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Cat Litter
Flu Shot

These days opportunities to receive the flu vaccination abound. Convenience is the name of the game…a couple of questions I ponder is, “so anyone can get the flu shot, and without a medical history taken? Is there any follow up post-inoculation?”

First and foremost is the fact that the flu shot has not been proven to actually prevent the flu. If it does not help, why even take it?

Study after study (that was not unduly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry) has reached the same conclusion—that flu shots simply do not work as advertised. For example:

•Giving young children flu shots appeared to have no impact on flu-related doctor visits or hospitalizations during two recent flu seasons, according to a study published in the October issue of the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.

•The flu vaccine is no more effective for children than a placebo, according to a large-scale review of 51 studies, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

•NO studies have conclusively proven that flu shots prevent flu-related deaths among the elderly.

•A study published in the Lancet found that influenza vaccination was not associated with a reduced risk of pneumonia in older people. This is important because 35,000 of the 36,000 “flu” deaths the government claims happen each year are actually caused by diseases like pneumonia, and NOT the flu.

•Research confirms that there has been no decrease in deaths from influenza and pneumonia, despite the fact that vaccination coverage among the elderly has increased from 15 percent in 1980 to 65 percent now: published in The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.  

In fact, one amazing statistic is that before the CDC advocated vaccinating children under the age of five, the number of children dying from the flu was very low, and on the decline. Then, in 2003, just after children aged five and under started getting vaccinated, the number of flu deaths SKYROCKETED. The death toll was enormous compared to the previous year, when the flu vaccine was not administered en masse to that age group!

I just read today that President Obama’s daughters will not be getting the swine flu vaccination. If this is such a pandemic like the media is making it out to be, why wouldn’t they get it? Does the president not trust it or think it’s that important? And if he doesn’t, why should the rest of America??

Bottom line is there is big money to be made by sending out scare tactics to the public. Pharmacutical companies stand to make millions of dollars from the administration of the flu vaccine. Having a strong immune system and allowing your body to fight off any illness is much safer than any drug or vaccine out there.

Natural ways to fight the flu and stay healthy are:
* Wash your hands with hot, soapy water (don’t use antibacterial soap)
* Sleep- if you are feeling worn down, allow yourself to sleep longer nights and take naps
* Vitamin D- This vitamin has been shown to be extremely important in the fight against the flu
* Vitamins A and C
* Avoid Stress
* Avoid sugar and processed foods
* Exercise- exercise gets circulation going in your body and helps you fight off illness better
* Omega-3 Fatty acids
* Keep your Nervous System healthy- Chiropractic has been shown to keep pressure off the nervous  system and give a boost to the immune system

If you or someone you know has symptoms of CTS, before going the aggresive route, start conservatively and get a chiropractic checkup. A chiropractor will be able to tell if the symptoms are caused from the neck or the arm/wrist. If it’s from the neck, in most cases chiropractic adjustments will eliminate the need for more aggresive strategies.

Sciatica

Sciatica is defined as pain that radiates from the lower back into the buttocks and down the back of one or both legs, caused by the irritation of the sciatic nerves, the largest nerves of the body.  It usually begins as an acute pain in the lower back and then radiates down the back of either or both legs.  There are five pairs of nerves that exit the spine in the lower back.  These nerves make up what we know as the sciatic nerves.  If the vertebrae or bones in the lower back are misaligned or out of place; or the discs are swollen, bulged or herniated, the result is pressure on those nearby nerves.  This can cause tremendous pain, and normal daily activities become almost impossible.

Symptoms of Sciatica include:

·        Sensation changes on the back of the calf or the sole of the foot

·        Numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in back of calf or the sole of the foot

·        Weakness of the knee or foot

·        Difficulty walking

·        Inability to move the foot (in severe cases)

·        Inability to bend the knee (in severe cases)

Chiropractic care works on correcting misaligned or out of place vertebrae and can remove the pressure placed on the sciatic nerve, reducing pain and improving flexibility and function. I have helped many people who have had debilitating pain and have prevented the need for cortisone shots or worse, surgery.

As the school year begins again, it is important to touch on the subject of backpacks.

As a chiropractor I have seen many cases of children ages 5-18 with neck, back, and shoulder pain caused by heavy book bags. What frightens me even more are the number of students who are not in my office-many more are walking around with these problems and not getting them taken care of. This will just lead to worse problems down the road.

One way to solve this problem is to follow these guidelines, set up by the American Chiropractic Association:

• The backpack should not weigh more than 5 to 10 percent of the student’s body weight. For example, if your child weighs 60 pounds, the backpack should not weigh more than 6 pounds.
• The backpack should never hang more than 4 inches below the waistline.
• Both shoulder straps should be worn and wide, padded straps are ideal.
• The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body.

If your backpack does not weigh less than 10% of your body weight, and especially if you are experiencing pain, please be checked by a chiropractor. What may seem like a small problem in school will develop into a much larger problem later in life if not taken care of now.

One of the first causes of spinal misalignment occurs during the birth process. Even so-called “natural” birthing methods can stress a developing spine and cause irritation to the nervous system.  Later on, learning to walk, riding(and falling off!) a bike, and other normal childhood activities continue to put pressure on the spine. During these periods of growth your child needs to be checked by a chiropractor for subluxations(spinal misalignments). If the subluxations are not fixed and proper spinal motion restored, more spinal problems will occur later in life. Children who get chiropractic adjustments are healthier and avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults.

Although chiropractic is not a ‘cure’ for anything, some of the conditions chiropractic has been shown to help with are:

• Ear infections
• Colic
• Bed wetting
• Scoliosis
• Breathing problems
• Difficulties breastfeeding
• ADHD
• Autism, Behavioral and Learning disorders

Chiropractic adjustments are tailored to an infant’s/child’s spine. Most parents report that their children like their adjustments and seem healthier than other children. Also, kids do not need to be seen as often and get better more quickly than adults.

Infants and children are some of my favorite patients. They get great results and they love coming into the office!

“Chiropractic care during pregnancy?  Are you crazy?”  This is a common response I get when I suggest chiropractic care for an expectant mother.  The fact is, getting her spine checked is one of the best things a pregnant woman can do, not only for herself, but also for the baby.  The increase of weight is one factor.  As the majority of weight gain is in the abdominal area, the center of gravity shifts forward, which exaggerates the natural curves of the spine.  This affects nerves, muscles, and the mobility of joints.  Ever hear that pregnant women have low back pain?  As the hips expand laterally to help stabilize the body, there is more pressure on the sacro-iliac joints, causing hip pain.  Also, the changing hormones affect the ligaments, cartilage, and bone, causing discomfort.

Think these changes only affect the mom?  Think again- the changing spine also affects the developing baby.  An unbalanced pelvis decreases room in the uterus, restricts the baby’s positions, and affects his/her developing spine and cranium.  This may also prevent him/her from getting into the correct position for birth, which can lead to longer, more painful labor, and unfortunately increase the probability of c-sections.

Chiropractic care helps balance the pelvis, stabilize the spine, help with discomfort and pain, and it is safe throughout all phases of pregnancy.  Also, a bonus!  Chiropractic care during pregnancy significantly decreases the length of time a woman is in labor.  First- time mothers average 24% shorter labor and those who have already given birth average 39% shorter labor time!

There are many types of headaches: migraine, tension, cluster, dehydration. A frequent and overlooked cause of headaches is the malfunction of spinal bones in the neck and upper back. When bones of the spine lose their normal position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels to the head can be affected. When spinal nerves and related tissues are stretched or irritated they can produce throbbing headaches. Aspirin and medications may cover up these warning signs, but do not correct the underlying structural cause.

Many people find relief and correction with chiropractic care. If a thorough examination reveals reduced range of motion, loss of normal spinal curves, or mechanical restrictions, chiropractic care should be considered.

Many of my patients report headache relief almost instantly. Others find that the correction of their problem takes longer because their spinal problem has existed undetected for many years. Every patient responds differently. Regardless of how you respond, enjoy the drug-free results millions have enjoyed by consulting a chiropractic doctor.

Whiplash is most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck from behind or that collides with another object. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine and head can be overstretched or torn. The soft, pulpy discs between spinal bones can bulge, tear or rupture. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing range of motion. The spinal cord and nerve roots in the neck can get stretched and irritated. While the occupants can suffer considerable soft tissue injury, the car may by only slightly damaged.

The resulting instability of the spine and soft tissues can result in headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, pain in the shoulders, arms and hands, reduced ability to turn and bend, and even low back problems. As the body attempts to adapt, symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months later.

The chiropractic approach to these types of injuries is to use specific chiropractic adjustments to help return spinal function. After a thorough case history and examination, the doctor will recommend a series of visits to help restore proper motion and position of spinal bones. If caught early enough, inflammation can be reduced and scar tissue can often be minimized.

If you’ve been in a car accident, visiting a chiropractor can keep you from enduring constant headaches, depending on addictive pain medication, or submitting to surgery!

Chiropractic is beneficial for not only professionals, but everyday athletes as well. I myself am regularly active and have witnessed first hand how an adjustment can balance my running stride, ease the soreness after working out, and generally keep me a healthier person. One of the benefits my active patients have noticed are less general soreness, more energy, and less knee and hip pain.

Chiropractic helps athletes and people working out, engaging in a sport or even just performing daily functions such as walking and sitting, to operate at their peak levels of performance without pain. I highly recommend that you pay a visit to your local chiropractor.