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Category: Chiropractic

5 Reasons Added Sugar is Bad

The body needs sugar as energy to perform its physical and physiological processes. However, this doesn’t mean that you should take it in excess. After all, sugar is readily available in carbohydrates and fresh fruits that you take regularly. We call it natural sugar and it’s rarely a health concern. The biggest concern, nevertheless, is added sugar (sugar added to processed foods and drinks). You’ll find the additive in energy drinks, sodas, juices, cakes, cereals, and desserts.

Why is Sugar Added to Food?

We all know that anything sweet is likely to be appetizing, more so for kids. This is the primary reason why sugar is added to food. The manufacturers believe that doing so will help them sell their foods quicker. There are also a few others who use added sugars as a preservative. This is common in the production of jams.

In producing things like ice cream and baked foods, added sugars are used as bulking agents (nonnutritive additives meant to add bulk). Lastly, added sugars are widely used to add color and texture to processed foods. In this case, the additive makes processed food pleasant not just in taste but also in appearance and feel.

How Bad is Added Sugar?

According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines, you should not take added sugars that exceed 10% of your body’s calorie intake. If for example, you are on a 1500 calorie diet, you should not take more than 150 calories (9 teaspoons) sugar a day. The WHO, on the other hand, recommends only 5% of the daily calorie intake to be added sugar.

The other agency that puts restrictions on dietary added sugar is the American Heart Association (AHA). They don’t advocate for added sugars to children below 2 years but advises against exceeding 100 calories (6 teaspoons) by children over 2 years and a majority of women. Also, the association advises men to keep their intake below 150 calories.

Unfortunately, most people exceed the recommendations by the AHA and the WHO. This is generally bad for their health and here are 5 reasons why:

1. Can Lead to Fast Weight Gain

Most people gain unnecessary weight and become obese over time without realizing it just because they can’t resist added sugars. There are strong pieces of evidence indicating that added sugars are a primary contributor to weight gain. So, you need to avoid them.

It’s suggested that added sugar interferes with leptin, a hormone that controls hunger. As a result, you tend to feel hungrier and crave more sugars. In the long-term, you introduce more sugar than your body can assimilate, leading to fast weight gain.

2. Can Promote Tooth Cavities

You probably were advised not to take so much candy when growing up as they can cause tooth decay. Well, it’s not just candy that you should avoid. You also need to avoid excessive intake of biscuits, processed cereals, juices, and sodas as they are high in added sugar.

It’s claimed that sugar in these foods not only causes tooth decay but can also cause cavities. Usually, the added sugar encourages bacteria to form plaque on your teeth that eventually attack your enamel. As a result, permanent holes that we call cavities result.

3. May Hasten Skin Aging

We all know that wrinkling is normal when you advance in age. However, it becomes a serious concern if it happens prematurely. Though there are different causes of premature aging, one popular is added sugar.

Research shows that added sugar can hasten skin aging and this is widely expressed in the form of wrinkles. It’s argued that added sugar causes the body to produce advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that accelerate aging. AGEs, unfortunately, make the skin sag after losing its firmness.

4. May Lead to Diabetes Type 2

Most people are aware of the relationship between added sugar and diabetes type 2 but often choose to ignore it. Generally, high-calorie foods can cause diabetes and since high sugars are considered high calories, they are not exempted.

In particular, you should avoid sugary drinks sodas. According to one meta-analysis, taking sugary drinks improve the risk of diabetes type 2 by about 26%. Overall, it’s better to avoid the drinks entirely. This is according to the American Diabetes Association.

5. High Risk of Dying from Heart Disease

Did you know that added sugar can increase the risk of suffering from Heart Disease even when you are not overweight? According to a JAMA Internal Medicine study, this is possible. What’s worse is the possibility of death occurring in the long run.

Based on this study, subjects who exceed their added sugar intake by more than 10% of their daily calorie intake are twice likelier to suffer from Heart Disease than those who keep their intake below 10%.

It’s sad to learn that the added sugar we crave comes unaccompanied with viable minerals like fiber and vitamins but only brings the risk of a deadly condition like Heart Disease.

Tips for Managing Added Sugar Intake

The first thing you should do is read the label to see how much sugar in calories or grams the food has. Of course, you must know that added sugar comes in different names. Some may call it honey, sucrose or maple syrup while others may call it sugarcane juice, molasses or sweeteners. So, do not let the name to deceive you as they all mean the same thing.

While at it, look at where added sugars are listed in the ingredient list. Usually, the higher the ingredient in the list, the more grams or calories it contains. So, avoid foods that contain added sugar at the top of the ingredient list. You can also manage your added sugar intake in the following ways:

  • Take water more often instead of sodas and sports drinks.
  • While taking fruit juices, consider natural options.
  • Flavor your herbal tea with citrus fruits instead of refined sugar.
  • Swap processed bread and rice for whole options.
  • Avoid processed juices as they have excess added sugar.
  • Choose your cereals properly to ensure you only take low sugar options.
  • Cut down your cravings for pastry and candies. You can take fruits and low-calorie yogurt in their place.

Closing Thought:

Generally, added sugar is bad for your health and so you need to avoid it. This means being watchful of what you eat, especially processed foods. If you are not sure how to transition, talk to a nutritionist about it.

9 Tips to Correct Posture

We often hear that we need good posture to stand, walk, and sit properly. But, what exactly is posture and what does it mean to have correct posture? For starters, posture refers to the body position when you stand, lie down or sit. When the body is properly positioned and supported correctly by the muscles, we use the term correct posture. Essentially, you need correct posture to prevent the likelihood of suffering injuries, among many other issues.

Types of Postures

Essentially, there are two types of body postures:

  • Static posture – This refers to your body positioning when you are in a stationary position, for example, when sleeping or standing.
  • Dynamic posture – This refers to how your body is held in position when moving, for example, when walking or running.

Causes of Poor Posture

People have poor posture for different reasons. Common causes, however, include:

  • Using the wrong chair, mattress, and pillow
  • Sitting behind the desk for long
  • Lifting heavy objects that your muscles cannot hold
  • Obesity and abnormal bodyweight
  • Physical stress
  • Pregnancy
  • Unhealthy sitting, sleeping, and standing habits
  • Weak or rigid postural muscles

Effects of Poor Posture

Poor posture is generally unhealthy as it can lead to any of the following issues:

  • Muscle fatigue
  • Joint ache
  • Back and hip pain
  • Loss of body balance
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Reduced flexibility
  • Digestion difficulties

Tips for Improving Posture

Generally, it takes these 9 tips to achieve the correct posture:

1. Correct Sitting

Finding the correct posture can be hard if your work involves prolonged sitting. But still, there are several things you can do to improve your body positioning. This is more important if you spend hours in office sited. In this case, you should observe the following:

  • Sit straight and avoid dropping your shoulders forward
  • Keep your feet on the ground to uniformly distribute your body weight
  • Bend your knees at about 90 degrees
  • Don’t cross your legs when sitting
  • Move your chair close to the desk or keyboard

In case you are susceptible to back pain, you should consider investing in an ergonomic chair. Such chairs have all the comfort features you need to enjoy good posture.

2. Proper Standing

You must learn to stand in line to enjoy better posture. This is not only healthier for the joints and bones but also the muscles. Additionally, it helps to boost blood circulation. To ensure that you always observe proper standing position, you should:

  • Always stand straight and pull the shoulders back
  • Hang your arms naturally on the sides when standing
  • Don’t lock the knees but keep them slightly bent
  • Stand with your feet slightly apart

3. Proper Lifting

Most people injure their hips and backs as a result of lifting heavy objects. For others, it’s an issue of lifting objects, which are not necessarily heavy, the wrong way. It happens mostly in manual jobs like constructions, plumbing works, and carpentry. To avoid risking hurting your back or hip when working, you should do the following:

  • Learn to spread your feet before lifting heavy objects to properly support your body
  • Hold heavy objects close to the body as much as possible
  • Move near the object you are lifting
  • Hold and lift the object slowly

4. Correct Sleeping Habits

Finding the best sleeping position can help a lot in maintaining correct body posture. For a start, you should not sleep on your stomach as it puts too much pressure on the spine. Instead, you should lie on your back or the sides. And while sleeping on your side, you should enhance your comfort by putting a supportive pillow between your legs. Also, your knees need to be supported by a pillow if you choose to lie on your back.

5. Comfortable Mattress and Pillow

The mattress that you lie on and the pillow that you use greatly affect your posture. If you want to have the correct posture, then you have to choose the two carefully. While most people prefer to sleep on firm mattresses, some find softer options more comfortable. So, you should find what works for you. As for the pillows, you need to find options that feel softer and comfortable. Such options exist in the market and so you just need to shop wisely.

6. Comfortable Driving Position

You may not realize it but the more you drive, the more pressure you put on your back. If you are not careful, this could have a damaging effect on your posture. The simplest thing to do before you can take hold of the wheel is to adjust the driver’s seat. Your body should rest comfortably before you can start driving. Additional tips include:

  • Move your bottom and the shoulder close to the backrest
  • Adjust the seat cushion to a comfortable position
  • Bend your knees slightly when driving
  • Adjust the headrest to the same height as your head position
  • The seat height needs to be correct to avoid stretching the body

7. Stretching Exercises

Stretching exercises are meant to help both the muscles and joints become more flexible. This, in the long run, helps your body fall in the correct position when both in a dynamic and static state. It’s important however that you observe the routines regularly. Common examples of stretching exercises you can do include:

  • Bridges
  • Back extensions
  • Quads
  • Chest stretches
  • Hip flexors

In addition to these exercises, you can also stretch your body by swimming and biking more often. These two options are fun to do.

8. Weight Management

Excess weight is not just a risk for heart disease but also a poor posture. Usually, additional body weight puts stress on your muscles and in this, in the long run, interferes with your body positioning. To ensure that your body is not thrown out of position, you have to maintain a healthy body weight. This may mean observing a healthy diet plan or exercising regularly. You can also do both if you can.

9. Supportive Footwear

Lastly, your posture is also determined by the shoes you wear. They have to support your body weight with ease for you to enjoy good posture. So, you should avoid high heels as they are likely to throw your body out of balance and position. Also, when you sit for long and are wearing less supportive shoes, you should improve their comfort by placing a thick rubber rug underneath.

Closing Thought:

We all need the correct posture to walk, sleep, and sit properly. As seen, it takes healthy lifestyle adjustments to achieve it. So, put the tips into practice and wait to see your posture improve remarkably.

 

Why Am I Sore After Chiropractic Adjustment?

Everyone who sees a chiropractor expects to feel relieved and better than they were after having chiropractic adjustments. But what if you leave there feeling sore? It’s normal to panic or even doubt the effectiveness of the treatment as such a side effect isn’t something that should be accompanying a highly-certified technique like chiropractic. Contrary to what most patients think, soreness is normal after chiropractic adjustments. So, there’s no reason to be alarmed whatsoever. What’s more, it only lasts for 24 hours or less.

Reasons behind Post-Adjustment Soreness

As mentioned earlier, soreness is a normal side effect following a chiropractic adjustment. More often than not, it’s due to the following reasons:

1. Retracing

After having a chiropractic adjustment, your body goes through a natural healing process that’s outlined by temporary soreness and fatigue. We call this reaction retracing and it’s a direct response to subluxations (spinal blockages and misalignments).

Remember, the reason you were feeling pain and discomfort before having an adjustment is that the spinal path was either blocked or crooked. As a result, communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body was hampered.

To restore the communication, a chiropractor resorted to t spinal adjustments which eventually cleared the subluxations. In response, your body becomes temporarily sore, what we are identifying as retracing. Retracing may appear as an unnatural occurrence because it’s characterized by so many events that happen at once.

They include:

  • Nerve function is restored throughout the body
  • Toxins are eliminated from the body
  • Body fluids freely flow across the body cells

Usually, the occurrence of the above events puts your body in a temporary panic mode and the eventual effect is soreness.

2. Muscle Discomfort

Muscles are generally sensitive to physical manipulations. After tensed and tight muscles are released following chiropractic adjustments, it’s normal for them to elicit a response. Unfortunately, one of the major responses is soreness. They become tender because they are stretched beyond their natural position.

Sometimes, the pulling of the muscles has to be firm. This may mean extra pressure on the muscles which may make them susceptible to soreness. But you should note that the force applied is calculated. So, it’s safe for your body.

Furthermore, there’s an association between joint manipulation and muscle discomfort. When the joints are manipulated, they send signals to the muscles. The muscles respond by tightening, resulting in tenderness and pain.

3. Muscle Reflexes

Chiropractic adjustments can trigger different reflexes that are mostly felt by the muscles. Since your muscles are moved in an unfamiliar manner, reflexes are triggered to reset muscle tone. Unfortunately, the reaction is often characterized by soreness. But still, most adjustments trigger calm reflexes and so you may not experience soreness, pain or any other negative effect.

Ways to Deal with Post-Adjustment Soreness

Generally, soreness is not expected to last long. So, if you are a little patient, the negative feeling may fade away. Otherwise, you can deal with soreness in the following ways:

Having adjustments more regularly – Most patients experience soreness on their first chiropractic adjustment. This is understandable considering that their muscles are not used to this kind of manipulation. If you do the adjustments more regularly, your muscles become used to them and so you may not be bothered by soreness.

Heat or Ice – Heat is very effective in opening up blood vessels to encourage better circulation. To achieve this, you need to apply heating pads to the sore part. The tip will help to reduce tenderness significantly. Alternatively, you can apply ice packs to freeze the affected area and reduce soreness. It also reduced inflammation and aching. According to a 2015 study, you can alternate the two (ice and heat) for maximum effect.

Cold bath – A cold bath has the same effect as ice packs. It helps to reduce inflammation and aching. For this strategy to work, however, you need to soak your body in cold water for about 5 minutes. This may be hard if you are used to taking warm baths but will do the magic in the long run. After all, it’s only a one-time thing and so it’s worth the sacrifice.

Self-massage – If you can massage the sore part on your own, do it. Self-massage helps to improve blood flow to the affected area and this is critical for faster recovery following soreness. You just need to gently rub the area with your hands for a few seconds. Remember, if you apply too much pressure, the discomfort may intensify.

Stretching exercises – Stretching exercises can help immensely in alleviating soreness. They improve circulation and this, in the long run, promotes maximum healing. You can walk around, swing the affected body part or do any other exercise that your chiropractor recommends.

Rest – Sometimes, all that your muscles need after a chiropractic adjustment is enough rest. You need to take some time to sleep comfortably. Studies have shown that inadequate sleep can boost inflammation and this eventually causes soreness. So, learn to rest your muscles after chiropractic adjustments to avoid this from happening.

Hydration – Hydration is not just important after chiropractic adjustment but also before them when it comes to managing soreness. Taking enough water cushions your muscles against ache and discomfort. Generally, your body self-heals at its best when the fluid level is optimum. So, you need to drink water more regularly to ensure this is the case.

Take coffee – According to research by the University of Georgia, taking two cups of coffee can help you find soreness relief following physical body manipulation and workout. Since chiropractic adjustments are considered physical manipulations, coffee can help. It contains caffeine that blocks adenosine, the chemical the body releases in response to strenuous activity.

Speak to your chiropractor – If you have tried all the above approaches but the soreness persists, then it is logical to speak to your chiropractor. This should be done after 24 hours have passed and soreness is only intensifying. The expert will assess you to determine if the soreness is still a natural reaction or you require further treatment. They can also advise you on other ways to deal with the effect.

Closing Thought:

The next time you are sore after a chiropractic adjustment, you shouldn’t panic. Not only is the side effect short-lived but there are also ways to manage it as seen above. So, this small setback shouldn’t obscure you from seeing the amazing benefits of chiropractic adjustment.

What Is a Healthy Diet?

Just like we know we have to sleep for 8 hours and brush our teeth every day, we also know that we need to eat healthily. So, the term healthy dieting is not new. Unfortunately, not all of us follow a healthy diet plan. Some are hesitant to do it because they are scared of the budget. They have the notion that healthy foods are expensive.

Others just can’t drop high sugars, bad fats, and other junks they are addicted to. There are also a few others who think that healthy dieting is too complicated. What they don’t understand is that it is the key to living a disease-free and happy life. We are going to emphasize the elements, keys, and importance of a healthy diet.

Elements of a Healthy Diet

To help you determine if you are observing a healthy diet or not, here are the basic elements you need to include in your meal plan:

1. Whole Grains

Unlike processed grains, whole grains have their nutrients intact. They are packed with iron, Vitamin B, and fiber. So, you can count on the food option to give your body maximum protection against diseases. They are also a basic source of energy. If you are looking to consume whole grain, you need to start shopping for:

  • Whole wheat
  • Brown rice
  • Whole oat
  • Millet
  • Whole barley

2. Proteins

Your body is like a car. It needs to be fueled daily to work at its optimum. The source of fuel is protein and you need enough of it to go through a physically-demanding day. Proteins also promote tissue repair and healing following an injury or a disease. Healthy protein options include:

  • Legumes
  • Nuts
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Lean meat

3. Fats and Oils

Fats and oils are beneficial to the body but not all options are healthy. Saturated fats and oils that are present in fried foods and fatty meats, for example, are a risk for stroke and heart attack. You need to take unsaturated options instead. They are rich in omega 3, which is not just good for your heart but also for your brain. Unsaturated oils are found in

  • Oily fish
  • Avocado
  • Nuts
  • Peanut

4. Vitamins

The major sources of vitamins are vegetables and fruits. According to research, they help immensely in protecting the body against heart diseases, among other functions. Vitamin C, for example, which is predominant in fruits, is good for the bones and teeth. Vitamin E, on the other hand, which is present in peanuts and greens, is important in boosting your immunity and hastening recovery.

5. Minerals

Your diet should be rich in essential vitamins like iron, calcium, and magnesium. While iron is needed for blood production, calcium is needed for strong bones and teeth. The same can be said about magnesium. You can find calcium and magnesium in dairy products whereas iron is present in dark chocolate and greens.

6. Dietary Fiber

Fiber is important in protecting you against diabetes and heart diseases. It can also help you lose weight, have youthful skin, and enjoy better digestion. You can find fiber in foods like:

  • Vegetables
  • Fruits
  • Whole grains
  • Legumes

7. Plenty of Water

Water is life and you need it for several body functions. The major ones are:

  • Energizes the body
  • Facilitates better digestion
  • Detoxifies the body
  • Prevents headaches
  • Softens the skin

Experts recommend taking at least 8 glasses a day. Of course, you can take more, especially during the summer when you sweat more.

Importance of a Healthy Diet

You probably are asking: After eating healthy, then what? Well, a healthy diet comes with some amazing returns. Here are the notable ones:

Healthy Weight

More often than not, obesity and uncontrolled weight gain are linked to poor feeding. Taking foods rich in fats and sugars is never healthy if you are hoping to lose weight. You need healthy components like fibers and lean proteins to manage your weight.

Disease Prevention

Major organs of the body like the heart and the brain depend on a healthy diet to function well. Failure to taking healthy meals may result in serious health issues. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, we can prevent 80% of cardiovascular diseases with healthy dieting. Another study by the American Society of Clinical Oncology shows that the risk for cancer can be reduced by eating healthy.

Sleep Quality

Do you know that you can sleep much comfortably if you eat healthily? Your body needs to be supplied with the right nutrients to avoid sleep disruptions. When observing a healthy diet, you are expected to limit caffeine intake and alcohol consumption as they are known to interfere with your sleep quality.

Physical Health

Different components of a healthy diet play different functions in your physical health. Proteins, for example, build your muscles and repair damaged cells. They also promote better immunity, which is important in putting your body in the right shape. Minerals, on the other hand, make your bones stronger while whole grains fuel your muscles. At the end of the day, you can enjoy a better-looking body because of healthy dieting.

Cognitive Health

A healthy diet is beneficial to your brain and you need it to boost memory and prevent brain slowness. One study shows that nutrients like omega 3, Vitamin C, and flavonoids which are part of a healthy diet can help fight dementia and other brain decline conditions. If you are also looking to boost your brain sharpness, you need to always eat healthily.

Keys to Healthy Dieting

According to WHO, the keys to healthy dieting include:

  • Food variety – WHO suggests that taking different foods in moderation is the simplest way to observe a healthy diet. You should include legumes, lean proteins, whole wheat, and vitamins in your daily meal plan.
  • More fruits and vegetables – According to the American Heart Association, you need at least 8 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. The two are a rich source of antioxidants, proteins, and minerals.
  • Unsaturated oils – Since saturated oils are not good for you, WHO insists on unsaturated options. They don’t pose a health risk and contain balanced energy.
  • Low sugar – Sugars are a leading cause of diabetes and weight gain. To manage your weight and avoid elevated blood sugar, you need to keep your blood sugar intake at a minimum. This means putting limitations on sodas and juices.
  • Low salt – Similarly to sugars, WHO recommends low levels of salt. This is another way to prevent hypertension and stroke.

Closing Thought:

There are no two ways to it – you can only live healthy if you eat healthily. It may not be simple and you may have to spend more but it’s all worth it in the long run. If you are not sure how to go about it or you want to find low-cost healthy foods, talk to a nutritionist about it but don’t do away with the idea of healthy dieting.

How Long Does a Chiropractic Adjustment Last?

One major concern among chiropractic patients is the duration that the treatment takes. Some are so cautious of their budget that they expect an adjustment to last them a lifetime or at least several years. Others are over-anxious to recover from their condition and so they want the treatment to kick-start its effects almost immediately. However, there are a few who don’t mind making regular trips to a chiropractor for wellness purposes provided they see the results. So, how long exactly should you expect a chiropractic adjustment to last you? Let’s try to answer below.

It’s Not a One-Minute Treatment

A chiropractic adjustment is done to clear disruptions on the spine that may be the reason why there’s a dysfunction on the nerve, the muscles, the bone or the joint. The disruptions are called subluxations and they are not easy to fix. So, don’t expect to walk into a chiropractor’s office and leave within a minute. Similarly, don’t expect your issue to clear within a minute of leaving the chiropractor’s office.

It usually takes time. Some take days to feel the effects and others weeks. Just think about this for a minute – How long does it take to recover from surgery? Of course, it’s never immediate. Some people are fortunate to take days while others take weeks or months. So, expect the same after a chiropractic adjustment. It all depends on the procedure and your body’s response.

Average Expectation

If you are having chiropractic adjustments for prevention or wellness purpose, expect to go through at least one adjustment a week for about 9 weeks. In such a case, you can expect to start feeling the effects almost immediately.

For pains like headaches, joints pains, and muscle pains, expect to attend 3 sessions a week for about 4 weeks. Upon completion of your program, the adjustments can last you for weeks or months depending on these four factors.

The Patient

Every patient responds differently to chiropractic adjustments. Some are quicker than others and the variation is due to the following:

  • Age – Younger patients are expected to respond much faster to chiropractic adjustments and they are also expected to enjoy the effects much longer than seniors. This is because the older you are, the less flexible you become.
  • Activity – Individuals who are living an active lifestyle respond quicker to chiropractic adjustments. They also experience long-lasting effects if compared to individuals living a sedentary lifestyle. So, if you want your adjustment to last longer, get active.
  • Fitness level – The fitter you are, the likelier you are to respond quickly to a chiropractic adjustment. This translates to a longer duration of its effects. As a result, chiropractors will advise you to keep on exercising and eating healthy after an adjustment.

Injury Type

Some injuries are more severe than others. Therefore, expect the less severe ones to heal much quicker than the severe ones. For example, a bone injury is likely to take 5-6 weeks before you can find relief after a chiropractic adjustment. If the injury is to the tendons or ligaments, expect it to take about 8 weeks to start experiencing full relief.

In case it’s cartilage or a vertebral disc that’s injured, then you may have to wait for months. The same can be said about back injuries. In the meantime, you are expected to undergo several adjustments. It doesn’t mean that you only need one adjustment to find relief. The severe the injury is, the more the adjustments you are expected to go through.

Lifestyle Modifications

When living the office of a chiropractor, expect to go out with a dozen instructions. Often, the instructions are directed towards making lifestyle changes. It’s estimated that more than 60% of chiropractic patients start getting relief after their first session because they opt to make lifestyle modifications. This is concerning:

  • Eating healthy
  • Exercising more regularly
  • Quitting smoking

So, it’s generally advisable to live a decent lifestyle if you are looking to reduce chiropractic visits and be in a position to enjoy the effects longer.

Adjustment Technique

The technique used to adjust your body has a lot to stay about how long your treatment will last. For example, manual adjustments tend to take more time to yield results and their effects are often short-lived. Instrument-aided adjustments, on the other hand, are quick to yield results and the effects are long-lasting.

The problem is that not every chiropractor uses assistive devices to offer adjustments as they are expensive and come with a few risks. You may also be expected to pay a little extra for the adjustments. But if you don’t mind the cost and have a chiropractor you can trust, going for instrument-aided adjustments is not a bad thing.

The Bonus – You Can Make Your Adjustment Last Longer

Most patients are quicker to ask how they can make their treatment last longer once they hear about the expected duration. Here are the basic tips:

  • Hydrate – You need more water to get rid of body toxins like uric acid that are known to slow down your response time to chiropractic adjustments. The more you hydrate, the likelier you are to improve the effects of your adjustment.
  • Rest well – It’s not just about having to sleep for 8 hours but being able to enjoy your sleep. The healthier you sleep, the longer you enjoy the effects of a chiropractic adjustment.
  • Sit upright – Just like it’s important to sleep well, you also need to sit upright to enjoy longer adjustment effects. You have to maintain an upright posture, more so when sitting behind a desk for hours.
  • Epsom salt – Epsom salt is great in helping your sweat more and to get rid of toxins quicker. In chiropractic, it’s important in soothing your muscles. This helps you to respond faster to an adjustment.
  • Apply ice – Ice not only reduces inflammation and pains but it also enhances circulation. This is critical in responding quickly to a chiropractic adjustment and enjoying its effects for much longer.
  • Exercise – Exercises are important in boosting muscle flexibility and circulation. So, you should learn to exercise promptly as instructed by your chiropractor to enjoy longer effects.

Closing Thought:

The duration of a chiropractic adjustment depends on several factors as discussed above, so it’s hard to put a definite timeline on it. If you are unsure if it’s time for your next adjustment, contact Cool Springs Chiropractic in Franklin, TN, and we can help!

What Does a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

Your body is aching like never before. It could be the joints, the back, the hip, or the neck. After talking to family members and colleagues about it, they recommend you see a pain specialist. While considering their suggestions, the term Doctor of Chiropractic comes into the picture and you are momentarily astounded. You ask: Who is a Doctor of Chiropractic? Are they real doctors?

A Doctor of Chiropractic or a chiropractor is a trained professional who specializes in alleviating body pains and discomfort through spinal adjustments, physical body manipulation, and lifestyle modification advice. They are not medical doctors simply because they don’t possess medical degrees. However, like medical doctors, they go through extensive college training and graduate with a degree in chiropractic.

Chiropractors are also licensed before they can practice. In the United States, these experts obtain their undergraduate degrees from institutions accredited by the Council of Chiropractic Education (CCE) and their practicing license from the American Chiropractic Association. Now that you know who a Doctor of Chiropractic is, the next question to answer is: What do they do? Generally, Doctors of Chiropractic do the following:

1. Consultant Services

Like your traditional medical doctor, a Doctor of Chiropractic offers consultation services. It’s the first step before a diagnosis is arrived at and a treatment plan is decided on. Here, the expert looks at the following factors:

  • Body parts that are paining
  • Frequency of the symptoms
  • Duration of the symptoms
  • Things that aggravate or alleviate the symptoms

So, expect a question-and-answer session during your chiropractic consultation. It’s all meant to establish your underlying problem and treat it.

2. Physical Examinations

Geared towards helping with the diagnosis, physical exams are a crucial part of chiropractic care. During physical checkups, a Doctor of Chiropractic may:

  • Determine areas on your spine that needs to be adjusted
  • Study your x-ray images to locate troubled areas on the spine
  • Observe how you behave when the paining part is touched or when you sit or walk
  • Perform neurological physical tests to assess your coordination and reflexes

3. Diagnosis Services

A Doctor of Chiropractic evaluates your problem depending on its severity. Normally, there are three categories of diagnosis offered by these experts:

  • Non-specific diagnosis – This happens when the exact route cause can’t be established but the problem is linked to the spine.
  • Nerve-related diagnosis – If the nerve is affected and it’s the reason why your body is aching, the diagnosis will be nerve-related.
  • Potentially-serious diagnosis – Here, a Doctor of Chiropractic foresees an issue that’s likely to be so serious in the future unless it’s managed early.

4. Treats Spinal Interference

The core goal of any Doctor of Chiropractic is to treat interferences on the spine called subluxations. They happen when the spine is compressed or misaligned and they are the main reason why you experience debilitating pain and discomfort on your body.

Chiropractors are trained to adjust the spine to get rid of the interferences. The experts know how to do it gently and safely without causing any structural damage to your spine or back. When the spinal interferences are gone, nerve coordination is restored and the immunity improved. Your spinal health is boosted to a greater degree.

5. Manages Pain

Ordinarily, Doctors of Chiropractic are identified as pain specialists. This is because they specialize in calming the nerves and alleviating pain. In general, they can help you manage the following types of body pains:

  • Headaches
  • Sciatica
  • Back pain
  • Neck pain
  • Arthritic pain
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Labor pains
  • Colic pain

By adjusting the spine and decompressing the affected nerve, a chiropractor restores calmness and manages pain. The adjustments are target-specific, thus effective in restoring natural body calmness.

6. Prevents Musculoskeletal Issues

Doctors of Chiropractic do not just alleviate pain and other symptoms related to musculoskeletal issues. They also offer spinal adjustments to prevent the symptoms from manifesting and the condition from becoming complicated.

The expert can also offer preventive tips that you can use at home to avoid posture complications and pains. They include:

  • How to position your body when sitting or sleeping
  • How to lift heavy things without straining your back

7. Massage and Alternative Therapies

Doctors of Chiropractic don’t just offer spinal adjustments. They also offer soft tissue massages and alternative therapies like heat and ice therapy and ultrasounds. Soft tissue massage is meant to lessen swelling and boost circulation to the affected part.

Heat ice therapy, on the other hand, is specifically meant to manage pain, swelling, and numbness. It’s designed to help you heal faster and more comfortably. As for ultrasounds, sound waves are administered to facilitate improved circulation and to lessen joint stiffness and pain.

8. Dietary Counseling

Doctors of Chiropractic may not be licensed dietitians or nutritionists, but they have the background training, more so when it touches on spinal health. So, you can talk to these experts about the dos and don’ts about foods. They’ll suggest the best foods to try out, those to limit, and options to avoid entirely. They will also recommend supplements you can use to better your spinal health.

9 Home Exercise Advice

Yes, a Doctor of Chiropractic is not a fitness expert and neither is he or she a physiotherapist. However, they have the background training to help you improve your spinal health. They can suggest simple, precise, and effective physical routines that you can do at home on your own to keep the spine well-aligned. These exercises can help prevent subluxations and poor body postures. They can also help to strengthen your back, hip, and other parts. Lots of time, they recommend stretching exercises.

10 Ergonomics Assistance

Since chiropractors are all about better spinal health, they understand what you need to do not to overstretch or overwork your spine and back. They can offer you ergonomic assistance about the following:

  • Job modifications that are good for your spinal health such as investing in better seats and observing safer sitting positions. They also advise on better office stretching exercises.
  • Home modifications like better sleeping positions and how to pick a better mattress.

Closing Thought:

Generally, Doctors of Chiropractic are trained to offer you holistic treatment. They are not just there to treat pains and other musculoskeletal-related issues but to also offer advice on lifestyle modifications. If you are interested in starting your chiropractic journey, contact Dr. Hinz at Cool Springs Chiropractic today!

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

Food can be expensive. There’s no doubt about that. However, it doesn’t mean that only healthy food is expensive. Surprisingly, junk foods are costlier at most times than healthy options. You may not agree with this if you’ve never taken time to consider healthy options that you can take on a budget. It all boils down to two key things; preparation and decision-making.

You have to prepare to only buy healthy options. You also need to be decisive on what you plan to buy on a budget. This not only saves you money but your health too. The primary source of defense for your body is the food you eat. So, the healthier your options are, the healthier your body is likely to be. Having said that; here are 10 steps to eating healthy on a budget:

Step 1 – Create and Stick to a Healthy Meal Plan

We’ve already mentioned planning as a critical point. To get you started, you need to establish your budget. Out of it, make a grocery list that features healthy food items. Ensure that it’s indicated how much you are willing to spend on every item on your grocery list. You should never visit a store on a budget if you are not decided on what to get.

Though it’s tempting to buy fancy foodstuffs when you visit a store, it’s paramount that you stick to your meal plan. In case you are left with some money after you’ve bought everything on your grocery list, you can buy the fancy stuff. But make sure they are not unhealthy.

Step 2 – Buy what’s Seasonal

Healthy foods, more so fruits, have seasons in which they are abundant in the market. This forces their prices to go down and thus affordable for someone on a budget. For example, berries, apples, and apples are normally in season during the summer. So, they are likely to be cheaper than in any other season.

On other seasons, fruits like oranges and bananas may be a cheaper option. It’s argued that foods bought in season tend to contain optimum nutrients and their flavor is desirable. This might be true considering that they are not transported or stored a lot as they are available locally.

Step 3 – Prepare Your Healthy Meals

Ordering a healthy meal from a restaurant or a meal service may be expensive. However, preparing the same meal at home may be cheaper. You are allowed to shop around for ingredients on a discount. If some ingredients are left after preparing your healthy meal, you can keep them for future use. Moreover, you can economize on expensive options like meat, butter, and spices.

Step 4 – Look for Sales and Discounts

In most stores, there are occasional sales for healthy foods. You just have to keep your eyes open when you visit them. You can also ask for the offers to save yourself some time. Often, sales are offered around holiday seasons. So, it’s a nice time to do your shopping. You should also look for discounts. Some come in the form of vouchers and others in the form of coupons. Both options will guarantee you considerable discounts. You can inquire about them at the stores that you visit.

Step 5 – Grow Your Vegetables

If you have a kitchen garden at home, it’s time you make the most out of it. Start by planting your vegetables to consume at home. This will help to cut cost on the grocery. You can plant spinach, kales, onions, and any other vegetable you prefer. The advantage is that you can decide on what seeds varieties to use and what pest control methods to apply. Simply, you are in control of your yields.

Step 6 – Buy Economical Healthy Foods

Some greens and fruits are more economical than others. Therefore, you should focus on them as they also promise beneficial nutrients similar to what you find in costly options. For example, buying cabbage and kales may be more economical than buying lettuce and broccoli. Similarly, buying bananas and oranges may be more economical than buying grapes and apples. If you are on a budget, you have to do comparisons whenever you shop.

Step 7 – Substitute Meat with Cheaper but Healthy Alternatives

You don’t have to eat meat all the time just because you want some proteins on your plate. Meat is expensive and thus may mess up your budget. Instead, you should go for plant-based alternatives like legumes. Options to consider include beans and peas. They are rich in essential amino acids that you need for muscle boost and bodybuilding. You can also consider animal-based alternatives like canned fish and eggs. Like legumes, these options are also amino acid-rich and very economical.

Step 8 – Shop in Bulk

Generally, shopping in bulk saves you money. You just have to ensure that you don’t waste your money on foods that would go bad easily. Some of the best options to consider are frozen vegetables, cereals, and legumes. If you have the money to buy them in bulk, don’t hesitate to do it right away. It’s a great strategy for saving on your monthly grocery expenditure. Most stores offer you a discount when you shop in bulk. Others allow you to earn points that you can redeem for free foods.

Step 9 –Put Your Freezer into Use

A lot of times, we ignore the freezer without realizing how much it can save us financially. When you shop in bulk, especially healthy food items on sale or those in season, you should learn to store them in the freezer for future use. This is what a freezer is meant for. You don’t have to keep your healthy foods for a month but you can do it for days or a week. This ensures that they don’t go bad, translating to financial loss. The nutrients are also locked and preserved.

Step 10 – Shop Store Brands

Lastly, you should check out healthy food items that have store labels. Most stores usually put items that have their labels next to other brands. The difference is that theirs is mostly cheap. So, make sure you keep watch. You can also inquire from the store attendants.

Closing Thought:

From now onwards, you don’t have to waste money on unhealthy diets. You don’t even to struggle to buy some mouthwatering options that you know are not healthy. Just resolve to eat healthily and make it customary in the family. This will save you money and improve your general wellbeing.

How Does Chiropractic Work

There are so many myths surrounding chiropractic as a therapy. Sadly, these myths need clarification. The most notable one is the notion that chiropractic is a self-taught discipline. The reality is that chiropractors go through at least four years of college training on the musculoskeletal system. At the end of the training, they graduate as Doctors of Chiropractic. So, a chiropractor is literary a doctor only that they don’t do prescriptions.

These experts rely on hand-on techniques for body manipulation to relieve pain and general body discomfort. There are also suggestions that chiropractic can help to manage serious issues like asthma, fibromyalgia, and hypertension. From diagnosing musculoskeletal issues to treating them, Doctors of Chiropractic can do it all. Maybe you are wondering if chiropractic care works or it’s just another hyped alternative therapy.

Research shows that about 74% of patients in the United States seek chiropractic care for pain relief. The practice is known to bring relief against varied forms of pain such as back pain, migraines, neck pain, and whiplash. So, whether your pain is due to a personal injury or an underlying condition, you should see a Doctor of Chiropractic for help. So, YES, chiropractic does work. Here are the explanations:

The Principle of Back Cracking

The term back cracking is common in the medical world, especially in physiotherapy. Contrary to the assumption of most people, back cracking has nothing to do with a cracking sound coming from the back when it’s manipulated. It’s related to a principle we call cavitation. Cavitation occurs when synovial gas (from the synovial fluid) is forced into a joint space when bones that form a joint are manipulated.

The release of the gas produces a cracking sound that’s likened to the cracking of the back. But because cavitation happens so fast, you may not even notice the cracking sound. The sound is mostly associated with the back but can also occur anywhere else where manipulation is done.

Subluxations Fixer

Subluxation is a term used to describe spinal disruptions. It could be a misalignment or a partial blockage on the spine path. Such disruptions interfere with message coordination between the spine and the brain. As a result, the immune system, which is the defensive unit, becomes restricted.

In this case, it’s not able to fight pain or infection as it’s expected to. Chiropractic care comes in to fix the disruptions. Thus, a chiropractor can be referred to as a subluxation fixer. Mark you; subluxations are cleared just by hand manipulation of the spine.

Reliable Techniques

To bring about quick body relief, chiropractors employ different techniques for body manipulation. The most notable one is a spinal adjustment. Here, a chiropractor gently puts pressure on the spine to manipulate and realign it. This helps to reduce the physical impact and stress that’s placed on the spine. The experts also do soft-tissue therapy on some patients. It’s a type of massage meant to loosen tight muscles and free them from tension.

Sometimes, a chiropractor may resort to only soft-tissue massage or combine it with spinal adjustments. It all depends on your condition. If it’s not serious, one reliable technique is enough. Another reliable technique that’s gaining popularity in the chiropractic world is joint bracing. The technique involves the use of braces to support damaged joints or bones. The mechanical support helps the damaged parts to heal much faster.

A Holistic Solution

Doctors of Chiropractic don’t just manipulate the spine to clear subluxations. They also offer lifestyle advice. This is concerning dieting and exercises. Though a chiropractor is not a dietician, the expert can advise you on what foods are good for the spine. This is because they understand spinal health much better.

Similarly, though a chiropractor is not a fitness trainer, they know what stretching exercises are good for the spine, back, and neck. So, you’ll be advised accordingly. Additionally, the expert may recommend relaxation ideas that you can use at home to offer relief to the spine and for the peace of mind.

A Preventive Approach

More often than not, chiropractic is administered for preventive purposes. So, it’s not about getting relieved from pain and other distress but the opportunity to prevent them. You’ll find a chiropractor offering you tips on how to sit, walk, and rest properly. The whole idea is to try to maintain spinal comfort.

A lot of times, issues like back pain and neck pain are triggered by spinal discomforts. Also, through body stretches and massage techniques, serious issues can be addressed at an early age before you even realize that you had a problem.

The Spine-Nervous Association

Since doctors of chiropractic are trained on the musculoskeletal system, they understand the close association between the spine (a coordination entity of the central nervous system) and the rest of the nervous system. These experts believe that the two entities have to work in harmony for pain relief and healing to be achieved.

If there is a biomechanical issue such as an injury and it happens to affect the spine, disturbing signals will be sent to the rest of the nervous system. This is how the brain perceives pain and nerve irritation. Chiropractors help to fix the biomechanical issue by realigning the spine. As a result, only positive signals are perceived by the brain. So, you can only feel relaxation and pain relief following chiropractic adjustments.

The Bonus – Research is Supportive of Chiropractic for Pain

So many musculoskeletal issues are outlined by pain. So, pain is a manifestation of things not being okay with your musculoskeletal system. This is why most chiropractic adjustments are tailored around pain relief. The positive news is that there are research-based pieces of evidence which show that chiropractic is quite effective against pain.

For example, a 2017 review suggests that chiropractic is critical in offering relief from neck pain among office-based workers. Another review shows that chiropractic helps to manage lower back pain. In the same year, a different study shows that chiropractic helps in relieving chest pain.

Closing Thought:

Chiropractic has come a long way and there’s nothing to stop it from being a reliable alternative therapy for different musculoskeletal ailments and complications. It’s proven effective and dependable over the years and enjoys research support. So, if you have an underlying musculoskeletal issue and you prefer a natural treatment, then you should consider chiropractic.

How Effective Is Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractic is an old practice where hand-on spinal adjustments are done to realign a crooked, curved or compressed spine. From the spinal adjustments, other parts of the bodies such as the back, the neck, the legs, and the shoulders are manipulated. If you were feeling pain, muscle stiffness or a strain in any of these parts, calmness is initiated through chiropractic adjustments.

Chiropractic adjustments can also be done on specific affected parts and not just the spine. In this case, a chiropractor physically manipulates the affected part. The manipulation is meant to restore mobility, muscle flexibility, and stability to the affected part. It could be a painful joint, a torn ligament, a stretched muscle or a broken bone.

Chiropractic Diagnoses: Are They Effective?

You probably don’t know this but chiropractors are also known as Doctors of Chiropractic. Like regular medical doctors, Doctors of Chiropractic have to first diagnose a patient’s condition before designing and scheduling a treatment plan. The first step is to collect the medical history of the patient. This is followed by a physical exam where the expert assesses physical signs like spinal curving, tissue tenderness, muscle soreness, and inflammation.

The expert may also look at vital parameters like blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, and body heat. In some cases, the expert may resort to neurological and orthopedic exams. The former is considered to assess problems with the nerves while the latter is considered to uncover health issues linked to the musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones). So, yes, chiropractic diagnosis is effective.

Chiropractic Treatment Techniques: Are They Effective?

Chiropractors employ different physical techniques to help patients recover from chronic pain, muscle distress, mobility restrictions, poor posture, among other issues. The most used technique, however, is a spinal adjustment. It’s done to address underlying issues like spinal curving and spinal nerve compression. The technique is very effective since it manipulates the spine to facilitate effective communication throughout the musculoskeletal system.

Other notable effective chiropractic treatment techniques are:

  • Joint mobilization
  • Soft tissue massage
  • Stretching exercises
  • Activity modification

Let’s look as some of the leading issues that chiropractic is effective against.

Back Pain

It’s estimated that about 74% of patients who visit chiropractors annually go there because of back pain. Doesn’t this sound effective to you? These people are either experiencing back pain from a muscle strain, wrong posture or a physical injury. Before a chiropractor can treat back pain, he or she has to run a successful diagnosis. The chiropractor will examine the patient, putting the focus on the back and the spine.

If things are not clear, a chiropractor may request the patient to go through a diagnostic imaging procedure. This is to obtain images that will show what is exactly wrong with the patient’s back and spine. After all, these are done, the chiropractor will settle on a conclusive diagnosis. The diagnosis will provide the basis of designing a chiropractic treatment plan for the patient.

The chiropractic treatment normally features spinal adjustments but it can also feature nutritional counseling, body rehabilitation, and lifestyle advice. It depends on the severity of the back pain. Generally, the primary objective of chiropractic treatment is to promote back pain relief. However, the expert also purposes to restore body functions and to prevent back pain from recurring.

Headaches

In terms of popularity, headaches are the second most popular ailments addressed by chiropractors, after back pain. These experts can treat headache types like migraines and tension headaches. Pieces of evidence show that chiropractic adjustments can help relieve and cure headaches in different people. Based on these studies, most patients experience a 90% drop in headache pain intensity.

As a result, chiropractic is recommended as an alternative to pain relievers. Unlike pain relievers which normally treat the main symptom (pain), chiropractic adjustments dig deep into the root cause of the headache. By attacking and fixing the root cause, chiropractic treats the main symptoms and prevents its recurrence.

Shoulder and Neck Injuries

One study shows that patients suffering from a frozen shoulder can benefit from chiropractic adjustments. According to the study, most patients experience a 50% improvement rate. Of course, combining chiropractic treatments with other effective manual therapies boost the recovery rate.

A different study done on patients with neck injuries show that chiropractic is very effective in relieving neck pain. The study concludes by expressing that a good number of the patients were satisfied with the results and wouldn’t hesitate to consider chiropractic is they faced a similar issue in the future. Chiropractic is not just effective but also cheaper than physiotherapy.

Other Conditions

Chiropractic is not just effective against back pain, headache, shoulder injuries, and neck injuries. It’s also effective against the following:

  • Joint pain
  • Insomnia
  • Vertigo
  • Scoliosis
  • Sciatica
  • Hypertension
  • Asthma
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Anxiety, among many others

Athletic Performance

Top professional athletes in the world consider chiropractic for performance-enhancing. It’s argued that a majority of NFL clubs have a permanent chiropractor on their team. This is because the team always need body stretches and adjustments before and after they step into the field. Arguments are that chiropractic is quite effective in alleviating pain and restoring the functionality of the muscles and joints. In the long run, this improves athletic performance.

Generally, chiropractic is effective in promoting athletic performance in the following ways:

  • Relieving muscle stiffness and tension, resulting in relaxation
  • Boosting natural energy levels through muscle stimulation
  • Reducing oxidative stress
  • Improving heart functions and natural immunity

Also, chiropractic can address sports injuries to help an athlete recover quickly. We are talking about injuries like neck pain, back injury, sprains, and strains. In the end, chiropractic ensures that the athlete takes minimal time to recover and can perform at a higher level upon recovery.

The Bonus – Professional Backing

Different professional bodies support chiropractic as a treatment option. The American College of Physicians, for example, recommends it for back pain. The Journal of the American Medical Association, on the other hand, advocates it for surgery prevention. Furthermore, chiropractors are certified and licensed by the American Chiropractic Association in the United States and other chiropractic bodies in other countries. Those who are approved by these bodies are reliable, thus effective.

Closing Thought:

If we were to answer our title, we would say that chiropractic is effective. So, you don’t have to doubt its performance. You can consider it not just to treat and prevent musculoskeletal issue but also for performance-enhancing. All you have to do is go to a licensed and experienced Doctor of Chiropractic.

Chiropractic Benefits for Infants

So many adults know the benefits that come with seeing a chiropractor. From managing pains to relieving stress, they go to see this expert. However, they become too shaken when the term chiropractic for infants is mentioned. Understandably, they have safety concerns. The truth is that chiropractic for infants has been found to be safe as long as it’s administered by a trained and licensed practitioner. Dr. Hinz at Cool Springs Chiropractic knows how to gently apply calculated pressure on the infant’s body so as to promote relief and healing.

With infants experiencing problems like colic, constipation, and lack of sleep so often, it’s advisable to seek out a chiropractor for your baby. Remember, these issues recur because the conventional treatments that you go for only mask the symptoms short-termly. So, the underlying issue is left unaddressed. This is where a pediatric chiropractor comes in. A lot of times, all these issues are linked to misalignments on the infant’s spine. Being a musculoskeletal expert, a chiropractor is able to realign the spine, resulting in functions restoration.

Generally, chiropractic may benefit your infant in the following ways:

  1. Manages Different Pains

Since an infant can’t talk, they can’t verbally express when they are in physical pain. This is why it’s important to observe them. Look at how they behave to identify signs of pain and body discomforts. If you are not sure about the cause or its treatment, just take the infant to a chiropractor. This expert can treat pains like headaches, back pains, arm pains, and stomach pains. Headaches, for example, may be associated with muscle tension around the neck area. A chiropractor is able to do adjustments on the affected part to bring out pain relief.

  1. Treats Colic

It’s estimated that close to 15% of infants are diagnosed with varying degrees of colic. So, colic is one of the commonest conditions today. It’s very uncomfortable for the infant as it makes the little one cry continually. Some cases disappear just like that but there are others which require expert intervention. The good thing about taking your baby to a chiropractor is that the condition is permanently addressed and recurrences are stopped. So, you won’t have to worry about your baby crying all night because of colic.

  1. Boost Physical Development

At birth, the baby only has the thoracic and sacral spinal segments. During the first year, the spine doubles up in length as the baby grows. The growth of the spine is associated with developments like head lifting and sitting. These adjustments are supposed to happen naturally. In case they are delayed, you should take your baby to a chiropractor. It’s also advisable to take your infant to the expert even when there is no delay. At least, this helps to boost the developments. Basically, it acts as a preventive approach for possible development complications.

  1. Treats Breastfeeding Complications

More often than not, breastfeeding complications are due to undetected injuries on the baby’s spine. A chiropractor is able to diagnose the injuries and fix them through spinal adjustments. Once the injuries are treated, then the baby is able to breastfeed normally.

  1. Enhances Sleep Quality

It’s estimated that nearly 30% of kids around the globe experience different kinds of sleep disturbances. They range from insomnia (lack of sleep) to sleep apnea (sleep interruptions). Saddening, the statistics also include infants. The good news though is that a chiropractor can correct the issue to bring about better sleep quality. The expert gently massages the infant’s body and renders spinal adjustments. This is meant to relax the infant. In doing so, the infant is able to respond by giving in to the demands of sleep.

  1. Solution for Irritable Syndrome

It happens to most parents that the baby is just irritable and you can’t point out exactly what might be wrong. The condition is called Irritable Syndrome. Chiropractors have the extra ability to fix the issue. Once sickness is ruled out by your trusted pediatrician, just take the baby to a chiropractor. Since Irritable Syndrome is due to spinal restrictions, a chiropractor is able to remove the restrictions by administering soft spinal adjustments. This reduces fussiness.

  1. Manages Digestive Issues

The infant’s digestive system takes time to adjust to changes that come with what they consume. If the system is not happy with the changes it shows issues like constipation, tummy ache, and gastroesophageal reflux. The advantage is that these issues can be managed by gentle chiropractic adjustments. You probably are not aware but the infant’s spine is connected to the digestive tract at some point. So, misalignment on the connection triggers the manifestation of the digestive issues. By realigning the baby’s spine, a chiropractor is able to treat the issues.

  1. Treats Post-Birth Trauma

The birth process can be as traumatic to the infant as it is to the mother. As a result, it may take time before the baby can settle into the new world. It takes proper body support to help the little one recover from the sad experience at birth. A chiropractor is able to hasten the recovery process by ensuring that the infant’s spine is well aligned. As you know, a misaligned spine is the primary source of most post-birth complications.

  1. Boosts Infant Immunity

Experts argue that spinal health is just as important as proper nutrition when it comes to the infant’s immunity. The infant’s body is made in such a way that all the organ systems are interlinked. For example, the nervous system is linked to the immune system. Thus, if the infant’s spine (a part of the nervous system) is misaligned, then the immune system gets challenged. A chiropractor is able to realign the crooked spine in order to restore immune functions and to promote natural healing.

  1. Treats Ear Infection

Like colic, ear infections are quite common among infants. As a matter of fact, it’s estimated that 83% of children experience earache at some point. Often, the issue is associated with factors like cold and sinus infection. Even though most ear infections can be managed by antibiotics, your infant could also use chiropractic adjustments. Unlike antibiotics, there are no side effects with pediatric chiropractic. Additionally, chiropractic fixes the underlying problem and not just the symptoms.

Closing Thought:

As seen, chiropractic addresses so many issues that most infants face on a regular basis. The treatment is gentle and safe for the little one. More importantly, it’s able to treat the underlying issue together with its symptoms. Contact Dr. Hinz at Cool Springs Chiropractic today!