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Tension Headaches

BACK FACTS: Headaches Tension type headaches (TTH) are one of the most common forms of headaches yet they are not well understood. Most people describe having a band of pressure around their head that can last from 30 minutes to a week. TTH can be related to muscles tightening in the back of the neck and scalp. One of the best way to combat tension headaches is through lifestyle changes. Here are some helpful tips. Exercise regularly. This can help reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches. Exercise relieves stress, relaxes your muscles and increases the levels of beta-endorphins, which are your body’s natural stress relievers. So don’t just sit there, go for a walk, bike ride or run. Healthy lifestyle. Behaviours that promote general good health may help prevent headaches. This includes following regular eating and sleeping schedules and avoiding excess caffeine and alcohol. Stress management. Stress is a commonly reported trigger for tension type headaches. Reduce st

FAQ: What is the basis for Chiropractic?

FAQ: What is the basis of chiropractic? The nervous system affects all tissues of the body, directly or indirectly. This is most evident when a nerve is pinched in the neck or lower back. Typically a person will feel numbness and/or a pins and needles sensation and/or pain along the course of the nerve. A little bit of irritation on the nerve can create a nuisance- it may bother the person but doesn't stop them from their daily activity. A lot of compression on the nerve can create disabling pain and over the long term and lead to loss of reflexes and muscle function. Sciatica is a pain typical of a pinched nerve in the lower back. Without correction, the problem can lead to a drop foot. Pinched nerves are commonly caused by the bones in the spine being out of proper alignment and/or arthritic deterioration of the spaces that the nerve passes through. The goal of chiropractic treatment is to relieve the pressure on the nerve where it is compressed, where it emerges from the

Sciatica

The following is from the Harvard Health News Letter and gives a reasonable explanation of sciatica and treatment options. At one time, a person with sciatica was automatically sent for surgery, and at that time, it require some techniques that would be considered crude by today's standards. Most people did recover, perhaps more by rest and medication and time of recovery, as they did by the surgery itself. So what was the value of invasive techniques compared with the risks and costs.. In Ontario, the patient would have minimal expenses, yet it adds to the tax burden of social health care costs. There is no such thing as a free lunch.. or surgery. Surgical treatment for low back problems has improved and is far less invasive. yet the same caveats remain - would it get better on its own, with conservative management, and is surgery necessary or even helpful to get the patient ahead. When you come to see me for your leg pain, I determine if your problem is a true sciatic (ner

Over Eating.. a new look at underlying disorders.

I had the chance to listen to a CBC radio interview with Dr. Lance Levy, author of Conquering Obesity. Follow (or cut and paste into your browser) the link to the interview http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Ontario_Today/ID=1409122823 and to Dr. Levy's website http://www.drlancelevy.com/. The premise Dr. Levy's work is that for people who continuously struggle with obesity, there is usually some underlying medical/psychological issue that needs to be addressed. These are: 1. Mood disorders and personality traits. 2. Chronic tiredness. 3. Chronic pain syndrome. 4. Chronic gastrointestinal disorders. 5. Disorders of impulse regulation. (Including ADD/ADHD and the adult equivalent) Make no mistake... there is no way to get around eating less and being more active in order to manage weight... yet where overeating is a symptom of some underlying disorder, identifying and managing the causes will promote a better chance of success.

Fit in 15

Starting a new habit and sticking to it is difficult for many people. So many things get in the way and your favourite comfy chair or TV program look good after a long, busy day. Here are some tips to help you fit-in your fifteen minutes each day and get you started. The Fit-in 15 website contains links to Canada’s Physical Activity Guides for more ideas on healthy active living: http://fitin15.ca/QuickQuiz http://fitin15.ca/ecms.aspx/resources/eng_rack_card.pdf http://www.smartspot.ca/smart_t_bmi_tool.aspx

Choosing a chiropractor.

Health care of any type is a serious issue. Your health and safety is tantamount and is important when you consider how to choose a chiropractor that is right for you and your needs. Some signs of a good chiropractor are: · The plan and provision of treatments to get you better as fast as possible with as few visits as necessary, and the advisement of how to avoid future problems. Yes. · A good chiropractor will put your needs first and offer you sensible advice without excessive pressure to purchase anything or commit to a long term maintenance treatment plan. Yes. · X-rays and other tests will only be ordered if necessary. Yes. Now that you know what to look out for, use these tips to choose a chiropractor: · Recommendations. It is always important to check will all of your resources for recommendations. These can be family, friends, neighbors or coworkers who have seen or are seeing a chiropractor. Ask how long they have been treated and if they would recomm

Healthy ecology.

Dear Gentle Reader: I have edited/condensed this posting from the original which you can explore at http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=human-microbiome-change&print=trueBugs Inside: What Happens When the Microbes That Keep Us Healthy Disappear? By Katherine Harmon Bacteria, viruses and fungi have been primarily cast as the villains in the battle for better human health. But a growing community of researchers is sounding the warning that many of these microscopic guests are really ancient allies. Having evolved along with the human species, most of the miniscule beasties that live in and on us are actually helping to keep us healthy, just as our well-being promotes theirs. In fact, some researchers think of our bodies as superorganisms, rather than one organism teeming with hordes of subordinate invertebrates. The human body has some 10 trillion human cells—but 10 times that number of microbial cells. So what happens when such an important part of our bodies goe