Your Attitude About Life Can Play a Major Role in How Long You’ll Live…

6 Jan

Do you want to live longer?  How about be healthier or have less pain and more energy?  Stupid questions, right? Pretty much everyone wants to live longer and better, and most people are hoping that future scientific and technological breakthroughs will make it possible.

And why not?  Science and technology are amazing.  There is no doubt that advancements in these fields have made life much both easier and better.

However, there are many aspects of health and happiness that science and technology can NOT help.  A perfect example can be found in the results of a new study done by researchers from the Princeton University, Stony Brook University, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Recently published in The Lancet, the study followed 9,050 participants and measured how their sense of wellbeing affected their longevity.

Questionnaires measured the participants’ sense of self-control, feeling that what they do is worthwhile, and their sense of purpose in life.

RESULTS:  According to Science Daily: “Over the next eight and a half years, 9% of people in the highest wellbeing category had died, compared with 29% in the lowest category.  Once all the other factors had been taken into account, people with the highest wellbeing were 30% less likely to die over the study period, living on average two years longer than those in the lowest wellbeing group.”

One researcher stated, “We have previously found that happiness is associated with a lower risk of death…  These analyses show that the meaningfulness and sense of purpose that older people have in their lives are also related to survival.  We cannot be sure that higher wellbeing necessarily causes lower risk of death, since the relationship may not be causal.  But the findings raise the intriguing possibility that increasing wellbeing could help to improve physical health.  There are several biological mechanisms that may link wellbeing to improved health, for example through hormonal changes or reduced blood pressure.  Further research is now needed to see if such changes might contribute to the links between wellbeing and life expectancy in older people.”

When it comes to your mind (brain), there are quite a few studies showing how mental conditions can affect your health. If the mind can have a major impact on health, then chances are it can also impact your lifespan.

One would not be going out on a limb to say (holding all other factors constant) the person who thinks positively and has a great mental outlook will most likely be healthier and live longer than someone who always has a negative outlook.

It’s also not a stretch to say stress kills.  It exhausts you and prematurely ages you.  It can lead to many illnesses.  Clearly, stress is a product of our thought processes.  Stress and its negative effects are completely controlled by YOU and your reactions to any and all situations.

Learning how to react to situations to limit stress can not only improve how you look and feel, but can also benefit your overall health.

This is in stark contrast to looking for solutions from advancements in science and technology.

Once again, breakthroughs in science and technology are wonderful and save lives, but it is NOT the answer to having a negative mental attitude that poisons your body and causes sickness and disease in the first place.

Football Player Reveals Simple Secret To Success

5 Jan

At 37 years old, Tom Brady is one of the best quarterbacks in professional football.

He may not be old for the average person, but 37 is considered old for a professional football player, especially for a super-star professional football player.

So, how does Tom Brady, the quarterback for the New England Patriots, do it?

When asked recently, he said, “I do go to bed very early because I’m up very early.  I think that the decisions I make [probably always] center around performance enhancement, if that makes sense.  So whether that is what I eat or what decisions I make or whether I drink or don’t drink, it’s always football-centric.  I want to be the best I can be every day.  I want to be the best I can be every week.  I want to be the best I can be for my teammates.”

What does this have to do with you?

Quite a bit, actually.

I’m sure you noticed that Tom Brady’s “secret” was kind of a let down.  No magic supplements.  No crazy exercise program.

Just common sense-101.

That’s because there really are no secrets to success, great health, or whatever you want to achieve in life.

Something like going to bed early can have a dramatic impact on your health and performance in the long-term.  It is hard or impossible to measure the impact of just one night’s sleep, but there is no doubt that years of consistently doing the right thing pays HUGE dividends.

The same holds true for diet and exercise.

One meal or walk around the block does not seem to mean much, but those exact same things done ritualistically for years can change your life.

So, follow Tom Brady’s example… and go to bed early TONIGHT.  And start eating right and exercising RIGHT NOW.

Not tomorrow.  Not next week.  Not after the holidays.  RIGHT NOW.

And then, don’t stop.

Sincerely,

Dr. Binder

Diabetes Prevention and Control

1 Jan

Chiropractic is often sought after for managing conditions associated with the nerves, muscles, bones, and joints (or the “neuromusculoskeletal system”), and typically NOT for conditions associated with blood sugar (which is also called dysinsulinism, since insulin controls our blood sugar levels). Insulin controls the level of our blood sugar and is secreted by the endocrine part of the pancreas. Can chiropractic help in the management process of diabetes, and if so, how? Let’s take a look!

In 2012, the American Diabetes Association reported that 29.1 million Americans, or 9.2% of the population, had diabetes compared with 25.8 million (8.3%) in 2010. Worldwide, the number of diabetics in 2010 was estimated at 165 million people and may reach 330 million by 2025! More importantly, 8.1 million were undiagnosed in 2012 vs. 7 million in 2010. Since diabetes (Type II) is usually acquired later in life, the prevalence among seniors in America (>65 years old) in 2010 was 25.9% (11.8 million), including both diagnosed and not diagnosed. What is most alarming is the growing rate of diabetes among our youth (younger than 20 years old), which affects approximately 208,000 Americans (about 0.25% of that population) with an annual incidence rate of 18,436 with Type I and 5,089 with Type II diabetes. The list of problems that can arise BECAUSE of diabetes includes (but is not limited to) hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hypertension, high “bad” blood fat (LDL, cholesterol), cardiovascular disease-related deaths (1.7 times higher), stroke, blindness/visual problems, kidney disease, and amputations. In 2013, the total cost associated with diabetes in the United States was $245 billion ($176 in direct medical costs and $69 billion in reduced productivity).

What can chiropractors do about this? First, we can help get the condition properly diagnosed. Symptoms such as numbness/tingling in the hands and/or feet may be related to diabetic neuropathy, and these symptoms often drive the undiagnosed diabetic patient to our clinics. Other common symptoms that “look like” a typical chiropractic complaint include limited joint motion, stiff hands, muscle pain, shoulder capsulitis, osteopenia, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more! A simple urine and blood test can identify whether diabetes is part of the problem, which we may be able to conduct in the office or refer you to your primary care physician, if necessary.

So, what can we as chiropractors do for those with diabetes? First, recognize that blood sugar must be controlled. There are many nutrients — herbal, vitamins, and minerals — that can help (see WebMD for a LONG list). Dietary management can include an anti-inflammatory diet, removing grains (gluten is BAD), and emphasizing fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and “good“ fats. The use of chromium (up to 1000 mcg/day) can have significant benefits in both prevention and treatment of diabetes with studies that date back to the 1950s! It’s considered safe for most children and adults and can even be used during pregnancy! Besides reducing high blood sugar, it can help lower “bad” cholesterol (and raise “good” cholesterol), fight depression, aid in weight loss, increase muscle mass, and decrease body fat! Some reports include athletic performance benefits and increased energy as well! Let us help guide you in this process!

We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend, or family member requires care, we would be honored to render our services.

How to Avoid Whiplash!

31 Dec

Whiplash is a common problem following motor vehicle collisions and because prevention is considered the best medicine, here are some tips to AVOID car crashes altogether …

Don’t eat, take your eyes off the road while talking, fiddle with the radio or iPod, talk on your cell phone, or text while driving! The National Safety Council estimates 1.6 million crashes are caused by cell phone use, and you’re four times more likely to have a crash while talking on a cell phone. In 2011, 23% of auto collisions involved cell phone use, and of those, 21% involving people between ages 16 and 19 were fatal. A good website to check out WITH YOUR CHILDREN is http://www.textinganddrivingsafety.com. Texting while driving results in a minimum of five seconds of eyes off the road, which is equal to the length of a football field if you’re traveling at 55 mph (~88 km per hour). While talking on the phone increases your crash risk by 30%, texting increases your risk 2,300%! About one in seven drivers between ages 16-20 involved in car wrecks admit to texting or talking on their mobile devices at the time of the crash, and 82% of Americans age 16-17 own cell phones. A third say they text while driving, 52% say they talk on a cell phone while driving, and 77% of young adults are very or somewhat confident that they can safely text while driving. About half of young drivers have seen their parents drive and talk on a cell phone, and 15% have seen them texting while driving. One in four adults have sent or received text messages while driving and half of kids age 12-17 have been in a car while the driver was texting. One in five drivers of ALL ages confess to surfing the web or texting while driving AND they “justify it” with excuses like “reading a text is safer than composing and sending one,” “the phone is held near the windshield for better visibility,” “I increase the following distance,” and “I text only at a stop sign or red light.”

So WHAT CAN BE DONE to change this behavior? Ten states in the United States prohibit ALL drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving and 32 states prohibit novice drivers from cell phone use. Thirty-nine states prohibit ALL drivers from text messaging. Parents can “DRIVECAM” their kids’ cars – a device that monitors a driver’s activity and provides real-time feedback with video. Use the AT&T “Drive Mode” app. It’s a FREE APP for Android & Blackberry that prohibits texting while driving. Teens and parents can also take the text-free-driving pledge at textinganddrivingsafety.com. Social media sites for anti-texting & driving awareness include Facebook & Twitter: @RayLaHood, @DistrationGov, @NHTSgov, @DriveSafely. Check out blogs such as FromReidsDad.Org, RookieDriver.wordpress.com, ctdrive.blogspot.com, and EndDD.org.

One Belgium-based project tricked teen drivers into thinking that in order to pass their driving test, they had to be able to successfully text and drive on a tight course. The results on You Tube are both funny AND frightening. Student reactions included: “If this becomes law, I’ll stop driving,” “It’s impossible,” “What you’re asking is dangerous,” “People will die,” and “Honestly, I feel like an idiot who can’t drive.”

Drive safely and enjoy a long, happy life!

We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend, or family member requires care for Whiplash, we would be honored to render our services.

The Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis of Fibromyalgia

30 Dec

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a condition that the medical community has long had difficulty defining. As stated last month, FM is often considered a “musculoskeletal disorder” (MSK) because of the aches and pains it produces in the muscles and joints. However, this is not really accurate since FM includes many other symptoms beyond just severe muscle pain, such as extreme fatigue, mental fog, sleep disorders, irritable bowel, and more. As such, “misdiagnosis” is more common than an accurate diagnosis when it comes the FM. Let’s take a closer look!

FM is described as a “syndrome,” meaning it includes multiple complaints and findings that commonly occur together such as (but not limited to) widespread pain, decreased pain tolerance or threshold, multiple tender points, incapacitating fatigue, anxiety, and/or depression. Though the intensity of these symptoms can vary, persistent and chronic fatigue is one of the most common complaints, second only to the whole body deep muscle aches. Unlike “normal” fatigue, the type of fatigue, weakness, and exhaustion associated with FM often leads to social isolation, and as a result, anxiety and/or depression.

The reason WHY FM is so difficult to diagnose is that: 1) These same symptoms are found in many other conditions and, 2) There is no one test that can diagnose FM like a blood test or x-ray. The diagnosis process must RULE OUT all the other conditions that present with similar symptoms. Hence, blood tests are used to rule out anemia or hypothyroid (for fatigue), inflammatory arthritis, and Lyme disease. Sleep studies are used to rule out sleep apnea (which can co-exist with FM). X-rays are used to rule out a bone or joint cause of the patient’s muscle pain. Many diseases or conditions have a pattern of complaints, but FM doesn’t consistently follow a similar presentation. There are so many different degrees of FM and the symptoms include so many different systems of the body that FM sufferers often have to go from doctor to doctor before they find one willing to take the time needed to properly assess for fibromyalgia. Some doctors firmly believe there is no such thing as FM stating that “…it’s all in the head!” This can only adds to the frustration, anxiety, and depression for the FM sufferer.

Common misdiagnoses include (but are not limited to) depression, inflammatory arthritis (like rheumatoid or lupus), chronic myofascial pain syndrome, or chronic fatigue syndrome. Conditions commonly associated with FM may include some of the above as well as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), thyroid deficiency, and others, which only makes the diagnosis of FM even more challenging!

Some doctors and researchers use the term “primary FM” for FM that is not caused by something else vs. “secondary FM” where something like a trauma (eg., car accident), IBS, or an inflammatory arthritis either precedes the start of FM symptoms or is closely associated with its onset. The important point is that FM is unique and it must be properly diagnosed so accurate and effective treatment can be administered. The diagnostic Guidelines for FM include three main things: 1) Widespread pain in all four body quadrants; 2) At least three months of symptoms; and 3) No other disease is causing these symptoms.  You can expect us to check for the following: 1) Widespread pain; 2) Trigger point evaluation; 3) Ask about fatigue; 4) Ask about sleep disturbances; 5) Ask about stress levels; and 6) Ask about depression. Proper treatment is often best approached with a “team” consisting of chiropractic, primary care, clinical psychology and/or counseling, and sometimes others.

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

Neck Pain – When Should I Come In?

30 Dec

Neck pain is one of the most common complaints patients have when they come to a chiropractic office for the first time, second only to low back pain. Neck pain affects all of us at some point in life, and for some, it can become a chronic, permanent problem that can interfere with many desired activities and lower their quality of life. There are many different causes, and prompt evaluation and treatment is important is some cases.

Neck pain and stiffness are the two most common symptoms that present for evaluation and treatment. This can be located in the middle of the neck and/or on either side and can extend down to the shoulders and / or chest. It can contribute to or cause tension headaches that can travel up the back of the head and sometimes behind the eyes. Pain often increases with neck movement, such as when turning the head to check traffic while driving and/or it can hurt at rest while held in static positions, such as when reading a book. Neck pain can come on gradually or quickly and often cannot be traced to a specific injury or cause making it a challenge to figure out. While neck pain is often not serious or life-threatening, there are causes that should be evaluated promptly. If you wake up with acute neck pain associated with very limited range of motion, this may be due to torticollis, or wry neck, and prompt treatment helps it resolve more quickly than “waiting it out.” Torticollis can be caused by exposure to a draft, changes in weather, trauma, or after a cold or flu. When in doubt, come in for an evaluation and treatment, as anxiety associated with the “fear of the unknown” only adds to the stress associated with neck pain and it’s ALWAYS best to be “…safe than sorry!”

Numbness or tingling may accompany neck pain and can be located in the face, arms, hands, and/or fingers. This is one of those times to come in promptly, as these symptoms may indicate the pinching of a nerve root in the neck. There are MANY chiropractic treatment approaches that effectively treat nerve root pinching, and treatment should NOT be delayed. Other common symptoms may include clicking, crunching, or grinding noises, technically called crepitus, which may or may not be benign. If the noise is accompanied by pain, especially if it radiates down to the shoulder blades or arms (either side or both), it’s time to promptly come in. Any time symptoms occur acutely or come on fast, it’s best to get evaluated as soon as possible.

Dizziness is another common symptom that can result from neck problems and is often associated with movement such as rising from laying or sitting. Certain positions of the neck can also bring on dizziness. This is sometimes caused by the “stones” in the inner ear shifting out of position and is technically called BPPV or “benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.” When this occurs, we can usually manage it very well with treatment and specific BPPV exercises. Other times, dizziness may be due to a restriction in blood flow reaching the brain. In which case, a prompt evaluation is VERY appropriate, especially if blackouts occur.

Sleep interruption or difficulty falling asleep are other good reasons to seek prompt evaluation and treatment. Sleep loss can lead to many problems such as excessive fatigue, tiredness, irritability, and just generally feeling poor! Remember, prompt care usually results in prompt resolution!

We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend, or family member requires care for neck pain, we would be honored to render our services.

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