Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a relatively common condition that tends to emerge in children during their early school years.
The most common signs of ADHD are:
- Inattention
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsive Behavior
- Difficulty Concentrating
It is estimated that between 3 and 5 percent of children have ADHD - approximately 2 million children in the United States - and is much more common in boys than girls. This means that in a classroom of 25 to 30 children, it is likely that at least one will have ADHD. However, because many normal children may show some of these same behaviors as well, it is important that a child receive a thorough examination and appropriate diagnosis before any treatment is considered.
It is not entirely certain what causes ADHD, but the most current research states that it is a combination of an overactive nervous system, coupled with a decrease in the brain's ability to filter out extraneous sights, sounds, thoughts and emotions. Although chiropractors don't directly treat ADHD, there are a number of things that your chiropractor can do to help eliminate things that stress a child's nervous system, such as:
1. Remove spinal subluxations that irritate the nervous system
2. Suggest dietary changes to avoid common problem foods
3. Test for allergies that may be stressing the nervous system
4. Suggest changes to the home to help reduce exposure to toxic chemicals
The most common medical treatment is the use of the drug methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin. Ritalin is actually a stimulant drug that normally speeds up the activity of the nervous system. But for reasons that are not entirely clear, it tends to have a calming effect on those who suffer from ADHD; possibly by increasing the activity in the area of the brain responsible for filtering out extraneous sensation.
The problem with taking Ritalin is that it does NOT do anything to resolve the cause of the ADHD, it only masks the symptoms. Continued use of Ritalin over long periods of time has also been shown to have detrimental effects on the brain itself. It is important as a parent to look at all treatment options before placing your child on Ritalin and chiropractic care is a great place to start. For more information contact Ault Chiropractic of Hudson at 330.342.0755 today!
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Being Healthy: Fate or Choice?
We all know some people who get sick all the time. They're just getting over one thing when here comes the next round of illness. We also know people who just seem to be full of energy. Those people never get sick or so it seems. What are the key differences between these North and South Poles of health? One key difference is healthy behavior.
On the North Pole side, people who frequently get sick think this is something that happens to them. In other words, their health problems are related to fate. "I catch whatever's going around the office", they say. "I catch whatever my kids pick up at school" is another common refrain. These individuals - and they represent most of us - don't seem to realize it's their behaviors, actions, and choices that lead to their continual state of unwellness. For example, two-thirds of all American adults are either overweight or obese. Is this fate? Or something else?
On the South Pole side, people who are rarely sick are usually very clear about what's going on. These individuals have trained themselves to take control of their health and well-being by making active choices. These choices, known as healthy behaviors, result in: a stronger immune system,lower serum cholesterol, lower blood pressure, improved cardiovascular health, weight loss, more restful sleep, and a positive mental attitude.
Healthy behaviors have been shown to reduce blood glucose (good news for diabetics) and reduce the occurrence of life-changing disorders such as stroke. What are these action steps? Everybody knows them, even North Pole people. Healthy behaviors include: regular vigorous exercise (the Federal Department of Health and Human Services recommends 30 minutes of exercise five times per week) - 30 minutes of walking fulfills your daily exercise requirement. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables (the Federal Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least five portions per day) Also, eat a balanced diet including high quality protein, complex carbohydrates, and mono- and polyunsaturated fats. Make sure to get the rest that you need (seven hours of sleep per night is the recommended average).
Healthy behaviors do require discipline and effort. In the 21st Century, good health does not come for free. To be healthy and well, we need to do the planning, make our schedules, and put in the time. Of course, there's a very big payoff. How great would it be to have a healthy height/weight ratio, normal levels of blood glucose, and a normal-for-age blood pressure? It would be very great.
The payoff is not only adding years to life, but also adding life to years. It's much more fun to have good health. We all know how not-fun it is when we're sick.
Your local chiropractor can be an important part of your plan for good family health, and is an expert in all aspects of healthy behaviors. We will be glad to help you design plans and programs that will work for your needs and those of your family.
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
On the North Pole side, people who frequently get sick think this is something that happens to them. In other words, their health problems are related to fate. "I catch whatever's going around the office", they say. "I catch whatever my kids pick up at school" is another common refrain. These individuals - and they represent most of us - don't seem to realize it's their behaviors, actions, and choices that lead to their continual state of unwellness. For example, two-thirds of all American adults are either overweight or obese. Is this fate? Or something else?
On the South Pole side, people who are rarely sick are usually very clear about what's going on. These individuals have trained themselves to take control of their health and well-being by making active choices. These choices, known as healthy behaviors, result in: a stronger immune system,lower serum cholesterol, lower blood pressure, improved cardiovascular health, weight loss, more restful sleep, and a positive mental attitude.
Healthy behaviors have been shown to reduce blood glucose (good news for diabetics) and reduce the occurrence of life-changing disorders such as stroke. What are these action steps? Everybody knows them, even North Pole people. Healthy behaviors include: regular vigorous exercise (the Federal Department of Health and Human Services recommends 30 minutes of exercise five times per week) - 30 minutes of walking fulfills your daily exercise requirement. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables (the Federal Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least five portions per day) Also, eat a balanced diet including high quality protein, complex carbohydrates, and mono- and polyunsaturated fats. Make sure to get the rest that you need (seven hours of sleep per night is the recommended average).
Healthy behaviors do require discipline and effort. In the 21st Century, good health does not come for free. To be healthy and well, we need to do the planning, make our schedules, and put in the time. Of course, there's a very big payoff. How great would it be to have a healthy height/weight ratio, normal levels of blood glucose, and a normal-for-age blood pressure? It would be very great.
The payoff is not only adding years to life, but also adding life to years. It's much more fun to have good health. We all know how not-fun it is when we're sick.
Your local chiropractor can be an important part of your plan for good family health, and is an expert in all aspects of healthy behaviors. We will be glad to help you design plans and programs that will work for your needs and those of your family.
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Vitamin D - The Superstar Supplement
You may remember the public health slogan, "Vitamin D helps build strong bones". This message could be seen on colorful school posters and heard on radio and television programs as early as the1950s. Getting enough Vitamin D was a major health issue, primarily for its role in preventing childhood rickets - "softening of the bones".
More recently, and quite dramatically, vitamin D has been strongly associated with reduced cancer risks, preventing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, preventing cardiovascular disease, and even helping to prevent diabetes. Vitamin D seems to be a one-stop shop for helping combat many serious chronic diseases, and yet vitamin D deficiency is common in the United States. Very few foods are natural sources of vitamin D. The primary source of vitamin D for humans is sunlight - sunlight causes cells in the skin to produce vitamin D.
But most of us don't spend enough time outside to get sufficient sunlight to provide us with our normal daily requirement of vitamin D. Supplementation is needed, in the form of fortified foods such as milk and in vitamin/mineral tablets. Interestingly, meeting our vitamin D and calcium daily requirements is only one step on the road to healthy, strong bones. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from the intestinal tract. Also, vitamin D helps bone cells utilize calcium to build new bone. But - in adults, new bone will only be built if there's a need for it. Mechanical stress causes the body to produce new bone - and the best source for this kind of bone-building mechanical stress is exercise.
Yes, the E word. It's not enough to passively swallow a bunch of supplements every day. We need to exercise regularly to get the most out of the nutrition we're providing our bodies. When we exercise - particularly when we do strength training and other gravity-resisting activities such as running, walking, and bicycling - our bodies react not only by building new muscle but by building new bone as well. This response follows a physiologic principle known as Wolff's Law - bone remodels along lines of physiologic stress.
In other words, bone responds to mechanical challenges by building more bone. The result is more dense, stronger bones. Such bones are significantly less likely to fracture. And. logically, exercise helps prevent loss of bone mass, a primary cause of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and older adults. Chiropractic health care helps provide assistance to these metabolic processes. All of our metabolic activities are directed by signals from the nerve system. Our nerve impulses tell our cells when to start and when to stop these complicated biochemical processes. Chiropractic care helps ensure proper flow of information throughout the nervous system, helping us maintain optimal physical health and well-being.
Chiropractic Physicians are experts in nutritional health and will be able to recommend a program and plan that will be right for you.
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
More recently, and quite dramatically, vitamin D has been strongly associated with reduced cancer risks, preventing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, preventing cardiovascular disease, and even helping to prevent diabetes. Vitamin D seems to be a one-stop shop for helping combat many serious chronic diseases, and yet vitamin D deficiency is common in the United States. Very few foods are natural sources of vitamin D. The primary source of vitamin D for humans is sunlight - sunlight causes cells in the skin to produce vitamin D.
But most of us don't spend enough time outside to get sufficient sunlight to provide us with our normal daily requirement of vitamin D. Supplementation is needed, in the form of fortified foods such as milk and in vitamin/mineral tablets. Interestingly, meeting our vitamin D and calcium daily requirements is only one step on the road to healthy, strong bones. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from the intestinal tract. Also, vitamin D helps bone cells utilize calcium to build new bone. But - in adults, new bone will only be built if there's a need for it. Mechanical stress causes the body to produce new bone - and the best source for this kind of bone-building mechanical stress is exercise.
Yes, the E word. It's not enough to passively swallow a bunch of supplements every day. We need to exercise regularly to get the most out of the nutrition we're providing our bodies. When we exercise - particularly when we do strength training and other gravity-resisting activities such as running, walking, and bicycling - our bodies react not only by building new muscle but by building new bone as well. This response follows a physiologic principle known as Wolff's Law - bone remodels along lines of physiologic stress.
In other words, bone responds to mechanical challenges by building more bone. The result is more dense, stronger bones. Such bones are significantly less likely to fracture. And. logically, exercise helps prevent loss of bone mass, a primary cause of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and older adults. Chiropractic health care helps provide assistance to these metabolic processes. All of our metabolic activities are directed by signals from the nerve system. Our nerve impulses tell our cells when to start and when to stop these complicated biochemical processes. Chiropractic care helps ensure proper flow of information throughout the nervous system, helping us maintain optimal physical health and well-being.
Chiropractic Physicians are experts in nutritional health and will be able to recommend a program and plan that will be right for you.
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Getting a Good Night's Sleep
Americans spend more than $2 billion each year on sleep-aiding medications. Sleep is supposed to be a natural process. What's going on? There are many issues in the way of getting a good night's sleep. Daily stresses - work problems, financial difficulties, family challenges - can all keep a person up at night. We rehash what was said over and over again, or we endlessly review the problems confronting us, creating more anxiety and worry while the minutes and maybe even hours tick away.
Eating late at night - particularly fat-filled foods and snacks - may also interfere with a person's ability to fall asleep and sleep restfully. Late night meals engage all the resources of your digestive system - your body is actually doing a lot of work when it's supposed to be resting. Not good. And, of course, a lot of this late night food is stored as fat, creating additional problems.
Not enough exercise also contributes to lack of restful sleep. When you're doing vigorous physical work, your body needs to recover. Sleep allows your body to repair and rebuild, getting stronger in the process. Regardless of one's stresses and worries, vigorous exercise makes a physical demand on your body that will put you right to sleep. If you're not exercising regularly, this strong physiologic need for deep rest is missing, and you'll likely be tossing and turning the night away.
Old, soft, lumpy mattresses are another potential sleep-disturber. But too-firm mattresses may also cause problems. A good mattress is supportive and comfortable - it "gives" in all the right places and provides a balanced, springy platform for a restful night's sleep. The solutions are straightforward and none of them involve medication. Regular exercise is the key ingredient. With consistent exercise, your body's need for sleep will win out over your conscious mind's automatic mechanism of repeatedly processing the day's events.
Chiropractic care may be another key ingredient. Gentle chiropractic treatment ensures that all your body's systems are talking to each other and the right messages are getting through. Chiropractic treatment ensures clear communication from one body system to another. Late at night, systems shut down when they're supposed to and the resultis a good night's sleep. Your chiropractor will be glad to provide you with important information on customized exercise and nutrition programs that will help you continue to be healthy and well.
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
Eating late at night - particularly fat-filled foods and snacks - may also interfere with a person's ability to fall asleep and sleep restfully. Late night meals engage all the resources of your digestive system - your body is actually doing a lot of work when it's supposed to be resting. Not good. And, of course, a lot of this late night food is stored as fat, creating additional problems.
Not enough exercise also contributes to lack of restful sleep. When you're doing vigorous physical work, your body needs to recover. Sleep allows your body to repair and rebuild, getting stronger in the process. Regardless of one's stresses and worries, vigorous exercise makes a physical demand on your body that will put you right to sleep. If you're not exercising regularly, this strong physiologic need for deep rest is missing, and you'll likely be tossing and turning the night away.
Old, soft, lumpy mattresses are another potential sleep-disturber. But too-firm mattresses may also cause problems. A good mattress is supportive and comfortable - it "gives" in all the right places and provides a balanced, springy platform for a restful night's sleep. The solutions are straightforward and none of them involve medication. Regular exercise is the key ingredient. With consistent exercise, your body's need for sleep will win out over your conscious mind's automatic mechanism of repeatedly processing the day's events.
Chiropractic care may be another key ingredient. Gentle chiropractic treatment ensures that all your body's systems are talking to each other and the right messages are getting through. Chiropractic treatment ensures clear communication from one body system to another. Late at night, systems shut down when they're supposed to and the resultis a good night's sleep. Your chiropractor will be glad to provide you with important information on customized exercise and nutrition programs that will help you continue to be healthy and well.
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Living with Pain
Chronic disease is a major problem in U.S. health care. More than one-third of Americans have one or more chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The personal costs to patients and families are often severe, daily, and ongoing. The economic costs to society are almost $1 trillion annually.
Heart disease includes high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, coronary artery obstruction, angina, and heart attacks. Most of these conditions represent a chain of events. Left untreated, of course, high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke.
Most cases of diabetes develop from a pre-diabetic state which is also known as insulin resistance. Insulin - a hormone produced by the pancreas - is necessary for cells to be able to absorb glucose from the bloodstream and use the glucose for energy. If cells become insulin resistant, glucose stays in the bloodstream, leading to a pre-diabetic condition.
Left untreated, pre-diabetes likely advances to diabetes, in which insulin resistance is combined with insulin depletion, as the pancreas loses its ability to produce this important hormone. Diabetes may lead to many severe problems, including kidney failure, and is a leading cause of death from heart failure.
Cancer is now being recognized as a chronic disease. Rather than being a mysterious disorder that occurs randomly, many cancers are now understood to have many elements in common with other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Pain is a common element to chronic disease. Affected persons often take daily pain medications. Most people become tolerant to their medication and require increasingly stronger doses. The pain of chronic disease is notoriously difficult to treat.
In recent years a holistic approach has been successfully applied in the treatment of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Chiropractic care is an important component of the holistic approach.
Chiropractic care helps restore more normal biomechanical function to the spine, which in turn improves the ability of the nerve system to effectively communicate with the rest of the body. Important benefits of this restored function may be an improvement in the body's ability to repair damaged tissues, a strengthened immune system, and reduced levels of musculoskeletal pain. Such improvements may help lead to improved daily functioning. As levels of pain decrease, a person may be able to engage in more physical activity. Multiple benefits follow.
Chiropractic care is a key part of an integrative approach to the management of the pain of chronic disease.
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
Heart disease includes high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, coronary artery obstruction, angina, and heart attacks. Most of these conditions represent a chain of events. Left untreated, of course, high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke.
Most cases of diabetes develop from a pre-diabetic state which is also known as insulin resistance. Insulin - a hormone produced by the pancreas - is necessary for cells to be able to absorb glucose from the bloodstream and use the glucose for energy. If cells become insulin resistant, glucose stays in the bloodstream, leading to a pre-diabetic condition.
Left untreated, pre-diabetes likely advances to diabetes, in which insulin resistance is combined with insulin depletion, as the pancreas loses its ability to produce this important hormone. Diabetes may lead to many severe problems, including kidney failure, and is a leading cause of death from heart failure.
Cancer is now being recognized as a chronic disease. Rather than being a mysterious disorder that occurs randomly, many cancers are now understood to have many elements in common with other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Pain is a common element to chronic disease. Affected persons often take daily pain medications. Most people become tolerant to their medication and require increasingly stronger doses. The pain of chronic disease is notoriously difficult to treat.
In recent years a holistic approach has been successfully applied in the treatment of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Chiropractic care is an important component of the holistic approach.
Chiropractic care helps restore more normal biomechanical function to the spine, which in turn improves the ability of the nerve system to effectively communicate with the rest of the body. Important benefits of this restored function may be an improvement in the body's ability to repair damaged tissues, a strengthened immune system, and reduced levels of musculoskeletal pain. Such improvements may help lead to improved daily functioning. As levels of pain decrease, a person may be able to engage in more physical activity. Multiple benefits follow.
Chiropractic care is a key part of an integrative approach to the management of the pain of chronic disease.
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Info on the H1N1 Virus "Swine Flu"
What is “Swine Flu” or H1N1?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Swine flu (official name is H1N1) is a new version of the influenza virus. The Swine flu was first detected in the US in April 2009. The reason this strand of influenza virus is called the “Swine Flu” is because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to the influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine).
How can Swine Flu be transmitted and who can it affect?
Swine flu can be transmitted from person to person just like the regular flu does by coughing or sneezing. It can also be transmitted by touching an object that the virus is on and then touching your nose or mouth. One thing that is different between the Swine Flu and the seasonal flu is that the Swine Flu does not affect adults older than the age of 64 as much as it does affect children and adults younger than the age of 60. The reason for this is that it has been found that people under the age of 60 do not have the existing antibodies in them which would naturally protect them from the virus.
What are the symptoms of the Swine Flu?
Symptoms of swine flu are like regular flu symptoms and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. In severe cases the swine flu can progress and symptoms vary depending on the age group. The following is a breakdown on how the symptoms vary in children and adults.
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish or gray skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Prevention:
Here are some recommendations on how to prevent you from getting sick:
• Practice good hygiene (cover your mouth while coughing/sneezing,wash your hands with warm water and soap prior to eating)
• Avoid close contact with sick individuals
• Drink plenty of water
• Get adequate sleep (7-8 hours/night)
• Avoid alcohol use
• Avoid tobacco use
• Avoid excessive intake of sugars
• Exercise 3-5 days per week
• Get adjusted regularly???
So you might ask “how can getting adjusted regularly prevent me from getting sick?”
According to a study performed by Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York's Preventive Medicine Institute and professor of medicine at New York University, the chiropractic patients were found to have a 200% greater immune competence than those people who had not received chiropractic care, and they had 400% greater immune competence than those people with cancer and other serious diseases.
Is there a natural cure for Swine Flu?
Although there are no natural cures for Swine Flu you can take remedies, vitamins, and minerals to help with fighting the virus and its symptoms.
• Treatment for Swine Flu Chest Congestion: Eucalyptus, tea tree and lemongrass oils rubbed on the chest for congestion
• Remedy for Swine Flu & Cold Symptoms: Vitamin C with bioflavanoids (1000-3000mg/daily); Echinacea tincture daily, Zinc (50-100mg/daily)
• Some say that the flu "begins in the gut and ends in the gut". This means that if you have good digestion, you will increase your resistance to this and other flu strains. Take a probiotic daily. Probiotics have been shown to be an effective natural treatment for swine flu.
• If you do feel the flu symptoms coming on, get adjusted to boost your immune system.
Should I get vaccinated?
So here are some of the questions you might be asking yourself at this time. Should I get vaccinated? Will the vaccine protect me? Is there a side effect to the vaccine?
Before I answer those questions let’s take a look at a few interesting facts.
According to the CDC “Most people who have become ill with this new virus have recovered without requiring medical treatment”. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
They go on to state that “Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related (seasonal flu) complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes”.
Now back to answering the questions about vaccination.
• One thing to keep in mind is that viruses are great at mutating and changing into a different strain, so it is difficult to come up with a vaccine that effectively will prevent you from getting sick. And if you do decide to get the vaccine you are not 100% guaranteed to be safe from the virus.
• Once you do take the vaccine there might be side effects. The last ‘Swine Flu outbreak’ in the U.S. was in 1976 and according to the statistics from that outbreak:
o More people died from the vaccination than from swine flu
o 500 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) were detected. - GBS is auto immune disorder, affecting the peripheral nerves and causing paralysis, inability to breathe, and even death.
• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/gbs_qa.htm
o The vaccine may have increased the risk of contracting GBS by eight times.
o The vaccine was withdrawn after just ten weeks when the link with GBS became clear.
o The US Government was forced to pay out millions of dollars to those affected
Having said all this, I am not trying to down play the seriousness of the flu but before you go out there and inoculate yourself with a vaccine, educate yourself and learn the truth.
Information gathered by the doctors of CSI and CDC.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Swine flu (official name is H1N1) is a new version of the influenza virus. The Swine flu was first detected in the US in April 2009. The reason this strand of influenza virus is called the “Swine Flu” is because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to the influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine).
How can Swine Flu be transmitted and who can it affect?
Swine flu can be transmitted from person to person just like the regular flu does by coughing or sneezing. It can also be transmitted by touching an object that the virus is on and then touching your nose or mouth. One thing that is different between the Swine Flu and the seasonal flu is that the Swine Flu does not affect adults older than the age of 64 as much as it does affect children and adults younger than the age of 60. The reason for this is that it has been found that people under the age of 60 do not have the existing antibodies in them which would naturally protect them from the virus.
What are the symptoms of the Swine Flu?
Symptoms of swine flu are like regular flu symptoms and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. In severe cases the swine flu can progress and symptoms vary depending on the age group. The following is a breakdown on how the symptoms vary in children and adults.
In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish or gray skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Prevention:
Here are some recommendations on how to prevent you from getting sick:
• Practice good hygiene (cover your mouth while coughing/sneezing,wash your hands with warm water and soap prior to eating)
• Avoid close contact with sick individuals
• Drink plenty of water
• Get adequate sleep (7-8 hours/night)
• Avoid alcohol use
• Avoid tobacco use
• Avoid excessive intake of sugars
• Exercise 3-5 days per week
• Get adjusted regularly???
So you might ask “how can getting adjusted regularly prevent me from getting sick?”
According to a study performed by Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York's Preventive Medicine Institute and professor of medicine at New York University, the chiropractic patients were found to have a 200% greater immune competence than those people who had not received chiropractic care, and they had 400% greater immune competence than those people with cancer and other serious diseases.
Is there a natural cure for Swine Flu?
Although there are no natural cures for Swine Flu you can take remedies, vitamins, and minerals to help with fighting the virus and its symptoms.
• Treatment for Swine Flu Chest Congestion: Eucalyptus, tea tree and lemongrass oils rubbed on the chest for congestion
• Remedy for Swine Flu & Cold Symptoms: Vitamin C with bioflavanoids (1000-3000mg/daily); Echinacea tincture daily, Zinc (50-100mg/daily)
• Some say that the flu "begins in the gut and ends in the gut". This means that if you have good digestion, you will increase your resistance to this and other flu strains. Take a probiotic daily. Probiotics have been shown to be an effective natural treatment for swine flu.
• If you do feel the flu symptoms coming on, get adjusted to boost your immune system.
Should I get vaccinated?
So here are some of the questions you might be asking yourself at this time. Should I get vaccinated? Will the vaccine protect me? Is there a side effect to the vaccine?
Before I answer those questions let’s take a look at a few interesting facts.
According to the CDC “Most people who have become ill with this new virus have recovered without requiring medical treatment”. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm
They go on to state that “Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related (seasonal flu) complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes”.
Now back to answering the questions about vaccination.
• One thing to keep in mind is that viruses are great at mutating and changing into a different strain, so it is difficult to come up with a vaccine that effectively will prevent you from getting sick. And if you do decide to get the vaccine you are not 100% guaranteed to be safe from the virus.
• Once you do take the vaccine there might be side effects. The last ‘Swine Flu outbreak’ in the U.S. was in 1976 and according to the statistics from that outbreak:
o More people died from the vaccination than from swine flu
o 500 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) were detected. - GBS is auto immune disorder, affecting the peripheral nerves and causing paralysis, inability to breathe, and even death.
• http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/gbs_qa.htm
o The vaccine may have increased the risk of contracting GBS by eight times.
o The vaccine was withdrawn after just ten weeks when the link with GBS became clear.
o The US Government was forced to pay out millions of dollars to those affected
Having said all this, I am not trying to down play the seriousness of the flu but before you go out there and inoculate yourself with a vaccine, educate yourself and learn the truth.
Information gathered by the doctors of CSI and CDC.
What can I do about the "dreaded" Flu?!
For the past few months, TV commercials have been trumpeting the horrors of the "H1N1 flu season". "It's a pandemic, the worst, most dangerous flu ever" they blare. Public health announcements urge us to get our "H1N1 flu shot", as if this is something we've got permanently scheduled in our Blackberries. All the leading over-the-counter pain medications offer special seasonal "flu" mixtures, and their ads deluge daytime and prime-time broadcasting.
For the health consumer, namely us, it seems as if this annual "war on the flu" is received wisdom. We're just defenseless human beings at the mercy of the all-powerful flu virus.
What’s wrong with this picture?
What's never mentioned in the "flu warning" marketing is the versatility and adaptability of our remarkable immune system. We're the lucky owners of a built-in, state-of-the-art biowarfare system, on-the-job 24/7 to combat microscopic foreign invaders of our health and well-being. Once our immune system has detected a foreign protein it mounts an immediate defense, attacking and destroying the alien molecules. And, the memory of that particular invader is permanent, enabling a future immune response to be swift and effective.
The big issue with influenza is that new strains appear each year, such as H1N1. We've never encountered these germs before. But, the whole basis and strength of our immune system is flexibility. It is specially designed to respond quickly to new attackers. And, for the most part, it does this very, very well.
Of course, no one wants their dinner companion to sneeze in their plate of pasta, as Elaine did on an infamous episode of "Seinfeld". Through a typical cascade of unfortunate events, Jerry's and George's comedy pilot was almost scuttled because the network executive was Elaine's date, and he got violently ill by being on the receiving end of her blast of micro-bugs.
In the real world, our immune systems can be weakened due to life habits, circumstances, and stress. Stress is the notorious compromiser of immune defenses. And, of course, being human, there's plenty of stress from dawn to dusk. If worry and anxiety pile on top of not-enough-sleep or sub-optimal nutrition, getting sick is a pretty likely outcome. So, developing and maintaining healthy habits of living and successful strategies for managing stress is really the key.
I know, it's a different concept. Not one that BIG PHARMA and the CDC likes to talk about, but it really is "the soil" NOT "the seed" that is the biggest determining factor of whether something is going to grow. So, protect and enhance your "soil" so the flu bug (H1N1 or any other) won't grow inside you.
Here are some helpful immune system boosting tips:
For the health consumer, namely us, it seems as if this annual "war on the flu" is received wisdom. We're just defenseless human beings at the mercy of the all-powerful flu virus.
What’s wrong with this picture?
What's never mentioned in the "flu warning" marketing is the versatility and adaptability of our remarkable immune system. We're the lucky owners of a built-in, state-of-the-art biowarfare system, on-the-job 24/7 to combat microscopic foreign invaders of our health and well-being. Once our immune system has detected a foreign protein it mounts an immediate defense, attacking and destroying the alien molecules. And, the memory of that particular invader is permanent, enabling a future immune response to be swift and effective.
The big issue with influenza is that new strains appear each year, such as H1N1. We've never encountered these germs before. But, the whole basis and strength of our immune system is flexibility. It is specially designed to respond quickly to new attackers. And, for the most part, it does this very, very well.
Of course, no one wants their dinner companion to sneeze in their plate of pasta, as Elaine did on an infamous episode of "Seinfeld". Through a typical cascade of unfortunate events, Jerry's and George's comedy pilot was almost scuttled because the network executive was Elaine's date, and he got violently ill by being on the receiving end of her blast of micro-bugs.
In the real world, our immune systems can be weakened due to life habits, circumstances, and stress. Stress is the notorious compromiser of immune defenses. And, of course, being human, there's plenty of stress from dawn to dusk. If worry and anxiety pile on top of not-enough-sleep or sub-optimal nutrition, getting sick is a pretty likely outcome. So, developing and maintaining healthy habits of living and successful strategies for managing stress is really the key.
I know, it's a different concept. Not one that BIG PHARMA and the CDC likes to talk about, but it really is "the soil" NOT "the seed" that is the biggest determining factor of whether something is going to grow. So, protect and enhance your "soil" so the flu bug (H1N1 or any other) won't grow inside you.
Here are some helpful immune system boosting tips:
1. Drink plenty of water - six to eight glasses each day
2. Eat several servings of fruits and vegetables each day
3. Take vitamin/mineral supplements to fill in the gaps of the typical American Diet
4. Get sufficient sleep - on average, seven to eight hours each night
5. Exercise regularly - five days per week, at least 30 minutes each day
6. Meditate and/or engage in quiet time regularly to center yourself and let go of the day's stresses.
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
FAQ - "Once you go to a chiropractor, you have to keep going forever."
As a doctor of chiropractic, I am constantly addressing rumors concerning the chiropractic profession. However, due to the most recent statistics stating that only 10% of the current U.S. population visits a chiropractor regularly, it does not surprise me that there are so many misleading statements regarding the chiropractic profession.
Although, chiropractic is very effective for the management of pain, it is far more effective with actually stabilizing and correcting neuromusculoskeletal health conditions, such as sciatica, and stress/tension headaches.
So what does that have to do with "once you go to a chiropractor, you have to keep going forever?"
Chiropractic is very similar in practice to the dentistry profession. When you go to the dentist for a root canal, the dentist fixes the root canal. You don't go back every week to keep fixing the root canal, but that doesn't mean that you stop brushing your teeth and stop going in for teeth cleanings either. Why? Because we understand that if we don't maintain preventative care for our teeth, another root canal may be just around the corner.
The same goes for seeing a chiropractic physician. Once you go in, it is the doctor of chiropractic's job to stabilize and correct your acute problem. Once that problem is corrected, it's corrected, but you still want to go in for occasional check-ups to make sure your spinal problem doesn't return.
So the answer to the question of "once you start going to a chiropractor you have to keep going" is best stated as: only if you want to avoid another "root canal."
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
Although, chiropractic is very effective for the management of pain, it is far more effective with actually stabilizing and correcting neuromusculoskeletal health conditions, such as sciatica, and stress/tension headaches.
So what does that have to do with "once you go to a chiropractor, you have to keep going forever?"
Chiropractic is very similar in practice to the dentistry profession. When you go to the dentist for a root canal, the dentist fixes the root canal. You don't go back every week to keep fixing the root canal, but that doesn't mean that you stop brushing your teeth and stop going in for teeth cleanings either. Why? Because we understand that if we don't maintain preventative care for our teeth, another root canal may be just around the corner.
The same goes for seeing a chiropractic physician. Once you go in, it is the doctor of chiropractic's job to stabilize and correct your acute problem. Once that problem is corrected, it's corrected, but you still want to go in for occasional check-ups to make sure your spinal problem doesn't return.
So the answer to the question of "once you start going to a chiropractor you have to keep going" is best stated as: only if you want to avoid another "root canal."
Dr. Robert J. Ault is a chiropractic physician and owner of Ault Chiropractic in Hudson, Ohio. There is never a charge for a consultation with Dr. Ault to see if chiropractic may be a solution for you or your family's health condition. Call 330.342.0755 to schedule an appointment and get the answers you may be looking for.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
How to Have More Energy... (Here's a hint, it's not Redbull)
So far 2009 has been a rollercoaster ride - many great new developments. And yet the worldwide economic turmoil has been very, very rough on most people. Stress levels have been sky high, and stress saps a person's energy. Even the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is concerned. In March 2009 the DHHS posted "Getting Through Tough Economic Times" to its website, highlighting possible health risks and strategies for managing stress.
Excess stress causes the adrenal glands to pump out adrenaline on an ongoing basis. This "fight or flight" hormone is designed to be released for short bursts of energy. Continuous release of adrenaline begins to wear down key body systems, resulting in even more levels of internal stress. Precious energy resources are wasted by excessive adrenaline, and cells and tissues begin to fail in critical functions. Breakdown in the form of actual disease is not far behind. Also, high stress levels may cause a person to lose sleep or have less-than-restful sleep. This only adds to the burden of stress.
New energy sources are needed to combat the losses of energy and restore health to the body. One main source of energy, of course, is food. "But I eat enough," you say. "In fact, I'm trying to cut down and lose weight." It's not the quantity of food you eat. Eating the right kinds of food in the right combinations provides the energy we need. Otherwise, food calories are just packed on as additional fat cells, rather than being used for energy.
The right kinds of food are nutrient-dense, rather than being calorie-dense. Whole grains, lean meat, fish, high-quality dairy products, and fruits and vegetables are all nutrient-dense foods. Double cheeseburgers with french fries are calorie-dense and low in nutrition. Sprouted grain breads are nutrient-dense. White bread is calorie-dense.
It takes a little work to figure out which foods are healthy and which are not. But once you've done your homework and gotten used to reading labels, it becomes easy to choose the foods that will provide valuable energy and nutrients to you and your family.
Exercising regularly provides a person with lots of energy. People who exercise regularly fall asleep right away, need less sleep, and usually wake up rested and refreshed. They have energy throughout the day to do what they need to do and rarely "crash" in the middle of the day.
How does all this happen? Regular exercise resets your metabolic clock. Training your muscles also trains your metabolism to work efficiently. You spend less energy to make more energy. It's a remarkable system.
Another key part of the energy puzzle is finding some quiet time during the day to recharge your batteries. Most of us are not aware of the importance of this "alone time". Our lives are very hectic and we really do need some quiet time to allow us to decompress. "But I'll never find time in the day to do that," you say. That's right. People need to proactively create the time, even though it seems impossible. Once you begin setting aside ten or fifteen minutes each day to just sit and center yourself, you'll find you actually want to make the time to engage in this highly restorative and energizing activity.
The bottom line? More energy is available to each of us - we just need to plan and make sure we're taking the time to do things that support us. Eating the right foods, making time for regular exercise, and making room for quiet time will bring you a new sense of peace, well-being, and true, meaningful accomplishment.
Excess stress causes the adrenal glands to pump out adrenaline on an ongoing basis. This "fight or flight" hormone is designed to be released for short bursts of energy. Continuous release of adrenaline begins to wear down key body systems, resulting in even more levels of internal stress. Precious energy resources are wasted by excessive adrenaline, and cells and tissues begin to fail in critical functions. Breakdown in the form of actual disease is not far behind. Also, high stress levels may cause a person to lose sleep or have less-than-restful sleep. This only adds to the burden of stress.
New energy sources are needed to combat the losses of energy and restore health to the body. One main source of energy, of course, is food. "But I eat enough," you say. "In fact, I'm trying to cut down and lose weight." It's not the quantity of food you eat. Eating the right kinds of food in the right combinations provides the energy we need. Otherwise, food calories are just packed on as additional fat cells, rather than being used for energy.
The right kinds of food are nutrient-dense, rather than being calorie-dense. Whole grains, lean meat, fish, high-quality dairy products, and fruits and vegetables are all nutrient-dense foods. Double cheeseburgers with french fries are calorie-dense and low in nutrition. Sprouted grain breads are nutrient-dense. White bread is calorie-dense.
It takes a little work to figure out which foods are healthy and which are not. But once you've done your homework and gotten used to reading labels, it becomes easy to choose the foods that will provide valuable energy and nutrients to you and your family.
Exercising regularly provides a person with lots of energy. People who exercise regularly fall asleep right away, need less sleep, and usually wake up rested and refreshed. They have energy throughout the day to do what they need to do and rarely "crash" in the middle of the day.
How does all this happen? Regular exercise resets your metabolic clock. Training your muscles also trains your metabolism to work efficiently. You spend less energy to make more energy. It's a remarkable system.
Another key part of the energy puzzle is finding some quiet time during the day to recharge your batteries. Most of us are not aware of the importance of this "alone time". Our lives are very hectic and we really do need some quiet time to allow us to decompress. "But I'll never find time in the day to do that," you say. That's right. People need to proactively create the time, even though it seems impossible. Once you begin setting aside ten or fifteen minutes each day to just sit and center yourself, you'll find you actually want to make the time to engage in this highly restorative and energizing activity.
The bottom line? More energy is available to each of us - we just need to plan and make sure we're taking the time to do things that support us. Eating the right foods, making time for regular exercise, and making room for quiet time will bring you a new sense of peace, well-being, and true, meaningful accomplishment.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
21st Century Stress
This is turning out to be a pretty tough century. Or at least so far. The recent earthquake-like shocks in the economy have impacted everyone, and most people's stress levels are sky-high.
Jobs have been lost, retirement savings have shrunk drastically, and energy prices are rising again. Economic stress leads to real physical stress.
Stress is more than just a state of mind. Stress has real physical components, including tight muscles, headaches, difficulty falling asleep and restless sleep, abdominal pain, allergies and asthma, inflammation, and high blood pressure.
Some results of stress may have long-term consequences. Prolonged high blood pressure, for example, may lead to heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Long-term inflammation may lead to weight gain, diabetes, and even kidney disease.
Of course, we could have stress because we have stress. We're stressed, and now we begin worrying about all the things that could go wrong because we are under stress. Not a good plan.
A better plan would involve being proactive and beginning to take action steps that support our health and well-being. The action steps include the usual suspects - exercise and good nutrition. Everyone knows they "should" be doing regular exercise and "should" be eating good food every day, the difficulty is that no one wants to do what they "should".
The way to reducing one's stress levels is in choosing to take action. We choose healthy behaviors because we want to, not because we think we "should". The concept of personal choice is powerful and may lead to shifts toward behaviors that are healthy.
From an information point of view, both exercise and good nutrition have potent effects on a person's health.1,2,3 Both reduce inflammation. Both neutralize circulating free radicals, reducing a number of health risks, and both provide new energy resources, making us healthier and happier.
Choosing good health improves our lives in countless ways. By choosing, we take back the power of good health. Everyone in our lives benefits by our renewed energy, creativity, productivity, and love for life.
Beginning a program of chiropractic care is another positive choice we may make. Chiropractic adjustments help our bodies work more efficiently and effectively, directly reducing physiologic stress and indirectly improving our ability to effectively manage the stress in our daily lives.
Chiropractors are experts in health, wellness, and well-being and will be glad to help you design exercises and food plans that will work for you.
Remember - being healthy is a choice!
Jobs have been lost, retirement savings have shrunk drastically, and energy prices are rising again. Economic stress leads to real physical stress.
Stress is more than just a state of mind. Stress has real physical components, including tight muscles, headaches, difficulty falling asleep and restless sleep, abdominal pain, allergies and asthma, inflammation, and high blood pressure.
Some results of stress may have long-term consequences. Prolonged high blood pressure, for example, may lead to heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Long-term inflammation may lead to weight gain, diabetes, and even kidney disease.
Of course, we could have stress because we have stress. We're stressed, and now we begin worrying about all the things that could go wrong because we are under stress. Not a good plan.
A better plan would involve being proactive and beginning to take action steps that support our health and well-being. The action steps include the usual suspects - exercise and good nutrition. Everyone knows they "should" be doing regular exercise and "should" be eating good food every day, the difficulty is that no one wants to do what they "should".
The way to reducing one's stress levels is in choosing to take action. We choose healthy behaviors because we want to, not because we think we "should". The concept of personal choice is powerful and may lead to shifts toward behaviors that are healthy.
From an information point of view, both exercise and good nutrition have potent effects on a person's health.1,2,3 Both reduce inflammation. Both neutralize circulating free radicals, reducing a number of health risks, and both provide new energy resources, making us healthier and happier.
Choosing good health improves our lives in countless ways. By choosing, we take back the power of good health. Everyone in our lives benefits by our renewed energy, creativity, productivity, and love for life.
Beginning a program of chiropractic care is another positive choice we may make. Chiropractic adjustments help our bodies work more efficiently and effectively, directly reducing physiologic stress and indirectly improving our ability to effectively manage the stress in our daily lives.
Chiropractors are experts in health, wellness, and well-being and will be glad to help you design exercises and food plans that will work for you.
Remember - being healthy is a choice!
Excited to Get Started...
I am very excited to say that I have now recently started my own blog. I wasn't sure where, or how to get started, so I asked the local computer expert in town (any 8 year old) and now I am up and running.
I am a chiropractic physician and my blog is going to consist of information regarding all things health and wellness. It has been my experience as a physician that most people would love to have optimal health and well-being for themselves and also their friends and families. The biggest obstacle seems to be the HOW?! With all the poor information on the internet in regards to health, from the latest fad diet, to the newest magical pill, it gets more difficult to find the truth. I am going to attempt to change that.
Stay tuned for topics that will be addressing how to get sick people healthy. Until then, have a blessed day.
I am a chiropractic physician and my blog is going to consist of information regarding all things health and wellness. It has been my experience as a physician that most people would love to have optimal health and well-being for themselves and also their friends and families. The biggest obstacle seems to be the HOW?! With all the poor information on the internet in regards to health, from the latest fad diet, to the newest magical pill, it gets more difficult to find the truth. I am going to attempt to change that.
Stay tuned for topics that will be addressing how to get sick people healthy. Until then, have a blessed day.
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