Headaches from the Neck?
To download a copy of this newsletter, please click here.
Chiropractor in Clear Lake City, TX comments: Cervicogenic headache is the term used to describe a headache that has its cause in the neck region. It used to be thought headaches were caused by something in the head itself, but researchers have now learned that neck injuries can produce head pain.
A study from Norway (Acta Neurol Scand 2007;Nov.20; Sjaastad O, Bakketeig LS) showed that about 4% of the population will have this type of headache. Taking medications to cover the pain will not ultimately correct a mechanical neck problem.
The symptoms of a cervicogenic headache are as follows: one-sided head pain and same side shoulder and arm pain. Patients also have limited mobility of the neck region. Rarely a patient may also have a migraine trait such as nausea, vomiting, or throbbing sensations. Because of these different signs from a typical migraine headache a physician may have overlooked the neck as a potential source for the cause of your head pain. Self-diagnosing your headache can be even worse since potentially serious causes of your head pain, such as high blood pressure may go undiscovered and left untreated. In any case it’s unlikely that your headache has been caused by a deficiency of pain pills in your diet. There are also unintended side effects that have to be considered when weighing any health care option.
Another study from Norway (Funct Neurol 2007;22:145; Drottning M, Staff PH, Sjaastad O) looked at causes of cervicogenic headaches, specifically whiplash injuries of the neck. In this study, 587 whiplash patients were followed over a six-year period. About 8% of the whiplash sufferers developed a cervicogenic headache six weeks after the initial trauma. Thirty-five percent of these patients were still suffering six years later.
Our clinic specializes in the treatment spine-caused head pain especially cervicogenic headache. To determine this we have to perform a comprehensive examination of your spine to see if sprains of your cervical or thoracic joints are present and review whether you’ve suffered a trauma in years past that could have affected the posture and mobility of these delicate spinal structures.
For patients who do not go down the road of medications for treating their neck pain in Houston, chiropractic care can be a more healthful option.
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!
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Headaches
To download a copy of this newsletter, please click here.
Clear Lake Doctor of Chiropractic comments: Headaches are letting you know that there is a problem. Our bodies often let us know there is something not quite right, but are we listening? Too often in life, with hectic day to day schedules, getting the kids to school and so on, we cannot be troubled by these little warning signs. So we often just take a pill to mask the pain and get on with our lives. But is this the best way to react to a warning, a signal?
Headaches Are a Warning Sign that Something Isn’t Right
If the smoke alarm shrilled in your home, what would you do? I hope you would get out as quickly as possible and call 911. Would you say to yourself, “maybe it will go away?” I hope not. And if there were a fire, would stopping the alarm help a raging inferno? Most likely this will help things very little.
What if the alarm started to give little beeps (letting you know to change the battery). Would you change it with a fresh one or just remove it from the device?
I think most homeowners know the answers to these simple questions. And you would think that we would give the same correct concern when are bodies give us warning signals.
Unfortunately we often pay more attention to warning signs from our homes and automobiles (like that little clicking sound), than the most important house of all – our bodies.
When your neck muscles ache, this is a signal. When you turn your head and hear clicking sounds, this is another signal. And when a headache occurs, the signal is getting louder and louder. But are we listening?
It’s better to think of these signals as just that, signals- not the actual problem. So when you take a drug to stop the signal, rarely is the actual problem being addressed.
So how are your signals and alarms?
Do you seem to take medications on a weekly or daily basis? A headache pill here and there is rarely an issue. But incorporating pain pills as part of your daily diet may be a health concern. They are not considered one of the five basic food groups. Side effects from these types of medications are rare, but the risks do increase with long-term use. Do you go through a small bottle each month?
Houston Headache Relief
If you are experiencing frequent headaches, contact Dr. Beecher for Houston headache relief. 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 contact us by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Dr Beecher’s October 2013 Monthly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Monthly Newsletter, please click here!
“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others
and the world remains and is immortal.” ~ Albert Pine
New Research Shows
How Sugary Drinks
Are Probably Harming Children As Young
As 2 To 5 Years Old…
Also this month:
- Study Shows The Negative Effects Of Facebook Photos: Research shows sharing pictures of yourself on Facebook may have a significant negative impact on real-life relationships.
- Wonder Twin Powers Have Been Activated! How New England twins Frances and Lucas Rosa turned tragedy into incredible success and have become role models for children, teens, and young adults all over the world.
Houston – Earlier this year, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a ban that would stop restaurants, delis, movie theaters, food carts, and stadiums from selling certain sugary drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces as a way to help combat obesity in the city. As you can imagine, there was enormous public and political backlash.
Eventually, an appeals court ruled against the proposed ban just before it could go into effect, citing that it was an overreach of executive power. While it may not be Mayor Bloomberg’s place to tell you or your children not to drink sugary drinks, research has tightly linked sugar-sweet beverage consumption to weight gain among older children. But what about younger children?
New research published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, studied 9,600 children from birth to age five. The researchers found correlations between sugary drink consumption by children as young as two years old and weight gain in later years. The drinks examined in the study were sodas, sports drinks, and any other sugar-added beverages or juice drinks that were not 100 percent juice.
Because of the study’s size and length of follow-up, many experts believe the information to be very valuable.
According to Dr. Dyan Hes, Medical Director of Gramercy Pediatrics in Manhattan, who has been lobbying for public policies like soda taxes that would make these drinks less attractive to families, “It’s a fantastic study because we need more evidence… We know that sugar-sweetened beverages are the greatest contributor to increased obesity in young children because they’re cheap. It shows that by giving your children sugar-sweetened beverages by age two, you’ve already set up habits that are very hard to break.”
Here’s what is really important about this study: The study did not find that two year olds who drank at least one sugar-sweetened drink to be any heavier than other two year olds. But, drinking just one sugary drink per day did set those toddlers up for weight gain in the near future. In fact, the children who drank at least one sugary drink per day were already heavier by the age of five.
According to Scientific America: In fact, they were 1.43 times more likely to be obese than preschoolers who consumed sugary drinks less than daily, even after accounting for other factors that could influence weight gain. Mark DeBoer, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Virginia, says the findings support the hypothesis that regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has a cumulative effect over time. “We were struck by this data that even at a very young age, the sugar-sweetened beverages contribute to weight gain… and we wanted to put this information out for pediatricians and for families to help them make healthier choices for their children.”
Why Do Sugary Drinks Cause
So Much Weight Gain?
The answer to that question is most likely two-fold. First, is simple caloric intake.
Sugary drinks are full of “empty calories.” In other words, they contain very little (if any) nutritional value but are high in calories. These calories, because they are liquid, do not make you feel full. So someone drinking all these empty calories will still need to eat solid food to feel full, increasing the total amount of calories consumed in a day. The second reason is how your body chemically reacts to sugar. These types of drinks are usually loaded with fructose. Fructose can be harmful to your body by setting up the conditions for not only obesity, but also diabetes.
This “junk sugar” unstabilizes blood sugar levels and makes your pancreas work overtime. Your pancreas is the organ responsible for secreting the hormone insulin so the sugar in your blood stream can be absorbed by cells. After years of sugar consumption, the pancreas may “wear out” and an individual could become a type 2 diabetic.
Many type 2 diabetics start taking insulin injections when the better solution for many may to manage their blood sugar levels may simply be proper diet and exercise. However, the best solution is to prevent the condition altogether by limiting consumption of bad sugar, such as sugary drinks (along with a proper diet and regular, moderate exercise).
Here Is Something Disturbing…
A UCLA study published in the Journal of Physiology is the first to show how a steady diet high in fructose can damage your memory and learning.
Researchers investigated the effects of high-fructose syrup. It’s similar to high-fructose corn syrup, a cheap sweetener six times sweeter than cane sugar which is used in most soft drinks, processed foods, condiments, and even many baby foods.
They fed rats a fructose solution instead of clean drinking water for six weeks. Then, they tested their ability to remember the way out of a maze.
The results were quite shocking. The rats fed fructose syrup struggled to negotiate the maze, demonstrating significant impairment in their cognitive abilities. They were slower and their brains showed a decline in synaptic activity. Their brain cells had trouble signaling each other, disrupting the rats’ ability to think clearly and recall the route they’d learned six weeks earlier.
Additionally, the fructose-fed rats showed signs of resistance to insulin, a hormone that controls your blood sugar and synaptic function in your brain.
Researchers concluded that a high-fructose diet negatively affects the way the brain functions. According to Dr. Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, a Professor of Neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and a Professor of Integrative Biology and Physiology in the UCLA College of Letters and Science, “Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think… Eating a high-fructose diet over the long-term alters your brain’s ability to learn and remember information.”
Don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. Contact us with your questions. We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in providing you natural pain relief.
Inspirational Story Of The Month
(Names And Details May Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
Wonder Twin Powers
Have Been Activated!
How New England Twins Frances and Lucas Rosa Turned Tragedy Into Incredible Success and Have Become Role Models For Children, Teens, and Young Adults All Over The World.
Without the bad, how could we value the good? Without tragedy, how can we truly experience and understand happiness? These puzzling paradoxes are what often make life both difficult and wonderful.
New England twins, Frances and Lucas Rosa, are no strangers to these very paradoxes. At only 16 years of age, they have turned unimaginable tragedy into incredible success, and they are an inspiration for children, teens, and adults all around the world.
Frances and Lucas lost their older brother Vincent when they were only eight. About six months later, they lost another brother, Dominick. Dominick was taken at the age of 21 by heroin and Vincent passed at age 23 by a Fentanyl patch, a painkiller like morphine commonly used for cancer patients. Both had struggled with substance abuse for several years.
There is an old saying that goes something like this: There are only two kinds of people in the world when the going gets tough. Those who run away, cringe, and cower, and those who stand up and fight with all they’ve got. The Rosa twins are the latter… times ten.
Frances and Lucas made the decision to use their brothers as motivation to become the best people they can be and to help others along the way.
Both Frances and Lucas are on the Winnacunnet High School wrestling team, and according to their coach, they are the hardest working kids on the team. They have been extremely successful wrestlers, with both ranked in the top 10 in their state.
But, these two “wonder twins” are much more than just tough wrestlers. At the age of only 16, they are also published authors! They wrote the book Cryptidpedia: The Encyclopedia of Unexplained Phenomena, Strange Places and Rumored Creatures Not Yet Proven Real completely by themselves from ages 12 to 16. The book is 312 pages long and has an incredible illustration on each page, accompanied by a short paragraph description.
Clearly, the Rosa twins have achieved more by the age of 16 than most people twice their age by understanding that life is all about one thing: perspective. The definition of perspective is: The proper or accurate point of view or the ability to see it.
Frances and Lucas have the ability to do what most 40 year olds cannot. They understand that life is not easy. It is not all fun and games. In fact, it is not fair, and it will kick you in the teeth sometimes. They have embraced the difficulties and challenges of life, and made the conscious decision to use it as motivation to even greater success.
Every time life kicks, they kick harder. Due to their perspective and ability to think accurately and take action, they will ALWAYS be successful at WHATEVER they choose to do.
We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and
getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger!
Don’t be a stranger. You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!
Did You Know?…
5 Things You May Not Know
Do you the ideal temperature for optimal sleep? Did you know that a certain type of food can help alleviate a migraine headache? What about belly fat, where does that come from? Here’s the inside scoop on these and other little-known facts…
- Half of American adults do not get enough sleep. While many factors may play a part, one simple thing you can do to sleep better is to lower the thermostat. The ideal temperature for sleep is around 68 degrees. If you’re having trouble sleeping, drop it down to about 65 degrees.
- While certain supplements can help alleviate migraines, beans are a surprising natural alternative. Black beans, kidney beans, and chickpeas all are rich in magnesium, which plays a critical role in alleviating headaches.
- Certain foods and vitamins can actually help elevate your mood and alleviate some symptoms of mild depression. Among the most beneficial foods to lift your spirits are dark chocolate, salmon, and dark-colored vegetables (such as peppers and broccoli).
- Prolonged stress results in increased production of cortisol, our primary stress hormone. This increase in cortisol triggers an ancient biochemical reaction in us, and as a result, the body responds as if it is starving and automatically stores fat in the belly. While stress may be a major cause of belly fat, alcohol can make it even harder to lose. Aside from the sugar and the calories involved, it is the way in which alcohol is metabolized by the liver and its biochemical effects on your hormonal balance that contributes to belly fat production.
- We’ve all heard that carrots are great for the eyes, but spinach and salmon are actually two of the most beneficial foods for your eyesight. The combination of antioxidants in the spinach and the omega-3 fatty acids in the fish can strengthen and protect your eyes.
Tip Of The Month
What Not To Do On Facebook
If You Want Great Relationships!
If you are on Facebook, this information might be very important to you. Why? New research from the University of Birmingham, University West of England, and the University of Edinburgh has found that sharing pictures of yourself on Facebook might have a significant negative impact on your real-life relationships. According to CBS News, “People who frequently post photos to Facebook can’t control how their various ‘friends’ will perceive the posts. It’s worth remembering that the information we post to our ‘friends’ on Facebook actually gets viewed by lots of different categories of people [including] partners, friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances,” said Dr. David Houghton, lead author of the report… and each group seems to take a different view of the information shared. Our research found that those who frequently post photographs on Facebook risk damaging real-life relationships. This is because people, other than very close friends and relatives, don’t seem to relate well to those who constantly share photos of themselves.”
The study also found that people who share a lot of pictures of themselves tend to have less intimacy and closeness in their real relationships. The researchers also discovered that people who shared pictures for advertisers (with pictures of products) were viewed negatively. In other words, you may be helping the brand awareness of the product while also damaging your own personal relationships.
Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal
and maintain the pain free body you deserve.
This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without a thorough exam or appropriate referral. If you have any further concerns or questions, please let us know at 281-286-1300.
Dr Beecher’s September 23 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, September 23rd, 2013
Mental Attitude: Tidy Or Messy Desk? According to research, disorderly environments (like an untidy desk) seem to inspire breaking free of tradition, which can produce fresh insights and creativity. Orderly environments, in contrast, encourage convention and playing it safe. Psychological Science, August 2013
Health Alert: Clean Water and Soap Please! Stunting, or a reduced growth rate, affects 165 million children worldwide and results in long-term impacts on physical and mental development, increasing the risk of mortality, and reducing productivity in adulthood. Researchers identified 14 studies conducted in low and middle-income countries that provided data on the effect of water, sanitation, and hygiene programs on the physical growth of children. Clean drinking water and effective hand washing could reduce the prevalence of stunting in children under age five by 15%.
Cochrane Review, August 2013
Diet: Obesity and Sleep. Brain scans of people after a sleepless night show that sleeplessness reduces the so-called higher order powers of our brain and creates an excessive response in more primitive parts of the brain. Researchers say this combination of brain activities may lead to poor food choices, such as eating junk food.
Nature Communications Journal, August 2013
Exercise: Is Hot Yoga Safe? The concern that heated yoga classes (those with temperatures ranging from 90-95°F) are dangerous is unfounded. However, it is important to properly hydrate before, during, and after class. It can take 10-14 days to fully acclimate to exercising in the heat. American Council on Exercise, June 2013
Chiropractic: Headaches and Your Neck. For some headache patients, the three nerves that exit the top of the spine (upper neck) may be at least partially responsible for their headaches. These three nerves travel into the head and have to pass through a very thick group of muscles in the upper part of the neck near where these muscles attach to the base of the skull. This is why when you have headaches and rub the back of the neck, the muscles may feel tight and or tender. In fact, if enough pressure is applied over one of these three nerves, pain will radiate into the head following the course of
the nerve, sometimes all the way into the eyes. When chiropractic treatment is applied in the upper neck region, a reduction of the headache and neck pain may occur because the muscle tension is decreased and joint motion is restored. Steve Yeomans, D.C., April 2010
Wellness/Prevention: Don’t Take Your Team’s Loss So Personally. Seeing your team lose can cause you to eat more sugars and saturated fats, especially in close games that are lost at the last second. However, researchers found you can counteract this behavior by simply writing down what’s most important in your life immediately after the game. Psychological Science, August 2013
Quote: “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.” ~ Bill Nye
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 BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s July 8 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, July 8th, 2013
Mental Attitude: The First Three Years and Aggression. Children who witnessed domestic violence before age three were more likely to show aggression when they reached grade school, even if they were removed from their home and witnessed no domestic violence in the interim. According to Dr. Megan Holmes, the study’s lead author, “[This] gives social workers a window of opportunity between ages 3 and 5 to help the children socialize and learn what is appropriate behavior.” Psychology and Psychiatry, March 2013
Health Alert: Alarming Cancer Rates! By 2020, nearly 47% of people will get cancer in their lifetime, but almost
38% will survive the disease. One reason more people are getting cancer is because we are living longer and the incident rate of cancer increases with an aging population. The reduction in the number of people dying of cancer is
because more cases are diagnosed earlier and treatments and care are improving.
Macmillan Cancer Support, June 2013
Diet: TV Exposure? More time in front of the TV set and higher exposure to TV ads leads to increased consumption of sweetened beverages among children. Each additional hour in front of the TV increased the likelihood of regular sweetened beverage consumption by 50%. Only one parent in seven indicated that they tried to reduce their children’s exposure to TV ads. The same parents stated that their children were less prone to drink soft drinks and other sweetened beverages. Children of parents who were less strict about TV ads were twice as likely to consume sweetened beverages every week. University of Gothenburg, Sweden, June 2013
Exercise: Soccer and Diabetes. After three months of soccer training, the hearts of diabetic men appeared to be 10 years “younger”. On average, soccer training reduced the systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 8 mmHg. Maximal oxygen uptake was increased by 12% and that their intermittent exercise capacity was elevated by 42%.
University of Copenhagen, June 2013
Chiropractic: No Headaches! Cervical spine manipulation was associated with significant improvement in reducing headache symptoms involving patients with neck pain and/or neck dysfunction and headache.
Duke Evidence Report, 2001
Wellness/Prevention: Not So Smart. Smartphones and tablets can disturb sleep. The cause is due to the bright light-emitting diodes that can interfere with melatonin, a hormone that controls the natural sleep-wake cycle. Dimming the smartphone or tablet brightness settings and holding the device at least 14 inches (~.36m) from your face while using it will reduce these negative effects. Mayo Clinic, June 2013
Quote: “Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.” ~ Winston Churchill
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 BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s June 24 Weekly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Weekly Newsletter, please click here!
WEEKLY HEALTH NEWS UPDATE
Week of Monday, June 24th, 2013
Mental Attitude: Depression and Stroke Risk in Middle-Aged Women. A 12-year study of over 10,000 middle- aged Australian women found that those who suffered from depression had nearly double the risk of stroke compared to non-depressed women in their same age group. The American Heart Association encourages everyone to learn how to recognize a stroke. Think F.A.S.T: F-Face Drooping. A-Arm Weakness. S-Speech Difficulty. T- Time To Call 9-1-1 (or the appropriate emergency services number if you’re outside the United States).
American Heart Association, May 2013
Health Alert: Childhood Disability On The Rise! In the United States, disabilities due to neurodevelopmental and mental health problems increased 16.3% during the first decade of the current century. Six million kids had a disability in 2009-2010, that’s almost 1 million more than in 2001-2002. Pediatric Academic Society, May 2013
Diet: Brain Rewards. Restricting food intake increases the reward value of food, particularly high-calorie and appetizing food. The more successful people are at caloric-restriction dieting, the greater difficulty they will face in maintaining the restriction. Dieting by skipping meals and fasting is less successful than weight loss efforts characterized by intake of low energy, dense, healthy foods. If people want to lose excess weight, it would be more effective to consume healthy, low-fat/low-sugar foods during regular meals, rather than go for long periods of time without eating. NeuroImage, May 2013
Exercise: It’s Not Too Late To Cut Heart Failure Risk! In an eight year study, middle-aged participants drastically reduced their risk of heart failure up to 40% by increasing their cardiovascular fitness level. American Heart Association, May 2013
Chiropractic: No Headaches! Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) is an effective treatment for tension headaches. In a study, patients who received SMT continued to benefit from care even four weeks after treatment concluded. This is in contrast to patients who received pharmaceutical therapy; they reverted to baseline values when checked a month after treatment ended. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 1995
Wellness/Prevention: Fish Oil, Your Heart, and Stress. A new study finds that regular consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids (most commonly found in cold water fish like Salmon) improves cardiovascular health by dulling the connection between mentally stressful events and cardiovascular functions like heart rate, blood pressure, the fight- or-flight response, and blood flow. Those who frequently find themselves in stressful situations may benefit from adding Omega-3s to their diet. American Physiological Society, May 2013
Quote: “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
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 BeecherChiropractic.com .
Dr Beecher’s September 2012 Monthly Chiropractic Newsletter
To download Dr. Beecher’s Monthly Newsletter, please click here!
“We may go to the moon, but that’s not very far.
The greatest distance we have to cover still lies within us.” – Charles de Gaulle
Hugs Not Drugs?
New Research Reveals
The Healing Power Of Touch
Also in this issue:
- Natural Mosquito Repellents That Work and Which Ones Are Rip-Offs!
- When Should You See A Doctor For Headaches?
Blade Runner: Oscar Pistorius makes Olympic history as the first double amputee to compete. Find out why some say he shouldn’t be there…
Houston – Maybe the popular rock n’ roll band U2 had it right back in 1991, in their hit song Mysterious Ways with the lyric, “To touch is to heal.”
However, they weren’t the first to make the claim. The healing power of touch has been written about since close to the dawn of civilization. To many, there was no scientific evidence to back it up and so it had no place in the healing arts.
Here’s an interesting example that shows one BIG flaw with that kind of thinking…
Let’s say you have a bucket filled to the top with water. What happens if you stick your fist in the bucket?
The water in the bucket will overflow, right?
This is because your fist displaces water in the bucket, causing the water level to rise (and ultimately spill over the top).
If the bucket was not already full, then the water would rise in proportion to the volume of the fist and the change could easily be measured.
Now, think about this…
What happens when you put your fist in the ocean? Your fist displaces the exact same amount of water it did in the bucket.
But wait, did the ocean rise?
The answer: Yes. The water level in the ocean rose. It rose in such a small amount that we do not have measuring devices sensitive enough to measure it. So, even though we cannot readily measure and prove it rose, we know it happened.
Hmmm. Very interesting.
The truth of the matter is: There are many things that happen that we simply cannot measure.
That’s one of the reasons science is so fascinating. New ways of measuring and testing are constantly developed to uncover the many mysteries of the universe.
Just because science has not yet “proven” something does not mean it is not true or does not exist. One great example of this is the probable discovery of what is being called, “the God particle.”
According to ABC News:
After decades of careful experiment, physicists say they have found the ‘strongest indication to date’ to prove the existence of the Higgs boson — a subatomic particle so important to the understanding of space, time and matter that the physicist Leon Lederman nicknamed it ‘the God particle.’
The announcement today, based on experiments at the Department of Energy’s Fermilab near Chicago and other institutions, is not the final word, but it’s very close. And it comes just before a major meeting this week in Australia, where more findings will be announced from the giant underground particle accelerator at CERN, the great physics lab in the Alps on the French-Swiss border.
“This is one of the cornerstones of how we understand the universe,” said Rob Roser, a Fermilab physicist, “and if it’s not there, we have to go back and check our assumptions about how the universe exists.”
Until very recently, researchers did not have the technology to discover this particle. So, did it not exist before 2012?
What about the healing power of touch? An article published in Scientific American (July 11, 2011) reads, “A team led by Professor Ron Frostig of the University of California, Irvine, induced strokes in rats by blocking an artery to the brain. The researchers then stimulated their whiskers, intending to measure the rats’ brain activity to learn how the stroke damage affected sensory functions. Instead they found that if they vibrated a single whisker within two hours of the stroke, neurons that ordinarily would have died continued to function normally, and the rats ended up with no paralysis or sensory deficits. The exact mechanism of the protective effect is not clear, but it seems to involve a rerouting of blood through undamaged veins in the brain.”
The article later revealed that the pattern of tickling the rats’ whiskers did not matter, but more tickling helped.
Here’s what WebMd says about “Touch Therapy”:“Emerging research suggests that touch therapy works: In one landmark study, 16 happily married women were subjected to the threat of a mild electric shock; touching their husbands’ hands brought immediate relief from the resulting anxiety. Even a stranger’s touch was somewhat calming. “We know that anxiety decreases immune function and makes you get sick more often,” says study author Jim Coan, Ph.D., a Neuroscientist at the University of Virginia. “If touch can help you be less anxious, you’re more likely to stay well.”
Here’s one more just for good measure… Science Daily reported on June 26, 2012, “A new study by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center shows that patients reported significant improvement in side effects of cancer treatment following just one Jin Shin Jyutsu session. Jin Shin Jyutsu is an ancient form of touch therapy similar to acupuncture in philosophy.”
Of course, every article or study ends with “more research needs to be done.” That’s a good thing. The more proof, the better.
However, absence of proof is not the proof of absence. Chiropractors (and others in the medical and healing arts) have known for a long time there is something wonderful about touch. Patients get better, with or without scientific studies published in peer review journals.
Thankfully, now science is shedding light on what Chiropractors have known for over 100 years. There is no doubt more research will open more healing doors and help more people stay healthy and pain free.
When To See A Doctor For Headaches
According to the National Institute of Health, not all headaches require a physician’s attention. However, headaches can signal a more serious disorder that requires prompt medical care. Call or see a physician immediately if you or someone you’re with experiences any of these symptoms:
- A sudden, severe headache that may be accompanied by a stiff neck.
- A severe headache accompanied by fever, nausea, or vomiting that is not related to another illness.
- “First” or “worst” headache, often accompanied by confusion, weakness, double vision, or loss of consciousness.
- Headache that worsens over days or weeks or has changed in pattern or behavior.
- Recurring headaches in children.
- A headache following a head injury.
- A headache and a loss of sensation or weakness in any part of the body, which could be a sign of a stroke.
- A headache associated with convulsions.
- A headache associated with shortness of breath.
- Two or more headaches a week.
- A persistent headache in someone who has been previously headache-free, particularly in someone over age 50.
- New headaches in someone with a history of cancer or HIV/AIDS.
And don’t forget, if you ever have any questions or concerns about your health, talk to us. Contact us with your questions. We’re here to help and don’t enjoy anything more than participating in providing you natural pain relief.
Inspirational Story Of The Month
(Names And Details Have Been Changed To Protect Privacy)
Blade Runner
Oscar Pistorius Makes Olympic History As
The First Double Amputee To Compete.
Find Out Why Some Say He Shouldn’t Be There…
The term “handicapped” became politically incorrect quite a few years ago. Now, with the help of modern technology (and a ton of hard work), the label “handicapped” is certainly a misnomer for Oscar Pistorius.
The South African sprinter is known as the “Blade Runner” and “the fastest man on no legs.” After having both his legs amputated when he was 11 months old, it was a long, hard road to become the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics.
Pistorius, who has a double amputation, is the world record holder for sport class T44 in the 100, 200 and 400 meter events and runs with the aid of Cheetah Flex-Foot carbon fibre transtibial artificial limbs.
Pistorius participated in his first international competition against “able-bodied” athletes in 2007, but things didn’t work out as planned…
The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) changed its rules and banned the use of “any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels or any other element that provides a user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device.”
Some scientists say that his prosthesis is not a handicap but instead, an unfair advantage.
One such scientist is respected sports doctor Ross Tucker. According to Dr. Tucker, “In science, you start with theory, then you come up with hypotheses, and then test them. This was done for Pistorius, and every finding suggests advantage, with no exceptions.”
There are three theories for the advantage, the reduced weight of the limbs, their spring effect and the absence of fatigue. According to research, the above factors result in some startling performance-enhancing advantages.
His carbon-fiber prostheses are so much lighter that Pistorius is able to re-position his legs 11 percent faster than the next fastest runner ever measured. This is crucial, because the speed of human sprinters is determined by how fast they can move their legs. This also means his muscles have to work less to exert force on the ground and to re-position his legs. This saves energy, a crucial element of any event longer than 200m.
Finally, the energy returns from the springy carbon-fiber is 92 percent compared to a 59 percent return for muscles. Simply put, the carbon fiber does a better job of providing energy than muscles and tendons do.
Others beg to differ. Testing done with Pistorius by Prof Peter Weyand suggests that he does not gain an advantage from his carbon-fiber prosthesis.
On January 14, 2008, the IAAF ruled Pistorius ineligible for their competitions, including the 2008 Summer Olympics. The decision was reversed in May of 2008. Pistorius did not qualify for the South African team in 2008 but he did for the 2012 London games.
He will compete in the 400m and the 4 x 400m relay races. No matter what side of “science” you are on, this is an incredible story. Oscar Pistorius is a true Olympic hero. He is a hero to everyone, with or without a “handicap.” After seeing what Pistorius has done, all your excuses for not eating right, exercising and living the life you really want are pretty much null and void, don’t you think?
We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger! Don’t be a stranger. You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!
Did You Know?…
Every day, we are confronted with a myriad of food choices. I am sure you know oily fries, cheesy pizzas, and greasy burgers are definitely not at the top range of nutritious foods. On the other hand, fruits, whole grains, and vegetables bring heaps of life preserving, health-giving nutrients to our bodies.
The origin of the word “vegetable” comes from the Latin “vegetare”, meaning “to enliven or animate”. It is certainly appropriate, as there is growing evidence that the nutrients contained in vegetables can help prevent, and even treat, many diseases. Scientific tests have shown encouraging results for treatment and prevention of chronic degenerative diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Vegetables provide the broadest range of nutrients, including carotenes, fiber and phytochemicals of all food types. Besides, they are also a rich source of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and even protein (soy). Vegetables have minimal fat and even when they do, it is usually in the form of essential fatty acids.
Fruits, in general, are an excellent source of many important antioxidant nutrients and phytochemicals, i.e. Vitamin C, carotenes, polyphenols, and flavanoids. Fruits also contain natural fiber, which helps clear toxins from our bodies. However, fruits do contain a fair amount of fruit sugars (i.e. fructose). For the same weight, fructose is also 1.5 times sweeter than sucrose (white sugar). Our bodies handle fructose differently from sucrose. For our bodies to use fructose (fruit sugar), it has to be changed to glucose by the liver. As a result, blood sugar (glucose) levels do not rise as rapidly after fructose consumption compared to other simple sugars. Conversely, consuming sucrose (white sugar) results in an immediate rise in blood sugar levels. Most diabetics cannot tolerate sucrose, but most can handle moderate amounts of fruit (and fructose) while their bodies can still control the blood sugar levels. In fact, fruits have a lower glycemic index than white bread and other refined carbohydrates.
Tip Of The Month
Natural Mosquito Repellents That Work and Which Ones Are Rip-Offs!
Most think it is not good or healthy to judge. It creates negative energy and is a waste of time. But in this case, it is necessary because mosquitoes STINK! Sure, they have their place in the ecosystem, and it’s not like we want them all to die. But, it would be nice if they didn’t swarm us, bite us, and cause us to itch from head to toe! If you are one of the unlucky people mosquitoes love, but don’t want to use harmful chemicals to keep them away, here is something all natural you can use that actually works…
According to Science Daily, “Researchers report that nepetalactone, the essential oil in catnip that gives the plant its characteristic odor, is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET — the compound used in most commercial insect repellents.”
Researchers put groups of 20 mosquitoes in a two-foot glass tube, half of which was treated with nepetalactone. After 10 minutes, only an average of 20 percent, about 4 mosquitoes, remained on the side of the tube treated with a high dose (1.0 percent) of the oil. In the low-dose test (0.1 percent) with nepetalactone, an average of 25 percent, 5 mosquitoes, stayed on the treated side. The same tests with DEET (diethyl-m-toluamide) resulted in approximately 40 percent to 45 percent of mosquitoes remaining on the treated side. At the time of the article, no animal or human tests were scheduled for nepetalactone; therefore, it could not be stated that it is safe for people. You may want to be on the lookout for research about this in the near future.
In the mean time, here is a list of natural products that repel mosquitoes: Citronella Oil, Lemon Eucalyptus Oil, Cinnamon Oil, Castor Oil, Rosemary Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Cedar Oil, Peppermint Oil, Clove Oil, Geranium Oil and possibly oils from Verbena, Pennyroyal, Lavender, Pine, Cajeput, Basil, Thyme, Allspice, Soybean, and Garlic. Here’s one important point: Just because something is “natural” does not mean it is safe. This is a BIG misunderstanding a lot of people have. For example, rattlesnake venom is all natural, as is poison ivy. Be very careful what you rub on your skin or ingest regardless of it being “all-natural” or synthetic.
Remember, we’re always here to help your body heal
and maintain the pain free body you deserve.
This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a healthcare professional who is familiar with your updated medical history. We cannot be held responsible for actions you may take without a thorough exam or appropriate referral. If you have any further concerns or questions, please let us know.
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!
Headaches: Is it all in my head?
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: Probably not is what most research indicates. Most head pains are caused by problems outside the head: too little sleep, too much alcohol, or too much stress. Rarely is there a trauma in the head or a stroke causing the pain. More common, neck injuries from whiplash or sporting accidents, can cause headaches. This is because the spinal joints have been sprained and the nerves are irritated. There may also be some stretch to the tough linings around the spinal cord.
Many headache sufferers understand that neck pain and tension often come with the head pain. For them the idea of neck problems linked to headaches is understandable. When you can understand that the location of the pain (in your head) is not necessarily where the problem is located, you’ve taken a big step in understanding how the body works. Because mechanical neck and back problems can cause areas distant to show pain, it is easy to get lead astray down the endless path of pills and potions.
A scoliosis in the lower spine will need to be compensated for above and this often has to occur in the neck. Taken a step further, when a problem affects the pelvis or hip, such as a short leg, the eyes will try to level to correct for the tilt below. This is why sometimes adjustments to the neck region alone will not fix a difficult headache case.
If there are biomechanical problems below the neck this can affect the overall effectiveness of the care. For these reasons the chiropractor needs to address the full spine when seeking a cause for a patient’s headache.
It is important to look at the scientific evidence behind a treatment if you’re making important health care decisions. You need to weigh both the pros and cons of anything, and you also want to get at the root cause of any problem.
In migraine and tension headaches, the evidence shows that chiropractic care will decrease the pain as quickly as powerful medications, but without the side effects associated with drugs that only cover up the symptoms. Although more research is definitely needed, for those who want a holistic and natural approach, chiropractic care is the clear choice.
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!
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!
