There are many causative factors for the signs of Vertigo. An inner ear affliction, known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, may at times show up as the outcome of a sustained head injury or very bad cold. In some cases this particular vertigo can be the result of the aging process. The origin, often times though, commonly is unknown. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is a wordy diagnosis, but it characterizes perfectly this non- progressive affliction that is caused by, as its name signifies, a sudden change in head posture. The symptoms are frequently surprising and variable.

It can be helpful to look at the operation of the inner ear in an effort have an understanding of what generates the commonly incapacitating difficulties of this kind of vertigo. The brain takes in motion and keeps equilibrium utilizing the fluid contained in the inner ear. Also in the inner ear are small calcium carbonate crystals, medically known as otoconia. The crystals are inclined float in the inner ear fluid if dislodged. As the crystals strike against the reactive nerve endings in the inner ear, they trigger the disorder of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV.

The good news is that chiropractic treatment can remove the problems of BPPV very quickly and effectively employing a technique which is called the Epley maneuver. By means of the use of this approach, a chiropractor turns the head of a BPPV victim into a number of different positions, letting gravity move the calcium carbonate crystals into an area of the inner ear that is away from the nerve endings where they will generate no further wooziness.

Your chiropractor has assisted numerous persons for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo by using only the Epley Maneuver technique. In most cases, with only one treatment the majority of patients no longer suffer from vertigo.  Call your Chicago Chiropractor today!

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Knee X-ray

A new study conducted by Tufts University School of Medicine had concluded that men and women 65 years and older who’ve been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and who practice Tai Chi, improved their physical capability and encountered less pain. Osteoarthritis is a prevalent form of arthritis that causes an erosion of joint cartilage. Chiropractors help many individuals who suffer with OA in a number of regions of the body, including the joints of the knee. Knee pain and disability is one of the most prevalent problems of the musculoskeletal system, second only to spinal dysfunctions. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are an astounding 4.3 million people in this country over 60 years of ag diagnosed with knee OA, and the CDC predicts that by age 85, half of American adults may incur symptoms of OA. Knee osteoarthritis results in pain, immobility, functional disabilities, and a reduced quality of life.

Why do so many men and women develop OA? As with nearly all of the musculoskeletal dysfunctions that we develop as we get older, undue stress to a joint over the years is a major element. That is why as people get older they are more at risk for developing OA in their knees, as well as other joints. Improper function of the knee, irregular gait, compensatory foot mechanics as an offset of foot pain, and overuse of the knee joint all cause inordinate stress on the knees. Consequently arthritic changes in the knee joint develop. In combination with chiropractic therapies, chiropractors enthusiastically endorse natural, drug-free practices, such as Tai Chi (Chuan), that can mitigate knee pain. A traditional style of Chinese martial arts,Tai Chi features slow, rhythmic movements that create peace of mind, as well as an enhancement of balance, an increase in strength, and more flexibility.

The 40 men and women selected for the Tufts study were on an average 65 years of age, overweight, and with confirmed osteoarthritis of the knee. Otherwise they were healthy. Individuals were randomly picked to take part in 60-minute “Yang style” Tai Chi sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks. Each session included a 10-minute self-massage and a review of Tai Chi principles, 30 minutes of Tai Chi movement, 10 minutes of breathing technique, and 10 minutes of relaxation.

Tai Chi incorporates many of the prevailing exercise recommendations for OA, such as range of motion, flexibility, muscle conditioning, and aerobic workout. Furthermore, researchers observed that the “mental aspect” of Tai Chi encouraged a sense of well-being, life contentment, and perceptions of health that assisted the participants in dealing differently with chronic pain. Compared with the control group, the group practicing Tai Chi experienced a significant decrease in knee pain.

Full findings of the study are published in the November 2009 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.

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As if the acutely painful symptoms of fibromyalgia weren’t enough, a disproportionate ninety percent of fibromyalgia sufferers also experience chronic fatigue syndrome, and you might be one of them. It is this “double whammy” that can leave you not only suffering from pain and fatigue, but also malaise, headaches, numbness and tingling, dizziness, sleep disturbance, swollen feeling in tissues, stiffness, sensitivity to noise and stress, and cognitive impairment.

If you are experiencing the distressing symptoms of one, or both, of these two debilitating conditions, you may find it extremely hard to participate in even the simplest activities in life, and you might even be feeling depressed and defeated. But, don’t give up hope because your chiropractor can assist you. Chiropractic techniques have been proven to be highly effective in reversing trauma-induced injuries by decreasing irritation to the nerves in the brain stem and spinal cord that can cause pain, neuromuscular dysfunction, and fatigue.

You may be wondering, at this point, what “trauma-induced injuries” have to do with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. You may find the answer surprising

While the specific cause of these syndromes is not known, recent research has pointed to traumatic neck injuries, such as whiplash and concussion, as risk factors for the onset of both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. And, here’s the thing: although the pain and fatigue generated by spinal injuries can begin immediately, often it can take quite a long time, perhaps months or years to develop. By the time fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms arise, such injuries may be long-forgotten.

When it comes to the knowledge and treatment of the spine, your chiropractor is an expert. chiropractic management has been proven to be highly effective in reversing trauma-induced spinal injury. See your chiropractor today to see if chiropractic eliminate the pain and suffering you’ve been experiencing from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

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Tension headaches: Let’s face it, life can be a pain, now and then, and end up as a tension headache. The majority of people have experienced more than one. If you are someone who has had a tension headache, then you probably experience it as a dull, aching head pain that is frequently accompanied by a feeling of tightness or pressure across your forehead or on the sides and back of your head. Sometimes, you might feel a tenderness of your scalp, neck and shoulder muscles, and at times you may experience a loss of appetite.

Tension headaches are commonly characterized as mild to moderately intense. The severity of the pain varies from one individual to another, and from one headache to another in the same person. Tension headaches can occur infrequently or you may have them quite frequently. If your headaches occur fifteen or more days a month for a minimum of three months, they’re diagnosed as chronic. If tension headaches are interrupting your life, chiropractic management may be the remedy. Get in touch with your chiropractor today.

Migraine Headaches: Migraine headaches are different from the typical tension-related headache. According to the National Headache Foundation, migraines often develop on one side of the head only. They throb or pulsate and are accompanied by nausea or vomiting. One-fifth of migraine sufferers have auras, visual manifestions an hour before a migraine attack, and distrubances like pulsating light, lines or dots.

Do you suffer from migraines? If you do, you know the disruptive, incapacitating effects that this sort of challenge can have on your life. Unfortunately, you probably know by now that typical over-the-counter medications are ineffective, and prescription drugs generally have harmful side effects. Even so, the pain of a migraine can sideline you for hours, days, even a lifetime. It’s time to eliminate the pain and get your life back! Chiropractic management has proved to be highly effective in relieving and eliminating migraine headaches. Make an appointment with your chiropractor today!

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Sciatic pain generally travels from your low back, through the buttock(s), and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of your leg(s). Frequently, the pain may even radiate into your knee. Sitting, as well as motion, can be painful. Occasionally lying down will lessen, or perhaps briefly eliminate, the pain. But, sciatica will not go away permanently without suitable care.

“Radiculopathy,” the medical term for the clinical diagnosis of sciatica, means simply that a disc has protruded from its normal position in the vertebral column and is causing pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) in the lower back, which forms part of the sciatic nerve. This type of pressure is especially painful.

Additional pressure on the intervertebral discs, as well as imbalances in the muscles encircling the spine, can occur as the result of prolonged sitting, specifically in a poor position. For the most part, a precise event or definite injury doesn’t create sciatica, instead it tends to develop over time as a consequence of average wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine. Eventually the lower spine loses its ability to function in a healthy way during common daily stresses.

Ultimately, the intervertebral disc develops small fissures, or cracks, which then allows the soft nucleus to extend the disc outward. If the disc presses on sensitive tissues, it produces the pain that is often called a ruptured disc. If the disc pushes on the spinal nerve, an individual can develop sciatica.

Most disc challenges, including sciatica, can be alleviated with chiropractic adjustments and care that frequently includes postural exercises. If you are experiencing sciatic pain, it is important for you to seek chiropractic attention.

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Though hip pain and related problems regularly point to age-related degenerative conditions, particularly osteoarthritis of the hip joint, osteoarthritis isn’t always the perpetrator. In fact, rather than being the original source of the problem, osteoarthritis of the hip joint can be the ultimate result of damage to your hips at a previous time.

Gait changes as the result of biomechanical problems such as an ankle sprain or knee strain, can cause hip pain. Also, if you change jobs, alter the way you sit, take on a new sport or activity, or start driving for long periods of a regular basis, your gait may shift to compensate for these new changes.

In addition, gait imbalances can occur from leg length dissimilarities, foot pronation conditions, even carrying a baby or small child on your hip. Strictly speaking, anything that generates an asymmetry or imbalance when you are in motion can cause painful hip problems.

As part of the chiropractic management of your hip problem, along with adjustments, your chiropractor may suggest that you wear orthotics. Your chiropractor will also offer suitable progressive rehabilitative exercises that include muscle stretching and strengthening.

hip pain won’t disappear on its own. Hip pain indicates that something needs to be remedied. Your chiropractor can help to get you out of pain, get back into balance, and get your life back!

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Even if kids don’t stay as active later in childhood, being active at age five helps them to avoid excess fat as they get older. “We call this effect ‘banking’ because the kids benefit later on, similar to having a savings account at a bank. The protective effect is independent of what happens in between,” Janz went on to say.

The UI team tested the body fat and activity level of 333 kids at ages five, eight and eleven using a special scanner that accurately measures bone, fat and muscle tissue, and an accelerometer that measures movement every minute. Rather than counting on kids or parents to track minutes of exercise, the kids wore accelerometers to record their activity level for up to five days.

The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, indicates that kids who are active at age five end up with less fat at age eight and eleven, even when controlling for their accumulated level of activity.  The average five-year-old in the study got thirty minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per day. For every ten minutes on top of that, kids had one-third of a pound less fat tissue at ages eight and eleven.

Although further research is necessary to learn what happens to the active kids’ bodies that keeps them in better shape down the road, Janz said that it could be that the active 5-year-olds didn’t develop as many fat cells, improved their insulin response, or that something happened metabolically that offered some protection even as they became less active.

However, as exciting as this study is, weight moderation is not the only benefit of early exercise. As a chiropractor I have discovered in my own practice that active kids don’t have as many ordinary childhood health problems, like catching colds and the flu. chiropractic care is, without a doubt, exceptionally beneficial in helping kids to stay healthier. But, in addition, the stimulation to the brain that happens during activities, especially those that necessitate “cross pattern” motor movements of the larger muscles, i.e., right hand/left leg and left hand/right leg, such as crawling, running, climbing, and skipping, also boosts the autoimmune system and keeps kids healthier.

Too many children these days are overweight and unhealthy. Though part of the problem is an inappropriate diet, lack of exercise is also a major contributing factor. If you have a five-year-old who chooses to watch television or play video games rather than to participate in more active play, help your child to get up and get moving into healthier activities. Moderate to vigorous activity will not only benefit your child now, but will help to build a healthier future. You can bank on it!

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To begin with, let me make it unquestionably clear that I solidly believe that certain~particular things that we put into our bodies can be beneficial to our health. So, I’m definitely not against taking supplements. Not only do I recommend them to my patients, but take them myself. Secondly, if confession is good for the soul, and red wine is good for the heart, then I’d like to take this opportunity to help both by stating for the record that I appreciate drinking a glass of red wine. The notion that it might have heart-healthy properties, well, that’s like icing on the cake, so to speak. And, lastly, as far as caffeine’s ability to actually reverse or prevent Alzheimer’s disease goes, I believe that if that were generally the case, life would be far less frightening and far more enjoyable for many people and their families.

Let’s take a deep breath and reflect on a few of things, however, before deciding to add more caffeine to your morning grind, increase the red wine you may imbibe in the evening, or before you consider selling the family heirlooms in order to afford high-priced minerals and herbs that promise to extend your life indefinitely.

Let us think about the fact, for example, that we have not been locked up in a cage all of our life, and none of us has been induced, by artificial means, to acquire the age-related diseases that lab animals do, enfeeblement that is then “reversed” by resveratrol, caffeine, or some exotic mineral or plant. We are dynamic, biological beings, free to vigorously engage with life.

Furthermore, we are far more than the sum total of our parts. We are dynamic and biological, not “mechanical, conscienceless devices.” We are biologically individual, which is to say, we respond in a unique variety of ways to internal irritation factors and external environmental influences. Case in point, though smoking cigarettes is commonly unhealthy, there are a few people who are able to smoke, so it seems, and live to a ripe old age without any apparently-related problems.

Scientific research relies upon tests done through the isolation of a variable in order to achieve a legitimate result. This type of testing gives scientific research its integrity. Added to that specificity is the fact that testing related to human health issues, such as aging, is done on lab animals, does not necessarily translate to human beings. What may be effective when isolated and artificially induced may, in fact, be ineffective otherwise. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, what may work for some of the people all of the time, won’t work for all of the people all of the time (and sometimes won’t work at all!).

Each day you make deliberate decisions about what you’ll eat and how much activity and rest you’ll get. Even though you know what “feels” nutritious for your individual system by the way your body responds, not all the choices you make may be beneficial for your health and longevity. In fact, perhaps few of the choices you’ve been making lately are actually healthy ones.

Then you, like many others, may enthusiastically jump on the bandwagon of the latest report that announces that researchers have uncovered THE VERY THING that has the potency to reverse all of the excessive and unhealthy things you have been doing to your body on a routine basis! Talk about wishful thinking!

Your human body is an elegantly complex, homeostatic system. In other words, every operation is interdependent and sensitively balanced. When you choose an unhealthy lifestyle, your fastidiously-responsive system gets “off balance.” Sooner or later, the imbalances created by choosing unhealthily, result in diseases and a shortened lifespan.

As a chiropractor, I advise that you supplement if you need it. Pour that added cup of coffee if it feels right. And, have a little more red wine if it genuinely feels beneficial for your individual system. But all the while remember, the only truly reliable way that we, humans, can avoid or reverse age-related health issues is by changing our unhealthy lifestyle. Good health has nothing do with luck. And, there is no “magic potion” when it comes to health and longevity.

Dr. Jamie Phillips, is a consultant for Bloczone Marketing, a chiropractic internet marketing company specializing in chiropractic websites that attract new patients. She also teaches chiropractors in Tampa and across the country how to market their chiropractic practices online. She can be reached at (805) 882-1956.

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However, before you decide to add another cup of coffee to your daily intake, let me warn you that also on the website, under “Related Stories,” were a couple of articles about studies that demonstrated the not-so-healthy effects of caffeine, “Morning Jolt of Caffeine May Mask Serious Sleep Problems,” and “Coffee Consumption Linked To Increased Risk Of Heart Attack For Persons With Certain Gene Variation.”

Nearly any point of view, it seems to me, especially when it has to do with age-related health issues, can be confirmed, or at least supported, by other related studies. The “good/bad” studies related to caffeine certainly aren’t, by any means, the only ones. Nonetheless, it did get me to considering about the reasonableness that there will not ever be just “one thing” that will irrefutably assist we, humans, in living longer, healthier lives. Humans are dynamic, biological creatures. We are free to participate in life. We’re not confined to a cage! And, moreover, though Alzheimer’s disease may be on the rise, obviously no one has been “singled out to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” so caffeine isn’t entirely the “one thing” that is going to prevent or reverse it.

Our body is an elegant, involved system that is based on homeostasis (balance). Consequently good health is cultivated by a healthy, balanced approach to living, instead of our jumping on the bandwagon of the latest health study and “doing” or “overdoing” one specific thing under the illusion that it will reverse all of the other excessive and harmful things we do to our bodies.

As a chiropractor, I believe that every moment of the day we have an opportunity to choose healthfully for our body, decisions that will help us to live longer, healthier lives. We know what truly “feels” life enriching and what doesn’t when it comes to what is good for us. So, the if you reach for that extra cup of coffee or that second glass of red wine, I hope that you’ll think about this. There is no “one thing” that will do “everything” for your age-related health issues.

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One of the most well known foot problems is Plantar Fascitis (heel pain), which is usually caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a wonderful, multi-tasking band of connective tissue that encircles the muscles on the bottom of the foot, adheres the heel bone to the ball of the foot, supports the arch, protects the foot, and absorbs shock.

There are many factors that contribute to the development of Plantar Fascitis. One such factor is short and tight calf muscles. When calf muscles get short and tight they exert a strong pull on the back of the heel bone, producing undue stress on the smaller and weaker plantar muscles and fascia. How do calf muscles get short and tight? In addition to running and jumping activities such as aerobics, volleyball, running, basketball, and tennis, the wearing of high heels can cause the problem.

Other factors that contribute to Plantar Fascitis include sudden strenuous activity after a period of prolonged inactivity, abnormal walking patterns (such as over-pronation), improper footwear, walking on hard or uneven surfaces (especially barefooted), and obesity.

Once an individual develops Plantar Fascitis, the condition is frequently not easy to manage and can become intensely painful and persistent. If you are suffering from heel pain, your chiropractor will be able to determine the cause of your problem and what chiropractic management is best suited. Such care might include ultrasound therapy, laser, joint manipulation, muscle stretching and strengthening exercises, special taping and, in some cases, orthotics.

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