Upper Cervical Blog

Sugar is present in many of todays foods and drinks. On average, Americans consume over 60 pounds f added sugar per year – this excludes naturally occurring sugar, like that found in fruit or juice. Daily, this breaks down to about 76.7 grams or 19 teaspoons. That’s 306 additional calories consumed daily because of sugar. As good as this sweetener can taste, the key to a healthier life is reducing our daily intake of sugar. Sugar can greatly interfere the natural responses in the body and cause numerous health issues. Here are five ways that sugar affects your body:

1. Hyperactivity. When sugar is consumed and digested, it causes a spike in adrenaline that is released in the body. This is the “boost” many adults feel after drinking an energy drink or soda and is the reason why a child may act like they are “bouncing off the walls” after eating some candy. Following this spike in adrenaline, once it wears out, the body “crashes” and becomes extremely lethargic. Excessive sugar intake can also cause irregular sleeping habits. Children and adults who are already sensitive to hyperactivity, such as those diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, can greatly benefit from limited sugar intake.
2. Diabetes. When sugar is ingested, glucose levels rise. To combat these high glucose levels, the pancreas must work hard to produce insulin. Insulin removes excessive sugar/glucose from the blood and a diagnosis of diabetes occurs when the pancreas is too overworked to produce enough insulin to combat the sugar levels. A diabetic must inject themselves with insulin to keep up with the glucose levels in their body. This is why many diabetics are advised by their physician to watch what they eat and avoid sugary snacks and beverages.
3. Behavioral Changes. Aside from hyperactivity, sugar can also cause several changes in a person’s mood, including increased irritability, and can heighten an individual’s anxiety or affect their reaction to stressors. Did you know that scientific research has proven that sugar is as addictive as cocaine? Even withdrawals from sugar can have similar symptoms: headaches, irritability, cravings, aches and pains, mood swings, and some may even experience “the shakes”.
4. Lower Immune System Function. When sugar is ingested it causes more than just visible changes like hyperactivity; it also changes the body internally. Sugar reduces the efficiency of white blood cells and this effect can last for at least five hours. That’s a minimum of five hours that your body is not able to fully fight off bacteria, germs, and potential diseases – even the common cold. A simple illness can progress into something more serious, and with continuous sugar intake, it will take longer for you to recover.
5. Increases LDLs. Another internal side effect of sugar intake is the effect it has on the levels of cholesterol in the body. Your body has two types of cholesterol: the “good” kind and the “bad” kind. The “bad” types of cholesterol are Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDLs). This type of cholesterol is the kind that builds up around your heart and in your arteries, leading to risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart disease. High-Density Lipoproteins (HDLs) are the “good” kinds of cholesterol; they carry “bad” cholesterol from your body to your liver where it is processed for removal. Sugar causes HDL levels to decrease which in turn causes LDL levels to increase.

Reducing the amount of sugar you consume, can lead to a healthier body and an overall healthier lifestyle. Taking care of your body is important, it’s the only one you get!

Every year, hundreds of thousands of citizens in our country, and around the world, suffer from symptoms caused by a traumatic vehicle accident.  

If you experience any of multiple signs described below or you think that your body is just not feeling shortly following a car accident, you should seek medical assistance. The following is a list (based on frequency of occurrence) of symptoms to be aware of following a car crash:

1. You experience an inability to stay focused or concentrate.  If your mind wonders off of a subject or project you’re working on, and this happens more easily than it did before the collision, you should consult a physician right away.
2. Headaches seem to come more quickly and frequently.  If you suffer from headaches, more severe or more frequently than you had before the accident, this might be a sign you need medical attention.
3. Clouded thinking: Your thinking patterns seem less coherent and more distorted; this can include trouble with remembering certain facts or information.
4. You suffer from blurry vision.  This one is self-explanatory.  Especially if you’re driving and the road signs become hazy, you need to take act immediately and call your physician.
5. If you experience nausea, especially more than normal and outside of a ‘flu-like’ situation, this may be the result of trauma to your body stemming from the accident.
6. Some people will start to feel dizzy following a collision.  If so, this is another symptom that demands to be checked.
7. You may begin to experience a lack of energy.  This happens in many cases because a key organ, or other internal mechanism, was impacted from the crash.  
8. Finally, people who have survived a traumatic collision can develop abnormal sleep patterns.  Crash victims should remain vigilant in tracking their sleep routines, recording in some way what takes place as they rest at night.

Many times, the effects of the trauma are not felt until the next day or in some cases, several days later. The reason for this is believed to be because of the increased adrenaline running through your veins that make many people not feel the pain or discomfort of an injury until the adrenaline dissipates from the blood. Especially in instances where the crash happened at lower speeds, those involved in an accident may think that they did not suffer from any adverse effects. This is why your car insurance company provides a 14-day window to seek medical treatment following an accident, to provide coverage for these delayed symptoms. Even after the 14-day window, if you feel that something is not right, don’t hesitate to get medical attention.

About 75 percent of the symptoms just mentioned (symptoms that occur right away) can also manifest days after the crash.  

• Clouded thinking is one symptom that can occur later, and accident victims should remain aware of their thought patterns, especially as the next days progress after the accident.  
• The ability to concentrate should also be monitored, in the days and weeks ahead.  
• Headaches are one of the symptoms that have a reputation of afflicting the victim later, down the road. Headaches and migraines can be a symptom of trauma that occurred to the neck and brain.
• Blurry vision can begin to occur, as well, days or weeks after an accident.  This one tends to come on the victim quite slowly and may even come and go. In any case, if the blurred sight is abnormal, a physician needs to be made aware of it.  
• If your memory begins to fail, and details are hard to ‘call up,’ or this happens to you more than usual, this is yet another sign that you should be checked out.  
• Should you notice major behavioral changes, including but not limited to an increased temper, shorter patience, fewer inhibitions, or more reckless behavior, then the trauma from the accident may have caused  more that just physical injury.
• Finally, in terms of physical signs to monitor, nausea, dizziness or a lack of energy can each occur well after an accident too.  At times, doctors have recorded that these symptoms usually appear within a week or two following the accident. However, it isn’t completely rare for victims to begin suffering from these three symptoms months, and even years after the crash.

Any discussion of harmful outcomes from a collision wouldn’t be complete without mentioning whiplash.  This is an injury to the muscles in your neck. And those muscles are impacted in a bad way when the collision causes your head to be thrown backward in a sudden way, then immediately thrust forward.

Soft tissue injuries generally cause pain, limit the range of your mobility, and create swelling. Also, these symptoms may not show up immediately either.  Many accidents occur with a high amount of force. Yet even at a lower rate of force, it could potentially take a few days or even weeks to experience symptoms from any form of injury that occurred from the crash.  Physicians of multiple specialties agree on this much: victims from an accident need to closely monitor any symptoms that may appear and report those symptoms as soon as possible to their doctor. This also pertains to the delayed symptoms.

How Can an Upper Cervical Chiropractor Help With My Car Accident Symptoms?

Trauma to the body, neck, and head can cause misalignments, or subluxations, in the spine; subluxations cause interference with the body’s Central Nervous System. The Central Nervous System controls the body and the mind; it interprets our environment and commands the body to act accordingly (e.g. when it is hot, we sweat as a means to cool off). The Central Nervous System also commands the bodies pain receptors, immune system, and bodily functions. Interference of the Central Nervous System can cause a number of issues throughout the body, including headaches, blurry vision, neck and back pain, dizziness, and even emotional issues.

Upper Cervical Care focuses on removing the subluxations of the spine, primarily those located in the top vertebrae – the Atlas and the Axis, and the resulting issues within the Central Nervous System that the subluxations caused. Although only the top vertebrae may be corrected, when the top of the neck is in its proper position, the rest of the spine will follow suit. When the subluxations are removed, the spine is properly aligned and the Central Nervous System is able to properly function at its prime and the effects of the delayed symptoms from your car accident are likely to be diminished or dissipate all together.

Vertigo is described by the medical community as a sensation in which people feel like they’re moving, swaying, or that the world is moving around them – but they themselves are not actually moving. Common forms of Vertigo feel a lot like dizziness and may cause other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sweating.

Vertigo is a common complaint for individuals

• Following a car accident
• After sustaining a head or neck injury
• With inner ear issues or conditions
• Who suffer from disturbances in their nervous system

Chiropractic Can Help Reverse Vertigo

If you are currently suffering from episodes of Vertigo, seeking chiropractic treatment may be able to help you start to feel like yourself again. When your spine is misaligned, the vertebrae that are out of position can place pressure on the nerves around it and cause interruptions between the brain and the Central Nervous System. This interruption can cause varying side effects in each individual. Some individuals may experience vertigo while others may feel pain in their extremities. Vertigo caused my misalignments in the spine is called Cervicogenic Vertigo and its effects can be greatly reduced by chiropractic corrections.

Balance, Vertigo, and Chiropractic

In other cases of vertigo, chiropractic corrections can aid balance by improving the vestibulocochlear system. The vestibulocochlear system is the complex system of the inner ear that consists of fluid-filled tubes that are lined with stereocilia, which are hair-like sensors. This system interprets body movements and communicates with the central nervous system on how to react. For example, if walking down hill, the vestibulocochlear system will recognized the forward leaning movement and communicate with the central nervous system to correct the body’s movement to lean back while walking down hill to prevent the individual from tumbling downhill.

Misalignments is the upper neck, or cervical, area can place pressure around the vestibulocochlear system, blocking the tubes and causing the fluid to build up. This can lead to misinterpretations of an individual’s balance which can cause stumbling and vertigo. By correcting the upper cervical misalignments, the pressure around the vestibulocochlear system is released and the system is able to resume proper functioning.

Other Ways A Chiropractor Can Help

Chiropractors do more than just correct misalignments in the spine. They also listen to your symptoms, document your daily habits, and interpret this information just like any other doctor would to provide advice on how to supplement the care they are providing. Your chiropractor may recommend exercises that will aid in improving your body’s core strength which will in turn improve your control over your balance. They may also recommend implementing meditation and breathing techniques to help you regain control after a bout of vertigo.

They may also recommend other lifestyle changes such as a dieting, changing medication routines, or other changes to improve your overall health. Smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking highly caffeinated or sugar beverages can stimulate or depress the central nervous system. Certain over the counter medications, like sleep aids and allergy medications, may contribute to dizziness, so your chiropractor may recommend reducing your daily dose or when you take it.

Posture is perhaps the most subconscious expression of ourselves. Luckily for those of us with poor posture habits, it is possible to make changes to the way we hold ourselves, and in by doing so, we can better shape our lives and even our bank accounts.

Most people spend hours every day sitting down and slouching over a desk – a habit which can put extra pressure on the spine while adding to chronic pain and deterioration of chest, back, and neck muscles.

Beyond the physical harms of slouching, research suggests that poor posture can actually affect just how people see themselves, and those with an upright posture are able to easily recall positive thoughts and tend to have a much better self-image.

Not only will a healthy posture assist you in reducing or stopping back and neck pain, it can also improve your stress levels, mood, self-confidence, your digestion, and breathing as well as your productivity and appearance. A good posture can increase your confidence and promote your self-assurance to others.

Sitting upright increases the likelihood that you will think positively. The next time you struggle with a negative attitude or drama in your workplace, just straighten up, take a deep breath, and clear your mind. Your mindset and mood will change, enabling you to focus on your work and get more things done.

A productive, reliable, self-confident, and professional looking employee is more likely to receive a promotion or a raise. If you only work part-time, you increase your chance of getting more shifts or the more profitable shifts through your increased confidence and productivity.

First, before reaching any conclusions about whether children can benefit from upper cervical care, the researcher should understand the difference in approaches to spinal care currently in practice.  Today, most chiropractic specialists approach spine treatments by looking at segments or “local fixations,” as it is phrased by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA).  On the other hand, NUCCA practitioners focus on upper cervical care that affects the whole body’s balance and aids long term spinal stability.

Is it safe?

According to NUCCA’s website, “children can be adjusted using the NUCCA procedure right from birth” and in many cases, the child’s condition doesn’t require a “full NUCCA assessment”. Children are in an important developmental stage and will undergo a safe and simple assessment to prevent any additional harm being done. Once an assessment of their condition is made, a correction is only done if and when it is absolutely necessary. Upper Cervical corrections are pain free and there is not popping or cracking of your child’s spine. NUCCA also states that “children also generally respond more quickly to adjustments and usually require fewer adjustments to attain spinal stability.”

A book titled “Manual Therapy in Children,” by Heiner Bledermann, takes a comprehensive look at the subject of manual therapy for children of diverse ages.  The author’s approach looks deeply into the relationship between the neuromusculoskeletal structure and its performance at different stages of a child’s life.  The book places a strong emphasis on preventative techniques as a child matures and grows, and it also elaborates on safe treatments and the proper management of the spine, again, at each stage of the child’s development.

So how does a child begin the process of becoming misaligned?

For adults, stress, trauma to the body, and various toxins are all contributors to a back showing misalignment. However, for children the state of his or her spine usually has something to do with a sporting mishap, an accident at home or school, or in most cases, something genetic that the child was probably facing from birth.  Scoliosis is one of the most common conditions we see in our office, and Upper Cervical can help to relieve pain, discomfort, and stress on the spine.  

The emphasis of NUCCA, along with practitioners who imitate their core approach, can be better understood along these lines: By bringing stability and balance to the upper cervical portion of the spine, the body is given the tools it needs to sustain long-term health.  Patients who receive NUCCA-endorsed treatments typically feel better now as well as over the course of their life time.

Stress itself can be viewed as a separate factor.  Multiple studies conducted over recent decades show an unmistakable correlation between stress in a patient’s life and the tendency for back problems.  Consequently, when children experience emotional-based trauma, they can also benefit from an upper cervical approach.  The upper cervical treatments can help to relieve symptoms for the child such as tightness in the shoulder area or help to relieve back pain.

How should I pick an Upper Cervical Chiropractor?

For children, one of the smartest things a parent can do is to examine closely the credentials of the spinal care specialist or chiropractor under consideration.  You will need to establish the authority and expertise of that specialist.  So much of the advice found in research points to the fact children are more fragile, because of their developmental state.  Hence, you should and can make certain the specialist possesses a superb track record in working with younger aged patients.

Joint pain usually involves more than just a joint aching for some unknown reason, or because of some form of arthritis.  Whatever the cause of pain, what may work to alleviate pain for one person often won’t work for another person.  And what works for a joint in the arm or hand may not work for someone else’s knee pain.  Again, there can be a lot of information associated with joint pain for the relief-seeker or patient to digest.

Diet

So, a good starting place is to look at well-researched remedies applying to almost every kind of joint pain.  For one, you can address leg pain by losing weight. Changing your eating habits  for the better can make a big difference in how much pain you experience from various kinds of discomfort, including arthritis.  It goes without saying among experts, extra weight puts greater pressure on your hips, knee joints, ankles, and feet.

Gentle Exercise

Next, many therapists recommend low-impact exercising to alleviate various types of joint discomfort.  Moving the parts of your body in fluid motions; for example, doing water aerobics or swimming, will flex various joints and keep stress to a minimum.  Whereas, trying to walk long distances or run may only create more damage to joints and increase your pain.

Hot and Cold Therapy

The application of hot and cold treatments can also make a big difference in helping calm arthritis pain. To implement these techniques, you can take a long, warm shower or bath.  Some people have used an electric blanket successfully, while others found that a moist heating pad could do the job. Each of these methods tend to work well in keeping your joints loose.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, an old Chinese practice to help multiple categories of pain, seems to be growing in popularity. Patients who have tried it – seemingly, the majority of them – claim it works wonders in living up to its claims: Basically, to reroute energies while restoring balance throughout your body.  The World Health Organization has even endorsed this treatment for more than 100 different conditions.

Tumeric

A lesser known approach is to add turmeric, a spice commonly found in Indian cuisine, to your meals.  Although not medically validated across multiple agencies, the National Institute of Health claims that turmeric given to lab rats on multiple occasions reduced inflammation within the animal’s joints.  Some testimonial evidence exists that the spice just may help people suffering with joint pain.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

Finally, the community of specialists who work with upper cervical procedures have documented evidence that care of the upper spine region can help alleviate multiple forms of pain throughout the body. There certainly seems like enough evidence for what upper cervical procedures can do to point pain sufferers for treatment specialists to pay more attention to this practice.  

Your diet plays a massive role in your health and how well you can carry out your everyday tasks, so it’s important to come up with a strategy for buying healthy foods.  There are many approaches to starting a sound diet plan; here are seven that will put you on the right track:

1. Get determined. Adopting a new regimen can be more challenging than you think, and it can be hard to restrain from junk food and sweets. Cut off easy access to processed foods and fix yourself on a steady, healthy meal plan. Pretty soon you will adjust to your new routine, and won’t be looking back!
2. Plan out your meals. Schedule your eating times around the same time each day and have an idea what you’re planning to cook ahead of time.
3. Read labels. It’s important to know what ingredients exist within the food you are buying, including nutrition, calories, and saturated fats. Knowing this can help you keep track of your nutrition intake.
4. Go for more natural, unprocessed foods. Many processed foods lack nutrients and are high in unhealthy fats. These can drain your body of energy and cause you to eat more than you should.
5. Budget wisely. Ration your money on some of the essential foods like milk and wheat before spending on other items. Read labels to make sure your getting your money’s worth.
6. Maintain a balanced diet. Be sure to have a variety of food. Plan your meals ahead of time so you don’t eat chicken three night in a row. Set certain days for salad and fish, and others for meat and vegatables or chicken and rice.
7. Keep track of your nutrition. Record how many calories you consume daily, and your protein and fat intake so you can prepare for your next meal.

There are certainly more tips to be found, especially if you search online; yet if you can abide by these seven suggestions as you plan your weekly diet, you will certainly notice improvements to your health.

Car accidents can be terrifying, stressful, and sometimes painful events in our lives. Some accidents are more severe and medical care is provided on site. Other times, both parties report that they feel fine, swap their insurance information, and go home. In these cases, it is important to be aware of the possibility that side effects from the car accident may present themselves hours or even days after the car accident occurred.

It is important to watch for delayed side effects after a car accident because your auto insurance will only accept medical claims within 14 days of your accident. It is important to see a doctor right away if you begin to notice delayed side effects after your accident. Depending on your symptom, your doctor may recommend you see a chiropractor, although you can choose to see one without a referral from your primary car physician.

Common delayed side effects to watch for:

• Headaches or Migraines
• Neck Pain or Stiffness
• Back Pain
• Tingling or Prickling Sensation in Extremities
• Loss of Physical Functionality
• Loss of Range of Movement
• Abdominal Swelling
• Change in Emotional Reactions
• Personality Changes

Although not all of these delayed side effects will see improvements after undergoing care from an Upper Cervical Chiropractor, many do. Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care is beneficial for individuals with more than just neck or back pain. By looking for and removing a misalignment in the Atlas or Axis (top to vertebrae in the spine), upper cervical can help to reduce the severity, reduce the frequency, or all together stop delayed symptoms after a car accident. Even those with personality changes and loss of physical functionality have seen improvements in their symptoms after receiving upper cervical adjustments. This is because when the spine is aligned, your central nervous system is in harmony and better able to heal the body and perform at optimal function.

Temporomandibular Joint disorders, or TMJ disorders (for easier pronunciation), are a compilation of several disorders that affect the joint and surrounding area where the jaw meets the skull. Typically, this disorder can cause an individual to have trouble talking, eating, and can cause pain and swelling in the area. For some individuals, the pain radiates into their neck and causes headaches. The treatment for TMJ disorders can vary on the extent of the disorder. Those with mild to moderate pain or discomfort may be suggested by their doctor or dentist to take over the counter pain relievers, or may prescribe a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory.  At its most extreme, TMJ may require surgery, but before it gets to that point there are several therapies that can help, including seeing an Upper Cervical Chiropractor.

How Can an Upper Cervical Chiropractor Help an Issue in My Jaw?

When traditionally recommended treatments fail to help, looking outside the box of tradition may be where you will find your answer. Upper cervical and chiropractic adjustments are commonly used to supplement or even replace traditional treatments for a variety of issues, including TMJ. Chiropractic care seeks to help the body and all functions by alleviating the dysfunctions, or misalignment, in the spine.

These dysfunctions, or misalignments, can cause tension in the muscles, joints, and fascia; which, in turn, can cause a number of ailments, pain, discomfort, and limited mobility. Upper cervical focuses on the upper two vertebrae in the neck, the closest to the skull and jaw. A misalignment, especially in this area, can place undue stress and pressure on the surrounding nerves, including the nerves associated with TMJ pain.

Many clients who have TMJ and seek upper cervical care find relief in their symptoms following just one visit. TMJ is usually a life-long ailment, so continuing upper cervical care alongside your traditional treatment can provide immense benefits and relief.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care is a healthcare profession that uses drug-free and surgery-free methods to diagnose and treat neuromuscular stresses through the use of the Advanced Orthogonal Approach (AOA). The AOA is a painless adjustment of the spine through the use of sonic sound waves.

Upper cervical chiropractic care relieves treated individuals from stresses and pains. A chiropractor is a healthcare professional that performs chiropractic sessions. The basic conditions they help provide relief for are neck pain, spine strain, migraine/headache, and lower back pain. Upper Cervical can also help alleviate symptoms of other more serious conditions such as TMJ, scoliosis, and Fibromyalgia. They can also aid in the recovery of accident victims.

Understanding Stress

Stress can be caused by a hectic work schedule, change in your environment, war, loud noises, anxiety, or sickness.

Stress can either cause a positive reaction which makes some people work harder on a task/job or negative reaction by an accumulative effect on the body. Negative effects of stress can cause tension to build up within the body’s muscles, joints, and tendons, which in turn affects the vertebrae in your spine. It can simply be said that stress is bad for the mind and body of an individual.

How Upper Cervical Reduces Stress

Spinal Subluxations is a misalignment of the spine which can lead to pain or discomfort, limited mobility, headaches or migraines, or more serious issues such as illness. An upper cervical chiropractor conducts spinal adjustments which return your vertebrae to its proper positioning thereby improving nerve function and removing the tension (which is caused by stress) from your spine and surrounding muscles.

Upper cervical chiropractors may also operate in a soothing and serene environment, so patients can be more relaxed during treatment sessions. They do this so that the body can easily be worked on. They may play the patients’ favorite music just to set the atmosphere right or ask the patient to sit in a comfortable position.

An upper cervical chiropractor will also help his patients to work on bettering their posture. A wrong sitting posture can lead to tension around the neck and the spine. This added stress leads to severe lower back pain and neck stiffness.

Other de-stressing options may also be presented by an upper cervical chiropractor. The goal is to help you live a healthier and stronger lifestyle in order to reduce the stress and strain on your neck and back.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is defined by the American Heart Association as a systolic pressure of 140 or higher and/or a diastolic pressure of 90 or higher (140/90, or “140 over 90”). Nearly 80 million Americans suffer from hypertension, that’s a little over one in every three adults! Hypertension is a risk factor for other issues in cardiovascular health, including heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke.

Although cardiovascular disease is still the biggest killer in the U.S., deaths fell by nearly a third from 2001 to 2011—a drop scientists say reflects improvements in preventing and treating heart disease and stroke. This is great news, except deaths attributed to high blood pressure are on the rise. As of the most recent published data in 2011, more Americans were dying from high blood pressure related deaths than they were 10 years prior; from 46,765 deaths in 2001 to 65,123 deaths in 2011.

The death rate going up for one while the other is going down may seem contradictory, however, one reason this can happen is that hypertension can directly lead to other deadly conditions (besides heart disease and strokes) such as heart failure or kidney failure if it is not controlled. Other issues that may lead to death are patients with hypertension not taking their medication correctly, or in some cases, the amount of medication is not enough to manage the individual’s hypertension levels. Of the 80 million Americans with high blood pressure, only about half have it under control.

For most people, the American Heart Association recommends treatment if blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, and research shows that lowering blood pressure by just 5 points reduces the overall risk of death from any cause by 7 percent.

So, what can you do to supplement your high blood pressure medication and reduce your risk for heart disease, kidney disease, or other issues?

1. Exercise

One of the largest factors plaguing Americans that leads to high blood pressure is obesity and overall lack of physical activity. Even a simple exercise like walking for 30 minutes during the day can provide numerous health benefits. Join a gym, work out at home, or opt for the stairs over the elevator or park in the back of the lot to get in a few extra steps. Exercise provides numerous physical and mental health benefits.

2. Diet

Another major contributing factor to high blood pressure is a high intake of sodium (salt) in your diet. Check labels before purchasing your food and don’t add salt (or reduce how much you do add) to your food. In addition to reducing salt from your diet, reduce sugar and increase your intake of foods high in protein, fiber, nutrients, or minerals. A well-balanced diet is a big step towards heart health.

3. Stress Management

Blood pressure can rise when you are under a lot of stress and although you can’t always avoid it, you can find ways to better manage how you handle stress. There are numerous techniques for stress management: breathing exercises, physical exercise, playing a sport, yoga, crafts, reading, meditation, etc. Find what works for you and implement the stress management when you feel that your stress level is rising. Properly managing you stress is a big way to help supplement your care of your hypertension.

4. Upper Cervical Care

Your brain and the brain stem play a vital role in the regulation of blood pressure. Proper communication between the brain and the body help maintain a healthy blood pressure level. When a misalignment occurs at the top of the neck near the level of the brain stem, the brain to body communication is disrupted. This disruption can lead to many issues, one of which is high blood pressure.

The top vertebra in your neck, or the Atlas vertebra, is not anchored like the other bones in the spine. It relies solely on the surrounding muscles and ligaments to stay in place, which makes it vulnerable to misalignment.

Upper cervical adjustments are a pain-free, drug-free, and a non-invasive way of correcting this misalignment. When an upper cervical correction is made, and the Atlas is properly repositioned, the brain to body communication is restored. Upper cervical adjustments have even been shown to significantly reduce blood pressure in patients with hypertension, according to a study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension.

Fibromyalgia is one of the leading chronic pain conditions of American people. In fact, nearly 10 million people in the U.S. alone and around 5% of the world’s population suffer from Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and localized tenderness. Other symptoms may include depression, poor concentration, and headaches. The cause of FM is unknown, but researchers believe that genetics may play a role. Symptoms can develop after:

• psychological stress
• physical trauma
• an injury
• an illness

Fibromyalgia pain can be minor, or serious enough to interfere with daily activities. Treatment methods are available to help curb the symptoms of Fibromyalgia; however, there is no cure yet. Aside from the traditional prescriptions or recommendations for over the counter pain medications, Fibromyalgia may also be treated with anti-depressant and anti-convulsant (anti-seizure) medications. If pharmaceuticals are not helping or you want to provide supplement care for your Fibromyalgia, the following may help relieve symptoms as well.

1. Yoga

Research has shown that people with Fibromyalgia who participated in yoga classes experienced improved mood, and less pain and fatigue. Classes typically involve gentle poses, meditation, breathing exercises, and even group discussion. The goal of yoga is to help individuals increases muscle strength and mobility, and learn different relaxation techniques.

2. Upper Cervical Care

Upper cervical care is different from other chiropractic care in that there is no popping or cracking of your back. Your spine is not manipulated; instead a correct is made with the use of a painless and precise soundwave. Many patients of upper cervical care who have Fibromyalgia, have found that a simple correction to the vertebrae in their neck has helped tenfold in their pain and discomfort.

3. Physical Therapy

Seeing a physical therapist can provide you with specific exercises and stretches to help improve your range of motion and muscle strength, which have been shown to help reduce pain for those with Fibromyalgia.

4. Exercise

Simple exercise can provide numerous benefits for those with Fibromyalgia. It combats fatigue, improves energy levels, and improves muscle strength and resilience. Getting started can be difficult, so start slow and work up gradually. You may find it beneficial to combine exercise with the help of a physical therapist. Exercise has shown continuous benefit in controlled trials.

5. Vitamin D Supplements

People with Fibromyalgia are commonly seen to have very low levels of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is produced during the body’s exposure to the sun, or it can be taken as a supplement. Vitamin D is responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and multiple other biological effects.  In a 2013 study, researchers found that people with Fibromyalgia felt physically better and experienced less fatigue when they took vitamin D supplements. Talk to your doctor before taking vitamin D supplements, as too much can be toxic – or try to get some sun for at least 30 minutes a day.

Your spine is made up of individual discs sandwiched between each of the bones in your vertebrae. These discs are a small pad of gel-like tissue surrounded by a thick coating that serves as a cushion between your bones of your spine that help it to be as mobile as it is.  These discs also serve as a shock absorber and prevent the vertebrae from rubbing against each other.

What is a herniated disc?

An injury to the spine, stress, or poor posture can cause the spine to become misaligned, meaning the weight is not distributed evenly across the disc. When this happens, the disc may “bulge” into the spinal canal or against a nerve in the spinal cord. The result is called a herniated, slipped, or ruptured disc.

Where can a herniated disc occur?

A herniated disc can occur anywhere along your vertebrae, although the reason why or effect it has on the rest of your body can vary. A herniated disc in your lower lumber or lower cervical area usually occurs because these areas carry the bulk of your body’s weight.

What are symptoms of a herniated disc?

When a disc is herniated, typically you will feel a sudden and sharp pain followed by a lingering pain or sensation. A herniated disc can also cause other issues throughout your body.

• Herniated discs within the lumbar region of your spine (lower back) can radiate pain along your lower back down to your buttocks, thighs, and legs. This pain is usually described as burning, tingling, or as a numbness along the area.
• A herniated disc in the upper cervical region of your spine (upper neck area) can cause pain in your neck, shoulders, and arms. A herniated disc in this region can also weaken your neck or use of your shoulders and arms.

Treatments for a herniated disc

Your spine is a specialized area that requires delicate handling. There are several types of specialist that focus only on the treatment of spinal injuries, however, treatment options may vary among each specialist. Some may recommend surgery immediately, while others may approach the issue more slowly by attempting to reverse the misalignment in hopes to reduce the pressure the herniated disc is causing. The choice of who to see for treatment solely lies within you. You know what is best for your body and how far you are willing to take your treatment, and never be afraid to get a second or even a third opinion.

A benefit of seeing an upper cervical specialist at the Upper Cervical Center of Brandon, is that our methods of treatment do not require any popping, bending, or twisting of your spine. We do not perform manual adjustments like general chiropractors do. We use the Advance Orthogonal approach for treatment, which is a painless and precise sound wave correction for the upper cervical spine. This treatment method realigns the head and neck to their proper positions, removing the interference and restoring balance to the body’s nervous system. Even if your herniated disc is located in the lower cervical or lumbar region, an Upper Cervical correction can help. We have seen that when the upper cervical region is properly aligned, the rest of the spine will follow.

Dealing with constant back pain can interfere with your daily life. From having difficulty in completing household tasks or moving furniture, to not being able to take part in a sport or play with your kids (or grandkids) – every part of your day is affected by the pain in your back. You go out of your way to keep from agitating your back, which means you may do something you don’t normally do or refrain from doing something you enjoy. If you are suffering from back pain and this sounds a lot like your life, you are not alone.

The facts about back pain are staggering:

• Nearly 8 out of every 10 people will experience some sort of back pain at least once in their life.
• Lower back pain is the number one reason for disability.
• The majority of back pain sufferers (54%) report that they spend most of their day sitting.
• Back pain and back problems are more prevalent among women than men.
• Back pain complaints increase for women while pregnant; about half of woman report significant back pain at some point in their pregnancy.
• Over $50 billion dollars are spent every year on the treatment and management of back pain.

Treatment and management options are vast and can range from:

• Over the counter medications
• Heating pads
• Prescription medications
• Massages
• Surgery
• Steroid Injections
• Doctor visits
• Chiropractor visits
• Supportive pillows
• Back stretchers or traction devices
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices

In addition to the above, one can also employ some easier and more natural methods to reduce the stress on their back and alleviate some of the pain.

• Maintain a healthy weight through proper nutrition and exercise
• Avoid prolonged sitting (at work, take increment breaks to stand and stretch)
• Wear comfortable and proper fitting shoes
• Sleep on a medium-firm mattress to provide some support for your back
• Use proper lifting techniques to pick something from the ground up (lift with your legs!)
• Quit smoking – smoking can interfere with nutrient delivery to your discs
• Drink plenty of water to keep your spinal discs hydrated

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is the interval of time between heartbeats but unlike your Heart Rate (HR), which averages the number of heart beats per minute, your HRV focuses on the small fluctuations of the heart that occur in response to internal and external events.

Heart Rate Variability is a direct link to your Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which means that it can be used to gain insights into your nervous system, stress and recovery activity. This also means that if your Autonomic Nervous System is not working properly, it can affect your HRV. A subluxation (misalignment) in your spine can affect the functioning of your ANS, and thus also, your HRV.

Similarly, poor functioning of your Autonomic Nervous System and poor reading of your Heart Rate Variability can be indicators of a subluxation (misalignment) in your spine.

The Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research published a study of the correlation between the HRV and subluxations in the spine. The researchers proposed that since subluxations can cause interference to the functions of the nervous system, the effects of subluxations should also be seen in HRV readings. In the study, bilateral heat readings along the spine were used to measure change or improvement.

In the cases where individuals were found to have a subluxation in the spine, HRV and Bilateral Heat Readings were taken. Each then received the corresponding correction to their subluxation, and their readings were taken again. In each instance, the HRV and bilateral heat readings showed improvement after receiving the correction.

Researchers of the study concluded that “there appears to be a relationship between the improvements in bilateral skin temperature pattern analysis and heart rate variability following an upper cervical chiropractic technique. It is feasible that upper cervical chiropractic care can have a positive effect on the autonomic nerve system and there may be a connection between pattern reduction and improved heart rate variability.”