Family Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that “nearly 800,000 Americans die each year from heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases, accounting for one in every three deaths. About one in every six U.S. healthcare dollars is spent on cardiovascular disease.”
Cardiovascular disease is largely preventable, despite misconceptions. Through lifestyle and health management it is possible to promote and even restore healthy heart function. Appropriate nutrition and fun, sweaty, activities (exercise) can significantly reduce chances for a heart related problem.

Since 2008 Jurdy® has appeared on the pages of Living Well Magazine. We thought you would like to know more about Jurdy and how this character has matured throughout the years. Jurdy is more than a cartoon character, meet the mascot and hero of “happy-ness”.
Jurdy® was born of a deep desire to share universal well-being the way Superman came to Earth to protect humanity.

As people age, some regions of the brain begin to shrink. Studies show the hippocampus shrinks one to two percent annually in people without dementia — a loss that is associated with an increased risk for developing cognitive difficulties. This is drawing much interest to the importance of exercise for the aging brain, and how it can alter brain health.

Poison Ivy can grow on the ground, it climbs and sometimes as a shrub. This is the plant that causes most of the misery since it grows on nearly every roadside, path, pond, stream, and beach But if you know what to look you might be lucky enough to avoid it.
Poison Ivy always grows left and then right

From the editors:
Once Brian and I hit fifty years old (almost simultaneously), our bodies seemed to immediately correspond with our age. Age has also become a contributing factor to the onset of what would soon become many sleepless nights, a result of multiple aches and pains that seemed to appear almost overnight.
Recently, we received a mysterious box sitting on the front stoop of our home. The box was tall but relatively narrow, stamped with the Brooklyn Bedding logo

Don’t you just love to watch a great rivalry between epic foes? The Yankees vs. the Red Sox, Superman vs. Lex Luther, Rocky vs. Apollo Creed? Many of us can relate to battling a nemesis, that one opponent who pushes us to our very limits. I must admit, in my 22 years of chiropractic practice, I’ve had a few. I would like to introduce you to a true adversary that has caused me to stretch my abilities beyond almost all others. I am referring to the villainous frozen shoulder!

Sunglasses have become a large part of our fashion culture, with an incredible variety of shapes, sizes, styles and colors to choose from the possibilities are endless. However, are those great looking shades protecting your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun?

Even NASA agrees that the stuffy air in your home and office can be detrimental to your health. They have done the research to provide us with a list of the most air cleansing plants for you, your family and even your pets. 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air is often more than 10 times more polluted than outdoor air. Most of us are in our offices or homes most hours of the day, hopefully with good insulation from the winter’s chill. Unfortunately, building materials, paints, finishes, furnishings and carpets release harmful chemicals into our insulated space. Other toxic chemicals are emitted from cleaning products, pesticides, and hazardous household supplies. Do you really know what the cleaning company uses?

When it comes to diabetes mellitus (DM), patients have enough to worry about. Controlling this disease is essential to maintaining the health of one's blood vessels, eyes, limbs, kidneys and numerous other parts of the body. While most patients who are diagnosed with diabetes are aware of the previously mentioned potential complications, many are surprised to hear that their diabetes can impact their oral health.
Diabetic patients report a variety of oral issues, including xerostomia (dry mouth), oral candidiasis, and poor wound healing following dental surgery. However, what dentists notice the most in their patient with poorly controlled DM is a higher prevalence of periodontitis.

Unfortunately, most women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed with advanced-stage disease (Stage III).

Picture American healthcare as a tin of fish. We pay for caviar, but are we receiving canned mackerel? Statistics from 2009 show that we cast out $7,960 per person per year. We are grossly outspending the rest of the world. Sweden pays $3722 per year per person. The savings alone could buy every U.S. citizen a new Volvo every 10 years! Is greater health being gained from shelling out all those clams?
Sorry Charlie! The level of America health is on a sinking ship. Peering into the depths of the World Health Organization’s “Healthy Life Expectancy Rankings” top ten list, Japan floated to the surface as number one. Then came Australia, France… Greece… Andorra. NO America…and, where’s Andorra?

 Yes, you ARE a victim of the modern age! You spend much of your day banished for hours sitting in traffic, locked and chained to a work station or your home computer, and captivated on the couch watching TV. Your body is sustained in awkward positions. Your posture is crooked, compromised and fatiguing. Your neck cocks forward, causing your muscles to grip desperately to the back of your skull. The bands of connective tissue and muscles in your pelvis shorten and tighten for hours while you sit oddly perched on a chair. When the day brings needed breaks to your sedentary punishment, you suffer the results. Standing slowly, you teeter to a balance. Your body rebels against further movement.

Jane had neck PAIN. It hurt every morning when she woke up at 5:30 and crept into the shower. Over the past months, she began adding more and more time and hotter water. She thought it would make her neck feel better. The pain returned as fast as the steam and condensation on the mirror cleared. After she came home from work in the evening, Jane’s neck felt raw,

 Whether it is name-calling, peer pressure or physical intimidation, bullying has become a serious  epidemic in schools, neighborhoods, communities and even homes around the world. It can have a  lasting impact on people for life, in some cases resulting in serious depression and suicide.

The yearly American pilgrimage is soon to come. Like a herd of thirsty wildebeests, thousands will gather under colossal television monitors and millions of shining light bulbs, seeking to quench their thirst for resolution. Out of the grasp of hungry predators and potentially fatal stampedes, resisting crocodile-laden riverbeds (otherwise known as the streets of New York), others observe the extravaganza in the refuge of the living room. Hypnotized by the lights and sounding of the crowd, all watch. The symbolic display of time passing shoots colors through the air. A captivated crowd gasps in amazement as the large pulsating sphere drops from the sky. And so it begins. The New Year’s Ball initiates the deepest introspection that most of us partake in each year.

You know sunscreen is a must whenever you’re outside, but sunburn has probably still caught you by surprise at some point. By slathering on sunscreen, you may have thought you were playing it safe, but there’s actually more to it than that.

“Sunscreen is a misconstrued skin care category,” says Ranella Hirsch, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Boston University School of Medicine. Not applying often enough or misunderstanding labels can add up to lousy protection and sun damage.  

Check out these commonly held sunscreen myths, then the facts that will keep your fun in the sun safe.

Q: When should I start researching for a summer camp for my child(ren) to attend? A: In the fall. Start by getting on camp mailing lists and research websites. Most camps start the application and enrollment process in the winter and spring. Make sure to complete applications and return them by their due dates.

Q: What resources are available to select a good, quality camp?

Do you feel like your knee is hanging on by a string? Wonder how you’re supposed to get through life (let alone walk 10 feet) when your knee is swollen, painful and unstable? Having suffered from a sports-related injury that left me in chronic pain for years, I believe my experience, personal struggle and quest for alternative solutions can offer you hope for dealing with your own knee problems without surgery or excessive medication.
First, there are important facts to address about most knee problems to address before a long-term solution can be obtained:
The underlying cause is often not within the knee (think of the chicken and the egg)

"Women are taught to look for lumps, but my “lump” was better described as a firmness, more akin to superficial inflammation than an embedded lump.  Women are told to have a mammogram to investigate abnormalities, but radiologists told me that my abnormality looked normal on the screen.  Women are told to visit with a surgeon to inquire about a biopsy, but my first surgeon told me that a biopsy was not needed because I did not have cancer.  After 18 months with an undiagnosed firmness, and at my spouse’s urging, I made an appointment with a new surgeon who was willing to perform a biopsy.  Within two days of the biopsy I had the answer of IBC. If I hadn’t been so persistent in seeking a diagnosis, where would I be now?  I was my own best advocate toward getting the help I needed."

Due to the physical nature of chiropractic care and the fact that it involves performing maneuvers to the neck and back,people sometimes question its safety. As with any medical procedure, it is wise to consider the risks. Being an informed patient can help bring about better choices for yourself and your loved ones. Before we look into the safety of chiropractic, I’d like to provide some perspective.
The following is a list of the most common causes of death in the U.S. (including the number of people who die from these causes each year):

Heart disease: 614,348
Cancer: 591,699
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 147,101
Accidents (unintentional injuries): 136,053

“But doctor, I didn’t do anything! I don’t know what happened! It’s just my bad luck!” Have you ever made such a statement? One day you feel great and the next it all seems to fall apart.
The “surprise attack” of illness is due in part to the silent nature of the disease process. Symptoms may wait to appear after weeks, months, or years have passed. Sometimes they never arise and no warning is given. It is not uncommon to hear about a “perfectly healthy” person suddenly passing away. The real question is, “What qualifies as healthy?”

A SEVERE HEADACHE CASE STUDY
Several years ago, a women visiting from out of town came into the office with the worse headache pain I have ever seen. Her neck bowed forward, struggling to carry her head’s weight. Her eyes were heavy, as if she could barely keep them open. She was suffering from pain that only comes with an extremely SEVERE headache. I soon learned that this was a part of her regular life. She had already seen a neurologist and was on powerful drugs that offered no relief.

Acupuncture and Pain
The weather is getting cooler, and winter is on its way. As the cold settles in, less outdoor activities are performed. Therefore, joint stiffness can become more noticeable. Some arthritis sufferers are able to relocate during cold months, but many people have to suffer through the winter months in pain. Medications can be expensive and have side-effects that can make winter more difficult to get through.

Working to identify effective strategies to increase physical activity among older adults, particularly women, University of Arizona researchers have identified dog ownership as a key to better health. The findings were published in the January journal Preventive Medicine, Volume 70.
Regular physical activity can positively affect health outcomes in older adults

Celeste was expecting. She felt great and welcomed each miraculous change. The baby moved easily into the head-down position. She walked comfortably with a steady confidence throughout her last trimester. The birth went smoothly and as desired. Her midwife commented on the joy of assisting in such a wonderful delivery experience. Her recovery quickly unfolded.

How close is your vision of a "normal" pregnancy and delivery to the above? First of all, IT IS POSSIBLE! With the right game plan, the odds of a "perfect" pregnancy and delivery can be greatly improved. The purpose of this article is to introduce the many, but often little-known, benefits of chiropractic care for the expecting mother and developing fetus.

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of preventable blindness in the U.S. Approximately 2 million Americans have glaucoma. Another one million do not know they have the disease. With early diagnosis and treatment, the vast majority of people can retain their vision for life. The key is early diagnosis, which can only be obtained by regular, routine eye exams.

In a healthy eye, fluid is constantly being made and drained through a microscopic, drainage canal. When something blocks or prevents this natural drainage, the pressure inside the eye goes up. Glaucoma is often caused by increased pressure that can develop when the fluids in the eye are not draining properly. This condition eventually damages the nerve that connects the eye to the brain (the optic nerve) and leads to loss of vision. In most cases, a person's side vision (peripheral vision) is noticeably affected.

Ovarian cancer is cancer that begins in the ovaries. Ovaries are reproductive glands found only in females (women). The ovaries produce eggs (ova) for reproduction. The eggs travel through the fallopian tubes into the uterus where the fertilized egg implants and develops into a fetus.

“Wow... how did you know doc?”

“That’s right where I feel it!”
“You always seem to know right where to go!”

I hear these wonderful exclamations from patients every day. Some patients even throw the word “magician” around. My father, also a doctor of chiropractic, has had me as a patient ever since I was a baby. He amazed me, inspiring similar exclamations. Once his magic fingers were on me, he quickly found tender spots I never knew I had. Even though I felt fine and was receiving preventive care, I always felt better afterward! It was like he had special laser-guided sensors in his fingers...

“Hospitals haven’t given safety the attention it deserves,”
—says Peter Pronovost, M.D., senior vice president for patient safety and quality at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.

You secure your SCUBA mask and jump through the water’s surface, leaving only a splash as you begin your 100 meter descent into the watery depths. The water is murky and filled with unforeseen horrors that can rip the life from your body in a second. Sharks. The sharp steel of shipwrecks. Gear malfunctions. Such territory requires split second decisions for survival.

What do Heavy Winter Rains Have in Common

with Glaucoma?

Every winter across the US, heavy rains bring thoughts of flooding, backed up drainage systems and overflowing streets. When the drains and city sewers get clogged, the overflow of winter rains can bring a once bustling community to a grinding halt.

Do you feel like the bruised princess who slept on a pea?

•               Does your mattress swallow you up like a sinkhole?

  • Would a bed of nails be an improvement?

  • Do you spend more time tossing and turning than sleeping?

  • Do you wake up every morning with an achy, stiff back? 

  • Are you just as tired as when you went to bed?

Vision is paramount in this day and age; 80% of our sensory perception to the world is through our eyes. There are a hundred times as many nerve fibers devoted to vision than to hearing. In fact 40% of the brain is devoted to what we must see and perceive around us.

 Who wants better health, greater wealth and more rewarding relationships? The real question is “who doesn’t?” Why do some seem to easily attain all they desire, while others are left with constant yearning? You can gain the answer to that question through better understanding of what is commonly known as the “Law of Attraction.” 

Some general guidelines to help protect your child from heat-related illnesses include the following:

-Drink plenty of fluids during vigorous or outdoor activities (including sunbathing), especially on hot days. Drinks of choice include water and sports drinks; avoid alcohol and fluids with caffeine such as tea, coffee and cola, as these can lead to dehydration.

Are you angry with the American health care system? If so, you are not alone! It costs a fortune and many people question if they are getting their money’s worth. Even with countless “experts,” guidelines, task forces, and government agencies and interventions, Americans are sicker than ever and the costs continue to rise.
Reform is essential, but perhaps too much attention is placed on how to pay for it

1. Over 2 ½ million women in the United States have a history of breast cancer.

2. About 40,000 women and 450 men die from breast cancer each year in the United States.

3. Breast cancer accounts for nearly a quarter of all cancers in women worldwide.

4. Men do get breast cancer.

5. The biggest risk factors

Back pain is an extremely common medical ailment, affecting eight of 10 people during their lifetimes. Lower back pain is the most common type of back pain, and is the No. 2 reason people in America visit the doctor. So it goes without saying that back pain is the most common reason that patients come to our office.
Lower back pain can be sharp, stabbing, tingling

The phrase ‘gut health’ describes effective digestion and an optimal state of well-being. Just like the saying ‘happy wife, happy life’, ‘healthy gut, healthy life’ may be true as well.

Our digestive tract acts as a guardian between the outside world and the internal workings of our bodies.  If this barrier is healthy, it allows nutrients into the body while at the same time blocking foreign invaders.

Protecting yourself from noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) should be a year-round consideration. With more options than ever to keep your ears safe in a wide variety of loud settings, there is really no reason to take chances with your hearing anymore although many people will likely continue to use the same old excuses for not doing so. Here are three of the most common reasons given for skipping hearing protection and why they don’t hold up under scrutiny.

No-one’s life is perfect, everyone has challenges and diabetes is just one of mine. I can’t control it or change it so I have accepted it and continued living my life.

Melissa Gray, 2009- Living Well Magazine

As I enter my eleventh year with type 1 diabetes, I can joyfully say that I have lived up to these hopeful words of the young, open-minded, and maybe even somewhat naïve 14-year old girl who wrote them upon entering high school.
Now, as a more mature, experienced,

Musculoskeletal (bone and joint) problems are on the rise in the United States. They are now one of the top reasons that people see a doctor in this country. In fact, in recent years, they have become the #1 reason for physician visits! In my orthopedic and sports medicine practice, I noticed a tremendous increase in these types of symptoms, ailments and injuries, especially in active individuals.

Noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews recently authored a book about the current injury epidemic in youth sports.

Reading this book reinforced some beliefs about what I see daily in my clinic. Pre-teen and teenage athletes are constantly coming into the clinic with sports related injuries. They trickle in during the summer like drips of water from a leaky faucet. By midway through fall and into the spring, there is a steady stream of young athletes who do not make it through their seasons. Some of these injuries are traumatic, some are not. Almost all have one thing in common. The athletes who sustain them seem to be the ones who play a single sport all year round. This leads me to the topic of this month's article. What happened to the offseason?

This is where we start. This is not unique to me; on the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) webpage, the APTA describes Physical Therapists (PT's) as highly trained medical professionals that "understand how the body works and how to get you moving again." This boils down to "Movement = Life."

Are you like so many of my new patients - suffering from severe, one-sided lower back pain that came on abruptly? Are you anxious because it’s not getting better and pills hardly touch the pain? 

Are the muscles in your lower back and buttocks gripping with an aching persistence that is only interrupted by periodic jolts of sharp pain? Does your pain surge when you change positions,

“You can fire your doctor, or fire him or her up. Help your doctor be a better doctor for you during your visits. Become more efficient and prepared without wasting precious appointment time.”

Mrs. Lamb tells everyone that she LOVES her doctor! Sometimes she is lucky enough to be kept waiting in Dr. Badside’s reception room for TWO hours past her appointment time. To top it off, the receptionist keeps to herself and never smiles. This gives Mrs. Lamb the opportunity to catch up on all the old, torn fashion magazines and Hollywood gossip rags from 2008 that are spread across the table in the corner of the room. There Mrs. Lamb sits, turning the dog eared pages until, with a whistle in her voice, the receptionist announces that the doctor is ready and herds Mrs. Lamb into a room down the hall.

Ever see the majestic figure of a Humpback whale off the bow of a boat? Ever feel the rush of hitting the lottery? Ever experience the accomplishment of pushing to the end of a marathon? Ever shout with joy from winning a reality game show? Ever gaze down at the earth from Mount Everest? I certainly hope that you polish off many of the items that fill your bucket list. Unfortunately, another bucket list exists with items that most Americans will experience, but wish they wouldn’t! This list contains events that embarrass, terrify and hurt. I may not be able to help you avoid producing an unexpected bodily sound at a board meeting, or keep bad luck or poisonous spiders out of your way, but I can provide you with valuable insights for the best and most cost-effective ways for handling an event that happens to nearly all Americans - lower back pain!

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 Every winter across the US, heavy rains bring thoughts of flooding, backed up drainage systems and overflowing streets. When the drains and city sewers get clogged, the overflow of winter rains can bring a once bustling community to a grinding halt. Like the back up caused by winter's inevitable down pour, poor drainage of a person's eye can lead to high eye pressure which is a cause of Glaucoma. The vision loss can be devastating and drastically change the life of a once active adult. In fact, nearly three million people have glaucoma, but half do not realize it because there are often no warning symptoms. 

 “The story about first graders possibly getting condoms in Massachusetts showed, yet again, how the issue of sex education in our country has become politicized in such a ridiculous way that we lose sight of the importance of informing our children about their sexuality and reproductive health. This issue should not be placed in the Liberal vs. Conservative category. Rather, it squarely falls within “public health.”  - Dr. Michelle Golland

 Teen pregnancy is a public health issue that should cause us all a great deal of concern. 

The problem is that when we look at it with a religious or political view, too many people arm themselves with "family values" and claim that they don't want our public schools to address these "value" decisions. Unfortunately, birth control and teen pregnancy aren't "value" issues. They're very critical issues of child development. 

Tips for Diagnosing Common Summer Injuries from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

It’s not a coincidence that the season for extended daylight and outdoor activity is also the season for broken bones. Increased physical activity leads to increased likelihood of bone fractures.

Summer vacation means many children are heading outdoors to participate in their favorite sport. The football field, baseball diamond and soccer pitch all see extensive action during this time of year.