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Nervous System

Concussion Movie and Reality

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The Concussion movie starring Will Smith and Alec Baldwin is raising awareness and important concerns for many victims of this misunderstood condition. If you are, or know, an athlete or accident victim who has experienced a brain injury through concussion, then you know the impact it can have on health and quality of life. Headaches, neck pain, memory loss and depression are just a few of the many symptoms that can occur and the severity can range from mild to severe.

Chiropractic care should be an important part of the care that you receive as quickly as possible after a concussion injury occurs. Topics in Integrative Healthcare recently released a report regarding SRC (sports-related concussion) and the benefits of chiropractic care for the injury. “A short course of cervical manipulation (adjustments) and upper thoracic manipulation was suggested and applied. The patient noted significant symptomatic relief after the second treatment and virtually complete resolution of symptoms after five visits performed over two weeks.” Unfortunately, there are a high number of young athletes that do not seek care who experience longer periods of impairment and delay in their return to play.

There are many chiropractic techniques to help accelerate healing of a concussion injury. These techniques analyze how the brain is communicating with the body over the nervous system and make corrections to get the brain and body functioning better.

An examination of the neck is extremely important for patients who suffer from concussions. If you have received a trauma that is hard enough to injure your head and brain, it’s likely to also have caused injury to the neck. Overlooking the neck as a component of healing is a big mistake which can delay healing and lead to chronic problems and deterioration in both the spine and nervous system. These spinal subluxations, when present, cause miscommunication in the nervous system which can make the symptoms worse and prevent healing. Depending on the extent and severity of the injury, results vary for each person. Regardless, it is important to include chiropractic evaluation and adjustment protocols to ensure the possibility of optimal healing and return to normal function.

Each year, 1.6-3.8 million sports-related brain injuries occur, 136,000 of them in young athletes during high school sports (1). Traditional methods alone can limit the possibilities of healing and delay return to normal function.

If you or a loved one has had a concussion, schedule a time to get your spine and nervous system checked. If you have not, schedule a time to get checked anyway to ensure that your spine and nervous system are healthy. You will optimize its function of today while you also strengthen yourself in case of an emergency down the road. See you at your appointment.

1. Langlois JA, Rutland-Brown W, Wald MM. The epidemiology and impact of traumatic brain injury: a brief overview. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2006; 21:375-8.

Calming Digestive Stress

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Digestive stress is a frequent visitor in many households during the holidays. Diets change, as do sleep and work habits. People will blame these lifestyle changes for the digestive stress they are experiencing, and while this can be partially true, there often is an underlying cause in the spine and nervous system.
How can this be? Simple…

The nervous system controls your digestion and every other function of your body. A vertebral subluxation or a spinal injury that interferes with the normal function of your nervous system in the area that is responsible for healthy digestion can cause many types of digestive stress.

A case study in 2003, published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, revealed that a 32-year-old female patient had her chronic condition of colitis relieved when subluxation was detected. Another case study from the same source reported that of 17 Crohn’s disease patients who received spinal adjustments, 12 showed long-term and stable remission. The findings concluded that vertebral subluxation is a common and characteristic finding in patients with Crohn’s disease and allergies.

In another published case study, a young woman had been afflicted with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, symptoms once or twice a week for five years. After one adjustment, she noticed an easing of symptoms and within a short time all of her digestive problems disappeared. When the report was published two years later, she was still symptom free.

Many people deal with stress through deep breathing, meditation, exercise and healthy food choices. These are all very good things to do as part of your lifestyle to counter-balance stress, but if your nervous system is pre-stressed from subluxations, the slightest deviation from the “perfect” stress management plan can send you into a frustrating, uncomfortable, or painful digestive tailspin.

Research shows that it only takes the weight of a dime to reduce nerve transmission. Additional research has found that nerve compression can exist without pain and can cause deterioration within two weeks. In this pre-stressed condition, your body becomes more vulnerable to outside stresses while other people who are subluxation free may be much more resistant to stress.

Crisis care is one way to deal with stress by only receiving chiropractic care when you are hurt. A better option is to make the critical transition to Lifestyle Care, keeping your nerve system healthy all the time. This will help you to stress less, live more, and enjoy the quality of life you deserve for 80, 90, 100 years and beyond.

Vegas vs. Vagus

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It’s fun to say, “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas” but when it comes to your “vagus nerve”, just the opposite is true. What happens in your vagus nerve affects your entire body.

The vagus nerve is one of the most widespread nerves in your body. It provides the parasympathetic nerve supply to your cardiovascular system, your digestive system and can even affect your immunity. Recent research even revealed that the activity of your vagus nerve can predict cancer survival regardless of the stage. (1)

The vagus nerve originates in the brain stem and supplies every organ. This nerve supply is absolutely necessary for your body to function properly. Unfortunately the spine can be injured in the upper neck area and alter the function of the vagus nerve. This in turn, alters the function of your organs, systems and cells.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is one metric used to monitor and measure activity of the vagus nerve. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, HRV / Vagal Nerve Activity was changed for the better in patients as a result of chiropractic care. (2)

Chiropractic examinations include the evaluation of the upper cervical spine and the function of the vagus nerve. Palpation, range of motion and even computer testing can determine the level of injury and dysfunction of the vagus nerve as it passes by the spinal column. These evaluations should be an ongoing part of your health care plan.

Injuries to this area of the spine can be caused by the birth process, childhood falls, head injuries (concussions), whiplash injuries, poor sleeping habits and even poor posture caused from smartphone usage. Injuries to the vagus nerve can be asymptomatic for decades leading to severe health conditions down the road or they can be the cause of headaches, poor digestion, asthma, allergies or focus issues as well as many other common health related problems.

If you have not had a chiropractic check up to determine the health of your upper neck and vagus nerve, there is no better time like the present. Don’t wait for a crisis to force you to act. Your health should be your top priority and so should a healthy vagus nerve.

1. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2014 Apr-Jun;28(2):195-201.

2. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2006 May;29(4):267-74.

The Nerve of Spring

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Spring is just around the corner. Do you have the nerve for it?

The sunshine and warmer weather can be strong motivators for people to go out and play. They bring the benefits of natural Vitamin D, fresh air, longer days and the potential to do more. It can also offer changes to your fitness routine as you become more active and do what you dreamed of when the cold kept you indoors.

As your energy and activity level rises, your nervous system will be tested in many new ways. Gardening, walking, running, bike riding, organized sports and pick-up games become part of your routine, and all of these activities will be more enjoyable if your spine and nervous system are healthy.

If you started a new fitness routine recently or have become more active, don’t wait for a crisis to get your spine and nervous system checked. A chiropractic checkup can help you heal quickly if you are injured. Why not be proactive and prevent a hiccup to your momentum before an injury occurs?

If you’ve had allergies, you may find their relief or disappearance a positive side effect of your care. Researchers have discovered molecular connections between the nerve system and immune system which explains why so many people with allergies respond to their care.

A healthy nervous system is essential for you to be able to adapt to your environment. Dr. Robert Zieve states, “We live in a toxic world. The great majority of chemicals we now take in daily were not on the planet 30 years ago. These toxins become neurotoxins, damaging the nervous system.”

You can control exposure to many toxins by making healthier nutritional choices and avoiding the environmental toxicity found in fertilizers, insect repellant and commonly used household cleaning supplies. Keeping your nervous system and your family’s healthy with regular chiropractic check-ups can make a difference in your body’s ability to resist and adapt to these toxins, pollen and irritants.

If you’re an athlete who’s upping your mileage, research has shown that nerve compression can exist without pain and your bones and joints can begin to deteriorate on a microscopic level within a few weeks. This can slow your reaction time and lead to unnecessary injuries.

For children and adults, nerve compression can mimic symptoms of many other conditions and even affect the function of your organs and systems.

Now that warmer weather is arriving, it’s time for you to blossom. Don’t sidetrack your desire to enjoy this beautiful time of year. With Lifestyle Chiropractic Care, you’ll have the nerve to enjoy every season as fully as you want!

How Stress is Affecting You

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April is National Stress Awareness Month. Have you ever wondered why stress affects everyone differently? How is stress affecting you?

It is well documented that high levels of stress can contribute to heart disease, cancer, headaches, ulcers, backaches and nearly every condition known to mankind. How can stress cause so many unique problems in different people especially since the stress reaction is the same for everyone?

Stress is a nerve system reaction that causes your heart to beat faster, your muscles to be tense, your stomach to tighten, and your hair follicles to stand up, all as a way to prepare your body for an emergency. When you interpret a situation as stressful, whether it truly is or not, your brain triggers this reaction by sending a signal over your spinal cord and nerve system to every cell of your body. In prehistoric times, this would have been the perfect reaction to escape from a hungry dinosaur, but in today’s stress filled world and no Tyrannosaurus Rex, this chronic reaction can cause pain, sickness and disease.

Where your body breaks down from stress may depend on whether or not you have a condition in your spine known as vertebral subluxation. A vertebral subluxation is a spinal injury that interferes with the normal function of your nerve system which can affect your health on every level. If you have this condition in your spine, your body is already pre-stressed.

Many people deal with stress through meditation, exercise and healthy food choices. These are all very good things to do as part of your lifestyle, but if your nerve system is pre-stressed, the slightest deviation from the perfect stress management plan can send you into a frustrating, uncomfortable, or painful tailspin. Removing this pre-stress causing subluxation can improve your resistance to daily stressors dramatically.

Research shows that it only takes the weight of a dime to reduce nerve transmission. Additional research has found that nerve compression can exist without pain and can cause deterioration within two weeks.

In this pre-stressed condition, your body becomes more vulnerable to outside stresses. The location of the subluxation can determine what types of symptoms, if any, you experience. For example, someone with nerve interference in the upper part of the neck might feel headaches, have allergies, or a stiff neck. Because the nerve fibers that come out of the upper neck also go to the entire body, pressure here can literally cause or mimic nearly every symptom or disease you can name.

Interference to the nerves in the lower back may cause a backache, leg problems and also affect ovary, prostate, bladder or bowel function. Interference in the middle of your back may affect your heart and lungs or cause tension, stomach problems, and digestive disturbances.

Like most serious conditions, vertebral subluxations can cause stress for decades without any symptoms. The birth process, childhood falls, sports injuries and poor lifestyle habits are just a few causes of subluxations. Rather than getting to the cause and removing this underlying problem, many people attempt to chase their symptoms away with drugs, or another type of quick fix, and then wonder why their condition returns. Removing the cause and optimizing the function of your nerve system is a better immediate and long-term plan.

Regardless of your symptoms, a chiropractic examination can locate pre-stressed areas in your spine that may be affecting your health on every level. Don’t wait for a crisis.

School Success or Stress?

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Every parent wants their child do well in school. Are you doing everything you can do to ensure success, positive relationships and a healthy school year for you and your family, including minimizing stress?

Our children are living with increased amounts of stress. They are constantly being exposed to toxins in their foods, increased levels of pressure to perform well on exams, fears of being bullied and constant exposure to technology that we know can have serious implications on mental states and sleep patterns. Each of these increased stressors in our children’s lives can set them up not only for serious health implications, but also for decreased academic success.

From 1995-1997 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention performed a study to determine how childhood stress impacted lifelong health and success. In the “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study” researchers found that stressful and negative childhood experiences have devastating impacts on lifelong health and opportunity. These negative effects are especially damaging to the developing brains of children under the age of 18 years old.

The authors found that “disease conditions including ischemic heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, skeletal fractures, and liver disease, as well as poor self-rated health showed a graded relationship to the breadth of childhood exposures. The findings suggest that the impact of these adverse childhood experiences on adult health status is strong and cumulative” (251). Simply stated, the more stress a child experiences, the more likely that child is to have poor health and successes later in life. What can be done to combat our children’s increased exposure to stress?

The most current research on stress and its effects on the brain finds that “Unfortunately, inadequate control of glucocorticoid stress responses represent(s) a severe threat to the health and wellbeing of the organism” (Herman-“Neurocircuitry of stress”). High stress responses cause nervous system dysfunctions that have a direct negative impact on the brain. Stress creates physical changes in the brain that are very challenging to combat. Fortunately, checking the body for interference to the nervous system from birth and through every phase of life has been proven to have an immediate and direct, positive impact on brain function.

A leading researcher in the field, Heidi Haavik, found that chiropractic adjustments directly influence posture, balance, brain integration and nervous system activation. The brain integration and nervous system activation processes that Dr. Haavik speaks of “directly control our health and ability to think critically and rationally.”

Help eliminate the stress of classes, teachers and rounds of testing. Having your child’s nervous system checked is critical to ensure their academic success, increased health and vitality. Schedule a chiropractic check-up today.

Herman, Cullinan. (1997). TINS Neurocircuitry of stress: central control of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis

Haavik, Murphy B., Holt, K. (2010). Chiropractic Journal of Austrailia, Exploring the neuromodulatory effects of the vertebral subluxation and chiropractic care

Felitti, V. J., & Anda, R. F. (1997.)The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ace/index.htm

Contributed by Dr. Daniel Kimbley and Dr. Eric Plasker