Dr. Judd Lowrey's Sports and Wellness Chiropractic Blog

February is American Heart Month.  Although you should be concerned with heart health every month of the year, this month you should go the extra mile. Heart disease is still our nation’s number one killer and costs Americans billions of dollars each year.  

Over the past few years, rates of heart disease have been steadily dropping as a result of improved detection and treatment of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, as well as smoking-prevention efforts. These improvements are in large part due to tremendous efforts of the American Heart Association, the CDC and other organizations to improve the prevention and treatment of heart disease.  

Your grandfather, mother, and uncle may have all had heart disease, but even with a strongly inherited predisposition to the condition, you can cut your risks dramatically by pursuing a heart healthy lifestyle — and it’s easier than you think.  What you eat, how much exercise you get, and paying attention to your overall health have a lot to do with heart health; and incorporating a few heart healthy tips into your daily activities can keep your heart in tip top shape.  

1. Don’t smoke or use tobacco – just don’t do it!
2. 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five days a week
3. Eat a heart healthy diet, high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fiber and low in saturated fats and sodium.
4. Maintain a healthy weight (BMI at 25 or lower)
5. Get regular health screenings

OK, you are probably aware that diet and exercise are key factors in preventing heart disease.  However, you may not know that chiropractic care may also help keep your heart healthy!  Research has shown that chiropractic adjustments to the upper neck can actually lower your blood pressure for an extended period of time.  Other studies have shown that adjustments of the bones in the neck and lower back can stimulate particular nervous system reflexes, causing a decrease in overall heart rate and blood pressure!

 A visit to a chiropractor can relieve stress, help your heart, and provide you with the support and guidance you need to change and apply new healthy lifestyles.  This February, make a pledge to have your glass of red wine, a piece of dark chocolate, do some exercise, and call and make your chiropractic appointment!   Chiropractic care combined with positive lifestyle changes, proper nutrition, and exercise can prove to be your best ally in the fight against heart disease!

The New Year is here, and thoughts naturally turn to resolutions and self-improvement. For some this means curtailing high fat foods and returning to the gym. For others, January is the time to start a comprehensive wellness plan to have a healthy, pain-free year.

Chiropractic care can be a vital component to a healthy lifestyle along with the following five New Year’s strategies that will enable you to reduce the chance of painful injuries.

1.       Don’t carry a heavy briefcase, backpack, or purse with the strap over one shoulder, unless placing the strap over your head on the side opposite the bag. Carrying a bag on one shoulder places uneven weight on one side of your body which can cause both back and shoulder pain.

2.       Make an effort to keep moving while at work and take periodic stretch breaks.

3.       Don’t lift heavy objects over your head which can strain muscles and damage nerves.

4.       Don’t turn your torso while lifting heavy objects.

5.       Don’t consistently cross the same leg over the other which can lead to spine misalignment.

By taking these five steps, you can go a long way towards preventing back, shoulder, and neck pain and injury. This translates directly into having to take less pain medication.

The reality is that over the counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can negatively affect your long-term health in a variety of ways.

NSAIDs are a leading cause of stomach ulcers and gastric bleeds. This is particularly true for certain age groups.

They can damage kidneys. According to a New England Journal of Medicine article, up to 10% of all kidney failure was a result of the abuse of NSAIDs such as Advil and Tylenol.

And, the biggest risk for those taking large doses of pain medications is liver damage. This is especially true for those consuming large quantities of acetaminophen. Unfortunately, about 1/3 of the individuals who overdose on acetaminophen didn’t understand the risks before taking more than the recommended amount.

Finally, rebound pain is a common, yet often under-reported symptom of taking NSAIDs. The nervous system continues to generate pain when an individual takes these over-the-counter medications. Thus, pain medications may even contribute to someone getting hooked or addicted.

While there are situations when pain medication makes sense, it’s important to understand the risks and know the alternatives. One alternative to managing pain and taking medication is chiropractic care.  At Lowrey Chiropractic, we have the training and experience to manage both acute and chronic pain. If you’re ready to start 2012 out right – free from pain, give us a call today. You’ll be glad that you did!

Pain can come in many forms but one of the worst forms of discomfort can originate from disruption of the sciatic nerve. The relentless pain that is felt along the sciatic nerve is medically described as “sciatica”. This nerve, which is the widest and longest in the body, runs from the lower back, through the buttocks and down the back of each leg.  The function of the nerve is to provide sensation to the thighs, legs, and feet, and it also controls the calf muscles.

Sciatica is a description of symptoms as opposed to a diagnosis of what may be irritating the sciatic nerve which in turn gives rise to the pain.  It is a rather common form of lower back and leg discomfort but what is often misunderstood is that the condition tends to result from general wear and tear on lower spine structures. Some medical professionals falsely interpret this wear and tear as injury-related, when, in fact, it’s a nerve issue.

The most common symptom is a pain that spreads out along the path of the sciatic nerve, beginning with the lower back and extending down one leg. However, there are many other symptoms too, and these can vary widely depending on the exact point at which the sciatic nerve becomes affected. Some sufferers may experience a mild tingling sensation or achiness, while others may feel sharp pain one side of their body. The frequently described pins-and-needles sensation is a common symptom, too, and is usually felt in the foot or toes. Sciatica pain typically begins slowly then gradually becomes unbearable with sudden involuntary actions such as sneezing or coughing bringing on severe pain.

Most sciatica sufferers often respond well to sciatica chiropractic treatment in its various forms. But, it’s important to note that sciatica is a symptom and not a medical condition. Sciatica treatment plans will vary according to the underlying causes of the pain. The American Chiropractic Association (AMA) recommends a non-invasive, drug-free treatment option to ease the pain of sciatica. .  Once there is a full examination, there will be a recommendation of an effective sciatica treatment program that should quickly have you functioning normally again. Treatments may include a combination of electric muscle stimulation, specialized stretching, low back adjustments, and muscle therapies including myofascial release and trigger point therapy to quickly reduce and eliminate pain and get you back on your feet.

To learn more about treatment of sciatica or to schedule an evaluation, please contact us today!

Many people experience pain daily, and one of the most common complaints are in wrists and arms. With 15 bones in the wrist, misalignment can be an issue that can result in pain. Misalignment directly causes pressure on nerves thus creating discomfort. Another area where pain can originate is from direct or indirect pressure on nerves that exit your upper spine and extend through to your hand.

The nerve roots are attached to your spinal cord and exit out through the spinal column through the neck and upper back, traveling through your shoulder, down your arm, to the elbow, wrist, and hand. When nerves are disrupted they will cause a variety of different types of pain such as weakness, numbness, tingling, burning, sharp, dull, or an aching feeling. These symptoms are particularly responsive to chiropractic spinal adjustments designed to treat such problems.

Wrist pain can also be caused by trauma or strain due to repetitive action on the joint. This causes muscle tightness and restriction in the movement of the joint. There are many causes of arm, elbow, and wrist pain. Sometimes, it will only take a single movement and you will feel instant pain. Injuries to ligaments and muscles in your arm will occur when they are overworked over a period of time from activities like sports, work, or home improvement projects. Common sports injuries, such as tennis and golfers elbow, are very common in active adults and can be cared for fairly easily through chiropractic treatment.

While rest, anti-inflammatory medicine, and ice can help manage the pain, they will do nothing to correct your underlying condition. Not having treatment will generally cause the underlying problem to eventually get worse. Each time the pain comes back, it will be worse, and last longer, until your condition becomes permanent. In which case, surgery may become necessary.

Chiropractic care is a much safer and less expensive route to take when dealing with pain. Invasive surgery should be a last resort when all other options are exhausted. A doctor will examine you and conduct diagnostic tests to determine exactly what is causing your wrist or arm pain. The causes and seriousness of conditions can vary so it is important to pinpoint the cause and begin an appropriate treatment plan.  Wrist and arm pain can negatively affect everything from work performance to personal relationships, yet this condition can easily be treated through high quality chiropractic care.

If painful arms, wrists, or hands are slowing you down, call our office today at 916-941-7508 to schedule an exam.

We often consider back, joint, and muscle pain to be an unwelcome, yet natural part of aging. Yet, for many children, chronic aches and pain due to sports injuries, congenital conditions such as scoliosis, or repetitive stress can be extremely problematic – even sometimes requiring professional treatment. When a child is in pain, the first reaction is often to call a pediatrician. However, a growing number of parents are incorporating chiropractic care into their children’s healthcare mix.

A child’s spine develops at a rapid pace for the first 10 years of life. Everyday activities such as carrying a heavy backpack loaded with textbooks, sitting for too long in front of the computer, or participating in sports can lead to misalignments of the spine. These misalignments can result in pain, poor posture, and some experts believe, can even lead to conditions such as headaches, sleep disorders, and hyperactivity.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, chiropractic care for children has increased by nearly 10% in the last two decades with more and more seeking alternatives to traditional approaches to treat soft tissue injuries or chronic pain. In fact, chiropractic care is now the second most common form of complementary or alternative medicine for children after natural supplements such as fish oil and herbs.

Chiropractic care can be introduced at any age. Of course, many parents ask if there are any real benefits of chiropractic care for a young child. However, when you consider how often a child falls while learning how to walk and injuries that occur during playtime, you can begin to consider the cumulative damage that occurs over time. Chiropractic care treats the misalignments that can begin as early as the first year of birth. In some cases, these misalignments can even be a result of birth trauma.

By no means is chiropractic care meant to take the place of traditional medicine. However, it can be a highly effective component to overall healthcare throughout childhood by effectively treating soft tissue injuries and chronic pain resulting from conditions such as scoliosis or cerebral palsy.

Are you interested in learning more about chiropractic care for your child? Call us today at 916-941-7508 for more information or to schedule a new patient exam.