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.