How Long Is Your M-PYR?
April 19, 2011
What is your life expectancy? Do you know your M-PYR? How about your MAX-PYR? Watch to see how to figure our yours. Did you know that lifestyle chiropractic care can add quality years to your expectancy?
Is Your Body Pre-Stressed?
April 13, 2011
Photo Credit: Kreutziana
It is well documented that high levels of stress can contribute to heart disease and cancer. Stress has also been shown to contribute to or cause headaches, ulcers, digestive disturbances, backaches and nearly every other condition known to mankind. How can one word cause so many unique and different problems in different people especially since the stress reaction is the same for everyone? The answer may be simpler than you think.
Stress is a nervous system reaction that causes your heart to beat faster, your muscles to be tense, your stomach to tighten, and your hair follicles to stand up, all as a way to prepare your body for an emergency. When you interpret a situation as stressful, whether it truly is or not, your brain triggers this reaction by sending a signal over your spinal cord and nervous system to every cell of your body. In prehistoric times, this would have been the perfect reaction to escape from a hungry dinosaur but in today’s modern world of chronic stress and no tyrannosaurus rex, this chronic reaction can cause pain, sickness and disease.
Where your body breaks down from stress may depend on whether or not you have a condition known as vertebral subluxation. A vertebral subluxation is a spinal misalignment causing nerve pressure that interferes with the normal function of your body. If you have this in your spine, your body is already pre-stressed.
Research shows that it only takes the weight of a dime to reduce nerve transmission. Additional research has found that nerve compression can exist without pain and can cause deterioration within two weeks. In this pre-stressed condition, your body becomes more vulnerable to outside stresses that can take you over the edge and make you sick or cause you to feel pain.
This is a main reason why some people are vulnerable to every circumstance while others are much more resistant.
Where people are subluxated will often determine how people are affected by stress. For example, someone with nerve pressure in the upper part of the neck might feel headaches, have allergies, or a stiff neck. Because the nerves that come out of the upper neck also go to the entire body, pressure here can literally cause or mimic every symptom or disease.
Pressure on the nerves in the lower back can cause a backache, leg problems and also affect ovary, prostate, bladder or bowel function. Pressure on the nerves in the middle of your back can affect your heart and lungs or cause tension, stomach problems, and digestive disturbances.
The scary part is that like most serious conditions, the vertebral subluxation can cause stress for decades without any symptoms until the body can no longer adapt. This is when serious problems occur, many of which could have been avoided by eliminating the stress and the subluxation. The birth process, childhood falls, sports injuries and poor lifestyle habits are just a few causes of subluxations that can cause your body to be pre-stressed. Rather than getting to the cause and removing the subluxation, many people attempt to chase their symptoms away with drugs, wondering why they always come back. Getting to the cause and removing the pressure is a much better immediate and long-term solution.
Crisis care is one way to deal with it, only receiving care when you are in trouble and suffering. A much better option is to remove the subluxation, stress, from your body and keep it out of your life as a part of your lifestyle. This will help you to stress less and live more, and enjoy the quality of life you deserve.
Reprinted with permission from The Family Practice.
More Than 50 Years Ago…
April 12, 2011
Did you know that the function of the spine directly and dramatically affects the function of the organs? Listen to Dr. Stephanie explain the Winsor Study from more than 50 years ago!
Stress: The Good News and Bad News
April 7, 2011
Photo Credit: bark
Here’s the bad news: Stress is all around us and is not going away anytime soon. But there’s good news, too: You have control over how you respond to stress!
The Bad News
It’s true that high levels of stress can contribute to heart disease and cancer. It’s also been shown to contribute to or cause headaches, ulcers, digestion problems, backaches and much, much more.
Stress is how your nervous system prepares your body for an emergency; your brain sends a signal to every cell in your body through your spinal cord. Although this can be helpful when there truly is danger (such as a dangerous animal attacking), the constant reaction can cause pain, sickness and disease.
The places in which subluxation builds up often determine how stress affects the body. If you have a lot of subluxation in the upper part of your neck, chances are you feel have headaches, allergies and/or a stiff neck. Subluxation in the lower back can lead to backaches, leg problems and ovary, prostate, bladder or bowel dysfunction.
So how do you control the way you respond to stress?
The Good News
Removing the subluxation from your body and keeping it out of your life can help you take control of the stress in your life. In addition to regular chiropractic care, here are 6 tips to stress less and live more:
- Drink plenty of water and eat well. What you put in your body will affect how you feel, so keep putting in things that are good for it so it keeps running smoothly. Remember to avoid stimulants and sugar, too!
- Take a quick break. The 50/10 rule is a good one. After sitting for 50 minutes, standing up and walking around for 10 minutes to help you clear your mind and get back to work with renewed focus, in addition to give your body a break from sitting.
- Breathe deeply. It’s common for stressed people to take shallow breaths, so practice breathing deeply – 5 counts in and 5 counts out. Slowing down and paying attention to every breath forces our nervous system into a relaxed state.
- Laugh. Laughing increases oxygenation to our entire body – there is even research that suggests it activates parts of our immune system as well! Hang out with people who make you laugh, rent some funny movies and laugh out loud!
- Get some exercise. Exercise, as a part of a lifestyle, reduces stress, strengthens your heart and muscles and has been shown to reduce the risk of nearly every disease.
- Be grateful. Thank someone instead of getting annoyed. Optimistic thinking has been shown to keep people motivated to make healthy lifestyle choices regardless of their circumstances, and you’ll feel a whole lot happier.
What additional ways do you like to keep the stress down? Take our poll on Facebook or let us know in the comments!
5 Tips For A Great Night’s Sleep!
April 5, 2011
Follow these 5 tips to have your best chance of rejuvenating sleep every night!
When It Comes To Your Health, Are You Fooled?
March 31, 2011
Photo Credit: alexindigo
Happy April Fool’s Day Eve! Tomorrow is the day known for tricking each other into believing something that isn’t true…but are you sure you’re not doing that to yourself already?
A lot of us are fooled when it comes to our health; we think the way we feel is the best judge of how our bodies are doing. But did you know that our sensory system – the system that makes us physically feel – only makes up 10% of our nervous system? This means we actually don’t feel 90% of what’s going on in our bodies, such as food digestion, blood gases, cholesterol level, liver functionality, etc.
Yes, pain is a good indicator of a problem, but the lack of pain or symptoms doesn’t mean everything is in good shape. Have you ever gone to the dentist and found out that you had a cavity when you didn’t feel it? What about heart disease? The first sign of heart disease in 95% of cases is a fatal heart attack – one without any pain or symptoms before the incident.
Feeling good does not mean that you are functioning at 100% or that everything is working well; don’t be fooled into not taking action! We can remove subluxation you might not even feel yet so your body can help itself stay in tip-top shape. Call us at (408) 979-9999 to make an appointment or find out more.
How Many Two Weeks Is Okay?
March 22, 2011
Photo Credit: Nathan Phillips
Research by Dr. Videman out of Helsinki, Finland found that even minor traumas to the spine can cause scar tissue formation within two weeks. How many two weeks is okay with you?
The birth process can be very traumatic to a newborn’s spine and cause pressure on the nerves that affect breathing, digestion, heart rate as well as the muscles and ligaments of the neck. Because additional research has found that nerve compression can exist without pain, this spinal trauma can be asymptomatic for decades. That is a lot of two weeks! How many two weeks is acceptable for you? How about your children?
If you have ever watched a child learning to walk, how many times a day do you think they fall on their bottom? This repetitive bouncing on their bum can cause their spine to become misaligned with pressure on the nerve, subluxations, which can affect their growth and development and lie dormant for decades. This is also a lot of two weeks especially if they live to be 80, 90 or 100 years old. How do you think this will affect their quality of life as they age?
As the famous poet William Wordsworth said, “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.” This is absolutely true for the spine. Both major and minor traumas that accumulate over time will affect the way your child’s spine grows.
Seriously, how many two weeks is acceptable for your children? Even more important than the structure of the spine, which is really important, is the impact that these traumas have on the function of the nervous system.
Research shows that the weight of a dime, not a lot of pressure, can reduce transmission. Stretching a nerve as little as six degrees can reduce nerve function up to 70% according to Journal of Spine and Joint Surgery.
These traumas that affect the structure also affect the function because of the relationship between the spine and nervous system.
Your nervous system controls and coordinates the function of every cell, tissue and organ of your body. This includes your sinuses, heart, lungs, liver, kidney, stomach, intestines and every other organ as well as your arms, legs, hormonal balance and literally every function that is both conscious and unconscious that your body performs.
As the two weeks accumulate from these traumas, both the function of the spine and the nervous system are compromised. These compromises can be disguised as a myriad of symptoms ranging from allergies, digestive disturbances and attention deficits to headaches, neck pain or backaches.
Unfortunately, however, most of these traumas lie asymptomatic for decades of two weeks until the body can no longer adapt and breaks down with more severe health problems, pain and even contribute to sickness and disease. Dr. Henry Windsor conducted research that found a nearly 100% correlation between the compromised nerve connections in an injured spine and diseases of the internal organs. (The Windsor Autopsies, The Medical Times)
More than 15 million people each year become diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a condition that results from decades of two weeks that influence the joints of the body.
Since deterioration can occur within 2 weeks, many individuals and families make weekly and bi-weekly adjustments a central piece of their healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle Care keeps your spine in balance with no pressure on the nervous system so your body can function at higher levels. Don’t wait until you “feel” it. You may have waited lots of two weeks too long.
Reprinted with permission from The Family Practice.
Chiropractic Care…During Pregnancy??
February 3, 2011
Photo Credit: karindalziel
Did you know that chiropractic care is important for pregnant women too? Our own Dr. Stephanie has an advanced certification in pregnancy and pediatrics, meaning she can work with expecting mothers and children of all ages.
Here at Rozenhart Family Chiropractic, we’ve seen many women through their pregnancies. Many women have low back pain and sciatica during their pregnancy due to the weight gain and change in posture. Many members have reported that after chiropractic care during pregnancy they’re more comfortable, able to sleep better and have a faster “recovery” time after the birth.
A few questions we receive about chiropractic care during pregnancy:
Is it safe? Yes! Dr. Stephanie has been trained in techniques that avoid unnecessary pressure on the abdomen, and can provide women with exercises and stretches to compliment adjustments made to the spine.
Why should I invest in it when I’m pregnant? A woman’s body goes through a lot of changes to create the environment necessary for the developing baby. Although it’s completely natural, these changes can result in misalignment in the spine or joints. Keeping the spine aligned will help the entire body work more effectively and create the best possible environment for the baby to develop.
What are the benefits? We’ve had women tell us they’re more comfortable, they sleep better and have a faster “recovery” time following the birth, but that’s not all that chiropractic care can help with. It’s also known to control nausea, reduce the time of labor and delivery, relieve back, neck or joint pain, help prevent a potential cesarean section and more.
Read more about the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy:
- http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/chiropracticcare.html
- http://www.planetc1.com/chiropractic-articles/pregnancy-chiropractic.html
Feel free to call our office (408-979-9999) if you have questions too!
3 Tips for Sports Fans
October 28, 2010
Fall is here. For sports lovers that means football and hockey, plus basketball will start soon and baseball is wrapping up with the World Series. Whether you’re going to games or watching them at home, there are a few things you can do to make sure your body doesn’t pay the price of spectating:
- Stand up for 10 minutes every 50 minutes. Don’t sit for more than 50 minutes. While the game might encourage a jump to your feet every once in a while, make sure you intentionally stand up and walk around. There is no perfect posture, pillow or chair to be in for hours at a time, so get up to refill your water at half time or make a trip to the restroom between periods.
- Mind your posture. How you sit will affect how your body feels for days or weeks following the game. Your hips and knees should make 90 degree angles while sitting, and focus on tilting pelvis forward, pulling in your bellybutton to your spine, shoulders down and back and neck elongated.
- Watch your food intake. A lot of stadiums or arenas offer tasty food – nachos, hot dogs, etc. While it’s okay to indulge once in a while, keep moderation in mind. Pick out one special treat – then stick to water, fruits and veggies. This applies to those watching at home, too. It’s easy to mindlessly eat a lot of chips or sweets. To control how much you eat, put the food in another room and monitor what you put on your plate.
What additional tips do you have?
Be Like a Ballplayer
October 14, 2010
Baseball fever is alive in the Bay Area thanks to the San Francisco Giants – 2010 National League West Division Champs – and their upcoming NLCS series against the Phillies. But did you know that chiropractic care is an important part of baseball?
Earlier this season, the San Francisco Giants Baseball Fan Shop posted an article about chiropractic care, and how it helps professional baseball players stay in shape and at the top of their game. The article states:
Chiropractic adjustments can guarantee that the body can keep up with an athlete’s lifestyle and functions as competently as possible. Chiropractic can also speed up the recovery of common athlete injury such as lower back pains, ankle sprains, or relocated shoulders.
A research study also indicated that athletes who are subluxation-free have better coordination, can react faster, and exhibit improvements in accuracy and precision.
Another article we found shared the following sentiments:
With baseballs coming at you 100 miles per hour on a slow day, and sliding into home plate to make that last inning saving run for your team, as well as swinging a bat at all speeds to connect with a fastball, the chances of a neck or back injury or pain are good… This probably accounts for why so many baseball teams seem to be getting on board with chiropractic and chiropractors in recent months and years.
It’s not just professional baseball players and athletes that need chiropractic care, though – we all do! Even if we’re NOT sliding into home plate, swinging a bat regularly or watching baseballs thrown at nearly 100 miles per hour in our direction, subluxation still builds up in our bodies and can still affect our performance at home and at work.
Factors that can cause subluxation include poor sleeping habits, bad posture, strenuous exercise, sports injuries, stress, tension & anxiety, chemical exposure (i.e. drugs and medications), injuries at work, automobile accidents, and stumbles and falls. Chiropractic adjustments can progress your health, happiness and improve productivity.
With positive side effects like better energy, better elimination, better digestion, more energy and better sleep, why not follow the lead of professional athletes – people who depend on their body working properly – and get your body functioning at peak levels, too?
Photo Credit: randychiu
