Back Clinic Health Team. The level of functional and metabolic efficiency of a living organism. In humans, it is the ability of individuals or communities to adapt and self-manage when facing physical, mental, psychological, and social changes in an environment. Dr.Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T, a clinical pain doctor who uses cutting-edge therapies and rehabilitation procedures focused on total health, strength training, and complete conditioning. We take a global functional fitness treatment approach to regain complete functional health.
Dr. Jimenez presents articles both from his own experience and from a variety of sources that pertain to a healthy lifestyle or general health issues. I have spent over 30+ years researching and testing methods with thousands of patients and understand what truly works. We strive to create fitness and better the body through researched methods and total health programs.
These programs and methods are natural and use the body’s own ability to achieve improvement goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, surgery, or addictive drugs. As a result, individuals live a fulfilled life with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, less pain, proper body weight, and education on maintaining this way of life.
The muscles, tissues, and ligaments help stabilize the joints and structure of the spine so that the body can function. These muscles are layered and interwoven in the spine and joints that help facilitate movement. When the body suffers from injuries or traumatic events, the muscles, tissues, and ligaments become affected, causing muscle pain and discomfort. This causes the muscles to be tender to the touch and sensitive. This is known as myofascial pain syndrome. Today’s article looks at myofascial pain syndrome, how it is linked with central sensitization, and ways to manage myofascial pain syndrome. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal treatments to help many individuals with myofascial pain syndrome associated with central sensitization. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Is Myofascial Pain Syndrome?
Have you been experiencing muscle tightness in different areas of your body? Have you felt your muscles tender to the touch? Or have you been having trouble sleeping? Many of these overlapping risk factors are signs that you might have myofascial pain syndrome. The term “myofascial” is split into two parts. “Myo” refers to the muscles, while “fascia” refers to the connective tissues found throughout the body. So myofascial pain syndrome is where there is muscle pain in various forms, which includes the muscle tissues, connective tissues, or both. Studies reveal that myofascial pain syndrome originates from trigger points in the skeletal muscle, causing the affected muscle to be in pain. The trigger points in the body’s skeletal muscles are the “knots” people feel when their muscles feel tight. These trigger points are challenging to identify because they occur in different areas causing referred pain (pain in one place but in another body area).
How Central Sensitization Link To Myofascial Pain Syndrome?
Studies reveal that central sensitization in the body is represented as an enhancement in neuron function and circuits in the nociceptive pathways that increases membrane excitability and synaptic efficacy. To that point, it reduces inhibition and manifests the remarkable plasticity of the somatosensory nervous system. The nociceptor inputs can trigger and manifest central sensitization as pain hypersensitivity when the body suffers from an injury. So how is central sensitization linked to myofascial pain syndrome? Let’s use fibromyalgia as an example. Many individuals dealing with myofascial pain may be potentially involved with fibromyalgia. This is due to fibromyalgia being a chronic condition that features widespread pain, and this causes the body to be more sensitive to pain. Central sensitization linked to myofascial pain syndrome can mimic fibromyalgia symptoms in the body, causing muscle pain and discomfort.
An Overview Of Myofascial Pain Syndrome-Video
Are you experiencing muscle weakness or soreness in some regions of your body? Have you dealt with chronic fatigue or poor sleep quality? Or have you been dealing with headaches constantly throughout the entire day? Many of these symptoms are signs that you might be at risk of developing myofascial pain syndrome. The video above explains myofascial pain syndrome, the symptoms, and the causes that affect the body. Studies reveal that myofascial pain has two types of trigger points:
Active trigger points associated with muscle pain without movement
Latent trigger points associated with muscle pain with movement
Myofascial pain syndrome can vary in acute or chronic forms and can range from mild to severe while being in different locations, making it very difficult to pinpoint where the pain is localized. Fortunately, there are ways to manage myofascial pain syndrome in the body that can help with the pain.
Ways To Manage Myofascial Pain Syndrome
When managing myofascial pain syndrome, many individuals dealing with muscle pain will take pain medication to alleviate it; however, that only minimizes the pain for a short period. One way to manage myofascial pain syndrome is by utilizing chiropractic care as part of treatment. Chiropractic care is non-invasive and often the preferred treatment for individuals with myofascial pain syndrome due to its effectiveness and drug-free approach. Chiropractors are not only good at finding the trigger points, but they are good when it comes to treating them using various techniques. Studies reveal that chiropractors use direct pressure on the trigger points to relieve the pain with their hands or specific tools. Incorporating chiropractic care provides the body with an increase in muscle strength, flexibility, and range of motion. Since chiropractic care is a whole-body approach, it allows many people with myofascial pain syndrome to have a better quality of life and learn healthy habits, which include diet, exercise, and mental health, while living with less or no pain at all.
Conclusion
The body has muscles, tissues, and ligaments that help stabilize the joints and structure of the body, so there is functionality. These muscles help facilitate movement since the muscles are interwoven in the spine and joints. When the body suffers from a traumatic event or an injury, the muscles, tissues, and ligaments become affected. This causes muscle pain and discomfort, known as myofascial pain, where the trigger points cause pain in the body and can occur in different areas. Myofascial pain can be challenging to diagnose since it can be on one side of the body but affects a different section, known as referred pain. Fortunately, treatments like chiropractic care can help manage myofascial pain by treating the pain and using direct pressure to alleviate the pain. Incorporating chiropractic care to manage myofascial pain can help many individuals be pain-free on their health and wellness journey.
References
Bordoni, Bruno, et al. “Myofascial Pain – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 18 July 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535344/.
Latremoliere, Alban, and Clifford J Woolf. “Central Sensitization: A Generator of Pain Hypersensitivity by Central Neural Plasticity.” The Journal of Pain, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2750819/.
The brain sends neuron signals to the body to function for everyday movements like walking, running, or resting. These signals travel from the spinal cord through the numerous nerve roots connected to the muscles, tissue, and ligaments that support the joints and organs from multiple factors. However, these factors do affect the body over time, triggering issues that cause pain and discomfort to the body. When this happens, it disrupts the signals from traveling to and forth in the brain, causing dysfunction in the body and leading to neurological disorders associated with neuroinflammation. Today’s article looks at neuroinflammation, how it affects the body, and what is the link between neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in neurological treatments to help many individuals dealing with neuroinflammation associated with neurodegenerative diseases. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Is Neuroinflammation?
Are you experiencing fatigue and losing focus from your brain? Do you constantly feel stressed or overworked? Or how about developing the risk of Alzheimer’s or other neurological diseases? Many of these symptoms are correlated with neuroinflammation in the brain. Neuroinflammation is defined as an inflammatory response that affects either the brain or the spinal cord. The body has an extensive network known as the immune system, which produces cytokines, antibodies, white blood cells, and other chemicals that protect the body from foreign invaders. Producing cytokines triggers inflammation in the body where the alien invaders are eliminated. The brain surprisingly has its immune system, which provides maintenance and plasticity. When traumatic factors begin to affect the brain’s immune system, the nociceptors become hypersensitive and overexcited due to the results of tissue injuries and inflammation in the peripheral nervous system. Studies reveal that inflammation in the peripheral nervous system results from hyperactivity in the nervous system, which implicates either a positive or negative outcome for the brain.
How Does Neuroinflammation Affect The Body?
Since neuroinflammation has positive or negative outcomes in the nervous system, it can also trigger the body, making it dysfunctional. Studies reveal that neuroinflammation is mediated by the production of cytokines, ROS (reactive oxygen species), and secondary messengers that becomes the consequences of neuroinflammatory responses. This means that the inflammatory effects are taken into account depending on the intensity and duration of the immune signals in the nervous system, which can be either negative or positive. The positive aspects of neuroinflammation include:
Reorganization of host priorities (immune-brain communication)
While the negative aspects of neuroinflammation include:
Cognitive impairment (aging)
Collateral damage( traumatic injuries)
Neuronal damage (neurodegenerative diseases)
Repeated social defeat stress (anxiety, depression)
Simplified Explanation On Neuroinflammation-Video
Have you been feeling anxious or depressed? Have you been forgetful as of late? Are you experiencing inflammatory effects in your brain? Many of these symptoms are signs that you could suffer from neuroinflammation in the brain. The video above explains neuroinflammation and how it is linked to the immune system affecting the body. Since neuroinflammation may cause various health issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, and other well-known symptoms, studies reveal that neuroinflammation is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases. To that point, the relationship between neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases shows that neuroinflammation has been responsible for the abnormal secretion of proinflammatory cytokines to trigger the signaling pathways to the brain, making it dysfunctional.
The Link Between Neuroinflammation & Neurodegenerative Diseases
Since the brain is the primary command center for the body, the link between neurodegenerative diseases and neuroinflammation overlap and cause havoc in the body. Studies reveal that inflammatory and neurotoxic mediators are released in the brain, thus viciously triggering neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the body. When the body is dealing with neuroinflammation, one of the symptoms that are prominent in the body is chronic oxidative stress. Research studies have revealed that neuroinflammation has been associated with chronic oxidative stress, a vital feature of all neurodegenerative diseases causing genetic structural alterations. To that point, it results in neurodegeneration. Fortunately, there are ways to lower neuroinflammation associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Some of the ways that many people utilize to reduce neuroinflammation include:
All these small changes are remarkable in reducing neuroinflammation and managing neurodegenerative diseases in the body. This will help many individuals dealing with neuroinflammation associated with neurodegenerative diseases and can regain their health and wellness by managing it.
Conclusion
The brain is the primary command center that sends neuron signals to the body to function in everyday movement. The neuron signals travel from the brain to the spinal cord through the numerous nerve roots connected to the muscles, tissues, and ligaments to support the organs and joints. When environmental factors affect the body over time, it risks developing neuroinflammation associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation is when the inflammatory mediators start to affect the brain, it can make the brain disrupt the neuron signals from traveling to the body and cause issues associated with neurodegeneration. Fortunately, incorporating different ways to reduce neuroinflammation can help manage neurodegenerative diseases and benefit the body.
References
Chen, Wei-Wei, et al. “Role of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Diseases (Review).” Molecular Medicine Reports, D.A. Spandidos, Apr. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4805095.
DiSabato, Damon J, et al. “Neuroinflammation: The Devil Is in the Details.” Journal of Neurochemistry, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5025335/.
Guzman-Martinez, Leonardo, et al. “Neuroinflammation as a Common Feature of Neurodegenerative Disorders.” Frontiers in Pharmacology, Frontiers Media S.A., 12 Sept. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6751310/.
Kempuraj, D, et al. “Neuroinflammation Induces Neurodegeneration.” Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Spine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5260818/.
Matsuda, Megumi, et al. “Roles of Inflammation, Neurogenic Inflammation, and Neuroinflammation in Pain.” Journal of Anesthesia, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6813778/.
Many people worldwide know that exercising has impressive benefits that help improve the body’s overall wellness. The body has different muscle groups that have a casual relationship with the vital organs inside the body. Organs like the heart, lungs, gut, and bladder correlate with the different muscles through the nerve roots that connect them. When the body suffers from various factors that affect it, it causes referred pain to the body where one pain is at one location but radiates from the other side. Exercising can help the body recover through physical rehabilitation by reducing inflammation and scarring on the muscle tissues. One of the many exercises that helps strengthen the muscles, increase flexibility, and even improve posture is Pilates. Today’s article looks at Pilates, its benefits, and how it can help alleviate back pain. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal treatments to help many individuals with low back pain issues affecting their bodies. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Is Pilates?
Have you been feeling sluggish or having low energy throughout the entire day? What about experiencing pain in your lower back? Have you experienced muscle stiffness in certain areas around your body? Many of these symptoms are associated with musculoskeletal issues that correlate with different factors that affect the body; why not try an exercise regime like Pilates? Pilates is a system of exercises that uses a particular machine or body to improve a person’s physical strength and posture while increasing the body’s flexibility and enhancing mental awareness. Joseph Pilates developed Pilates in the early 20th century as an exercise program to help World War I soldiers improve their physical fitness levels. Pilates was used as rehabilitation therapy for injured individuals by incorporating resistance, stretching, and target muscle strengthening. Pilates is now utilized for all individuals with different bodies and fitness levels and can provide tremendous benefits.
What Are The Benefits?
Pilates, like any other form of exercise, has many beneficial properties that help improve a person’s health and wellness. Studies reveal that Pilates helps many individuals, including older adults, by improving their posture by decreasing thoracic flexion while increasing lumbar extension for pain relief. Some of the beneficial properties that Pilates offer to the body include:
Increasing core strength: The deep muscles in the abdomen, back, and pelvic regions become stronger and help stabilize the body more.
Strengthen muscle groups: Pilates helps make the muscles not only strong but also helps stretch them so that they can look long and lean. This makes the individual look toned.
It’s a whole body workout: As many exercises work on specific body parts, Pilates focuses on each muscle part of the body and helps muscle development.
Posture Improvement: Pilates help keep the spine aligned while strengthening the body and core. Over time a person’s posture will improve naturally, making them stand taller, stronger, and even more graceful.
Increases energy: Like all exercises, Pilates will give a person the energy boost they need. This is due to the focused breathing and increased blood circulation that stimulates the muscles and the spine.
Pilates Exercises For Back Pain-Video
Are you looking for a new exercise to tone your muscles? Have you been dealing with pain in your lower back? Do you have muscle weakness in some regions of your body? If you have been experiencing pain-related issues, why not try Pilates? The video above goes through a 10-minute Pilates workout for back pain. Studies reveal that non-specific low back pain is a highly prevalent condition many individuals associate with disability and work absence worldwide. Many environmental factors affect many individuals, causing them to suffer back issues. Pilates can help encourage many individuals to regain their health and wellness by incorporating core strength and stability while improving their posture.
Pilates Alleviate Back Pain
Many people don’t realize that some low back pain symptoms are related to poor posture. Poor posture can lead to associated symptoms of headaches, back pain, improper balance, and pelvic issues. What Pilates does is that it creates body awareness and helps improve the lower back muscles by strengthening them and relaxing the stiff muscles. Studies reveal that incorporating Pilates as physical therapy for individuals suffering from low back pain can help address the mental and physical pain aspects with core strengthening, flexibility, and relaxing the tense muscles. Many individuals should never put off exercising when it comes to back pain. Incorporating an exercise routine can benefit the body and prevent future injuries.
Conclusion
An exercise regime can provide many beneficial results for those looking for ways to be healthy, those suffering from injuries, or those who want to add something else to their workout routine. Pilates is one of those exercises that incorporates resistance, stretching, and muscle targeting as it is a full-body workout. Pilates is used in rehabilitation therapy for injured individuals and can provide tremendous benefits. Pilates can help many individuals with back issues associated with environmental factors like poor posture. Many individuals that utilize Pilates as part of their exercise regime will begin to feel stronger and healthier as their backs will thank them.
Kuo, Yi-Liang, et al. “Sagittal Spinal Posture after Pilates-Based Exercise in Healthy Older Adults.” Spine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 May 2009, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19404180/.
Sorosky, Susan, et al. “Yoga and Pilates in the Management of Low Back Pain.” Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, Humana Press Inc, Mar. 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2684152/.
When many individuals look for ways to relax after a stressful event in their daily lives, many people have an exercise regime that allows them to take their minds off of their hectic lives. When finding the proper exercise, it is best to consider that everybody is different and has different fitness levels. Many individuals could be dealing with chronic issues that affect them drastically and with so much pain in their bodies. When these chronic issues overlap with muscle and joint pain, it can make the body dysfunctional while potentially being involved in environmental factors. Yoga is a low-impact exercise that helps tone muscles, relax tension in the body, and focus on deep breathing. Today’s article looks at the benefits of yoga for the body, how chiropractic care works together with yoga, and different yoga poses can help manage various chronic issues. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal treatments to help many individuals with musculoskeletal problems affecting their bodies. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
The Benefits of Yoga For The Body
Have you been dealing with chronic stress affecting your quality of life? Have you been dealing with bladder or gut issues constantly? What about feeling muscle stiffness in your back, neck, shoulders, or pelvic regions? Some of these symptoms are signs that you could risk developing musculoskeletal problems associated with pain. Dealing with musculoskeletal issues related to pain can make a person feel miserable and have stress affecting their bodies. Yoga is a low-impact exercise that doesn’t put pressure on the joints and will provide a full-body workout through strengthening and stretching weak muscles. Yoga has many benefits for many individuals that are dealing with the following:
Studies reveal that environmental factors are involved in non-specified chronic pain in the spine, overlapping musculoskeletal disorders causing many individuals to try to find relief. Many individuals incorporate yoga because it is a safe and effective way to alleviate various forms of back, neck, or pelvic pain causing issues to the body. Yoga utilizes gentle stretching and strengthening of weak, injured muscles while increasing blood circulation to promote healing in the body.
Chiropractic Care & Yoga
When people are dealing with health conditions or injuries that have affected their bodies, it can make them feel frustrated and think their injuries are taking forever to heal. Many individuals don’t realize that incorporating yoga practices provides impressive health benefits while mirroring the similar foundations of chiropractic care. Both chiropractic care and yoga provide many beneficial results to an aching body that needs a good stretch and ready the body to heal itself naturally. Chiropractic care includes spinal manipulation to the spinal joints while reducing inflammation and strengthening weak muscles. Yoga allows the body to increase its flexibility and stamina, reduces stress and blood pressure, and provides a better sense of breathing and balance.
Yoga For Chronic Pain-Video
Have you felt muscle stiffness in your neck, back, or body? Have you felt sluggish or overly stressed from your day-to-day lives? Do you want to improve your balance? If you have been experiencing these issues affecting your quality of life, why not incorporate yoga as part of your exercise regime? The video above shows that yoga poses for chronic pain affect the body, including the neck, back, and pelvic regions. Studies reveal that yoga can help relieve intense neck pain while improving pain-related function disability. Yoga allows the muscles to not only relax but strengthen them as well. Yoga can also help improve the body’s range of motion through deep breathing and give more awareness of how the body holds tension in places a person hasn’t realized they were holding onto.
Yoga Poses For Different Issues
When a person does yoga, they will go through various poses and repeat them constantly as their body begins to get used to the movements. This allows the body to challenge itself and helps the individual focus more on deep breathing. A good example would be an individual taking a yoga class due to experiencing pelvic pain. By going through each yoga pose, many individuals suffering from pelvic pain will reduce the pain intensity while improving their quality of life. Below are some yoga poses that anyone can do to reduce pain associated with their back, neck, or pelvis.
Bridge Pose
Lie on your back
Bend both knees while placing the feet on the floor at hip-width apart
Arm on the sides with palms facing down
Press feet to the floor and lift the hips as you inhale
Engage the legs and buttock
Hold 4-8 breaths and exhale to lower the hips back to the ground slowly
Cobra Pose
Lie on your stomach with hands near the chest just under the shoulders and fingers facing forward
Keep elbows close to sides
Press hands on the floor and slowly lift your head, chest, and shoulders while slightly bending the elbows by inhaling
Exhale to go back down slow and rest your head
Cat-Cow
Be on all fours, hands under the shoulders and knees under hips (Think like a table)
Inhale to lower your core to the floor as your head looks up to the sky
Exhale slowly to lower your chin to the chest as you round your back
Continue fluid motion for a minute
Forward Bend
Be in a standing position, and feet are at a hip distance apart
Lengthen the body as you lean forward while keeping the knees slightly bended
Place hands on either legs, yoga block, or the floor (Whichever makes you comfortable)
Tuck the chin into the chest, letting the neck and head relax
Gently rock your head side to side to relieve tension in the neck and shoulders
Slowly roll up to a standing position allowing the arms and head to be the last to rise
Supine Spinal Twist
Lie on your back while your knees bent and feet flat on the floor
Extend arms out of the side and place palms down on the floor
As you inhale, breathe into the gut and lower limbs
Exhale to lower knees on the left side (Look at the opposite way to slowly stretch the neck and shoulder muscles)
Pay attention to the stretches for 5 breathes as well as the lengthening sensations on the ribs
Return the knees to the middle and repeat on the right side
Child’s Pose
Sit back on the heels with the knees together (For added support, you can use a rolled-up blanket under your knees)
Bend forward and walk hands in front of you
Gently rest your forehead on the floor
Keep arms extended in the front while focusing on relieving tension in the back as the upper body falls to the knees
Stay in that pose for 5 minutes
Conclusion
Incorporating yoga as part of an exercise regime allows the individual to focus on deep breathing while calming the mind. Yoga is a low-impact exercise that helps strengthen weak muscles associated with pain and inflammation. Yoga provides a full-body workout that benefits many people dealing with chronic pain. Utilizing yoga as part of a daily practice might help individuals learn to be calm and practice mindfulness.
Crow, Edith Meszaros, et al. “Effectiveness of Iyengar Yoga in Treating Spinal (Back and Neck) Pain: A Systematic Review.” International Journal of Yoga, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, Jan. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4278133/.
Li, Yunxia, et al. “Effects of Yoga on Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Prisma Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Medicine, Wolters Kluwer Health, Feb. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6407933/.
Saxena, Rahul, et al. “Effects of Yogic Intervention on Pain Scores and Quality of Life in Females with Chronic Pelvic Pain.” International Journal of Yoga, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5225749/.
Everyone has different tips and tricks for being healthy and losing weight. Many individuals incorporate other diets, eating habits, and exercise regimes to lose excess weight, have energy throughout the day and feel good. One of the other diets many people seem to lean toward when it comes to losing weight and helping the body is detox. Surprisingly, many people seem misinformed about detox and dieting being the same; however, they are not, as detoxing is a natural process of body purification while dieting incorporates healthy eating habits, exercising, and healthy life choices. For the body, the best detoxing machine is the liver. Today’s article looks at how the liver detoxes the body, how factors can cause detox imbalances in the body, and how different food helps liver detoxification. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in liver or gastrointestinal treatments to help many individuals with liver issues. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
The Body’s Own Detox Machine: The Liver
Have you been experiencing gut sensitivities from the foods you eat? How about experiencing chronic fatigue throughout the entire day? What about experiencing pain and swelling in your abdominals or legs? Some of these issues may indicate that something is wrong with your liver. The liver is the most crucial organ with a massive responsibility for the vast array of functions of the body. The liver helps support many visceral functions like maintaining the body’s metabolism, immunity, digestion, and detoxification. Detoxification is a biochemical process where non-water-soluble compounds are transformed into water-soluble compounds flushed out of the body. The benefit of detox is that it helps protect the body from adverse effects of external and internal toxins.
Since the liver is a massive organ, its essential role in the body is detoxification. Studies reveal that the detoxification process for the liver is in two phases. Phase 1 activated the enzymes in the body to prepare the substance to be removed. Phase 2 excretes the enzymes out of the body as urine, stool, and bile. These two phases help keep the body healthy and stop excessive toxins from harming the rest of the body.
The Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is one of the central detoxification systems responsible for allowing waste products to leave and be carried away to the bloodstream, becoming one of the defense mechanisms for the body and purifying the body fluids for proper functioning. The lymphatic vasculatures also play an active role in immune regulation by impacting inflammatory and immune responses. This means that the lymphatic will produce white blood cells to attack foreign invaders entering the body.
The Gut-Liver Axis
Since the liver is the master organ for detoxification, what is its relationship with the gut? Well, studies reveal that the gut microbiota forms a complex microbial community that significantly impacts human health. The gut microbiota can indirectly modulate the functionality of the extra-intestinal organs, which involves the liver. The gut connects to the liver with the intestines through bile acid metabolism. When there is a decrease in bile acid in the gut, it could trigger hepatic inflammation via inflammasomes. Inflammasomes are an essential component of innate immune response while being critical for the clearance of pathogens or damaged cells. When the inflammasomes start becoming mediators for hepatic inflammation, they could potentially be involved with detoxification imbalances in the body.
Detoxification Imbalances
When there are decreased bile acids in the gut, the body could be at risk of developing intestinal dysbiosis. This causes impaired intestinal barrier function, which overlaps to leaky gut and aggravates hepatic inflammation in the liver. When this happens, toxins in the body become excessive and may cause immune and nervous system abnormalities while triggering imbalanced detoxification symptoms that correspond to issues similar to chronic conditions. Some of these detoxification imbalances include:
Fatigue
Allergies/intolerances
Sluggish metabolism
Weight gain easily
Intolerance to fats
Puffy – excess fluid
Body odor, bad breath, metallic taste
Profuse sweating even in cool weather
Naturally Detoxing Your Body-Video
Have you been dealing with allergies or food intolerances affecting your abdominals? Have you been feeling sluggish? What about feeling chronic fatigue throughout the entire day? Some of these symptoms are signs that your liver could suffer from some issues. The liver’s primary function in the body is to detoxify the body. The video above explains how the liver detoxifies the body and how drinks to cleanse the body don’t add additional benefits. The best way for a healthy liver to be functional and detox the body naturally is by eating the right foods that help support the liver, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water to flush out the system, and getting adequate sleep.
Foods That Support Liver Detoxification
When it comes to supporting the liver, eating the right foods can provide energy and reduce inflammatory effects on the body. Studies reveal that eating various wild and semidomestic food plants can provide various components to liver function. Plants like dandelions contain taxasterols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that allow the liver to increase bile secretion. Other foods that help with liver functionality associated with other body functions include:
Berries (blueberries & cranberries)
Grapefruit
Prickly pear
Cruciferous vegetables
Garlic
Carrots
Beets
Olive oil
Nuts
Incorporating these healthy foods can not only be beneficial to the liver but can help the major organs and body to receive the nutrients that the body deserves.
Conclusion
The liver is a massive organ that helps the body to function correctly by harmful detoxifying pathogens through excretion. As a natural detoxifying machine, the liver has a casual relationship with the gut system by filtering the nutrients and transporting them out to different body areas. Harmful pathogens enter the body and disrupt the liver can lead to dysbiosis and liver dysfunction. Fortunately, there are nutritious foods that can help support the liver and even help flush out the toxins over time so the body can begin its healing process naturally.
References
Grant, D M. “Detoxification Pathways in the Liver.” Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1991, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1749210/.
Guan, Yong-Song, and Qing He. “Plants Consumption and Liver Health.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM, Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4499388/.
Karla, Arjun, et al. “Physiology, Liver – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 8 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535438/.
Konturek, Peter Christopher, et al. “Gut⁻Liver Axis: How Do Gut Bacteria Influence the Liver?” Medical Sciences (Basel, Switzerland), MDPI, 17 Sept. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6165386/.
Sharma, Deepika, and Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti. “The Cell Biology of Inflammasomes: Mechanisms of Inflammasome Activation and Regulation.” The Journal of Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University Press, 20 June 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4915194/.
The body is a functional being with the brain to control the host’s movements when going to places or resting, the immune system to battle viruses that enter the body, digest food through the gut system, and the endocrine system regulate hormones that maintain the body. The thyroid secretes hormones out and has a vital role in the body’s functionality, and when it gets affected, it can cause issues associated with the body. When the thyroid doesn’t produce more hormones in the body, it can be at risk of developing hypothyroidism. Today’s article looks at the thyroid’s role in the body, how hypothyroidism affects the body, and how to manage hypothyroidism in the body. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in endocrinology treatments to help many individuals with hypothyroidism. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What’s The Thyroid’s Role In The Body?
Have you been experiencing fatigue out of nowhere? What about having constipation issues in your lower abdominals? Or have you been experiencing frequent and heavy menstrual cycles? Some of these symptoms are associated with hypothyroidism. The thyroid is located at the neck’s base and produces hormones. Studies reveal that this small organ is mighty as it has a massive responsibility to the body by controlling its metabolism, growth, and functionality. As the thyroid secretes hormones for the body, these hormones travel with the bloodstream to different organs, muscles, and tissues throughout the body. Thyroxine(T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are the two main hormones the thyroid gland produces. While the hypothalamus produces TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone), and the anterior pituitary glands produce TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). All three of these organs work in synchronized harmony with the body by maintaining the proper mechanism and homeostasis. The thyroid hormone affects not only the body but the vital organs like:
Heart
Central nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
Lungs
Skeletal muscles
Metabolism
GI tract
The Effects Of Hypothyroidism In The Body
Since the thyroid helps regulate hormones in the body, environmental factors play a role in hormone production. When environmental factors begin to affect the body, they potentially involve hormones. When the thyroid gland cannot produce sufficient hormones in the body, it risks developing hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is defined as a common condition that is the result of low hormone production overlapping various conditions and manifestations. When left untreated, hypothyroidism could associate with sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction. Studies reveal that the thyroid hormone influences the autonomic nervous system. Individuals suffering from hypothyroidism correlate to a dysfunctional autonomic system overlapping sympathetic reactivity. This means that hypothyroidism will cause the body’s metabolism to slow down and cause various symptoms to affect each vital organ.
An Overview Of Hypothyroidism-Video
Have you been experiencing chronic fatigue? How about muscle weakness in your arms or legs? What about feeling cold all the time? Individuals experiencing these symptoms are dealing with a condition known as hypothyroidism. The video above explains hypothyroidism, how it is diagnosed, and its symptoms in the body. Many environmental factors do play a role when it comes to the development of hypothyroidism. Some of the symptoms associated with hypothyroidism include:
Constipation
Decrease in sexual function
Depression
High cholesterol
Weight gain
Chronic fatigue
Brain fog
Hashimoto’s
When the body is being affected by environmental factors correlating with hypothyroidism, studies reveal that factors like spinal cord injuries do cause an impact on the body’s metabolic function and derange various hormonal axes. This causes issues that could potentially involve co-morbidities like urinary tract infections. Fortunately, there are ways to manage hypothyroidism and regulate the hormones to make the body functional again.
Managing Hypothyroidism
One cornerstone in managing hypothyroidism and reducing its associated symptoms is following a proper treatment for health and wellness. Maintaining healthy hormone levels in the body is achievable regarding hypothyroidism. Taking thyroid medication as prescribed by a doctor help improve symptoms associated with hypothyroidism while regulating T3 and T4 hormones. Eating nutritious foods may help relieve some symptoms of hypothyroidism. Exercising helps enhance energy levels and strengthen weak muscles for individuals with hypothyroidism. Incorporating chiropractic care can help reduce somato-visceral disorders associated with hypothyroidism through spinal manipulation. Utilizing these treatments to manage hypothyroidism benefits one’s health and wellness journey.
Conclusion
The thyroid is an organ at the neck’s base as part of the endocrine system. This organ is mighty as it helps the body by secreting hormones for all the various organs, muscles, and tissues. When the thyroid can’t produce sufficient hormones to regulate the body, it risks developing hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a common condition that results in a low hormonal count, triggering symptoms that affect the body. If left untreated, it could become the mediator for sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction. Luckily, treatments are available to manage hypothyroidism and regulate hormonal secretion in the body. This allows the individual to incorporate healthy habits to maintain their hormones while their health and wellness journey continues impacting their lives.
References
Cheville, A L, and S C Kirshblum. “Thyroid Hormone Changes in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.” The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 1995, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8591067/.
Hardy, Katie, and Henry Pollard. “The Organisation of the Stress Response, and Its Relevance to Chiropractors: A Commentary.” Chiropractic & Osteopathy, BioMed Central, 18 Oct. 2006, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1629015/.
Mahajan, Aarti S, et al. “Evaluation of Autonomic Functions in Subclinical Hypothyroid and Hypothyroid Patients.” Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, May 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3712377/.
Patil, Nikita, et al. “Hypothyroidism.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 19 June 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519536/.
Shahid, Muhammad A, et al. “Physiology, Thyroid Hormone – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 8 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500006/.
The brain and the spinal cord have a casual relationship in the nervous system as they help transport neuron signals to the rest of the body. These neuron signals travel through the various nerve pathways that provide motor-sensory functions to the arms, legs, neck, and back that help keep the body upright and function properly. When natural causes or traumatic issues affect the spinal cord, it can cause pain symptoms associated with nerve compression that overlaps with different chronic problems. When there is spinal nerve compression in the back, it may potentially involve low back or neck pain. Today’s article looks at a condition known as Chiari malformation, its associated symptoms with the spine, and how decompression and chiropractic care manage Chiari malformation. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in neurological treatments to help many individuals with Chiari malformation. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Is Chiari Malformation?
Have you been experiencing chronic headaches that are triggering neck stiffness? What about uncontrollable bladder issues? Are you feeling tingling sensations down your fingers and toes? Some of these symptoms are signs that you might risk developing Chiari malformation. Chiari malformation is uncommon when parts of the brain tissue extend into the spinal canal. This condition is a cluster of abnormalities that involves parts of the brain and cervical cord. The brain consists of 6 pieces that have different functions; they are:
Parietal lobe (Sense of touch, visual perception, differentiation, etc.)
Temporal lobe (Memory, understanding languages)
Occipital lobe (Vision)
Cerebellum (Balance, motor activity, coordination)
The brain stem (spinal cord, breathing, sleep and wake cycles, etc.)
These different brain sections have a casual relationship with their correlated organs and muscles to keep the body moving. When there are deformities affecting the brain from Chiari malformation, studies reveal that the cerebellum is leaking out of the skull and pressing against the surrounding spinal canal, triggering symptoms along the spine.
The Symptoms Associated With Chiari Malformation & The Spine
The symptoms associated with Chiari malformation do affect the spine in the body. The symptoms vary from each individual, ranging from none to severe. The most common sign that is associated with Chiari malformation is a headache. Studies reveal that symptomatic cluster-like headaches are related to various diseases, including Chiari malformation. When dealing with a headache that radiates pain along the neck and shoulders, this is known as somato-visceral pain, where the affected muscle affects the organ, causing pain associated with a chronic issue. Let’s look at another symptom related to the presence of Chiari malformation. Scoliosis is when there is a sideways curvature in the thoracic or lumbar regions of the spine. So how is scoliosis associated with Chiari malformation? When skeletal maturity and age are affected by scoliosis, studies show that neural axis abnormalities correlate with curve progression, causing the risk of Chiari malformation to develop. Other symptoms that are associated with Chiari malformation include:
Muscle weakness (coordination issues, loss of balance)
Have you been experiencing bladder issues out of nowhere? Do you feel tingling, burning sensations along your arms and legs? Has your neck and upper back been feeling stiff? These are some of the symptoms associated with Chiari malformation in the cervical region. The video above gives an overview of Chiari malformation, its diagnosis, and how it’s treated. Chiari malformation has multiple causes, but the most common cause is when the cerebellum develops downward and compresses the spinal canal. This causes painful issues on the neck and affects the visceral organs and muscles, causing painful symptoms that potentially involve other parts of the body. Fortunately, treatments are available to manage Chiari malformation and its associated symptoms.
Decompression & Chiropractic Care For Chiari Malformation
Chiari malformation is treatable through decompression and chiropractic care by managing the associated symptoms. Studies show that decompression may improve the symptoms associated with Chiari malformation and regain motor functions in the neck and range of motion in the arms. Decompression for the cervical region allows gentle traction on the neck to elongate the compressed spinal disc to release the pressure off the nerve root. For chiropractic care, spinal manipulation on the upper back may help alleviate headaches due to subluxation or spinal misalignment. Utilizing these two treatments allows many individuals to find the relief they are looking for and help manage the symptoms associated with their chronic issues.
Conclusion
Overall, the brain and spinal cord have a casual relationship in the nervous system as they help transport the neuron signals to each body part to be functional. Traumatic issues or injuries to the spine can cause pain in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions while potentially being involved with chronic issues. Chiari malformation is a chronic condition where the cerebellum develops downwards and compresses the spinal canal. This causes associated symptoms in the cervical region that can drastically affect the upper half of the body. Treatments like decompression and chiropractic care help manage the associated symptoms that are caused by Chiari malformation through non-invasive ways. Incorporating these treatments allow the individual to be pain-free.
References
Goldschagg, Nicolina, et al. “Decompression in Chiari Malformation: Clinical, Ocular Motor, Cerebellar, and Vestibular Outcome.” Frontiers in Neurology, Frontiers Media S.A., 22 June 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5479925/.
Hidalgo, Joaquin A, et al. “Arnold Chiari Malformation – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 1 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431076/.
Kaplan, Yüksel, and Özden Kamişli. “Cluster-like Headache Associated with Symptomatic Chiari Type 1 Malformation.” Noro Psikiyatri Arsivi, Turkish Neuropsychiatric Society, Mar. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370268/.
Kelly, Michael P, et al. “Spinal Deformity Associated with Chiari Malformation.” Neurosurgery Clinics of North America, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4584090/.
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