Heat Wave! Stay Safe
August 26, 2010
Photo Credit: stevendamron
With the sudden heat wave over the last couple of days, we thought it would be a good time to reiterate a few important tips:
Drink plenty of water. This one is so important! How much water should you be drinking? Take your body weight in pounds, divide in half and aim for that many ounces per day. Since our bodies are 70% water, not only does it make sense to ingest enough for proper bodily functions but it also keeps soft tissue more pliable and less prone to injury. Want a healthy addition? Add a little bit of lemon!
Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Both caffeine and alcohol dehydrate your body, so it’s best to avoid both – especially when it’s really, really hot outside.
Protect your noggin. Your hat and sunglasses are more than a fashion statement: they protect the top of your head, your face and your eyes from the bright, burning sun. The best sunglasses to use have both UVA and UVB protection, so keep that in mind when selecting a pair! For more information about picking sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection, visit http://bit.ly/aRFLEG.
Wear sunscreen. Not all sunscreens are created equally. The Environmental Working Group rates sunscreens on both protective elements and amount of hazardous chemicals soaking into the skin. Check out their recommendations to find the best fit for you and your family.
Get your exercise. Although it’s hard to get motivated when it’s really hot outside, it’s still important to stay active. Some ideas when the temperature rises: go for a swim, run/walk somewhere shady or go to an air conditioned gym.
Football, Chiropractors and Safety
August 19, 2010
Photo Credit: RonAlmog
The second week of NFL pre-season football is this weekend, which means college, high school and youth football is just around the corner. Do you have kids, husbands, brothers, dads or friends that like to play? There are a few things you should know.
First of all, chiropractic care is a huge part of football. All NFL teams offer players chiropractic services to help manage and prevent injuries. Running Back Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints – last year’s Superbowl champions – has been receiving regular chiropractic care since he was in high school.
“I look at chiropractic care as important to keeping me healthy and at the top of my game,” said Bush, the former Heisman Trophy winner and two-time National Champion while playing for the USC.
He’s not alone. 2010 NFL Hall Of Fame inductee Jerry Rice, and former Wide Receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, credits his regular chiropractic visits for his performance. “I did a lot of things to stay in the game, but regular visits to my chiropractor made all the difference,” Rice claimed.
Regular visits to a chiropractor can help football players (and really all athletes) of any age. If you or someone you know plays on a team or scrimmages with friends on the weekends, here are five tips to keep in mind throughout the season:
- Keep your head up during contact (serious injury typically occurs when tackling with the head down).
- Avoid initiating contact with the head during blocking and tackling (do not to use the helmet as a point of primary contact).
- Stay attentive during tackling and blocking drills.
- Protect your neck.
- If you are injured or feel dizzy, disoriented, nauseated or have a headache, tell your coach, trainer or chiropractor.
“Why Aren’t You On My Insurance List?”
August 17, 2010
We have made a conscious decision not to participate in all the insurance networks for a number of reasons.
1. Insurance Companies are NOT interested in your long term health, but in the return to their share holders. We have chosen to keep the decision making about health care in our hands instead of theirs so YOU get the care you need!
2. We can help many more people if we are not consumed all day with report writing. Did you know that many companies require a pre-authorization report and then every 6 visits another lengthy report before more visits are approved? We did not become Doctors to be paper pushers, but rather to actually HELP people!
3. Delays,delays delays. When we submit a claim to an insurance company do you know that it can take MONTHS to get paid? Their main focus is not to pay your chiropractic bills but to keep the money in their bank accounts.
We would rather rely on our 20+ years of experience to make decisions about appropriate chiropractic care for you , instead of recommending what your insurance company will pay for.
As as service, we will both verify your benefits for you and send in the claims for you.*Please note, we are in network with Blue Shield-the only company that it made sense!
If you have any questions about if your policy covers chiropractic care please call us and Cate will be happy to verify your benefits for you!
5 Tips for a Better You
August 12, 2010
Earlier this week, we posted an article, 5 Fitness Myths You Need to Forget, on our Facebook and Twitter pages. We thought it had some great information, which is why we decided to compile our own tips for a better you:
- What you put in your body matters. This includes food, supplements and external products (shampoo, lotion, etc). A good rule of thumb is, “keep it balanced and natural.” Try to find food, supplements and external products that are organic and all-natural, and use a wide variety to maintain balance.
- It’s called “diet AND exercise” for a reason. You can have the best diet in the world, but if you don’t exercise regularly you won’t be as healthy as you could be. Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand.
- What you do outside of workouts make a difference. Even if you work out every day, it’s still not good for your body to sit still for large chunks of time. Remember to stand up and stretch every hour.
- Schedule time with friends. Socialization is good for our sanity, and research shows it’s good for our physical health, too. Make sure you fit time with friends into your busy schedule.
- Sleep. Yes, it sounds basic, but most of us don’t get enough sleep at night. At least 7-8 hours is a good goal, although some people need more.
Bonus Tip: Have regular check-ups. Remember to see your chiropractor, dentist and any other health care professional you trust regularly. They will help you stay on track and catch early warning signs of a bigger problem.
What additional tips would you add to this list?
“Am I Going to Feel Better After You Adjust Me?”
August 10, 2010
The answer is “Maybe.”.
Why maybe? The answer depends on MANY factors including how long the subluxation been there, what your current level of discomfort is, and what lifestyle factors are involved that are contributing to the problem.
Research shows that the length of time you have had neck pain is directly proportional to how long that neck pain will take to resolve. If you continue to sit at your computer for 10 hours per day and don’t take recommended breaks, it will last longer.
The adjustment works with your body to unblock proper nervous system function so your body returns to a normal state of function. The adjustment does not work like a drug. The process of correction, healing and stabilization takes more time than the covering of symptoms with some chemistry.
Roughly 80% of our practice members feel better after their first adjustment. About 10% feel no change after one adjustment- this is perfectly normal as most people wait weeks to years before seeking care for their bodies and it takes time to repair these patterns. The remaining 10% of practice members may feel some soreness, this is nothing more that muscle soreness as if you exercised the muscles around your spine. This too is a normal reaction that goes away within the first few adjustments.
“Procrastination is the thief of health”- B.J. Palmer, Developer of Chiropractic
What are YOU procrastinating about? What can you do TODAY that will change the quality of your health?
If you are procrastinating calling us, do it now-before something else becomes more important- and there isn’t anything more important than your health!
Friends Keep Friends Healthy
August 5, 2010
That’s right! Friends keep friends healthy – but not just through encouragement of a healthy lifestyle. A new study suggests that satisfying social relationships may be as important as not smoking when it comes to your lifespan, according to this article on CNN Health.
Amidst a full schedule of work, kids, a significant other, exercise, keeping on top of chores and everything else going on, it can be hard to invest time in friends. Here are a few suggestions for integrating social relationships into an already-busy week:
- Work out with a friend – Call up a friend or two and schedule a weekly or bi-weekly walk / trip to the gym. Chatting on the elliptical or while walking through a park will help keep your oxygen flowing, and provide some mental stimulation.
- Carpool – Does a coworker live near you? Take turns driving! Not only will this keep gas costs down and help out the environment, but it will help you get to know a coworker a little better, outside the confines of the job.
- Share a Meal – Everyone’s got to eat, so why not turn it into a social engagement? Invite another family over for some good food and good conversation.
What other suggestions do you have for spending time with friends during an already-busy week?
Get Your Kids “Back” On Track!
August 4, 2010
School is about to begin which means that families are gearing up for busy schedules, homework, after school activities and the hectic pace of our 21st century lifestyles. To insure that your child has a healthy and successful year, it will be important to have their back aligned, balanced and on track. Here is some information that will help you.
When we watch our kids participating in sports, we often cringe at the intense beating that their spines take when they are hit by another person or twisted through their activities. Keeping their spine aligned and balanced is crucial for them to be able to enjoy a healthy and successful year and have a healthy spine for a lifetime.
More than 40 Million students carry school backpacks. Backpacks that are too heavy or worn incorrectly can injure your child’s back, neck and shoulders, which can lead to other health problems.
Heavy backpacks, playground and sports injuries can cause non-structural or functional scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine that typically appears in early adolescence. This type of scoliosis develops as a result of misalignment and pressure on the spine and nerve system. Functional scoliosis often can be corrected by addressing the underlying condition through chiropractic care.
There are so many things to do to prepare for the upcoming school year. As you make your list remember to make an appointment for a “School’s Back” Spinal Exam. This simple examination can determine if your child’s spine is on track or off track. Chiropractic care can keep your child’s spine and nerve system healthy and insure your best school year ever. Get them started on the right track today!
-Courtesy of The Family Practice
Thank You Silicon Valley
