Some people do all the right things and still develop serious health problems. Others flaunt their bad habits and are able to live long lives, dying peacefully in their sleep at the age of 95. For example, high blood pressure (hypertension, HTN) is a common chronic disease in the United States. With HTN a person’s heart has to work much harder, all the time, to pump the blood needed by the rest of the body. HTN is associated with heart attacks and stroke, and hypertensive heart disease is a leading cause of death. 1

HTN is often described as a lifestyle disease. 2,3 Those who are overweight and/or obese (this characterizes two-thirds of American adults) are at increased risk for HTN, as are persons with diabetes. People who don’t exercise regularly are more likely to develop high blood pressure, as are those who smoke cigarettes. In fact, overweight/obesity, lack of exercise, and tobacco use are the top three causes of HTN.

Obviously, achieving an average weight, exercising regularly, and stopping smoking (or never starting) are three main lifestyle actions related to decreasing one’s risk of developing HTN. But some people who are slim, have exercised all their lives, and do not smoke may still develop high blood pressure. In such a case, HTN is termed “essential hypertension”. The person has a very healthy lifestyle, there are no risk factors for HTN, and still they become hypertensive. That is the luck of the draw, otherwise known as a genetic predisposition to this disease.

In a contrasting example, a few people may smoke two packs of cigarettes a day since age 15, drink a quart of gin every few days, and never get really sick. They don’t develop lung cancer or liver cancer and have no problems with HTN or heart disease, and live lives that fly in the face of all received wisdom in the field of public health. They continue to thrive well into their 80s and beyond and love to tell their well-meaning friends and relatives, “I’ve never been sick a day in my life” while lighting up another cigarette. Such persons are described by epidemiologists as outliers, those whose health parameters represent an outlying 2.5% or less of the standard values. Their luck of the draw lies in possessing an indestructible constitution.

Of course the exceptions only prove the rule. Their existence does not suggest that rules for good health should not be observed. Regular vigorous exercise and a healthful diet containing plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables are important for all of us, young and old. Chiropractic care is an important component of the lifestyle mix. Chiropractic care helps people, young and old, achieve the best health possible. This natural form of health care helps take the “luck” out of the equation. We can make our own luck and chiropractic helps us do that in the arena of health and well-being.

Chiropractic check-ups help ensure your body is functioning at peak levels. If some optimizing is needed, your chiropractor will recommend treatment that will get you back to being fit. They’ll also be able to answer your questions about diet and exercise, helping you plan choices and activities that will keep you and your family healthy and well.

About Dr. Ferraro

Dr. Ferraro, D.C. specializes in the multidisciplinary non-surgical treatment of spinal conditions. His practices throughout New Jersey provide patients in Bergen and Monmouth County with comprehensive care for back, neck, leg, arm, and nerve conditions.

Dr. Ferraro, D.C. has over 14 years of experience in the chiropractic field and has become nationally recognized for his extensive work using non-surgical decompression technology along with being certified in Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA).

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Sources:

1Zhang WW, et al: Hypertension and TIA. Int J Stroke 4(3):206-214, 2009

2Schmid AA, et al: Current blood pressure self-management: a qualitative study. Rehabil Nurs 34(6):223-229, 2009

3Pascual JM, et al: Body weight variation and control of cardiovascular risk factors in essential hypertension. Blood Press 18(5):247-254

By Amanda Gardner, Health.com; July 24, 2010 8:18 a.m. EDT

Trent Northcutt, 42, a corporate executive in New York City, had been suffering from lower back pain and leg pain for about three years, to the point that he was “cautious about picking up the simplest thing,” he remembers.

When he finally sought help, his doctor recommended acupuncture right off the bat. Northcutt ended up having six treatments over about eight months. Now, he says, “I don’t have any back pain at all. I’m 100 percent good.”

More than 26 million Americans ages 20 to 64 suffer from ongoing back pain, according to the American Pain Foundation, and it’s one of the top reasons people visit a doctor. But many of those millions also discover the painful secret about back pain: This common condition can be surprisingly difficult to treat.

The lower back is a complex spot, with many potential sources of pain. Although surgery would seem to be a quick fix, in reality about 85 percent of people don’t need — and won’t benefit from — back surgery, says Dr. Anders Cohen, M.D., chief of neurosurgery at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, in New York City.

That leaves plenty of room for alternative and complementary therapies, such as vitamins, acupuncture, and chiropractic therapy, that may help soothe the pain. “If I don’t see something unstable, something wrong with a disk or a bone, I use alternative therapies on a regular basis. It’s a central crux of my practice,” adds Cohen.

“There are some types of back pain that seem to be in the covering of the muscles or in the tissue connecting the muscle that are really difficult to treat,” adds Dr. James Bray, M.D., a sports medicine physician with Scott & White Healthcare, in Georgetown, Texas. “That’s where a lot of alternative therapies [such as acupuncture and chiropractic therapy] really excel.”

Chiropractic therapy

Although most people tend to think of a chiropractor as a practitioner who cracks your back while you lie on a table, they also “have a lot of soft tissue treatments,” Cohen says.

Chiropractors can help with back pain and, in a few cases, even pain that radiates into the buttock or leg.

Some borrow techniques from physical therapy, using ultrasound and heat to break the cycles of muscle spasms and trigger points that cause chronic irritation, he says.

And it turns out that the cracking sound that goes along with a visit to the chiropractor is a good thing. Doctors think that it comes from nitrogen bubbles being released in the joints. “That helps rebalance the spine,” Cohen explains.

Read the full article from CNN.com that recommends Chiropractic care for back pain relief.

You’ve probably been hearing since you were a little child that you should drink 8 glasses of water a day.  How many times were we told to ‘stay hydrated’ on hot days?

Dehydration is a major problem in the US, where we have one of the largest supplies of clean drinking water available.  Take a look at some of these statistics and then read a little bit about dehydration and back pain below, you might find yourself very surprised.

1.    75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half the world population)

2.    In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.

3.    Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as 3%.

4.    One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

5.    Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6.    Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7.    A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

Water is important in nearly all of life’s chemical processes, and the production, growth and life of skin cells depends on it. Water within the cells helps make your skin look smooth, firm and tight. It is important for the functioning of our bodies’ internal organs, as well.

Back Pain and Dehydration

Most people associate back pain with structural and/or muscular dysfunctions or imbalances of the spine and back.  Did you know that back and spine pain can also be caused or made worse by chronic dehydration?

Your spinal column has Intervertebral discs which function as shock absorbers in between the vertebrae.  The inner disc is made of nucleus pulposus, a jelly like substance. It functions to distribute hydraulic pressure in all directions within each disc under compressive loads. The nucleus pulposus consists of chondrocytes, collagen fibrils, and proteoglycan aggrecans that have hyaluronic long chains which attract water.

Gravity takes a toll on our spines all day long and the pressure slowly causes the nucleus pulposus to be squeezed out of the discs.  Our discs will successfully rehydrate themselves during the night, and also during the day when possible, as long as there are adequate water levels within the body.

When there is not enough water available to fully hydrate the nucleus pulposus, the whole disc becomes compromised. When the inner portion of the disc is dehydrated, it cannot support its share of the load, so more and more of your weight is borne by the outer portion of the disc, which simply was not designed for that purpose. This can cause pain, swelling, and even ruptures or herniations of the outer shell.

If you are experiencing chronic back pain, ask yourself; ‘Am I getting enough water on a daily basis?’.  Chronic dehydration over time can lead to severe back pain.  A simple and effective way of reducing back pain is to ensure you stay properly hydrated each and every day by drinking half your body weight in ounces of water!

Learn more about how Spinal Decompression can help reduce back pain without surgery.

(Originally posted by ACAToday.org)

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) today announced its exclusive endorsement of orthotics and pillows from Foot Levelers. In addition, ACA endorses Foot Levelers’ rehabilitation products.

Assessed by a panel of doctors of chiropractic, the endorsed products offer the following features and benefits:

• Orthotics
  Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers are custom-made orthotics scientifically designed for an individual’s unique postural problems. Stabilizers support all three arches of the foot and help align the feet, ankles, knees, hips and pelvis to provide the body a balanced foundation.
• Pillows
  A cervical pillow supports the neck and spine and corrects the user’s resting position so that the head and neck are at the optimal curvature. This relieves tension in the cervical spine and enhances relaxation, allowing for a more restful sleep.
• Rehabilitation Products
  Foot Levelers’ full range of rehabilitation tools are versatile and work for patients of every age. The rehabilitation tools are easy to use and offer the benefits of isokinetic and isotonic exercise to speed healing and enhance pain-free range of motion.

“We are thrilled to have ACA’s continued support for our products,” said Dwayne Bennett, executive vice president, Foot Levelers. “Our products provide a valuable adjunct to chiropractic care by maintaining the progress made during an adjustment for a longer period of time.”

“The musculoskeletal system is the support system for the entire body,” noted ACA President Rick McMichael, DC. “ACA is pleased to support these products from Foot Levelers. These products are designed to assist doctors and patients in caring for that support system.”

More information about products from Foot Levelers is available at www.footlevelers.com.

About Foot Levelers
Foot Levelers, Inc. is the world’s exclusive provider of custom-made Spinal Pelvic Stabilizers and other therapeutic products that have served the healthcare profession for more than 55 years. Foot Levelers’ products have helped millions of people enjoy fuller and happier lives at work, home, and at play.

About ACA
The American Chiropractic Association, based in Arlington, Va., is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of ethics and patient care, contributing to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients.

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Spinal Decompression Therapy NJ