Blood Pressure

This is a copy of an article I came across at a website called yourspine.com, it explains the relationship between chiropractic, the spine, the nervous system and blood pressure so simply.

Description

Contrary to what drug makers would have you believe, your blood pressure is not regulated by chemicals in the blood. Individuals with normal blood pressure do not have higher levels of Lipitor in their bodies. In fact, the chemicals sold to artificially reduce blood pressure do not occur naturally in the body.

Our blood pressure is regulated from moment to moment by nerves. At specific locations in the walls of the large arteries, special sensors “measure” blood pressure by responding to the amount of stretch in the walls of the arteries, monitoring oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, and relaying information about the stretching of the heart's chambers (which is a function of circulating blood volume).

When blood pressure increases for any reason, these sensors send nerve signals to the blood pressure regulating center located in the lower portion of the brain. In response to the nerve signals, the blood pressure regulating center sends out nerve signals that slow the heart and dilate the arterioles. The lower output of blood by the heart and the lower peripheral resistance to blood flow results in lowering the arterial blood pressure back toward normal.

An example of this reflex occurs when you suddenly sit or stand up after lying down. Gravity pulls the blood downward, lowering the blood pressure in the carotid sinus in your neck. If the carotid sinus reflex didn’t act promptly, sending out nerve impulses (over sympathetic nerves) to increase heart output and constrict the arterioles, you would faint from the decreased flow of blood to your head.

This same process is in effect during the “fight or flight response”. The sympathetic nervous system is the portion of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system that has as its main function the preparation of our bodies for emergency situations. The sympathetic (adrenergic) nervous system sends nerve signals to the blood pressure regulating center of the brain, telling it to raise the blood pressure, which the center accomplishes by sending signals over sympathetic nerves that go to the heart and blood vessels.

How Chiropractic Care Relates to Blood Pressure

The brain communicates with the heart and arteries in a manner like that of interactive communication between networked computers. Sensory nerves in the heart and arteries carry information to the brain. These nerves run through the spine and pass through small openings called foramen. Information is transmitted from the brain back to the heart and arteries over this same pathway. Interference with these control signals can often be the result of neuropathy (changes in nerve pathology) caused by misalignment of the vertebrae that house and protect these delicate nerves, particularly the first vertebrae or atlas.

Correcting the underlying cause, vertebral misalignment, with chiropractic adjustments can restore proper communication between the brain and the heart and arteries, reducing blood pressure and often eliminating the need for blood pressure regulating drugs, according to several recently released placebo controlled studies.

Introduction

Buying a bed is not always an easy experience. When you consider that you spend a third of your life asleep – it is worth taking the time to get it right, so that your bed becomes your best friend. A good night’s sleep comes from a quality mattress. So how do you know if you need to replace your bed? Ask yourself the following questions:

✓ Is your bed more than eight to ten years old?

✓ Is it uncomfortable?

✓ Can you feel springs beneath the surface of the mattress?

✓ Do you and your partner ‘roll’ into each other?

✓ Is your mattress torn or discoloured?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, it’s probably time to invest in a new bed! Before you rush out and buy a new one, decide what it is you dislike about your current bed. Is it too soft or too hard? Do you need more space?

And so to bed...

There is no such thing as "THE correct sleeping position" but your body should be supported and your spine in line. DO NOT SLEEP IN A POSITION IF IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE; all of us are different and our sleeping positions develop to suit our own particular needs.

Pillow fights!

Your pillow can be as important as your mattress and even if you share a bed, don’t share a pillow – keep it to yourself! Your perfect pillow should keep your head in line with the rest of your body and mould to the shape of your head and neck . So, where do you begin the search for your ‘dream bed’?

Advice - buying your dream bed

The best bed for your back is not always a firm one – you need a bed that provides the right support and comfort for you. Remember your bed should not be too hard or too soft. If you are lying on your side your spine should be parallel to the mattress and your spine should not sag (bed too soft) or bow (bed too hard).

Big is Beautiful – buy the biggest bed possible, so you have the maximum space to move around; it should be around 15cm longer than the tallest sleeper.

Try, Try and Try Again – put the mattresses through their paces. Lie on each bed you are considering for as long as possible. Wear loose clothing so you can see how easy it is to turn as well as get on and off the bed.

If you sleep together, shop together – always shop with your partner and consider two separate mattresses in one bed frame if you and your partner are worlds apart in height and weight.

Never accept second best – it can be tempting to say yes to a second hand bed, but you will take on the previous owner’s dust mites and skin cells – not a pleasant thought! Also, mattresses pre-1986 do not meet basic fire safety regulations, so you are putting yourself in danger. Beds age as well, so fillings and springs loose their effectiveness over time. A mattress that is supportive and comfortable is key, but remember that your requirement for support will differ depending on your weight and build.

WHY ARE WE GETTING SICKER? IS IT BECAUSE OF OUR GENES?

So why are we all getting sicker as a nation? Well contrary to popular belief it has nothing to do with your genes! Genes do not and cannot dictate your future! As any geneticist will confirm our genes have not changed in 40 thousand years! Yet we are becoming sicker and sicker! We are the sickest species on earth! Yet a lot of people are insisting that our ill health is all down to genes! Well 95% of people are born with perfect genes! The remaining 5% represent true genetic disorders such as Down syndrome which if you have the extra chromosome it will lead to Down syndrome a million times out of a million! Whereas there are plenty of women out there that have the gene for breast cancer yet they don’t have breast cancer! So genetic pre-determinism is a myth! So if it is not our genes it begs the question well why are we getting so sick? Simply it all comes down to our lifestyle! As a nation we are eating the wrong foods, not exercising enough and surrounding ourselves with negative thoughts and emotions (just look at the news if you are in any doubt!)

So for better health we need to EAT WELL, MOVE WELL and THINK WELL

Study Showing The Benefits of Chiropractic Care In The Aging?

Following on from our last post on ageing and the theme that CHIROPRACTIC ADDS LIFE TO YEARS AND YEARS TO LIFE! A recent study evaluated the health status of 414 elderly individuals (average age of 80 years) and compared those individuals under chiropractic care with those not under chiropractic care. The researchers found a number of significant findings which included:

• 87% of those who used chiropractic care rated their health as good or excellent compared with only 68% in the nonchiropractic group


• 13% of those who used chiropractic care rated their health as fair or poor compared with 32% in the nonchiropractic group


• 44% of those who used chiropractic care reported having arthritis compared with 66% in the nonchiropractic care group


• those who used chiropractic care were more likely to do strenuous levels of exercise


• at 3 years follow-up, less than 5% of those who used chiropractic care used a nursing home while a staggering 48% of those who did not use chiropractic care did use a nursing home


• at 3 years follow-up, only 26% of those who used chiropractic care were hospitalized compared with 48% of those in the nonchiropractic group

1. Coulter, PhD et al. Chiropractic and Care for the Elderly. Top Clin Chiro 1996;3(2):46-55.

Reverse Aging With Chiropractic

In 2005, a landmark study published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation (JVSR) found evidence that chiropractic care can reduce oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress is the damage that occurs when free radicals outnumber the body'santioxidants. Oxidative stress damages all body cell components: proteins, lipids and DNA. In fact, researchers have found that one out of every three proteins is rendered dysfunctional by unchecked free radical damage.

Thiols are sulfur containing compounds in the body that act as antioxidants. They react with free radicals to neutralize them. Serum levels of thiols reflect DNA's capacity to repair itself, report scientists of Biomedical Diagnostic Research, Inc, and can be used to measure aging and disease status. In a 2003 study published in the Journal of Anti Aging Medicine, low serum thiol levels were found in nine different categories of human sickness and disease.

The study published in JVSR consisted of 76 participants: one group received short-termchiropractic care; a second group received long-term chiropractic care; and the third group received no chiropractic care.

The study qualified participants for age, sex and the use of nutritional supplements. Healthy individuals that received chiropractic care for 2 or more years had higher serum thiol levels than those with disease. Some of the chiropractic patients had serum thiol levels higher than what is associated with normal wellness.

Chiropractor Dr. Christopher Kent explained: 'Oxidative stress, metabolically generating free radicals, is now a broadly accepted theory of how we age and develop disease.'

'Going through life,' he adds, 'we experience physical, chemical and emotional stress. These stresses affect the function of the nervous system. We hypothesized that these disturbances in nerve function could affect oxidative stress and DNA repair on a cellular level.'

'Chiropractic care appears to improve the ability of the body to adapt to stress,' concluded Kent.

Source:

http://www.jvsr.com/abstractsiindex.asp?id=243

ARE YOU SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED? Well have Great SEX

Now before any of you get any smutty ideas or indeed feel embarassed, the title of this posting is simply referring to an acronym and not to anything taboo! The letters are to remind us of 3 basic premises for better Health:

S - stands for SLEEP more
E - stands for EAT more fruit and veg: and
X - stands for EXERCISE

Until we learn to take responsibility for our actions we will continue to become sicker and as we have discussed before, no matter how many pills and tablets we take we will not become any healthier. So these 3 simple steps are crucial for our health. Most people these days are sleep deprived! Very few are getting the recommended 71/2 - 8 hours sleep per night! Food, we simply need to eat more fruit andf veg. And exercise well 66 % of the population are clinically overweight, we need to exercise more! We all need a minimum of 30 minutes exercise per day!

So before you sit down and vegetate in front of the TV tonight just remember to heed the advice -HAVE GREAT SEX!

Postural Advice when Sleeping

If you are in pain, it can be difficult to get a good nights’ sleep. Sleep is very important as it helps the body to heal and recover and is vital if we are to have a productive day at work or at home. By using an appropriate pillow and adopting the correct sleeping position, it is possible to reduce the strain on your spine and minimize discomfort at night.

Pillows

It is important to maintain the natural curve of your neck when in a resting position. Those with a smaller body frame may find comfort using one pillow, whilst those with a larger frame may need two pillows to provide adequate support for their neck and spine. The pillow should support your neck by filling the gap between your head/neck and the bed to maintain the neutral position for the head and neck. That is why the orthopaedic pillows are shaped as they are. What makes a good pillow varies depending on personal preference.

1. Lay on your back or on your side.

2. Your pillow should support your neck in a neutral position by filling the gap between your head/neck and the bed.

3. Orthopaedic pillows can be valuable in achieving this and will depend on personal preference.

4. Sleeping with a pillow under your knees when lying on your back helps to support the lower back.

5. When sleeping on your side, place a pillow between your knees. This helps to keep the lower back and pelvis in a neutral position.

6. Avoid sleeping face down as this causes a strain on the muscles and joints on both sides of the neck and the lower back.

Beds

We come in different weights, shapes and sizes, but have one thing in common when it comes to sleeping; we spend a third of our lives in bed. There is no one solution that suits all. It is as important to have a good posture while asleep as it is to have one when we are awake so we should choose our beds and sleeping posture carefully.

The normal curves of the spine should be maintained in the neutral position when in bed. The ideal position is side lying in a foetal position. A pillow may be used between the knees to reduce the strain on the hips and spine. Alternatively, sleep on the back with a pillow beneath the knees. A supportive bed maintains the normal body curves (e.g. a pocket sprung bed)

CHIROPRACTIC IS A MUCH MORE SENSIBLE OPTION!

I came across this quote on FaceBook but unfortunately I dont have a clue as to who to give credit to, but thank you!

"I take aspirin for the headache caused by Zyrtec I take for the hayfever I got from Relenza for the uneasy stomach from the Ritalin I take for the short attention span caused by the Scopederm Ts I take for the motion sickness I got from the Lomotil I take for the diarrhea caused by the Zenikal for the uncontrollable weight gain from the Paxil I take for the anxiety from Zocor I take for my high cholesterol because exercise, a good diet, and regular chiropractic care are just too much trouble."

People often ask what Chiropractic does, well simply it offers an alternative to the litany of harmful drugs and often unnecessary surgery! A point I have often mentioned is that unfortunately despite what the Pharmaceutical companies say taking a tablet WILL never make you healthier. It may make you feel better but that is not the same thing! The lack of symptoms is not necessarily a good thing! For instance one of the most common early presenting complaints of heart disease is ........................sudden death! Medicine is first rate at saving lives - emergency care is where they excel not in health care! Is medication necessary in some cases? Of course it is, but as that albeit tongue in cheek quote earlier shows it can lead to a downhill spiral. All drugs have side effects!

How Chiropractic Can Help!

So what exactly does Chiropractic do and what role does it play in the healthcare of the 21^st century! Well in my humble opinion Chiropractic provides an alternative solution to better health! And that is it! It provides an alternative to all those needless drugs and medication and unnecessary surgeries! The reality is that despite all the millions and billions of tax payers money that is poured in to our so called Health Service every year, as a Nation we are becoming sicker! As I mentioned in a previous post our children will be dying at a younger age than us! People are still dying of Heart Disease despite the fact that a lot of them are on strong doses of blood pressure lowering medication! In other words they are dying of heart disease just with lower blood pressure! So what is wrong with us and why is this happening? Is it because of our genes? Well considering our genes have not changed in 40 thousand years that is highly unlikely. So why? Simply it is because we are not adapting well enough to the stresses and strains of our daily lives! Our bodies cannot cope with what we are doing to them – whether it be physical, chemical or emotional stress!

So how can chiropractic help? Simply by helping your body adapt better. You see your nervous system controls every single thing you do from reading this to digesting your dinner! It does everything. Every single action of every single cell depends on your nervous system! Your health and well being depends on it! And your spines primary role is to protect the nervous system. However sometimes due to life’s stresses, the individual vertebrae that make up the spine can become twisted out of alignment and cause irritation of the nerves! So what happens if you stamp on a hose? Exactly the water stops flowing, well the same with your nerves, spinal misalignments cause irritation to the nerves which can cause problems or Dis – ease. That is dis – ease not disease in other words a lack of ease! And that can result in problems!

So by removing these areas of misalignment and nerve stress we can help the body function that little bit better! That may be helping to ease a baby that is screaming due to the pains of colic, or reducing a headache, relieving back pain or getting rid of heart burn! What ever symptom you have is caused by the failure of your body to adapt!

Chiropractic can simply help you adapt better! Is it a cure no! But it is an affordable safe alternative to drugs and surgery!

The President Of The United States Of America Endorses Chiropractic

WITHOUT YOUR HEALTH YOU HAVE NOTHING!

Did you know that you are capable of living to 126 years old? Did you also know that our children will sadly be dying before us?

This is such a tragedy yet it is avoidable! However, we have to take action immediately! In my opinion, health is about making the right choices! We can decide what direction we can move in: whether it be towards health or away from health! Yet so often, we are led to believe that because of genetics or our environment or other factors we are doomed to ill health! Well the reality is that our genes have not changed in 40 thousand years! So, what is affecting our health? Well quite simply, it is our lifestyles and like a switch our bad habits are triggering these genes. Not surprising when you consider over 60% of our society is over weight! Take more primitive societies; such as the hunter-gatherer Inuit tribe, who live as nature intended! Well they do not suffer from diseases that afflict us – heart disease, cancer, diabetes or obesity! So if we can change our lifestyles, we can change our health! Now I am not talking about running around in a loincloth, but we do need to do three things: move better, eat better and think better! It is that simple!

Do You Need a Tune-up?

When it comes to cars, I am far from being an expert. I know how to change a tyre and check the oil and sadly that is about the extent of my knowledge of cars. In a perfect world, my car would always run and would never break down. Unfortunately, I have never had a car like that and my car certainly does not care how little I know about how it operates and how inconvenient it is to me when it breaks down.

Amazingly many people have similar attitudes about their bodies. They do not really know how their bodies work but just expect that every day they are going to get up and everything is going to be working perfectly. Well although our bodies are indeed self-healing and self-regulating, and despite the fact that they do everything they can to adapt to the barrage of stress we put them through, their healing capacities are limited. And it is foolish to expect that we can neglect our bodies and still maintain optimum function, yet that is exactly what many of us do!

When our cars start to break down we usually know by how they handle, unusual noises, or the check engine light comes on. Even then, many people ignore the issues until it stops running altogether. Here the analogy to our health is just as valid. We often ignore the signs and symptoms or try to cover them up with medication so that we can get on with our busy lives. However, like ignoring your check engine light, this only works for so long and eventually things catch up with you.

So take a fresh look at your approach to health. Like taking care of your car, taking care of your health is not always easy, convenient, or cheap. However, compared to the alternative, it is much easier, more convenient, and much less expensive. So schedule a tune up if you have not had one in awhile. When it comes to your health, getting your spine checked by your chiropractor is a great place to start.

Chiropractic and Pregnancy

Pregnancy should be a time of excitement and eager anticipation, yet for many women the entire experience can be plagued with discomfort, pain and even illness. Women undergo numerous hormonal and structural changes throughout a pregnancy, which will affect the function of the spine, joints, muscles, nerves and ligaments. Some of the common health issues affecting women include back pain, headaches, neck pain, stress, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

It is easy to see postural changes throughout pregnancy; the centre of gravity changes, the weight of the baby places increased pressure on the spine and pelvis, and can alter the gait pattern. In addition, numerous hormonal changes occur. Previous accidents, emotional stress, tension and overexertion can exacerbate these stresses as well. Over time, these collective stresses can shift the spinal bones or vertebrae out of their normal alignment, creating nerve pressure and interference. An example of this is sciatic nerve pressure, which can cause severe pain and discomfort. Most of the time, expectant mothers are told they must live with the pain during their pregnancy, however this is simply not true. Women can choose to minimize or eliminate suffering from aches and pains during their pregnancies with the natural approach of Chiropractic.

A recent study revealed that 70% of expectant mothers experienced low back pain at some point during their pregnancy. Pain is a warning sign that something is not functioning properly so ignore it at your peril.
As the expectant mother progresses through her pregnancy, the fetus develops and the mother's uterus and surrounding tissues change and enlarge to compensate for the tremendous growth of the fetus. In a normally aligned and balanced pelvis, all the muscles, ligaments and tendons that have direct and indirect connection to the uterus will maintain their normal supportive function. In a situation where the pelvis and supporting muscles and ligaments are misaligned, there can be increased pressure, restriction or constraint of the uterus. Uterine constraint can interfere with fetal development and fetal position in the uterus. And it can hinder the natural development of the spine and nervous system in the fetus. Furthermore, it can prevent the baby from moving into a normal position for birth, thus leading to prolonged delivery times and potential complications.

The chiropractic approach to a safe and healthy pregnancy is both natural and highly effective. In one study, women receiving Chiropractic care through their first pregnancy had 24% shorter labor times than the group not receiving Chiropractic, and multiparous subjects reported 39% shorter labor times. In addition, 84% of women report relief of back pain during pregnancy with Chiropractic care. Research has shown that women who receive chiropractic care during pregnancy have approximately six hours less time spent in labor than women who do not receive chiropractic care. Women who receive prenatal chiropractic care also have approximately three hours less of labor during subsequent pregnancies. An American Medical Association (AMA) study showed that pregnant women under chiropractic care have an easier pregnancy and delivery. The study, by Irvin Hendryson, MD, revealed that pregnant women who received chiropractic adjustments in their third trimester were able to carry to term more frequently and deliver children with more comfort.

So make an appointment and get your spine checked as your health and the health of your unborn child may depend on it!

The Goal of Spinal Health Care

All your life you’ve had your teeth, eyes, hearing, blood pressure and heart checked…how many years has it been since you’ve had your spine check-up? Unfortunately, most have never had this done - and it shows! Most people’s spines are suffering from a lifetime of neglect!

Our goal in this clinic is to relieve you of the vertebral subluxation complex so your nerves, muscles, ligaments, joints, bones and internal bones may function better. The effects can be immediate or they may take time - it depends on many factors - age, diet, lifestyle, how healthy your spine is in the first place and regularity of chiropractic care. The point is no matter what disease or condition you have, you can benefit from a healthy spine.

Spinal care is as important for wellness as good nutrition. It can make the difference between a life of health, strength and vitality or a life of disease, weakness and disability. A healthy spine will improve your life.So if you’re tired of being sick, tired of being told “you’ve just got to learn to live with it” and are looking for a natural method of regaining health and wholeness without polluting your body with chemicals then give us a call 025 27436 and make an appointment!

Your Health And Healing Account!

Think of your Health as you would your Bank Account and call it your Health and Healing Account! Like your bank account if you make too many withdrawals and not enough deposits that is the time you will get sick! In other words deposits always need to exceed withdrawals otherwise your health goes into the RED!

For example, stress causes a big withdrawal from your health account. Your body expends high levels of energy to cope with stress - regardless of whether the stress is physical or psychological. And ongoing stress causes ongoing withdrawals. So in times of stress we need to pay particular attention to our health and healing account. Healthy nutrition, regular exercise, and sufficient rest and Chiropractic care become even more important.

The real challenge often occurs when we're so stressed we don't think we have any energy left to do the things that are going to keep us healthy. We think we don't have enough time to exercise or go to the store to buy healthy food or show up for your adjustments. But this is the most important time to make that little bit of effort! Your Health and Healing account will thank you for it!

Managing Your Symptoms

Most of us are procrastinators. We let things go until the last minute. Papers, magazines, and books pile up on the desk until the process of finding what we're looking for resembles an archaeological dig. Our garages look like our desks. Stuff fills the garage just like stuff covers the desk. Eventually, finding things resembles exploring for treasure in a dark, long-abandoned cave. We're motivated to clean our desks and garages only by the impossibility of adding any more stuff to the clutter and the piles.

Sometimes it seems as if procrastinating is hard-wired into our DNA. This is particularly true when it comes to our health. No one wants to go to the doctor, so it becomes even easier to put off the needed checkup. Whether it's our chiropractor, our dentist, or our family physician, nobody seems to want to pick up the phone, go to the office, and take care of business. Of course, procrastination in relation to our health can lead to some big problems. Tooth pain that comes and goes doesn't seem like such a big deal. But if the coming and going is fairly consistent, then there's probably a cavity that needs filling. You keep putting it off and when you finally get around to going to our dentist, you learn you need an expensive root canal and a crown. That's not good.

Or you're playing tag rugby over the weekend. You go up for a ball and get shoved in the back. The next day you have lower back pain. You keep thinking it'll go away, but it's now four weeks later and your back is still stiff and sore. Had you seen your chiropractor the first week, after the pain had persisted for four or five days, treatment might have been pretty straight forward. Now you learn it's going to take at least several weeks of treatment before you can play again. Not good. Diabetes is the same thing. ¹High blood pressure is the same thing.² Overweight is the same thing. ³Procrastination with your health always costs more time and more money in the end. Prevention and, if necessary, early detection, are the keys.

When it comes to your health, the opposite of procrastination is managing your symptoms. It's not necessary to run to your chiropractor for every ache and pain or to run to your family physician for every sniffle or low-grade fever. But it is important and necessary to pay attention to what's going on with you. Symptoms that linger mean something is wrong and your body needs help in getting better. Once you begin paying attention a learning curve will kick in. You'll develop skill in identifying problems that need attention. The next step, of course, is to pick up the phone, make an appointment, and arrive at the appointment on time. Your chiropractor or family physician will be glad to be of service in identifying the problem and providing appropriate treatment.


¹Bo S, et al: Prevalence of undiagnosed metabolic syndrome in a population of adult asymptomatic subjects. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 75(3):362-365, 2007
²Guyomard V, Myint PK: Optimum control of blood glucose for prevention and treatment of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med 11(3):201-211, 2009
³Anderson AS, Caswell S: Obesity management--an opportunity for cancer prevention. Surgeon 7(5):282-285, 2009

Your Health Account

Everyone wants to grow their bank account. We know our financial health is usually estimated by the level of our resources. The more money in the bank, figuratively speaking, and the more secure we feel. If our resources include stocks and property, we are even more secure.

We can use such fiscal accounting as a metaphor for our physical health and well-being. The more resources we can accumulate in our "health account" the healthier we'll be. And if we're able to diversify the "holdings" in our health accounts, as we'd like to be doing with our financial accounts, we'll enjoy more and better long-term health from many points of view.

Whether we're paying attention or not, our physical resources fluctuate as regularly as do our financial resources. And as in financial accounting, health accounting involves income and expenses. If income exceeds expenses, you enjoy higher levels of relative health. The converse is also true - when expenses exceed income, health deteriorates.

What kinds of things can go into our health accounts? We can easily list the most crucial of these - food,¹ exercise ² and rest.³ But we're not interested in quantity. We're much more interested in quality. We're interested in maximizing value. For example, focusing on quantity with respect to food causes a person to become overweight. Focusing on quality - high-quality protein and high-quality complex carbohydrates, with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables - causes a person to become leaner and fitter. We don't want to fill our health accounts with coins made of lead and copper. We want to fill them with coins made of gold.

As far as rest is concerned, it's important to get, on average, the rest we need. Most people require 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. There are exceptions, of course. For the average person, getting 6 or less hours of sleep on a long-term basis will deplete their health account. But getting too much sleep also has a negative impact. Again, quality is more important than quantity.

There are many additional sources of "income" that enrich our health accounts. Loving relationships with our family, fulfilling relationships with our friends, stimulating and challenging activities and interests, learning new skills, and exploring new environments all grow our health accounts and enhance our long-term health and well-being.

Chiropractic care is another source of "income" for our health accounts. Regular chiropractic care helps a person maximize the value - on a physiological basis - of the food, exercise, and rest she is getting. Chiropractic care helps people get the most out of their health resources, becoming more efficient and effective in terms of physiology, health, and well-being.

¹Greenwald P, Dunn BK: Do we make optimal use of the potential of cancer prevention? Recent Results Cancer Res 181:3-17, 2009
²Jackson AS, et al: Role of lifestyle and aging on the longitudinal change in cardiorespiratory fitness. Arch Intern Med 169(19):1781-1787, 2009
³Smaldone A, et al: Sleepless in America: inadequate sleep and relationships to health and well-being of our nation's children. Pediatrics 119(Suppl 1):S29-S37, 2007

So WHY?

Why do 84% of adults suffer back pain at some time in their lives?

Why do 64% of workers regularly suffer muscular pain in the neck shoulders and upper limbs?

Why does the pain become chronic in 17% of cases, lasting on average 4.9 years?

Why do 19% live with chronic pain for more than 20 years?

Why has there has been an exponential rise in back and neck pain since computers became common place?

Why does chronic pain account for nearly 500 million lost work days in Europe every year

Could it possibly be caused by our LIFESTYLES?

Humans evolved from hunter gatherers; however since the 1950s our lifestyle has become increasingly sedentary. And unfortunately our spines have not had time to adapt during this minute period of evolution, resulting in a huge increase in health problems such as back and leg pain, sciatica, headaches and migraines, neck shoulder and arm pain, pins and needles, whiplash, poor posture. Sports and trauma injuries, degenerative problems like arthritis in an ageing population also contribute to these pain syndromes. Well Chiropractic treatment can help these people!

Simply, most back problems are mechanical in nature and while pain medication can relieve symptoms it does nothing for the mechanical dysfunction of spinal joints. The huge increase of people with chronic pain is the result of inadequate management of the problem in its early stage.

The spine protects the spinal cord and spinal joint dysfunction produces pain and affects the nervous system’s ability to maintain healthy physiology. Research shows spinal manipulation (SMT) is the most effective intervention to restore movement to spinal joints that have lost their range of motion. Predominantly used by chiropractors in May 2009 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the UK produced its NHS guidelines for the management of low back pain for the NHS and recommended SMT rather than, electro therapy, traction and injections into the back.

70% of all illnesses are triggered by what we call free radicals – the toxic waste products that are the result of the million or so chemical reactions that occur on a daily basis in your body. The biggest culprit in producing harmful free radicals is undoubtedly Nicotine. One draw at a cigarette creates 100 billion free radicals. Apart from the obvious health risks – heart disease and cancer, nicotine contributes to the ageing process. Research has shown that the production of new skin is reduced by 40% when a person smokes. From 40 years on smokers on average look 8 years older!

So getting rid of these chemicals is crucial to your health. Eat more Blueberries, Blackberries, Raisins, Pomegranates, Garlic, Strawberries, Spinach and Curly Cabbage. These are all rich in antioxidants, the body’s hoover!

More International Stars Advocate Chiropractic Care

Former NFL wide-receiver Jerry Rice and veteran sportscaster Linda Cohn, traveled to Parker Seminars in Las Vegas Jan 14-17, to encourage chiropractors and their assistants to continue delivering natural, quality healthcare to patients around the globe.

Both Rice and Cohn are spokespeople for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP).

Rice credits his success on the field largely in part to chiropractic care. “If I had everything in alignment, I knew I could play my best football,” said Rice. His training routine included twice-weekly chiropractic adjustments, which helped his body recover from all the hard hits and countless tackles.

Because Rice firmly believed in the benefits of chiropractic, his teammates began to favor this natural care over the medications that trainers traditionally give. “I wanted to set the standard within football,” said Rice. “I knew if chiropractic helped me put up outstanding numbers, it could help my teammates do the same.”

Rice was twice named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, won three Super Bowls, and still holds nearly every record as a receiver. He retired as the league’s career receiving leader. Rice was recently announced as a 2010 NFL Hall of Fame candidate.