Antibiotics have long been used to treat infection and illness. While they can be effective, there is a down side. Antibiotics can have some unpleasant side effects. What�s more, bacteria can become resistant. The more you take the less effective they can be, making the healing process much more difficult. It isn�t smart to depend on antibiotic for ultimate health. The better route is to take a more holistic approach by incorporating chiropractic, nutrition, exercise, and healthy lifestyle changes.
What Are Antibiotics?
Since the discovery of penicillin in the 1920s, antibiotics have been used to treat illness and infection. They have become a major component in American medicine. However, few people know exactly what they are or how they work.
They are medications that are used in the prevention and treatment of infections such as pneumonia, kidney infection, or an abscessed tooth. They are a type of antimicrobial drug and are not effective against viruses like the flu or a cold. As medicine has made significant advances in treating some of the worst and even deadly illnesses in the world, more are being developed to better target specific bacteria.
How Do Antibiotics Work?
Different antibiotics work in different ways on the cells that they seek out. Cells in the human body have some similarities to bacteria. Antibiotics affect those properties in bacteria that are different from human cells.
For instance, many strains of bacteria have cell walls while human cells do not. Penicillin prevents the bacteria it attacks from building those cell walls. Other antibiotics use other differences such as how they copy DNA or build proteins or dissolve bacteria cell membranes. The effects that antibiotics have on bacteria are intended to keep it from replicating and kill it.
Do Antibiotics Only Affect The �Bad� Bacteria?
Unfortunately, antibiotics can�t always distinguish between �bad� and �good� bacteria. This means that while they attack the harmful bacteria that is making you sick, they also attack the resident, helpful bacteria.
The �good� bacteria, or friendly bacteria, keeps you healthy in a variety of ways. It protects you from certain illnesses and keeps your body functioning at an optimal level. When you no longer have that friendly bacteria in your body, you lose out on the health boosting benefits that they offer. What�s more, when you lose the friendly bacteria it leaves room for certain other harmful bacteria to come in.
How Do Bacteria Become Resistant To Antibiotics?
When these medications are misused it can result in the emergence of bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics. There are several ways that they can be used inappropriately. They are only meant to be taken for a limited time, usually five or ten days. When they are taken longer than that or when several rounds are taken back to back, that qualifies as misuse. It can also occur when antibiotics are taken for viruses or other purposes for which they are not intended.
What Happens When Bacteria Become Resistant To Antibiotics?
Bacteria has a very strong ability to adapt to environments in order to survive. It can evolve and change as their environment becomes uninhabitable, such as with increasingly higher antibiotic doses. As bacteria is exposed to antibiotics it will make adjustments, adapting to them, even thriving.
The bottom line here is that while these medications may be beneficial in certain situations, they should be used as rarely as possible and usually as a last resort. There are many lifestyle changes that a person can make that can help them stay healthy and prevent illness so that they have no need for these medications.
A healthy diet, regular exercise, proper food handling and preparation, adequate sleep, regular chiropractic treatments, and eliminating unhealthy activities like smoking and alcohol consumption can all lead to better health and fewer illnesses. It is much easier and less expensive to prevent illness than it is to treat it.
The Nervous System: At its very foundation chiropractic helps improve�nervous system function by making adjustments to the spine. Over time, more and more studies are proving that it is extremely effective and as a result many health conditions are improved and even healed completely.
Function Of The Nervous System
The nervous system is a complex network of nerves, spinal cord, and brain that reach and affect every part of the body. The core of the nervous system is the spinal cord which receives and transmits information in the body.
It is responsible for organ function, movement, and experiencing the senses sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. The brain receives the information that is carried by the nervous system. It processes the information and helps the body react appropriately.
When you look at a cat, the image is transmitted through the nervous system, processed in the brain, and translated to the image of a cat as you understand it. It happens so quickly; there is no pause or lapse of time in a healthy nervous system. The transmission of the message is instantaneous.
How Chiropractic Helps Improve The Nervous System
When the spine is not aligned or the body is out of balance it can impact the function of the nervous system, causing chronic pain, difficulty in mobility, and a wide range of health conditions. Chiropractic adjustments open the pathways of the nervous system allowing the information to flow unobstructed.
It goes far beyond just the spine though. The chiropractor may adjust the arms, legs, neck, and hips in addition to the spine which all work together to provide a healthy, functioning nervous system. Regular chiropractic care can help keep the nervous system unimpeded and working as it should.
Improved Nervous System Means Improved Immune & Endocrine Systems
The nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system are inextricably linked so when one is impacted, the others are impacted as well. This occurs because all three systems share certain molecules that carry message between them, allowing them to communicate or work together. It is this connection that makes chiropractic an effective treatment for immunity.
While the immune system protects the body from disease, the endocrine system is responsible for producing certain hormones. These hormones are responsible for regulating tissue function, sleep, metabolism, sexual function, mood, growth and development, as well as other vital functions.
This is why chiropractic treatment can often help with depression and insomnia; it is even an effective treatment for infertility. When you look at the nervous system from this perspective it is easy to see how far reaching it is and how much it impacts the entire body.
Benefits Of An Improved Nervous System
There are many chronic and even degenerative health conditions that are impacted by the nervous system. Studies have shown that chiropractic is a very effective treatment for numerous neurological conditions including:
Vertigo
Cerebral palsy
Ataxia
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson�s
Epilepsy
Tourette�s Syndrome
Autism
This makes chiropractic more of a global treatment in many cases. A patient may seek treatment for pain or limited mobility but will often experience many other benefits due to the positive effects that the treatment has on the nervous system.
When there is a communication breakdown between the brain and the body�s tissues, organs, and cells it can lead to a variety of health problems. Chiropractic provides a safe, effective treatment for improved nervous system function.
In some cases, a patient may need regular chiropractic treatments that may be once a week or several times a week. The type, frequency, and intensity of the treatment is dependent upon the patient and their condition. Chiropractic treatment positively affects the nervous system and as a result, positively affects the entire body.
Injury Medical Clinic: Fibromyalgia Care & Treatment
Chiropractor Near Me: Due to his previous back injury history, George Lara suffered a recent back injury which he was unfortunately unable to recover from through traditional treatment. That’s when the VA recommended him to seek chiropractic care with Dr. Alex Jimenez, ultimately changing his quality of life. George Lara had degenerative disc disease, or DDD, and sciatic nerve pain before receiving treatment with Dr. Alex Jimenez. George Lara describes how much his life has improved with chiropractic care and he’s grateful of the services and care he received. George Lara recommends Dr. Alex Jimenez as the non-surgical choice for back pain, among other spine health issues.
Chiropractor Near Me
Chiropractic care is a means to diagnose and treat health problems that affect the nerves, muscles, bones, and joints of the body. A healthcare provider who supplies chiropractic care is known as a chiropractor. Adjustment of the spine, known as manipulation, is the basis of care. Chiropractors also use other kinds of treatments. Your physician will ask about your goals for your health history and therapy. It’s important to inform your physician about any physical problems you may have which make it difficult for you to do particular things.
We are blessed to present to you�El Paso�s Premier Wellness & Injury Care Clinic.
As El Paso�s Chiropractic Rehabilitation Clinic & Integrated Medicine Center,�we passionately are focused treating patients after frustrating injuries and chronic pain syndromes. We focus on improving your ability through flexibility, mobility and agility programs tailored for all age groups and disabilities.
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Why Chiropractic Combined With Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfates Are A Win-Win For Degenerative Disc Disease Sufferers.
The most effective treatments are often found in the natural ones. The human body has this incredible ability to provide its own healing. Often we can aid that process through nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. While there are some people who do reach for medications and invasive means of pain control, the truth is the best cure is the natural one. This is also true of degenerative disc disease. There are several natural treatments that help relieve the pain and even stop the progression of the disease. Common treatments include chiropractic, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfates.
What Is Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)?
In a healthy spine the discs that lie between the vertebrae and cushion them are filled with fluid. They allow the spine to move, flex, bend, and twist. Over time they may lose some of their cushion as part of the aging process.
Degenerative disc disease occurs when the discs of the spine collapse and degrade. In extreme cases, the discs can completely collapse causing the vertebrae�s facet joints to rub against each other. This leads to osteoarthritis. The condition is accompanied by pain, inflammation, and loss of mobility.
How Do Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfates Help Degenerative Disc Disease?
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates are substances that occur naturally in the body. It is an essential element in cartilage maintenance and regeneration. They help to form new cartilage from within existing cartilage. They can actually help to rebuild the discs that have begun to degrade. Often they are taken as nutritional supplements.
Studies show that long term use of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate do indeed not just help arrest the development of spinal disc degeneration, they can also help to reverse the symptoms, especially if begun in the early stages of the disease. Treatment that incorporates these supplements result in decreased pain and improved range of motion. Patients may also notice strengthening of the back and increased flexibility. This is true even in patients who are older, in their 50�s and 60�s.
Patients may start noticing a decrease in pain as early as six months after beginning to take the supplement. After taking it consistently, the other benefits present over time. What is also important to note is that neither glucosamine nor chondroitin sulfate cause any adverse side effects. These supplements are safe and effective.
Chiropractic For Degenerative Disc Disease
Chiropractic is a complementary treatment to combine with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate for degenerative disc disease. Chiropractic alone is very effective for many spine and neck disorders, including degenerative disc disease. It is a natural, non-invasive treatment that does not use medications but instead incorporates lifestyle changes, diet, and exercise recommendations to provide whole body wellness. While chiropractic works very well to treat pain, improve mobility, and increase flexibility, it has actually been proven to stop the progression of degenerative disc disease and even reverse its effects.
Using chiropractic for degenerative disc disease and combining it with supplements that include glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate is a very effective system for relieving the pain and other symptoms. In several studies, many patients saw improvement and decrease in symptoms faster than patients who used the supplements alone. Combining these treatments is usually the best course of action to help patients suffering from this devastating disease.
When treating any condition, it is always best to go the most natural route possible. The fewer synthetic substances and manufactured toxins that are introduced into the body, the better chance the patient has of a more thorough and faster healing or at the very least a dramatic decrease in symptoms.
Injury Medical Clinic: Herniated Disc Treatment & Recovery
Three Steps: Your lower back needs protection, strength and nourishment to help prevent and reduce lower back pain.
Adding these 3 steps to one’s day can help take stress off your lower back:
Three Steps
1. Work On A Stand-Up Desk For Part Of The Day
Too much sitting is common in the cause of low back pain. Posture while sitting, forward leaning in order to look at a computer screen, affects the natural alignment of the lower spine by placing a heavy load on the lumbar discs and joints.
Many people are utilizing standup desks for part of their workday. Standup desks come in a variety of shapes, functionality, and price ranges. They can be inexpensive to fully adjustable, automatic models.
If lower back pain is already an issue, only stand for part of the day and gradually increase to longer standing times. Cushioned and standing mats add additional comfort, as well as, exercise benefits. Standing more, along with quick walks and/or quick stretches at the half hour can break up the extended sitting cycle.
2. Stretch Hamstrings On A Daily Basis
Hamstrings are the large muscles that run down the back of each thigh. They can quite easily become tight. If they become very tight then the hamstring/s will transfer stress across the lower back and can lead to back pain.
There are a variety of hamstring stretches that are gentle on the back and easy to do: pick one or two that work for you and are easy to incorporate it into a daily routine.
3. Sleep In A Reclined Position
People with lower back pain feel more support when the lower back is in a slightly reclined position, along with the knees supported and elevated. This is true for lower back diagnoses, such as osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and lumbar degeneration.
If it is difficult to sleep on your back, try resting in this position in a reclining chair or bed before going to sleep.
Sleeping the most comfortable in a supported, reclined position can come from switching to an adjustable bed, aka (adjustable base). Just like the stand-up desks, these models range from basic to sophisticated options.
A new development now is that online mattress companies now offer mattress bases that are fully adjustable, and some offer free delivery/setup. Consider a new mattress with an adjustable base that goes with the mattress. This combination may work to help your back.
We encourage back pain supplementation with chiropractic treatment and any type of steps one can take to help prevent and reduce lower back.
Injury Medical Clinic: Sciatica Treatments & Recoveries
Running Shoes: Feet are important. By the time the typical American reaches the age of 50, they will have walked 75,000 miles.
Runners put even more miles on their feet, and stress. Your feet are your foundation. A problem with your feet can throw your entire body out of balance. That is why when it comes to running shoes, it is important to find the right type. This guide will help you find the running shoes that are right for you.
Running Shoes
Before You Shop
Know the type of runner you are.
Different types of running require different features in shoes.
Some questions to consider:
Do you run or jog?
What surface do you run on � asphalt, treadmill, or trails?
A larger person will not move and run the same way a thin, wiry person does. An overweight person will put more stress on their feet � and shoes.
Know your running style.
The way you run, the motion of your stride and how your foot strikes the ground has great bearing on the type of running shoe you need. When your foot comes in contact with the ground, what hits first? Does the inside of your forefoot hit first? The center of your heel? The outside of your heel? Where your foot first hits is where you really want the cushion.
Know what injuries you may have sustained from running.
Plantar fasciitis, shin splints, tendonitis, and blisters are a few common injuries can be reversed or improved when you wear running shoes that fit properly.
Know the type of arch you have.
Whether you supinate (foot rolls to the outside) or pronate (foot rolls to the inside) is determined, at least in part, by the shape of your arch. While supinators are rare, quite a few people over pronate. This can be the source of injuries due to overuse.
When You Shop
Give it the 360-degree test.
When people try on shoes they typically check for fit in the toe box, but look no further than that. When you try on running shoes, you do need to make sure you have adequate space in the toe box, but you also need to check that your entire foot fits on the shoe�s platform.
Give your foot enough space.
The upper should have enough room but should not be loose. It shouldn�t squeeze your foot either though. It should fit well with no pinching or binding.
Shop later in the day.
Throughout the day your feet swell. When you run they also swell so when you shop for shoes, going when your feet are the largest will help ensure that you get the most accurate and more comfortable fit possible.
Bring your old running shoes along when you shop.
Having your old shoes with you when you shop will help the sales person determine what kind of running shoe you need. They can look at the wear on the shoe to see your running patterns and help you find a shoe that works best for you.
Get your foot measured.
As you age your feet actually change; they can expand or flatten. Don�t every assume your shoe size, get your foot measured every time. A comfortable fit is dependent upon wearing the right size shoe. You also need to keep in mind that shoe sizes may differ from brand to brand.
Dress for the run.
When you are shopping for a new pair of running shoes, dress as you would when you run. Don�t show up wearing flip flops or when you are dressed for the office. Definitely don�t show up without socks.
Forget the latest trend or what�s fashionable; think functionality.
There are plenty of sharp looking shoes, but that doesn�t mean they are the right running shoe for you. Go for fit and functionality first and fashion second.
Take them for a test drive.
Once you have settled on a pair or two, try them both on and try them out. Many stores that specialize in running shoes have a treadmill or area where runners can try their shoes. That is the only way you can tell for shoe if the shoe is right for you.
Opioids and Prescription drug abuse and addiction is a significant problem in the United States. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has declared it an epidemic.
Researchers estimate that as many as 36 million people worldwide abuse opioids. Estimates in the U.S. alone reached 2.1 million people in 2012. In 2014, six out of ten drug overdose deaths involved an opioid � including prescription opioids for pain relief.
Every day, 78 Americans die from an opioid overdose. As the Opioid drug problem continues to spiral further out of control, claiming more lives, people are looking for safer, drug free ways to relieve their pain. Chiropractic offers such an option.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are prescription medications that are intended for pain relief. They work by diminishing the intensity level of pain signals as they reach the brain. They also affect the areas of the brain that control emotion thereby weakening the perception of the pain as well. There are several very popular medications that are classified as opioids:
Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
Oxycodone (Percocet, OxyContin)
Morphine (Avinza, Kadian)
Codeine
The most commonly prescribed opioids are hydrocodone products. They are used to treat pain from injuries, dental work, and typically moderate pain. Milder pain is often treated with codeine but it is also used to treat coughing as well as severe diarrhea. Overall, opioids are used to treat everything from cancer pain to post-op pain to osteoarthritis.
What Are The Dangers Of Opioids?
Opioids have a serious risk of abuse, addiction, and overdose. Even then they are taken as prescribed, opioids can have the following side effects:
Excessive sleepiness
Nausea
Dry mouth
Vomiting
Confusion
Dizziness
Depression
Constipation
Low energy
Sweating
Low testosterone levels that result in a diminished sex drive
Itching
Decreased strength
Increased pain sensitivity
Over time, the body can build up a tolerance to the drug which means that in order to achieve the same relief from pain they must take more of it. Physical dependence is also a concern, usually going hand in hand with tolerance. Once that point is reached the patient will experience symptoms of withdrawal if they stop taking the medication.
If Doctors Are Prescribing Opioids, How Are People becoming Addicted?
In 2013, doctors wrote almost a quarter of a billion prescriptions for opioids. To put that into perspective, that is enough for every adult in the U.S. to have their own bottle of the drug. Doctors prescribe opioids to their patients in an effort to treat pain, but most of the time it is just a band aid. Instead of seeking out the root of the problem and educating their patients on whole body wellness, they prescribe pills that numb the senses, cause unpleasant or even dangerous side effects, and create addictions.
As the patient develops a tolerance for the drug, the doctor increases the prescription. This cycle continues as the patient become more and more dependent upon the drug. They may even experience more pain as the drug increases their pain sensitivity. As patients become addicted, the number of prescription opioid overdose deaths is steadily increasing. The most common drugs involved in these overdose deaths include:
Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
Oxycodone (OxyContin)
Methadone
States are putting measures in place to monitor and regulate how doctors prescribe opiates, but when desperate, addicted patients will go to great lengths to obtain the drugs they are addicted to. They will go to different doctors to get additional prescriptions or even find ways to obtain the drug illegally. It is a heartbreaking problem that is completely preventable.
How Is Chiropractic A Safer Alternative To Opioids?
Chiropractic is a proven method for managing pain relief that is not only effective but safe and drug free. Numerous chiropractic studies confirm what chiropractic patients have been saying for decades: chiropractic care is an excellent pain management method. The spinal adjustments bring the body into balance but that is only the beginning of the benefits. Chiropractic focuses on whole body wellness so patients learn how to take proactive steps to treat their condition.
It also seeks to find the root of the problem and begin healing by treating the cause. Through exercise, diet, and lifestyle recommendations in addition to the chiropractic adjustments, patients can get relief from pain caused by injury, surgery, arthritis, and many other conditions. Chiropractic is so much more than a back pain treatment; it is a whole body, whole patient treatment.
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