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!

1. 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!
2. 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.
3. 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!
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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!

6 Healthy Habits for a Strong Immune System

November 10, 2011

It’s the time of year when viruses are making the rounds through offices and schools, but coming down with the cold that’s going around isn’t inevitable! Making healthy choices a habit leads to a strong immune system that can fight off even the nastiest germs. Why suffer and resort to treating symptoms with medication when you can stay healthy the first place? Here are a few tips to help you feel your best this winter – and all year round!

• Schedule regular adjustments. Regular chiropractic care contributes to your overall wellness and removes spinal interference that can impair your immune response.
• Eat well. You know it’s important to include whole grains and a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet, and that’s especially true during cold and flu season. Look for citrus fruits loaded with vitamin C, and keep eating your greens!
• Avoid stress. Easier said than done, right? But stress is known to weaken immunity, so do what you can to eliminate unnecessary stressors from your life.
• Get adequate rest. Sleep is essential to your body’s well-being, especially when you are trying to stay healthy. Make a habit of going to bed and waking at the same time each day.
• Exercise daily. Go outside and get some fresh air if possible. Research consistently shows that moderate exercise boosts immunity, so be sure to get out for a brisk walk or a bike ride regularly.
• Get a massage. Even just a single massage session has been found to boost immunity, so imagine how healthy you would be if you incorporated massage into your regular healthcare routine!

Take care of yourself this winter so you’re not dragged down by lingering colds and viruses. Schedule an appointment at Rozenhart Family Chiropractic today by calling Kristina at 408-979-9999 or schedule online now!

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.

Performance Based Care

November 9, 2011

Many of the top athletes and performers in the world think, train, and use chiropractic care differently. Let’s begin with their thinking.

Top athletes and performers believe that they are capable of accomplishing higher levels of success in business or athletic endeavors and they organize their life around these thoughts. They make eating decisions, training decisions and health care decisions around performing at very high levels rather than around mediocrity. Because they are committed to higher levels of performance, it is easier for them to draw a line in the sand and say no to things that reduce their potential while also saying yes to the things that help them reach their goals. They make these thoughts their lifestyle.

High achievers and performers also train differently than most people. They train for personal bests and record setting performances. They do not study to pass or get a C grade on a test. They get A+ ready through training, study, and whatever else is necessary for them to achieve higher levels.

This high performance training, which is built upon high performance thinking, is what separates high achievers from the pack. Average performers consider the sacrifice that top performers make too much to bear. High performers look at things differently. They believe that performing at less than your best is the unfortunate sacrifice.

When it comes to chiropractic care, the top athletes and performers take their Lifestyle Care to another level with Performance Based Care.

If you look at the Lifestyle Care Continuum, you will notice that, to the right under Lifestyle Care, the dots representing the frequency of visits get closer together. This is Performance Based Care. The goal is to never allow nerve interference to settle into your body for even a day. This type of care fine tunes your nervous system to fire at optimum efficiency at all times, to optimize the fluidity of muscle contractions and joint movements and to improve recovery time during extensive training.

In The 100 Year Lifestyle Workout book, there are numerous stories of professional, Olympic and youth sports champions who, through Performance Based Care, outperformed and outlasted the competition to win their medals and reach their goals.

NFL Super Bowl Champion, Roger Craig, credits regular chiropractic care for his professional athletic success. He believes the principle of Getting his ESS in Shape, Endurance, Strength and Structure, enabled him to reach the level of achievement he desired when he played for the San Francisco ‘49ers and it still keeps him active and performing at high levels today.

One of the top youth soccer coaches in the nation, David Eristavi, understands that the emphasis on the principles of the ESS, including chiropractic care, plays a key role in the health and recovery time of his players. As a former professional player whose team focused on endurance and strength training along with chiropractic care, he knows the importance of these principles to optimize the performance and longevity of his players.

You, too, are capable of higher levels of health and performance. Talk to your 100 Year Lifestyle Licensed Affiliate chiropractor and take your Lifestyle Care to the next level with Performance Based Care.

Reprinted with permission from The Family Practice.

Rozenhart Family Chiropractic Now Offers Massage!

November 3, 2011

Rozenhart Family Chiropractic welcomes Dionne Wilson, Certified Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner to our family! Dionne graduated with honors from National Holistic Institute’s massage therapy program and is a second degree Reiki practitioner. She brings a passion for helping people get their lives back by using a variety of gentle techniques customized to each individual’s needs. Dionne employs traditional myofascial and trigger point therapies and Swedish techniques as well as weaving in positional release, acupressure, energy healing (Reiki) and reflexology.

We are excited to be able to offer massage therapy to our clients, as it is beneficial for a broad spectrum of physical and emotional ailments and an important facet of holistic care. And while a massage can be deeply soothing, the benefits go beyond relaxation. Research shows that in addition to relieving tension and anxiety, massage can:

• Reduce heart rate and lower blood pressure
• Improve circulation
• Improve range of motion and stimulate muscles
• Increase endorphins
• Relieve tension and migraine headaches
• Speed healing
• Ease chronic pain
• Strengthen the immune system

Find out for yourself how adding massage therapy to your care can improve your overall well-being. Schedule an appointment with Dionne today by calling Kristina at 408-979-9999 or schedule online now!

Here’s to a Healthier Halloween

October 27, 2011

Trick or Treat? These days it seems like it’s really all about the treats – between school parties and cruising the neighborhood for candy handouts, Halloween is a holiday that kids love. But let’s face it, kids really don’t need any more sugar. Many kids collect more candy on one night than they need to eat all year, and it is really damaging to their health.  We always think of teeth, but the ENTIRE body is affected by consuming large amounts of processed sugar. Not to mention, their taste buds get used to the taste of refined sugar that naturally sweet fruits don’t taste as appealing.

If we want to keep our kids from forming habits that can take a lifetime to break, it’s a good idea to set some boundaries around sugar. I want my son to be able to participate in the whole trick-or-treat experience and he goes around and collects candy like everyone else. When we get home, he gets to pick 5 items from his bag to eat however he wants. He can eat them all right away, or over the next few days- it’s his choice. If he chooses to eat them all at once, he usually doesn’t feel very good and we have an opportunity to talk about how what we eat dramatically affects how we feel and we have a lesson about listening to what your body is telling you. My son trades the rest of his candy in with me for a new toy of his choosing. In the past we have also exchanged for an outing of his choosing- something special. I think that is a real “prize” for both your kids and you!

Find a Bra Your Back Will Love!

October 21, 2011

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!

We’ll Keep You Moving!

October 13, 2011

Many active people turn to chiropractic care to help them recover from an injury or overcome back pain. But regular chiropractic care can also be an essential part of any fitness regimen by helping you avoid injury in the first place and improve performance – not just something you turn to when things go wrong.

Regular chiropractic care helps you maintain a full range of motion in your joints, improves balance and circulation, and can lead to stronger core stability. It’s no coincidence that 31% of NFL teams employ a chiropractor to help keep their athletes in top condition!

If you are starting a new fitness routine, or just want to take your activity to the next level, check in with us here at Rozenhart Family Chiropractic. Spinal stress, or subluxation, can lead to imbalances that result in injury, so it’s a good idea to address any subluxation in advance of changing your fitness routine. In addition, we can recommend exercises to help you reach your fitness goals while mitigating any discomfort.

A few reminders when starting an exercise regimen:

• Use proper technique to avoid injury.
• Make sure you are wearing appropriate footwear.
• Don’t forget to warm up!
• Include gentle stretching as part of your routine.

Call us at 408-979-9999 to learn more about how we can help keep you moving!

The Critical Transition Is Critical

October 7, 2011

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.

Why Chiropractic Miracles Happen…A Lot

October 7, 2011

The term “chiropractic miracles” has been used since 1895 when the first chiropractic patient, Harvey Willard, received a chiropractic adjustment and his hearing was restored. You will often hear people say, when talking about their chiropractic miracles, “My back is so much better, I can stand up straight, My migraines are gone, My blood pressure is down, My heartburn is gone, Menstrual cramping went away, My Digestion is better, I haven’t had a cold in years and so on and so on….

What is the science behind chiropractic miracles? Here it is, simply worded. At the moment of your conception, 23 chromosomes from your mother and 23 chromosomes from your father combined to form one cell, the unique “You”. Barely the size of a pinhead, that one cell began to divide into what is now an estimated 80 quadrillion cells that make up your body. This process is driven by an Innate Intelligence, an inborn wisdom, which knows how tall you will be, the length of your fingers, where your nose should be on your face, and where your vital organs belong. This Innate Intelligence stays with you after you are born and guides every function of your body until your last breathe of life.

The master control system for this vitalistic energy is your nervous system which consists of your brain, spinal cord and nerves that go to every cell, tissue and organ. Nerves control your heartbeat, respiration, hormone balance, digestion, immune system, muscle contraction and every other function that is necessary for you to live a healthy life.

Your Innate Intelligence is so ‘wise” to the importance of this system that it is the only system that is fully encased in bone. Your skull protects your brain and your spinal column protects your spinal cord.

When your spine is aligned and balanced, your nervous system can communicate freely between your brain and your cells so that your body functions the way that it is supposed to.

Unfortunately, your spine can become injured, misaligned, out of balance, subluxated, putting pressure on the nerves and interfering with these vital messages.

Research shows that pressure equivalent to the weight of a dime can reduce nerve transmission and within two weeks, can begin to deteriorate. These subluxations, commonly caused by birth trauma, childhood falls, accidents and all types of stress, reduce the function of all the areas supplied by these nerves.

Nerve pressure can effect areas in your body that are directly supplied by those nerves i.e. muscles, bladder, prostate or heart, and they can also effect your entire body because of the interconnected relationship that each cell, organ and system shares. Chiropractic adjustments remove pressure from these nerves allowing the body to function normally again and heal itself. This chiropractic miracle is a common occurrence in our practice.

Unfortunately, additional research confirms that nerve compression can exist with pain.  These asymptomatic subluxations can lie dormant for decades and lead to severe health problems later in life. Chiropractic miracles, in this case can sometimes take longer to achieve, but as long as you are alive, your body has the innate ability to heal.

In either case, chiropractors don’t treat symptoms or conditions. We look for, and remove, the interference so that your body can heal itself and express its full potential and we truly enjoy the miracles that follow.

The science behind these chiropractic miracles is simple. Put the science behind the miracles to work for you whether you have symptoms or not, so that you and your family can enjoy the long, healthy life you deserve.

Reprinted with permission from The Family Practice.

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