‘Tis the season for indulgence. The winter holidays ring in plenty of gatherings and celebrations, and yes, plenty of eating and drinking too. 1. Avoid Inflammatory Foods Unfortunately, most traditional holiday foods are highly inflammatory. If you suffer from chronic pain of any kind, inflammation is your enemy. It can wreak havoc on your spinal health, especially if you’ve sustained a severe injury in the past, such as a car accident, sports-related, or work-related injury. Here are a few high inflammation foods to avoid this holiday season: Pasteurized dairy (eggnog, butter) Fried foods (potato pancakes) Refined carbohydrates and sugar (bread, cookies, candy, pies) Red meat (roast beef) Processed meats (ham, bacon, pigs in a blanket Trans fat (margarine, lard, shortening) I know what you’re thinking. That’s basically a list of all your favorite holiday foods. The good news is, there are ways you can minimize your inflammation symptoms this holiday season, even when you’re surrounded by temptation at every turn. Also, while these foods can cause inflammation, when consumed in moderation, they can be acceptable and may not lead to too much excess inflammation. Here are some ways you can prevent aggravating existing chronic pain, inflammation, and back discomfort this holiday season. 2. Avoid Unnecessary Weight Gain Carrying around...
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In an age where voice commands have taken over mobile device operations, you would think accidents due to distracted driving would be minimal, right? Wrong. According to the CDC, about 9 people die and more than 1000 others injured in accidents caused by distracted driving. While some of the distractions such as eating, texting, talking on your phone, and using navigation systems can be avoided, there’s no telling when others beyond your control might pop up. Hopefully, you will react better than a Portland, Oregon driver whose car crashed after a spider dropped from the rearview mirror in October. Courtesy WCSO Oregon via Twitter According to the County Sherriff’s office, the driver lost control of the vehicle totaling it luckily only sustaining minor injuries in the process. The spider, which caused the accident, is still at large. What to do when suddenly surprised while driving While driving, unknown circumstances may require a driver to quickly react. Some of these situations include: Spiders or other creepy crawlers Spiders are some of the most feared bugs throughout the world. These and other bugs like places where they can be sheltered from the elements. This includes your vehicle. Spiders and other arachnids & insects like to hide in the air vents, behind...
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What Are Spinal Cord Injuries? There are four different areas of the spine, each of which protects different groups of nerves that all control Spinal cord injuries can be divided into two categories: Complete spinal cord injuries cause permanent damage to the area of the spinal cord that is affected. These are the most serious kind of spinal cord injury and, depending on their severity, can result in an individual suffering with paraplegia or tetraplegia. Incomplete spinal injuries are where partial damage is inflicted to the spinal cord. A person’s ability to maintain regular movement and feeling is entirely dependant on the severity of their injury. Recovery differs on a case-by-case basis and is impacted by a person’s general health and medical history. Avoiding Spinal Injuries There are a number of things that you can do to reduce the risk of spinal injuries. By making minor changes to your lifestyle and habits, you can decrease the likelihood that you’ll end up with a spinal injury that causes you to have time off work, or worse, a life-changing health condition. During the fall and winter months, risks increase in the Pacific Northwest. Less daylight, wet ground, and fallen leaves create an environment that increases the risk of slipping and falling....
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Finding the right chiropractor is about finding someone you can trust with your health, has in depth experience and is looking to personalize a treatment plan for you. During preliminary visits you want to be heard and feel a part of your treatment plan. Given that most treatments are ongoing, finding a chiropractor you can build a relationship with is important. You want to know they are looking for the root cause of your pain and getting you back on track to feeling great. Referrals Referrals are the best way to find someone you can trust. If your family member, friend or neighbor has had a positive one on one experience with a chiropractor it can speak volumes to the care they have received. These referrals can be complemented with reviews found online, and other testimonials on a chiropractors website. Specialist Auto injury? Work Injury? General aches and pains? Each injury or pain has its own story to tell and your treatment plan should too. Finding a chiropractor that specializes in your injury will ensure that you are getting appropriate care. A specialist will take into account your life routines and make sure your treatment plan matches that lifestyle. Your chiropractor should be asking beyond your injury, they should...
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A visit to the chiropractor’s office can help improve mobility, reduce pain, and increase agility—so it’s no wonder that 90 percent of all world-class athletes favor going to the chiropractor to keep their bodies in performance-ready shape (1). As a non-invasive alternative to pain medication or surgery, regular sports chiropractic care offers many benefits to runners, cyclists, CrossFitters, and golfers alike. Below, we’re sharing the top five reasons you could benefit from seeing a sports chiropractor yourself. Preventative Care They say the best medicine is prevention, and chiropractic care is no exception. Regular chiropractic adjustments help prevent injury by aligning the spine and allowing the body to function in ideal movement patterns, reducing the risk of sprains, tears, and other injuries. In addition, frequent adjustments help you stay in tune with your body, so you can recognize when something’s out of alignment and seek treatment immediately. Enhanced Performance In addition to preventing injury, a visit to the chiropractor can actually improve your sports performance, be it a trail run or a visit to the golf course. By achieving physical alignment, chiropractic care can relieve discomfort and reverse muscle imbalances, resulting in better flexibility, improved posture, and stronger form. Chiropractors who specialize in sports medicine offered tailored solutions that enhance...
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