I found this article disturbing and you may, too. It sounds like it's time for all of us to become "pro-active" so that more and more people who really need it can "get active." We need to let our state and government officials know what is important to us. Nature belongs to all of us. It's good for the body, mind, and spirit. Read on…
Obesity, Health Concerns Rise As Parks And Recreation Programs Decline
One way to help address the epidemic of obesity in the United States is improved access to pleasant hiking trails and an ambitious parks and recreation program, a recent study suggests, but programs such as this are increasingly being reduced in many states due to budget shortfalls.
The analysis, done by researchers in Oregon, found that some of the health issues that plague overweight and obese people can be aided by a stronger commitment to recreational opportunities. Cutting such programs to save money may be counterproductive to community health, scientists said.
"Research is now showing there's a close correlation between public health and recreational opportunities, both close to home and in state parks," said Randy Rosenberger, an associate professor in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society at Oregon State University. "And it's not just about losing weight. It's been found that active obese individuals have lower morbidity and mortality than normal weight individuals who are sedentary."(Read more…)
Presently there is an assortment of possible treatments from which you may select when it comes to your lumbar pain and soreness in additional parts of your body as a result of arthritic variations, for example visiting a San Jose chiropractor. But nevertheless, many people who are experiencing debilitating arthritis and back pain nonetheless think that they have got to go to a medical doctor as the best way to discover a treatment method for their problems. However, you may be amazed to know that very few medical doctors can help people eradicate, or naturally decrease the difficulties of back pain resulting from arthritis. Rather than being accustomed to coming up with and treating the root cause of the discomfort you are going through, medical doctors perpetually address mainly your symptoms, that you could do not just for pain alleviation, but to genuinely retard arthritic changes in your body.
Seeing a chiropractor in San Jose is genuinely among the very best things that you can do to assist your arthritis and back pain. Chiropractors are doctors who focus exclusively on working on the musculoskeletal system, and arthritis is a joint condition. Chiropractic assistance has aided many people in decreasing the process of arthritis by getting their joints moving. Movement is crucial for joint health. A good chiropractor is very knowledgeable in caring for back pain, even when it is because of arthritis
If you have never gone to a chiropractor in the past, you could be somewhat concerned about what will happen once you are in the office. It may be beneficial to offer a quick overview of what you can anticipate. You may be asked about your medical history, that will most probably include a family account of arthritis. The chiropractor is likely to ask about your daily diet and lifestyle and may suggest explicit changes that may be very helpful in reducing the inflammation attributable to arthritis. And, lastly, you will receive a in depth examination. After the assessment is done, the chiropractor will let you know if chiropractic assistance can assist your lumbar pain, and also eliminate your debilitating arthritic symptoms. visit Then you will learn about the actual course of action you will should have.
A chiropractic adjustment relieves pain safely and organically, and it is a painless procedure. And, the most terrific factor of going to a chiropractor for your lumbar pain and arthritis is that you can feel positive that the source of your pain is being attended to, and that the relief you experience has not been masking the warning sign of pain, but authentically eliminating the origin of your problem.
Headaches can be thought of as internal alarm bells, ringing only when something is going on inside of the body. Most of us live a life so full of external distractions that our own physical problems get easily over looked.
Headaches that are Warning: “There is Something up Ahead” -
Nearly 70% of women between 20-35 years of age start to develop a “menstrual migraine”. At first this migraine is easily categorized with normal migraines, but then begins to stand out because of its consistency.
The menstrual migraine will usually show up every month, 2 days before menstruation. As with other premenstrual symptoms, having advanced knowledge of what to expect can make the occurrence less painful by being prepared.
Your Body’s Natural Volcanic System -
A common phrase that children hear from their mothers is, “You must be sleepy.” It’s amusing to watch as the child tries to first deny the accusation and then question what brought on such a declaration.
Unfortunately, when a person reaches adulthood there’s no one around to tell you when you should sleep and when you should relax. Suddenly, the responsibility of knowing what’s best is all yours.
When a body is pushed hard daily and given little to no opportunity of relaxation, something begins to happen. One of those things that happens is a head pain that feels painfully tight around the circumference of the head. The very sight of light can become discomforting, as well as noises both soft and loud.
This is a signal your body has sent with almost volcanic violence. To avoid repeated episodes that can develop to more severe levels, seek a chiropractic doctor.
Talking to a chiropractor about your tension headache is not the same as just going to visit a masseuse, because these doctors will do a thorough examination to find all the root causes of your headache.
The treatment you may receive will definitely be therapeutic, but it will have the added benefit of being preventive as well. The number one goal of these facilities is to not just get rid of pain, but help you continue living a pain free life.
The Weight of Headache Pain -
A scary thing about weight gain is that there doesn’t seem to be any real internal trigger that extra pounds are being added on. Usually it’s not until after all the external evidence is before one that they notice their weight gain.
Studies are starting to reveal that overweight people begin having headaches more often and more severely than those that are of a healthy weight. It’s still unclear as to how the body is triggering this effect, but it is evident in recent researches.
Even when headaches seem to be a part of your life’s package, it’s good to make sure that they’re not coming on for other serious reasons.
Waiting until you reach your breaking point before you get the rest you need is as dangerous as drunk driving. So taking a moment out of your day to visit a local doctor’s office, or chiropractic health practice shouldn’t be delayed, especially since most of us don’t just want the pain to go away, we want it to stay away.
Amidst a great deal of emotion and rhetoric coming out of Connecticut this week regarding the stroke issue The Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation has just released a very clear position statement on the issue of chiropractic and strokes.
Atlanta, GA, January 07, 2010 –(PR.com)– According to the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation there is no human experimental evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations are causally related to strokes.
“While plaintiff’s attorneys and expert witness make claims and statements contending that such a causative link exists, the fact remains that these are based largely on anecdotes, case reports, and case controlled studies and cannot be used to prove causation” stated Foundation President Christopher Kent DC, JD a chiropractic researcher and attorney.
According to researchers and the scientific method itself there are all sorts of biases and distortions that effect conclusions drawn from such studies and other criteria must be used to determine whether such a link exists.
“What this boils down to is a simple lack of understanding of biostatistics and epidemiology” stated Foundation Vice President Matthew McCoy DC, MPH, a chiropractic researcher and public health expert. “Words like ‘association’ and ‘causation’ and ‘risk’ have very specific meanings when it comes to their use in epidemiology and it’s clear that laypersons involved in this debate are using these terms inappropriately.”
While the experience of a stroke can be devastating and no one would suggest ignoring the concerns of those who have suffered one, the reality is that when it comes to the contention that chiropractic causes strokes – the evidence just isn’t there. And while the strokes these people have experienced are indeed real, McCoy suggests there are often other issues involved and offered an example. “Millions of people visit a dentist every year and a certain number of those same people get into car accidents on their way home. If we were to run the stats on it we might find that there is a statistical association between visiting a dentist and getting into a car accident on the way home. But no one would even consider suggesting that the dentists are causing the car accidents.”
Self described chiropractic stroke victims say there is a risk and that people should be advised about it prior to undergoing chiropractic care. The majority of chiropractors would agree that patients should be informed of the risks, benefits and alternatives of any health care intervention, but according to Dr. Kent “Such informed consent must be based on appropriate information and since there is no scientific evidence that chiropractic adjustments or neck manipulations actually cause strokes, it is inappropriate to require a doctor to suggest that such a risk exists.”
Dr. McCoy added another often overlooked issue “Chiropractors utilize a number of techniques to address joint dysfunction and vertebral subluxation and in fact there are over 300 named chiropractic techniques and many do not employ the type of manipulation that has been alleged to be a factor in vertebrobasilar accidents. This adds to the inappropriate nature of such a disclosure.”
In the end, chiropractic has an impressive safety record compared to traditional medical care with estimates are that anywhere from 100,000 (Institute of medicine) to 750,000 (Null et al) people die every year from medical care. In comparison, other than some minor soreness following chiropractic treatment, research has shown chiropractic to be very safe.
Do you have cravings for sweets that you see as treats? Do you think indulging in a pint of ice cream is your reward for making it through the day? Are you looking for something sweet to overcome that 3pm slump? For some, sugar is just as addicting as caffeine, tobacco or alcohol and it keeps us from losing the pounds we long to shed.
The United States is the largest consumer of sweeteners and one of the largest global sugar importers. We started in 1689 when the first sugar refinery was built in New York City. Colonists soon began to sweeten their breakfast porridge with refined sugar, and within 10 years, individual consumption had reached 4 pounds a year. The average American now consumes more than 100 pounds of sugar and sweeteners per year. The USDA recommends we get no more than 10 teaspoons per day, yet most Americans eat about 30 teaspoons per day—that’s three times the liberal recommended daily value.
Humans love sweet things. Even before we started refining sugar, we sought out foods with sweet tastes. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that occurs naturally in foods such as grains, beans, vegetables and fruit. When unprocessed, sugar contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and proteins. When brown rice or other whole grains are cooked, chewed and digested, the natural carbohydrates break down uniformly into separate glucose molecules. These molecules enter the bloodstream, where they are burned smoothly and evenly, allowing your body to absorb all the good stuff. Read more…
Researchers in the US studying people with chronic diseases found that physical activity may reduce depression and fatigue by increasing self-efficacy, or the belief that one can master physical goals and attain a sense of accomplishment from applying oneself.
These were the findings of a study by lead author Dr Edward McAuley, a professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois in Champaign, and colleagues, and appears in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.
A person’s self-efficacy is the belief they can attain a certain goal: an example of my self-efficacy would be that I believe I can climb several flights of stairs or jog around the block without stopping.
While there is lots of evidence that physical activity influences well-being, the reason why is less well understood. Read more…
What is kinesiology and exercise science? The study of movement is kinesiology and the science of exercise is the exploration of specific movements in relation to fitness and health. The kinesthetic aspect of the program relates to motion as it realates to health and mental functioning.
Movement, Mental Processing and Mood
Many studies suggest that activity has a direct effect on mental functioning and mood. A sedentary person is more likely to develop depression, inattention, and the inability to focus. Kinesiology is related to language development and communication skills as well.
The motor theory of language suggests that all language is rooted in neurological motor systems based in movement. Fundamentally, all communication arises out of motion. Mental processes, though appearing to be sedentary are based in activity and motion.
Kinesiology
Kinesiology explores movement in regards to intellect with the combination of motion. The field looks at various populations including the elderly, children, athletes, and people with physical challenges due to disabilities or health disease. The approach explore motion in the following realms:
* Life skills * Exercise * Physical fitness * Dancing * Playing * Working * Engaging in sports
The study of human movement is a field that brings together a number of different elements. When you explore motion, you naturally touch upon the following topics, especially in regards to alternative and complementary medicine.
This topic is applicable to health as well as various treatment modalities, including forms of alternative and complementary medicine. The better that an individual understands the science of human motion, the better able he or she is to adopt health practices that are most effective.
What is Exercise Science?
What is exercise science? Not everyone makes the connection between science and exercise, but the two are deeply connected. Every movement, even the most seemingly simplistic motion involves complicated neurological and physical components that work together to make the motion possible. In addition, each movement has ramifications on the mind, body and spirit.
Exercise science explores everything about movement from nutrition to injury and illness. This field of study helps us understand how the body functions from the fundamental origins of movement, including biological, chemical and nutritional realms.
Kinesiology and Exercise Medicine
Kinesiology and exercise medicine relate to more than fitness and workouts. The fields of study look at the inner workings of motion and exercise as well as their impact on the body in various realms. The comprehensive perspective on motion offers new insight into the importance of activity and health
Each approach looks at the body as a machine that drives the mind and emotions through motion. Thought, emotional processing and motion are each interconnected and those who explore the fundamentals of the connection between the body and the mind may want to consider the motor theory of language, kinesiology and exercise medicine.
With any sort of sport, injuries are not unusual. You can often avoid getting injured in a particular sport by determining what injury is likely to occur, and then do what it takes to avoid it. The truth is, though, that sports injuries can’t always be avoided. As a result, it’s advantageous to take good care of your body to make injury less probable, or less traumatic. Prior to starting a sport, such as golf, the most important thing you can do is to be confident that you have the proper fitness level. You may very well keep your body safe from injury if you stick to these general guidelines: Perpetuate a healthy lifestyle; make sure your joints are mobile and your muscles are limber; prepare your body before to activity; use proper form and good postures during activity; give yourself sufficient cool down and relaxation time.
It isn’t just amateur golfers who experience injuries. It has been conjectured that close to a third of pro golfers playing at any given time are playing with injury. The good news is that overall good health and fitness can lessen the number of injuries that you may acquire and might conceivably deter them altogether.
It is very important for you to have good body strength in the muscle regions most used while playing golf. But, it’s important to determine that your spine is in healthy alignment and that it has good mobility prior to setting out to build muscle strength. A successful golf swing hinges on your spine’s facility to adequately rotate adequately. Back injuries are the most prevalent type of injuries suffered by golfers. Your Sacramento chiropractor will establish that your spine is in appropriate alignment and that there is effectual movement of the vertebrae. Chiropractic treatment can go a long way in helping you to prevent back injury.
Once you’re “straightened” it’s time to strengthen. Being prepared to play your game is crucial to a safe, injury-free day on the green. You can warm up your muscles and make injuring them less likely by doing golf stretching and flexibility exercises. Flexibility in all areas of the body can be escalated fairly quickly as the result of full body range of motion (ROM) exercises. In addition, elastic band conditioning affords targeted golf range of motion advantages and can increase needed energy in the shoulders, hips and deep muscles of the core. Sports professionals, such as your chiropractor, are including elastic band training in their golf conditioning programs because the bands offer dynamic resistance that ordinary weight lifting does not provide.
Besides back injuries, a large number of golfers suffer from “Golfer’s Elbow.” There is a minor difference between golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow although they are nearly the same. Tennis elbow disturbs the outside of the upper arm whereas golfer’s elbow impinges the inner arm. Golfer’s elbow, like tennis elbow, can result from a single violent action, such as (in golf) hitting the mat at the driving range or hitting a hard fairway surface. Repetitive stress from smaller shocks, though, is most often the cause. In addition, it can happen to those who all of a sudden start playing too much golf. For example, if players that usually play golf once or twice a month decide to play in a tournament, they are conceivably at risk for contracting the injury.
Golf makes exclusive requirements on the body. Fatigue can be a challenge because the game generally lasts longer than the majority of other sports. Poor posture and impeded coordination are normally the consequences of a fatigued body. Together, these two components can create a number of injuries. Additionally, the shoulder muscles are liable to injury as a result of the constant swinging of the golf clubs. Just as it is essential for you to stretch and warm up prior to starting your golf game, be sure to rest your body appropriately between games.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is, sometimes, a surprising injury associated with golf. But, because it an affliction that occurs due to repetitive stress, many games of golf played over several months repetitively may produce this injury. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be a serious injury producing incapacitation and occasionally necessitating surgery. However, chiropractic treatment and, sometimes the use of a brace will help the condition if a health professional, such as your chiropractor, discovers it at an early stage.
Many golfers seem to feel that injuries are simply an unavoidable part of a golfer’s life. Nonetheless, a healthy, mobile spine, judicious preparation, proper exercise and muscle conditioning, reaching and sustaining a a good fitness level, and sensible rest and recuperation after your game is over, can make injuries a good deal less a part of your golfing experience.
Dr. Yong Kim is a chiropractor in Sacramento with over thirteen years of experience helping thousands of patients get out of pain and get their lives back. His office is located at 1707 Professional Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825. He has special training in the area of sports injuries. Dr Kim is himself an avid health enthusiast. For more information go to his website at http://www.sacramentochiropractor.org
Repetitive melodies encourage less energy use, more growth, study finds
By Serena Gordon HealthDay Reporter
(HealthDay News) — Could the music of the 18th century classical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart help tiny infants born today?
Yes, suggests an Israeli study that found that listening for just 30 minutes a day helped premature babies use less energy, which may help them grow faster.
“Within 10 minutes of listening to Mozart music, healthy infants [born prematurely] had a 10 percent to 13 percent reduction of their resting energy expenditure,” the study authors wrote. “We speculate that this effect of music on resting energy expenditure might explain, in part, the improved weight gain that results from this Mozart effect.”
The findings were published online Monday in Pediatrics, and are slated to appear in the January print issue of the journal. Read more…
What are the different types of headaches? The painful condition has many different causes and the pain manifests itself in a number of different ways. Figuring out which type of headache you have is an important part of treating the condition.
A headache can be classified as a neurological problem but there are many different reasons people experience pain in the head. The symptoms of the headache are indicators of the type of headache you are experiencing. Following are four common types of headaches people experience.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches can occur occasionally or they may be chronic in some individuals. Reasons behind tension pain in the head include but are not limited to:
Depression
Underlying medical problems
Stress
Fatigue
Depression
Psychological problems
People who have chronic tension headaches may notice the onset of the problem occurring as early as 20 years of age while others find the onset of the headaches in their late thirties.
Hormonal Headaches
Some headaches occur because there is an imbalance of hormones in the body. The endocrine system is responsible for manufacturing and releasing hormones and this system works in collaboration with the nervous system. When there is an imbalance, headaches can occur.
Migraine Headaches
The painful onset of a migraine headache is enough to put someone out of commission for a day or two. Telltale signs of migraine include pain on one side of the head. The problem occurs when the levels of serotonin change in the brain.
The biochemical changes have and effect on the trigeminal nerve in the head experiences chemical changes that force it to set off a series of occurrences that lead to pain in the head. Part of the reaction involves blood flow moving away from capillaries and into the veins around the head. Nerves close to the veins and arteries become inflamed sending pain signals to the brain.
Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are relatively rare, affecting roughly one percent of the population. These painful surges have a sudden onset and they leave as quickly as they begin, often with a rush of endorphins that cause a feeling of calm sedation and relief. The attacks occur in groups that can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.
The clusters of headaches may follow a cycle with occurrences appearing in the late night hours or early in the morning. People who have these outbreaks tend to experience them in the fall or spring seasons. Some cycles appear for several weeks, month or years.
Headache Treatment
Getting proper treatment for headaches begins with recognizing the type of headaches you experience on a regular basis. In addition to the four mentioned above are headaches associated with many other conditions, including allergies and underlying medical problems. Anyone experiencing recurring headaches should visit a physician for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Headaches can be thought of as internal alarm bells, ringing only when something is going on inside of the body. Most of us live a life so full of external distractions that our own physical problems get easily over looked.
