Dr. Judd Lowrey's Sports and Wellness Chiropractic Blog

February is the month for romantic cards, boxes of chocolates, and bouquets of roses. And, it’s also American Heart Month. While it’s ok to give your heart to someone you love, it’s also important to keep it healthy so that you can enjoy many more Valentine’s Days to come.

While the number of individuals being diagnosed with heart disease is steadily decreasing thanks to better detection and treatment of related conditions such as high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes, heart disease remains America’s leading cause of death.

The good news is that there is much you can do to combat heart disease, even if you have a family history of the condition. By incorporating these healthy strategies into your daily life, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting heart disease. These same strategies will also help you feel and look your best for yourself – and for that special Valentine in your life.

Adopt a Heart Healthy Diet
Ok, for lovers of rich, calorie-laden food, this might sound scary, but it really isn’t. By just adding a few more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains into your daily diet and minimizing the saturated fats and sodium, you can cut your heart disease risk significantly. At lunch, substitute a fresh salad for the cheeseburger. Choose fresh fruit over ice cream for dessert. How about a warm bowl of oatmeal instead of grabbing for that doughnut? Making these simple choices can really make a difference!

Get Moving!
Your heart needs exercise just like any muscle. By raising your heart rate, even slightly, by walking, biking, swimming, or other type of exercise, you will build your heart’s strength. And the extra perks from exercise include weight loss, toned muscles, and better sleep. No, you don’t need to start training for a triathlon. Just 30 minutes on most days of the week is all that you need. But, once you start incorporating exercise into your daily routine, you’ll probably want to ramp it up because it does really make you feel great!

Stop Smoking
Smoking remains one of the biggest causes of heart disease and cancer. What’s really left to say about this? Smoking is terrible for your health and it’s just a bad habit. If you’re a smoker, make 2013 the year to stop for good.

 Be Proactive with Your Healthcare
Regular doctor’s visits are a must for checking cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and for possible heart irregularities. Schedule an appointment if it has been more than a year, and give yourself the gift of good health. Prevention saves lives, so take advantage of it!

Minimize Stress Levels
Stress can certainly be a big factor in the development of heart disease. Keeping it under control is a must! As part of a healthy lifestyle, stress reduction should be a focus. From balancing work and down-time to finding a few minutes each day to meditate or pray, there are many ways to keep stress at bay. Chiropractic care can definitely be an important component of overall stress reduction. Upper neck adjustments can help lower blood pressure and overall heart rate, and massage can instantly cut tension. Scheduling time on a regular basis for your own physical well-being is one of the best stress relievers available.

So, make this month dedicated to the heart your best month yet. Start incorporating these strategies into your daily life, and you’ll be on your way to a healthier you!

Want to learn more about how chiropractic can help relieve stress in your life and improve your overall well-being? Schedule a new patient exam today by calling 916-941-7508.

Dr. Judd Lowrey, D.C.  |  Lowrey Chiropractic  | El Dorado Hills & Folsom Chiropractor

(916) 941-7508

Young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previous generations, and the use of overweight backpacks is a contributing factor, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). Loaded with binders, textbooks, and now even laptops, children’s backpacks are often tripping the scales at over 30lbs. Lugging this amount of weight can certainly lead to significant back, shoulder, and neck injuries.

Here are few helpful tips:

• Backpacks should not weigh more than 10 percent of body weight. With a heavier backpack, children tend to bend forward to support the extra weight.
• Wear both shoulder straps is key! Lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side.
• Backpack should hang less than four inches below waistline.
• Choose a backpack with individualized compartments to redistribute weight effectively.
• Wide, padded and adjustable straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable, and can dig into your child’s shoulders.

80% of people suffer from back pain

Eighty percent of people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office. In fact, it is estimated that low back pain affects more than half of the adult population each year.

As long as it is healthy and functioning correctly, the low back can withstand tremendous forces without injury. However, if the low back is out of adjustment or has weakened supporting muscles, something as simple as lifting a bag of groceries, or picking something up off the floor can cause a low back injury.

Consumer reports rated chiropractic care number one for the treatment of low back pain for a simple reason – “it works”. In fact, major studies have shown that chiropractic care is more effective, cheaper and has better long-term outcomes than any other treatment. Chiropractic care is the only method of treatment that serves to re-establish normal vertebral motion and position in the spine.  All other treatments, such as muscle relaxants, pain killers and bed rest, only serve to decrease the symptoms of the problem and do not correct the problem itself.

Here is the Piriformis Stretch for you to try out.  It helps to remove tension off lower back, correct hip imbalance, restore function, and increases flexibility, improves joint range of motion, and improves circulation.

3. Grasp uncrossed leg under thigh and gently pull toward chest.

Dr. Judd Lowrey, D.C. | Lowrey Chiropractic | El Dorado Hills & Folsom Chiropractor

(916) 941-7508

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!