Clinic Wellness Team. A key factor to spine or back pain conditions is staying healthy. Overall wellness involves a balanced diet, appropriate exercise, physical activity, restful sleep, and a healthy lifestyle. The term has been applied in many ways. But overall, the definition is as follows.
It is a conscious, self-directed, and evolving process of achieving full potential. It is multidimensional, bringing together lifestyles both mental/spiritual and the environment in which one lives. It is positive and affirms that what we do is, in fact, correct.
It is an active process where people become aware and make choices towards a more successful lifestyle. This includes how a person contributes to their environment/community. They aim to build healthier living spaces and social networks. It helps in creating a person’s belief systems, values, and a positive world perspective.
Along with this comes the benefits of regular exercise, a healthy diet, personal self-care, and knowing when to seek medical attention. Dr. Jimenez’s message is to work towards being fit, being healthy, and staying aware of our collection of articles, blogs, and videos.
Everyone tries to make healthy life choices by boosting their immune system. Getting adequate sleep, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of water, and exercising all help increase the immune system. The immune system is known as the “protector” of the body as it eliminates foreign invaders that enter the body and causes chaos to the effective systems. The immune system releases cytokines to the alien invaders causing inflammation in the affected area. When environmental factors affect the body over time, the immune system mistakenly attacks its cells, thinking it’s a foreign invader causing autoimmunity. Today’s article looks at autoimmunity, its triggers, how inflammation plays its role in the body, and what is D.I.R.T. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in autoimmune therapies to help many individuals dealing with autoimmune diseases and inflammation. 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 Autoimmunity?
Have you been dealing with abdominal issues that affect you when you eat something? How about pain and swelling in your joints? How about unexplained skin problems? Some of these symptoms are signs that many individuals risk developing autoimmunity. Autoimmunity is defined as a self-directed inflammation of the body’s tissue, which results from a loss of tolerance by aberrant dendric cells and B & T cell responses. This causes the development of immune reactivity towards native antigens. When autoimmune diseases occur in the body, studies reveal that this is due to the immune system attacking self-molecules; many disorders are strongly associated with many predisposing factors.
Things That Trigger Autoimmunity
When it comes to the link between the triggering factors and the immune system, studies reveal that the cause and pathway of many autoimmune diseases affecting the body are unknown but that the many factors that trigger the progression of autoimmune diseases are associated with different chronic issues. The adaptive immune response consists of antibodies and activated T lymphocytes that play a predominant role in clinical conditions. The multiple pathways that autoimmune diseases do to the body are ongoing and multifactorial due to the initial trigger for systemic and organ-specific disorders that may predate clinical diseases by many years. Some of the factors that may trigger autoimmunity in the body include:
Gut
Endothelial
Brain
Stress
Toxins
Infections
Food
Biotoxins (innate)
What Is Inflammation?-Video
Have you been dealing with swelling around your joints and muscles? Do the foods seem to cause issues in your gut? What about feeling radiating pain traveling down your arms or legs? These are signs that your body is experiencing inflammation. The video above gives an excellent explanation of what inflammation is and its role in the body. Inflammation is the immune system’s natural defenses triggered by various factors that affect the body while it promotes healing to the affected area. Inflammation can be good or bad; it depends on the severity of the body’s injury and location. Inflammation has a casual relationship with the immune system in acute and chronic forms. In its acute form, inflammation can minimize the injury or infection to promote healing in the affected area with heat, redness, and swelling. However, in its chronic condition, where the damage is more profound, various pathogens affecting the body’s tissues may result in chronic issues associated with inflammation. Luckily, there are ways to manage autoimmunity-related inflammatory symptoms.
What Is D.I.R.T?
The body needs the immune system to protect itself from foreign invaders that enter the body. Studies reveal that the immune system does more than protect the body; it can flush out old, damaged cells in the body and replace them with new ones. The immune system also mobilizes responses to the invaders with its ability to distinguish self from non-self. As stated earlier, the immune system has a causal relationship to inflammation. It may succumb to triggering factors that could be involved with the muscles and joints associated with pain. The immune system uses the acronym D.I.R.T. to regulate and defend the body when needed.
D: Detect & Defensive
The immune system in the body has a mechanism that identifies potentially threatening molecular structures like:
Strange signals found in microbes, food, plants & fungi, chemicals
Danger signals (alarmins) that are found in tissues or secreted by stimulated leukocytes or epithelia
When these structures attack the body, the immune system begins to detect and becomes a defense mechanism that will mount the appropriate responses to the threat level. Once the threat is eliminated, the body can regenerate new, healthy cells.
I: Internally Regulated
The body has immune responses that are tightly controlled and actively resolved through multiple cellular, genomic, and enzymatic mechanisms. Some of the regulations that the immune system provides are:
T regulatory lymphocytes
Lipid-derived pro-resolution mediators
Redox balance: Nrf2-ARE activation
Even though it is difficult to manipulate the immune system, finding ways to regulate the immune system from going crazy and finding the right balance for a healthy immune system is essential for a healthy body.
R: Restorative
The immune system’s function is to repair any damages resulting from injury or negative encounters that the body has gone through. When the body becomes injured, the immune system sends inflammatory cytokines to the affected area and begins the healing process. Other cellular structures that help the immune system restore the body include:
Phagocytes
Fibroblasts
Stem cells
Endothelial cells
There are other ways to restore the body and improve the immune system. Eating healthy foods to boost the immune system, exercising, and even getting chiropractic care may help the immune system. But isn’t chiropractic care used for the back? Yes, chiropractic care focuses on the musculoskeletal system, but they also support many individuals in maintaining their health and wellness. The immune system will function to its total capacity when any spinal misalignments or subluxations are corrected through spinal manipulation.
T: Tolerant
The immune system helps the body build a tolerance to the pathogens that are affecting the body. For example, food allergens. With many common food allergens, like nuts, gluten, milk, fish, and eggs, the body will begin to build a tolerance to these allergens when it is introduced slowly. Other healthy boundaries that the immune system provides to the body include:
Self or fetal antigens
Innocuous environmental antigens
Microbes
Plants and fungi
By building a healthy tolerance to these pathogens, the body has a solid chance to build up immunity to the pathogen. It can help the immune system be stronger when reencountering these pathogens.
Conclusion
Overall the immune system is the primary protector of the body from foreign invaders. When harmful pathogens enter the body, the immune system sends out cytokines to where the invaders are and get rid of them. This causes inflammation in the affected area in the body, causing swelling and redness in the skin. When these pathogens infect the body over time, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, especially the vital organs causing chronic inflammation associated with autoimmunity. Autoimmunity is a cluster of disorders that causes body dysfunction, which overlaps with inflammation causing the body to be dysfunctional. Luckily it is treatable with the right foods, exercises, and treatments that can help lower inflammation and help regulate the immune system back to its original self.
References
Chaplin, David D. “Overview of the Immune Response.” The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2923430/.
Chen, Linlin, et al. “Inflammatory Responses and Inflammation-Associated Diseases in Organs.” Oncotarget, Impact Journals LLC, 14 Dec. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805548/.
Smith, D A, and D R Germolec. “Introduction to Immunology and Autoimmunity.” Environmental Health Perspectives, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Oct. 1999, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1566249/.
Vojdani, Aristo. “A Potential Link between Environmental Triggers and Autoimmunity.” Autoimmune Diseases, Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 12 Feb. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3945069/.
Many individuals plan fun outdoor activities when the weather is nice and warm during spring and summer. Hiking, swimming, or road trips are some of the activities many people do enjoy. Each activity provides new memories to enjoy and work with the body by incorporating the muscles, tissues, and ligaments through everyday movement. As fun as these outdoor activities are, the outdoors can be dangerous when you least expect it, as factors can cause damage to the body without even a person realizing it is happening. Today’s article looks at a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, commonly known as Lyme disease, its symptoms, and available treatments for Lyme disease. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in therapies to help those with Lyme Disease. 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 Lyme Disease?
Have you noticed a rash that randomly appeared out of nowhere? How about feeling the effects of fatigue throughout the entire day? Or how about inflammatory issues affecting your joints? Some of these are signs and symptoms that you might be at risk of developing Lyme disease. The original description of how Lyme disease was manifested dates back to 1883 in Europe by the German physician Alfred Buchwald, who described it as now called ACA (acrodermatitis Chronica atrophicans), and research studies defined Lyme disease as a multi-organ animal-borne disease from ticks that affects the vital organs (skin, nerves, and heart) associated with the musculoskeletal system. Lyme disease is transmittable from either the tick itself or a tick-infested animal like a rodent or a deer. Lyme disease is quite difficult to diagnose since a tick can hide in tall, grassy, and woodsy areas that many individuals walk through and don’t recall ever getting a tick bite.
Symptoms Of Lyme Disease
Suppose an individual lives in a location where ticks are native and thrive. In that case, they may succumb to Lyme disease symptoms which vary depending on the severity and come in different stages: early, disseminated, and late.
Early Stages
When a tick has bitten a person, the skin develops an expanding red area that forms a bull’s eye circle rash known as erythema migrans. Some individuals don’t develop this type of rash, but it can be at more than one place on their bodies. Other symptoms that are potentially involved with erythema migrans in the early stages of Lyme disease include fatigue, headache, neck stiffness, and swollen lymph nodes are accompanied.
Disseminated Stages
Studies have shown that Lyme disease may manifest in the involvement of the musculoskeletal system. If a person hasn’t treated the tick bit within a couple of weeks, this disease goes to a disseminated stage where the vital organs and muscles begin to be affected. During this stage, Lyme disease can mimic other symptoms like joint inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. When people suffer from a tick bite and have not been treated, it can affect the joints by mimicking inflammatory joint swelling, causing individuals to be at risk of developing arthritis. Lyme disease also may trigger fibromyalgia symptoms in the individual’s body, causing them to be in immense pain.
Later Stages
If Lyme disease hasn’t been treated for months, it can affect the surrounding nerve roots and joint structures. Lyme disease may trigger inflammatory markers in the blood-brain barrier that may overlap with neurological disorders like Bell’s palsy (temporary paralysis on one side of the face) and trigger sensory-motor dysfunction in the arms and legs. Studies reveal that the central and peripheral nervous systems affected by Lyme disease may be at risk of developing meningitis. This means that the spine al cord could potentially be involved with Lyme disease if not treated as soon as possible.
An Overview Lyme Disease-Video
Have you been experiencing swelling around your joints? How about feeling a tingling sensation running down your arms and legs? Have you been waking up with neck stiffness? Some of these are signs that you could be at risk of developing Lyme disease. The video above gives an introduction to what Lyme disease is and how it affects the body. Lyme disease is a multi-systemic disease transmitted by an insect known as a tick. This insect thrives in tall, grassy, woodsy areas and can be mistaken for a poppy seed due to its small size. Many individuals don’t realize that they have Lyme disease from a tick until the symptoms have begun to affect the body. Luckily there are ways to treat Lyme disease and prevent it from creating havoc on the body.
Treatments Available For Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is treatable as many physicians prescribe antibiotics to individuals that have Lyme disease. The antibiotics will attach themselves to the bacteria from Lyme disease and eliminate it from the body in the early stages. Other treatments like chiropractic care may also help alleviate the associated symptoms of Lyme disease. How does chiropractic care correlate with Lyme disease? Well, chiropractic care is not just for the back; it can help improve the function of the central nervous system. As mentioned earlier, Lyme disease can mimic other symptoms like joint inflammation. When a person gets their spine adjusted, it can help relieve the stiffness from the surrounding muscles and reduce aches and pain in the body. Some of the ways to prevent Lyme disease include:
Wearing light, breathable clothing (long pants, long shirt, hat, gloves, etc.)
Use insect repellent
Avoid walking through long grass
Check clothing (They like to attach to anything)
Remove them with a tweezer (Grasp them gently near their head or mouth)
Conclusion
Enjoying the warmer weather is great for many individuals that want to do fun outdoor activities. However, it can be fatal when factors begin to damage the body without even the person realizing it. Lyme disease is a multi-organ disease transmitted by an insect known as a tick. This tiny insect can attach to any exposed skin and cause many symptoms that can affect the body. Many individuals who a tick has bitten are at risk of developing inflammatory symptoms that mimic other chronic issues. These untreated issues can overlap with chronic diseases but can be treatable if caught early. Available treatments like antibiotics and chiropractic care may help manage the symptoms. At the same time, the necessary precautions can prevent the tick from infecting the body so that you can enjoy the outdoors.
Dabiri, Iman, et al. “Atypical Presentation of Lyme Neuroborreliosis Related Meningitis and Radiculitis.” Neurology International, PAGEPress Publications, Pavia, Italy, 2 Dec. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6908959/.
Skar, Gwenn L, and Kari A Simonsen. “Lyme Disease – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 6 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431066/.
Steere, A C. “Musculoskeletal Manifestations of Lyme Disease.” The American Journal of Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 24 Apr. 1995, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7726191/.
Everyone knows that the brain is the command center of the body. This organ is part of the central nervous system that works with the spinal cord and the vital organ systems to send signals that provide motor-sensory functions to make the body do everyday movements. The signals from the brain have a casual relationship with the immune system. When environmental factors enter the body, the brain signals the immune system to send inflammatory cytokines to the area where it was affected and begin the body’s healing process. The immune system helps clean up the body’s cellular structure by replacing old, damaged cells with new, healthy cells. However, when the immune system starts to attack specific parts of the body mistakenly, it can damage the healthy cells causing autoimmune diseases to develop in the body. Today’s article looks at one of the rare autoimmune diseases known as multiple sclerosis, how it impacts the body, and how to manage multiple sclerosis. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in autoimmune therapies to help those with multiple sclerosis. 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
How Would You Describe Multiple Sclerosis?
Have you been dealing with constant, shifting mood swings? Do certain muscle areas begin to feel stiff or spasm out? Or are you experiencing gut issues throughout the entire day? Some of these symptoms are associated with MS or multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a rare autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. When the body’s immune system starts to see the brain or spinal cord as a foreign invader, it will begin to attack the protective layer known as myelin and cause damage to the nerve fibers. An example is when an electrical wire doesn’t have a protective coating, and all the cables are exposed. So when multiple sclerosis affects the brain or spinal cord, the communication signal will deteriorate, causing chronic pain and inflammation. Multiple sclerosis goes through a manifestation of relapses and remission that affects the sensory(feel), motor(move), and cognitive(think) functions of different parts of the body.
How Does It Impact The Body?
When an individual begins to suffer from MS (multiple sclerosis), like all autoimmune diseases, the causes are unknown. Still, genetic and environmental factors are linked to MS while associated with neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is due to damage or injury of the nerves in the central nervous system. It is a common symptom of MS. Both neuropathic pain and MS are associated with similar symptoms that correlate with different chronic issues that affect the body; however, the times and severity of these two are different. Some of the similar symptoms that MS and neuropathic pain share include:
Burning
Sharp, stabbing sensations
Muscle stiffness or spasms
Pain
Twitching
Numbness
When MS impacts the body, it could potentially involve other body parts while mimicking different chronic symptoms. Studies reveal that even though neuropathic pain and other pain syndromes occur in most people with MS, the manifestation of pain in different body parts is involved. When dealing with pain, it is associated with the central nervous system while overlapping various chronic issues in other areas of the body. This is known as somatovisceral pain, where the affected muscles and tissues are causing problems to the organs and vice versa. Some of the somatovisceral symptoms that are common in MS that are potentially involved with other issues include:
Instability
Electic sensations in the neck or back
Bladder, bowel, or sexual dysfunctions
Forgetfulness or mood swings
Slurred speech
An Overview Of Multiple Sclerosis-Video
Are you experiencing issues of fatigue? How about numbness or tingling sensations that are down your arms and legs? Do problems like constipation seem to be affecting your bladder function? Many of these issues are associated with MS or multiple sclerosis. The video above gives an overview of what MS is, its symptoms, and how to manage it. How multiple sclerosis affects the body depends on the various signs and symptoms damaging the nerves in different body areas. Some signs and symptoms are similar to chronic issues ranging from mild to severe. Multiple sclerosis in individuals goes through a relapse-remitted phase where a person will experience different symptoms over days or weeks and sometimes have a recovery period. Like all autoimmune diseases, the causes of MS are unknown, but the factors developed over time remain the same. Fortunately, there are ways to manage multiple sclerosis.
Ways To Manage Multiple Sclerosis
Like all autoimmune diseases, inflammation is one of the common symptoms that are associated with autoimmunity. For multiple sclerosis, inflammatory effects trigger the neuron signals causing communication issues to be delivered to the rest of the body. When this happens, it can become a wide range of symptoms associated with different chronic problems. All is not lost as autoimmune diseases are treatable, and there are ways to manage the symptoms associated with autoimmunity. Eating anti-inflammatory foods like fish, drinking green tea, and broccoli can dampen the inflammatory effects that are in the body. Exercising improves strength, flexibility, and mobility for individuals with MS. Incorporating an exercise regime for several weeks and a certain amount of time is beneficial in managing the associated symptoms and preventing complications and comorbidities. It may protect neuro-actions, as research shows. Even treatments like chiropractic care utilize spinal manipulation to increase the body’s natural healing factor while optimizing nerve circulation that can adequately communicate with the body without sending damaged signals to initiate pain.
Conclusion
The brain is the command center that has a casual relationship with the immune system to regulate a functioning body. The immune system’s primary function is to eliminate old, damaged cells, make way for new, healthy cells, and protect the body from foreign invaders. When factors affect the body over time, the immune system mistakenly attacks different body parts as a foreign invader. This is known as autoimmune disease and can range from mild to severe. MS or multiple sclerosis is a rare autoimmune disease associated with similar symptoms from different chronic issues. MS affects the neurons in the central nervous system and has identical signs to chronic problems during a relapse-remitted phase. Fortunately, MS is treatable by incorporating an exercise regime to strengthen the affected muscles, consuming anti-inflammatory food to lower inflammatory markers, and utilizing chiropractic care to optimize nerve circulation through spinal manipulation. These are some ways to manage MS and improve a person’s quality of life.
References
Ghasemi, Nazem, et al. “Multiple Sclerosis: Pathogenesis, Symptoms, Diagnoses and Cell-Based Therapy.” Cell Journal, Royan Institute, 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5241505/.
Giesser, Barbara S. “Exercise in the Management of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis.” Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders, SAGE Publications, May 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4409551/.
Racke, Michael K, et al. “Pain in Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management through Clinical Vignettes.” Frontiers in Neurology, Frontiers Media S.A., 13 Jan. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8794582/.
The hips in the lower extremities of the body help stabilize the weight of the upper half while providing movement to the lower half. The hips also allow the body to twist, turn, and bend back and forth. The hip joints connect to the inside of the pelvic bone, while the pelvic bone is connected to the sacroiliac joint, which connects to the spine. When natural wear and tear affects the joints as the body ages, issues like hip pain and osteoarthritis associated with low back pain occur, causing various symptoms to arise in the body. Today’s article looks at osteoarthritis, how it impacts the hips, and how to manage hip osteoarthritis. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal therapies to help those with hip pain and osteoarthritis. 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 Osteoarthritis?
Have you been experiencing pain in your hips or lower back? How about muscle stiffness near the groin? Do symptoms associated with sciatica seem to flare up near your hips and the back of your leg? Many of these symptoms are signs that you could be at risk of developing osteoarthritis near your hips. While arthritis refers to inflammation of the body’s joints, osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that causes degeneration of the joint cartilage, triggering joint pain and functionality loss. Even though there are several hundred types of arthritis, osteoarthritis is one of the most common types that many people, especially older adults, are affected by. As the body becomes older naturally through age, the repairs from an injury begin to slow down, and the cartilage (the connective tissue that protects the bones from each other) will start to thin out, triggering bone rubbing together, causing inflammation to occur, bone spurs, and inevitable pain. Osteoarthritis is often associated with old age and is multifactorial as factors that can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis include:
Sex
Age
Obesity
Joint injuries
Genetics
Bone deformities
How Does It Impact The Hips?
Since osteoarthritis affects the joints, how does it cause an impact on the hips? When health issues affect the body, it can cause painful symptoms to gradually worsen and become a risk of developing hip pain. Studies reveal that hip pain is common in all adults and activity levels in the anterior, lateral, or posterior regions near the hips.
Anterior hip pain: Causes referred pain (pain felt in one part of the body but is actually in a different location) associated with internal organ systems.
Lateral hip pain: Causes wear-and-tear pain on the soft muscle tissues on the sides of the hips.
Posterior hip pain: Causes referred pain associated with the lumbar spinal pathology like sciatic nerve entrapment correlating with a deep gluteal syndrome.
All these issues affecting the hips overlap with various issues associated with osteoarthritis. When hip pain originates from osteoarthritis, factors like minimal physical activity or slight movements while resting in bed can worsen due to the hip joints having limited or restricted movement. Studies reveal that hip pain is associated with simple movement impairments that make it difficult to diagnose due to referred pain from the spine, knees, or even the groin area.
How does hip osteoarthritis correlate with groin pain? Studies reveal that when a person is dealing with hip osteoarthritis, groin and buttock pain are slightly more common. The hip joint is behind the groin muscle, which is why groin pain overlaps with hip pain as the root. Hip and groin pain could also be involved with radiating pain down toward the knees in the body.
Exercises For Hip Osteoarthritis- Video
Are you experiencing bladder issues? How about stiffness near or around your hips and groin area? Do issues like low back and sciatica pain? Experiencing these issues could be signs of hip osteoarthritis affecting your lower body. Studies reveal that hip osteoarthritis is a significant source of morbidity, pain, gait abnormalities, and functional impairments potentially involved with other issues. Fortunately, there are ways to manage hip osteoarthritis, as the video above shows eight great exercises for hip osteoarthritis. Certain exercise moves for individuals with hip osteoarthritis can help strengthen the surrounding muscles around the joints while increasing joint mobility to reduce pain and stiffness. Exercising can also be beneficial to the individual as it can provide:
Increase blood circulation
Maintain weight
Provides energy boost
Improves sleep
Promotes muscle endurance
Other available therapies help manage hip osteoarthritis while alleviating associated symptoms affecting the body.
Managing Hip Osteoarthritis Pain
Many individuals suffering from hip osteoarthritis try to find ways to relieve the pain. While they can’t do anything to prevent wear and tear on the joints completely, there are ways to slow down the process and manage hip osteoarthritis in the body. Small changes like incorporating food can dampen inflammatory effects on the joints while providing nutrients to the body. An exercise regime can help strengthen the weak muscles supporting the joints while increasing mobility and range of motion. Treatments like spinal traction and chiropractic care relieve pain and stiffness from joint disorders like osteoarthritis. Chiropractic care provides spinal manipulation on the back and joints to be adjusted. While spinal traction helps the compressed discs lay off the pressure on the surrounding nerves associated with hip pain. Incorporating any of these can help slow the progression of hip osteoarthritis and bring back mobility to the hips.
Conclusion
The hips provide stability to the upper and lower parts of the body. While supporting the weight of the upper half and movement to the lower half, the hips can succumb to wear and tear in the body. When the hip joints begin to wear and tear slowly, it can lead to the progression of hip osteoarthritis, where the cartilage of the joints begins to cause the bones to rub against each other, triggering inflammation. Hip osteoarthritis makes diagnosing difficult because the referred pain from the spine, knees, or groin area overlaps the symptoms. All is not lost, as there are available treatments to manage hip osteoarthritis that can help slow the progress of this disorder and bring back the mobility of the lower half of the body.
References
Ahuja, Vanita, et al. “Chronic Hip Pain in Adults: Current Knowledge and Future Prospective.” Journal of Anaesthesiology, Clinical Pharmacology, Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8022067/.
Khan, A M, et al. “Hip Osteoarthritis: Where Is the Pain?” Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2004, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15005931/.
Kim, Chan, et al. “Association of Hip Pain with Radiographic Evidence of Hip Osteoarthritis: Diagnostic Test Study.” BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), BMJ Publishing Group Ltd., 2 Dec. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4667842/.
Sen, Rouhin, and John A Hurley. “Osteoarthritis – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 1 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482326/.
The body’s immune system is vital in protecting the body from foreign invaders that can wreak havoc. The immune system has a casual relationship with different body systems like the gut, endocrine, and central nervous systems that work together to keep the body functional. When environmental or genetic factors affect the body over time, the immune system will begin to attack normal, healthy cells causing issues and becoming a risk of developing autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases are when the body starts to attack itself, and if it is not managed over time, it can lead to the development of chronic disorders. Today’s article looks at one of the most common autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus or lupus, its symptoms and factors, and how to manage lupus with available treatments. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in autoimmune therapies to help those with systemic lupus and its associated symptoms. 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 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?
Are you experiencing fatigue? How about sharp pain located in your chest? Have you been experiencing headaches that seem to pop up for no reason? Some of these symptoms are signs that you could be at risk of developing lupus. Lupus or systemic lupus erythematosus is a systemic autoimmune disease with a multisystem involvement that occurs when an individual’s immune system starts to attack their tissue and organs. Systemic refers to multiple affected organs, lupus refers to various skin diseases, and erythematosus refers to inflamed, reddened skin. Studies reveal that lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting multiple organ systems and potentially associated with different factors. Lupus is tricky to diagnose because it often mimics other ailments like fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases; it can cause inflammation in the different body systems.
The Symptoms and Factors
Even though lupus is difficult to diagnose, the signs and symptoms vary for individuals who might be at risk of developing lupus. Some signs may suddenly appear or evolve, ranging from mild to severe depending on the factors. Some of the factors that are associated with lupus include:
Many of these factors contribute to the development of lupus and are closely associated with other autoimmune diseases like diabetes, RA (rheumatoid arthritis), and fibromyalgia. So how do these autoimmune diseases correlate with lupus? Since lupus can mimic other autoimmune disorders, some symptoms overlap, affecting the different body systems like the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. For example, many autoimmune diseases are closely associated with inflammation, which could potentially be involved with the gut. Some of the symptoms that are associated with lupus include:
Fatigue
Joint and muscle pain
Headaches
Butterfly rash
Headaches
Skin legions
Stomach issues
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Overview-Video
Have you been experiencing issues with your gut? How about joint stiffness and swelling? Or are you constantly feeling the effects of fatigue? Many of these symptoms are associated with lupus, and the video above explains what systemic lupus erythematosus is and how it affects the body. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that is difficult for physicians to diagnose since it mimics other issues that a person may be experiencing. An example would be fibromyalgia associated with lupus. Studies reveal that the presence of fibromyalgia could be a separate diagnosis or potentially be involved with lupus as a confounder. In fibromyalgia and lupus, somatic symptoms like fatigue, aching, and pain may overlap and affect the surrounding muscles and organs. This is known as somato-visceral pain. Fortunately, there are ways to manage autoimmune diseases like lupus.
Treatments To Manage Lupus
When a person is dealing with an autoimmune disease like lupus, it may feel like it is the end of the world to them. While there is no cure for lupus, there are ways to manage this autoimmune disease from progressing further to causing more damage to the body. Making small changes in food intake, adding more supplements to boost the immune system like vitamin D, exercising, and chiropractic care work together to manage autoimmunity in the body. So how do all these things work together? Well eating anti-inflammatory foods filled with antioxidants to dampen inflammatory effects. Supplements like vitamin D can help improve and maintain a healthy immune system. Chiropractic care not only focuses on the musculoskeletal system but can help the immune system to its total capacity by correcting any subluxations or spinal misalignments in the body.
Conclusion
The immune system helps the body by attacking foreign invaders that wreak havoc inside while having a casual relationship with different body systems. When environmental or genetic factors affect the body over time, the immune system mistakenly attacks normal, healthy cells thinking they are foreign invaders. This is known as autoimmune disease and, if not managed over time, can lead to the development of chronic disorders. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can mimic other chronic conditions, making it tricky to diagnose. Some of the overlapping symptoms associated with lupus can vary in severity. While there is no cure for lupus, available treatments can help manage the symptoms and associated conditions. Combining healthy eating habits, exercise, vitamin intake, and chiropractic care can help improve a person’s health and wellness.
References
Justiz Vaillant, Angel A, et al. “Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 15 Mar. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535405/.
Maidhof, William, and Olga Hilas. “Lupus: An Overview of the Disease and Management Options.” P & T : a Peer-Reviewed Journal for Formulary Management, MediMedia USA, Inc., Apr. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3351863/.
Wolfe, Frederick, et al. “Fibromyalgia, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and Evaluation of SLE Activity.” The Journal of Rheumatology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2944223/.
Many individuals have dealt with issues affecting their lives in some way or form. People with autoimmune diseases must learn to manage their immune system from constantly attacking their bodies to function normally. The immune system’s primary function in the body is to attack environmental factors that harm the cells, muscles, and organs. When a person has an autoimmune disease, either from their family history or environmental factors, their immune system will begin to attack the body’s normal cells because it thinks it is a foreign invader to the body. Some common autoimmune disorders that most people have include lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Most of these common autoimmune disorders correlate to common symptoms that add to other issues that affect the body. Today’s article looks at rheumatoid arthritis, its symptoms, how it relates to fatigue, and how there are available treatments to manage rheumatoid arthritis as well as fatigue. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal therapies to help those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and fatigue. 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 Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Have you been feeling stiffness and inflammation around your joints? have you experienced gut issues affecting your life? Or do problems of insomnia or fatigue seem to affect your quality of life? Many of these symptoms are associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and swelling in the joints. The video above explains how to manage rheumatoid arthritis and its associated symptoms. Fatigue is one of the symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis as the inflammatory cytokines could be a co-morbidity in altering brain function that can lead to an overlap of pain and fatigue in the body, as studies reveal. While there hasn’t been a cure for rheumatoid arthritis, various treatment approaches can help people manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
The Symptoms
Some of the most commonly rheumatoid arthritis symptoms do to the body include pain, swelling and inflammation of the joints, joint deformity, and stiffness. Unlike wear and tear damage from different types of common inflammatory issues, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may come and go that can range from mild, moderate, or even severe. When this happens, rheumatoid arthritis may be the result of making it difficult to perform simple tasks and cause joint alterations. Research shows that rheumatoid arthritis associated with inflammation can damage different body parts like the gut. Gastrointestinal problems like leaky gut, IBS, or SIBO could trigger flare-ups in individuals who have rheumatoid arthritis. This is known as somato-visceral pain, where the muscles affect the vital organs, causing problems for the body.
How Does Fatigue Correlate To RA?
Individuals that have rheumatoid arthritis do suffer from various symptoms that are associated with inflammatory issues. When inflammation begins to affect the body, it can overlap the profiles of fatigue and poorer quality of life in the individual. So how does fatigue correlate to rheumatoid arthritis? Studies reveal that fatigue is considered one of the acute symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis that imposes a burden on individuals, thus being associated with reducing their health and wellness. Fatigue has many dimensions that do impact many individuals. Some people will explain to their primary physicians that they are constantly tired, overworked, and repeatedly stressed from everyday life or disorders affecting their bodies. For rheumatoid arthritis individuals, studies reveal that high inflammatory factors associated with fatigue may cause them to feel exhausted. This is related to individuals who have insomnia from other conditions.
Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis-Video
Have you been feeling stiffness and inflammation around your joints? have you experienced gut issues affecting your life? Or do problems of insomnia or fatigue seem to affect your quality of life? Many of these symptoms are associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and swelling in the joints. The video above explains how to manage rheumatoid arthritis and its associated symptoms. Fatigue is one of the symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis as the inflammatory cytokines could be a co-morbidity in altering brain function that can lead to an overlap of pain and fatigue in the body, as studies reveal. While there hasn’t been a cure for rheumatoid arthritis, various treatment approaches can help people manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatments For RA & Fatigue
Even though there hasn’t been a cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are ways to manage the associated symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Eating anti-inflammatory riched foods could potentially dampen the effect of inflammation on the joints. One way while exercising can help loosen up stiff joints and bring back muscle strength, thus restoring joint motion. Treatments like chiropractic care can also provide pain relief and management for individuals dealing with rheumatoid arthritis. Chiropractic care comprises passive and active treatment modalities for rheumatoid arthritis and fatigue. Chiropractors utilize spinal adjustments and manual manipulation to reduce misalignment or subluxation of the spine. Chiropractic care may also help with many symptoms like fatigue associated with rheumatoid arthritis without invasive treatments or medication. Chiropractic care could potentially improve the function of the bones, joints, and even the nervous system in the body.
Conclusion
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes joint stiffness and swelling. The causes of this autoimmune disease are unknown. Still, factors like stress, gut issues, and obesity are associated with symptoms like fatigue, leaky gut, muscle stiffness, and poorer quality of life could potentially be involved with rheumatoid arthritis. Treatments like eating anti-inflammatory foods, exercising, and chiropractic care could help manage inflammatory issues triggering rheumatoid arthritis and potentially reduce the effects of fatigue from the body, thus slowing down the progression and bringing back a person’s quality of life.
Korte, S Mechiel, and Rainer H Straub. “Fatigue in Inflammatory Rheumatic Disorders: Pathophysiological Mechanisms.” Rheumatology (Oxford, England), Oxford University Press, 1 Nov. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6827268/.
Santos, Eduardo J F, et al. “The Impact of Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Challenges of Its Assessment.” Rheumatology (Oxford, England), Oxford University Press, 1 Nov. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6827262/.
The body needs protein which is essential in building muscle, repairing tissue, producing enzymes and hormones and is a source of energy. Whey is a complete protein source that provides all the essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that increase anabolism, also known as muscle growth. It is used for various reasons. Some individuals want to build muscle mass and gain strength, while others want to lose weight and achieve improved results from working out. Even individuals who don’t exercise can benefit from the supplement as it supports immune function, helps reduce blood pressure, and improves insulin response.
Whey Protein
Whey protein is made from the liquid produced during the cheese-making process.
Milk comprises two forms of protein: casein (80%) and whey (20%).
It contains less than 0.5 g of fat and only 5 mg of cholesterol per serving.
Pure whey does not contain any gluten.
It is referred to as the most nutritious protein available.
It’s easy to digest.
Incorporating whey into a healthy diet can help lower the risk of diabetes.
Types
There are three primary types of whey protein in supplements.
Hydrolysate is a form that has already gone through partial hydrolysis, a process so the body can absorb protein.
It is considered pre-digested, so it gets absorbed quicker.
Concentration is the most popular and least expensive option that retains the most nutrients. However, some individuals can tolerate isolate and hydrolysate a lot better and are ideal for those trying to cut down on carbs and fats.
Benefits
Increased Strength and Muscle
Helps to increase protein consumption.
Most brands contain 80 to 90 percent without added carbs or fats.
Helps to build muscle and increase strength after physical activity/exercise recovery.
Can Help Burn Fat
A study found a group of adults that supplemented their diet with whey protein experienced a decrease in body fat and weight.
Combining whey protein and resistance training, participants found their weight and fat loss were even higher.
Can Help Stabilize Blood Sugar
Consuming whey protein with a high glycemic index before a meal can help stimulate insulin production while preventing spikes in blood sugar levels.
The protein naturally reduces blood sugar levels after meals when consumed before the meal.
Improves Heart Health
It can help reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness.
It has been linked to improving individual lipid profiles.
Promotes heart health by building muscle and helping with weight loss.
Increased Immunity
It can help encourage glutathione synthesis, which increases immune system function.
It is also rich in vitamins and minerals that promote immune function.
It helps the body recover from oxidative stress and inflammation.
Improves Energy Levels
It helps to increase glycogen, a source of energy during exercise or other physical activities.
It also increases leptin which helps balance the body’s energy levels.
Whey is easily digested, which can be quickly converted to energy.
Factors to Consider When Choosing
Flavor
The flavor is crucial because nobody wants to drink a daily protein shake they cannot enjoy.
Options like chocolate and vanilla are usually safe.
If experimenting, get a small container to start.
Mixability
Not all supplements mix properly or thoroughly.
Find a brand that dissolves quickly and has little clumping.
Container Size
Most protein supplements are available in 1 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb, or 10 lb containers.
Larger sizes are more cost-effective.
One 5 lb package is cheaper than buying five 1 lb containers.
Everything You Need To Know
References
Ebaid, Hossam et al. “Whey protein enhances normal inflammatory responses during cutaneous wound healing in diabetic rats.” Lipids in health and disease vol. 10 235. 14 Dec. 2011, doi:10.1186/1476-511X-10-235
Hashemilar, Mazyar, et al. “Effect of Whey Protein Supplementation on Inflammatory and Antioxidant Markers, and Clinical Prognosis in Acute Ischemic Stroke (TNS Trial): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled, Clinical Trial.” Advanced pharmaceutical bulletin vol. 10,1 (2020): 135-140. doi:10.15171/apb.2020.018
Kim, Jooyoung, et al. “Effect of timing of whey protein supplement on muscle damage markers after eccentric exercise.” Journal of exercise rehabilitation vol. 13,4 436-440. 29 Aug. 2017, doi:10.12965/jer.1735034.517
Marshall K. Therapeutic applications of whey protein. Alternative Medicine Review. 2004;9(2):136-156.
Pradhan, Geetali, et al. “Ghrelin: much more than a hunger hormone.” Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care vol. 16,6 (2013): 619-24. doi:10.1097/MCO.0b013e328365b9be
Volek, Jeff S et al. “Whey protein supplementation during resistance training augments lean body mass.” Journal of the American College of Nutrition vol. 32,2 (2013): 122-35. doi:10.1080/07315724.2013.793580
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