Chiropractic in NYC – Chiropractic Is Not Dangerous For Pregnant Patients

November 21, 2011 by Dr Steve Schram  
Filed under pregnancy

When the majority of women think of pregnancy challenges, the first thing that comes to mind is often morning sickness. Another natural concern is whether or not they will have an easy, relatively speed labor and delivery. Many women neglect to realize the benefits that chiropractic care during pregnancy can bring to a body that undergoes much change over a period of several months. Unfortunately, many women are made to suffer through tightness in their joints and pain in their backs because they are simply unaware of the benefits that chiropractic care can provide them. With chiropractic care safe during pregnancy, woman can safely alleviate the inevitable discomfort that comes along with the added strain on the back and joints.

Due to the fact that women are required to adjust their walking, sitting, and standing because of their added girth, back pain and joint stiffness are common ailments. These pains and discomforts can lead to other problems such as headaches and difficulty sleeping which can make a difficult situation that much worse.

The fetus adds additional weight to the body which in turn leads to back and abdominal strain and consequent back pain. This added weight shifts the woman’s center of gravity which naturally affects posture as well as the way that she walks and moves. Hormones that are released during gestation also lead to a loosening of the joints. It is common for the vertebrae to become misaligned which can, in turn, affect the surrounding muscles and soft tissue. These issues can fortunately be treated quickly and efficiently. Treatments of this nature not only help women during their 40 week gestation but also after their child is born when it comes to caring for, nursing, and carrying their infant.

Chiropractors undergo training to treat expectant. He guarantees that you will receive effective and safe treatments to help both you as well as your baby. The Webster technique is a non-invasive treatment designed to relieve the strain on the ligaments around the uterus so as to encourage breech babies to naturally shift their heads to a desirable position. This technique is both effective as well as comfortable for the mother.

Receiving expert care can help to soothe the nerves as well as the muscles and tissues of the body so as to reduce the strain experienced during these special months. Make sure to ask your doctor about the best ways to avoid spine and joint strain so as to ensure optimum health and safety from conception to birth. Receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy can make all the difference when it comes to feeling healthy and strong and Dr. Steven Schram is dedicated to providing expectant mothers with expert care.

You can read more about chiropractic while pregnant or watch a video about chiropractic treatment while pregnant.

Chiropractor In San Diego Reveals That You May Be What Your Mother Ate!

November 10, 2010 by Michael Pritsker  
Filed under pregnancy

As a chiropractor at New Century Spine and Chiropractic Centers in San Diego, many people ask if their back pain is due to bad genes. Is Nature or nurture more important? The argument has been raging on for decades. Many people want to know if they are strictly the end result of your upbringing and actions. Or are we all simply a product of your genes?

A safe bet is that we are a combination of both. Our genes give us a blueprint with both positives and negatives and our actions either maximize or minimize the hand we’ve been dealt. But, a new science has thickened the plot! How? The new science is called “Epigenetics” and it attempts to explain how the environment can modify your genes. That’s a unique twist to this debate – wouldn’t you say?

In a report that was published, scientists from the University of Utah showed rats that received poor nutrition in the womb genetically altered themselves to be born into a nutritionally deficient environment.

What’s that mean? The rat fetuses’ genes actually changed to prepare them for the environment they were going to be born into. Since there was poor nutrition in the womb, the rats were likely to grow to smaller sizes when compared to others born to “normal” nutrition levels.

Being smaller was not the only negative. The rats also had a higher risk for many health problems throughout their lives such as: diabetes, growth retardation, cardiovascular disease, obesity and neuro developmental delays. These are just to name a few. But These Are Rats! How Are Humans Affected?

Also according to Science Daily: “The new ‘epigenetics’ has taught us how nature is changed by nurture,” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. According to Science Daily, “Although the study involved rats, the genes and cellular mechanisms involved are the same as those in humans.” The jury’s in and, yes, expectant moms really are eating for two and not just for one. This study shows not only that we need to address problems such as preeclampsia during pregnancy, but also that prenatal care is far more important than anyone could have imagined a decade ago.” This is something that every expectant mother should understand.

After reading this interesting new information a few questions come to mind: If a fetus can alter its genes to adapt to the environment they are being born into – can a person alter their genes to adapt to their environment AFTER they are born? And since I treat patients with chiropractic care, what effect does Chiropractic treatment during pregnancy have on the potential of a child? If the environment is altered for the better – it makes sense the fetus would adapt genetically in a positive way.

Until proper research is done, no one can be 100% sure. But one thing certainly makes sense: During pregnancy, everything should be done to ensure the developing fetus has the best possible environment to grow into. Proper exercise, balanced diet, and a healthy spine with proper chiropractic care are all key elements in growing a healthy baby.

Discover the latest research about chiropractic. Visit the New Century Spine Centers website to learn about spinal decompression therapy to get rid of back pain.

Lowering the Risk Factors of Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease

Lowering the Risk Factors

Diabetes is a dangerous health problem. In adults, diabetes is related to long-term nutritional neglect and abuse.

Most of us don’t eat breakfast. Our fuel supply is depleted, and we wind up running on fumes. We grab a high-calorie muffin or a candy bar later in the morning when we’re really, really hungry. What we don’t know is that this snack causes insulin to dump out of the pancreas into the bloodstream, as the body attempts to process the surge in blood glucose from the snack we just ate.

This pattern is repeated throughout the day. A graph of the average person’s blood sugar levels would show sharp spikes – both highs and lows – in every 24-hour period. Eventually, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas wear out. The result is consistently high levels of blood glucose which we term, diabetes.

Diabetes may cause severe eye problems, severe kidney problems, and severe circulatory problems. It is associated with obesity, heart disease, and increased mortality. Not good.

An obvious preventive strategy would be to ensure that blood glucose levels are steady throughout the day. Actually, this is easy to do. All that’s required is to develop healthy eating habits and do regular exercise.

Eat breakfast – a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese mixed with a 6-ounce cup of yogurt is all you need in the morning.

Do food combining at every meal – always eat a combination of protein and carbohydrate as much as possible.

No between-meal snacks please!

Regular exercise that is challenging and fun – build-up gradually and be consistent

We’re in the middle of several deadly epidemics in the United States. Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are affecting more and more people every year. Recent statistics show that two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Thirty percent of American children are obese. Approximately 21 million Americans have diabetes. One child out of every 500 has type I diabetes. In America, 72 million adults have high blood pressure. These are shocking statistics, considering that U.S. health care expenditures totaled $2 trillion in 2006. That’s 2 TRILLION dollars.

As Americans, we’re getting less healthy by the day. The good news is there are many things we can do about these trends. There is real action that every American, young and old, can take to support and protect their health and well-being. These action steps all focus on lifestyle – the choices we make each and every day.

The first step is an honest self-assessment. When was the last time I exercised? Does my clothes size increase every couple of years? How many times during the week do I eat fast food? When was the last time I ate an apple instead of half a box of cookies?

Regardless of the answers, it is possible to become healthy and fit again, whatever your current circumstances. You CAN lose 10 or 20 or 30 or however many pounds. You CAN climb stairs without getting out of breath. You CAN regain the youthful glow of vitality. You CAN be vigorous and proud of your body, rather than worrying about what’s going to be the next thing to break down.

Healthy eating and regular exercise are essential parts of the solution to combating obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.1,2 These practices have the magical effect of resetting your metabolic clock – your body shifts from a pattern of storing fat to a pattern of burning fat.3 Over time, with a nutritious food plan and consistent exercise, you even burn fat while you’re resting! Your body is very smart. You just have to treat it right.

Your chiropractor is a wonderful asset – both as a health care practitioner and as a guide – on your journey toward fitness and wellness. Your chiropractor has extensive resources available on practical nutrition and how to design a supportive food plan. He or she has deep knowledge regarding the types of exercises and activities that will be right for you. You and your chiropractor can design an exercise program that will be both fun and rewarding. Working together, you’ll be maximizing your health and vitality. You will begin to fulfill a way of living that will support you in being healthy and well for years to come.

1Lindstrom J, et al: Sustained reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes by lifestyle intervention: follow-up of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study. Lancet 368(9548):1673-1679, 2006. 2Orchard TJ, et al: The effect of metformin and intensive lifestyle intervention on the metabolic syndrome: the Diabetes Prevention Program randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 142(8):611-619, 2005 3Yannakoulia M, et al: A dietary pattern characterized by high consumption of whole-grain cereals and low-fat dairy products and low consumption of refined cereals is positively associated with plasma adiponectin levels in healthy women. Metabolism 57(6):824-830, 2008

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