To coincide with National Bed Month UCA chiropractors are promoting ‘Sleep your way to Better Health’.  Sleep is vital for our health and wellbeing and is as essential as food and water.  How you feel during your waking hours hinges greatly on how well you sleep and getting a good night’s sleep is dependent on a number of factors, such as diet, exercise, stress, lifestyle, including the importance of a good bed.

Research shows that sleeping in an uncomfortable bed can deprive you of up to an hour’s sleep which you do not initially notice but over a period of time this can result in tiredness and fatigue.  Lack of support from a mattress reinforces poor sleeping posture and can not only prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep but can also aggravate back pain.

A study by the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA) showed that beds as little as six years old could offer significantly less support and comfort than a new one, due to wear and tear, not just from body weight and movement but also sweat and debris.

Four out of every five adults (80%) will experience back pain at some point in their lives.  A US Study comparing sleep experience on a new mattress compared with mattresses five years and older found that participants with high back pain reported 63% improvement in back discomfort.

As a rough guide you should think about replacing your bed/mattress every seven years and ensure that you put value and quality over price.  Your new mattress should be firm enough to support your spine in the correct alignment and conform to your body’s contours.  Always try before you buy.

Whilst sleep requirements vary from person to person, most adults need at least 8 hours sleep each night and sleep difficulties can often be found in your daily routine.  Apart from buying a new bed the following tips will help you sleep your way to better health:

Sleep Secrets

• Keep a regular sleep cycle – by going to bed and getting up at the same time each day will make you feel much more refreshed and energised than if you sleep the same number of hours at different times
• Bedroom Environment – where possible keep your room dark and at a slightly cool temperature.  Avoid having a television, computer or mobile phone in your room.
• Diet – Your daytime eating habits will affect how well you sleep. It is particularly important to watch what you eat in the hours leading to bedtime:
  • Avoid stimulants such as caffeine and cigarettes
  • Avoid heavy rich foods within two hours of bedtime, fatty foods are difficult to digest and spicy foods may cause stomach troubles and heartburn.
  • Avoid sedatives such as sleeping pills and alcohol as the effects are usually short-term and sustained use can lead to dependency
• Lifestyle – Our lifestyles are non-stop with ever present technology such as smart phones, laptops, TVs, games consoles etc and we often don’t make time to switch off and wind down.  Avoid using technology in the hours before bedtime and make time to relax, such as taking a warm bath, warm drink, reading or listening to soft music.
• Stress & Worry – Anxiety directly affects the rhythm of sleep.  Anxious thoughts make the heart rate ‘race’ which then causes the brain to become alert and stimulated.  Various techniques can be used to stop anxiety and calm the heart rate, speaking overrides thinking and can stop negative thoughts – do this when you start worrying about something before trying to sleep. Further hints and tips on how to deal with stress can be found on the LiveWell website.  
• Exercise – Regular daily exercise can not only make you sleep more deeply but it is also good for your health, the more you exercise the more likely you are to improve your sleeping patterns.  Don’t overdo it – too much exercise especially in the evening can wear you out physically and lead to wakefulness and alertness when trying to sleep.  Relaxing exercises such as yoga or gentle stretching can help promote sleep.

Abstract (provisional)

Background

Chiropractors regularly treat pregnant patients for low back pain during their pregnancy. An increasing amount of literature on this topic supports this form of treatment; however the experience of the pregnant patient with low back pain and their chiropractor has not yet been explored. The objective of this study is to explore the experience of chiropractic treatment for pregnant women with low back pain, and their chiropractors.

Methods

This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews of pregnant patients in their second or third trimester, with low back pain during their pregnancy, and their treating chiropractors in separate interviews. Participants consisted of 11 patients and 12 chiropractors. The interviews consisted of 10 open-ended questions for patients, and eight open-ended questions for chiropractors, asking about their treatment experience or impressions of treating pregnant patients with LBP, respectively. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and reviewed independently by the investigators to develop codes, super-codes and themes. Thematic saturation was reached after the eleventh chiropractor and ninth patient interviews. All interviews were analysed using the qualitative analysis software N-Vivo 9.

Results

Five themes emerged out of the chiropractor and patient interviews. The themes consisted of Treatment and Effectiveness; Chiropractor-Patient Communication; Pregnant Patient Presentation and the Chiropractic Approach to Pregnancy Care; Safety Considerations; and Self-Care.

Conclusions

Chiropractors approach pregnant patients with low back pain from a patient-centred standpoint, and the pregnant patients interviewed in this study who sought chiropractic care appeared to find this approach helpful for managing their back pain symptoms.

Shabnam Sadr, Neda Pourkiani-Allah-Abad and Kent Jason Stuber Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 2012, 20:32 doi:10.1186/2045-709X-20-32
SOURCE

Fish oil is rich in polyunsaturated omega-3 fats. These days, even mainstream medicine is heralding the health benefits that fish oil offers.

By adding omega-3 fats to your diet and supplement regimen, you’re opening yourself up to a range of health benefits, including:

• 1. Healthier mood
• 2. Healthier brain function
• 3. Healthier heart function
• 4. Lower Systemic Inflammation

Did you know that already? If so, you’re off to a great start. But here’s something you probably didn’t know: you can actually enhance fish oil’s heart health benefits by combining it with olive oil.

Olive Oil Boosts the Heart Benefits of Fish Oil
The latest scientific evidence shows that when consumed in combination, omega-3 fats and olive oil offer greater benefits than either nutrient alone.

In a study, scientists presented data regarding atherosclerosis prevention in pre-clinical, animal models. The Norwegian researchers studied animals with arterial plaques and administered a blend of marine omega-3 fats and extra virgin olive oil. The progression of atherosclerosis was the primary measurement they were interested in.

What they discovered was amazing: in the female animals, there was a significant reduction in the size of arterial plaques in the aorta and in the aortic arch. The male animals experienced significant reductions in the size of arterial plaques in the thoracic and abdominal aortas.

The researchers concluded that a dietary combination of omega-3 fish oil and olive oil inhibited arterial plaque formation and progression in their animal model study.

Finding the Right Olive Oil & Fish Oil Supplement
Does your fish oil supplement contain olive oil? If not, maybe you should consider one that does. Look for a combination product that includes the concentrated antioxidants found naturally in olive oil, called polyphenols. These are the powerful plant-based antioxidants that give olive oil its beneficial properties.

Look on the back label and make sure the olive fruit extract breaks-down similar to this:

• 6-7% polyphenols
• 1-2% hydroxytyrosol
• 0.5% oleuropein

Yes, Include Olive Oil in Your Daily Diet
Remember, supplements are designed to supplement the food that you eat. So, regardless of your own personal regimen, you should still try to include olive oil in your daily diet.

However, choosing an olive oil can be confusing within itself. There are many variables that go into olive oil production which can yield dramatic differences in terms of quality, including colour, aroma, and flavour.

The overall quality of olive oil is determined by its acidity — the more acidic it is, the lower the quality. Here’s a quick summary of the different types available:

1. Refined Olive Oil – this is the oil that comes from the second and third pressing of the olives. It contains not only the oil, but also olive juice which is very acidic. It’s usually too acidic for human consumption and has to be further ―refined‖ with heat and/or chemicals in order for it to be sold in grocery stores. The refined olive oil tends to be the cheapest and lowest quality. It’s okay for flavouring meats, fish or poultry, but not so good as a dressing or a dip. Food that says, ―Packaged in olive oil,‖ typically uses refined oil.
2. Semi-fine Virgin Olive Oil – this is acidic oil that is left over after the first press but is not refined. It’s very bitter tasting when uncooked, but tends to be okay when cooked. This is also considered low quality.
3. Virgin Olive Oil – this is the oil from the first press of the olive. It contains no olive juice, only the oils. Its overall acidity is low, but it tastes best cooked.
4. Extra Virgin Olive Oil – this is lower in acidity than virgin olive oil. The lower acidity gives it a fruity taste and deeper aroma and colour. It’s good cooked or uncooked and can be used confidently in salad dressings.
5. Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil – this olive oil is the lowest in acidity and has the best flavour. It tastes great uncooked, makes for the best dressings, and can also serve as a great dip for bread.

MICHAEL A. SMITH, MD -  Life Extension Tues 6th September 2011
www.lifeextension.com/presspass/michael-a-smith-md

Have we got it all wrong?
 
Have you seen those advertisements?  You know the ones, where they offer a painkiller as a remedy for ‘normal’ headaches.  These advertisements have been incredibly successful in convincing many of us into reaching for painkillers automatically as soon as we feel a headache coming on. This very effective advertising has been so successful that people have been known to say the strangest things to us.
 
When we ask if a patient suffers from headaches they will often reply, ‘Only the normal amount.’  Well how many is that?  One thing is for sure; whoever or whatever created this amazing organism that we call the human body did not design our heads to have ‘normal’ headaches.
 
But however much we may raise our eyebrows at the commonly held belief that headaches are ‘normal,’ the truth is that we continue to hear the phrase, ‘I don’t get any more headaches than the average man in the street.’ Society in general has been well and truly indoctrinated into believing that it is quite normal to suffer from head pain and that the way to deal with that head pain is to reach for a painkiller instead of looking for true health and prevention.
 
Headaches come in many forms and can have a massive impact on our lives. Patients have come to us for help having not worked for years because of debilitating headaches.  It is one thing to take a painkilling tablet once every now and again but if you need to take them more often then it is important to find out why.
 
What is it that causes headaches?
 
There are some obvious causes such as excess alcohol, stress, toxic fumes, lack of hydration, response to a change in medication and bad posture, but very often the cause is malfunction of the spinal bones in the neck and upper back. This is sometimes caused by nothing more than the things that we do as part of our everyday lives.  As we live a more sedentary lifestyle more and more people are reporting headaches.
 
When these bones are misaligned pressure can be put on sensitive nerves causing painful and sometimes crippling headaches. Pain in the form of headaches is a signal to tell us that something is wrong. Headaches are a form of warning sign. Painkillers can cover up this warning signal in the same way that taking the batteries out of a smoke alarm would stop it from making a noise, but taking out the batteries would not put out the fire!
 
Painkillers may give temporary relief but they do nothing to address the underlying cause of the problem.  Finding and correcting the cause is the only route to long term relief of painful and incapacitating headaches.
 
In a thorough consultation and examination, including X-rays if deemed necessary, a doctor of chiropractic can often find the underlying cause and, through a schedule of chiropractic adjustments, correct the cause of those headaches.
 
Neck injuries caused by a fall, sports injury or whiplash caused by a car accident can also cause spinal misalignment leading to severe long term headaches that can require a series of chiropractic adjustments in order to remedy the condition.
 
Whatever the cause of your headaches, painkillers are rarely, if ever, the long term solution. If you or any of your family, friends or work colleagues are suffering from recurring headaches we would recommend that you consult a doctor of chiropractic as soon as possible.
 
Simply call us on the number below to make an appointment as a New Patient today and make those headaches a thing of the past.

This is a fascinating subject and one that has been discussed and argued about for many years dating back to the 1860’s when Louis Pasteur was involved in fierce debate on the subject with the French biologist Felix Pouchet and English bacteriologist Henry Bastion.
 
Basically there are two arguments.  One is that the mere presence of germs causes the disease. Another is that it is only when the body is susceptible to disease that disease can strike.
 
Pasteur developed a method to stop milk souring called pasteurization which is still used today.  However, if we continued down this line of theory to its logical end we would live in a totally sterile world.  This is simply not practical.
 
The viruses and bacteria that we call germs are everywhere.  They are in the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink.  They can only result in disease when our bodies provide a friendly environment for them to reproduce.
 
For example, let’s say that you inhale some tuberculosis germs.  Just because these germs are present does not mean that you will get tuberculosis.  It depends on many factors such as the health of your immune system and your overall health.
 
The nervous system controls the proper function of our immune system as it does all the other tissues and organs of our body.  The spinal cord is the super-highway of our nervous system carrying thousands upon thousands of messages every second to all the cells in our bodies. 
 
The spinal cord is protected by the twenty-four vertebrae that make up the spinal column and this is why Chiropractic care can have such a profound affect on overall health.  If a spine is out of line and interfering ​with the nervous system the door is left open for disease to strike.
 
Keeping our nervous system free from interference is vital to our overall health in making sure that we’re not susceptible to the many germs we inevitably breathe in everyday. 

​The question often arises over and over again, should I still continue to come for regular adjustments even if I don’t have pain? 
 
Well, I am glad you asked. I would personally agree with getting regular chiropractic adjustments because I have been receiving maintenance adjustments for nine years now.  I have not had any days off work for many years due to illness and only get occasional aches in my mid back if I am lazy with my posture.
 
Pain should never be the controlling factor of why you return to get adjusted. Your nervous system is made up of over seventy-five miles of nerves and the nerve impulses can be as fast as three hundred and fifty miles per hour. By the time you start to feel pain there is already a great deal of dysfunction. Would you rather just feel good and be out of pain or be healthy.
 
Again I cannot stress how important it is to have your nervous system functioning at 100%. When a patient has a course of treatment and gets his or her spine in tip top condition they are usually out of pain. Much more than that, they usually report that they feel so much better. One of the reasons is that they are getting nearer to optimum nerve supply to their body.
 
Another reason is that they tend to sleep so much better, thereby feeling much more energy. If that patient then discontinues care, stops the exercises and keeps the old lifestyle, the probability is that they will revert to their previous condition.
 
That process usually takes 6-9 months. This happens regularly and the returning patient tends to say the same two things. Firstly, they can’t believe that it’s been that long. Secondly, they usually say, “The pain is worse than ever.”
 
I don’t really know if the pain is worse but I know that patients in this position are sorry that they didn’t maintain their spines. It usually only involves a treatment once per month.
 
I have been going to my dentist for approximately thirty five years now.  In that period, I still to this day have my teeth checked once a year even though it was only once with tooth ache. Why would you not want your nervous system to run at its optimum peak for the entire life?  How long would your car last if you only got it serviced when it started smoking or the oil light came on? 
 
When it comes to your health and nervous system, it should be your number one priority.  Health is your responsibility and you do have a choice to keep your family’s nervous system always operating at 100%.   I hope to see your family for a regular check-up. 
 
For additional information, please call 01422 836756 to arrange an appointment.