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nervous system

Why Stress Affects Everyone Differently

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It is well documented that high levels of stress can contribute to heart disease, cancer, headaches, ulcers, digestive disturbances, backaches and nearly every other condition known to mankind. How can one word cause so many unique and different problems in different people especially since the stress reaction is the same for everyone? The answer may be simpler than you think.

Stress is a nervous 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 nervous 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 known as vertebral subluxation. A vertebral subluxation is a spinal injury that interferes with the normal function of your nervous system which can affect your health on every level whether you have symptoms or not. If you have this in your spine, your body is already pre-stressed.

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, 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 while other people may be much more resistant. 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 nerves 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 nerve supply in the lower back can cause a backache, leg problems and also affect ovary, prostate, bladder or bowel function. Interference to the nerves in the middle of your back can affect your heart and lungs or cause tension, stomach problems, digestive disturbances and discomfort.

The scary part is that like most serious conditions, vertebral subluxations can cause stress for decades without any symptoms. This is when serious problems occur, many of which could have been avoided by eliminating this pre-stressed condition right away. 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 nervous system is a better immediate and long-term plan.

Regardless or your symptoms, a chiropractic examination can locate pre-stressed areas in your spine that may be affecting your health on every level.

Crisis care is one way to deal with stress, only receiving care when you are hurt. A much better option is to remove the subluxation, stress, from your body and keep it out as a part of your lifestyle. This will help you to stress less, live more, and enjoy the quality of life you deserve.

Growing Concerns with Every Shot

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Optimal immune system development is essential for health. Our immune system distinguishes potential threats from non-threats, unhealthy cells from normal, and keeps a long list of tools that it uses to restore internal bacterial and viral balance. We have roughly 10 times more bacteria in our bodies than we have human cells! In addition, bacteria and viruses are encountered every minute of every day, so to having a proper functioning immune system is a key component to living your ideal 100 Year Lifestyle.

There is a growing concern that one of the major threats to the development of healthy immune systems has been the increasing emphasis on artificial immunity through vaccines. As of 2010, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States was recommending 30 vaccinations before the age of 2 years old. At the same time, rates of asthma, autism, allergies, digestive disorders, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and many other chronic conditions are also rising. Many scientists, chiropractors, medical doctors and parents have become alarmed that this massive volume and combination of inoculations is jeopardizing the long-term health of individuals and future generations. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over $2 Billion has already been paid to parents of vaccine-injured children.(1)

Japan, who has one of the highest life expectancy rates and lowest infant mortality rates, has had a voluntary vaccination policy since 1994. The US ranks 38 in life expectancy with a significantly higher infant mortality and has one of the most stringent mandatory vaccination policies in the world.(2)

A vaccine works by combining four major parts: the pathogen (bacteria or virus), an amplifier, a growth material and a stabilizer. A very small amount of pathogen is not likely to cause an immune response from your body, so an amplifier called an adjuvant is added that chemically causes an immune system reaction that puts your body on the “highest threat level.” With this type of stimulation, the immune cells become extremely reactive to anything that seems suspicious, whether it is the vaccine, pollen, a food or even normal human cells.

In addition to these adjuvants, growth materials like egg yolk, rhesus monkey embryo and, in some vaccines, aborted human fetus cells are included as the liquid medium for the pathogen.(3) As these materials are injected at the same time as the adjuvants, they may cause an immune reaction. The final ingredient in a vaccine is a stabilizer like formaldehyde, a known cancer-causing agent for which there is no safe allowable limit for your body.(4) These elements, introduced into your body through the process of a vaccination, can create hyper-stimulation, over-reactivity, and chemical toxicity. There is increasing doubt that the uncertain benefits of vaccines justify the risks.

Living the 100 Year Lifestyle can empower you and your children to develop a healthy immune system naturally. A healthy spine and nervous system, which can be achieved with chiropractic lifestyle care, is essential to a healthy functioning immune system. Factors like exercise, proper nutritional support and mental clarity have been researched and are powerful immune boosters as well. They are essential elements to sustain your health throughout your whole life!

Do your homework before you blindly get another shot or give one to your child. More information can be found on www.nvic.org or www.909shot.com.

References:

1 http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/statisticsreports.html

2 http://mothering.com/peggyomara/qpeditorials/voluntary-vaccines-in-japan

3 http://www.immunizationinfo.org/issues/vaccine-components/human-fetal-links-some-vaccines

4 http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/additives.htm

How Many Two Weeks is Okay?

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Research by Dr. Videman out of Helsinki, Finland found that even minor traumas to the spine can cause scar tissue formation within two weeks. How many two weeks is okay with you?

Babies and Children
The birth process can be very traumatic to a newborn’s spine and cause pressure on the nerves that affect breathing, digestion, heart rate as well as the muscles and ligaments of the neck. Because additional research has found that nerve compression can exist without pain, this spinal trauma can be asymptomatic for decades. That is a lot of two weeks! How many two weeks is acceptable for you? How about your children?

If you have ever watched a child learning to walk, how many times a day do you think they fall on their bottom? This repetitive bouncing on their bum can cause their spine to become misaligned with pressure on the nerve, subluxations, which can affect their growth and development and lie dormant for decades. This is also a lot of two weeks especially if they live to be 80, 90 or 100 years old. How do you think this will affect their quality of life as they age?

As the famous poet William Wordsworth said, “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.” This is absolutely true for the spine. Both major and minor traumas that accumulate over time will affect the way your child’s spine grows.

Seriously, how many two weeks is acceptable for your children? Even more important than the structure of the spine, which is really important, is the impact that these traumas have on the function of the nervous system.

Nerve Pressure and Organ Function
Research shows that the weight of a dime, not a lot of pressure, can reduce transmission. Stretching a nerve as little as six degrees can reduce nerve function up to 70 percent according to Journal of Spine and Joint Surgery.

These traumas that affect the structure also affect the function because of the relationship between the spine and nervous system.

Your nervous system controls and coordinates the function of every cell, tissue and organ of your body. This includes your sinuses, heart, lungs, liver, kidney, stomach, intestines and every other organ as well as your arms, legs, hormonal balance and literally every function that is both conscious and unconscious that your body performs.

Symptoms
As the two weeks accumulate from these traumas, both the function of the spine and the nervous system are compromised. These compromises can be disguised as a myriad of symptoms ranging from allergies, digestive disturbances and attention deficits to headaches, neck pain or backaches.

Unfortunately many of these traumas lie asymptomatic for decades of two weeks until the body can no longer adapt and breaks down with more severe health problems, pain and even contribute to sickness and disease. Dr. Henry Windsor conducted research that found a nearly 100% correlation between the compromised nerve connections in an injured spine and diseases of the internal organs. (The Windsor Autopsies, The Medical Times)

More than 15 million people each year become diagnosed with osteoarthritis, a condition that results from decades of two weeks that influence the joints of the body.

Since deterioration can occur within 2 weeks, many individuals and families make weekly and bi-weekly adjustments a central piece of their healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle Care keeps your spine in balance with no pressure on the nervous system so your body can function at higher levels. Don’t wait until you “feel” it. You may have waited lots of two weeks too long.

Man Up, Stand Strong

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– Man Up!
 – Don’t Wait for a Crisis
 – Make the Critical Transition Now

Man Up!
If you are a man and you are reading this newsletter, then I am glad we got your attention. The term “man up” is the expression used by many men that describes taking on challenges, facing fears and accepting responsibility. “Stand strong” implies overcoming adversity and promoting and defending your beliefs. In this context, to ensure that you can “man up” and “stand strong” for a lifetime, it is critical that you make your health a priority.

Don’t Wait for a Crisis
Too many men are crisis motivated only. They wait until their pains or illnesses become debilitating. Rather than manning up and standing strong on their own accord, they do not take action on their health until they hear their family and friends screaming the wake up call, “man down!” Don’t let this happen to you.

A recent report found that 48 percent of women admit that they have to resort to nagging to get their husbands to see a doctor. Research shows that, in general, women live longer healthier lives than men because they are more likely to be proactive about their health and heed the early warning signs before they become major problems.

Too many men suffer from preventable health problems that deteriorate their quality of life as they age, causing them to die sooner and more painfully than necessary. This is completely unnecessary, especially when simple lifestyle and chiropractic adjustments can keep them standing strong.

Men spend tens of billions of dollars treating injuries to their spine that cause back pain and many other health problems that can be related to pressure in the nervous system. These spinal injuries are known as vertebral subluxations. Approximately 185,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer annually. The nerves in the lower back and upper neck supply the prostate gland.

According to the AMA, 8.8 million men suffer with coronary heart disease. The nerve supply to the heart comes from the upper back and the upper neck.

Obesity and being overweight is also a problem. According to government statistics, the number of overweight men is alarming:

• 67.6% of men aged 35-44
• 71.3% of men aged 45-54
• 72.5% of men aged 55-64
• 77.2% of men aged 65-74
• 66.4% of men aged over 75

Being overweight can contribute to herniated disks, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and may other preventable health problems. If you’ll notice from the overweight statistics, the numbers increase to age 75, and then the statistics go down. Why? At this age the severity of their health crisis leaves them no choice. “Take care of yourself now or die” have become their only options.

Make the Critical Transition Now
Now is the time to man up, stand strong and make your health a priority. Chiropractic care is a great place to start because with a healthy spine and nervous system, your entire body can function better.

Our office has a simple home test that you can do to check the alignment and strength of your spine. Or, if you have not had a thorough spinal examination recently, make an appointment today to get checked. Thomas Edison said, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.” Man up, make your future now, and stand strong for a lifetime.

Top 10 Reasons to Get Your Spine Checked

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10. The times that you need your spine the most will be the time that it will tend to give out on you.
If you neglect your spine and nervous system, you can be sure that when you need it the most due to stress, physical activity, business or pleasure travel, it can give out on you. Extra stress on a weakened spine and nervous system can overload your system and contribute to health problems. Lifestyle Care can keep you healthy and prevent these inconvenient episodes from putting a damper on your life.

9. Nerve pressure can exist without pain.
According to the research, pain is not a good indicator of how healthy or unhealthy your spine and nervous system are. Spinal examinations such as posture, weight balance, palpation, muscle testing, computer scans and x-rays are much better indicators. Pain is usually the last to show up and the first to be relieved when you begin chiropractic care.

8. Nerves supply your whole body.
Your spine protects your nerve system, the master control center of your body. Vital energy flows over your nerves and communications with every cell. Nerve pathways must be clear for the messages to get through. If you have an uncorrected spinal problem, it can cause a decrease in the function of vital organs and systems, and lead to unnecessary pain or health problems.

7. Deterioration can begin within 2 weeks.
Researchers found that when the spine is misaligned it can begin to deteriorate within 2 weeks. Think about how many two weeks have passed since you were born, which is often when the first spinal injury or vertebral subluxation occurs. How many two weeks are there from a childhood fall to age 50? Is it any wonder why more than 15 million people are diagnosed with osteoarthritis each year? Don’t wait another 2 weeks for a check up.

6. Your quality of life depends on a healthy spine.
If you want to be healthy and active as you age, your spine and nervous system must be healthy. Period.

5. The straw will break the camel’s back.
We’ve all heard the expression “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” This is so true for too many people who ignore minor spinal problems. One day they do something simple, like bend down to tie their shoe, and they can’t get up. Major problems are much more painful and expensive to care for, and they can ruin your day, or even worse, your life.

4. Grandma and Grandpa didn’t get crooked overnight. They grew that way over time.
Over time, the spine and nervous system deteriorates, not because of age, but because of subluxations. Just like the tires on your car wear down unevenly when they are misaligned, the same can happen in your spine. You may have some areas in your spine that look and feel like they are 80 years old while you have other areas that are more like a 30 year old. You can keep your entire spine healthy with chiropractic Lifestyle Care.

3. Good posture keeps you young and attractive.
When your body becomes bent over and crooked, you will look and feel old and decrepit. If you keep your posture and your spine straight and strong, you will stay healthier and feel younger and more attractive. People often use drastic measures to preserve their youthful appearance as they age. Don’t you think a facelift would look silly on a person whose spine and nervous system were neglected?

2. You can’t afford to get sick or injured.
Now more than ever, you cannot afford to get sick. Crisis care costs are astronomical and an unhealthy spine and nervous system can be the cause of many problems. Getting your spine and nervous system checked and adjusted regularly can help you stay healthier and save you money in the long run.

1. Because you were born.
Everybody deserves to be healthy from the time they are born through their last breathe of life. This includes you. Too many people wait until they have intense pain and suffering before they make their health a priority. Don’t let this happen to you.

© 2013. The Family Practice, Inc., Dr. Eric Plasker and The 100 Year Lifestyle. All Rights Reserved.

Essential Innervation – Your IT System

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In today’s virtual world we all know the importance of a healthy IT system. This Information and Technology (IT) infrastructure is necessary for our homes, offices, and the communication between our loved ones to function properly. Wired and wireless, we count on this IT system every minute of every day. Within you, your Nervous System acts as your natural IT system to keep your body functioning properly by supplying your cells with Innervation.

Innervation is defined as the “distribution of nerve fibers to an organ or body region.” Innervation is essential for the health of every cell, tissue and organ of your body. More than 45 miles of nerves connect your brain to your skin alone. Innervation between your brain and your heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and muscles relay up to three million messages every second. This Essential Innervation monitors both your inner and outer world and adapts you to your environment. With the right training, IT can even help you execute the perfect golf swing or climb a mountain. Unfortunately, our tendency is to neglect our internal IT system until it breaks down. This is not a healthy choice!

When it comes to your health, healing, or maximizing your health potential, there are some important things that you must know about IT.

Without IT

Life is not possible without this Essential Innervation. In his book Healing and the Mind, Bill Moyers found that immune system cells stop working when innervation is removed. We have all heard stories of people who have suffered brain or spinal cord injuries whose lives were cut short or whose bodies completely stopped functioning because they were paralyzed. Researchers are working tirelessly to find solutions to replace IT when it is lost. IT should not be taken for granted, ever.

Interference to IT

When Innervation is interfered with by vertebral subluxation only partial function is possible. Research out of the University of Colorado found that pressure on the nerve equivalent to the weight of a dime can reduce nerve transmission. Stretching a nerve by 6% can decrease the strength of its impulse by 70%. Interference to IT can cause immediate symptoms from colic in a baby to allergies, breathing difficulties, headaches or any type of pain. Because of the vast nature of the nervous system, the symptoms can mimic many diagnoses, even unexplainable ones. This is one reason why people with a myriad of symptoms get results with chiropractic care. Because the focus is on removing the Interference to IT rather than just making a localized pain or condition feel better, the body can begin to heal itself right away.

With IT

Your body can function normally with proper Innervation. Every cell, tissue and organ can interact in a healthy way with accurate signals and messages being sent and received. Your ability to adapt to stress, digest food, eliminate waste, and perform daily tasks becomes second nature. With IT, you may even be able to walk and chew gum at the same time since IT works without you even thinking about IT.

Optimize IT

When you Optimize IT, you can achieve optimum health and peak performance levels and push your body to its limits. We see this in top performers and athletes, and every day people like you who run marathons or participate in Iron Man, Tough Mudder or other extreme activities. Lifestyle Care can help you Optimize IT, which is why most professional sports teams and athletes utilize chiropractic care.

Now is the time to evaluate the health of your IT system with a chiropractic examination. Innervation is essential to life, healing, health and vitality. Make the health of your natural IT system your top priority.

© 2013. The Family Practice, Inc., Dr. Eric Plasker and The 100 Year Lifestyle. All Rights Reserved.