Dr Beecher’s February 13 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, February 13th, 2012
Mental Attitude: Emotions Not On My Sleeve? Contrary to what many scientists think, all people do not have the same set of biologically “basic” emotions and those emotions are not automatically expressed on the face. People do not scowl only when they’re angry or pout only when they’re sad. For example, people do a lot of things when they’re angry, sometimes they yell and sometimes they smile.
Current Directions in Psychological Science, Jan 2012
Health Alert: Ten Ways To Decrease Cancer Risk! 1.) Max BMI of 25; 2.) 5 or more servings of fruits &
veggies daily; 3.) 7 or more portions of complex carbs daily; 4.) decrease processed foods & refined sugars;
5.) limit alcoholic drinks to 1/day for women and 2/day for men; 6.) limit red meat to no more than 3 oz daily;
7.) decrease fatty foods, particularly animal fats; 8.) limit intake of salted foods & use of salt in cooking;
9.) eliminate tobacco use; 10.) practice sun safety/recognize skin changes. American Cancer Society
Diet: Soy And Hot Flash. According to a placebo-controlled study, daily doses of a soy germ-based nutritional supplement containing S-equol decreased menopausal symptoms 59%, including significantly reducing hot
flash frequency after 12 weeks. It is believed that S-equol, produced from the isoflavone daidzein during the fermentation of soy germ, interacts with specific estrogen receptors to promote the improvement in menopausal
symptoms. Journal of Women’s Health, Jan 2012
Exercise: Colds And Exercise. Different levels of exercise can significantly increase or decrease your chances of catching a cold. If you tend to be a couch potato, then you will catch 2-3 colds per year, on average. Regular moderate exercise can reduce the risk of catching cold-like infections by 33% (this effect has been shown to be the result of the cumulative effect of exercise leading to long-term improvement in immunity). Prolonged strenuous exercise, such as marathons, can make an individual more susceptible to catching colds. We are constantly exposed to viruses, but it is our immune system that determines whether we get sick or not. Association for Science Education Conference, Jan 2012
Chiropractic: Avoid Surgery? A patient with a symptomatic lumbar disk herniation should consider spinal manipulation before surgery. JMPT, Oct 2010
Wellness/Prevention: Cancer Rates Dropping. In the last 20 years, one million deaths from cancer have been avoided. From 1990-2008, death rates dropped 23% in males and 15% in females.
CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Jan 2012
Quote: “There are no rules here – we’re trying to accomplish something.” ~Thomas A. Edison
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Headaches in Children
Houston Chiropractor Comments: Ouch! Did you know that 96% of children experienced some acute pain in the previous month? Headache, at 78%, is the most common type of pain reported. You may not have known that your child was experiencing pain. Sometimes children will show behavioral changes rather than complain of head pain. One study tested parents’ knowledge of headache vs. the children’s recollection. The children reported headache about 57.6% of the time for the previous month. Mothers, and especially fathers, tended to underestimate whether their child had suffered a headache.
It is alarming that so many children each month have headaches and 6% of schoolchildren have chronic pain. Over the past 30 years childhood migraine and “frequent headache” have substantially increased. No one really knows for sure what lifestyle changes are producing these painful trends.
Children with frequent and severe headaches are more likely to have difficulties with home life, friendships, classroom learning, and leisure activities. The child’s quality of life and life of those around them is substantially affected by headaches.
You’re probably not sure if taking pain pills at such an early age is the right thing to do. You have to be concerned because it is consumption of pills over many years that leads to problems. They’re not to be taken casually like vitamins, and serious internal bleeding or kidney problems can result from long-term use.
One study looked at headaches in childhood over a 20-year time span. They found that medication use steadily increased, and 70% were still consuming medications daily, 20 years after being originally diagnosed. Most patients had tension-type and migraine, and rated the headaches as moderate to severe. 45% of those surveyed also said that non-drug approaches were the most effective for them. There are non-drug and non-surgical approaches that have been proven effective. It is important to consider these options especially they generally don’t carry with them as many side effects.
Spinal problems in children can begin with neck trauma during delivery. Also many infants fall from a high place during the first year of their life. This can occur as the diaper is changed. These and other tumbles and traumas may cause the spinal joints to sprain, irritating the nerve. The chiropractor’s approach is to look at the child’s spinal structure to determine if there is a spinal cause for the headache. Adjustments are delivered to specifically address the areas in the spine that have sprained or subluxated to allow them to function more normally.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Dr Beecher’s October 17 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, October 17th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Don’t Worry Be Happy. The more you stay positive and happy in life, the better chance you
have of avoiding a stroke. Optimistic people have a healthier immune system, faster wound healing, and a lower risk of heart disease. So don’t worry, be happy.
Journal of The American Stroke Association and The Mayo Clinic, Aug 2011
Health Alert: Strokes On The Rise? From 1995-2008, ischemic stroke incidence rose 50% for males age 35-44;
46% for males age 15-34; and 51% for boys age 5-14. For females age 35-44, ischemic stroke incidence rose 29%;
23% for females age 15-34; and 3% for girls age 5-14. One in three ischemic stroke patients aged 15-34 had three stroke factors, while half of 35-44 year olds with ischemic stroke had hypertension. Risk factors said to be linked to
stroke risk include family history; having had a previous stroke; having had a transient ischemic attack; African Americans and those of Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Island descent have a higher risk of stroke; birth control pills; cardiovascular disease; cocaine usage; diabetes; heavy alcohol consumption; hypertension; high cholesterol; high
amino acid levels in the blood; obesity/ overweight; smoking; being over 55 years of age.
Annals of Neurology, Aug 2011
Diet: Prune Power? In the US, 8 million women have osteoporosis because of the sudden cessation of ovarian hormone production at the onset of menopause. In the first 5-7 postmenopausal years, women are at risk of losing bone at a rate of 3-5% per year. In a study, the group of women who consumed dried plums had significantly higher bone mineral density in comparison with the group of women who ate dried apples. This was due, in part, to the ability of dried plums to suppress the rate of bone resorption, or the breakdown of bone, which tends to exceed the rate of new bone growth as people age. British Journal of Nutrition, Aug 2011
Exercise: Good Reasons. Exercise reduces your anxiety level, helps control blood pressure in people with hypertension, and protects against “creeping obesity” (the slow, but steady weight gain that occurs as you age). Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, 1996
Chiropractic: Happy Patients! In this study, the average intake pain rating of patients cared for by Doctors of Chiropractic was 6.2 of 10, and the average discharge score was 1.9 of 10. 95% of the patients rated their care as “excellent.” Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics, Feb 2011
Wellness/Prevention: Ancient Bugs. When they were developed less than a century ago, scientists were surprised at how fast bacteria developed resistance to antibiotic drugs. Recently, researchers discovered antibiotic resistant genes in bacteria recovered from 30,000-year-old permafrost. This shows antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon predating the modern clinical antibiotic use. Nature, Sept 2011
Quote: “Anything that won’t sell, I don’t want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success.”
~ Thomas A. Edison
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s September 19 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, September 19th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Fat and Happiness. Humans have an intimate relationship between their emotional state and what they eat. In this study, researchers found the levels of sadness among the subjects who received fatty acids were 50% lower than those who had not. Eating fat appears to be a mood-lifter.
Journal of Clinical Investigation, July 2011
Health Alert: Rising Health Costs. The United States spent $2.3 trillion on health care in 2008, more than three times the $714 billion spent in 1990, and over eight times the $253 billion spent in 1980.
Kaiser Family Foundation, March 2010
Diet: Blueberries and Cancer. Blueberries are full of antioxidants, flavonoids and other vitamins that help reduce free radicals in cells. Free radicals can cause cellular damage, one of the factors in the development of cancer. Blueberries are rich in vitamin C, which helps the immune system and helps the body absorb
iron. Blueberry juice and other products may be nutritious but often contain less fiber than the whole fruit,
and added sugar or corn syrup may decrease their nutritional value.
University of Alabama at Birmingham, July 2011
Exercise: Eating Before Swimming? A review of 536 autopsies revealed 79.4% of those who had accidentally drowned had visible stomach contents. It’s suspected there may be a link between eating before swimming and drowning as blood is diverted to the intestine during digestion, possibly causing circulation problems while the individual is swimming. This may reduce blood flow to the brain, resulting in loss of consciousness and potentially drowning the swimmer.
Medicine, Science and the Law, July 2011
Chiropractic: Effective For Whiplash. 26 of 28 patients (93%) with chronic whiplash syndrome improved following chiropractic treatment. According to the authors, before the publication of this article, no conventional treatment was proven to be effective. Injury, November 1996
Wellness/Prevention: Investing With Prevention. Preventing heart disease before it starts is a good long- term investment in the nation’s health. Every dollar spent on building trails for walking or biking saves $3
in medical costs. Companies that invest in workers’ health with comprehensive worksite wellness programs
and healthy work environments have less absenteeism, greater productivity and lower healthcare costs.
American Heart Association, July 2011
Quote: “Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either.”
~ Albert Einstein
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s September 12 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, September 12th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Sleep Well. People who sleep 6-9 hours per night had higher self-reported scores for quality of life and lower scores for depression severity when compared to short (<6 hours per night) and long sleepers (>9 hours per night). Researchers were surprised that both sleeping less than 6 hours and more than 9 hours was associated with a similar decrease in quality of life and increase in depressive symptoms. American Academy of Sleep Medicine, August 2011
Health Alert: Depressing Statistics. Depression can affect a person’s ability to work, their ability to form relationships, and it can also destroy their quality of life. 15% of the population from high-income countries (compared to 11% for low/middle-income countries) is likely to become depressed at some point in life. Women are twice as likely to suffer depression as men, and the loss of a partner, whether from death, divorce or separation, was a main contributing factor. BMC Medicine, July 2011
Diet: Breastfeed Babies. Babies fed only on breast milk up to the age of 6 months have a lower risk of developing asthma-related symptoms in early childhood. Compared to children who were breastfed for 6 months or more, children who had never received breast milk had an increased risk of wheezing, shortness of breath, dry cough and persistent phlegm in their first 4 years.
European Lung Foundation, July 2011
Exercise: Muscle Mass and Type 2 Diabetes Risk. Higher muscle mass, relative to one’s body size, is closely linked to superior insulin sensitivity and a lower risk of developing pre-diabetes or full diabetes type 2. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, July 2011
Chiropractic: Cost Effective. A review of treatments endorsed in American Pain Society and American College of Physicians guidelines found spinal manipulation was cost-effective for subacute and chronic low back pain. European Spine Journal, January 2011
Wellness/Prevention: Sleep Well. Interrupted sleep impairs memory, as a minimum amount of continuous sleep is crucial for memory consolidation. Researchers found memory was unaffected if the average duration of sleep was maintained at 62-73% of normal.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, July 2011
Quote: “When we are well, we all have good advice for those who are ill.” ~ Terrence, 166 BC
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s August 15 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 15th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Testing Improves Memory. A study found with retrieval practice (in this case, recalling a word in English and its Lithuanian equivalent), every aspect of memory gets substantially better including “target memory” – specific recognition; “cue memory” – the stimulus that evinces the memory; and “associative memory” – the relationship between things. Association for Psychological Science, June 2011
Health Alert: Social Factors And Death. Social factors can be linked to death as readily as can patho-physiological and behavioral causes. These social factors contribute substantially to the burden of disease in the US: education, poverty, health insurance status, employment status and job stress, social support, racism or discrimination, housing conditions and early childhood stressors. Area-level social factors included area-level poverty, income inequality, deteriorating infrastructure, crime and violence, social capital and availability of open or green spaces. The numbers:
245,000 deaths in the US are attributable to low education, 162,000 to low social support, 133,000 to individual- level poverty, 119,000 to income inequality and 39,000 to area-level poverty.
American Journal of Public Health, June 2011
Diet: Olive Oil! Consuming olive oil may help prevent strokes in older people. After considering diet, physical activity, body mass index and other risk factors for stroke, the study found those who regularly used olive oil for both cooking and as a salad dressing had a 41 percent lower risk of stroke. Olive oil has been associated with protective effects against many cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. American Academy of Neurology, June 2011
Exercise: High Blood Pressure In Young People? 20% of young American adults may have high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure have a much higher risk of stroke and heart disease, the leading cause of death among adults in the US. It is also a condition that often shows no signs or symptoms, and many otherwise healthy people who have it first find out when a health professional measures their blood pressure. The findings are significant because they indicate many young adults are at risk of developing heart disease, but are unaware they have hypertension. Epidemiology, May 2011
Chiropractic: Chiropractic First For Back Pain. “For patients with low back pain in whom manipulation is not contraindicated, chiropractic almost certainly confers worthwhile, long-term benefits in comparison with hospital outpatient management.” British Medical Journal, 1990
Wellness/Prevention: Watch Your Weight At 18. Men who had the highest Body Mass Indices (being overweight or obese) at age 18 were 35% more likely to die from cancer later in life. The link is apparent even if they reduce their weight during middle age. Medical Research Council, June 2011
Quote: “In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments – only consequences.” ~ Robert Ingersol
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr Beecher’s August 8 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
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WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, August 8th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Cheer Up! 10% of middle-aged Europeans took antidepressants in 2010. The probability of taking an antidepressant is greatest among those middle-aged, female, unemployed, with low levels of education, and divorced or separated. This pattern is consistent with the recent finding across the world that happiness and mental health follow an approximate U-shape through life (mid-life crisis). University of Warwick, June 2011
Health Alert: No Safe Amount! The blood-alcohol limit may be 0.08% when driving, but no amount of alcohol seems to be safe. This study examined official data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The researchers used FARS because it is nationally comprehensive, covering all US counties, all days of the week and all times of day, and reports on blood-alcohol content in increments of 0.01. Accidents are 36.6% more severe even when alcohol was barely detectable in a driver’s blood. Even with a BAC of 0.01, there are 4.33 serious injuries for every non-serious injury versus 3.17 for sober drivers. Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2011
Diet: Slow Gains? An average adult gains one pound per year. Small changes in diet, consumption of beverages, physical activity, watching TV, and sleep duration were most strongly linked to long-term weight gain. The idea of “eat less and exercise more” may be too simplistic a weight-loss strategy, as it is the quality of food that matters most and making a handful of small, targeted changes is likely to be most effective.
New England Journal of Medicine, June 2011
Exercise: Kids Not Making Grade! Only a small percentage of youth meet the objective for aerobic and muscle- strengthening activities as outlined in the Healthy People 2020 physical activity guidelines. The data revealed 15.3% of students met the aerobic objective, 51% met the muscle-strengthening objective, and only 12.2% met both objectives. US Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
Chiropractic: Safe For Neck Pain? For the treatment of neck pain, cervical manipulation is much safer than the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – which are often used as the ‘conventional’ first-line treatment for similar musculoskeletal conditions – by “a factor of several hundred times.”
Journal of Manipulative Physiotherapy, 1996
Wellness/Prevention: Bone Up With Blueberries. Compounds in blueberries might have a powerful effect on the formation of strong, healthy bones. Studies with rats suggest polyphenols, the compounds that give blueberries their blue, purple, and red coloration, might aid in building strong bones. Animals fed rations containing 10% freeze-dried blueberry powder had significantly more bone mass than their counterparts whose rations were blueberry-free. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2010
Quote: “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” ~Thomas Edison
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Dr. Beecher’s July 4th, 2011 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Monthly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, July 4th, 2011
Mental Attitude: Suicidal Teens And Eating Disorders. Teens 13-18 years old suffering from anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders are more likely to suffer from suicidal thoughts, anxiety disorders and substance abuse. 0.3% of the teens surveyed reported suffering from anorexia nervosa and 0.9% from bulimia nervosa. A full 1.6% suffered from binge eating disorder. One third of those with bulimia actually attempted suicide. 15% of those with binge eating had and about
8% of those with anorexia had attempted the same. 55-88% of teens with eating disorders also reported such problems as anxiety, depression, or a behavioral disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, May 2011
Health Alert: Uninsured Unable To Pay Hospital Bills. 50 million Americans are uninsured. Most uninsured people have virtually no savings, half with less than $20 net worth. Half of families with income at 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, or $89,400 a year, have financial assets below $4,100. Every year, 2 million uninsured Americans are hospitalized, with 58% of these hospital stays resulting in bills of more than $10,000. US Dept Health and Human Services, May 2011
Diet: Weight Management Tips. 1.Fruit. Fruit contains vitamins, antioxidants and fiber. Consumption of fiber is associated with lower body weight and gives a feeling of fullness. 2. Keep hydrated. Feeling tired or hungry? You may just be thirsty. Drink at least 6 glasses of water a day. Water helps your body transport nutrients and eliminate toxins. 3.
Close the kitchen. When you finish a meal, clean the dishes and turn off the lights. Tell yourself the kitchen is now closed.
Family Features, April 2011
Exercise: Exercise and Colds. Regular exercise helps jump-start the immune system, thus helping to reduce the number of colds, flu and other viruses. Mayo Clinic, May 2011
Chiropractic: The Nervous System Connected To The Immune System? The neurotransmitter norepinephrine is present in sympathetic nerve fibers that innervate lymphoid organs and act on the spleen. Norepinephrine in lymphoid organs plays a significant role in the regulation of the immune system. Stressful conditions lead to altered measures of immune function, and altered susceptibility to a variety of diseases. Many stimuli, which primarily act on the central nervous system, can profoundly alter immune responses. The two routes available to the central nervous system are neuroendocrine channels and autonomic nerve channels. The Chiropractic Research Journal, 1994
Wellness/Prevention: Minutes Of Exercise A Day Can Keep The Pain Away. As little as 2 minutes of exercise a day can reduce pain and tenderness in adults with neck and shoulder problems. After 10 weeks, the 2-minutes-per-day exercise group experienced significant reductions of neck and should pain (decreased 1.4 points out of 10) and tenderness (decreased 4.2 points out of 32). The 12-minutes-per-day exercise group had slightly larger reductions in pain and tenderness (an extra .5 and .2 points, respectively). American College of Sports Medicine, May 2011
Quote: “Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.” ~ Lance Armstrong
This Weekly Health News Update is compliments of Dr. Ward Beecher and Beecher Chiropractic Clinic. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 281-286-1300 or www.BeecherChiropractic.Com.
Headaches: A New Perspective on an Old Problem
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: It’s remarkable to consider how many different types of pain relievers there are for headaches. Not just the corner drug stores but also supermarkets, convenience stores, and gas stations keep an abundant supply. Aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, is consumed daily in America by the truckloads.
Have you ever thought about how we approach a health problem or symptom? Too often it’s a knee-jerk reaction were we pop a pill for whatever ails us. Rarely do we ask why there is a headache? What is causing this headache?
It is very well established that there are many causes for headaches. Chemical imbalances in the body can of course cause head pain such as in dehydration or intoxication.
But in large part, the pill stock in gas stations isn’t targeted to the occasional hangover, it supplies the masses who suffer with tension headaches, migraines, and headaches due to mechanical neck disorders (e.g. whiplash). So what is the pill actually doing chemically? This varies from pill to pill. The side effects can range from stomach bleeding, to liver and kidney problems. Most people who take these medications have pain for years and decades. It is long-term use that is especially detrimental to the body. Headaches are a chronic disease and it is likely there will be triggers for you for many years to come.
Prescription NSAIDs and pain pills are usually much more powerful unless you’re doubling up on over-the-counter drugs. With prescription patches and pills it is easy to get addicted if taken over the long run.
But there is a different way to see the problem than the chemical approach. Although the mode of action of these different drugs changes, an important fact remains that they do not treat mechanical problems of the neck. If your headache is being caused by a joint injury in the neck, no amount of drug can correct this postural fault.
How would I know if my headache is really a spine problem? It could be that you notice stiffness in the neck or maybe it’s harder to look over one shoulder. If your headaches are accompanied by a lot of shoulder and neck stiffness and tension, this is a sign of a spine cause. In some cases though, the spine symptoms are very mild, so it is easy to see why patients rarely make the connection in their minds.
A thorough examination is needed to determine if your headache is being caused by a spine injury. X-rays are often used to precisely determine the positions of your spinal vertebrae. They also show the condition of the discs, and any degeneration from older spine injuries.
Several clinical trials have shown chiropractic adjustments are effective for patients with tension-type and migraine headaches. After the spinal problem is corrected, we can show you ways to prevent future problems.
By identifying the cause of your headache, you’ve changed your thinking to looking past the pain and asking why? Now take the time to fix your problem.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com. or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Stress and Headaches
How does stress affect your wellbeing? And how is stress related to getting headaches? There are many paths to this and I will discuss the most common ways stress can make you more headache prone.
Stress can affect our sleep. Americans just do not get enough sound, restful and restorative sleep. Studies suggest that few of us get the necessary eight hours each night. Tossing and turning, and simply not recovering from the previous day, adds tension to your morning. Sleep deprivation itself can lead to headaches. Sometimes we compensate for this by taking in a lot of caffeine each day, which can then create a vicious cycle, making us jittery and affecting our ability to fall asleep later that night.
How we react to it stress also affects us. Some of us literally “take it out’ on our bodies, channeling the stress into our neck and shoulders. This can cause tension-type headaches where the back muscles of your neck are tight and ropey. “Knots” in the muscles can develop, sending shooting pains into your head, as if it’s trapped in a vise, being squeezed by the muscle tension.
Stress can affect us by disrupting our normal healthy routine. Instead of eating right and exercising, we resort to eating junk foods and avoiding the gym. Over-eating and not maintaining a healthy weight can add to the stress on our body, the spine, and our heart.
A lot of us think we handle stress well and just need a two-week vacation to get back on track. But really, two weeks off does little to change your life for the other fifty weeks during the year. The key is to learn how to handle and deal with stressors on a “day to day” basis. Sometimes, it’s a spinal injury that is not corrected that adds to a stressful feeling. Sometimes, it’s conflict at work or at home, that is simply not getting resolved. Are we ourselves taking time out to smell the roses?
Each day, try to do something positive for yourself, and resist the temptation to worry about the future and fret about the past. Take each day as it comes and try to have positive thoughts. These practices can help improve your outlook and perspective. There’s a lot to be said for the person who wears “rose-colored glasses,” or the person who can just let the water “run off of the duck’s back.”
Try a different attitude in approaching the stressful things in your life. Sometimes just getting things into perspective and not stressing the small stuff are important to leading a more stress-free life, and enjoying the hidden pleasures that life brings to us each and every day.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
