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San Leandro Chiropractor

6 Vitamins and Minerals to Enhance Chiropractic Care

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VITAMINS

Routine visits to the chiropractor help you feel and live better. Mainly that’s because chiropractors focus on two main groups in your body: the skeletal and the nervous system. These systems impact your daily life in more ways than you can imagine.If you’ve had regular visits to your chiropractor for some time now, but you want to do your part in order to keep on top of your health and well-being, then there’s some good news! These six vitamins and minerals will enhance the skeletal and nervous systems so the work of your chiropractor is even more effective.

Vitamins for Your Nervous System

Your nervous system includes your brain, spinal cord, and every nerve ending throughout your body, so it’s obviously incredibly important for you to live your best. This system dictates heartbeat, movement, memory, cognitive functions, and breathing. In order to keep all of these functions in tip-top condition, be sure to get plenty of the following vitamins and minerals. 

1. Potassium.

Never underestimate the importance of Potassium for your body’s nervous system. Since this mineral regulates nerve impulses it is essential for your nervous system’s maintenance. More specifically, Potassium manages the electrochemical impulses which the nerve cells use to signal throughout the rest of the cell. As a result Potassium directly contributes to the regulation of nerve control which can also prevent uncontrolled nerve signaling. This sort of uncontrolled nerve response can lead to diseases like epilepsy. In order to keep your Potassium levels adequate, consider eating foods like bananas, prune juice, and oranges in order to supplement as needed. 

2. Vitamin B12.

This essential vitamin helps regulate your body’s metabolism by breaking complex carbs into glucose which can then fuel your brain. B12 also helps to regulate myelin, an insulator that allows nerve transmission. A deficiency in B12 can cause a breakdown of this insulator which in turn can lead to diseases like Alzheimer’s. Deficiencies are actually quite common. Most people need B12 shots to get their nutrient levels back to normal. Talk to your doctor; see if you need to purchase B12 shots or if you can get by with just eating lots of shellfish, poultry, beef, and eggs.

3. Calcium.

The function of this mineral is to help cells signal an action potential, or cellular response, as well as to help cells return to their resting state after the signal has been passed. Calcium also helps the nervous system develop by guiding the migration of nerve cells. Keeping your Calcium levels high is important, so be sure to eat dairy products, beans, and even kale to get what your body needs. For an added bonus, Calcium also contributes to strong and healthy bones. 

Nutrients for Your Skeletal System

It’s important to keep your bones as strong as possible to avoid risks like osteoporosis that may affect you later in your life. Maintaining a healthy bone structure can be even easier by supplementing a visit to the chiropractor with essential nutrients.

4. Vitamin D.

By promoting Calcium absorption, bone maintenance, and bone growth, Vitamin D is essential to your skeletal structure. Of course, it’s a multifaceted vitamin and has been linked with functioning as a modulator for the development of your brain as well as stimulating the growth and survival of neurons. With this doubled-effectiveness for both your nervous and skeletal systems, you’ll want to make sure to eat enough fatty fish like salmon as well as food fortified with this essential nutrient. 

5. Phosphorous. The important thing to remember about Phosphorous is that its levels in your body need to be balanced for it to most effectively support your skeletal structure. If you consume too much of this nutrient, your body may have difficulty absorbing Calcium– which can lead to a decrease in your bone density. The appropriate amount of Phosphorous to consume on a daily basis is just over 1,000 milligrams, so look for it in foods like milk, protein-rich foods, grains, and soda. 

6. Vitamin K. Similar to vitamin D, vitamin K helps balance your Calcium levels. Additionally, vitamin K can benefit people with osteoporosis as well as reduce their risk of fractures while overall strengthening their bones. Green vegetables like spinach, kale, and broccoli have this vitamin in abundance, so be sure to eat appropriate amounts in order to balance your body’s vitamin levels. By keeping your body supplemented with essential vitamins and minerals, you can do your part to help keep your body on a healthy track even when you’re not visiting your chiropractor. Taking the few extra steps to ensure that you’re in your best health can make all the difference down the road.

Jessica A. is a proponent of complementary and alternative medicine. She believes a lot can be accomplished with the diet. She also endorses techniques like chiropractic care, acupuncture and meditation.

 

Chiropractor Should be a Health Role Model to Patients

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san leandro chiropractic
Above the Clouds of Golden Gate Bridge

Chiropractor Should be a Health Role Model to Patients

It is not a secret that quality chiropractic adjustment requires physical strength and precision. Musculoskeletal system of a chiropractor is constantly in semi bend positions in order to deliver a proper cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine adjustment. Just like a car we “chiropractors” are going through wear and tear in our body and do require tune up on regular bases in order to function to its full potential. A well maintain chiropractor is a perfect example of health for patients. In the next few paragraphs I will try to explain how I take care of myself at the office and outside of the office.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday are my working days. Get up at 6.00 am and start my morning with Organic Green tea in order to wake my system up. Taking supplements and minerals with my tea is a habit that I have developed over the years. If I forget to take my supplements for some reason there is always a back up package at my office. Stretching and push ups are only taking 15-20 minutes and is another great way to wake up a system and keep your core activated. Making breakfast for everyone is a family tradition. Dropping our son at school at 9am and start work at the office at 9.15am.

We are seeing patients from 9.30am-1.30pm and then from 3.00pm-7.00pm. I do not have typical lunch hours. Instead of going to a restaurant to eat I go to a local GYM and swim 1km a.k.a  0.6 miles. Occasionally I do 1 mile swim when morning patient flow ends at 1pm. My lunch hour is usually done at the office with already prepared healthy meal that I bring from home. Swimming helps me to keep my mind clear and focused. It is the only exercise that activates every single muscle in a human body. But the most important thing it helps me to keep my endurance fitness up to date which is super important for my Mountain Biking rides which ranges from 20-30 miles without any breaks. I call them express rides.

On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday I ride my bike. Tuesday and Thursday is usually 20 miles ride and Saturday is 30 miles ride (that one is painful) Riding bike in a nature is an awesome and magical experience. Besides great benefits for your central nervous system which is being activated from balancing a bike to a precision steering on a single track, it is also a great cardiovascular exercise. When I Ride a bike I always try to push my endurance level to a next level. Strava is an application that records my rides via Garmin GPS and it shows me things such as maximum heart rate, speed, elevation gain, calories burned and much more. Every year I participate in endurance mountain bike races, which ranges from 30 miles and all the way to 50 miles. I race them solo on my single speed 29er. Couple of years ago I have tried Tahoe Sierra 100 which is one of the most difficult races in Northern America. I thought I was ready for that but that was not the case.

Every Friday I get a full spine adjustment from my Chiropractic School Classmate. One Friday he drives to my clinic and next week on Friday I drive to his clinic. Every chiropractor must get what he or she preaches. Chiropractic Adjustment keeps my vertebral joints aligned and helps to function my nervous system at its fullest potential. A well adjusted spine helps me to get better results with my physical activities such swimming and biking. At this point I am 41 years old but deep inside I still feel like I am 20 years old.

“Stay Active, Eat Well, Rest and Get Your Spine Adjusted” – Eduard Burt, D.C.

 

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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Chiropractic Questions and Chiropractor Answers

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CHIROPRACTIC QUESTIONS ANSWERSChiropractic Questions and Chiropractor Answers

Question #25 

Lower back pains !!!? 

I work an eight hour shift almost every day and stand on my feet constantly. My work duties require me lifting heavy objects. I always try to lift with my legs and not my back. However, lately the lower right side of my back has been killing me. It is very painful to sit, so I stand more or lay down when I get the chance. What can I do to lessen the pain?

Answer: 

From my professional standpoint it appears that you might have an overuse or repetitive soft tissue injury. That might involve sprained tendons and strained musculature around the lumbar spine. Also herniated disc and subluxated lumbar vertebral level can also be contributing factors for the pain. I would suggest that you take some time off of work and see your local chiropractor who has physical therapy equipment and massage therapist in the office. The time off of work will allow your body to avoid farther soft tissue damage and proper rehabilitation will expedite the healing process. Hope it answered your question

 

Question #26 

What’s wrong with my ankle(s)? 

Last year during volleyball practice, I dove and twisted my ankle. Ever since it has been weird. I’ve had really flat feet since I was a little kid, and my ankles always hurt because of that. i don’t wear very supportive shoes, but even when I do it doesn’t help. I went to a podiatrist a few months ago, and he diagnosed me with an excessively flexible flat foot. Strange. I use an ace bandage on my ankle, but to no avail. Nothing has made it feel better. It hurts off and on, though, and when it hurts it hurts a lot. I think I sprained it that day, and since I have bad feet, it just never healed. Do you think that’d what happened? Also, do you recommend for me to get those sport supports you put on your ankles with your shoes while playing? Thanks in advance. Also, I’m kind of an injury magnet 😀 never broken anything, but I always seem to be hurting myself

Answer: 

You are correct about sprain injury to your ankle. When this happens the soft tissue needs a proper rehabilitation in order to prevent scar tissue formation. Most likely you did not have any rehabilitation at all thus is the reason for the pain. At this point it is in chronic stage and will require some time to fix it. Deep tissue massage and active/passive ROM will help. As to your second question about ankle support – you can use it if it does not interfere with your game and running pattern. The most important thing is keeping your gate normal.

 

Question #27

Tingling in my left leg, please help?

 

It started with lower back problem where i could sit down for a period of time, couldnt bend over or put on my socks. This happened overnight. This lasted for 5 months then I woke up with tingling and pain on my left butt cheek all the way down my leg. All of this has lasted for 8 months now and wont go away. Have been through 3 X-rays, and 3 Physical Therapist and nothing. They refuse to give me an MRI. They keep saying it’s a weak core but I know it’s not because I can do advanced core exercises with not problem. I believe my muscle is pinching my sciatic nerve. Can someone please shed some light on this for me?

Answer:

X-Rays will not show soft tissue problem. What you need is an MRI, but it looks like your ignorant doctors refuse to authorize it. Sounds like a Kaiser type of therapy. Physical therapy will not help either at this point and time as strengthening injured musculature and soft tissue is only going to make things worse. Get a second opinion about your problem. I am afraid if you are attached to a particular treatment facility your only option would be paying out of your own pocket and figure out what is going on. I think finding a local neurologist or a chiropractor would be my first step. It all depends on what kind of treatment you would prefer for this kind of problem. It could be Sciatica but it could also be Sacroilliac Joint misalignment.

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