Six Tips for Healthy Holiday Travel
December 1, 2011
The holidays are stressful enough – but you can double that stress when you throw holiday travel into the mix! Add that stress to the usual challenges to your immune system at this time of year and you have a recipe for illness. Luckily, we have a few tried-and-true tips to keep you feeling strong and well when you’re on the road this year so you can enjoy your holiday gatherings in good health!
- Stay well hydrated. Every cell in your body needs water to function at its best, but airports, planes and hotel rooms dry us out, so drink up! An added bonus: if you’re drinking enough water you’ll be up and going to the bathroom regularly, and our bodies love motion!
- Visualize positive family encounters! Stress about family time can have a negative impact on our health. Visualize things going well with family members and prepare yourself as best you can for those encounters.
- Get moving. Build in exercise whenever and wherever you can. Take a stroll through the airport on layovers, do some triceps dips while waiting to board or do some calf raises while waiting in line. And don’t forget to stretch!
- Bring healthy snacks. You know the food choices on the airplane will be limited at best (and full of fat and sodium), so pack your carry-on bag with fruit, nuts and veggies. They are all easy to pack and full of nutrients.
- Relieve neck strain. Try this easy stretch: bring one ear over to one shoulder, hold for 20 seconds. For a deeper stretch, bring that ear over and provide resistance from the opposite hand while bringing your head back to original position. Repeat 3 times on each side.
- Relieve back irritation. To avoid and relieve back stress, get up from your seat frequently and move around. There are no magical stretches to relieve hours of sitting, we must get up and move for our spines to be happy and healthy!
All of us at Rozenhart Family Chiropractic wish you safe, happy and healthy travels this holiday season!
Our Holiday Gift for You!!
November 25, 2011
Have you had a chance to enjoy a massage by our wonderful massage therapist Dionne? If not, what are you waiting for? As our holiday gift to you were are offering 30-40% off of 1 hour massages. You can’t beat that!
This offer expires December 23rd, so don’t wait. Purchase yours now!
You will receive 30% off for an hour of massage. That is $45.50 each for up to 4 massages. When you purchase 5 or more you receive 40% off!!! That makes each massage only $39!!!
These are transferable and make great gifts for the holidays! Let us know if you want us to mail you the certificates or if you would prefer to pick them up at the office.
The fine print:
Certificates expire June 23rd, 2012
Must be used at 4620-B Meridian Ave, San Jose, CA, 95124
May purchase a maximum of 10 certificates
Transferable
Stop Chasing Symptoms – They Can Hide the Real CAUSE
November 9, 2011
Isn’t it time you stopped chasing symptoms? These signals that you get from your body are frequently misunderstood. More importantly, treating symptoms without getting to the cause of a problem can lead to mismanagement of your health and more severe health problems as you age.
When you get sick, for example, and your temperature goes up, your body is naturally fighting off the infection. Bacteria thrive in a climate that is 98.6 degrees so your body’s Innate Intelligence raises your temperature to help fight off the infection on its own. The symptoms of this elevated temperature can be muscle aches, fatigue, weakness and general malaise. At the first sign or symptom of a fever, many people will immediately panic and try to bring the temperature down with medication, treating the symptoms rather than letting the body do its job and heal itself.
The medications that are used to treat these symptoms can lead to side effects and even weaken the body’s natural immunity. In recent years, the overuse of antibiotics has created an epidemic of superbugs within individuals that are untreatable and pose a serious threat to our long term health.
The CDC states, “If antibiotics are used too often for things they can’t treat—like colds or other viral infections—they can stop working effectively. Antibiotic resistance has been a concern for years and is considered one of the world’s most critical public health threats. Widespread overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics is fueling an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
In the U.S., antibiotic-resistant infections are responsible for $20 billion in excess healthcare costs, $35 billion in societal costs and $8 million in additional hospital days.”(1)
A report commissioned by the Canadian Coordinating Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance estimated that infections caused by antibiotic-resistant organisms increased direct hospital costs in Canada by $15-25 million annually(2).
Many experts say that it is better to give the body a chance to heal itself with rest and fluids along with chiropractic adjustments that remove pressure from the nervous system. Unless there is an extreme elevation in body temperature, and depending on other symptoms, allowing your body to heal itself naturally helps your immune system build the resistance it needs to keep you healthy and fight infections more effectively.
Consider the case for “referred pain.” This means you can feel a symptom in one part of your body while the cause or the origin of that pain is somewhere else. For example, very often the cause of arm, hand or finger pain is in the neck. Leg and foot pain will often originate from a problem in the back. Problems with the gallbladder will often refer pain to the spinal nerve roots in the middle part of the spine and vice versa.
Because chiropractic works to restore health and vitality to the nervous system, we are always amazed at how the entire body often becomes free of symptoms through our work with the spine. Since nerves control every cell, tissue and organ of your body, problems in the nervous system can cause or mimic nearly any and every symptom imaginable.
It is very common to hear our practice members say things like “I know I came because my neck hurt, and my allergies and headaches are gone too.” or “I didn’t even tell you about my menstrual cramping but since I’ve been getting adjusted, my cramps have been reduced dramatically.” or “I sleep so much better since beginning my care.”
The list goes on and on. Isn’t it time you stop chasing symptoms and get to the cause? You will enjoy a much healthier life when you do.
1 Centers for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/features/getsmartGet Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work: Dangers of Antibiotic Resistance
2 Birnbaum D, Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance. Antimicrobial resistance: A deadly burden no country can afford to ignore. Can Commun Dis Rep. 2003 Sep 15;29(18):157-64.
Reprinted with permission from The Family Practice.
Find a Bra Your Back Will Love!
October 21, 2011
Does your bra fit correctly?
It is estimated that 80 percent of women are wearing the wrong size bra. What’s the big deal? It turns out that wearing the wrong size bra can contribute to poor posture, back and shoulder pain, neck pain and even headaches. An improperly-fitting bra can cause you to hunch your shoulders or carry too much weight on your upper back. For women who struggle with these issues, wearing the right size bra can make a world of difference!
How do you know you are wearing the wrong-size bra? One sign is if you feel better when you remove your bra. Here are a few other things to look out for:
- The straps fall off your shoulders or dig into your shoulders.
- The cups have gaps or wrinkles.
- The band rides up on your back, won’t lie flat in the center or cuts into your sides.
- Your breasts fall out of the bottom of the bra or spill over the top.
- The underwire pokes into your skin – ouch!
If you notice any of these problems, it’s a good idea to see a professional bra-fitter for some expert advice. Specialty shops often have a trained bra-fitter on staff; check with local department stores as well. Lingerie manufacturers vary, so once you know your proper size, try different brands and styles to see what works for you. Once you’ve found the right bra for your body, you’ll find that not only do you look better and feel more comfortable, but that any bra-related pain may disappear. That’s worth shopping for!
If you think an improperly-fitting bra might be contributing to your discomfort, talk to us about it at your next adjustment!
The Critical Transition Is Critical
October 7, 2011
Photo Credit: Diganta Talukdar
The Critical Transition is that period of time when an individual, you, makes the choice to become quality of life motivated versus Crisis Care motivated in the way you take care of your health. It is that critical time when you decide to get off the roller coaster ride of health, weight, or any other aspect of your life that is causing you suffering and change your priorities.
One example of the Critical Transition is commonly seen with people who are on the weight loss, weight gain rollercoaster ride. People who successfully reach their goal and then maintain their new healthy weight make the Critical Transition to have healthy eating be a part of their lifestyle. They make exercise a part of their lifestyle. This is their Critical Transition. They make their quality of life a priority and make healthy eating their new lifestyle.
People who are unsuccessful at getting off this rollercoaster go back to old bad habits which have the obvious consequence of gaining all the weight back. These people did not make the Critical Transition.
When it comes to the health of your spine and nervous system, the master control system of your body, people go through this Critical Transition by continuing with their care regardless of how they feel so their spine, nervous system and their body can regenerate.
Temporary relief is not enough for them and they shift their motivation from crisis to quality of life because they want to enjoy an active, healthy life today and every day of their life as they age.
People who do not make this Critical Transition often ride an unhealthy rollercoaster of pain and
sickness that is expensive, unpredictable and can lead to decades of unnecessary suffering. Too many people have to experience too many different crises before they get the wake up call that forces them to change. Don’t let this happen to you.
The Critical Transition is followed by Lifestyle Care which is a quality of life choice to utilize chiropractic care to keep your spine, nervous system and body functioning at its full potential. This is something that you should want.
Our aging parents’ and grandparents’ generation has taught us that you cannot afford to get sick and no matter what your age is, if you do not have your health, nothing else matters. The motto of that generation was, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This macho mentality was not sustainable for a quality long life. It was a philosophy that led to, for many of them, severe deterioration, pain and disease.
In our generation, where we know that we have the potential to live healthy lives to 80, 90, 100 years and beyond, we must redefine “broke” as being out of balance and make Lifestyle Care and quality of life health choices our priority.
Crisis Care is based on need. The Critical Transition and Lifestyle Care are based on want. Which will you choose? Every time you see a handicapped parking space, see an assisted living center, sit down to a holiday dinner with your extended family or hear about someone who is suffering from a health problem, think about the consequences of your choices.
Make this Critical Transition now. Want it for yourself and loved ones so that you can truly enjoy every day along the way to a sensational century.
Reprinted with permission from The Family Practice.
See Why Gloria Loves Rozenhart Family Chiropractic!
September 8, 2011
Have You Shared Your Story Yet?
September 8, 2011
There’s only one week left for you to win an iPad by sharing your story. Have you told your friends and family about your experience with chiropractic care? Here are some stories we’ve received from practice members that we just had to share:
“I have been going to Rozenhart Family Chiropractic for several years now and feel so much better for the incredible care that I have been given. In between all of my care I have had surgeries and have always recuperated much faster than the doctors could have imagined. This is why chiropractic is so very valuable to a healthy life style, it keeps my body in a continuous state of health and healing. The doctors always listen to what is going on and act upon making sure they can make things better. My husband went prior to his surgery and it was such a success to his healing that he was surprised that he could do things so much sooner than the doctor thought he would. Chiropractic at Rozenhart is competent, professional and wonderful to the over-all well being of our bodies. Thank you for being there, you are both amazing Chiropractors!” – Margie Krasno
“What sets Dr. Stephanie and Dr. Jennifer apart from other wellness clinics is that they genuinely care about your health and your well-being. They listen to your concerns and will do whatever it takes to help you improve your life. I highly recommend them.” – John P.
“Drs. Jennifer & Stephanie have taken me from being virtually unable to walk because of the excruciating pain in my feet, to being able to go for half hour daily walks that I anticipate increasing in length and speed going forward. Thank you for the healing combination of chiropractic and The Emotion Code.” – Susie Good
Remember to tell your story before Thursday, September 15 to enter to win our iPad drawing! You can see details here: http://ow.ly/6pecu
How Much Pain Can You Tolerate?
July 13, 2011
Photo Credit: stevendepolo
“How much pain can you tolerate?” is a very interesting question. Some people have a high pain threshold and are very “macho” in their approach as they act like they can handle anything. On the other hand, many others have a mild to moderate threshold and search for a “cover up” to eliminate their unpleasant feelings. Based on the astronomical statistics of pain medication use, our level of tolerance has gone way down.
In the United States the total cost of health care related to pain is approximately $600 billion and the cost to employers dealing with employees who have reduced work productivity due to pain is in the neighborhood of $100 billion per year. An Auburn University study showed that 67% of children suffered muscle soreness, 51% back pain, 24% numbness and 15% shoulder pain. Studies from John Hopkins Children Center and many other places have shown that backpacks cause back and shoulder pain and poor posture in children. Between 1997 and 2005, the medical expenses for individuals with spine problems grew from $4,695.00 to $6,096.00 per person.
According to CBC News, 54% of Canadian seniors report that chronic pain is interfering with most of their activities. The National Population Health Survey found that seniors who saw their pain increase over a two-year period were more likely to be unhappy or have a negative impression of their personal health at the end of that period. In younger Canadians between the ages of 12 and 44, 10% are already experiencing pain that is affecting their life and limiting their activities.
Too many people look to manage their pain by numbing their feelings with non-prescription or prescription drugs. Certainly in extreme cases this may be helpful as any compassionate person would agree; however, managing pain with medication as part of a lifestyle rather than getting to the cause can lessen your body’s natural pain tolerance and cause horrible side effects including nausea, sleep disruption, lack of mental clarity, lack of energy, depression and potential damage to key organs such as the liver, kidney and heart.
Overuse can create unintended addictions to pain medication that can lead to even more challenges and difficulties in your life.
Chiropractic care is a much better option for both acute and chronic pain sufferers. First of all, a chiropractic examination can locate areas in the spine that are out of balance and are putting pressure on nerves which can contribute to nearly every type of pain condition.
Crisis Care, the type of care that is delivered when someone is in pain or suffering from a health problem, is delivered with frequent visits close together to begin realigning the spine, reducing inflammation and pressure from the nervous system, which usually provides relief and stability within a few weeks or months.
The next phase of care, called the Critical Transition, is critical because it provides consistent care with less frequent visits stretched out over a longer period of time regardless of how people feel so the spine, nervous system and body can begin to regenerate. It is this phase of the care that is necessary to support an active, healthy, long life that is either free from chronic pain or certainly makes pain much more manageable.
Unfortunately too many people ignore this critical transition because they feel better and they go back to the destructive habits that caused their deterioration in the first place. This behavior, including numbing their pain with drugs, can only lead to more deterioration and pain even though you experience relief from the pills. Continuing your chiropractic care through the Critical Transition breaks this cycle and gives your body the chance to adapt and truly heal for the long haul.
Isn’t it time that you decide to not tolerate a pain and medication based lifestyle and the deteriorating future that it promotes? Take care of your spine and nervous system so that your body can heal itself and enjoy the quality of life you deserve.
Reprinted with permission from The Family Practice.
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.
