upper cervical chiropractic care Archives - Upper Cervical Center of Brandon

15 09, 2022

Healthy Spine, Healthy Life

2022-06-24T22:32:22+00:00

Overall a healthy spine means a healthy life. Your spine is literally the backbone of your health – it protects your central nervous system. Your central nervous system is made up of the mind and the spinal cord and controls all of your bodily functions from healing a cut to breathing and walking. If there is any interference, your central nervous system isn’t able to properly function. When this happens, your health can decline. Taking care of your spine is easier than you would think, just 5 simple ways to live a better life.

Hydration

Your body is made up of 60% of water and it needs water in order to properly function. It is recommended to drink eight 8oz glasses of water (64oz) a day; another recommendation is to drink half your body weight in ounces, so if you weigh 160 pounds then you should drink 80 ounces of water. Either way, staying hydrated is the first key to your health. Your spinal discs, the sacs of fluid between the vertebrae is mostly water and if not properly hydrated will shrink. As a result, movement will become uncomfortable or even painful.

Nourishment

Eating healthy can be difficult; usually if it tastes good, it is bad for us. But there are ways to eat a balanced diet to ensure that our body gets the nutrients it needs for cellular growth, muscle function, and spinal health. Without the proper vitamins and nutrients, your body will not perform at its prime. It would be like using regular motor oil instead of when the owner’s manual specifies using synthetic – it works but things may not perform at their best or for long.

Strengthen

The best way to ensure that you have a health spine is to have a strong spine. This does not mean that you have to go out and “pump iron” for an hour a day. Your goal should be to strengthen your core. The core is a muscle group that is comprised of your abdominal muscles, your spinal muscles, and the muscles located at the floor of your pelvis. A strong core means that your spine is protected by the surrounding muscle groups from injuries caused by incorrect lifting or poor posture. Doing regular core strengthening exercises will produce a stronger back and reduce lower back pain.

Stretch

In addition to strengthening your muscles you will also need to stretch them. Limber muscles are less likely to be injured such as a pulled or torn muscle. There are a number of ways to stretch your spine and surrounding muscles. A popular exercise, Yoga, is not your only choice. There a numerous stretches that you can perform while working at your desk at work such as standing up and reaching for the ceiling and the bending over and reaching for your toes. Then bend at your side and reach above your head with your outside arm. The goal is to reach out as far as you can so that you can feel the muscles stretching.

Upper Cervical Care

Getting regular adjustments from an Upper Cervical Doctor isn’t just a gimmick. There are numerous health benefits of making sure your spine is well taken care of. Getting an adjustment is much like seeing a dentist regularly even when you don’t have a cavity. You go to prevent issues from arising. Why not just go to a regular chiropractor then? Well with the care provided by and Upper Cervical Doctor, there is no popping, cracking, twisting, or pushing of your spine. Our method is more advanced and essentially pain free.

Healthy Spine, Healthy Life2022-06-24T22:32:22+00:00

1 09, 2022

Why Do I Feel So Sore After an Adjustment?

2022-06-24T22:31:50+00:00

You’ve just started seeing an upper cervical doctor and have had a few adjustments. You are feeling great, better than you have in years! But recently you have had some pain, an old injury flare up; perhaps something you haven’t had to deal with in years. You wonder what is going on and why you are feeling this pain and discomfort. You should be feeling great – that’s what they said at your last visit. So, why is this happening and is it normal?

Retracing

What you are experiencing is, in fact, a normal side effect called “retracing”. Not all patients of upper cervical care will experience retracing but it is not so uncommon that it is unheard of or worrisome.

Retracing is the experience in flare-ups or an increase in your symptoms. You may feel discomfort, aches, or even dizziness after an adjustment. This does not mean you will always feel this way after every adjustment, just that you do feel this way after your most current adjustment.

Why does retracing happen?

The body has the ability to heal itself and when your spine is properly aligned, its ability to do so is maximized. However, the healing process has its good moments, better moments, and not so great moments. Once you begin to focus on your body’s healing, old injuries may flare up as years of compensation begin to come undone.

Think of it as starting a new diet and exercise regime. At first, your body isn’t sure how to react and you may feel sore after a workout or still hungry after a meal. Instead of quitting, you have to buckle down and stay focused on your new regime, and soon you will realize that you aren’t as sore after a workout and the weights aren’t as heavy. You will also notice that the meals are more filling and that your metabolism has increased.

This is the same with your upper cervical care. You can’t stop going just because the going got a little tough. Typically retracing will only last 3 to 5 days and does not reoccur after every adjustment. It also does not affect every person who gets an adjustment.

What to do if you are experiencing retracing?

If you are one of the few who experience retracing after an adjustment, be rest assured that there is not anything wrong with you. Take it easy, don’t push yourself and get plenty of rest. Be sure to stay hydrated and eat healthy – your body needs the proper nourishment to continue your healing. If the pain or discomfort becomes too unbearable, take an ibuprofen or use a heating pad.

Don’t give up on your upper cervical care. Too often people think retracing is a sign that the adjustments are not working when in reality, it is just the opposite. Continue your treatment and advise your doctor if you are experiencing retracing symptoms so that they can consider this reaction in your treatment plan.

Why Do I Feel So Sore After an Adjustment?2022-06-24T22:31:50+00:00

15 08, 2022

7 Ways to Effectively Boost Your Nervous System

2022-06-24T22:31:58+00:00

The Central Nervous System is a complex system that is one of the most important parts of your body. It is what controls your whole body and mind. Your vital functions like breathing and your heart beating to other bodily functions like eating, hydrating, and eliminating waste are all controlled by your Central Nervous System. Your Central Nervous System also controls your immune system, your mood and emotions, and your reaction to internal and external stimuli.

If your Central Nervous System is damaged or faces any interference, your body can suffer for it. So, it is best to do what you can to take care of it. There are a number of foods, nutrients, and therapies you can try to keep your Central Nervous System Balanced and operating properly.

Beneficial Foods

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is an affordable staple with numerous health benefits. The nutrients in oatmeal work to stabilize the nervous system and can calm irritability and mild anxiety, relieve insomnia, and increase mental performance.

Baker’s Yeast

Surprising, and little known, baker’s yeast is packed full of B vitamins and can be taken as a nutritional supplement. As a result, it can combat depression, anxiety, stress, and reduced appetite.

Superfoods

Superfoods are essentially foods that are packed with nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that provide numerous benefits for the body and mind.

Chia Seeds: Being pumped fully of Omega 3 fatty acids, B vitamins and other essential minerals, means that chia seeds are the superfood of superfoods that help with cognitive function, combat depression, and help keep the mind calm and focused.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Foods high in Omega-3s have been shown to strengthen neuron functions and improve nerve transmissions.

Magnesium

A deficiency in magnesium can put the Central Nervous System out of balance and cause anxiety, insomnia, hyperactivity, and panic attacks. You can either take a magnesium supplement or eat some of the following foods that are rich in magnesium:

Cocoa/ Dark Chocolate
Green Leafy Vegetables: Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard
Nuts: Walnuts, Cashews, Almonds, and Hazelnuts
Fruit: Banana, Melon, Avocado, Plum, Apricot
Legumes: Lentils and Peas
Brown Rice
Oats
Potatoes
Pumpkins

Sunlight

Exposure to sunlight is an easy, natural way to expose yourself to vitamin D which is vital to your overall health and nervous system. Just be careful to not get a sunburn!

Walk Outside… Barefoot

It may seem odd but studies have actually been conducted on this. Walking barefoot through the grass or on a sandy beach have shown to improve blood viscosity, reduce stress, increase sleep, and balance your nervous system. Contact with the Earth’s surface transfers electrons to your body which promotes healthy physiological changes.

Water Therapy

Exposure to water at various temperatures can balance your nervous system. The alternating temperatures will play on the firing of your nerve endings, allowing them to refresh themselves. There are a few methods you can employ:

Cool, Wet Rubs: Run a cool, wet washcloth quickly along the following patterns: hand to shoulder, foot to groin, then your torso. Immediately dress warmly after rubbing down your torso.
Magnesium Sulfate Baths: Add magnesium sulfate to your next bath for a more relaxing and vitalizing twist on your regular routine.
Cold Shower: End your regular shower with a rush of cold water but avoid dipping your head under the cold water.
Arm Baths: Fill two sinks, buckets, or run water from the faucet if nothing else is available; one with hot water and the other with cold. You will alternate placing each one of your arms into the hot water and then the cold. You can repeat the arm bath but be sure to end with a cold bath. So, left arm: hot, cold, hot, cold, hot, cold/ right arm: hot, cold, hot, cold, hot, cold.

Manage Stress

Stress can be harmful to your body and mind in several ways. Follow some of these tips to de-stress and keep your nervous system healthy.

Deep Breathing: Sit or lie in a comfortable position and place your hands on your abdomen. Inhale through your nose, hold for three seconds, and then exhale through your mouth completely. Repeat for 5-10 minutes and try to perform deep breathing exercises 2-3 times a day.
Yoga or Mediation: Yoga is an exercise that will not only strengthen your body and increase your flexibility but it will also help you to focus and reduce stress. The goal of mediation is to put yourself in a reduced stress state where you can clear your mind and be problem free, even if just for the moment.
Get Up and Move: A quick exercise or stretch can do wonders to clear your mind.
Show Yourself Some Love: Indulge yourself every now and again. Whether it’s getting a massage, facial, a pedicure, or making that purchase you have been holding back on (so long as it will not create a financial strain – your goal is to release stress, not create it!).

See an Upper Cervical Doctor

When your neck and spine vertebrae are misaligned, the effect on your nervous system can be detrimental and cause a number of issues ranging from pain, and headaches to more severe issues of depression, anxiety, or other illnesses. Having a skilled Upper Cervical Doctor re-allign your vertebrae will correct many of the issues you are having and will provide you with a healthier central nervous system.

7 Ways to Effectively Boost Your Nervous System2022-06-24T22:31:58+00:00

1 08, 2022

How Upper Cervical Care Can Curb Your Depression

2022-06-24T22:32:03+00:00

Everyone is capable of feeling sadness and grief, these types of feelings are normal and even healthy to experience. Depression is a disease that affects your body, your mind, and your thoughts; you experience extensive periods of sadness and loss of interest of things you once cared for. Depression affects how a person feels, thinks, eats, and sleeps.

According to the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), around 16 million U.S. adults suffer from some form of depression, a number that may not truly reflect the reach of this disease because of the stigma that is attached to depression and mental health issues. Many more people may be suffering from depression who are not seeking any type of medical help.

For those who are seeking a supplementation to their current treatment or those who do not wish to take pharmaceuticals as treatment, there is something that can help with your depression symptoms– Upper Cervical Care.

Upper Cervical Care focuses on treating the subluxations of the spine, primarily the top vertebrae – the Atlas and the Axis, and the resulting issues within the Central Nervous System the subluxations caused. When the subluxations are removed, the spine is properly aligned and the Central Nervous System is able to properly function at its prime.

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 is also in charge of our vital bodily functions such as breathing, pumping blood, feeling hungry or thirsty; and it is commands our emotions (happiness, sadness, anxiety, nervousness) and controls the release of hormones.

When your Central Nervous System properly functions, there is improved control of your moods and deeper than that, there is better control of the hormones released in your brain – and therefore an improvement in your depression symptoms.

How Upper Cervical Care Can Curb Your Depression2022-06-24T22:32:03+00:00

15 07, 2022

Ten Tips To Drink More Water

2022-06-24T22:30:48+00:00

Water is the source of life. Don’t believe it? Our bodies are made up of 60% water and the Earth is made up of 71% of water. Water is essential to our health and well-being and it is important to ensure that our bodies are properly hydrated, especially in this Florida heat.

Did you know it is recommended to consume eight 8oz glasses of water per day? This simple rule is sometimes hard to remember so it has been given the nickname “The 8×8 Rule”. This may seem like a lot to some but if you think about it 64oz is close as drinking about 3.5 20oz-bottles of soda a day or 5 12oz-cups of coffee. You can easily surpass this daily goal by drinking 4 bottles of water.

If you still think you will have trouble consuming the daily dose of H20, here are ten tips to make sure that you drink plenty of water.

Add flavor. There are several types of products on the market to flavor your water but you can easily change up the taste of your glass by adding fruit like a lemon or mint leaves, or for something sweeter, try strawberries.
Keep a water bottle with you at all times. Having the water near at hand will help to ensure that’s what you reach for when you are thirsty. Use a reusable bottle to fill up while you are on the go and if you are concerned with the quality of public water, get a reusable bottle with a built-in filter.
Make it a habit. Pick something you do often throughout the day, like taking a bathroom break, and drink a glass of water after doing so. Eventually, drinking water will become part of your routine.
Wake up with it. Drinking water first thing in the morning is the perfect start to your day. As an added bonus, it is a gently way of waking your digestive system after a nighttime of fasting.
Drink water with a fizz. This is especially helpful for those with a soda addiction. Learn to curb your cravings for that carbonated beverage by drinking sparkling or mineral water. It still counts towards your daily water intake and you still get that bubbly taste.
Track your usage with an app. For many people utilizing technology in our daily tasks is as common as breathing. Download an app that will help you to track the amount of water you drink daily. The plus side is most apps will allow you to set a goal and send you reminders when you get close or are falling behind.
Drink before you eat. This tip not only helps you make drinking water a habit but if you have weight loss goals or are keeping calories in mind, drinking water will make you feel more full so you do not overeat (which is especially helpful if you are eating out where portions are typically larger).
Mark your bottle. Or buy it marked with ounces or times. This will help you to set a goal of drinking “x” amount of water by lunch time.
Make yourself a mixed drink. And we don’t mean alcoholic. Water down your usual drink of lemonade, juice, or tea to “sneak” in some water into your routine. As an extra bonus, you will consume less sugar!
Eat it! If you feel that you are always drinking something and need a break, try eating water-rich fruits and vegetables like watermelon (92% water), grapefruit (91%), cucumber (96%), or zucchini (95%). Incorporate these foods into a meal or eat them by themselves as a healthy snack.

Ten Tips To Drink More Water2022-06-24T22:30:48+00:00

30 06, 2022

The Answer To Your Heath Problem May Be In Your Posture

2022-06-23T19:53:26+00:00

You may not realize it but your posture can affect the overall health of your body. Standing, sitting, or even lifting incorrectly can impact your posture and your health. You may initially notice back or neck pain followed my muscle stiffness and fatigue after spending too long sitting in a hunched position or standing all day.

When you have bad posture, you are forcing one part of your body to work harder to compensate for the twist or bend in your spine. Over time, the muscles not being properly worked can become atrophied. Poor posture can cause your overall health to dwindle as well.

Think of your spine as a garden hose and the water flowing through it is the communication between your central nervous system and your body. When a hose is free of kinks, the water flows freely and without interruption, but if the hose becomes kinked or pinched, the water slows or stops altogether. The same happens when you have poor posture. If your spine is not sitting correctly in its natural curve, it will act as a kinked hose; interrupting the signals between your body and central nervous system.

Your spine protects your spinal cord which is a key component in your central nervous system, which is in charge of your body’s immune system among other functions. If your body is unable to properly send signals to your central nervous system, it will not receive the care that it needs to fight of disease.

Poor posture is linked to chronic pain, deeper depressions, digestive issues, increased risk for diabetes, decreased circulation, increased risk for cardiovascular disease, weight issues, increased stress, headaches/migraines, reduced lung function, and becoming susceptible to other diseases or illnesses.

Posture can also affect you outside of your health including in the work place by affecting your workplace productivity, advancement, and career success.

So, remember that whether you are sitting or standing to keep your back straight, shoulders back and chin up. If you have been sitting for a long period of time, take a break and move around. This will not only allow you to stretch your muscles and correct your posture but to also improve your circulation and lung function that is affected by long periods of sitting crouched over.

If you are having a hard time maintaining correct posture, this could be from the muscle stiffness and fatigue from too long spent in a poor positioning. Visiting an upper cervical chiropractor can help you to get your body back on the right track.

The Answer To Your Heath Problem May Be In Your Posture2022-06-23T19:53:26+00:00

23 06, 2022

3 Ways Your Posture Is Affecting Your Success

2022-06-23T19:30:55+00:00

Many American workers spend a large portion of their day sitting, usually slumped in front of a computer. Others spend their work hours standing or walking constantly and there are those who perform manual labor that requires them to lift, bend, twist, or carry something heavy. Whatever the worktime assignment, your back and spine takes the brunt of the abuse, affecting your regular posture. A poor posture can actually affect your mood, health, productivity, and even success.

Research shows that the majority of Americans spend only 36% of their day in good posture – that’s 64% of their day spent slouching. Women, surprisingly, have worse posture habits than men, by 20%.

Proper posture requires your head to be held up, your shoulders back and should reduce the strain on your muscles to support the rest of your body. When you maintain a proper posture, especially at particular times, you can be more successful. Here’s how:

Good Posture Increases Your Productivity

One of the leading reasons for decreased productivity is worker absence. When a company does not have the proper staff, they are not able to achieve workplace goals. Besides missing work for a cold, the second biggest reason for seeing a doctor is back pain. In fact, back pain is the number one listed reason for disability claims for individuals under 45.

Poor posture is linked to increased back and neck pain. When you sit or stand at work or at home with the proper posture, not only do you reduce the risk of having to miss work for a doctor visit, you will also see other health improvements that will increase your workplace productivity. Having a good posture can actually improve your mood, increase your energy levels, and help you to focus.

Good Posture Boosts Your Confidence

Keeping a “power pose”, which is with your head held high and your shoulders pulled back, for at least 30 minutes will trigger your body to release certain chemicals in the brain. Testosterone, a hormone linked to increased confidence and power, is released along with cortisol, a hormone that reduces stress levels.

Good Posture Reflects Authority

Increased confidence can reflect greater authority but maintaining good posture to reflect your power and success goes beyond just chemicals. Good posture is a form of body language that tells others that you are in charge, or someone that can be looked to for leadership.

Consider the animal kingdom, many animals poise themselves to appear larger than they really are to scare off predators and maintain control of their pack. Humans can mimic this behavior and utilize it in the workplace to guarantee their success by exuding confidence, power, and leadership skills to those around them, higher level employees in particular.

3 Ways Your Posture Is Affecting Your Success2022-06-23T19:30:55+00:00