Tag: back pain wilmington

Chiropractor Wilmington NC: Water Benefits

You’ve probably heard that many Americans don’t drink as much water as they should-that we live in a “dehydration nation” and that even our sensation of thirst has become muted over time as a result. You’ve also probably heard the conventional advice about drinking 8 glasses of water every day. Interestingly, it’s very difficult to find strong scientific backing for either of these two ideas. BUT… does that mean that many of us wouldn’t benefit from drinking more water? NO! Our chiropractor in Wilmington  NC explains why drinking is beneficial.

While we can turn to a wide variety of thirst quenchers at home, at work or on the go, nothing can beat the original and the best-water. At least in part, this is because water gives us the hydration we need without a lot of other stuff we don’t-extra calories, caffeine, artificial sweeteners and so on.
Our Special Relationship with Water
Our bodies are made up of 43-75% water. The wide range in percentages comes from measuring different populations ranging from newborns (~75%) to obese people (~45%), with normal adult hydration at about 57%-60%. Here are a just a few ways that water is essential to our health and well-being:
* We can survive a month without food, but we’d die after a week without water. The body is able to absorb many nutrients and salts better thanks to water’s ability to transport these nutrients (as well as oxygen) to our body’s cells and organs.  Detoxifying is also vitally important to our health, since it cleans our bodies of impurities. The best way to excrete these impurities is through our urine and sweat-both of which depend on our water intake.

* Upping your water intake may help to reduce the risk of kidney stones. The kidneys filter waste products from the blood, which are then expelled by the body via urination. However, if the concentration of salt in our urine is high (because we have either too much salt in the system or too little water), kidney stones ma form. By drinking more water, this concentration of salts is reduced.

* We are at risk of sunstroke if our bodies become dehydrated. When we sweat, this cools our body down. If dehydrated, the body cannot sweat and overheats, which can damage the body’s internal organs.

* If you suffer from high blood pressure, maybe it’s your water intake that is the problem. When our lose more than the optimal amount of liquid, our blood vessels constrict, which can cause our blood pressure to increase. If blood pressure is increased by a deficiency in water, this may also increase the risk of heart disease. Because the constricted blood vessels cause an increase in blood pressure, the heart works harder to compensate for the reduced volume of blood. Lower blood pressure and greater consumption of water help lower stress on the heart.
* Drinking more water can help you stay younger looking longer. Drinking a lot of water helps keep the skin clean and fresh-looking by removing impurities through sweating. Water also helps to keep the skin hydrated, which means younger looking skin with less sagging and fewer wrinkles.

* Drinking water also cuts hunger pangs and acts as a good filler. Water has zero calories, so consider trading in your sugary drinks and juices to help control your weight.

But Change is Hard, You Say?
If increasing your water intake seems like a chore, why not add lemon or mint to your bottle to give it a little flavor? Eat more fruits rich in water such as watermelon, and try to drink water more regularly over the course of the day.  Having a glass of water or water bottle near you during the day has been shown to increase water consumption without effort.
Good health is a combination of many lifestyle factors (including your nutrition, exercise and sleep habits) as well as your healthcare. If you have questions about this article or about your overall health and well-being, call or visit our office today! You’ll be glad you did!

Remember-we are here to help! Chiropractic care should be as routine as drinking water. We encourage you to call or visit our office today! Our chiropractor Wilmington NC can help you!

Chiropractor Leland NC: Allergy Relief

When most people sneeze a few times or start feeling a little congested, the first thing that goes through their minds is usually “Oh great! A cold…” Depending on the time of year, though, other people have a very different thought-“Oh great! It’s allergy season again…” If you’re one of these “other” people, your second thought might be to reach into the medicine cabinet for an antihistamine pill. But did you know that a chiropractor could help you overcome your allergy problems without resorting to medications that can make you drowsy or cause other side-effects? Our chiropractor Leland NC explains more

Most people associate chiropractic physicians with back and neck issues, and it is certainly true that chiropractors can help with these types of musculoskeletal problems. However, they can also help the body achieve optimum health by ensuring the spine is correctly aligned.

Chiropractor Leland NC

A study from the University of California found that signals from the nervous system may influence the function of the immune system. While our immune system is there to fight against disease, and helps to keep the body performing at its peak, it also works to dispel foreign contaminants that enter the body. When we sneeze because of an allergy, it’s because our body detects the presence of a foreign object in the system, such as dust, mites, pollen, etc. and it produces chemicals to neutralize and expel the allergens. These chemicals are known as histamines. In the case of allergies, the immune system overreacts to the presence of the allergens in the body. A chiropractor may help by removing the nerve interference from compressions in the spine. As a result, the immune system is able to function optimally once more.

Most traditional treatments for allergies, such as antihistamines, only suppress or manage the symptoms and don’t address the underlying cause. In addition, the safety of anti-allergy medication is also under debate-particularly when used over long periods of time or combined with other drugs. One study conducted in lab rats with brand name anti-allergy medication found that cancerous tumors in the rats grew much father with the intake of antihistamines.
In contrast, a chiropractor treats patients by using spinal manipulation to release the stresses on the nervous system, which allows the immune system to work more effectively and-as a consequence-reduces allergies. This is yet another way that chiropractic care can promote optimal health and help improve your quality of life.

Remember-we are here to help! If you suffer from allergies or have concerns about your health more generally, we encourage you to call or visit our office today! Our chiropractor Leland NC can help you!

Chiropractor Wilmington NC: Spinal Manipulation

Spinal manipulation-sometimes referred to as “adjustment”-is a special type of manual therapy that forms the foundation of chiropractic care. Chiropractors use adjustments to correct dislocations and misalignments of the bones of the spine (vertebrae) called “subluxations”. The word “subluxation” has its origins in the Latin words “luxare” (to dislocate) and “sub” (mild). Depending on their location and severity, subluxations may put pressure on or irritate nerves and blood vessels in the spine, causing musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. Our chiropractor Wilmington NC explains more.

Spinal manipulation involves the use of a certain amount of controlled force that is applied in a specific direction to a joint that is not moving properly. Adjustments are usually done manually by the doctor but may also be accomplished using a variety of specialized instruments designed for this purpose. Chiropractic adjustments help return your vertebrae to their natural position. The goal is to relieve pain, restore normal function and encourage the healing of injured tissues.

Chiropractor Wilmington NC

Before carrying out an adjustment, your chiropractor will thoroughly evaluate your condition by discussing your personal health history with you, performing a physical examination and-if necessary-using a variety of diagnostic tools (such as imaging or laboratory tests). During the adjustment procedure itself, you may be lying down on a specially designed chiropractic table, sitting or standing-whichever is most appropriate for your situation.

There are over 96 individual chiropractic maneuvers your doctor may choose from for your adjustment. He or she will decide which ones to use based on a variety of factors, including the area of the spine being adjusted and the amount of force that will be required. For this reason, the position of both the patient and the chiropractor are taken into account when selecting the most appropriate combination of spinal manipulation techniques for your condition.

Adjustments may be used to treat back pain, neck pain, or pain in other areas of the body such as hips, shoulders, arms and legs. The procedure rarely causes pain. However, there may occasionally be some discomfort for patients who are new to chiropractic care or who have suffered a recent trauma in the area being adjusted. The sound may also surprises some new patients. The popping and cracking noises (called “cavitation”) that occur during adjustments are the result of gas bubbles being released from within the joints. The phenomenon is similar to the one that occurs when people crack their knuckles and is quite normal.
In many cases, spinal manipulation is all that is needed to treat certain types of musculoskeletal disorders (lower back pain, for example). However, chiropractic physicians often combine adjustments with other types of treatment, such as massage and cold laser therapy, to help their patients recover as quickly and completely as possible.

If you or someone you care about is wondering whether a chiropractor Wilmington NC might be the right choice, please call or visit our office today. We’ll be happy to explain our approach and answer any questions. Remember-we’re here to help!

Chiropractor Leland NC: Stretching

Short on Time During Your Workout? Don’t Skip the Stretching!

Why is stretching the part of our workout regimen that so many of us tend to skip? We might tell ourselves it’s because we’re sort on time, that we’re impatient or that (deep down) we believe stretching is really pointless. But however we rationalize it, skipping the stretching is a BAD idea! Our chiropractor Leland NC explains more.

It’s probably obvious that our joints were designed to be able to move in various directions with a certain degree of freedom. But as our bodies age, we become stiffer and lose the flexibility we had when we were young. In fact, chances are (unless you happen to be a dancer or gymnast), that process will start even before you reach your 20th birthday. However, it’s never too late to regain some of that youthful flexibility by becoming more serious about stretching. Combined with strength training, proper stretching can help prolong our mobility and independence-allowing us to perform basic day-to-day tasks well into our senior years. Reaching that high shelf, bending to pick up a dropped object, and accessing that hidden switch behind an awkward kitchen cabinet are all great examples.
One reason it’s really important to stretch before working out is that we are likely to use muscles and connective tissues that are normally inactive. Without flexibility, the risk of getting hurt goes up. However, stretching can help prevent (or even treat) some common types of musculoskeletal injuries if it’s done correctly. Plus, it can feel good! Stretching can be a great way to start the day or to wind down after work.

Preparing the body for exercise by warming up the muscles (increasing blood flow) and stretching is easy and need not take up much of your time. Simply begin moving the various muscle groups in a deliberate way, with slow stretches of the joints towards the end of their range of motion. As you do this, you should notice a gentle “pulling” sensation and hold the position for up to half a minute. Then stretch the alternate side or move on to other muscle groups. Not only does stretching prevent injury, but it also improves the mechanical efficiency of your body. Stretching prior to exercise means muscles and joints are able to move through their full range of motion with less effort when exercising , improving performance.

Other benefits of stretching include improved circulation, less pain and faster recoveries following workouts, and better posture. If you find yourself arriving home stiff and achy from sitting at a desk all day and then commuting-try stretching. You might find that you’ll feel better almost instantly!
Remember-good health is the result of lots of little day-to-day things, including your nutrition, exercise and sleep habits, as well as your healthcare choices. As chiropractic physicians, we’re experts in diagnosing and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. We’re also experts in prevention and performance. If you’re interested in any of these things, we encourage you to call or visit our office today and schedule an appointment with our chiropractor Leland NC!