Archive for pregnancy
As a San Jose chiropractor I treat many pregnant women not only for common low back pain associated with pregnancy, but for other pregnancy symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, and swelling due to water retention or joint stress. A healthy pregnancy is crucial for both mother and baby. And although regular chiropractic care during pregnancy is very important, there are many other influences that can affect a woman’s health during her pregnancy. Some of these influences are well-known, but others are not. In fact, I just ran across a new study released in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives that discusses the effects of high levels of common flame-retardant chemicals on the thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women. It is the first large study to investigate levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their effects on the highly sensitive thyroid hormone in pregnant women. “Normal maternal thyroid hormone levels are essential for normal fetal growth and brain development,” stated Jonathan Chevrier, one of the study’s authors and a researcher in epidemiology and in environmental health sciences at UC Berkeley, “so our findings could have significant public health implications.”
Where are PBDEs found? Just about everywhere, such as in carpets, textiles, foam furnishings, electronics and plastics. PBDEs can leach out into the environment and accumulate in human fat cells. Is it any wonder then that PBDEs can be found in the blood of most American residents? And, if you live in California the situation is even more criticaul because of the state’s rigorous flammability laws. Concentrations of the chemicals in blood and breast milk have increased dramatically in the last three decades.
Though it is not currently known just how the chemicals interfere with thyroid function, researchers believe that PBDEs could bind to thyroid receptors and alter how the hormone is released. The bottom line, however, is that these chemicals are dangerous, especially for pregnant women. “Our results suggest that exposure to PBDE flame retardants may have unanticipated human health risks,” said Brenda Eskenazi, a professor of epidemiology and of maternal and child health at UC Berkeley.
Your San Jose Chiropractor Knows About Your Body's Inherent Capability To Heal Itself
Posted by: | CommentsDo you know that chiropractic therapy has been growing in popularity for a long time and that it’s continuing to increase annually as the favored healthcare choice for many patients? That’s right and your San Jose Chiropractor is well-aware that people are choosing chiropractic treatment because of its many health benefits. No other healthcare approach is less invasive to the body and, at the same time, can promote the body’s natural potential to heal itself instead of masking symptoms with pills.
Let’s face it, where there’s a musculoskeletal system, for example in the human body, there is the likelihood of musculoskeletal disorder including lumbar pain and neck pain, pain in the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee joints, and ankle and foot pain. Nobody is immune from misalignment of the spine and joint inflammation, though numerous health issues can be the end result of sports injuries, accidents, and the aging process. Irrespective of the source, just about any type of movement on a traumatized part of the body can not merely result in pain or suffering, but temporary disability. And, naturally, certain musculoskeletal problems, if left untreated, can result in permanent incapacitation.
It has been said of chiropractic care that its benefits “exceed” eliminating merely a specific condition. Actually, someone who comes in to see a chiropractor for back pain, for instance, not only gains from pain reprieve, but also enhanced circulation, a reduction or elimination of lactic acid, smoother movement of oxygen and nutrients within the body, additional flexibility, reduced everyday pain and soreness, quicker recuperation time, a more tranquil sensation, and the prevention of future injuries! Is it any mystery why chiropractic care has become the treatment of choice for so many people?
Besides delivering specialized musculoskeletal care, chiropractors will also include education and counsel as it pertains to bettering your total health and wellness. Chiropractors recognize that in order for a person to become healthy and stay that way, it is important to choose a simple health-oriented approach to life lke consuming a healthy amount of water to keep the body hydrated, following a nutritional diet plan, and developing a regular stretching and exercise routine.
Chiropractic care isn’t going to quite work “miracles, ” however it can come surprisingly close in numerous areas that may possibly surprise you. For instance, chiropractic care will help pregnant women deliver more easily. It can strengthen developmental potentials of babies, particularly in the area of motor skills, and it can often eliminate scoliosis. Chiropractic adjustments for children can help alleviate bronchial asthma complaints, ear infections, and even bed-wetting. Along with the rewards stated earlier, established chiropractic management can help adults to have more energy, which in turn boosts productivity. And, last but not least, for maturing baby boomers and the senior population, not only can chiropractic treatment aide in reducing age-related disorders and help to keep an individual more functional in later years, it can also decrease the balance problems that all too frequently lead to severe injury from falls.
If you’re currently visiting a chiropractor, that’s wonderful! You have no doubt already felt many of the amazing benefits stated above. In that case, why not tell your family and friends about chiropractic? Don’t let someone you care about fall victim to the type of misinformation regarding chiropractic care that can keep them from living their daily life with more energy and less pain. Tell someone you care about to give your chiropractor in San Jose a call. Your friends and family will thank you for it!
San Jose Chiropractor: Are You Concerned About Getting Adjusted While Pregnant?
Posted by: | CommentsYour San Jose Chiropractor know that it is a smart idea for you to get your spine checked while you are pregnant. In fact, it is an excellent idea to get adjusted while you are pregnant. Why? Well, you’ve probably noticed that your body is going through a variety of changes. These alterations will continue as your pregnancy progresses, like a subtle change is your body’s increased production of the hormone elastin. This hormone is designed to relax the tendons in the pelvis. this easing gives the pelvis more flexibility during the birthing process to make delivering the baby easier.
This process, despite the fact that its function is to assist the mother during labor, can create a lot of back pain in the months leading up to the birth. The elastin is being released in larger amounts as the months go on, which allows the pelvis to become increasingly more unstable. Add to that the gradual increase in the size of the baby and uterus, and you have the formula for severe low back pain. As an San Jose Chiropractor, I currently have several pregnant patients coming into my office for symptoms associated with their pregnancy, but generally it is for their low back pain.
A bonus to seeing a chiropractor routinely during your pregnancy is that there is proof that it can actually decrease labor time. Why is that you ask? Simply put, if the pelvis is where it needs to be, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient and won’t have to strain against misaligned joints.
In answer to the second question above, most assuredly chiropractic care during your pregnancy is safe. chiropractic is not only safe and beneficial in relieving the low back pain associated with pregnancy, but other symptoms like heartburn, nausea, swelling, and so on. In addition, should the need arise, a trained chiropractor can assist a mother who has a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force manipulation of the uterus that helps to get the baby into the appropriate position for birth. A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information.
To summarize, chiropractic is both beneficial and safe in helping to relieve many of the discomforts of pregnancy. To any pregnant women out there reading this, please go to see your local chiropractor, or if you are close enough, look up your San Jose Chiropractor. We can make you quite a bit more comfortable in the months of your pregnancy, and we can even make the labor process easier.
