Hangover Helper

Happy New Year everyone ! I'm not condoning the consumption of alcohol. But, I know many of you will be drinking on New Years. Be safe, healthy, and don't whined up in the trunk of someone car. Click the video below to learn about some helpful tips to avoid hangovers.

Avoiding Golf Injuries

So many patients come to see me due to injuries associated with playing golf. I interviewed Kevin Perkins a local golf instructor on how to avoid injuries while playing golf. This is a must see interview for any one who plays golf. Check out the video below.

Gum Disease and Your Health

Many people don't know that there is a link between the health of your gums and your overall health. Wellington Dentist Dr. Steven Miller discusses the relationship between your health and the health of your gums. Watch the videos below.



Watch this video to learn about proper flossing

Healing with Herbs

Herbs have been used for thousands of years to help hundreds of aliments. Two herbs that can be easily found locally are Aloe and Basil. Aloe can be used as a gentle laxative and for skin burns and infections. Aloe has many healing properties, and it also contains Vitamin C, E and Zinc. Basil helps to improve appetite, memory, energy, increases sex drive, helps to uplift your mood and can even be used as a disinfectant to clean the floor. I interviewed Michelle Mendez who gave us some health tips on how to use aloe and basil.

Warning Signs of a Stroke

Sometimes the signs of a stroke are difficult to identify. Not being able to recognize the signs can spell disaster. A stroke can result in death, or brain damage. Use the acronym STR , to see if they have the signs of a stroke.

S - Ask the individual to Smile.
T - Ask them to Talk and speak. Ask them to stick out there tongue, it should be straight.
R - Ask the person to raise both arms.

If a person has any trouble doing any of these tasks call 911 for help.

avoiding auto-accidents

The best way to not get injured in an auto-accident is to avoid being in one. The best thing you can do as a driver is be a good defensive driver. Slow down if there is traffic, road construction or bad weather. Buckle up and stop texting or doing other things in the car. Also be aware of the most deadly intersections in the county. Be more aware in these dangerous intersections; pay attention to the road.

It's scary to think that the distance on I-95 between West Palm Beach and Boca Raton is the 7th deadliest stretch of highway in the country for car accident fatalities. Below is a list of the most deadly intersections in Palm Beach county.

1) Military trail and Okeechobee
2) Military trail and Forest Hill Boulevard
3) Glades Road and State Rd 7
4) Southern Boulevard and State Rd 7

Buckle up and stop texting....

Backpack safety

Would it shock you to learn that backpack misuse leads to chronic back pain and discomfort? And no, I’m not being melodramatic either. With one or two months of school still left in the school year, I wanted to rush out this story. This has developed into quite a problem. It seems that our kids backpacks have gotten bigger and heavier over the years. When we were kids, we had a folder and maybe two books. Today the kids have their Game Boy, iPod, three school books, their music book (and maybe instrument!), their soccer clothes to change into, their cleats, study folder, designer lunch pail, etc., all crammed into a bigger, bulging backpack. This is becoming a real problem. Ask any parent and they will freely admit that their kids are massively “overscheduled” compared to when they were kids. This has naturally led to bigger backpacks, crammed with all the essentials for all these extra curricular activities that our kids are involved in these days. (Sheesh, am I starting to sound old or what?) In my own practice and those of my peers, we have all noticed a marked increase in the number of young children coming to use who complain of back, neck and shoulder pain. This never used to happen. Today when I see a child whose complaining of these pains, the first question I ask is, 'Do you carry a backpack to school?' That is often the cause of their pain, because of the sheer weight of them and what it can do to a young body.

Here’s the facts: According to an article from the American Chiropractic Association titled, "Backpack Misuse Leads to Chronic Back Pain", this new back pain trend among youngsters isn't surprising when you consider the disproportionate amounts of weight they carry in their backpacks - often slung over just one shoulder. According to Dr. Bautch, a recent study conducted in Italy found that the average child carries a backpack that would be the equivalent of a 39-pound burden for a 176-pound man, or a 29-pound load for a 132-pound woman. Of those children carrying heavy backpacks to school, 60 percent had experienced back pain as a result! The solution is to reduce the burden, only carry the essentials, and look out for the health of your child’s back by making sure they’re not carrying the equivalent of a 39-pound burden on their little frames. Also, I suggest THROWING OUT your giant oversized backpack (which just BEGS to be stuffed to the rafters with sheer volumes of stuff) and instead purchase a smaller backpack – and just dealing with new smaller size restrictions. Finally, make sure your child’s backpack doesn’t hang more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders. Click on the video below to learn about the ABC's of backpack safety.

Healing with Humor

Last Friday I was invite to give a presentation about healing with laughter at the Hippocrates Health Institute. Laughter helps our body to heal. Laughter helps move lymph and oxygenates your body. By laughing it helps circulate the flow of lymph this helps move lymph fluid move quicker through the body. This helps improve the immune system.

When you laugh you take in more oxygen. Oxygen is one of the primary catalysts for all biological activity.

Laughter also increases circulation of blood flow; it's like exercise.

Laughter also increases the release of chemicals such as interleukins, (these help with immune function)and serotonin which helps brain function. Laughter also counter balances the effects of chronic stress. Check out the video below and enjoy laughing

Stress Managment

We live in a stressful society. How we handle stress can affect our health. Many diseases are stress related. Finding effective ways to manage stress can be a life saver. I Interviewed Martin Nathan, a psychotherapist who is a licensed mental health practitioner. He demonstrates a breathing exercise you can do any where that helps alleviate stress. Click on the video below.

Strenghtening low back

The most common reason why people go to a chiropractor is because of low back pain. Weak low back muscles are a major contributor to back injuries. If your low back and abdominal muscles are strong you are less likely to have low back dysfunction. In the video below a certified strength and conditioning coach Seth Kaufmann from R U ready fitness demonstrates some easy exercises you can do at home to strengthen your core. Strong core = less back pain. These exercises are great to do for someone that is not currently in pain. If you have a herniated disc please consult a healthcare specialist before doing these exercises. If you want to get in touch with Seth Kaufman go to www.rureadyfitness.com or call him at 561-523-4213.

How To Survive a Rip Current

This past Sunday I was surfing at Deerfield Beach. While I was paddling back to shore two people were motioning for help. I paddled my surf board toward them and helped them back to shore. On the drive home I thought what would have happened to the those two guys if I wasn't in the water today ? Would they have made it ? I decided to write a blog posting about rip currents. Rip Currents or Rips, are located close to shore and are channels that are deeper than the surrounding ocean bottom. Water flows through these channels back to sea. If a swimmer gets in this area they are pulled out to sea.

The first thing is to avoid a rip current. The video below will give you a few tips on how to spot a rip current. Swim between the flags. Don't go in the water alone. If caught in a rip current don't panic, relax. Raise your hand and motion for help. Swim parallel with the shore.

AVOID DEHYDRATION

With the weather being so brutally hot it's important to make sure you drink enough water so you don't dehydrate. As a rule of thumb adults should consume approximately 8 eight oz cups of water per day. Size and age of the person could change the amount consumed. Also women who are pregnant should especially make sure they are getting enough water. Click on the link below for article on dehydration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehydration

Avoiding injuries while playing tennis

Tennis is a fun sport. Injuries can prevent people from being able to play the game they love. Proper technique can help prevent injuries. This week Mark Noble from Marks Center Court Tennis Center gives us some tips on how to prevent injuries on the tennis court. Click on the video below.

Child safety facts

The CDC has some eye opening information about child safety and auto accidents. Definitely worth a read. There are many things parents can do to protect there kids. Click on the link below.

http://www.cdc.gov/MotorVehicleSafety/Child_Passenger_Safety/CPS-Factsheet.html

How to install a child safety seat

Today I want to talk about how to properly install a child safety seat in a car. Having a very young child face the rear of the car can prevent serious injuries to the neck. Knowing how to properly install a safety seat can mean the difference between life and death. Protect your child, click on the video below to learn how to properly install a child safety seat.

Lake worth chiropractor educates about consequences of poor posture

So many people don't realize how posture affects there health. Watch this video on poor posture.

The skinny on weight loss

The most important thing one must do to lose weight is have a plan and a tracking system. You need to set goals and have way to see monitor your progress. There is a new free iphone application called "lose it" that helps people to get a calorie count for the day, it's fast and easy to use click on the link below and install it on your iphone.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lose-it/id297368629?mt=8

Neck pain and Loss of the normal lordotic curve in the neck

Many patient have a misalignment of vertebra in the neck. With chiropractic adjustments we help align vertebra in the spine then we recommend repetitive cervical traction to help restore the normal cervical curve in the neck. Call our office if you suffer from neck or arm pain. 561-434-9949