March Madness

Whether it’s Cards or Cats we cheer for this time of year, we all catch the fever. There’s just something about friends and family gathered around the big screen anxiously awaiting the final shot of the game that we can’t say no to. After the excitement though, we often go home feeling drained and nursing a huge headache.

Most of us attribute it to the noise or the lights or even the stress of watching our team do battle on the court. All these things do cause headaches, but did you know that your game-time snack could be a culprit too?

Researchers believe that food plays a significant role in headaches, especially migraines. Proving this has been difficult since the exact cause of headaches is still being debated. We do know that an increase or decrease in the blood flow to the brain results in headache pain.

Certain foods contain substances that either constrict or dilate blood vessels throughout the body. While, no single food affects every individual and those that are affected are not always affected to the same degree, certain problem foods have been identified.

So, if you’ve been feeling the pain after the game, try staying away from these trouble makers:

• Aged cheeses
• Alcohol (esp. red wine)
• Artificial sweeteners
• Caffeinated drinks
• Chocolate
• Cured or processed meats (think hot dogs and beef jerky)
• Fresh baked yeast products
• MSG (monosodium glutamate)
• Nuts / peanut butter
• Sour cream
• Yogurt

Your head will thank you!

For the full March 2007 Cardinal Chiropractic Newsletter, download the PDF document by clicking here.

Chiropractic Helps Your Heart

Did you know February is Heart Month? In honor of this, we want to let you know about one of the most common problems affecting the heart and blood vessels today —- hypertension or high blood pressure.

The term “blood pressure” refers to a pressure within the arteries produced by the beating of the heart. Contraction of the heart creates a high pressure known as the systolic phase and relaxation of this organ creates a low pressure known as the diastolic phase. Your blood pressure is read as a fraction comprised of these two numbers. 120/80 is considered average and this naturally lowers while you sleep and raises during periods of high activity.

In the United States, 30 million people suffer from hypertension and about 30% of these won’t be diagnosed until it is too late. For most, hypertension becomes a problem at age 30, but teenagers, children, and even infants can be affected.

Hypertension is not a disease in itself. It is a symptom of a disorder within the circulatory system, nervous system, or vital organ of the body. Your nervous system controls the primary function and maintenance of normal blood pressure and its proper distribution.

As chiropractors, we diagnose and correct nerve disorders. This means that though adjustments are not a “specific treatment” for hypertension, they can eliminate one of its causes -— nerve interference. Chiropractic can help your body maintain normal control of blood pressure naturally, without drugs or other dangerous treatments.

So, when you schedule your next appointment, let us check your blood pressure.

For the full February 2007 Cardinal Chiropractic Newsletter, download the PDF document by clicking here.

FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME

What is Fibromyalgia Syndrome?

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a widespread musculo-skeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is still unknown. More women than men are afflicted with FMS and it crosses age boundaries.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia means pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, and fibrous tissues in the body. Most FMS sufferers claim they ache all over, with a feeling that their muscles have been pulled – similar to what you might feel after doing strenuous exercise or work. This symptom can be mild, but in some patients, it can be incapacitating.

Possible Causes

The causes of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome remain elusive, but there are many triggering events thought to precipitate its onset. A few examples would be an infection (viral or bacterial), an automobile accident, or the development of another disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or hypothyroidism.

One theory is the FMS sufferers’ immune systems may be functioning improperly. Patients are prescribed drugs to help strengthen the immune system.

Natural Treatment Works!

Patients undergoing medical treatment have reported improvements but say the beneficial affects rarely help beyond a few months.

In contrast, the use of nutritional supplementation has resulted in remarkable reductions of initial symptom severity, with continued improvement in the period between initial assessment and follow-up exam. Also, studies have found that fibromyalgia patients have a deficiency in certain nutrients.

Selenium Deficiency Found in Fibromyalgia Sufferers

Selenium, an antioxidant, helps to protect and maintain basic cellular health throughout the body. One study conducted in Germany on FMS patients found they had a significantly lower level of selenium as compared to the blood of non-fibromyalgia subjects.

Magnesium Deficiency and Fibromyalgia Patients

Magnesium is essential for the activity of many enzyme systems and plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy nerves, muscle membranes, and bones. Muscle pain has been associated with Magnesium and Selenium deficiency. Studies have found that decreased blood levels of magnesium existed in patients with fibromyalgia. This decreased amount is also associated with previously reported impairment of Thiamin (Vitamin B1) metabolism.

Improved Immune System

Vitamin B6 is an important vitamin necessary for healthy red blood cells, gums, teeth, blood vessels, and nervous system. In a study conducted on male patients taking Vitamin B6 supplements for a 3 to 6 week period, improvements were seen in numerous areas of immune function following the treatment.

Reduced Fatigue

Vitamin B1 provides the body with energy by converting carbohydrates into glucose. It also helps to maintain body temperature and muscle coordination. One study showed that supplementation of Vitamin B1 significantly suppressed blood glucose increases in subjects with normal B1 levels while it decreased the number of fatigue complaints.

Don’t Suffer One More Day

Unfortunately, the causes behind fibromyalgia have yet to be discovered. But as studies have shown, nutritional supplementation has been successful in relieving some symptoms.

Reinhard P; Schweinsberg F; et al. Selenium status in fibromyalgia. Toxicoi Lett 1998 Aug;96-97:177-8
Eisinger J; Plantamura A, et al. Selenium and magnesium status in fibromyalgia. Magnes Res 1994 Sec (3-4):285-8.
D.A. Casciato, et al. “Immunologic Abnormalities in Hemodialysis Patients: Improvement after Pyridoxine Therapy, Nephron, 38(1), 1984, p.9-16.
M. Suzuki, Y. Itakawa, Effects of Thiamine Supplementation on Exercise-induced Fatigue. Metabolic And Brain Dis. 11(1), March 1996, p.95-106.

De-Stress After the Holidays

The Holidays are often full of so much activity, we find it hard to take time for urselves and end up seriously stressed by New Year’s Day. Whether the stress comes from physical, chemical, or emotional sources, the result is the same. Headaches, muscle tension, digestive distress, fatigue, sleep  disorders, and various aches and pains of unknown origin. Your nervous system has been damaged and is malfunctioning. When these symptoms occur, it’s time to break the cycle of chronic tension.

Create a schedule that allows time for yourself as well as the time you need to accomplish your everyday demands. Eat right (this means avoiding caffeine, fatty foods and sugar), get enough rest, and include a regular exercise program in your daily schedule.

Also, be sure to get your chiropractic adjustments. When you are stressed, your body is more susceptible to subluxations or minor misalignments of the spine caused by trauma to the neck and back, poor posture, and lack of exercise. Each subluxation puts pressure on your nerves and causes interference between your brain and the organs and muscles it controls, resulting in a loss of function. Adjustments correct the misalignment, thereby reducing nerve interference.

When your nervous system is kept in optimum working order, your body can better respond to stressful situations. This means it will be less likely to be damaged by the effects of stress in the future. After all, stress only hurts us when it is greater than our resistance to it.

Making time for exercise, adjustments, and fun keeps you strong!

Has this been you lately? We can help!

For the full January 2007 Cardinal Chiropractic Newsletter, download the PDF document by clicking here.

Just Your Nerves

We are fond of saying, “Oh it’s only my nerves,” and “The problem isn’t too serious, it’s only nervous.” Unfortunately, statements like these dismiss the important role our nerves play in the proper functioning of our bodies.

Nerves transmit all sensation to and from the brain. They enable us to see, smell, taste, touch, and hear. They control our movement and regulate our essential functions like body temperature, breathing, and blood flow. In fact, nerves control every other system in our body and the nervous system is often called The Master System of The Human Body.

It should come as no surprise that good health is linked with good nerve function. Since all nerves run through the spine on their way out to the organs, glands, and muscles they control, the spinal bones can be thought of as the switchboard controlling the electrical system of the human body—your nerves.

Any pinching or interference from the bones as your nerves pass between them can cause trouble. This means that spinal problems can be seen as nervous problems.

Also, due to the intrinsic nature of nerves to interconnect and intercommunicate with one another and the various organs and tissue of the body, a single misaligned spinal vertebrae can cause malfunction in multiple organs as well as muscle pain and tightness. By freeing blocked nerves through correction of the subluxation, your chiropractic doctor removes interference, improves nerve function, and helps you to be a naturally healthier person.

Come in and see us today for a nerve function check-up.

For the full June 2007 Cardinal Chiropractic Newsletter, download the PDF document by clicking here.