Top Chiropractor in San Leandro, CA

San Leandro Chiropractor

Heart Attack or Thoracic Outlet Syndrome ?

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TOSToday’s post is about real case that have treated on Friday. I saw this patient over a year ago for severe neck pain and headaches. Patient’s problem was resolved with very good results. This morning patient’s husband calls and asks me to see his wife today as an emergency visit because she has numbness in her left upper extremity, loss of temperature in that extremity, and shooting pain. Over the phone he explained to me what has happened couple of days ago.

He took his wife to a near by Hospital Emergency Room suspecting that she had a heart attack. She had severe shooting pain in her left upper chest and shooting pain down her arm. In a Hospital medical Doctors performed a complete check up, including laboratory test and fancy CT- Scan diagnostic. After numerous hours they found nothing wrong with his wife and discharge her home with some pain medications. She was not very happy with an outcome since the symptoms were still there even with pain medications.

This morning I performed my examination and was trying to figure out what was wrong with this lady. First off all she always carries her heavy bag on her left shoulder with her belongings and belongings for her two young kids. That was a first sign that the problem was mechanical in nature and something was compressing her arteries and nerves. Her intercostal muscles between first and second ribs were extremely painful. Her left clavicle (look at the picture on a left) was out of alignment and did not have any movements during passive and active range of motion. Both of her rhomboid major and rhomboid minor muscles were very sore as well.

My Solution to This Problem:

I have diagnosed this lady with TOS. The first procedure was the electrical stimulation and moist heat. I used electrical stimulation on PAIN and CONSTANT settings for 15 minutes. Two pads were placed on her first and seconds intercostal spaces and two pads were placed around rhomboid major and minor muscles. Moist heat pack was placed in the same area for 15 minutes as well. Next, my massage therapist worked on her tight muscles for about 20 minutes or so. My CMT has informed that her entire left side is completely out of balance. Muscles were tight and patient was guarding during the massage which made her job a bit more difficult. But she got it done. After the massage I have performed full spine Chiropractic Adjustment ( that included cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine) and I have adjusted her first rib and clavicle on the left side.

I have called later on today to follow with this patient. Patient has informed me that she did not feel any pain since I saw her this morning. She has also informed me that she felt wave of heat coming into the left side of her body and left upper extremity.

The moral of this case: – please carry your heavy bags on both shoulders if you have too. Make sure that your kids’ backpacks are not too heavy and they carry them on both shoulders as well. Let’s start 2011 with a healthy habit.

Happy New Year !!!

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8 Tips For Stress Management

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STRESSThere are different types of stress that an individual is exposed to on a regular bases. It could be a relationship stress, poor health, school stress, financial stress or work stress. Stress can also be a combination of several causes described above. Many people find it almost impossible to deal with everyday’s stress and expectations. Many scream for help.

It is extremely important to deal with stress the right way, otherwise it might cause anxiety and even depression. Everyone must learn stress relief techniques which help to deal with stress and anxiety positively.

How Can One Deal With Stress Effectively?

Here are 7 stress relief techniques that you can use now. Hope you find this information useful and apply these techniques when necessary.

1. One must be positive and must be thinking positive. Do not let certain things to eat you up from inside out – you know what I mean. Keep your mind clear, it is one of the most important tools that anyone can have when it comes to dealing with stress on a day to day bases. The key is focusing your mind on positive and optimistic part of your life all the time, with positive words and affirmations. This practice will improve your morale and confidence, and improve the overall state of mind.

2. Laugh Out Loud. Laughing is the best medicine when life seems to weigh you down with unexpected life events and toils. Just remembering something funny at work or at home will relieve your mind. Go to a comedy club or see a funny movie. Perhaps it is a time to visit your old friend who was always a comedian back in days. Just find something that will help you to stretch the facial muscles.

3. Try to Prioritize and Organize things in your life. Priorities in Activities of Daily Living will help to reduce the daily stress. Do not leave things to the last minute, this will only cause unnecessary stress and frustration.

4. Communicate. Inform your friends and family about the problems that you have. When you are expressing your thoughts and emotions, you are helping to cope with the stress in a healthier way.

5. Learn to relax. There are so many things that you can do to relax and unwind when you are stressed like take a bath, listen to the music, dance, practice yoga, meditation or go out with your friends.

6. Do not postpone a solution to your problem. Delaying the solution to the issues will only make things worse in the long term. Learning how to deal with problems when they arise will help you to cope better.

7. Exercise. 30 minutes of intense cardiovascular training will clear your mind. Try exercising in the morning if you can.  If aerobic training is not your cup of tea, a good stretch and lifting light weights will do the job as well.  Physical activities will keep your body in tone and your  mind fresh and stress free.

8. Chiropractors work primarily with the spine, the root of the nervous system through which nerve impulses travel from the brain to the rest of the body. One effect of chronic stress is prolonged muscle tension and contraction. This muscle tension creates uneven pressures on the bony structures of the body, often leading the misalignment of the spinal column, known as subluxations. Chronic stress also leads to nerve irritation. The adjustments of a chiropractor release muscle tension, and that helps the body return to a more balanced, relaxed state. Adjustments also reduce spinal nerve irritation, and improve blood circulation. These changes may be enough, in many cases, to convince the brain to turn off the fight or flight response, beginning the process of healing. A healthy and balanced spine is one key to effectively managing stress.

Apply these techniques to life and it will help you live a happier stress free lifestyle.


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High Fructose Corn Syrup and Your Health

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HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUPHigh Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) has been around only for a little bit over 50 years. Before that everyone used a regular sugar for household consumption and food production. What has happened in the last fifty years? Why the consumption of HFCS is growing despite the health risk such a nationwide obesity factor? I will try to cover as much as I can in one post.

HFCS got its name from isomerization of glucose, which is the process when natural glucose in corn syrup is converted to fructose. The percentage of fructose in this new product is much higher and therefore it is sweeter, thus is the name High-Fructose Corn Syrup. This scientific discovery coincides with 1997 new tariffs and sugar quotas and increased consumption by companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The production of HFCS jumped from 3 million tons in 1980 to 8 million tons to 1995.

High Fructose Corn Syrup is genetically altered product. Our body does not react to this product as a natural food item. Our pancreas produces insulin during carbohydrate consumption. However, when a person consumes HFCS our pancreas does not produce insulin. Natural carbohydrate is digested by normal pathways but HFCS goes directly to the liver, where it is treated like a chemical and turned into a fat. Another concern with HFCS is a level of mercury in this product – which is a known neurotoxin.

Recent study from Princeton University provides evidence that HCFS causes more weight gain in experiment on laboratory animals. However, it does not mean that we have to substitute High Fructose Corn Syrup with cane sugar. Too much of both evil will cause the weight gain. The key is the moderation. Consider substituting HFCS with honey and natural gems which can be prepared from any fruit. This will provide necessary nutrients for your body and a healthy dose of sweet carbohydrates. Make sure to read the labels each and every time you go to the store.

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Posture Correction and Chiropractic Care – Video Testimonial

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POSTURE CORRECTION

This is a story about twenty eight year young gentleman who found me via my blog post “96 Tips for a Perfect Posture.” His search terms on Google were something like correcting posture with surgical procedure. I do not know how but my post showed up in search results. Sean called me the same day and had a long conversation with me on the phone. He was not sure what Chiropractic care could do for him. All he was telling me that he was really concerned about his posture and it was really affecting his life. I offered Sean to stop by my clinic and perform a complete examination and postural evaluation.

This young man was really taking his postural disturbances very seriously. He was ready to have a surgery so he could have a better stance. He mentioned to me during the exam that he was very conscious this problem. He mentioned that when he was walking on the street many people would make fun of him. We are talking about six foot three inches athlete looking individual who was about to go under the knife. I had a very long talk with Sean and I was trying to assure him that with Chiropractic Care he would have a better and faster chance of changing his posture and lifestyle. Sean is self employed and works from home on his computer. This job requires many hours of prolonged sitting which is not so good for the spine. This gentleman is also very athletic. He goes to the GYM 4 times a week. During examination I have noticed that his upper back was over built, meaning that Sean was exercising that part of the body the most. His lower back and abdominal musculature were not developed at all comparing to the rest of the body. Those two major musculature groups were causing some serious postural problems.  I have advised Sean to stop exercising upper back muscles and concentrate on lower back and abdominal musculature instead at this point and time. His neck had a forward tilt which caused him a lot of pain and discomfort.

We have set out our goal for six sessions of electrical stimulation, heat and cold laser, followed up with full spine chiropractic adjustment and massage therapy. Sean had agreed to photo shoot his torso after each session, which you will be able to see at the end of the video provided below. It was very kind of him – Thank you Sean. Each Chiropractic Session we have noticed a minor improvement. When we were done with session number six I have noticed that Sean was smiling and he informed me that he was not conscious about his posture anymore. His neck pain has disappeared and he was able to sleep much better at night. Overall both of us were happy with an outcome of his care. Below is his video testimonial.

Sean’s Testimonial

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