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Swimming Exercise and Pain Management of a Human Body

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swimming

Swimming Exercise and Pain Management of  a Human Body

This is a guest post by Felicia Baratz-Savage from Eat Breath Blog.

At first, it may seem counter-productive to hit the gym or pool when you experience pain, but science and anecdotal research have shown that exercise may actually help to alleviate pain. While some people are more likely to reach for a painkiller to deal with back pain and others may even go so far as to opt for surgery. Low impact exercise such as swimming is a healthy and enjoyable way to reduce musculoskeletal pain.

The idea that exercise can help to eliminate pain isn’t entirely uncommon. Many people are accustomed to “walking it off” and exercise is one of the main recommendations for a woman who is experiencing pain due to menstrual cramps. It should come as no surprise, then, that exercise can also help to relieve back pain. Because it’s exercise, it can also help strengthen a weak back and, potentially, reduce future pain.

Why is swimming the ideal type of exercise when it comes to pain management? Unlike jogging, weight lifting or other high-impact sports, swimming does not require any twisting or direct stress on your back. There are no hard concrete sidewalks or difficult equipment that can actually increase pain. Swimming relies on fluid motions with less resistance than other sports. Swimming can also help to strengthen muscles to make them less impervious to pain in the future.

Finding a place to swim isn’t difficult either. You can swim in a lake or pond, go to the beach or find a local gym. Some people have above ground pools in their backyards that they can swim in.

Experts especially recommend the front stroke or breaststroke methods for patients who are using swimming as a method of exercise to eliminate back pain and other aches. The common front crawl also offers a pain-free way to strengthen back muscles that can commonly cause pain. However, you can actually do more harm than good by swimming for too long or by using improper form. Consider the following suggestions to maximize pain relief from swimming:

  • Keep your head straight to minimize strain on the neck and twisting the back. Many swimmers over-rotate when taking breaths. The head should remain along the axis of the body.
  • Using wider strokes when performing the breaststroke ensues that the water serves as a cushion while strengthening back muscles in a therapeutic form.
  • The body should remain flat when doing the front crawl. The best form involves strong leg kicks so that the lower body does not drag in the water.
  • Strokes should always remain fluid. Jerky movements can further increase pain and lead to damage to the back or other parts of the body.
  • The sidestroke is ideal for alleviating back pain because it doesn’t require excess amounts of pressure on any part of the body. However, you should always alternate sides to prevent exhausting of and muscle strain. Switching it up also helps swimmers to maintain the sidestroke for longer periods of time.
  • The backstroke can quickly exhaust neck muscles if you don’t consistently practice it. You should take it easy when picking it up once more, or for the first time.

Physical therapists and chiropractors agree that swimming is one way to reduce both current and future pain, and can complement any current pain management program.

 

 

Stress and 4 Tips On How To Avoid It

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STRESSThis is a guest post by  Ayrsley Solutions.

In life, we experience a multitude of emotions ranging from positive to negative.  What a lot of us don’t realize is that each emotion that we experience makes a profound impact on our health as well as our psyche.

Stress is one of the factors that affects us emotionally and physically.  Stress will cause the chain of the biochemical reactions in a our body. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA or HTPA axis), also known as the limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (LHPA axis) and, occasionally, as thehypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-gonadotropic axis, is a complex set of direct influences and feedback interactions among the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland (a pea-shaped structure located below the hypothalamus), and the adrenal (also called “suprarenal”) glands (small, conical organs on top of the kidneys).

The interactions among these organs constitute the HPA axis, a major part of the neuroendocrine system that controls reactions to stress and regulates many body processes, includingdigestion, the immune system, mood and emotions, sexuality, and energy storage and expenditure. A wide variety of species, from the most ancient organisms to humans, share components of the HPA axis. It is the common mechanism for interactions among glands, hormones, and parts of the midbrain that mediate the general adaptation syndrome.

The steroids that are released from the adrenal glands during stress ends up growing the body fat; this fat is also referred to as: “belly fat”, “muffin top”, and “pooch”.  The medical term would be an “adipose tissue”.

As part of the life cycle, we are continually burning energy and aging; however, being under stress expedites these changes in our bodies.  Stress becomes an environmental toxin that causes damage and increase oxidant levels which results in slowing down our bodies’ cells and repair mechanisms.  This ultimately leads to a prolonged aging process that appears on our face and body.

So what should a person do to help decrease the long term effects of stress on our body in a non-evasive manner?

1. Keep hydrated.

As we get older, we tend to lean away from drinking lots of water.  But did you know that it only takes 10% of dehydration for your metabolism to slow down.  When your metabolism slows down, unnecessary weight gain occurs. 

2. Take lukewarm showers.

A lot of people don’t enjoy hearing this one, especially if they are addicted to taking nice hot showers.  But, taking hot showers strips away the fat barrier from your skin; therefore leading to dry and crackling skin.  Also, another thing that we recommend is that if your muscles are inflamed, taking a hot shower is the last thing that you want to do.  Why?  Because think of it this way, when your muscles are inflamed, you don’t have to touch your skin to feel the heat dissipating.  You can’t put out a fire with fire, correct?  With that being said, when you take a hot shower with inflamed muscles, you will feel good for about an hour or so; but we all know that feeling is only temporary.  Therefore, when taking a lukewarm to cold showers, not only you are preserving your skin but you are also reducing the muscle inflammation.

3. Vitamin A versus Vitamin E

Vitamin A, also known as Retinol, is a vitamin combined with Retinal and 4 Carotenes including Beta Carotene.  Vitamin A has been scientifically proven to increase chemicals that reverse wrinkles!

Vitamin E, also known as Tocopherol, is a vitamin combined with 8 Fat Soluble Compounds including Tocotrienol.  Scientific studies have shown that people that take Vitamin E supplements do add longevity to their lives.  Although, Vitamin E is good for you, however, the best form to consume Vitamin E is through food such as almonds, wheat germ, and avocado instead of the pill form.

4. Chiropractic Care

The extension cord of your brain is your spinal cord.  Your spinal cord is encased inside of your spine that is made of up 24 articulating bones known as your vertebra (vertebrae).  The extension of your spinal cord are your spinal nerves that protrude from in-between each vertebra.  The spinal nerves encompass your entire body, attaching itself to muscles, tissues, and organs.  This is referred to as the body’s “information highway.”

When your vertebra is misaligned, it causes a misalignment which applies pressure and results in nerve interference.

Remember, the brain expresses stress to your adrenal glands and your adrenals glands delivers the expression throughout your entire body.  The 9th nerve in your thoracic is the nerve that supplies your adrenal glands.  If there is an interruption of communication between the brain and your adrenal glands during stress, it could lead to other more serious health related problems

By seeing a Doctor of Chiropractic, this nerve interference can be resolved and maintained to ensure that your body is working at its maximum.

As people, we identify stress to be a normal part of life while ignoring the serious effects that it can cause to our body.   The term stress should not be limited to the definition as outside or environmental factors; for our body also experience stress when we are not feeling well due to a cold.  Always bear in mind, that how you handle and overcome stress will become apparent on your body.

If you have anything to add to this post, please feel free to Post a comment or share your thoughts through Facebook, Twitter, or comment section below to join the conversation.

Could Your Building Be Making You Sick?

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ARCHITECT, LEED, GREEN BUILDING

Could Your Building Be Making You Sick?

According to the EPA there are roughly 80,000 chemicals rampant in our society and the biggest culprit is architectural products. Architectural, industrial maintenance coatings and household cleaning products are responsible for 38 tons of emissions a day. Since the oil embargo of the 1970swe have chosen to create buildings that act as a well sealed cocoon, which if not designed correctly could become very toxic for the occupants.

Indoor pollutants can be roughly divided into 6 categories:

  1.  Volatile Organic Compounds
  2. Toxic by products of Combustion
  3. Mold
  4. Pesticides
  5. Naturally Occurring Pollutants
  6. Electromagnetic field pollutions

Volatile Organic Compounds:

In simple terms VOCs are chemicals containing carbon, except for a few exceptions, these are volatile because they don’t need extraordinary conditioned to go from solid/liquid to gaseous. It could happen under very normal temperatures and conditions like any typical indoor or outdoor environment. These chemicals are used in everything from paint, carpeting, and upholstery to our food products like decaffeinated tea or coffee.

I know, you see a lot of labels with Zero-Voc plastered on them, you might want to look further if these products are really devoid of all glycol or petrochemicals ingredients. Health impacts of VOCs range from headaches, nausea, all the way to liver and respiratory problems.

Toxic by products of Combustion:

These are byproducts of processes such as furnace burning or water heating and could be carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or particles etc. Exposure doesn’t necessary mean death it could cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, sleepiness etc.

Mold

All you need for mold to develop is presence of oxygen, a good combination of humidity and temperature and any nutrition source which could also be cellulose based insulation and of course wood is an obvious one. Some of the fungi that cause mold also produce VOCs as a byproduct when they’re decaying a material for nutrition.

Pesticides

Are usually included in products to give them shelf life or to give them antimicrobial products. Formaldehyde is commonly used for that, but you never see it mentioned on label.

Naturally Occurring Pollutants

Range from dust, dust particles, pollen to radon which is decaying of radium in the earth’s crust and seeps through poor foundation or construction details. Health impacts range from respiratory problems, allergies all the way to cancer. 

Electromagnetic field pollutions

Electromagnetic field pollution occurs every time electricity is generated. We are surrounded by it  with wireless networks, power lines, computer screens, microwave ovens, TVs, lighting, electrical outlets, cordless phones, wiring, appliances, etc. Exposure to EMFs of specific equencies/intensities has been linked to depression, loss of energy, irritability, inability to concentrate, chronic fatigue, headaches, weakened immune system, cancer, brain tumors, Alzheimer’s, autism, childhood leukemia, birth defects, accelerated aging and miscarriages.

 

You can subscribe to Hafsa Burt’s BLOG   HBAARCHITECTS   to continue the discussion.

Mrs. Burt is the principal owner and architect of a bay area base Architecture, Interior Design and Planning firm. An environmentalist, she actively advocates the 2030 challenge and is a huge proponent of holistic high performance buildings. She specializes in Indoor air quality and targets “healthy buildings” in her practice and design philosophy. As a principal of a small size firm, she is actively involved in all projects with a commitment to the practice of architecture as a collaborative, innovative enterprise.


Ear Infections in Children and Chiropractic Care

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EAR INFECTIONS

Ear Infections in Children and Chiropractic Care

Many parents know that dealing with painful ear infections at night is not fun. Children scream through an agonizing pain. At least that what my wife and myself have been experiencing the last couple of nights. We were stressed out and our four and half years old boy was even more stressed out. Fortunately our son was breast fed till he was 20 months old and I have to admit that it is a heroic act on my spouse’s behalf. Until recently we did not have any problems with ear infection and pain.

November was a month that our family was traveling a lot all over the country. That means only one thing, lots of time on an airplane full of people who most likely carry some sort of virus or cold infection, eating out and lack of exercises. These three main factors will do some serious damage to an adult’s health but child is taking it to a whole different level. Their fragile immune system has to fight new invaders every day.

Before I go into an explanation of a pain and suffering process of ear infection I would like to explain what it is and what the treatment procedures for such health problem. The ear has two functions – hearing and balance and it consists of three different parts – the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. I am not going to bore you with its function and anatomy, you can simply click on links that I have provided if interested. Kids develop ear infections more frequently in the first 2 to 4 years of their life for several reasons:

  • Their eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal than those of adults, which allows bacteria and viruses to find their way into the middle ear more easily. Their tubes are also narrower and less stiff, which makes them more prone to blockage.
  • The adenoids, which are gland-like structures located in the back of the upper throat near the eustachian tubes, are large in children and can interfere with the opening of the eustachian tubes.

A number of other factors can contribute to kids getting ear infections, such as exposure to cigarette smoke, bottle-feeding, and day-care attendance (that was our case as well in addition to travel). Ear infections also occur more commonly in boys than girls, in kids whose families have a history of ear infections, and during the winter season when upper respiratory tract infections or colds are frequent.

There are several options available for treating middle ear infections in children. One of the most popular is use of antibiotics where child has to take during a course of ten days or so. Sometimes this treatment will not work because it could also be a viral infection. For those children who have chronic infections in some cases, an ear, nose, and throat doctor will suggest surgically inserting tubes (called tympanostomy tubes) in the tympanic membrane. This allows fluid to drain from the middle ear and helps equalize the pressure in the ear because the eustachian tube is unable to.

In our particular case I have adjusted my son’s right occipital region about four nights in a raw. On a fifth night he slept through without any pain at all. It has been about a month since the last episode and so far he did not complain about any ear pain at all. Research showed that 80% of the children who get chiropractic care were free of ear infections for at least six-month period. Maintenance for one or two times of every four to six weeks would be necessary for this result. Chiropractic adjustment mobilizes drainage of the ear in children. Continues drainage of fluids will eliminate the infection and will strengthen the immune system and help the child to recover much faster.

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