or contacts via Facebook and Twitter in near real-time and watching movies or playing games in your free time. But this may not be the most beneficial habit, both in terms of time management or its effects on your physical, mental and social health.
Excessive screen time can be isolating, in some cases, drawing you away from activities or events where real human contact (not to mention natural light!) could enrich your life and improve your health.

Conclusion
Computers are an extremely important tool that have reshaped how we live and operate in the world. Computers allow us to enjoy many benefits that were previously unavailable in the pre computer era and have become nearly indispensable to our way of life. However, like many things in life, moderation may be the key. Here is one simple exercise you may consider trying: pick one day every week and go screen-free for a full 24 hours. After a few weeks of doing this, you may notice a boost in your energy levels and quality of life. Ask your chiropractor for other ideas about how to step away from your computer screen for improved health and well-being.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - Wellness Express NewsTM

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Topic of the Week: Chiropractic Approach to Rib Cage Injuries

Rib cage injuries - any injury that affects your ribs or their supporting tissues - are notoriously painful and difficult to treat using conventional methods. Each breath can be painful with a rib cage injury, which can make this health problem a major source of discomfort for the injured individual. Because the ribs attach to the spine, rib injuries have been a special area of interest for chiropractors since the early days of the profession. Your chiropractor is knowledgeable about the underlying causes of rib cage injuries and is trained to address these health problems using natural, noninvasive and effective treatment approaches. In this edition of the Wellness Express, we delve deeper into rib cage injuries and how chiropractic care can successfully address these problems.
What is the Rib Cage?
The rib cage is an arrangement of bones in the upper body that surrounds the thoracic cavity and is made up of 24 ribs, 12 thoracic vertebrae, the sternum (breast plate) and xiphoid process (the small, palpable bone directly below the sternum). Cartilage, fascia, ligament, and muscle are other tissues that help form the rib cage and allow it to perform its main functions: protecting the heart and lungs from trauma, assisting respiration, and providing an attachment point for numerous muscles.

According to a 2006 study published in the journal Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, subtle differences exist in the rib cages of men and women, most notably that rib cage volume is about 10 percent smaller in females than in males who are the same height, and that in females the ribs grow longer in relation to the spine and sternum than in males.
Most Common Rib Cage Injuries
Certain rib cage injuries occur with greater frequency than others. The following is a list of three of the most common rib cage injuries:

• Intercostal Muscle Strain: Strains or microtears of the intercostal muscles - groups of muscles that run between the ribs - are one of the most common rib cage injuries or problems. Any activity that involves aggressive torso twisting or arm swinging (e.g., golf and tennis) may cause intercostal muscles strains.2

• Rib Fracture: One of the most common rib cage injuries, rib fractures occur when force exerted on a rib bone overwhelms the rib’s ability to withstand it. According to the Mayo Clinic, the leading cause of rib fractures is chest trauma, which may occur during a fall, motor vehicle accident, or contact sports injury.

• Costovertebral Subluxation: Irritation and discomfort can occur at the point where a rib attaches to the thoracic spine, at a location known as the costovertebral joint. Dysfunction at this joint, notes the Spine Health website, may cause upper back pain. Chiropractors are trained to look for costovertebral joint problems first when assessing possible causes of rib cage and upper back pain.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Conventional medical treat of rib cage problems typically involves rest, prescription strength painkilling medication, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, icepacks, and activity avoidance. This treatment approach may be used for anything from rib fractures to bruised ribs. Chiropractic care takes a different approach however, using natural, conservative methods to speed recovery time and reduce pain The following is a list of possible treatment approaches your chiropractor may use to help heal your rib problem:

• Chiropractic Adjustments: Costovertebral joint adjustments involving the hands or a tool to help restore normal joint movement and reduce discomfort in the affected joint(s).

• Cold Laser (Low-Level Light Therapy): A painless treatment modality that works at the cellular level to help heal injured tissues and relieve pain or discomfort.

• Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization: A manual medicine technique that uses specialized tools to help reduce scar tissue and promote healing of damaged tissues.

• Taping Procedures: The use of elasticized tape to help reduce pain, swelling and inflammation in and around the injured area.

• Trigger Point Therapy: A type of soft tissue therapy that helps eliminate tight and painful nodules within a muscle.

• Stretching Exercises: Key rehabilitative exercises that help restore normal tissue tone in the muscles that act on or support the rib cage.

• Hot/Cold Therapy: The use of hot or cold compresses (used in isolation or sequentially) to encourage the healing of injured rib tissues.

Note: The type of treatment your chiropractor uses to treat your rib problem will depend on the nature of your problem and what therapies you will best tolerate, based on your pain levels.

Considerations
In some (rarer) cases rib pain may indicate a more serious underlying health problem that should be evaluated by a healthcare professional promptly to help prevent a worsening of your health. Talk with your chiropractor as soon as possible if you develop rib cage pain or discomfort.

Disclaimer: Information contained in Wellness Express NewsTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - Wellness Express NewsTM

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Exercise of the Week: Seated Upper Back Extensions

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Exersie of the Week: Seated Twist

Topic of the Week: Noise Pollution: How it Can Affect Your Health

Noise pollution is any environmental noise - from vehicles, machinery or other noise producers - that is irritating, distracting or physically injurious. It is widely known that listening to high decibel sounds over a prolonged period can cause hearing impairment but the effects of noise pollution on human health are significantly greater than hearing issues alone.

The possible underlying causes of these wide-ranging health problems, notes a 2005 article published in the journal Environmental health Perspectives, include booming population growth, loss of rural land to urban sprawl, inadequate anti-noise regulations, the electronic nature of our lives, busier airports and an increasing number of vehicles on the road.

Talking with your chiropractor is one of the best ways to better understand how noise pollution affects your health. Your chiropractor can counsel you on how best to avoid the negative health affects of noise pollution, including simple strategies you can employ in your daily life, both at work and at home.

Increased Stress Levels
Community noise exposure – from industry, transportation and neighbors - may cause increased stress levels in people of all ages. According to a 2001 study published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, children may be particularly susceptible to increased stress levels from noise pollution. In this study, researchers discovered that children living in noisier areas experienced higher levels of overnight urinary cortisol (a stress marker), showed elevated heart rate reactivity to a stressor and rated themselves higher in perceived stress symptoms than children who lived in quieter areas.

Another study, published in 2001 in the International Journal of Epidemiology, notes that chronic aircraft noise exposure is associated with greater levels of annoyance and perceived stress in children, along with poorer reading comprehension and ability to maintain focus or attention.

For adults, excessive workplace noise is a major influencer of stress levels and other health considerations. According to a study published in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, industrial workers who are exposed to chronic noise experience higher cortisol levels at the end of the workday and higher levels of accumulated fatigue and post-work irritability compared to industrial workers who are not exposed to chronic and excessive noise.

Cardiovascular Problems
The two major cardiovascular problems that appear to be associated with chronic noise exposure are hypertension (i.e., high blood pressure) and ischemic heart disease (i.e., reduced blood supply to the heart). One study, published in 2009 in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, found an association between residential road traffic noise and hypertension in men. Another study, published in 2007 in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, states that exposure to road traffic noise may be linked to high blood pressure in individuals between the ages of 45 and 55, and that associations appear to be stronger with higher noise levels.

Noise, especially traffic noise, is a major psychosocial stressor and some research studies indicate that chronic noise-related stress is a risk factor for ischemic heart disease. According to a study published in 2003 in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, annoyance and disturbance caused by road traffic noise is associated with a greater incidence of ischemic heart disease.

Sleep Disruption
Sleep disruption is a major problem associated with noise pollution. A 2007 review article published in the Southern Medical Journal reports that the potential health effects of noise pollution are “numerous, pervasive, persistent and medically and socially significant,” Noise may interfere with sleep, concentration, communication, and recreation. Another study, published in 2004 in the journal Noise & Health, states that noise from airplanes or vehicles experienced during sleep may be perceived by your brain as danger signals and cause the release of stress hormones.

Conclusion
Noise pollution is a growing problem that continues to be overlooked by mainstream health care. Contemporary society ignores the negative health effects of noise pollution in much the same way that the use of tobacco products was ignored in the 1950s. Chiropractic care is a complementary alternative approach to health care that considers all possible contributors to poor health. Ask your chiropractor about strategies you can use to protect yourself from noise pollution and its many negative health effects.

Disclaimer: Information contained in The Wellness ExpressTM newsletter is for educational and general purposes only and is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your health. Any information contained herein is not intended to substitute advice from your physician or other healthcare professional. Copyright © - The Wellness ExpressTM

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