Posts tagged ‘health’

November 8, 2012

The Importance of Fiber

by christopherdreno

Assortment of High Fiber Foods
 

According to an article in the Kingsman Regional Medical Center Journal, reports have indicated a strong correlation between obesity prevalence and the amount of fiber consumption.  The data suggests that countries with the highest fiber consumption consistently had the lowest obesity rates.  Obesity is considered to be more common in Western Countries because fiber consumption is so low.

Lacking the amount of recommended fiber can hinder proper digestion and can also contribute to weight gain. Deficient fiber levels have been linked to obesity and inhibit nutrient absorption in the body. Generally foods that are high in fiber are also low fat. Conversely, foods that contain low fiber content are generally calorie dense. Foods that are rich in fiber have been found to lower blood serum insulin levels which can promote a feeling of fullness for longer periods of time which can aid in weight control.

Studies regarding children and fiber intake have yielded similar results.  High fiber diets aid in the prevention of childhood obesity and improved general health.  These studies indicated that children that ate a high fiber breakfast had a lower BMI (body mass index) and lower cholesterol levels. In addition to being low calorie, high fiber foods are also generally contain less saturated and trans fats than foods with a low fiber content.

Fiber consumption by adults and children (specifically plant based fiber sources) has been an effective and proven treatment for obesity. Fiber facilitates healthy weight loss by boosting metabolism and creating a feeling of fullness for a longer period of time. A high fiber diet can decrease the amount of food consumed while simultaneously increasing the body’s ability to metabolize and burn off the fat before it begins to accumulate in the body.

An elevated body metabolism can also provide the body with more energy which can also increase the prevalence of physical activity and exercise. Fiber, particularly plant based fiber, is an imperative part of a healthy diet.  In addition to facilitating weight loss and increased metabolic levels, fiber is also an important component of proper digestion to keep the body healthy.  Foods that are low fat and low calorie are also an important part of a healthy diet.

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November 6, 2012

Fibromyalgia – What Exercises Should You Do?

by christopherdreno

woman holding neck in pain
 

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition that gradually interferes with many aspects of one’s life.  The challenge of treating FM is finding the right combination of approaches that positively impacts the structural, emotional, and chemical aspects of the body in such a way the FM patient can function “normally” in day to day activities.  Exercise is one of the most important methods patients can use to successfully reach these goals.

First, because FM is a condition that is currently thought to affect the central nervous system where the threshold of reaching pain levels is lower than normal, pain is perceived when is shouldn’t normally be noticed.  Therefore, the KEY to exercise integration is to start out SLOWLY and CONSISTENTLY. It is more important to work out in a way that muscles and joints can gradually accommodate to the new activity or movement.  Many patients with FM are afraid to exercise for fear of hurting worse than they already do. In fact, many will report that, “…every time I exercise, I feel worse so I just don’t do it.”  When asked what types of exercises they’ve tried, it becomes clear it wasn’t the exercise but rather the dose or amount of exercise they engaged in (often overdoing it) that made the next 48-72 hours quite uncomfortable with post-exercise soreness.

Yoga ImageSecond, is to choose a type of exercise you enjoy so it’s more likely you’ll stick with it. Popular exercise options include yoga, Pilates, biking, swimming, and walking. These exercises can also be combined. For example, one might perform 15 minutes of yoga, followed by a 15 minute walk on a daily, consistent basis. The use of an exercise bike and/or a treadmill, stepper, or elliptical type of exercise equipment allows you to monitor heart rate, speed, and other data that allows you to compare yourself between sessions. One of the new “kids on the block” exercise options includes the Wii-Fit which offers a scoring system with various types of exercise. This type of biofeedback can be educational, rewarding, and motivating as it helps you appreciate the benefits and improvements you’ve made over time. Pick a time of day when you can be consistent with the exercises so you’re not “fitting it in” your busy daily schedule – make it part of your daily routine, similar to brushing your teeth or taking a shower.  The morning or evening may work best but many find a noon hour break a good time to exercise, as well.

Third, as you start to feel more in shape, gradually increase the intensity of the exercises.  You may exercise for the same amount of time, say 30 minutes, but you’ll do a more intense work out such as walking faster, farther, or increasing the pace of the yoga, Pilates, swimming, etc.  Try not to be too intense (over aggressive) or do too little (under aggressive).  You know your personality better than anyone else – hold yourself back if you tend to be overly aggressive or, push yourself if you tend to be overly cautious.  Expect the first 3-5 times you exercise to be challenging with associated post-exercise soreness but know you will adapt to the process.

The benefits of adding a well designed, graduated exercise program include:

      1) Strengthening ligaments, muscles, tendons and improving muscle tone
      2) Increasing flexibility
      3) Increasing blood flow to the muscle tissue
      4) Increase endorphins-a morphine-like substance that has a natural pain relieving and sleep deepening effect that can help curb anxiety, depression as well as pain associated with FM
      5) Reduces the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes heart disease and stroke
      6) Promotes weight loss/control which in turn, reduces stress on your muscles and joints

 

Resource Link

http://www.fibromyalgiaexercise.net/

style=”font-size:14px”>You can connect with Chris on TwitterFacebook, or Google+.

November 1, 2012

Headache – What Can YOU Do?

by christopherdreno

Headaches are one of the most common complaints for which patients seek chiropractic care.  Chiropractic is especially helpful in the treatment of headaches because the three nerves that exit the top of the spine (upper neck) are often the cause of or directly related to headaches. These three nerves travel into the head and have to pass through a very thick group of muscles in the upper part of the neck near where these muscles attach to the base of the skull.  This is why when you have headaches and rub the back of the neck, the muscles may feel tight and or tender.  In fact, if enough pressure is applied over one of these three nerves, pain will radiate into the head following the course of the nerve, sometimes all the way into the eyes.  When chiropractic treatment is applied in the upper neck region, a reduction of the headache and neck pain occurs because the muscle tension is decreased and joint motion is restored.

The International Headache Society (IHS) has classified headaches into two main categories, primary and secondary.  Primary headaches occur for no known reason and there are four groups of these: 1) migraine, 2) tension-type, 3) cluster, and 4) “other” primary headaches. Secondary headaches are those with a specific cause such as sinus/allergy headaches, those associated with eye strain, a known medical condition or those due to cold or flu.  Both migraine and cluster headaches are “vascular” (related to the blood vessels expanding inside the head) resulting in a unique set of symptoms that includes nausea, vomiting, pounding/throbbing and can be quite debilitating.

 

Man with tension headacheThe most common type is the tension-type of headache.  A thorough history is necessary because there is no specific diagnostic test (lab or blood test) for tension-type headaches.  Hence, the concept is to make sure the headache is not related to some other condition that is diagnosable by a blood or lab test and if present, having that condition properly managed.  So, assuming all the tests come back “normal” and all other causes have been eliminated or “ruled out,” the most common type of tension-type headache is “episodic” or, occurs off and on, lasting minutes to days.  The pain is usually described as, “…my whole head hurts.”  There is typically tightness or tension (NOT throbbing) described in the neck muscles and the intensity ranges from mild to moderate, not usually severe, where laying down is needed.  Physical activity does not usually make it worse and there is no sickness to the stomach (nausea/vomiting), and no intense reaction to bright lights or noise (like there is with migraine & cluster types of headaches).  There are sub-types of tension headaches that can occur simultaneous with migraines headaches, but the classic “aura” (a before the headache warning associated with migraine headaches) is usually not present.

Chiropractic treatment typically includes manipulation and mobilization of the neck, muscle release techniques, physical therapy modalities like electric stimulation, ultrasound, and others, exercise, stress and diet/nutritional management.

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October 31, 2012

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) – It’s Rush Hour!

by christopherdreno

ImageDo you recall the last time you were driving along the highway and suddenly, traffic came to a screeching halt?  After sitting in your car, waiting impatiently for any movement, you eventually arrive at the cause of the congestion – 4 lanes of traffic funneled into one lane, due to road construction.  The fact it’s rush hour makes the whole issue more understandable but not less frustrating.  On your next trip through the construction zone, you make sure to avoid rush hour and you fly through without hesitation – because its 2pm rather than 5pm.

So what does this have to do with CTS?  This analogy depicts what essentially happens when CTS occurs.  Picture an assembly line worker packaging cookies.  The cookies come out of the oven 6 rows deep at a rapid pace.  There are normally 6 people working the line, 3 on each side, but for the last two weeks, one of the workers has been out on maternity leave and no one was assigned to that position… leaving 5 workers doing the work 6 people usually share.  Let’s say, conservatively, there are 25 cookies packaged per minute.  In 60-minutes, 1500 cookies (25×60) are packaged; in an 8 hour day 12,000 cookies are packed, and in a 40 hour work week, 48,000 cookies are packaged (by each worker)!  That’s a lot of fast, repetitive movements requiring bending forward and reaching, gripping, and moving the cookies into a tray and then stacking the trays.

If there are workers absent or the employer decides to speed up the line and force overtime, most of the workers will reach their limit and hurt.  Especially those with other problems that make them more susceptible to CTS like low thyroid function, diabetes, obesity, age over 50, inflammatory arthritis, when taking birth control pills…..you get the picture!.  Hence, when working too fast, just like when there are too many cars on the road during rush hour, the fast paced work inflames the tendons in the carpal tunnel and pinches the nerve. This creates pain and numbness/tingling that either slows the worker down or completely forces him/her to have to take time off from the job.  When working at a slower, more comfortable pace, there is less friction between the carpal tunnel tendons and, therefore, no or significantly less nerve compression and CTS signs or symptoms, just like driving through the construction site without slowing down when avoiding rush hour.

Image

Why is this?  CTS occurs frequently in people who perform fast, repetitive hand movements like our cookie factory worker.  That’s because there are 9 tendons attaching the muscles located in the upper forearm (on the palm side) to the fingers in the hand.  These tendons travel very close together, especially as they pass through the carpal tunnel of the wrist.  These tendons allow us to pick things up (grip and pinch), shake hands, hold babies delicately and function normally in our daily activities.  As these 9 tendons pass through this tight tunnel, when it’s “rush hour” or, when fast, repetitive work is occurring, these 9 tendons rub together and they heat up, swell and the pressure inside the tunnel increases.  Because the nerve (median nerve) passes through the same tunnel, as the tendons swell, the nerve is pinched or pressed up against the border of the tunnel and numbness / tingling occurs into the palm and fingers 2-4.  We find ourselves dropping things, having a hard time buttoning clothes, threading a needle, opening jars, holding onto a steering wheel, and frequently, we wake up at night needing to shake and flick our fingers to “…wake them up.”

Because these symptoms gradually appear, we usually don’t run to our doctor until several months (and sometimes years) after the symptoms have been present.  This makes it more challenging to treat CTS and all patients with these symptoms are encouraged to seek treatment as soon as problems start.  There are frequently other problems in the neck, shoulder, and elbow because we tend to compensate, move differently and use other muscles when there is pain so the elbow, shoulder and neck become involved and require attention.

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