Sports Drinks

Sports drinks are an often helpful way to prevent dehydration and depletion of your body’s carbohydrate reserves during prolonged physical activity, though not all sports drinks are created equal. Many commercial sports drinks contain questionable ingredients that may unfavorably affect your health. It is important to understand the circumstances in which sports drinks can best support your exercise performance and the ingredients that
make up commercial sports beverages.

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Electrolytes Explained

Electrolytes are ions (and, in some cases, essential minerals) that affect metabolic processes in your body, including the movement of nutrients into your cells and the removal of cellular waste products. Electrolytes help regulate the acid-base balance in
your body necessary for normal cellular function. Sweat that you lose during exercise contains numerous electrolytes, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride, and potassium, among others. Significant sweat loss without electrolyte replenishment may lead to severe dehydration.

Effects of Dehydration

Your body sweats during exercise to help keep your core temperature constant. The cost of keeping your core temperature at 37 degrees C, however, is fluid and electrolyte loss.
Dehydration can occur quickly with physical activity in extreme environments.
The physiological effects of dehydration depend on the percentage of body weight you lose as sweat during prolonged exercise. According to a study published in the International
Journal of Sports Medicine, you will experience impaired exercise
performance after losing as little as 2 percent of your body weight as sweat.
A 4 percent body weight loss as sweat significantly reduces your ability to perform muscular work, and sweat related
body weight losses of 5 and 7 percent cause heat exhaustion and
hallucinations, respectively. If you lose 10 percent of your body weight as sweat, you will experience circulatory collapse and heat stroke.

Carbohydrate Depletion

Carbohydrate depletion – the depletion of your muscle and liver glycogen reserves – is another factor to consider with prolonged, endurance-based activities, such as marathon running.
Glycogen is the principle form in which glucose is stored in your liver and muscle tissue.

Your body reacts to prolonged periods of physical exertion by releasing hormones that convert glycogen to glucose to maintain your blood glucose levels. When you perform exercise that relies more on carbohydrates as a fuel (as opposed to fats) you can maintain a relatively high intensity for about 2 hours.2 After 2 hours, your muscle and liver glycogen stores are in danger of
being depleted. Further exercise will require the consumption of carbohydrate to stave off low blood sugar levels, fatigue and other detrimental effects to your exercise performance.
Ingesting carbohydrate during exercise can help you maintain your body’s glycogen levels and provide you with the energy you need to perform your endurance event or activity.

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Sports Drink Considerations

Sports drinks, though consumed by many athletes, both recreational and competitive alike, may be most appropriate
for individuals participating in vigorous physical activity; that is, a bout of exercise lasting at least 45-60 minutes, during which time you are sweating profusely. Sports drinks may provide little benefit beyond water for individuals participating in low intensity
activity for short durations.
Consider both the duration and intensity of your activity as well as the climate in which you will be exercising before selecting your sports drink
Common inclusions in many commercial sports drinks, or energy drinks, include caffeine, high-fructose corn syrup, and other added sweeteners.
Caffeine, often found in high quantities in these beverages, stimulates your nervous system and actually may improve your endurance performance.
One study published in the journal Physician and Sports medicine notes that caffeine can increase exercise ventilation and lung function at all workloads in competitive endurance athletes but caffeine may also raise your heart rate and blood pressure.
Some people who consume large amounts of caffeine may experience insomnia, irritability, restlessness, headaches, and heart palpitations.
High-fructose corn syrup and other types of added sweeteners are common ingredients in sports drinks, and they
present significant health risks. The Mayo Clinic states that consumption of large amounts of any type of added sugar in beverages, including high fructose corn syrup, is linked to weight gain, dental cavities, poor nutrition, and elevated triglyceride levels, which may boost your likelihood of a heart attack.
Consider making your own sports drink to promote both health and performance or using other products readily available in many grocery stores. Coconut water, the clear fluid inside coconuts, is an excellent substitution for conventional sports drinks, as it contains significant amounts of electrolytes, minerals, and antioxidants.
A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science states that consumption of fresh, young coconut water is appropriate for whole body rehydration after exercise.  To make your own sports drink, blend ice and water with one apple, two carrots, two
celery sticks, one small parsley bunch, and a handful of mixed greens.

Mid Back Pain

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CHIROPRACTIC FROM HEAD TO TOE – SHOULDER PAIN

How can chiropractic help with my shoulder pain?

The shoulder is a very unique and complex joint. It is the only articulation in the body whose stability is granted primarily by muscular balance instead of being held together by the
integrity of its ligaments. Have you ever heard of the ROTATOR CUFF? This is the collection of four shoulder muscles that help perform this function: namely the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the teres minor and subscapularis.

In addition, there are multiple bones that come together to make up the shoulder joint: the humerus (upper arm), the scapula (the shoulder blade) and the clavicle (the collar bone).
Therefore, problems with the alignment of any of these bones will directly affect shoulder function, potentially leading to dysfunction and painful symptoms in this joint.

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Finally, many nerves lead to the shoulder, influencing motor control of the shoulder and providing sensory feedback from the shoulder to the brain. The main source of these nerves is the cervical spine (the neck). So, how can your chiropractor help when you have a shoulder problem?
Just like every other joint in the body, the shoulder works best when all its moving parts are in proper alignment.
As you will discover below, the most important factor contributing to the proper function of the shoulder is the alignment of your spine, with each major area of the spine contributing in a significant way to the health of your
shoulder.

First and foremost, since nerves connected directly to the shoulder originate in your neck, the cervical spine is the first area your chiropractor will check when you have pain in your
shoulder. Vertebral subluxations in your cervical spine can cause impingement or irritation of joints, nerves and soft tissues. If the subluxation in your neck is irritating a nerve, you may experience motor (muscle) or sensory (skin) deficits related to this subluxation.
Your chiropractor can test the integrity of your shoulder muscles to see if a muscle weakness correlates to the same vertebra level as the subluxation in the neck or, your chiropractor may notice that your pain patterns follow the specific pathway that mirrors the dermatome of a sensory nerve from your neck. If either or both of these are present, a cervical subluxation is likely the cause of your shoulder problem.

Second, since your shoulder blades rest on the ribcage, alignment of the thoracic spine and the ribs are also influential for proper shoulder function.
One of the most common causes of shoulder impingement is poor posture, which in turn may be caused by upper back misalignment. When the upper back is too rounded, for example,
shoulder blade position is altered and the shoulder joint will shift forward. If this ‘slumped’ posture exists, over time this may contribute to muscle imbalance around the shoulder, leading to
stress and strain. Rotator cuff strain is a common complaint related to poor posture in this area. Thoracic subluxations can be both the cause, and the effect, of this problem.

Third, although it may seem unlikely, alignment of the lumbar spine is also important when it comes to shoulder health. Why? For two main reasons:
1) the lower back curve sets the posture of the rest of the spine. If the lumbar spine is curved too much or too little, the thoracic and cervical curves will be directly affected, which in turn can affect the shoulder;

2) one of the larger muscles of the upper torso, the latissimus
dorsi, connects to the arm near the shoulder and then at its other end to the lower back and pelvis through the thoracolumbar fascia. Therefore, lower back alignment can affect the function
of the shoulder, and vice-versa.
With a spine free of subluxations, your shoulders have the best chance to move properly, be positioned properly, and, as a result, to be pain-free. Chiropractic adjustments, aimed at removing vertebral subluxations from all areas of your spine, are one of the most effective tools you can use to keep the stress and strain away from your shoulders.
So, the next time you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, call on your chiropractor to lighten the load!

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How Does Breakfast Impact Your Health?

You have no doubt heard the old saying “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” but aside from providing calories for energy, what are the other benefits of eating a morning
meal? Research conducted on breakfast in the last decade shows how it may affect obesity, cravings, and nutrient intake. Breakfast also appears to influence the type of foods we select
to consume during the rest of the day.

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What Science Says

According to a 2011 survey about 10 to 12 percent of people in North America skip eating breakfast. Breakfast research has focused on a number of questions, including…
• Can breakfast lower your risk of
disease?
• Do breakfast eaters snack less than
breakfast skippers?
• Does eating breakfast help control
body weight?
A study conducted in France showed people who consumed one quarter of their daily calories at breakfast were more likely to skip fatty food items and boost their levels of vitamins and
minerals compared to breakfast skippers. As well, the authors commented that “…breakfasts and cereal consumption were associated with lower serum cholesterols” in the breakfast eating group.
An advantage of eating a breakfast cereal rich in fiber is it lessens the risk of heart disease. Soluble fiber reduces the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream, and makes you feel fuller longer, so you often cut your overall daily calorie count. Breakfast cereals made from whole grains is a great way
to increase your fiber intake, which should be about 1 ounce (25 to 30 grams) each day. Studies show that people who reach these levels of fiber intake slashed their risk of heart attack
from 25 to 35 percent.

A similar study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, revealed people who regularly ate whole grain breakfast cereals had a lower risk of heart failure.
As well as fiber, one study showed that eating sufficient protein at breakfast can help you feel full. Research conducted at the University of Missouri used MRI scans on human test subjects,
and the scans revealed a protein focused breakfast reduced brain signals controlling food “motivation and reward-driven eating behavior.” A protein heavy breakfast may curb snacking and assist people in losing weight more easily.
The medical journal Pediatrics conducted a study on adolescents and discovered over a five-year period teens that consumed a daily morning meal were more likely to eat healthier, be more physically active, and have a lower body mass index (BMI) than teens that skipped breakfast.
Another adolescent study was initiated “to examine the association of breakfast and cereal intake with body mass index (BMI) and consumption of nutrients” by girls.  The researchers found that girls regularly eating cereal was “related to increased intake of fiber, calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamin C, and zinc, and decreased intake of fat and cholesterol…eating cereal was predictive of lower BMI.”

“Would You Like to See the Dessert Menu?”

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One of the most surprising breakfast studies came out earlier this year.
Researchers in Israel found that having dessert after a well-balanced 600 calorie breakfast of protein and carbohydrates
actually helped dieters to lose weight and keep those extra pounds
from returning. The study published in the medical journal Steroids followed obese participants for 32 weeks and discovered that those people who added a dessert (cookies, cake or
chocolate) lost an average of 40 lbs (18 kilograms) compared to the participants who did not include sweets. What can explain this unusual result? The lead researcher noted that avoiding
sweets completely can actually make psychological cravings stronger.
Restrictive diets work initially, but as times goes by many dieters become weary of the depravation and return to snacking on sweets throughout the day.
A researcher commented: “…the group that consumed a bigger breakfast, including dessert, experienced few if any cravings for these foods later in the day.”
* * *
When it comes to eating a well rounded breakfast, you should include servings of whole grain, fruit or vegetables and a healthy source of protein. These choices will help deliver the energy to start your day, keep you feeling fuller longer, and prevent unhealthy snacking. Have questions about your diet? Ask your
chiropractor!

Chiropractic From Head to Toe: Upper Back Pain

Although injuries to the upper back (thoracic spine) are not as common as lower back or neck injuries, there are still a number of conditions and factors that can contribute to pain and discomfort
in this area. Thankfully, your chiropractor knows how to ease your pain!
The thoracic spine is that area of your back where the ribs are attached—also called your upper back. Because of its location, the upper back and ribcage are designed to be more stable, creating a protective “cage” for many of your vital organs—like the heart, lungs, liver, stomach and spleen. Since the thoracic vertebrae do not have the same range of motion as the cervical or lumbar vertebrae, it is rare for someone to experience a disc herniation in this area.1 In fact, only about 1-3% of all disc herniations occur in the thoracic spine. Even when present, thoracic disc herniations do not necessarily cause symptoms in the person who has them! So, what causes upper
back pain?
Most of the pain felt in this region is caused by muscle and/or facet joint irritation. Many very important postural muscles are found in the upper back and will attach to the vertebrae in this area. Notably are the muscles that control shoulder stability—like the rhomboids and trapezius muscles. In addition, the postural muscles that support the head and neck in a vertical position will find their anchor points in the thoracic spine. These muscles are
collectively known as the erector spinae.
Whenever a person’s posture deviates away from the center of gravity, such as when the head is held forward or the shoulders rounded (two of the most common postural faults), this will put a large compressive load on the joints
between each vertebra (the facet joints), leaving them prone to feeling the stress and strain. Also, any minor spinal misalignments (subluxations) begin to feel like major ones when
there is any abnormal muscle tension in the area! Pain sensitive structures like joint capsules, ligaments and neighboring nerves can all be irritated by this phenomenon.

In addition, where each rib attaches to  the spine, there is a set of 3 joints  collectively called the costovertebral  joints. Since these are functionally  movable joints like any other in the  body, this means they are also subject  to the same stress and strain that other  joints experience and they can also  subluxate when put under an abnormally  high or sudden load. You’ve  heard the expression, “I have a rib  out”? This can be a very painful  condition where you feel a sharp,  stabbing pain on either side of the  spine. It may be difficult or painful to  take a deep breath, and laying on your  back with pressure directly on this area  may also be painful.
No matter whether the joint that is  irritated belongs to the vertebra or the  rib, your chiropractor knows exactly  what to do to set things right. You  guessed it—the chiropractic adjustment!
With the application of this  skilled and precise maneuver, the  irritated joint can be re-aligned to sit  properly, taking the pressure off the  sensitive structures that surround the  joint (capsule, ligament or nerve).
Regardless of which joint it is, once  freed from restriction and misalignment,  the physiological cascade called  “healing” can begin: sometimes the  relief from pain is immediate and  dramatic; other times it takes a few  days for the positive effects of the  adjustment to kick in. However, rest  assured the adjustment always initiates  healing.  When the vertebral subluxation is  reduced, muscle tension around the  joint will also be improved.

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However, sometimes extra procedures  should be specifically applied to  the muscles to create ease and balance  in the muscular system. Massage  techniques that focus on tight muscles
in the area of symptoms have also been  shown to reduce pain,4 enhancing the  already positive effects granted by the  chiropractic adjustment.
Finally, if the stress and strain on the  upper back is caused by weak postural  muscles, exercising and stretching will  also be recommended as an effective  tool to support your proper spinal
alignment long-term.5 Many chiropractors  are well-versed in the protocols of  posture correction and others rely on  allied professionals to help instruct  their patients in these areas. Discuss  what your best options are with your  chiropractor.
With chiropractic adjustments and  advice, upper back pain can be lifted  from your shoulders.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

(ADHD) is the most common neurological disorder among children, accounting for over 35% of all medical referrals to psychiatric clinics. In North America, it affects about six
million kids and the rate appears to be increasing, as statistics showed a 22 percent jump in ADHD cases from 2003 to 2007.1 Although a few medical researchers believe it may be over diagnosed and over treated, ADHD remains a challenging disorder for both children and their families.
Kids with ADHD have trouble concentrating, act impulsively and have difficulty remaining still. It can dramatically impact their academic performance and social status among peers.
For reasons that are still undetermined, boys are more likely to be
diagnosed with this disorder, and are prescribed medication three times more often than girls. Recent studies also indicate ADHD may have a pivotal role in the development of other chronic health conditions. For example, insomnia and other sleep disturbance problems appear more often in children with ADHD.
A study published in the journal Sleep showed 17 percent of ADHD adolescents suffered insomnia compared
to 7 percent of teens without this disorder and the research indicates these sleep problems may extend into adulthood.2 Lack of sleep also exacerbates attention and concentration problems.
No cure for ADHD exists, although it can be managed with the assistance of qualified healthcare and education professionals. Current treatment methods may include behavioral therapy and/or medication. The exact cause of ADHD remains unclear, but genetics, diet and environment may influence the emergence of this disorder.

ADHD & Nutrition

Many parents of ADHD children are looking for an alternative– or a reduction – to medication. Changing to a healthier diet may reduce symptoms for some kids.
Medical research points to Western society’s indulgence of processed food, often high in refined sugar and low in nutrients as a possible cause of ADHD.
Food additives and coloring are also suspects. Research published in the Journal of Attention Disorders reveals the common Western diet doubled the risk for developing ADHD. This may be the result of the low levels of nutrients in this food.3
Some experts also recommend testing ADHD kids for gluten intolerance and, if they test positive, removing gluten food products from their diet.
Switching ADHD children to a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fish may provide a way to reduce the symptoms.
Research indicates omega 3 fatty acids found in fish are excellent for optimizing the health of the brain and nervous system. In particular, DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, seems especially influential on proper brain function for memory and learning. Choose fish that have low mercury levels, such as anchovies, mackerel and wild salmon. While more research needs to be conducted on this subject, a study that appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition noted that ADHD “subjects with lower compositions of total n-3 fatty acids had significantly more behavioral problems, temper tantrums, and learning, health, and sleep problems than did those with high proportions of n-3 fatty acids.”

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Missing Minerals May Make Impact

A mineral that may be important for reducing ADHD symptoms is magnesium. It is involved in hundreds of chemical reactions in the body. Unfortunately, magnesium deficiency is common in the Western world. When you have low levels of the mineral, your nervous system can become agitated and overexcited.
A French study on ADHD children revealed those that received a combination of magnesium and vitamin B6 over eight weeks achieved substantial improvement in attention and other cognitive functions. When they no longer received this nutritional combination, the children’s ADHD symptoms
returned.
Another mineral that may help with ADHD is zinc. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry revealed that zinc levels of ADHD kids were 43 percent lower than children in the
placebo group.
* * *
It is preferable to have your child get required nutrients through his or her diet. If your child is a finicky eater, supplements may fill the nutritional gap — consuming a good quality multivitamin may help ADHD kids achieve optimal nutritional levels. However,
you should always consult your chiropractor or pediatrician before providing your child with vitamins, herbs or other
supplements.

Can Chiropractic lend me a hand… with my hand symptoms?

When you have symptoms in one or both of your hands, a chiropractor might not be the first person you think of… but after reading this issue of Wellness Express™, we hope you will
change your mind.
Since chiropractors are experts when it comes to nerves, joints and muscles, there are very few conditions affecting the hand that your chiropractor cannot help you with. In this report, some of
the most common reasons for hand symptoms will be presented, including the approach that your chiropractor may use to help alleviate them.
THE CAUSE
Unless you experience direct trauma to the hand (crushing, slicing, freezing, etc.), most symptoms can be traced back to the irritation and/or inflammation of nerves, muscles or joints
associated with that area of the body.

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When irritation of nerves exiting the spine is thought to be the cause, it is called radicular pain. If tight and sore muscles (with trigger points) can be attributed to the symptoms, this is referred pain and when an inflammatory condition involving one of the
local tissues in the hand is causing the symptoms, it is referred to as a case of …itis (arthritis, tendinitis, neuritis, etc.)
Radicular pain is typically caused by compression or irritation of a cervical nerve (also called radiculopathy). This can be caused by disc herniation, vertebral subluxation, mechanical irritation by osteophytes (bone spurs) or chemical irritation by inflammation of surrounding tissues. The pain associated with radiculopathy is usually sharp, and well-defined according to
the nerve that is being irritated. There may also be some weakness in the hand associated with radiculopathy, as the
nerve signals for motor control will travel along the same nerve that carries sensory information. If your symptoms are caused by a radiculopathy, your chiropractor will be able to reproduce or aggravate your symptoms by performing specific provocation tests with your neck.

Referred pain is caused by muscle tightness and spasm, leading to “trigger points.” Typically, when a muscle is over-used or severely strained, it can develop tight bands or knots within it.
When this happens, the muscle itself can become very sensitive, and will often develop trigger points. Trigger points are localized areas within a muscle that, when pressed upon, will refer pain in a predictable pattern away from that point. Referred pain from trigger points is usually more achy and diffuse, and is exacerbated by pressing on the muscle itself.
Pain from inflammation will vary depending upon the tissue affected. As a result, any movements that challenge that tissue will exacerbate the symptoms, plus, redness, heat and swelling
can usually be found in the immediate area. Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis can affect the joints of the fingers and hand in a typical pattern. Tendinitis or tenosynovitis can target the tendons of the fingers or wrist, leading to such common conditions as “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome” or “Trigger Finger.”
THE CURE
The first thing your chiropractor will do when you present with hand symptoms is to differentiate between the potential contributing factors to determine the cause.1 If necessary, you may be sent for special imaging to confirm your chiropractor’s diagnosis. Next, a treatment plan will be created, taking into consideration the history of your condition, its severity and/or chronicity, and its impact on your daily activities.

Although radicular pain is the only condition mentioned above that is directly caused by neck misalignment and subluxation, your chiropractor will always check to make sure your spine
is aligned properly when symptoms of hand problems are present. All nerves to and from the hand find their origin in the cervical spine and since the nervous system is the conduit for all brain-body communication, adjusting the spine has proven to be helpful for a number of hand conditions, including Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome.2
If the symptoms in your hand are caused by referred pain or a local inflammatory condition (an …itis), your chiropractor may also recommend supplementary treatments like ice, trigger point therapy, massage, stretching or special exercises you can do at home. Referral to other healthcare professionals may be necessary for some conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Remember: no matter what symptoms you feel in your musculoskeletal system, rely on your chiropractor
FIRST to lend you a hand!

Hormones, Exercise and Weight Loss

Someone once said: “I keep trying to  lose weight…. but it keeps finding me!”
Certainly one of the most frustrating  aspects of weight loss is that after you
reach your goal, you often find it  difficult to maintain your new weight  level. This seems to be especially true  for those who are defined as obese.
According to medical research,  approximately 80 percent of obese  people who drop pounds are unable to  sustain their reduced weight. Scientists  believe hormones play a key role in
both weight reduction and weight gain.

Hormones: Loss and Gain

In a study published in the New  England Journal of Medicine, 50
overweight or obese patients underwent  a 10-week low energy weight loss  program. After the diet, they were  found to have an increase in appetite producing  hormones and the levels of
these hunger hormones remained  consistent for a year after the initial  weight loss. This result is believed to  be a main reason why it is difficult for  people to maintain their reduced weight  level, as study participants regained  about 11 pounds (5 kgs) within a year.
One of the most studied hunger  hormones is ghrelin, which is produced  in the stomach and stimulates appetite.
Scientists presented interesting  research at the Endocrine Society’s 92nd  Annual Meeting. In their study, the  researchers administered either a salt  water (placebo) injection or a ghrelin
hormone injection to a small group of  healthy adults – none of whom knew  which type of injection they received.
The study participants were shown  pictures of high calories foods  (chocolate, cake, pizza) and low calorie foods (salads, vegetables, fish). The  participants who received ghrelin
hormone injections were more likely to  rate high calorie foods as appealing  than those who received the placebo  injection.
Another study published by the  Endocrine Society revealed the amount  of appetite hormones present in the  body prior to dieting may be vital to  predicting the likelihood of dieters’
regaining weight. Scientists measured  body weight and appetite hormone  levels on a group of participants before,  during and after dieting. Those study  subjects who had higher plasma levels
of leptin and lower levels of ghrelin  before they started the diet were more  likely to regain weight.3 This knowledge  could be used to develop better  techniques to treat post-diet weight
gain.

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However, appetite hormones may have a much wider impact than just promoting or suppressing hunger.
They may actually impact neurological disorders.
Scientists at UT Southwestern conducted investigations that showed the hormone ghrelin may actually
reduce symptoms of stress-induced depression and anxiety. When a person is hungry, his or her body produces
more ghrelin and this could explain why some people eat more when feeling overwhelmed or sad. Scientists used two types of mice in the research.
A test group of mice that were put on a calorie restricted diet displayed lower levels of anxious or depressive behavior
when exposed to stress – such as navigating mazes. Another group of mice also had a calorie restricted diet but they had been genetically engineered not to respond to ghrelin. The genetically altered mice showed higher levels of anxiety and depression when
exposed to stress.

Orexin Spurs Fat Burning

The brain-produced hormone orexin may provide an alternative way to treat obesity. Instead of controlling appetite, orexin appears to help a type of body fat, known as brown fat, to burn
calories. Obese people are often deficient in orexin.
Researchers conducted experiments on mice and discovered a group of overweight mice that were orexin deficient actually ate less than a group of normal weight mice. This leads to the theory the overweight mice were heavier because of inefficient burning
of calories rather than overeating.
While the results are promising, the research has only been conducted on rodents. Human trials would need to happen before any orexin treatments could become available.

A Powerful Ally to Battle Hunger

While some hormones may make losing weight and keeping it off a
challenge, you do have a friend in this hormonal battle: exercise.
A study that appeared in AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology indicates aerobic exercise seems especially beneficial because of its influence over the appetite
hormones ghrelin (promotes hunger) and peptide YY (suppresses hunger).
The test subjects participated in both treadmill running and weight training but at different times. Researchers tested the participants’ levels of appetite hormones and found that after the
aerobic treadmill exercise participants had lower amounts of ghrelin and higher amounts of peptide YY. After the strength training session, the researchers discovered only levels of
ghrelin were affected. Need advice on exercise?

Talk to your chiropractor!

Chiropractic from Head to Toe: THE HEAD

THE HEAD
In this new series of articles, Chiropractic from Head to Toe, we are going to start from the very top. Two of the most common conditions involving the head that chiropractors are recruited to treat are: TMJ syndrome and headaches.
The TMJ is where the jaw bone connects to the head. It is also called the temporomandibular joint. Since it is a moveable, functional structure, any misalignment or restriction in this joint
can cause pain in and around the jaw, ear or head. Causes of TMJ pain may include: poor alignment of the teeth, grinding or clenching the jaw while sleeping, excessive gum-chewing, etc.
Chiropractors know how the TMJ is supposed to function. After assessing your jaw for dysfunction, your chiropractor
may apply chiropractic adjustments to the TMJ in order to restore proper function. Whenever you feel your jaw clicking or popping, or have pain on opening or closing your mouth, call on your chiropractor to help. Research has shown how effective
chiropractic can be to solve this problem.

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Another common condition affecting the head is the collection of symptoms referred to as “headaches”: including migraines, tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches, cluster headaches and so on.
Since irritation of the brain itself does not result in pain (open brain surgery has proven this to be true), “aching” in
the head can only be caused by the irritation of a number of other pain sensitive tissues. Muscles, nerves, joints or ligaments are all examples of potential sources for head pain.

Muscles:
The most common type of headache is the tension-type headache. It represents approximately 90% of all headaches
and is described as a generalized tightness and ‘achiness’ around the head. The cause of tension-type headaches is thought to be tightness in the muscles of the neck and scalp. There are a number of contributing factors, including mental stress, postural stress,
lack of sleep, etc. Chiropractic adjustments are very helpful in reducing the frequency and intensity of tension-type headaches, because joints that move easier and have better alignment significantly reduce the stress and strain on the surrounding muscles.

Nerves:
The scalp is innervated primarily by the occipital nerves, originating in the upper cervical spine. Whenever these
nerves are irritated, the tissues that are connected to these nerves can feel like they are being irritated also. Thus, it is
common to feel headaches when subluxations are present between the first and second cervical vertebrae. If your head is aching at the base of your skull, and/or the pain is traveling around to your temples, then your pain is likely being caused by an irritation of the occipital nerves. If you are prone to these types of headaches, be sure to have your chiropractor assess your
neck. Often one or two adjustments are all that you need to take the pressure off these nerves.

Joints:
When joints become dysfunctional, all other tissues can be negatively affected, often leading to painful symptoms. Headaches that originate from dysfunctional joints in the neck
are called cervicogenic headaches. When the normal freedom of movement is restored in these joints with chiropractic adjustments, headache intensity, duration, and the need for
medication are all significantly reduced.
Thankfully, there is a study that finally shows how vertebral subluxations really are a pain in the neck (and head):
In this recently published study3, a researcher recruited a sample of students between the ages of 10 to 13 years old. The sample was divided into two groups: one containing children
who experienced recurring neck pain and/or headaches (40% of all the students surveyed), and the other group with an absence of these recurring symptoms. Then, a physical examination
was performed on each child, specifically analyzing postural alignment, range of motion of the cervical spine, muscle tone and function, plus passive motion of the individual neck vertebrae.
The results amazed even the researcher: of all the data collected
from the physical examinations, the only factor that could be correlated to the students’ pain was the presence or absence of cervical subluxations!
So, if you have any symptoms that resemble TMJ pain or headaches, remember to consult with your chiropractor
first.

It’s a PAW-ty

Priority Health Chiropractic is having a birthday!  We are turning 8!  We can’t believe 8 years have gone by!  We have met so many wonderful people who have become our patients!  Camas has been a great community is supporting chiropractic care.  We love it here!

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Please join us at the clinic!

19215 SE 34th St. #102 Camas, WA 98607

www.priorityhealthchiro.com

APRIL 14th – Saturday

10am- 2pm

$8 spinal adjustments

$28 New Patient Exams

All proceeds to the the SW Washington Humane Society.

Give us a call to book your appt. 882-7733

 

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