Headaches

28 million Americans suffer from migraines.

Of these people, 4.5 million have more than one attack per month. A quarter of the female population is affected and about eight in every hundred men.

Most children who get migraines, have at least one close family member who suffers from migraines too. If a child has one parent who suffers from migraines, they have a 50% chance of getting them too, if both are sufferers, this rises to 75%.

Most headaches are uncomfortable and sometimes disabling, and for the most part they are not dangerous. Most of them can be helped by regular chiropractic care.

Fasting may cause headaches, as a fasting person is likely to have very low blood sugar. But other factors, such as STRESS, pollution, noise, smoke, flashing lights and “certain types of food” may also cause headaches.

Lifestyle plays an important part in preventing headaches. If you don't smoke, don't drink excessively, get regular sleep, eat a healthy diet and get daily exercise, you are unlikely to SUFFER from headaches frequently, unless you have a CHIROPRACTIC problem.

Tension headaches can affect anyone and is the most common from of headache. Tension headaches are often the result of neck and shoulder muscles going into spasm, and YOUR neck being misaligned which can sometimes last for days, sometimes longer.

More men than women suffer from ‘cluster’ headaches. These are intense headaches that often occur at the same time every day or every few days. People who are heavy smokers or drinkers often suffer from cluster headaches. More women than men suffer from ‘migraines’.

Ice cream headaches are no myth – you really can get them from eating this frozen dessert. This is caused by blood vessel spasms, which are caused by the intense cold from the ice cream. The spasms interrupt the blood flow and cause the vessels to swell.

Even children get headaches, some well before the age of ten. Before puberty, headaches are more common in boys. Adult women get headaches four times more often than men do, and these are linked to hormonal fluctuations. In both men and women, the severity and frequency of headaches decline with advancing years. Make sure you’re checked by the doctor if you have any type of tension or headaches. They can be helped with regular chiropractic care.

Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX 76116 (817)423-2600

Sciatica?

You’ve probably heard that name before, even if you’ve never had lower back PAIN. Well let me just shed some light on that term and what it means to you.

Several pairs (thousands and thousands) of nerves exit your spine to form the large sciatic nerves.

How do you know if you have sciatica?

• You’ll have pain in the buttocks or leg that worsens when sitting
• You can have burning or tingling down one or both legs
• Weakness, numbness or difficulty using your leg or foot
• A shooting pain that makes standing or getting up from the sitting position difficult

If these symptoms sound familiar, you’re likely in your 40’s or 50’s and have pain when coughing, sneezing or any kind of movement. You most likely have sciatica.

Like a large river created by lots and lots of smaller streams, four or five pairs of nerves exit the spine in the lower back to form the two large sciatic nerves.

The ‘soft pulpy’ disc between ‘each’ spinal bone is often involved. Not let me just clarify something. A disc in your back can’t “slip.” Imagine a water balloon. It can bulge, herniate or even rupture. That’s what happens to your disc. This bulging can put direct pressure on your super sensitive nerves that are nearby.

The RESULT? You’ll have some painful swelling. You’ll get some inflammation which is very painful. You’ll be very uncomfortable. Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also radiate down to your foot or toes.

“While sciatica can be distracting, if corrected promptly it rarely produces permanent nerve damage.”

The only challenge seems to an impatient patient who expects instant, overnight results. Unlike artificial solutions such as drugs or the more drastic surgery, the intent of chiropractic care is to help restore the proper relationships between bones, discs and nerves. In other words, correct the problem and not COVER it up. This natural approach, relying on the healing ability of your own body, moves at its own pace. Do you know someone who could be helped? If you do, give them this flyer. You can help.

Dr. Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX. 76116 (817)423-2600 www.wingspanchiro.com

What Exactly IS Carpal Tunnel?

F
irst of all, “Carpal” simply means WRIST. The Carpal Tunnel is a small tunnel or canal inside your wrist. The top part is formed by the carpal (wrist) bones. The bottom part is made up of ligament—a tough band of connective tissue called the Flexor Retinaculum.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Comes From Compression of the Median Nerve Within the Carpal Tunnel. TRUE!

What’s absolutely critical to understand… is that the Median Nerve originates in their NECK and travels between your collarbone and shoulder blade, over the 1st rib and underneath one of the major muscles of the shoulder and is a major “crush site” for the median nerve as well as several other nerves that have to travel through this area to get to the arm, forearm, and hand – then down the center of your forearm and through the carpal tunnel to the hand muscles.
Why is this SO important to YOU?
Because There Are 8 Possible Areas Where Your Nerve Can Be Compressed!
Consider some of the symptoms of MEDIAN NERVE Compression (not necessarily Carpal Tunnel Syndrome): Pain in the Wrist… Numbness in the fingers… Tingling or other abnormal hand sensations…Weakness of hands… Neck Pain… Swelling
These are ALL symptoms commonly misdiagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome…when in fact…they are caused by Median Nerve compression in ANY or ALL of the 8 areas!!
“How Does The Median Nerve Become Compressed?”
The Median Nerve does not fall from the sky into your hand!! It does not travel up your leg to your hand. . . It comes straight out between the bones of your neck! So, if your doctor does NOT properly examine your neck, as well as all possible “crush sites” he/she is missing the boat!
This means that a problem anywhere from the NECK to the actual carpal tunnel can cause nerve compression. Misaligned bones in the neck, bulging discs, tight neck muscles, an extra rib at the neck (some people are born with them), shoulder or elbow injuries, inflamed tendons, and misaligned wrist bones can ALL compress the Median Nerve, resulting in the EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS! And since most doctors are trained to treat symptoms…doesn’t it seem obvious why they might MISS the neck and the other zones when treating “carpal tunnel syndrome?”
Treatment for “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome” and other sources of Median Nerve Compression:
The most common treatments we do in our office are chiropractic analysis and proper adjustment of the misaligned vertebra in your neck. However, as always, the proper treatment is determined through proper diagnosis, which only comes through a detailed health history and examination. X-rays may also be necessary.
Here’s the cool thing; almost all of our carpal tunnel patients respond very quickly to chiropractic care which means that you can get back to living your life without the limitations imposed by carpal tunnel syndrome.
www.wingspanchiro.com
Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX 76116 (817) 423-2600
www.wingspanchiro.com

The Icebergs Of Your Health

WHAT DOES THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC HAVE TO DO WITH YOUR HEALTH? THE CONNECTION IS THE NATURE OF THE ICEBERG!

The Titanic has made the iceberg a common topic since it’s sinking years ago. These amazing structures bulging out of the sea are something to behold. The part below the surface is even more breathtaking. The size above the surface is small in comparison to the portion which is lying unseen, underneath the sea.

Symptoms are like icebergs. The top is only an indication of the real problem below. Pain is only the tip of the iceberg.

Dr. Erich focuses on the cause of your pain. An imbalance in your body can cause pain, but masking the pain will not return your body to a state of balance.

Do the following experiment to better understand this point:
1.) Twist a rubber band around your index finger.
2.) Leave it on your finger for at least 10 minutes.

What happens to your finger? Most likely it will turn red and start to hurt. Even go numb. You can choose from several options to deal with your pain:

1.) Ignore it and hope it gets better.
2.) Wiggle your finder to temporarily relieve the pain.
3.) Take a lot of aspirin or Tylenol to mask the pain.
4.) Cut your finger off!
5.) Massage it, hoping to get more circulation.
6.) Ask Dr. Erich to help you by removing the cause (rubber band).

www.wingspanchiro.com
Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX, 76116 (817) 423-2600

Ronald Reagan & His Chiropractic Years

Radio was so new that many Midwestern towns still didn't have a commercial station, but he knew of two or three in the tri-cities area in Davenport, Iowa. He started with stations on the Illinois side of the Mississippi but struck out, then crossed the river into Iowa. His first stop was station W.O.C. (Wonders Of Chiropractic) in Davenport.

One of his first assignments was to present a half-hour program of organ music from a local mortuary; the mortuary provided the organist in exchange for a discreet plug identifying it as the source of the music. His job was given to a young teacher, and the station asked him to help break him in. While he was doing it, he mentioned how he'd been hired and then fired.
The teacher quit the next day and the station manager asked Ronald Reagan to stay until they could find someone else.
He agreed to stay on one condition: They had to assign someone to help him improve his on-the-air delivery. Pete and other friends of his went to work on him and gave him a crash course on radio announcing, and he began reading over the commercials before airtime and practicing his delivery to get the right rhythm and cadence and give his words more emotion. Whatever he did during those few days worked: After another week or two, the talk at WOC about replacing him stopped. Then, enter another break for Dutch Reagan. W.H.O., their sister station in Des Moines needed someone to broadcast the Drake Relays, one of the top track meets in the country. He got the assignment. A few weeks later, the Palmer Company received a permit for a 50,000-watt clear channel station in Des Moines.
Overnight, WHO became one of the most powerful NBC stations in the country, and because he'd gotten good marks for his reporting on the Drake Relays, Ronald Reagan was offered the post of sports announcer. He spent four years at station WHO in Des Moines and they were among the most pleasant of his life as he tells the story. At twenty-two he'd achieved his dream: he was a sports announcer. If he had stopped there, he believed he would have been happy the rest of his life. He says he accomplished his goal and enjoyed every minute of it. Before long, during the depths of the Depression, he was earning seventy-five dollars a week and gaining the kind of fame in the Midwest that brought in invitations for speaking engagements that provided him extra income he could use to help out his parents.
Ronald Reagan was a chiropractic patient and worked for B.J. Palmer, of Palmer College of Chiropractic fame. There are a number of people in Hollywood and in all professions that enjoy Chiropractic and what it does for their health.
www.wingspanchiro.com
Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX 76116, (817) 423-2600

Mattress Basics And What To Look For.

Here’s what you want to look for in a mattress. I’m a posture freak. Good posture means being able to look at someone from the side and see that their ear, shoulder, hip and ankle are all in a straight line to each other. Good sleeping posture is exactly the same thing. Find a mattress that can put those four points in a straight line when you’re laying on it and you’re there.

Posturepedic mattresses are usually good, and they’re very affordable. They’re one of the more popular ones I would recommend. I would also advise you to try out the ‘sleep number beds’ with the air mattresses.

I like the sleep numbers. I also like the idea of side by side support, because chances are, you and your spouse don’t have the exact same spines, and trying to cram both of you onto one mattress will not be beneficial to either one of you. So if you have a bed where she can adjust her side and you can adjust your side to the desired comfort levels, then that’s a great thing. That’s the advantage of the sleep number beds.

I would also advise you to try out the Tempurpedic beds as well. I like the Tempurpedic beds because rather than be on a boxspring, the mattress is on a firm base, and that memory foam reduces pressure points drastically. I think the most you’ll get out of any mattress is about 10 years, and quite frankly, if you get that many you’re doing well.

Now, keep in mind, and this is strictly my opinion, that when it comes to mattresses, there is just no universal gold standard. In other words, what’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander. If your neighbor, family member, friend, or co-worker has found a mattress that they like and that gives them a good night’s sleep, that’s great, but that same style mattress might not be as good for you. After all, people come in all shapes, sizes, and builds and therefore have different needs from a mattress. By the way, here’s an excellent article from Consumer Search Reports that describes exactly what I’m talking about: http://www.consumersearch.com/www/house_and_home/mattress-reviews/review.html

The one mattress that I have seen that incorporates the best of the inner coil mattresses, the sleep number beds and the Tempurpedic mattresses is the Sleep Adjustment Bed by Isleep. Check it out: http://www.isleep.com/showroom/beds.asp

Now this mattress, quite frankly, is expensive. But, keep in mind that our beds are where we spend 1/3 to 1/4 of our entire lives, so don’t get too tight-fisted when you’re buying one. You know the old saying: Pennywise, Pound foolish. Ask yourself, how much is a good night’s sleep worth?

Considering that good sleep can boost immune function, increase overall health and wellness, help burn fat, help boost memory and mental function, help repair worn out tissues and increase your life span, it seems that a good night’s sleep is virtually priceless, so consider this an investment!!!

And no matter what you do, make sure that if you’re going to make a significant investment of your money, your time, and your spine (hey, you got to sleep on the thing, right?), that you get a 30 or 60 day money back guarantee if you’re not happy with the mattress.

You absolutely cannot tell how a mattress is going to do if you sleep on it for just 5 minutes in a store. You have to give it a few nights to a few weeks to really know how it’s going to treat your body. How can you tell how it’s doing? You’ll know if you: toss and turn a whole bunch at night, feel extra sleepy or fatigued in the morning, wake up extra stiff or sore in the morning, especially in your lower back.

These are all good signs that your mattress just isn’t happening for you. Take it back and try again. Personally, the best night’s sleep I have ever had in my life was on a limited-motion waterbed that had a heater to make the bed warm when you climbed in at night.

Years later, I found out from the American Sleep Research Institute (www.ASRI.net ) that one of things that helps put you in a deep sleep and then keep you there is when your extremities have a higher temperature than the core of your body.

Then, to stay in a deep sleep, there should not be a lot of temperature changes when you shift in your sleep. Have you ever gotten out of that nice warm spot and been amazed to find out how cold other spots on the mattress are? Just that small temperature change can rouse you from deep sleep even if it doesn’t necessarily wake you up.

So I think one thing a mattress should have is a constant surface temperature of around 85 degrees. The Sleep Adjustment bed has this feature. If you are not rushing right out to buy a new mattress, keep your hands and feet warm when going to bed to induce a deeper sleep more quickly. Light mittens and socks may help improve the quality of your sleep.

Finally, it’s not just the mattress that will help with the support of your back at night. It’s your pillow, too. You may or may not know that I sell custom fitted pillows.

But this pillow won’t be as good unless you’re sleeping on the right mattress, and vice versa, sleeping on a good mattress with a bad pillow will make the mattress seem not quite as comfortable.

So get the pillow situation right too!!
www.wingspanchiro.com
Dr Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX 76116 (817) 423-2600

The Intervertebral Disc

Disc disease, degenerated discs, slipped discs, herniated discs are common terms often related to back pain, both in your lower back and neck. Most people in the medical profession use these terms with patients, so I want to explain them to you.

What do these terms mean? How do these things happen? What can one do to help or prevent these painful events from occurring? These questions and many others will be discussed in this article.

First some anatomy to get you on the same page: Your spinal column is made up of 24 bones called vertebrae. Each vertebra in your back has six joints; four at the back of the bone that allow and control spinal movement. These are called ‘facet’ joints. The other two joints are at the top and bottom of the vertebrae themselves. These two remaining joints in your back are weight-bearing in function. These bones protect your spinal cord.

Between each pair of the vertebrae is a intervertebral disc, except between the top two in your neck. Your discs become progressively smaller as you go up your spine. They also change shape as they go up, simply because the bones also change shape.

The most problematic discs are the lower back ones. The typical lumbar disc is almost circular in shape, but looks more like a flat car tire or mushroom head. It's flat across the back when you look down from the top.

A disc is made up of two things: the soft central area is called the nucleus, and the tough outer cartilage margins are called the annulus. The nucleus is made of a toothpaste-like material.

The nucleus works like a ball bearing, allowing the bones to flex and extend around its shape. One of the things that builds the most pressure in your disc is when you SIT, especially in poorly supportive furniture, or when you slouch. Surprisingly, the pressure in the nucleus is three times greater in the sitting position than in the standing position. Doesn't that speak volumes when you think of today's lifestyle?

The annulus (outer layer) is wrapped in layers around the nucleus to contain its pressure. These layers are somewhat like the layers of an onion. These layers have to be ‘tough and non-yielding’; otherwise the soft nucleus would lose its shape and spill all over the place.

In fact this is indeed what does happen if your tough outer layer called the annulus breaks down. This incident is known variously as a ‘slipped disc, a herniated disc, a disc protrusion, a rupture, or a disc bulge’.

These terms often depend on the degree of movement, which depend on how your cartilage may break down. If you want more information, please let me know.

www.wingspanchiro.com
Dr. Stephanie Janiak,2551 River Park Plz Ste 200,Fort Worth, TX 76116 (817)423-2600

A Chiropractic-Case Study: Bells Palsy

A lot of times, you may not appreciate what regular care at this office can do for you and your family members.

Today I’m going to go over something called Bell’s palsy. You’re probably asking yourself, “What is Bell's palsy?” Bell's palsy is simply a paralysis or weakness of the muscles on one side of your face.

Damage to the facial nerve that controls muscles on one side of the face causes that side of your face to droop. The nerve damage may also affect your sense of taste and how you make tears and saliva. This condition comes on suddenly, often overnight.

Bell's palsy is not the result of a stroke. While stroke can cause facial paralysis, there is no link between Bell's palsy and stroke. Palsy simply means ‘weakness or paralysis’.

What causes Bell's palsy?

The cause of Bell's palsy is not clear. Most cases are thought to be caused by the herpes virus that causes cold sores.

Inflammation?

In most cases of Bell's palsy, the nerve that controls muscles on one side of the face is damaged by inflammation.

Many health problems can cause weakness or paralysis of the face. If a specific reason cannot be found for the weakness, the condition is called Bell's palsy.

CASE STUDY


Here’s a case study that I’m going to share with you today.

A 40-year-old white male patient presented himself to the doctor with right facial paralysis of 2 days duration.

Prior to the paralysis he had been experiencing "tingling" sensations at approx. C7/T1 which was at the base of his neck, along the shoulder area. He had also been fighting a sinus infection for two weeks prior to this also.

He also said that he had right facial numbness, an inability to smile on the affected side, inability to eat on the affected side with drooling. Under regular chiropractic care and adjustments, by his 3rd visit, which was 2 days later he had up to 75% of sensation in his face return and by 7 days he had complete recovery.

This quick recovery was most likely due to him getting regular adjustment and following through with the recommended schedule of care.
www.wingpsanchiro.com
Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200,Fort Worth, TX. (817) 423-2600

Do You Honestly Care About Your Health?

Here’s a story I’ve given you before, but it’s so important, I’m going to share it with you again. The new mother was told that her “twin” babies had died after birth. However, the truth was far different: they were sent to an institute near Moscow to be studied since they were joined at the hip and the doctors wanted to study them. This was to be the fate of “Masha” & “Dasha”, one of the most unusual set of conjoined twins ever born. Pay close attention to this if you have children or grandchildren.

Siamese twins are formed in the same way as identical twins but the eggs, for some reason, don’t completely separate; instead, they remain partially attached. Because their circulatory systems are interconnected, the twins shared each other’s blood. A germ that enters one twin’s bloodstream would soon be seen in the blood of her sister. Now here is the kicker. Surprisingly, illness affected them differently. Dasha was near-sighted, prone to colds and right-handed. *Masha* was a healthier constitution, higher blood pressure, good eyesight and is left-handed.

The twins differing health pattern presented a mystery. How could one girl become ill with a childhood disease while the other one did not? The measles “bug” was in both of their bodies, in their collective bloodstream; so why didn’t they both get the measles? What made one healthier than the other? This phenomenon was seen over and over again with the girls (flu, colds, other diseases were all experienced separately). If ‘germs alone’ had the power to cause infectious diseases, why would one of the twins be disease-free while the other was ill? What was it in their makeup that differentiated one from the other?

The answer was in their nervous system. Although the twins had common circulatory, digestive, excretory, lymphatic, endocrine and skeletal systems (they were joined at the hips remember), they had separate spinal columns, separate brains, and separate spinal cords.

This was a very important difference between the girls, but something most doctors would have missed. In these extraordinary twins, nature’s “laboratory” devised an experiment that no researcher could ever duplicate. The twins are an invaluable example confirming that there is much more to “catching” a disease than simply breathing in germs; germs can make you sick if, and only if, your body provides them fertile ground in which to grow.

The state of your nervous system can determine whether or not (and how quickly) you will recover. By keeping your spinal column and nervous system FREE from misalignment (subluxation stress), chiropractic care keeps you in a higher state of health, hence able to ward off dis-eases.

There is no shortage of theories to explain the role of the subluxation in disease and the effect of the adjustment in relieving symptomatology. Your autonomic nervous system (that part of your nervous system which controls vital functions in your body) may be effected by spinal dysfunction or subluxation causing a compromise in that function.

Immunity is one such function which can be adversely affected if your spine is not aligned. You know as well as I do if the front end of your car is misaligned, it’s going to affect the ride, and the tires. They are going to wear out and you’re going to spend more money until you fix the problem.

The same is true for your dynamic body and spine. If they are not aligned, things are going to happen that will cost you more money in the end. If you want to stay as healthy as you can, and this includes your children, make sure your spine is checked on a regular basis. If it’s not checked on a regular basis, you are more apt to get disease. It really is as simple as that.

www.wingspanchiro.com
Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX (817) 423-2600

Asthma Study Shows Chiropractic Benefits

This is from a recent study on Chiropractic adjustments and Asthma.
The article notes that approximately 14 Americans die each day from asthma. Asthma is only one of three diseases that has shown an increasing death rate in recent years, up 58% since 1979. Everyone, including you needs to pay attention to this.
Presently estimates show that 17 million Americans suffer from the disease making it the most common and costly illness in the United States today, costing over $13 billion annually.
Presently, asthma causes more hospitalizations of children than any other childhood disease.
In the study, 47 patients were observed for a two year period. These patients had all been medically diagnosed with persistent asthma ranging from mild persistent in 11 cases, moderate persistent in 28 cases, to severe persistent in 8 cases. The care rendered consisted of specific chiropractic adjustments. The range of visits was from 14 to 44, with the average being 26 during the study period. Most patients in the study began care at a rate of 3 visits per week with this frequency being reduced after 4 to 8 initial weeks.
The patient results were very good with ALL 47 of the study patients showing a marked improvement ranging from 87 to 100 percent. Patient observed improvement was measured by both 1)improvement in their symptoms as well as a 2)decrease in their usage of acute asthma attack medication. Even more impressive was that ALL of the patients in the study reported maintaining their improvement after a two-year follow up. If you know anyone that has asthma, please let them know we can help and they can call us for information.
Dr. Stephanie Janiak,2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX 76116 (817 423-2600

MD’s GO ON STRIKE, DEATH RATE DROPS

The June 10, 2000 issue of the British Medical Journal reports that on March 9, 2000, doctors in the Israel Medical Association began sanctions to reduce their contact with patients (in other words, a strike) in order to protest a new four-year wage contract for doctors. Since going on strike, the death rate in Israel has dropped considerably according to a survey of Israeli burial societies.

“The number of funerals we have performed has fallen drastically,” said Hananya Shahor, director of Jerusalem’s Kehilat Yerushalayim burial society. “This month there were only 93 funerals compared with 153 in May 1999, 133 in the same months in 1998, and 139 in May 1997.”

Meir Adler, who manages the Shamgar Funeral Parlour says, “There definitely is a connection between the doctor’s sanctions and fewer deaths. We saw the same thing in 1983 (when the doctors applied sanctions for four and one half months).”

There is one town in Israel where the death rate has remained constant, the town of Netanya. Netanya has only one hospital and the doctors there signed a no-strike clause with their contract. The doctors in Netanya have not participated in the countrywide sanctions.

A similar situation also occurred in the United States. According to Robert Mendelsohn, M.D., in his book Confessions of a Medical Heretic (1979), in Los Angeles County, California, in 1976 the doctors went on a work slowdown to protest soaring malpractice insurance premiums. There was an 18% drop in the death rate. When the strike ended, the death rate went back to where it had been before the strike.

In retrospect, that may not have been the best argument they could have made about high malpractice insurance rates.

The Controversy

From the beginning, chiropractic has been the target of discrimination but we’re still here, ready to help anyone that wants natural health.

Colorful Personalities

The Palmers of Davenport, Iowa discovered and developed many of the principles of chiropractic. Both D.D. Palmer and son B.J. Palmer were flamboyant and charismatic. Their personalities and dogmatism produced vehement detractors.

Medical Monopoly

To hamstring the fledgling chiropractic profession, the American Medical Association prevented medical doctors from working with or referring to chiropractors. This illegal tactic ended in 1990 when the A.M.A. was found guilty in U.S. Federal Court. Nevertheless, the damage was done.

Increasing Acceptance

Today, the profession of chiropractic is recognized and licensed worldwide. Currently, there are 22 chiropractic colleges around the world graduating educated, compassionate and talented healers. Insurance companies and many government programs reimburse for chiropractic care. Chiropractic has come a long way since 1895.

Blood vs. Nerves

Traditional medical treatment relies on putting drugs into the bloodstream. Chiropractic care helps restore nervous system integrity by reducing subluxations. Two very different approaches:

Medical Treatment
Blood-based
Treats symptoms
Renders sickness care
Prescribes drugs
Sees body as parts
Removes organs
Tries to kill germs
Causes side effects
Artificial
Risky

Chiropractic Care
Nerve-based
Corrects cause
Offers health care
Makes adjustments
Sees whole person
Revives organs
Helps resist germs
Produces positive effects
Natural
Safe


Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX, 76116, (817) 423-2600

Good Posture....Just How Important Is It To Your Health?

Good Posture...Just How Important Is It To Your Health?
Posture ranks right up at the top of the list when you are talking about good health. It is as important as eating right, exercising, getting a good night's sleep and avoiding potentially harmful substances like alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Good posture is a way of doing things with more energy, less stress and fatigue. Without good posture, you can't really be physically fit.

Surprised? Well, you're not alone. The benefits of good posture may be among the “best” kept secrets. The good news is that most everyone can “avoid” the problems caused by bad posture...and you can make improvements at any age.

Good Posture is Good Health

We're a health conscious society today and good posture is a part of it. Because good posture means your bones are properly aligned and your muscles, joints and ligaments can work as nature intended. It means your vital organs are in the right position and can function at peak efficiency. Good posture helps contribute to the normal functioning of the nervous system.

Without good posture, your overall health and total efficiency may be compromised. Because the long-term effects of poor posture can affect bodily systems (such as digestion, elimination, breathing, muscles, joints and ligaments), a person who has poor posture may often be tired or unable to work efficiently or move properly.

Even for younger people, how you carry yourself when working, relaxing or playing can have big effects. Did you know that just 15 minutes reading or typing when using the wrong positions exhausts the muscles of your neck, shoulders and upper back?

Poor Posture - How Does it Happen?

Often, poor posture develops because of accidents or falls. But bad posture can also develop from environmental factors or bad habits. This means that you have control.

In most cases, poor posture results from a combination of several factors, which can include:

1. Accidents, injuries and falls
2. Poor sleep support (mattress)
3. Excessive weight
4. Visual or emotional difficulties
5. Foot problems or improper shoes
6. Weak muscles, muscle imbalance
7. Careless sitting, standing, sleeping habits
8. Negative self image
9. Occupational stress
10. Poorly designed work space

Poor Posture & Pain

A lifetime of poor posture can start a progression of symptoms in the average adult. It can start with...
Fatigue – then tight, achy muscles in the neck, back, arms and legs - by this time, there may be a change in your muscles and ligaments and you may have a stiff, tight painful feeling. More than 80% of the neck and back problems are the result of tight, achy muscles brought on by years of bad posture. Poor posture and limited mobility increase the likelihood of this condition in later years. We help you minimize those effects by removing spinal subluxations which contribute to bad posture and often first cause it to occur.
Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX 76116 (817)423-2600

Why Would You Get Your Baby Adjusted?

I’ve had a flyer very similar to this before, but kids are important, I’m going to discuss colic again. Colic is defined as inconsolable crying in an infant for as least three hours a day, at least three days a week, for at least three weeks. I think I forgot this after all my schooling but I wanted to share this with you as I feel it’s important to all children.

A colicky baby typically presents with a loud piercing cry, flexed legs, tensed abdominal muscles, and clenched fingers. You might want to take your child to a pediatrician if this happens, but what about bringing them in for a checkup for a spinal problem?

Colic typically starts around three weeks of age and lasts until around three months but sometimes lasts for as long as six months. Approximately 10-20% of babies are affected by colic. That’s a lot of colic. Medical doctors diagnose colic based on the previously mentioned "Rule of 3" and AFTER, ruling out diseases that may make a baby cry uncontrollably.

Parents of infants with colicy babies report significantly higher stress levels than parents whose babies don't have colic.

The stress and frustration of trying to soothe a colicky baby may interfere with mother-baby bonding and can increase the risk of postpartum depression in the mother. In addition, colicky babies are more likely to be victims of child abuse and shaken baby syndrome. Despite the research done on colic there is no known cause, which can make treatment difficult. Here’s the good part. Chiropractic care has shown some of the best results, with 94% of colicky babies demonstrating improvement with chiropractic adjustments.

Research on chiropractic care and colic has shown significant benefits over other treatments such as dietary changes, medication, and infant positioning. A randomized clinical trial published in 1999 in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that "Spinal manipulation is effective in relieving infantile colic". For this study the researchers randomly assigned infants diagnosed with colic into two groups. One group received chiropractic care for two weeks and the other group was given the anti-gas medication dimethicone for two weeks. The babies in the chiropractic group showed a 67% decrease in crying while the babies on medication showed a 38% decrease in crying.

Another study with 316 children also showed significant improvement in colic in response to chiropractic care. This prospective study used diaries from mothers of colicky babies to track the amount of crying. The three month long study showed a "satisfactory result of spinal manipulative therapy in 94% of the cases". The improvements occurred after an average of only three adjustments within two weeks.

Chiropractic care is a conservative, gentle, and very successful option for treating infants with colic. Chiropractic adjustments for infants are specific, gentle, and safe.
Sources:
4 Healthy Kids, Infant Colic Treatment (http://www.4healthykids.com/infant-...)
Infantile Colic Treated by Chiropractors: A Prospective Study of 316 Cases http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTR...)
The Short-Term Effect of Spinal Manipulation in the Treatment of Infantile Colic: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial with a Blinded Observer J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1999 (Oct); 22 (8): 517-522

Dr Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX 76116 (817)423-2600

Disease vs Dis-Ease

Disease is a term used by medical doctors to describe something that has to do with a diagnosis.


When a doctor of chiropractic uses the word dis-ease it is indicative of your body being MINUS something that your body needs to be at it’s optimum health. Something needs to be restored, in order to help your body become normal again.

When your body is FREE of dis-ease, it is 100% normal and it has a better well being. This office wants to help restore your body to its optimum health.

Don’t forget, if your body is in chronic pain or discomfort, pain that has lasted more than a few days, you most likely have had pressure on your nerves for some time now.

Tooth Decay

If you go to your dentist because of a toothache and he discovers that you have a bad cavity that is infected and he gives you some medication, do you think your cavity is FIXED because you don’t have any pain or symptoms?

The same is true for your back, spine and boney structure.

Medication may relieve your symptoms. Regular care at this clinic may relieve your symptoms, but just because you don’t have any pain doesn’t mean that your problem is magically FIXED.

Decay is decay, no matter where you find it.

Make sure you don’t jump the gun and quit before your problem is taken care of properly.

Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200 Fort Worth TX 76116 (817) 423-2600
www.wingspanchiro.com

Chiropractic for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

I was talking to a patient and I decided to write about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) today. When people think “chiropractic,” they often think of back and neck problems.

But chiropractic has many applications beyond these typical uses, and it can improve quality of life for a broad range of health conditions. Most people think of Chiropractors as bone doctors, when in reality we are actually nerve doctors, similar to a neurologist. With that said, let’s talk about Carpal Tunnel.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a ‘repetitive stress injury’, which is abbreviated (RSI). Chiropractic is a beneficial treatment for patients seeking noninvasive relief from this ailment that has become all too common in the modern world.

How Does a Chiropractor Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive motion, such as typing or assembly line work, which causes pain and injury over time. The earlier that an RSI is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. Diagnosis includes physical examination and possibly x-rays. Typically, the chiropractic treatment for RSI includes care of the affected wrist and elbow, as well as adjustments of the upper spine.

A spinal adjustment involves applying controlled pressure to a joint. We may also advise the patient to rest the affected arm, apply cold to reduce inflammation, perform appropriate exercises, or wear a splint or brace to immobilize the area.

Some common treatments we use for carpal tunnel syndrome include:
Chiropractic care of the wrist, arm, and upper spine: Misalignment in the spine does contribute to symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. At this office we perform SPECIFIC adjustments that aim to correct improper alignment in YOUR spine. We typically perform an adjustment using our hands, but sometimes devices are employed. Everyone’s case is different.

Ultrasound therapy: This therapy uses either very high-energy or low-energy sound, both of which are “outside” the range of normal human hearing, so you usually don’t hear anything. This device emits focused sound waves that penetrate deep into body tissue. Sound waves relax muscles, alleviate pain, and reduce inflammation in the area of involvement.

Wrist supports: Wrist supports seek to keep the wrist in the proper alignment after the adjustments and the therapy and can be used to treat or prevent further injury from carpal tunnel syndrome. If you have a loved one that needs care, please talk to the receptionist to set an appointment. Please ask for the necessary initial paperwork so your referral can start filling their paperwork out from home. This helps them and us as well.

Let me know if we need to call someone for you. I don’t mind spending a few minutes with them on the phone, finding out if they’re a candidate for this office. If we can help them, we’ll tell them. If we can’t, we’ll refer them out if necessary.

Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX. 76116 (817) 423-2600

Prevention is Key to Better Health

Prevention is Key to Better Health

I just wanted to share this with you as you are a patient at this office and it’s important that you understand your health and how to keep it at it’s optimal level, as no one likes to be sick.

It’s the season for sickness - getting flu shots, kids’ asthma acting up, and ear infections plaguing the preschools. If you don’t believe me, just watch the TV. These ailments are painful, and treatments for each can be costly. Prevention can be the key to getting through the season a bit healthier.

Prevention is the key to health and wellness, and we can provide some tips and guidance on health care maintenance for families this upcoming flu season.

Consider the following:

- In the United States, asthma cases have increased by more than 60 percent since the early 1980s. Researchers don't know why cases of asthma are increasing at such an alarming rate. Some say genetics and environmental exposure to allergens play a role.

- Asthma is a chronic disease; most people believe it can’t be cured – only controlled – and we believe chiropractic care can be helpful in treatment results.

- Ear infections can be painful, difficult to treat, and account for more than 35% of all pediatric visits. Standard treatment is with antibiotics, but repeated doses of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria in which case drugs do not help. More parents are turning to us and chiropractic care to help with chronic ear infections.

Some preventative tips to aid in keeping health this winter season are as simple as hand washing, using air filters in the home, and adding supplements like good nutritional vitamin C.

Arthritis Patients Turn to ‘Chiropractic’

The Annals of Internal Medicine (of all places) published the results of a survey of 232 people who had arthritis and were under a rheumatologists care.
Of those 63% responded to the survey by saying they were using some form of "complementary care" as named by the study.
Of those people, 31% were using chiropractic.
These numbers may themselves be grossly under reported as only 45% of the patients told their doctor about using the other forms of care.
These reported numbers translate to over 19% of the public who are seeing a rheumatologist are also seeing a chiropractor.
And if less that half of the patients are telling their doctor about it, the actual number may be twice as high.
Possibly the most impressive statistic was that 73% of those trying chiropractic… found it helpful. The reasons given why people said they tried the non-medical care was to control pain, because they heard it helps, because it is safe, because it helped someone they know, and because their prescription medication wasn't working.
Chiropractic Works! It’s just up to you, the patient to make sure you follow through with your care. You don’t stop going to the dentist because your teeth don’t hurt. You continue to have your teeth checked because you want them to last. Your spine is no different.

Dr. Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX 76116 (817) 423-2600

Ever Heard Of the GERM THEORY?

Years ago, Louis Pasteur “discovered” the “germ theory,” promoted it, sold it, and the rest is history! He exposed the world to something that has never been forgotten. The gist of that theory?

That germs “cause” disease and that exposure to germs makes a person sick. What matters is the presence of germs - they cause disease – it’s just that simple… and actually it’s just that wrong!

Ironically, the father of the germ theory died in September of 1895, the same month and year of the first chiropractic adjustment!

Here’s something that most people never read about. Even on his deathbed, Pasteur stated that it was NOT germs that caused diseases, but rather the ‘environment’ (body) in which the germs were found --- that contributed to the cause of disease.

In other words – there had to be “fertile soil” for a germ “seed” to grow and manifest itself into a disease.

Today people are starting to understand that their children need exposure to germs to gain appropriate, ‘natural’ immunity when they are young. I hate to tell you this, but GERMS are everywhere. In fact, many believe that the increase in ‘childhood allergies and asthma’ may be a by-product of our over-sanitization by “germophobic” parents!

When doctors give us antibiotics that only attack the symptoms of disease, we are actually ‘fighting the body’s natural lines of defense’, and making it harder for us and our children to ‘heal properly’.

When we allow our children’s bodies to heal themselves, we enable them to become more resilient and far more capable of resisting the onslaught of germs in the future.

So…what we need to focus on as parents is keeping our children’s immune systems, as well as our own systems functioning properly, so germs don’t find a willing host in which to thrive. A fertile playground. I equate this to taking care of your car.

Everyone gets a new car when they’re born. Why do some cars end up in the junkyard while others live a long and prosperous life? Some maintain their cars to the best of their ability while others just run them into the ground and don’t keep them functioning properly. Eventually they just give out and are taken to the junkyard.

As parents and adults, we need to maintain the function of our bodies by encouraging proper wholesome nutrition, sound sleep, some type of exercise, even if it’s just a short walk, and optimal nerve supply to the immune system with regular chiropractic care. Only then can we truly move forward, past the flawed germ “theory” to a true state of health and wellness.

Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, TX. 76116 (817-423-2600)

Newest Study Confirms that Chiropractic Care Does Not Increase Risk of Strok

Just a short note, … according to a February 2008 report in the journal ‘Spine’, a new study finds there is NO evidence of excess risk of stroke following chiropractic spinal manipulation. In the study, researchers noted that patients are no more likely to suffer a stroke following chiropractic treatment than they would after visiting their family doctor’s office.

The study goes on to say that any observed association between a vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) stroke and chiropractic manipulation is likely due to patients with an undiagnosed vertebral artery dissection seeking care for neck pain and headache BEFORE their stroke.

This may prove to be one of the most important and significant studies in the profession’s history. The results of this study confirm that chiropractic manipulation is a safe and appropriate course of treatment.

The issue of stroke being associated with a chiropractic neck adjustment focuses around the very rare occurrence of a tear to the vertebral artery as it passes through the sides of the upper cervical vertebrae and into the base of the skull. An injury to the arterial wall may lead to formation of a blood clot, which can break free and travel upward until it lodges in one of the smaller blood vessels in the base of the brain, blocking circulation.

There are many reports in the literature of cervical artery dissections (CADs) occurring after everyday activities that most people would consider non-traumatic, such as turning the head when driving, having your hair washed at a beauty salon, or sleeping on your stomach. I think we all do some of these and we’re not having strokes.

A research paper published in 2001 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found there is only a one-in-5.85-million risk that a chiropractic neck adjustment will be associated with a subsequent stroke. I haven’t won the Lottery yet either.

In this new study, the Canadian team looked at nine years of data in Ontario, and found that only 818 patients with a stroke were reported among a population of some 11.5 million people. Unlike a previous study in 2001 that investigated the relationship between chiropractic visits and vertebral artery stroke, researchers in this study also studied visits to family doctors that preceded this kind of stroke, which was the right way to do it.

There is no excess risk of stroke from chiropractic care. I just wanted you to be informed of this as there are people that say you are at risk of stroke with any chiropractic adjustment.

Beware of Acetaminophen Risks

Today I’m going to address acetaminophen and how it can cause liver damage, and even death. Read this then pass it on to your friends and family. Everyone needs to understand the importance of balance and taking care of drug overdoses.

Acetaminophen is a widely used over-the-counter analgesic pain reliever and— the main ingredient in medications such as Tylenol®—and is the most widely used pain reliever. While generally considered safe when taken “occasionally and in small doses”, acute overdoses and chronic consumption of acetaminophen can cause liver toxicity.

According to research, 50 percent of all acute liver failure in the United States is attributed to acetaminophen consumption.(1) While many of these cases result from an overdose, even “correct dosage” may cause liver damage, liver failure and death.(1) In the United States alone, approximately 56,000 liver injuries requiring emergency treatment, 26,000 hospitalizations and 458 deaths per year are attributed to acetaminophen consumption.(2) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently considering measures to decrease the number of cases of unintentional and intentional overdose leading to liver injury, including limiting the maximum adult daily dose in both prescription and over-the-counter medications and improving labeling.(3)Initial signs and symptoms of acetaminophen toxicity are nausea and vomiting, so it’s hard to identify it immediately. In some cases, liver toxicity may develop without symptoms.(4)

Risks of Accidental Overdosing

One of the main problems with this popular medication is how easy it is to overdose unintentionally. In addition to being the primary ingredient in Tylenol, acetaminophen is also contained in almost 200 brand name and generic products—from headache and backache pills to cold and flu remedies and sore throat medications—most of which are available over-the-counter, SO YOU COULD OVERDOSE IF YOU’RE TAKING OTHER DRUGS BESIDES acetaminophen.

It’s not uncommon for a patient to take several over-the-counter medications—for pain and fever and then for a sore throat, cough and cold, multiplying the risk of overdosing. Combining prescription medications and over-the-counter medications containing acetaminophen also increases the risk. Inadvertent overdosing can also happen from Children’s Tylenol being given to children to relieve a fever over a period of several days.(4)

Fasting (such as not eating because of illness), alcohol consumption or genetic predisposition to liver problems also increases the risk of liver toxicity, although the patient may be taking the prescribed dose of the medication.

Avoiding Damage

To avoid liver damage from acetaminophen:

•Do not take more than 1 gram (1,000 mg) of acetaminophen at once.

•Do not exceed 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours. (The FDA is considering reducing the adult maximum daily dose to 3,250 mg, and even further reducing the amount for chronic alcohol users.)3

•Always check to see if over-the-counter or prescription medications contain acetaminophen.

•For children, do not exceed 10-15 mg/kg/dose of acetaminophen, and do not exceed five doses or 2.6 grams in 24 hours.(4)

Dr Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX. 76116 (817) 423-2600

The History of Chiropractic.. NO YAWNING!!!

The year was 1895, the same year that x-rays were discovered. At that time, Health Care was provided by a diversity of unregulated and unlicensed professions, including osteopaths, magnetic healers and “medical” doctors. In those days, most medical education consisted of working as an “apprentice” for a medical doctor, and learning the craft by observation.

D.D. Palmer, the Father of Chiropractic, was a magnetic healer, with a huge practice in Davenport, Iowa. He had doubts about the “germ theory” as the complete explanation of the cause of all disease. After all, if germs could kill...shouldn't we all be dead? He asked “how it was that 2 brothers could work in the same shop, eat the same food, sleep in the same bed, and that one would succumb to a disease while the other one would not”?

His belief was that it was not just the “seed” (or germ) which was the cause. He felt that the "soil", or the bodies own recuperative power (which he later labelled the “innate intelligence”, and we now call homeostasis) was the missing part of the equation, which defined the continuum between health and “dis-ease”.

One day D.D. was talking with Harvey Lillard, the man who owned the janitor service in his building. Harvey was deaf. He mentioned to D.D. that years before, while lifting a heavy weight, he felt something “snap” at the base of his neck. It was several weeks later that his hearing started to fade.

D.D. was intrigued, and asked Harvey if he could examine his back. What he “felt” (and we now call this “palpation”) was that one of the upper thoracic bones was sticking out much more than the one above or below it. He explained to Harvey that he felt that this “bone out of place” could be causing pressure on his spinal cord, and that this could be the reason that Harvey was now deaf. He convinced him to lie down on the couch, and placed his hands on the transverse processes of the bone and, as D.D. explained, “wracked it back into position”. When Harvey got up, he stated that he could hear a horse drawn cart down in the street! This was the first thing he had heard in 17 years!

What an auspicious way for a profession to be born! Our “no drugs, no surgery” approach has remained true to D.D.'s plilosophy of the “seed and the soil”. What we accomplish with the adjustment to your spine, is to remove the impediment to your brain's control of your body. We call that impediment, which impinges the nerve a subluxation. Make sure you keep your appointments as they are your lifeline to health.

Dr. Stephanie Janiak, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX 76116

Who is Winifred Gardella ?

In the early 1950s, Winifred Gardella was a poster child for the March of Dimes. Her picture was published in the newspapers to raise huge sums of money for the March of Dimes in San Francisco. Nationally, her image raised millions of dollars to help fight the dreaded crippler, POLIO. Her sad, innocent face and her tiny body supported on crutches and leg braces, made many Americans reach into their pockets to donate.

But the March of Dimes couldn't help Winifred. After two and a half years, under their doctor's expert care, her parents were told: "There is no hope."
Despite this dire prediction, her grandparents were determined to find a cure.
They were not about the accept the opinion of so-called "medical experts." They decided to choose their own health care approach and took Winifred to Dr. Lewis Robertson, a chiropractor.

In less than six months of having her nerve interference corrected, Winifred Gardella threw away her crutches and braces and went for a walk with her chiropractor.

She's been walking ever since!

Why Does My Back Hurt?

Disc bulges and herniations are quite common in our population. People from adolescence through adulthood are susceptible to having them. You have discs up and down your entire spine, meaning in the neck, upper and middle back, lower back, and tail bone regions.

Your discs help to allow for motion and proper function of your spine. Picture your disc as a slice of an onion. Imagine the inner 1/3 containing a jelly and the other 2/3 as being cartilage, not unlike the meniscus of your knee.

Over time and due to certain traumas, both macro (big) and micro (small), the jelly begins to break through your onion 'rings' of the outer 2/3 of the onion.

Sooner or later the jelly inside gets to the outer few layers and forces a 'bulge' of the cartilage.

This is what is commonly considered to be a disc bulge. If a bulge is left untreated, it will most often lead to the jelly breaking through the last few layers and leaking into the spinal canal. This is what we call a herniation. If the herniation breaks off, this is called a prolapse.

Disc bulges and herniations are many times successfully treated through conservative measures. Unfortunately, disc prolapses (the broken off pieces) can often times put pressure directly on your sensitive spinal cord, and since there is nothing binding them to the rest of the disc, surgery is many times the only option. Luckily, disc prolapses are the end-stage of disc degeneration and a lot can be done prior to getting to this horrible condition.

Tingling (paresthesia, or reduction of sensation) and numbing (anesthesia, or loss of sensation) are common effects of disc bulges and herniations. This is because the disc can directly put pressure on YOUR spinal cord or your nerve roots where they exit from your spine. If the pressure is NOT reduced, permanent nerve damage can result.

Simply put, there are no other conservative techniques available that offer the scientific backing for success for the treatment of disc pathology like chiropractic at this office offers!

In the case of burning pain, or radicular pain, the cause is usually irritation of your nerve sheaths, which are the coverings around your sensitive nerves. Irritation like this refers to toxin release from damaged discs, muscles, ligaments, joints, etc. that creates an inflammatory process that engulfs your nerves. This inflammatory process creates pain and dysfunction, which you call symptoms. Call to schedule an appointment today. Don’t wait. Remember permanent nerve damage can result from this if you do not attend to it as soon as possible.

You Can Prevent Osteoporosis

Read this short article if you or someone you know is interested in preventing osteoporosis.

First of all you probably don’t think of your bones as living tissue, but that’s just what they are. Your bones are filled with “living cells”, some of which make new bone and some of which break down old bone. This process keeps your bones fresh and healthy, so this is something that you need to know.

But in some people, bones are broken down faster than they can be rebuilt. That’s a bad thing. Then what happens over time is, this leads to bones that are weak and thin. This condition is called osteoporosis. It affects 10 million Americans, mostly women.

Thin bones are more likely to break or fracture. These injuries can lead to serious problems. A hip fracture, for example, can cause a person to need nursing home care and disable them for life. Hip fractures can even be deadly, so this is serious stuff we’re talking about.

What You Can Do

There are things you can do to prevent osteoporosis. It’s best if prevention begins early—during your childhood and teens, that’s why this handout is so important, especially to women. This is when you can most influence how strong your bones will be.

That said, it’s never too late to adopt habits that help YOUR bones. Here are some habits that every person should take up, no matter how old they are:

Get enough calcium lactate or citrate and vitamin D. Calcium is one of the main things that make up bone. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. That’s why many doctors recommend that people take calcium and vitamin D supplements. Oh and you don’t get it from drinking milk, so forget that. Eat spinach instead!

Exercise. Walking, running, and lifting weights put stress on the bones, making them stronger. This is something that most women don’t understand. Put stress on your bones and you’ll make them stronger. If you don’t want to lift weights, a re-bounder available at any sporting good store works great, remember to bounce not jump for 15 minutes a day.

Don’t smoke. Smokers tend to lose bone faster than nonsmokers. In fact, smokers are 55% more likely than nonsmokers to break a hip.

Don’t drink too much alcohol. Heavy alcohol use can reduce bone strength. It seems that too much alcohol can make it hard for your body to process vitamin D. You should be getting a good amount of vitamin D each and every day to prevent osteoporosis.

The following medications can weaken bones:

• Corticosteroids (used for arthritis, among other conditions) • Anti-seizure medications
• Cyclosporine A (which is used in organ transplants) • Thyroid hormones

If you have any questions on this handout, please let me know.

Dr. Janiak, Wingspan Chiropractic, 2551 River Park Plz Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX. 76116 (817)423-2600