Vacation time

Now is the time of the year when people are starting to think about where they will go on vacation for the summer. Something that is just as important as making sure all the bags are packed and the gas tank is filled are things you can do to make sure that your body stays healthy and pain free while you are driving, riding or flying to you vacation spot this year.

If you are driving, make sure that you have your seat and mirrors adjusted to keep you in a posture that is comfortable for such a long trip as well as one that will help support the natural curves of your spine. Also don’t forget to get out and stretch every couple of hours if you are going to be in the car for several hours. Also slightly changing your seat position every 30 minutes or so can help with decreasing the aches of a long car ride.

If you are flying, try getting up and walking around the cabin for a moment on longer flights or even just moving your legs around to get the blood moving in them. And most important no matter what why you are traveling stay well hydrated. Lots of times on long tips we forget to drink enough water. This will help keep your muscles from cramping up as you are traveling this summer. Another challenge of vacation trips is trying to remember to eat healthy as you travel. Packing healthy snacks will help keep you from munching on the "junk de jour" at the gas station or airport. And no matter what you do remember to, BE SAFE and HAVE FUN!!!!

Local Honey

This year I have noticed that my daughter and I have had really bad allergies. I believe it is related to the tree pollen in the area around our house. Here are a couple of things that I have done to help us to overcome the itchy eyes and sniffles this year.

1. I got saline drops to put in our eyes 2-3 times a day. This helped alleviate the itchy eyes

2. At night we used breath-right strips to help open our nose and allow us to get a good nights sleep.

3. We bought some honey from a local bee keeper. Local honey is great for helping build up an immunity to pollen and allergens in the area. Another thing we are going to do is go back to the bee keeper and getting some honeycomb to chew on. Even with local/natural honey if heated during the bottling process it may kill of some of the pollen but the honeycomb is not heated or processed and there for the pollen/allergens in the honeycomb are preserved.

One thing that we didn't do and should of done that would have helped is that shortly after the trees in the area started to bloom pollen was all over the cars. We took our time in washing our car to get the pollen off. in doing so some of the pollen got into the ventilation system in the car. Every time my daughter or I would be in the car for a long period of time our symptoms would come back. If we would have took the time to wash our car promptly we could have avoided some of the suffering.

Drink Water

As you are outside more now that its starting to warm up. Don't forget to remember to take water with you wherever you go.

Staying well hydrated is an important part of having a healthy summer. As we become dehydrated our bodies don't function at efficiently and become more susceptible to things like heat stroke and muscle cramps. Also if you have children they are likely to become dehydrated much faster than do, so remember to check often to make sure they have enough water.

Again just another simple thing you can do to help you and your families have a safe and healthy summer.

Yard Work

This time of the year as the flowers are starting to bloom and the grass is getting greener, is also a time when people start doing yard and garden work.

Lots of injuries to the middle and low back are caused by excessive bending and twisting. Getting down on your knees when possible helps to limit the amount of bending over you do while working the yard. If necessary you can use a padded surface on the ground for comfort. Also not reaching out too far and working in an area close to your body helps to limit excessive twisting.

These are two simple tips to help you stay healthy and enjoy the outdoors this summer.  Hope everyone has a safe and fun filled summer.

A great salad

A good salad needs to have lost of fresh vegetables and herbs, as well as different types of leafy greens (not just iceberg lettuces) and even some beans for protein. Below is the recipe for a great salad that is quick and easy to make. (this recipe is taken from the book Superfoods Rx by Steven Pratt, M.D. and Kathy Matthews)

(makes on serving)

1 cup spinach torn into bite-size pieces

1 cup chopped romaine

1/4 cup shredded red cabbage

1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper

1/2 tomato chopped

1/4 cup chickpeas; if canned, rinse well

1/2 cup grated carrot

1/4 avocado, cubed

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar.

Combine the above ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl mix the olive oil and vinegar and whisk together. toss the salad and dressing just before serving.

Spring is a great time to experiment and find health good foods and snacks. Take advantage of fruits and vegetables that are in season to find great healthy snacks for you and your family.

Migranes

many people may not know but headaches and neck pain are the number 2 reason that people go see a chiropractor. there are many different types of headaches and some respond better to care than other. I was reading an article on another chiropractor's website in the St. Louis area and he had posted some common causes of migraines. I thought I would share these with you all.

What causes a migraine headache? There are many triggers – the most common are:

• Foods, including alcohol, aged cheese, caffeine, chocolate, artificial sweeteners and seasonings (MSG).

• Hormonal changes, related to a drop in estrogen levels, which may occur before a woman’s monthly period. Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy can also trigger migraines.

• Medications

• Stress

• Too much/too little sleep

• Weather changes or changes in time zone or altitude

• External factors, such as bright lights, certain smells (perfume) or second-hand smoke

No matter what kind of headache you may suffer from it is important to look at things in your environment that may trigger them. Conservative care for any type of headache can include, diet assessment, stress management, chiropractic care, and massage. other options may exist depending on the person and type of headache. I have seen chiropractic and conservative care work wonders for people suffering from chronic headaches. It's great to see peoples lives change and their ability to function improve. Remember no matter if its one headache a week or one a year its not normal and something you have to live with. People suffer years with headache lots of time because they just never seek treatment. you don't have to suffer longer than you choose to.

Headache Emergencies

This is a good video about what to do in a headache emergency. However headaches are the 2nd most common reason people go to a chiropractor. So for those not "every day normal" headaches (no headache is normal) many find relief from chiropractic evaluation and care.

Headache Emergencies