Natural Weapon Against Urinary Tract Infections

14 Sep

If you suffer from a urinary tract infection (UTI), especially a drug-resistant UTI, this information may be very helpful. Doctors and researchers have known for quite some time that bacteria evolve and become resistant or “immune” to treatments such as antibiotics. One of the most commonly known and dangerous is Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), which is an infection caused by a strain of staph bacteria that’s become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the most common extra intestinal bacterial infections and the second most common infectious disease encountered in community practice. UTI alone poses a serious health problem affecting about 150 million people each year around the world. Antibiotics have revolutionized medicine in many respects and their discovery was a turning point in medicinal history. Regrettably, the misuse of these wonder drugs has been accompanied by the rapid appearance of resistant strains.

Because of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, there is an urgent need to explore alternative non-antibiotic treatments to help effectively manage these infections. Garlic (Allium sativum) has been traditionally used for the treatment of different diseases since ancient times. Researchers from the University of East London took aqueous extracts of allicin, a compound found in garlic, and formulated a simple cream. When the cream was applied to vast swathes of the so-called “superbug” MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), it eliminated them. In a study conducted at the Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences in India, researchers found that “even crude extracts of [garlic] showed good activity against multidrug resistant strains where antibiotic therapy had limited or no effect.” This provides hope for developing alternative treatments which may be of help in fighting the menace of growing antibacterial resistance around the world.

Bringing Happiness One High-Five at a Time!

10 Sep

Life is tough. Every day is a grind. It is almost impossible to “get ahead.”

If you believe those three things, it is very easy to become overwhelmed, quit trying, and settle for a miserable life that is barely worth living.

Thankfully, those three statements could not be further from the truth, especially when you understand what will be revealed in the next few paragraphs.

But first, you must be introduced to the work of a revolutionary person who passed away in 2009. His name was Jim Rohn, and he was known for many things. One was his “rags to riches” story that is way too long to tell here. The short version is: Jim grew up working on a family-owned farm in Idaho. He started his professional life by working as a stock clerk for the department store Sears. In 1955, Rohn went to a lecture on direct selling, and he jumped in with both feet. To make a long story short, he became tremendously successful in several businesses, which led him to teach personal development seminars all over the world.

Many of today’s huge success stories were people Rohn mentored including Tony Robbins (way back in the 70s before anyone knew his name), Mark Victor Hanson, and Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

One of Rohn’s books, Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle, published in 1991, describes what he considered the five components of success: Philosophy – how you think; Attitude – how you feel; Action – what you do; Results – measure often to see if you are making progress; and Lifestyle – the kind of life you make for yourself out of the four pieces.

This quote from Rohn’s book is particularly profound: “It seems that every life form on this planet strives toward its maximum potential … except human beings. A tree does not grow to half its potential size and then say, ‘I guess that will do.’ A tree will drive its roots as deep as possible. It will soak up as much nourishment as it can, stretch as high and as wide as nature will allow, and then look down as if to remind us of how much each of us could become if we would only do all that we can.”

Clearly, we all need something from time to time to remind us how much we COULD become if we would do ALL we can and not just put in the minimal effort.

What does all this have to do with bringing happiness one high-five at a time?

Here is what… Rohn also said, “Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.” Clearly Rohn believed and taught that attitude, and how you view things has a major impact of your level of success and how happy you are in life.

A great example of this is a video on YouTube that went viral with over two-million views. In the video, filmmaker Meir Kalmanson ran around Park Avenue in New York City giving a friendly gesture to unsuspecting people trying to hail a cab: a high-five.

The 24-year-old told the New York Daily News he was walking around Manhattan one day when he saw a person with his hand in the air. He told a friend he would try to give the man a high-five and pulled it off. He later decided to try to create a video about the concept.

His high-fives seemed to instantly change the attitudes of the people he gave them to. While most people see hailing a cab in the crowded streets of New York as a miserable chore, he was able to instantly turn it into a pleasurable experience.

How many “miserable” things in your life can instantly be turned into a pleasurable experience by simply changing your attitude about them? How much success and happiness might that bring you? The only way to know for sure is to do it.

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!

Some Physical Activities Help You Sleep Better and Some Can Keep You from Getting a Good Night’s Rest…

9 Sep

Do You Know Which Are Which?

Are you tired? Do you wake up more exhausted than when you went to bed? Do you gulp down coffee just to try to make it through the day?

If you do, you are not alone. In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collected data from 74,571 people and found: “35.3% reported <7 hours of sleep during a typical 24-hour period, 48.0% reported snoring, 37.9% reported unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least once in the preceding month, and 4.7% reported nodding off or falling asleep while driving at least once in the preceding month. This is the first CDC surveillance report to include estimates of drowsy driving and unintentionally falling asleep during the day. The National Department of Transportation estimates drowsy driving to be responsible for 1,550 fatalities and 40,000 nonfatal injuries annually in the United States.”

Not only that, experts from the CDC report that people experiencing sleep insufficiency are also more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, and obesity, as well as cancer, increased mortality, and reduced quality of life and productivity.

There has been quite a bit of debate as to how many hours of sleep the average person needs. Some people need relatively little sleep while others need much more.

What Is the Optimal Amount of Sleep for You?

That is not an easy question, and it cannot be answered here. But here is something that can help you…

There is no doubt quality of sleep is more important than quantity of sleep. In other words, great sleep for a relatively short time can be much more beneficial than longer periods of poor quality sleep.

Waking up exhausted or even more tired than when you went to bed, even when you “slept” for eight to nine hours, is a perfect example.

Let’s face it, it’s easy for someone to give you advice to get more sleep. In reality, life just doesn’t work that way. There are only so many hours in the day.

That’s why maximizing the QUALITY of the sleep you get is so important. A new study sheds some interesting light on this…

Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that physical activities such as walking, aerobics/calisthenics, biking, gardening, golfing, running, weight-lifting, and yoga/pilates are all associated with better sleep habits. In contrast, the study shows that activities like household chores and childcare are associated with an increased likelihood of poor sleep habits.

This information is important because “physical activity” has long been touted as beneficial to sleep. But now, according to this study, not all activities are equal and some, in fact, have a negative impact on sleep. Dr. Michael Grandner, an instructor in Psychiatry and member of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at Penn adds, “Although previous research has shown that lack of exercise is associated with poor sleep, the results of this study were surprising. Not only does this study show that those who get exercise simply by walking are more likely to have better sleep habits, but these effects are even stronger for more purposeful activities, such as running and yoga, and even gardening and golf. It was also interesting that people who receive most of their activity from housework and childcare were more likely to experience insufficient sleep – we know that home and work demands are some of the main reasons people lose sleep.”

The study did not discuss WHY these different activities affected sleep so differently, but here is one possibility that might help you get better sleep…

Most people don’t have the option of skipping on doing housework or caring for their children. But, it is distinctly possible that the mental aspect of these activities is what’s causing the problem.

In Other Words: Stress

Prolonged stress is, without a doubt, a killer. In a pinch, the stress response can save your life. But if you’re stressed all the time, it can have a detrimental effect on your body. Stress can increase your risk for obesity, high blood pressure, headaches, digestive problems, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking, and more. It can also cause you to lay awake at night staring at the ceiling.

Going for a walk, practicing yoga, and playing a sport are enjoyable, mentally relaxing activities. Childcare can be very stressful, and quite frankly, for most people, housework is not the most fun!

Here are two things you can do… The first is to stress less when doing those activities. Once again, easier said than done.

That’s why this second approach is probably more realistic: Start doing one or more “positive sleep activities.”

It is easier to find the time for a 20-minute walk than it is to find and extra two to three hours to try to sleep. Walking is one of the best things you can do for both your physical and mental health.

Because having back pain, neck pain, headaches, and other forms of musculoskeletal pain can make physical activity more difficult, if not impossible, seeking treatment from a doctor of chiropractic may help reduce your overall stress levels and help make exercise easier, both of which can help you sleep better.

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.

The 13 Simple Words That Can Have a Greater Impact on Your Life Than Everything on the Internet COMBINED

8 Sep

Little hinges swing big doors.  In other words, small concepts, strategies, beliefs, or actions can have massive and long-lasting results.  Many times, these outcomes are much greater and far-reaching than expected, even in your wildest dreams.

One simple, yet powerful principle is to just do the right thing without expecting anything in return.  When you do, you’ll leave more little hinges (that can swing open large doors of massive opportunity) everywhere you go, increasing your odds for lasting success.

Now, for the 13 simple words that may be the most powerful “little hinge” in your life.

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”

That is a quote by Jim Rohn, and it goes hand-in-hand with this quote by Eubie Blake:

“If I’d known I was going to live this long,  I’d have taken better care of myself.”

When we are young, we think we are indestructible and that our bodies will always be that way.  Well, I’m sure you know how wrong that belief is.

Fortunately, your body is amazing and can recover from many things such as back and neck pain.  It is never too late to start laying those little hinges that can open big doors and have a big impact on your life.

Understanding that your body is something you must actively take care of is vitally important.  No one wants to live in pain, and the best way to avoid pain is to take the small steps to, “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”

Sincerely, Dr. Binder

GREAT Exercises for Fibromyalgia

18 Aug

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic, stubborn condition that many people struggle with – some to the point of being totally disabled from doing the things that are personally fulfilling. In the past, we have discussed how important it is to have a multi-disciplinary group of healthcare providers to help the FM patient manage this relentless condition. This month, we are going to look at the available research regarding FM patients who incorporate exercise into their lifestyle vs. those who do not!

There are MANY ways in which we can exercise – from simply contracting your abdominal muscles when you drive or sit at your desk to a full-body workout in a swimming pool. The KEY to exercise success is finding an exercise that you ENJOY, look forward to doing, and can foresee yourself doing for a long time into the future. To convince you of the benefits of exercise, let’s take a look at what has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals…

In a “systematic review” of randomized clinical trials regarding FM and exercise training, researchers reviewed relevant studies published between 1966 and 2000. They reported that aerobic exercise reduced the number of tender points and improved cardiovascular fitness, global well-being, fatigue, and sleep in participants. This review clearly demonstrates that exercise is a very important component in the self-management of FM.

Another study evaluated the effects of six months of pool-based exercises with six educational sessions in a 58 patient group that were divided between a treatment and a control group. They used a six-minute walking test, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and several other tests and instruments that assess functional limitations, pain levels, social functioning, psychological distress, and quality of life. At the conclusion the trial, those who exercised experienced statistically significant improvement in ALL methods of assessment, CLEARLY demonstrating the importance of exercise!

A similar study looked at exercise benefits and how long they lasted after the activity was discontinued following a twelve-week program. During the twelve weeks, the researchers measured and reported significant improvements in all nine measurements (physical function, general health perception, vitality, social function, mental health, balance, stair climbing, bodily pain, and role-emotional). During follow-up, researchers found that participants were only able to maintain two of the health benefits three months after they stopped exercising! This study shows how important it is to KEEP UP with fitness in order to maintain the best long-term results.

Another study compared an aerobic exercise group vs. a group that only used relaxation and stretching techniques. The aerobic exercise group outperformed the stretch/relaxation group at the three-month point, and after one year, they reported a greater reduction of tender points and greater improvement if FIQ scores. The researchers concluded, “Prescribed graded aerobic exercise is a simple, cheap, effective, and potentially widely available treatment for FM.”

There are MANY more studies that support the use of exercise as a very important form of care for FM. The common thread is this – a structured, patient-specific, graded aerobic exercise leads to an improved quality of life for the FM sufferer.

If you, a friend or family member requires care for Fibromyalgia, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!

How Bad Is A Poor Night’s Sleep?

17 Aug

Our basic premise is that your body is amazing.  You get a do over. It doesn’t take that long, and it isn’t that hard if you know what to do.  In these notes, we give you a short course in what to do so it becomes easy for you, and for you to teach others. We want you to know how much control you have over both the quality and length of your life.

This Month’s YOUR Do-Over Tips Relate To Getting A Good Night Sleep… 

Q) Many days I don’t sleep well—I wake up feeling like I had a poor or even bad night of tossing and turning without much sleep.  How bad is that?

A) A recent study found that not getting good, restful sleep can lead to a greater risk for heart attack and stroke. The 14-year study followed 657 Russian men aged 25 to 64 with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes. The men who slept badly — that is, they rated their sleep as  “poor” or “very bad” — had more than twice the risk of experiencing a heart attack and 2.5 to 4 times the risk of stroke during the course of the study when compared with those who rated their sleep as “good.”

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute recommends adults get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night, noting that heart and blood vessel repair occurs during sleep and ongoing sleep deficiency has been linked to not only heart disease and stroke but also diabetes, kidney disease, and obesity. So, you are right about needing to get “good” sleep to be healthy.  Even more interesting is what happens when you deprive yourself of sleep.

Fifty years ago, 17-year-old Randy Gardner and two pals camped out in his bedroom to see what would happen if Gardner broke the world record for sleep deprivation. The teenager stayed awake for 264.4 hours (that record stands today), experiencing moodiness, hallucinations, incoherent thinking, and slurred speech.

Not only can poor sleep over a long period of time increase your risk for heart attack and stroke, as observed in the study above, but poor sleep has also been associated with relationship problems, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, addiction to drugs and alcohol, and obesity.

Turn Over…

If you don’t feel your sleep is “good”, “very good,” or “excellent”, or if you don’t usually get 6½-8 hours of sleep a night, try to find the cause. Insomnia can be triggered by environmental problems (TV and digital devices in the bedroom, noise, non-red light (your brain center for sleep doesn’t see red wavelengths, so red light should be all you have in your bed-and bath-rooms after sleep time), a lousy mattress, emotional distress (anxiety or depression), or medical conditions (chronic pain—yes a chiropractor is often best and least expensive option here, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea).

If you still have trouble sleeping, try an online program (such as Cleveland Clinic Go! To Sleep) or these drug-free ways to sleep better:

Exercise daily. Walking 10,000 steps a day dispels stress and cues your body to rest.

Soak in an Epsom salts bath and eat a banana before bed. The combo of magnesium and potassium relaxes muscles and hot water helps dispel stress hormones.

Drink chamomile tea. But skip late-night alcohol. It can spike blood sugar and interfere with sleep cycles.

Still no success? Talk to your doc for a referral to a sleep specialist. Thanks for reading. And feel free to send questions—to youdocs@gmail.com, and some of them we may know enough to answer (we’ll try to get answers for you if we do not know).

-Young Dr. Mike Roizen

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