A Common Misconception

Where does health come from?  Some believe that health comes from a bottle.  Others believe that it come from their doctor or hospital.  The truth is that our health actually comes from within.  Virtually every therapy or medicine available is designed to aide or encourage your body to heal, because your body will heal itself if given the opportunity.

Let’s look at some examples:

-         A cast will stabilize a fractured bone so that it can be immobilized long enough to heal

-         Stitches will keep a wound closed long enough for our blood to clot and our body to repair the damaged tissue.

-         A chiropractic adjustment will restore function to the spine and associated nervous system so that your body can properly regulate and maintain itself.

So where do we go wrong in our health?  Why are so many Americans sick, obese, and unhappy?  I believe that it comes down to faith.  We have lost faith in ourselves and our body’s ability to heal.  It makes sense that our body is constantly striving to bring us into balance and a state of health.  Our body’s desire to heal is limitless.  We are limited only by the material that composes us.  Constant abuse and stress on the body will wear it down and thereby reduce the quality of our cells and tissues.  So what can we do to undo the sins of our past? Thankfully, our body wants us to be healthier.  It actually wants to heal… we just need to get out of the way.  

We are in a constant fight to find balance or homeostasis.  Our body will adapt to most environments; internally or externally.  The basic concept to help our body is to provide support and remove interference.  We provide support by eating well, staying hydrated, and keeping flexible and active.  We remove interference by receiving regular chiropractic adjustments for our spine, joints and nervous system.  We also remove interference by reducing stresses; both mental (negative thinking) and physiological (junk food, smoking, alcohol, etc)

After all, “Each patient carries his own doctor inside him.  We are at our best when we give the doctor that resides within our patients the opportunity to work” Albert Schweitzer, MD

One of the most common questions that I am asked is, “Are you going to crack my neck?” My typical response is something like, “Only if it needs it.” Or “You’ve been watching too many Kung Fu movies… haven’t you?”

Whatever the reason may be, patients’ greatest fears of chiropractic seem to be related to the sound of the spinal adjustment. Patients are typically much more comfortable receiving surgery which requires sedation, actual cutting of tissue, blood loss and weeks to months of recovery (even with outpatient procedures), than they are to hear a small pop. Even knuckle crackers will occasionally struggle despite repeatedly self imposing a similar sound each day.

So what is the cause of that sound anyway? Current research describes the cracking sound as a joint cavitation. Cavitations (the formation of a cavity or space), occur when a joint space is quickly increased, thereby forming a vacuum within the joint and subsequently releasing a small bubble of nitrogen gas from the synovial fluid. If you clasp your hands together to form a seal, then quickly release or separate them you will cause a cavitation and as well as a noise. Reverberation through spinal bones or vertebrae produces a distinct sound as well as a profound impact on the body. Listed below are a few of the effects of an audible, Gonstead-type chiropractic adjustment:

1. Inflammation/swelling of the spinal joints and associated nerves is reduced.
– Natural anti-inflammatory substances and pain killers are released

2. Local pain tolerance is increased
– Pain sensation is decreased

3. Reflexes of muscle and organ tissue are affected
– Large muscle spasm is reduced
– Organ function stimulated/regulated

4. Smaller supportive spinal muscles are activated
– This can cause occasional/temporary discomfort following an adjustment

5. Immune system is stimulated.
– Immune activity spikes approximately 15 minutes post-adjustment

As you can see, there is much more going on than simply the brief crunching sound. Adjustment of the spine has a very strong impact on a person’s body and therefore should be treated with respect. The basic fact of the matter is that a high quality, precise and specific chiropractic adjustment can have a wide reaching impact on your overall health and function. That being said, it is important that the adjustment be performed by a trained, competent chiropractor. Even chiropractors seek other chiropractors to receive adjustments. It is simply impossible to achieve the same results on yourself. People that “crack” their own necks or backs are typically “rattling” the hypermobile (too much movement) compensatory segments, rather than the levels that actually need it. They also manipulate their joints so often and in such a haphazard way, that the body begins to lose sight of what is normal, thereby making the person feel like they “need” to keep manipulating their joints repeatedly. In a way, you are actually becoming addicted to the crack! Chiropractors have very specific protocols that allow your body to heal between adjustments. If a patient continuously manipulates their own spine in between visits each individual adjustment is less effective or profound and care is usually prolonged. By the way, if you notice initial progress during care, then consistent regression following a series of adjustments, be sure to discuss it with your chiropractor so that your care plan can be modified to better serve you (you probably need more healing time between visits or have a lifestyle habit that is setting you back).

The take home message for this month is that a well timed, specific adjustment can greatly improve your health and quality of life. However, like any good thing, we must respect it by practicing moderation. A little self discipline and open communication can transform this seemingly strange sound, into a procedure that can literally change your life.

Say YES to CRACK!!!
*Only when performed by a competent, well trained professional such as your chiropractor. This is in no way an endorsement for the use of recreational drugs.

Many of us view our health in a vary polarized way.  We view ourselves as either sick or healthy, happy or sad, stressed or relaxed.  However, our lives and our health are rarely that cut and dry… and that is a good thing.

Chiropractic philosophy recognises that our health is a spectrum or a scale with ranges and extremes.  The health spectrum can be summed up by the following levels:

• Healthy
• Well
• Asymptomatic
• Dis-Ease
• Diseased
• Disabled
• Dead

BJ Palmer, the developer of chiropractic, said “health is not the absence of disease, but the balance of mind, body and spirit.”  Many of us spend much of our lives bouncing back and fourth between disease and wellness.  Which means that we probably spend a large portion of our lives in a state of dis- ease, but what is “dis-ease?”  Dis-ease is most simply defined as a state of susceptibility.  It is that point where you aren’t necessarily sick, but you aren’t necessarily well either.  The dis-eased person is the person who is always tired, always catches the “bug” that is going around or just doesn’t feel quite right.  As the term implies, the dis-eased person is NOT in a state of ease and is therefore susceptible to be pushed over the edge toward full blown disease.  The decisions we make will send us either up or down the scale, towards balance or away.   Knowledge of the tipping point will help us to reconize and decide which way we are going.

Chiropractic philosophy also defines 3 major causes of dis-ease.  These are Traumas, Toxins and Thoughts… the 3 T’s of disease.  Traumas are the physical injuries we endure or can even be the daily rigors of life in an out of shape or unconditioned body.  Toxins are chemical stressors such as alcohol, poor diet, polution or dehydration.  Actually, the side effects that some experience when taking medications are prime examples of symptoms of Toxic dis-ease, because the body is having difficulty coping with their chemical presence.  The final, and perhaps most difficult to control, is thoughts.  These are the emotional stressors that we or others put on us.  It has actually been demonstrated that happy people get sick less often than sad or depressed people do because of the relationship of mood to immune system.  Finding mental and emotional balance in our lives through relaxation, prayer, meditation, laughter, and counseling is invaluable to a persons health and the health of those around us.

Regular chiropractic care, a proper diet and exercise are vital to a person’s quest for health.  Many of us give up on these things when we don’t have symptoms or “feel fine”, but the point to hygiene is to KEEP yourself “feeling fine” or even pushing through “fine” to feeling GREAT!  Each morning we spend 30-60 minutes practicing personal and dental hygiene, what is another 15-20 minutes to stretch or exercise, pray or meditate or make a healthy breakfast.  Also, what would be wrong with taking 15-30 minutes once a month to ensure that your spine and nervous system are healthy and functioning properly, thereby coordinating every cell in your body to function properly?  The difference between a healthy, balanced lifestyle may be small but the decision to do so can be life changing.  Please start today!

PS.  If you need help, please ask someone.  We are always available if you need us.

“Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.”
Peter F. Drucker quotes (American Educator and Writer)

Tis the season of New Year’s resolutions.  Many will be made, many will be broken, many will be abandoned or forgotten.  That statement is bleak and discouraging but unfortunately very true… without determination and commitment.  A quick internet search shows that over 90% of all New Year’s resolutions fail, most in the first 1-6 weeks.  The major question that I would like to address is, why?

I don’t believe that resolutions fail because individuals lack sincerity or intention.  I think that people generally prefer to live a better, happier and healthier life.  So what stops us?  It is the struggles within that prevent us from meeting or maintaining our goals.

Any habit will take at least 2 weeks to change.  It literally takes that long to rewire your brain to make a new behavior seem “normal”.  Habits that have existed longer will take simply take more time to rewire.  A habit such as waking up earlier, will be an approximate 2 week transition… assuming that we are consistent.  A long term smoking habit will take much longer because the physiologic make up of our nervous system has grown to expect high levels of nicotine.  Nicotine receptors by the way are found throughout the body which is why withdrawal can be so physically taxing.  We need to be persistent so that our bodies have the time to adapt to the new environment or situation that we are exposing it to.

The second aspect to achieving success with New Year’s resolutions is that we need to be patient, understanding and forgiving… WITH OURSELVES!!!  It is way too easy to “fall off the wagon” with a major lifestyle change.  Unless you have a Gandhi-esc ability to deprive yourself of something that makes you comfortable, your resolution will be a battle.  Perhaps it is more appropriate to consider the struggle as a war, with some battles won and others lost.  If you are truly committed to change, it is important to get back up and begin again.  By sincerely forgiving ourselves, we can start fresh and move on until the struggles become less and less; easier and easier.  On the flipside, be disciplined enough to begin again immediately. Make an excuse to do something, rather than not.  You may still snack on cookies over the holidays on special occasions which may tip the scale a bit, however, making the choice to forgive yourself and start anew will prevent you from buying the bag of cookies the next time you go grocery shopping.  If you don’t dwell on the fact that you ate some cookies when you were trying to give them up you can move on and your ultimate goal of losing weight or eating healthier will have been achieved by year’s end.

In summary, the ultimate ability to succeed with New Year’s resolutions requires patience, forgiveness and understanding just as much as discipline, commitment and perseverance.  Balance your thoughts, balance your habits and you can achieve your goals.

Good Luck!

Healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States today.  In a small town such as Oconomowoc, we have two state of the art regional hospitals and numerous satellite clinics. Healthcare groups fight bitterly and struggle to gain market share.  They seem to be in a perpetual state of expansion and growth and all claim to be the most advanced around.  In a city of 15,000 residents, I can’t help but wonder, “Is all of this necessary?” 

One of the major topics of debate in healthcare reform is the high cost of healthcare.  When healthcare groups are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on hospitals and clinics; we fit the bill.  There may be a tendency to shake our heads and blame the size and power our current healthcare system; however, when we consider the consumer driven nature of our economy, we have nobody to blame but ourselves.  Simply put, if we weren’t abusing our personal health and overusing the healthcare system, there wouldn’t be funding or justification for the multitude of medical facilities.

Dr. James Chestnut, DC, once compared the medical world to the fire department.  If your house is on fire (if you are having a health emergency), the fire department can save your house or your life and we are extremely thankful that we have them.  However, what condition is your house in after the fire?  Do we call the fire department back, with their hatchets and hoses, to clean up the mess?  The obvious answer is no, so why do we continue to abuse our bodies over and over?  We have medicated aggressively and repeatedly which has given us stronger, deadlier bacteria.  We also turn off the fire alarm by covering symptoms with painkillers which eventually leads to surgery and lifelong medication.  When you really step back and look, you realize that our faith in medicine is actually leading to more problems and making us sicker.

Our bodies have an unlimited, innate ability to adapt and heal.  The body will always do everything it can to adapt to the stresses that we put it under.  An infection takes hold, and we develop a fever, a cough or a runny nose in order to fight off the invaders and expel them.  If we ingest food or drink that is contaminated or toxic, we vomit or develop diarrhea to “clean out” our system.  Stress on our musculoskeletal will result in swelling, pain, tenderness and heat during the healing process until our muscles bones and joints can grow stronger, or more flexible to accommodate.  If we cut ourselves, we clot… and the list goes on.  Our bodies are truly remarkable.  Unfortunately, we lose sight of this fact and in the process, lose faith in ourselves.  Obviously, if we are losing blood too quickly to clot or contract a disease that overwhelms us, our bodies will need help, but these situations are far rarer than the majestic facade that our medical facilities would make us think.

Take responsibility for your personal health by eating well, exercising, and practicing good hygiene (spinal, dental, and physical).  By becoming and staying healthy as individuals, we can save money and lower healthcare costs for everyone.

With the holidays in our midst, here are some tips for how chiropractic and simple activities can help make your holidays more of a pleasure and less of a headache.

Anxiety and stress frequently attack the weak spots of the spine, and it is the spine that can cause general muscular tension, headaches, migraine, neck pain and back pain. This pain can then aggravate the stress and anxiety and so chiropractic treatment is aimed at relieving any physical complaints which will in turn help with the mental conditions.

Since the central nervous system is so vital, the body has wisely built in a system of protection. Around the brain we have the skull, or cranial vault, and around the spinal cord is a system of protection for the spine — 24 moveable segments which have the dual role of protecting the central nervous system and providing the axis for the entire musculo-skeletal system. The very thing that is designed to protect the spinal cord can actually interfere with it, due to misalignment of the spine, or vertebral subluxation.

All subluxations are caused by stress that overwhelms the body’s resilience and coping ability. Physical stress can occur as the result of a car accident or slipping on an icy sidewalk, improper posture, occupational trauma, or birth trauma. Emotional stress can be the result of significant emotional trauma or the inability to adapt to a stressful situation. Chemical trauma can result from the use of prescription or illicit drugs, inadequate nutrition, or environmental toxins. By interfering with the central nervous system, vertebral subluxations interfere with normal function, reducing your body’s ability to self-regulate, adapt, and heal

Health, then, is truly an inside-out phenomenon. Most therapeutic interventions are designed to speed up or slow down function. The chiropractic goal is to normalize function. By correcting vertebral subluxations, the chiropractor removes a significant impediment to nature’s inborn ability to heal.

 The key to beating holiday stress is to prevent it from happening in the first place by being realistic about  what to expect.

 Methods of breathing to reduce anxiety:

1. Breathe in slowly to a count of four.
2. Hold the breath for a count of four.
3. Exhale slowly through pursed lips to a count of four.
4. Rest for a count of four (without taking any breaths).
5. Take two normal breaths.
6. Start over again with number one.

 Easy Holiday stress reducing ideas:

• Each morning/evening, write down what you are grateful for.
• Take time for yourself.
• Make to-do lists.
• Order gifts online.
• Set a budget for gifts.
• Cater or get takeout items for large meals.
• Learn to say no.
• Stop smoking.
• Have realistic expectations.
• Ask family or friends for help.
• Meditate.
• Chiropractic adjustment.
• Listen to your favorite music.
• Laugh really hard at least once a day.

Health care is a topic of great attention and debate in the US today.  We see advertisements for medications, healthcare groups, weight loss programs and the list goes on.  With all of this exposure and access to healthcare, one would think that we would be the healthiest people on the planet.  Unfortunately, this is not the case.

 According to Nationmaster.com, the United States is ranked number one for obesity (30%), thirteenth in heart disease deaths, ninth in cancer and first in healthcare expenditure per capita.  A person has to wonder… how can we spend the most on healthcare, and still have the highest obesity rate as well as rank among third world countries for death rates?

The answer is simple.  We are making the wrong healthcare and lifestyle choices.  America is a culture of fads; we have a feast or famine mentality.  Whether it be reality TV, crash diets, fashion or the latest gadget, we tend to run out, consume as much as we can quickly and move on to the latest and greatest.  We spend time, money and energy on things that are not sustainable, and we do it habitually.  Aside from the emergency room, this mentality does not work with healthcare.  We typically practice habits that are detrimental to our health until we or a loved one are forced into the hospital with some sort of emergency.  Often, I hear from patients “I know that I should exercise or eat better or quit smoking or stop drinking.”  Unfortunately, we continue despite our own awareness and advice.  We assume that when our health declines, the doctor will bail us out with drugs or surgery.  The simple fact of the matter is that people still have heart attacks even though drugs have artificially lowered their blood pressure and cholesterol.  It is time that we change our views about health and lifestyle to reach a level of long term sustainability.

The first thing that we need to look at is stress.  Stress can be physical, mental or chemical.  It can also be positive or negative.  Stress in the short term can be beneficial. Mental stress will motivate, physical stress can help us get into shape and chemical stress can help us get over an acute infection or disease (medication side effects are a form of chemical toxicity or stress).  The biggest problem with stress is when it becomes a long term or chronic state of being.  It can elevate blood pressure, raise low density (bad) cholesterol and lower high density (good) cholesterol, increase insulin levels leading to resistance, increase fat deposition in the midsection, alter gastrointestinal function, cause depression/anxiety and the list goes on.  Stress can also lead us to make bad decisions such as neglecting loved ones, eating for convenience rather nutrition, or preventing us from getting enough rest.  All in all, the major causes of death and disease in America can in one way or another be caused by stress and poor lifestyle choices.

So, how do we improve?  The first step is commitment.  We need to commit to change like our lives depend on it… because they do.  Temptations are only tempting when they are considered as an option.  Make things easy on yourself and remove the items from your life that lead you away from health… they are no longer a possibility.  Next, start by adding something to your routine rather than subtracting.  Add a salad to each meal (or start with adding one to lunch or dinner) and eat it first.  Add a 20 minute walk to your evening routine or 5-10 minutes of stretching to your morning.  Take 10-15 minutes to pray or meditate or simply focus your mind and let go.  These things are not difficult or time consuming but they can make a major difference in your overall health and well being.  The best thing is… they are free, you don’t need a prescription and they can save your life.   

Remember… its ok to start slowly; be patient with yourself.  After all, we are trying to reduce the stress in your life, not increase it.  If you are tempted to say “I don’t have time for that” or “I can’t do that” or even “I hate salad”… stop and recommit.  Attach the activity to an already established habit or routine like stretching before or after your morning shower, or take a bath and review your day after the kids are in bed, or start with fruits and vegetables that you enjoy and work your way up to a salad (there are many varieties of salad by the way, I’m sure you can find one you would enjoy; here’s a link to the food network).

Start with that and we will have more to come shortly.

Good luck and take care,

Dr. Ken

A recent article by Chirounity.com cited reports from the 1918 flu pandemic or Spanish flu which has been found to be related to the current N1H1 virus or Swine flu.  The article stated that the swine flu has been relatively mild in the United States to date; however, there is a high fatality rate in Mexico involving young adults (25-44 years old) with atypical pneumonia, similar to the 1918 outbreak.

 In 1918, many chiropractors in Wisconsin took care of their communities by traveling door to door adjusting anyone with the flu.  As a result, those who were adjusted by a chiropractor didn’t die from the flu.  Interestingly, chiropractors became known as “Flu Doctors”.  The following table shows the results of Chiropractic Care compared with Medical Treatment during the flu epidemic of 1918:

 Influenza                                                              

Medical:  10,000 cases – 950 deaths                

Chiropractic:  10,000 cases – 25 deaths                            

Pneumonia

Medical:  10,000 cases – 6,400 deaths

Chiropractic:  10,000 cases – 100 deaths

One report out of Oklahoma showed that chiropractors treated 233 cases that medical doctors had classified as lost and released them from care.  Of the 233 cases, all but 25 were saved under chiropractic care.

 How does Chiropractic help with the flu?

When you get adjusted, your immune system is stimulated and stressors put on your body by subluxation (spinal misalignment) are removed.  This enables your body to function properly and fight disease more efficiently.  It is not a guarantee that you won’t get sick; however your body will be much better able to fight the flu and win. 

Medicine is very limited in its ability to fight viruses like the flu.  The good news is that your body already possesses the tools and processes needed to fight off viruses.  Chiropractic care combined with ample sleep, a healthy balanced diet and regular activity will make your body a fortress for defending and fighting off the dreaded swine flu!  Spread the word to your friends and family so that we may all have a happy and healthy flu season

This year, we face a pandemic of immense proportions. Panic is sweeping our country, a national emergency has been declared, and individuals are living with the fear that death may be just around the corner. You may think that the pandemic I am referencing is the dreaded H1N1 virus or Swine Flu, but you are only partially correct. In actuality, the disease that is sweeping the globe is fear. Everyday, we hear the latest death toll on the news. Recently that number hit 1000 individuals in the US. Every life is precious and therefore, every death is tragic, but when compared to the 36,000 average yearly deaths related to the seasonal flu, we can see that the “hype” may be unfounded. Furthermore, there is a difference between dying from the swine flu and dying with the swine flu. The difference is the amount of risk to the average person. Healthy individuals without respiratory complications may be missing work or staying home from school, but they are not dying as readily as it may seem.

According to the CDC, the medical community stopped testing to confirm H1N1 on August 30, 2009. Therefore, individuals reporting to their doctor with aches, high fever, vomiting or diarrhea and/or cough are diagnosed with swine flu and treated accordingly. This approach would normally be fine, but this year politics are a strong player in our healthcare. For that reason, the greater the perceived crisis, the greater the achievement once the crisis is averted.

Australia and other countries in the southern hemisphere have already completed their flu season with little incident. The government initially responded strongly and quarantined individuals demonstrating H1N1 symptoms, but when it was recognized that the swine was no more of a threat than the regular seasonal flu, mandates were lessened. All in all, Australians have fought through the flu season without complication and for the most part, without the vaccine.

Now that the H1N1 vaccine is “available”, there is additional concern about the limited supply. Reports on the news show lines of people waiting in the rain for hours in 40 degree weather just to be turned away due to lack of vaccine doses. This image begs to question… what is a greater risk to your health; not getting the vaccine, or standing outside in the cold and rain for hours on end? It is a time to focus on becoming and staying healthy, not waiting in fear for an ailment that may never come. In fact, fear and anxiety will actually lower your natural immunity and make you more susceptible to getting sick. Vaccination is a personal choice and should be made by informed individuals. For information, I recommend the following websites which cover all biases and angles. I typically agree with the recommendations of Dr. Bob Sears for my family.

www.cdc.gov

www.askdrsears.com

www.mercola.com

So, what can we do to fight the flu safely and naturally?

#1: Relax! As previously stated, stress has strong negative effect on the immune system. It limits our ability to fight off viruses and bacteria naturally and therefore makes us more likely to manifest an illness like the flu.

#2: Get plenty of rest: This goes hand in hand with relaxing. Without rest our body gets run down and we are susceptible to getting sick. Fighting off the flu is a big job… make sure that you have enough energy for the task at hand.

#3: Stay hydrated: Water is crucial for eliminating toxins from the body and keeping the cells and tissues of our bodies well.

#4: Eat well: Again, we need energy to fight off the flu but even more importantly, we need high quality fuel for the fight ahead. All of the cells that die during the battle will need to be replaced. High quality materials (from a fresh, balanced diet) will allow your body to rebuild strong, healthy cells.

#5: Keep moving: Regular movement such as taking a walk, yoga or exercise will increase your energy and actually help to further detoxify your body. Chiropractic care or massage therapy for your joints and muscles will help to alleviate aches and pains. Chiropractic care will also help to better coordinate your nervous system to enable your body to function better as a whole. Actually, Chiropractors were known as “flu doctors” during the flu outbreak of 1918 because of the positive results that their patients received (including reduced death rates).

What if I get the flu?
#1: Stay home, rest and stay hydrated. Protect yourself and others around you by staying home and resting. Push fluids in order to prevent dehydration, especially if you are vomiting or have diarrhea.

#2: Monitor any fevers: fevers are a natural way that your body fights off invaders, so let it do what it is designed to do. If a fever stays elevated (103-104) for longer than 3-4 hours or continues to rise past that point, call your doctor. Otherwise, view fevers as a natural part of healing.

#3: Call your doctor on coughs with wheezing. Pneumonia is the biggest complicating threat related to the flu. If you or a child is wheezing or has a cough that worsens rapidly, don’t delay and call your doctor.

My greatest objection to the hype over the swine flu is that we seem to have lost all faith in the natural ability of our bodies to fight disease. Many of us will get the flu this season and it may not be pleasant, but for the vast majority of us we will recover without complications and move on with our lives. By following the recommendations above, you and your family will be able to enjoy the fall EMPOWERED and ready to celebrate the up-coming holidays. As FDR said, “The only thing we have to fear… is fear itself.”

Hello everyone,

Thank you for visiting our new and improved website.  We are happy to be able to offer a free online newsletter as well as a weekly blog to keep you informed and up to date on the health issues that concern you and your family most.  Please feel free to share the information with friends and loved ones so that they may also benefit.  And as always, your referrals are appreciated.  Our goal is to help as many people as possible to find health and wellness.  Your referrals allow us to achieve that vision.  Thank you again for your time.   I look forward to speaking to you personally.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ken