The Wisdom of Nature

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

The Wisdom of Nature

Get Healthy and Remain Healthy with Chiropractic Care

Eating a nutritious diet and getting regular strenuous exercise will only take you so far on your journey toward health if your nervous system is not working properly. Spinal nerve irritation can impede the appropriate flow of information between your brain and the rest of your body, thereby interfering with healthy functioning and leading to a wide range of diseases. When your nerves are irritated, this causes either too many nerve signals or too few nerve signals to flow between the brain and the body. Information transfer is either slowed down or sped up, and either of these creates a breakdown in communication, which can lead to various disorders and diseases. Your Millar chiropractic physician is a specialist in detecting and correcting spinal nerve irritation and interference. Chiropractic adjustments help restore normal nerve transmission, thereby helping to restore optimal health and well-being.

 

The natural world functions very well without any outside interference. On their own, members of the tens of millions of species that share the earth with us prosper and thrive without any help from outside agencies.

 

For abundant growth, plants require water, sunlight, carbon dioxide from the air, and various nutrients from the soil. Herbivore animals consume these plants for sustenance, and carnivorous animals consume other animals. Then we have insects which have a varied diet including everything from fruit, plants, dead leaves, twigs and stems, other insects, and even blood. Nature also depends on many types of fungi and bacteria to help decompose and recycle matter. In our oceans, whales are the top predator and may consume more than a ton of plankton each day in addition to fish, squid, and other crustaceans.

 

Every member of every species other than human beings flourishes by obtaining everything it needs from its natural environment. Modern humanity is the only species for which the abundance provided by the global ecosystem is insufficient.

 

For example, coyotes, squirrels, and mountain lions don't need sleeping pills, while humans spend billions each year on various sleep aids. Owls, dolphins, and buffalo don't have problems with blood glucose levels, but humans spend billions on diabetes medications. In the wild, salmon, elephants, and maple trees don't require nutritional supplementation to thrive, while humans spend more than $23 billion annually in the United States alone. Do you see a disturbing pattern here?

 

As a species, humans have the unprecedented ability to manipulate and drastically alter the world in which we live. Also, with the exception of wide-spread epidemics of infectious diseases, there is no natural check on human population growth. As populations continue to expand, resources are becoming increasingly scarce. As urban and suburban populations increase, more and more people are leaving behind not only the countryside but also local sources of fresh vegetables, fruits, poultry, meat and dairy products. Commercial processing, packaging, and transportation of food over long distances has become necessary to supply food for city dwellers and suburban communities. But calories and not much else are supplied by these methods. A source of energy is provided but the quality of the food is substantially reduced.

 

Chronic disease has become widespread. Diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disorders including heart attacks, stroke and chronic high blood pressure are all the unfortunate result of a severely compromised food supply.^1,2

 

Our disconnect from the natural world presents many additional challenges. Our bodies were designed to meet the demanding physical requirements of surviving in a hostile environment. These days though, most of us don't do much physical work anymore. If we fail to find satisfactory substitutes for the strenuous physical activity for which we were designed, our metabolic, endocrine and musculoskeletal systems quickly deteriorate. The consequences may include depression, anxiety, chronic aches and pains, and gastrointestinal problems, among other disorders.

 

It requires a significant effort to maintain good health when we're so far removed from the natural world.  This is especially true in the United States several reasons.  One major reason is that the US was primarily developed around the automobile, in contrast to more human scale European cities which are much more walkable and bikeable.  Because of this, Americans have to make a special effort to get a natural amount of daily exercise required for humans to thrive.  We also have to make more of an effort to seek out fresh, local and organic food, due to our current food system dominated by big corporate agriculture and food processing. Additionally, our medical system is primarily interested in disease care, and it is up to the individual to seek out preventative care to stay healthy. 

 

It may seem overwhelming in the beginning, but it's well worth the effort it takes to ensure that our diets are healthy, we're getting regular and sufficient strenuous exercise, and receiving the appropriate holistically-oriented preventative care. The short-term and long-term payoff includes greater health, happiness and an increased sense of well-being.

 

 

¹Kesse-Guyot E, et al: Adherence to nutritional recommendations and subsequent cognitive performance: findings from the prospective Supplementation with Antioxidant Vitamins and Minerals 2. Am J Clin Nutr Nov 24 2010 (Epub ahead of print)

²Pekmezi DW, Demark-Wahnefried W: Updated evidence in support of diet and exercise interventions in cancer survivors. Acta Oncol Nov 24 2010 (Epub ahead of print)

 

 

 

 

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Eating Local and Organic

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

Eating Local and Organic

The Benefits of Organically Grown Food

Food that carries the "USDA Organic" label is required to be grown without artificial pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer. Instead, organic farmers rely on compost and other all-natural fertilizers to provide nutrients to their crops. Organically raised poultry, cattle and other livestock are never given antibiotics or growth hormones.  Their diet is organic - either organic pastures or feed from organically raised crops. Organic vegetables and fruits that are locally grown contain substantially higher levels of antioxidants and other nutrients compared to produce grown via other methods. Antioxidants are powerful, health-promoting biochemicals which assist in the prevention of a wide variety of diseases, including inflammatory diseases and cancer. Local organically grown food not only tastes much better but it's also much better for you (and the environment), which of course is good for all of us. Some small local farms may follow or even exceed the practices necessary for organic certification, but may not go through the expensive certification process because it just is not cost-effective for a small farm.  If in doubt, ask. Most small family farms welcome questions about their growing practices and may even allow farm visits so you can check it out in person.  This is especially common with CSAs, which develop more of a personal relationship with their members.

There is a lot of truth in the saying "you are what you eat", and it's important to realize that the food of today is very different from the food of yesteryear.  These days, we have to make a special effort to consume the amount of nutrients necessary to help keep us healthy.

 

Our genetic heritage was not designed for our typical modern American diets. For example, our digestive systems were not optimized for a diet that is high in starch, grains, canned fruits and vegetables, fast food and other processed items. During our hunter/gatherer past, our energy requirements were obtained from wild plants and animals rather than grains, potatoes, dairy products and processed oils.  Back then, there were no such things as processed flour or sweeteners.

 

Up until the agriculture age began around 10,000 years ago, protein sources were primarily derived from the local fauna - the birds and beasts that were common to an area. These animals were not kept in tiny cages with no room to move around and no access to pasture and sunlight like most livestock animals are today.  They weren't fed unnatural diets of genetically modified grains to fatten them up, or given the antibiotics that factory farmed animals receive. Instead, they roamed freely over wide stretches of open land. Because of this, their food source value was extremely high compared to today's factory farm animals.

 

These days, our food supply is significantly compromised.  We now have to make a significant effort to obtain the benefits of higher quality food that our ancestors took for granted. If you shop at a typical grocery store, the overwhelming majority of produce you see had to travel very long distances over many days to reach the store. The nutritional value of these vegetables and fruits is substantially depleted during these long journeys. Similarly, the nutritional value of various commercial sources of protein - meat, fowl, eggs, dairy, and fish - are also significantly degraded by antibiotics, chemical additives, and the draconian living conditions in which the birds and animals are raised.

 

Fortunately, the last thirty years has seen a growing movement to improve food production methods, making it possible for the mindful consumer to put high-quality food on their tables again.^1,2  More and more people are becoming aware of the importance of "eating locally", and most cities and suburbs now host popular farmers markets where you can buy produce at the peak of freshness.  Recent years have also seen the increasing popularity of CSAs - Community Supported Agriculture - which allows its members to share in the bounty of their local farms.  Joining a CSA or shopping at your local farmers market not only drastically improves the quality of the food you feed your family, but it also supports small, local, family farms that use organic and sustainable growing methods and raise their livestock on pasture the way nature intended. Check out LocalHarvest.org to find farmers markets and CSAs in your area.

 

These days, at least some organically grown food is even available at supermarket chain stores, though the produce will usually not be as fresh and tasty as produce that was grown locally. We have increasing options for healthy food available, but we need to make an effort to seek it out. In order to reverse the obesity and diabetes epidemics that are so prevalent in countries like the United States, we need to continue to get away from factory farmed and processed foods, and back to eating local and organic whole foods. It is possible to restore health and well-being to millions of people across the globe. Chiropractic care can be of great assistance in this process. Your Millar chiropractic physician is a nutritional expert and will be able to help you design food plans that are appropriate for you and your family.

 

 

¹Wang SY: Fruit quality, antioxidant capacity, and flavonoid content of organically and conventionally grown blueberries. J Agric Food Chem 56(14):5788-5794, 2008

²Dani C, et al: Phenolic content and antioxidant activities of white and purple juices manufactured with organically- or conventionally-produced grapes. Food Chem Toxicol 45(12):2574-2580, 2007

 

 

 

 

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Lower Your Stress

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

Lower Your Stress

Take a Mini-Break!  As you're reading this... how long have you been sitting in that chair? Has it been an hour? Two hours? Even longer?!!! How long do you tend to work at the same task without taking a break? If you're like most people these days, the answer is probably "way too long!" We all have the same predicament - so much to do and so little time to accomplish it. That may not be the true reality of the situation, but more likely than not that's the way it feels to us. And so we catapult ourselves forward, forcing ourselves to keep going, and forgetting to "stop and smell the roses". But stopping to "smell the roses" is of vital importance for our health and well-being. So take a relaxation break, for just five minutes every hour.  It can make all the difference in the world

Most people would agree that we live in unusually stressful times. Between the job (if you're lucky enough to have one), the home, the kids, the extended family, and the economy - all these stresses accumulate, and yet we wonder why we have so many aches and pains.

Many chronic ailments are either caused by or made worse with stress.  A large percentage of Americans are overweight. Stress often causes a person to overeat¹, and additionally, the elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol can also increase the storage of body fat (especially in the belly area.)  Back pain and headaches are often the result of increased stress. There are also strong correlations between stress and hypertension, ulcers, and even cancer.

For most of us, the external stressors in our lives aren't going to disappear - our lives will continue to be busy and complex, and perhaps we wouldn't want it any other way.  But if we can't remove all the stress from our lives, it is imperative that we endeavor to at least minimize its physical effects. Interestingly, chiropractic treatment can be very helpful in lessening the negative effects of stress on the body.

Generally speaking, stress creates muscle tension. This happens unconsciously without us even being aware of the cause and effect reaction. These tense muscles cause a cascade of further muscle tightening,  and the shortening of ligaments and muscles, resulting in decreased mobility in various joints - particularly the hip joints, shoulder joints, and the joints of the spine.^2,3

This mechanical effect of stress has a number of additional consequences. All of this ongoing muscle activity that you're not even consciously aware of wastes precious nutritional resources, using up much of the energy your body needs for more critical functions. This is one of the primary reasons tension and stress makes us feel so utterly exhausted. Stress and tension also causes lactic acid to accumulate in the tissues, irritating nerve endings and further increasing muscle tension. Also, the reduction in spinal joint mobility also causes increased levels of pain.  Unfortunately, all of this ends up creating even more stress.

Fortunately, this vicious cycle of stress, muscular tension, and pain can be reduced and relieved with the proper chiropractic treatment.⁴ Chiropractic treatment improves the joint mobility of the spine, pelvis and other joints. Chiropractic care is an effective yet gentle treatment that gradually restores normal spinal motion, alleviating muscle tension, normalizing metabolic processes, and allowing nutrients to become more available to help maintain healthy functioning. Chiropractic care helps to reduce pain, and also helps us to be better able to withstand the physical effects of stress.

Your Millar chiropractor will explain the many benefits of treatment, and can provide instruction in specific exercises and stretching techniques that can help you maintain the positive results of treatment.

We will always have some level of stress in our lives.  The good news is that we can learn how to minimize the negative effects of stress on our bodies, and become healthier, more resilient, and happier in the process.

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Reduce Stress by Taking a Mini-Break!

• Get up from your chair or workbench and walk over to an open window. Breathe in some nice, fresh air for a few minutes while you change your viewpoint.
• Go for a five or ten minute walk outside if you're able.  If not, walk around your home or building, or climb a few flights of stairs if that's an option.
• Call a friend who tends to be positive and uplifting, and enjoy a short chat.
• Close your eyes, quiet your mind, and take an "imagination vacation".  Visualize yourself relaxing on a beautiful beach, fishing on an idyllic lake, or anything else that helps you feel most relaxed and at peace.  Really get into it, involving all of your senses as you imagine yourself in the middle of this restful and revitalizing scene.

These short, focused mini-breaks will help reduce muscle tension and physical stress, while at the same time helping your brain to recharge so you can be more creative and productive!

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¹Marchesini G, et al: Psychiatric distress and health-related quality of life in obesity. Diabetes Nutr Metab 16(3):145-154, 2003
²Weickgenant AL, et al: Coping activities in chronic low back pain: relationship with depression. Pain 53(1):95-103, 1993
³Burns JW: Arousal of negative emotions and symptom-specific reactivity in chronic low back pain patients. Emotion 6(2):309-319, 2006
⁴Hurwitz EL, et al. A randomized trial of chiropractic and medical care for patients with low back pain. Spine 31(6):611-621, 2006

 

 

 

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Is Your Glass Half-Empty or Half-Full?

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

 

Is Your Glass Half-Empty or Half-Full?

Chiropractic Can Help Support a Positive Mental Attitude

It is very difficult to focus on the positive when you are in pain, especially if that pain is chronic. Headaches, back pain, and neck pain can often take the joy out of what potentially could have been a wonderful day. Even when we know, for example, how to center ourselves and focus on our breathing, physical pain can relentlessly monopolize our attention. Chiropractic care can help to both alleviate the cycle of pain and restore normal function. By helping spinal joints work more effectively, chiropractic treatment eliminates many sources of chronic physical pain. A more normally functioning spinal column results in a more effectively functioning nerve system. All body systems improve and overall health and well-being increases. Chiropractic care is invaluable in helping us focus and regain our positive mental attitude, which is imperative for optimal health and well-being.

 

What is your overall view of the world you live in? Do you lean toward optimism or pessimism most of the time? Do you tend to expect everything to work out in your favor or are you just waiting for the next crisis? Our mental attitude determines how we interact with people and the events and circumstances of our lives. Our mental attitude also profoundly affects our health and well-being.

 

Plastic surgeon Maxwell Maltz wrote the groundbreaking book Psycho-Cybernetics more than 50 years ago, ushering in the self-help book genre and popularizing the idea that the subconscious mind is a goal-seeking mechanism that will do whatever it is programmed to do. According to Maltz, it is imperative that you visualize the successful completion of whatever goal you would like to achieve. As long as the instructions to your subconscious mind are clear, it will go to work manifesting that goal in your life.

 

Maltz was a scientist who supported this theory with decades of interactions with his patients. Over the years there have been a plethora of self-help gurus who have been preaching the same concepts for creating the life you want.

 

With regard to a person's health, having a positive attitude is critically important.^1,2 For example, what is your internal response when a nearby co-worker spends the day sneezing and coughing? Do you automatically assume that you too will get sick, and then in fact do? Other people, when exposed to the exact same environment, do not. Perhaps the people that do not succumb to the cold or flu that is "going around" did not internalize the belief that they were being exposed to contagion. This may not always be the case, but it is possible. There has been mounting evidence that our thoughts influence our reality.

 

In the fascinating book The Holographic Universe, the late Michael Talbot wrote quite a bit about the healing effect that the mind can have on the body, including the amazing case of a patient whose brain tumor "melted like a snowball on a hot stove". The patient, named Wright, had advanced cancer of the lymph nodes.  He had exhausted all standard treatments and was not expected to live more than a few more days. Wright read about a new drug that he believed might offer him a cure, and though his doctors thought is was hopeless, they gave it to him anyway.  Within days his tumor had "melted" to half its original size and Wright was pronounced cancer free ten days later.  Wright remained cancer free for two months until this scientific minded patient began to read that his miracle drug was proven to have no effect on the type of cancer he had.  As a result, Wright became depressed, suffered a relapse and was readmitted to the hospital.  This time his physician decided upon an elaborate ruse, injecting Wright with plain water while convincing him that it was in fact a much more potent version of the drug that had cured him the first time.  The effect of the placebo was once again very dramatic as his tumor melted away for the second time and his symptoms disappeared.  His restored health lasted two months until the AMA published the results of a study reporting definitively that the drug Wright thought he had been given was worthless against cancer.  Sadly, this shattered Wright's belief in his placebo - his cancer returned and he died two days later.³

 

So how can we cultivate an unwavering belief in our body's ability to be healthy?  Is it as simple as just thinking happy thoughts all day long? Probably not. But it is important to remember that maintaining a positive attitude is very important. If we have a tendency to look at the glass as half-full rather than half-empty, we will probably have a more successful, productive and satisfying day.  If we tend to think of ourselves as vibrantly healthy and invulnerable to the colds and flu that other people participate in, we will probably be more likely to remain immune. And, even better, our subconscious mind will build on those successes, helping to create even more health, happiness, success, personal growth and well-being.

 

 

¹Matsunaga M, et al: Association between perceived happiness levels and peripheral circulating pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in middle-aged adults in Japan. Neuro Endocrinol Lett August 5, 2011 (Epub ahead of print)

²Layous K, et al: Delivering happiness: translating positive psychology intervention research for treating major and minor depressive disorders. J Altern Complement Med 17(8):675-683, 2011

³Talbot, Michael. The Holographic Universe. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1991. Print.

 

 

 

 

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Yoga For Fitness

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

Yoga For Fitness

Yoga and Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care and yoga are disciplines that work very well together and provide similar benefits. Practicing yoga enhances physical performance on various levels, increasing flexibility, strength and centering. Yoga practitioners enjoy wide-ranging benefits for their long-term health and well-being. Chiropractic care could be described in very similar terms. Chiropractic care provides more energy by allowing ligaments and muscles to relax and do their jobs properly. The result is increased alertness and increased reserves of the strength needed to accomplish all the day's tasks and activities. Chiropractic care increases flexibility by properly aligning spinal joints and increasing spinal ranges of motion. Ankles, knees, hip joints, arms and shoulders all respond to the improved central ranges of motion. As a result all physical movements become freer, easier, and more relaxed. Chiropractic care improves health and well-being by optimizing communication between the nerve system and the rest of the body. When the body receives the proper flow of information from the brain and spinal cord, it is able to function at peak effectiveness. For maximum health and wellness, yoga and chiropractic care are a powerful combination.

It seems like there's a new fitness craze every few years. Television news reporters extol the virtues of each of these latest and greatest exercise regimens. Countless articles in magazines and newspapers feature celebrities and fitness models demonstrating these new routines.

 

Way back in the mid-1980s, high-impact aerobic classes were the new thing in fitness. It didn't take long however, for even the most ardent exercisers to notice that all that jumping up-and-down caused shin splints, stress fractures and other injuries.  This realization helped usher in the low-impact aerobics craze. Strength training has also seen the popularity of various workout philosophies rise and fall over the years - from working out on Nautilus and other equipment, to isometric resistance band training, circuit training, kettlebells and Super Slow resistance training.

 

After trying out a succession of "new and improved" workout styles, many of us eventually come to the conclusion that the more simplistic exercises we learned long ago work just as well as, or maybe even better than, the latest trends. Tried and true calisthenics such as jumping jacks, squats, push-ups, lunges, and pull-ups that our gym teachers used to make us do can be an effective method for developing overall strength and fitness. 

 

These compound exercises we used to complain about as teenagers are surprisingly effective at building core strength too. Back then, nobody spoke about strengthening one's core. The results, however, spoke for themselves. Having a strong core is now recognized as an important aspect of overall fitness, largely due to the increased popularity of Pilates since the 1990s.

 

The increasing popularity of yoga classes has followed a similar trajectory as the increased popularity of Pilates classes. Although Joseph Pilates developed his fitness methods back in the 1930s, his programs didn't really become widely known until the last 20-25 years. Yoga, on the other hand, has various styles or disciplines that are centuries old. Hatha yoga is a well-known type which was initially described by Yogi Swatmarama in the 15th century. Today, people of all ages and fitness levels enjoy practicing yoga. Participants in a typical yoga class include kids, teenagers, and adults of all ages, including seniors in their 70s and 80s.

 

If you think you have to already be in decent shape to begin a yoga practice, think again.  Check out this amazing short video that chronicles the story of Arthur Boorman, a disabled veteran who was told he would never be able to walk on his own again.  The strength of his determination is incredibly inspiring.

 

A typical yoga workout includes not only exercises designed to build strength and increase flexibility, but will also often include a series of rapid movements to increase aerobic intensity.^1,2  Yoga helps its practitioners increase their ability to concentrate, focus, and naturally calm the mind. Another benefit is learning how to breathe properly, which helps to provide needed energy to the muscles. Beginners are able to work at their own pace and can therefore derive as much benefit as even the most experienced students in the class.

 

Yoga classes stimulate a profound release of endorphins - the "feel good" biochemical that enhances well-being while fortifying the immune system - providing life-enhancing benefits that last all day long. Yoga is a total-body training system, enhancing the connection between the body, mind, and spirit.

 

 

¹Williams K, et al: Evaluation of the effectiveness and efficacy of Iyengar yoga therapy on chronic low back pain. Spine 34(19):2066-2076, 2009

²Tekur P, et al: Effect of short-term intensive yoga program on pain, functional disability and spinal flexibility in chronic low back pain: a randomized control study. J Altern Complement Med 14(6):637-644, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

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Asthma and Allergies

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

Asthma and Allergies

Addressing the Cause

One of the most important things you can do if you suffer from asthma and allergies, is to avoid common allergy triggers such as dairy products, corn, soy, peanuts, shellfish, eggs, sugar and gluten. People can be allergic to most any food, and it is often foods that they eat most often and crave that are the culprits.  Some people benefit from following an elimination diet which eliminates all the common allergens (and suspected allergens) from the diet for a specific amount of time.  Usually after a short "detox" period during which time symptoms worsen temporarily, the person begins to feel better than they have in a very long time, or perhaps ever. Then they slowly begin adding back one suspected allergen at a time (usually beginning with foods that are least suspected of being the problem to the most) noting any increase of symptoms.  This allows the person to determine which foods cause or contribute to their allergies. Because gluten sensitivity is so prevalent today, many people simply eliminate gluten in all its forms, and find that is sufficient to alleviate their symptoms.  Eating gluten free is easier than ever with many gluten-free products being carried in most grocery stores, and an internet filled with recipes and advice. It is also important to make sure that you're drinking enough water each day - preferably about eight cups over the course of the day. And no, coffee, tea, juice, and soda don't count. If you're not used to drinking water, start with four cups per day, get used to doing that, and work your way up to eight cups per day. To put it simply, if you're not drinking enough water, your internal metabolic environment is toxic. For those with allergies and other sensitivities, failing to drink enough water can exacerbate the problem. Another very important factor in lowering your toxic load and reducing hypersensitivities is to avoid all fragrances (including those in personal care products like shampoo and conditioner,) laundry detergents, dryer sheets, and toxic cleaning chemicals.  Opt for fragrance free products, and clean with baking soda and vinegar instead.

Asthma and allergies are big business.  Approximately 20 million Americans suffer from asthma, and approximately 50 million suffer from allergies. Taking into consideration the overlap between these two conditions, more than 60 million Americans suffer from either asthma, allergies, or both.

In total, the costs for medications, emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and the loss of business productivity are huge - reaching upwards of $18 billion annually.¹ Additionally, the negative impact on children is ongoing and significant, resulting in 14 million school days that are missed annually due to asthma and allergies. These two disorders are the number one reason for school absenteeism.²

Conventional treatment of allergies and asthma relies upon a variety of medications, and if you suffer from one of these disorders, you know all about the meds. The medications typically used to treat allergies include corticosteroid nasal sprays, and antihistamines. Allergy patients may also undergo immunotherapy, receiving a course of desensitization injections that are given regularly over a number of years.

For asthma, the gold standard of medication is inhaled corticosteroids. Asthma inhalers have become so commonplace that they even appear regularly as props in films and television series. It is not unusual to see a character on screen pull out an inhaler and take a quick dose during "challenging" moments and stressful situations.

One of the frustrations with asthma and allergy medication is that there is no end-point. As of now, there is really no cure, although some lucky people do seem to "grow out of it", and there have been some promising results from specialized breathing exercises in cases of mild asthma.  Most of the time however, allergies and asthma continue to be an ongoing challenge that requires continuing medication. Is it possible that there could be an alternative solution?

"Alternative" is the key word. Conventional medical treatment typically focuses on addressing a patient's symptoms rather than the underlying cause.  With allergies and asthma it's successful to some extent, though the downside is that these symptoms continue year after year, often worsening over time. Is there anything else that could be done?

Consider chiropractic care. The chiropractic health care approach is unique and comprehensive, offering positive benefits to a variety of ailments and conditions. In the case of "hypersensitivity conditions" such as asthma and allergies, chiropractic care can help to normalize the body's flow of nerve signals, thereby reducing symptoms. Chiropractic treatment can also help remove the blockages to the body's innate healing abilities. By correcting these imbalances, chiropractic treatment may help reduce hypersensitivity reactions.

Chiropractic care often includes nutritional counseling, which can be a critical component for people with asthma and allergies. Such individuals need to optimize their physical health as much as possible, and nutritional awareness can play an important role. A balanced diet can help support all metabolic systems, reduce chronic inflammation and irritation, and provide the energy necessary to participate in regular exercise.

The benefits of chiropractic care are wide-ranging, and may be very useful in cases of hypersensitivity disorders such as asthma and allergies.



¹Weiss K: The costs of asthma. Asthma and Allergy Foundation, 1998 [updated 2001].
²The Condition of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2001.

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The Skyrocketing Cost of Health Care

This is a repost from the Millar Chiropractic Clinic website.

The Skyrocketing Cost of Health Care

How to Get Started Exercising

In some ways, it doesn't matter what kind of exercise you're doing, as long as you're participating in some kind of regular physical activity. The most important thing is to be physically active in some way, every day or at least almost every day. Exercise is relative. If you're 20 years old, walking a few blocks isn't going to do much for you. But if you're 80 years old, walking three or four blocks might be great exercise. The important thing is to start being active, and make it a regular part of your life. For most of us, the biggest hurdle is just getting started. To exercise or not is a choice, and it's a choice we make each day. Do I choose to spend some time taking care of myself, or do I choose to put it off for another day and instead spend today feeling badly because I didn't do what I'd promised myself I'd do?  The bottom line is that it's actually much easier on oneself to choose the path of positive action. The bonus is that exercise makes you feel good mentally and emotionally because your brain produces endorphins in response to physical activity, so you get an extra bonus of good feelings! Begin slowly, especially if you haven't exercised in a few months or a few years. The goal is not to look like a supermodel or world-class athlete. The purpose is to be healthy and well. This can take some time. Workout gradually, and pay attention to what you're doing. The more you focus clearly on your activity, the more beneficial it will be for you, both physically and mentally. Sure, exercise is work, but it can also be a lot of fun - especially when you start noticing your clothes becoming looser. It's really fun when people stop to tell you how great you look.  And it's really fun when you realize that you have so much more energy than you used to and how much more you're enjoying your life!

Health insurance costs have been out of control for some time now. We're all painfully aware of this inflationary spiral. Monthly premiums are through the roof. Co-payments always seem to be on the rise, with out-of-pocket expenses that are so costly we might begin to wonder what we're saving by buying health insurance at all.

This is a burden we all share. For the self-employed, the monthly premiums for adequate individual health insurance are often $1000/month or more. Because of this, many small business owners, choose catastrophic coverage instead. Catastrophic policies will probably still cost $4000 - $5000 or more per year, and if you encounter medical problems, you could end up paying $5000 or more for out-of-pocket expenses.

Some savvy self-employed people combine a less expensive catastrophic (high-deductible) policy with a Health Savings Account (HSA) which allows them to save and use pre-tax dollars for health related expenses, included alternative and preventative treatments.

It is more important than ever for individuals and families to do what they can on their own to ensure better health. Improved health and well-being always translate into reduced health care costs.^1,2

Health-promoting lifestyle choices make a significant difference in both short-term and long-term well-being. Bad habits may need to be broken and replaced with new more positive habits. Nurturing good, healthy habits will pay dividends in better health, and will usually result in increased monetary savings by reducing your health care expenditures.

Nutrition and fitness are usually the main categories in need of improvement. Obesity, heart disease, chronic high blood pressure, and diabetes are a few of the main culprits that raise our national health insurance costs. Each of these can be positively impacted by engaging in regular exercise and improving your diet.

Other vitally important changes include stopping smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, drinking water instead of soda, reducing your snacking and portion sizes, and significantly reducing the consumption of processed foods - especially sweets and carbohydrates. Making all these positive changes, slowly over time, will improve your overall state of health.³

Think in terms of the long haul rather than short-term results. Lasting change is a process that doesn't happen overnight. Our goal is a lifetime of good health supported by good habits. Think about how you can make small changes, one at a time, that will become part of your long-term lifestyle.

It is also helpful to focus on what you are gaining, rather than what you are giving up.  For example, focus on preparing wonderful high-quality whole foods that are full of flavor rather than focusing on the less healthful foods you are giving up.  To successfully replace your habits with more healthful ones, make sure to frame things positively.  Instead of stuffing yourself with low quality purchased sweets that are filled with chemicals you can't pronounce, indulge your sweet tooth with one or two organic, dark chocolate truffles that are filled with antioxidants.  Eat slowly, chew your food well, and really allow yourself to enjoy your meals.  Become a picky eater - make an effort to choose high quality whole foods and small portions instead of larger quantities of junk food.  Chances are, you will learn to enjoy eating this way.

Chiropractic health care is an important part of the process of restoring well-being and reducing health care costs. Regular chiropractic visits can help a person stay active and are an important component in regaining your fitness. Chiropractic treatment helps to improve flexibility, stability and balance, which can increase your ability to exercise and make it more fun.

Your Millar chiropractor can be an invaluable resource as you work on improving your health. He or she will have many helpful recommendations regarding health-promoting nutrition and exercise, and will be happy to provide support and guidance in your journey back to good health.


¹Fronstin P: Health promotion and disease prevention: a look at demand management programs. EBRI Issue Brief 177:1-14, 1996
²Parks KM, Steelman LA: Organizational wellness programs: a meta-analysis. J Occup Health Psychol 13(1):58-68, 2008
³Pearce PZ: Exercise is medicine. Curr Sports Med Rep 7(3):171-175, 2008

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