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Winter and Weather Changes, What a Pain!

There are many reasons to dislike chilly, wet weather, including its potential effects on our bodies. Do you ever get headaches right before rainstorms? Or painful joints that ache more when the weather is cold? The weather and your environment can affect your body in undeniable ways. 

Research still hasn’t confirmed a cause-and-effect link between weather and joint pain, though many people insist they can predict the weather based on such aches. There are a few ways weather changes could be affecting the way you feel. 

• Barometric pressure: It’s believed that changes in barometric pressure trigger these sensations in the joints. Less air pressure surrounding the body can allow muscles, tendons, and other tissues around joints to expand. This can place pressure on joints, possibly leading to pain.
• Humidity: If you have arthritis or another type of chronic joint pain, you may find that unusually high or low humidity makes joints swell and feel more painful.

While you can’t avoid weather changes, there are a few stops to help ward off or ease any related pain issues:

• Stay warm: Cold weather can stiffen your muscles and joints. Layering clothes and maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature can help minimize the impact of low temperatures.
• Heat treatment: Warm showers, heat pads and hot water bottles help relax muscles and ease stiffness.
• Diet changes: Certain dietary adjustments help alleviate joint pain related to weather changes. Consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids – such as fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts – help reduce inflammation. Also, antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables in your diet provide additional joint support.

Chiropractic care helps if you’re experiencing joint pain due to weather changes, as it addresses the underlying causes and promotes long-term relief. Contact us to explore how to address your specific needs. Schedule an appointment online or call us today.

Chiropractic Holiday Survival Guide

The holiday season is a time for fun, food and family.  Unfortunately, it’s also a time that can cause stress and a decline in health. It’s easy to get caught up in taking care of everyone but yourself during this time of year. However, these four chiropractic tips should help guide you throughout this season and beyond.

1. Cooking: Preparing meals can mean slouching over pots, standing while stirring, bending over while rolling dough or completing other cooking tasks. Try standing on a mat to give yourself some comfort. It’s also important to shift your weight from one leg to the other so one side of your body doesn’t get the brunt of the pressure.
2. Driving: If you’re planning to drive over the holidays, it is important to use lumbar support in the car to prevent an ache in your back. Also, try to get out and stretch often or do small stretches in the car to keep your joints flexible.
3. Decorating: Whether you’re putting up or taking down decorations, this is one of the biggest chores of the season. To prepare, be sure to wear comfortable shoes, avoid lifting or carrying heavy boxes, and avoid pulling a muscle by reaching too far or overextending yourself.
4. Shopping: Yes,shopping can also cause stress, even when it’s a good sale. If you’re shopping in-store for last-minute gifts or catching after season sales, try to avoid carrying heavy bags. Instead, visit your car frequently and drop off bags.

As the holidays wrap up and the new year approaches, consider scheduling a wellness appointment.  Chiropractors can help prevent pain, keep off the weight and even give your immune system a boost during the cold months. Contact our office for an appointment to keep you aligned and healthier. 

Tips For Healthier Holiday Travel

Tis the holiday season, and that means it’s time to start planning vacations, family visits and getaways. But if hours of travel are in your future, muscle soreness and stiff joints may soon follow. 

Hauling heavy luggage, prolonged sitting, sleeping in unfamiliar beds and overall travel stress are all factors that can contribute to musculoskeletal discomfort. For healthier travel, here are chiropractic tips to enhance your comfort during holiday trips.

1. Schedule a Pre-Travel Adjustment: Visit your chiropractor before your trip to ensure your body is in optimal condition for travel. Pre-trip treatments can realign your spine, improve your posture, and keep your muscles and tissues loose and flexible. Post-trip appointments can prevent minor pain or soreness from becoming major problems.
2. Drink Water and Take Breaks: Remaining in one position for too long affects your posture and may strain your joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. When possible, stay hydrated and take breaks to move and reduce stress on bones and tissues which may help you avoid post-trip pain.
3. Pack Light: Minimize the weight of your luggage and use ergonomic bags, like suitcases with wheels or backpacks, to reduce the strain on your body. 
4. Comfortable Sleep: Consider bringing a travel pillow or mattress topper to ensure you get a good night’s sleep at your destination.
5. Relax your muscles: Stretching before, during and after your trip relaxes your muscles and increases blood flow to your muscles and joints. This also helps you avoid neck and back pain.

Chiropractic adjustments are your travel guide to pain-free and enjoyable journeys during the holiday season. Contact our office for your chiropractic adjustment before and after the holidays to keep you aligned and healthier.

Scared of Chiropractor? You’re not alone

What to do when you’re scared of the chiropractor

There are plenty of things to fear, especially this time of year. Halloween costumes, haunted house tours and ghosts, just to name a few. However, many people are afraid of chiropractic treatments due to misconceptions about the practice. Chiropractic care is a natural and effective way to treat a variety of conditions. But despite its benefits, some people are hesitant to try it. 

Here are some tips to help ease those fears:

Fear of Pain: While they may cause some discomfort, chiropractic adjustments are typically not painful. In fact, many patients report feeling relieved of pain and discomfort after an adjustment. If you have concerns, ask your chiropractor to explain the process.

Fear of the Popping Noise:  It is normal to hear a ‘Snap-Crackle-Pop’ sound when a joint is adjusted. Despite the noise, it doesn’t damage anything, it’s not harmful, and it generally aids in the repositioning of joints.  

Fear of Cost: While chiropractic care can be more expensive than other forms of treatment, it’s also often more effective, and many insurance plans cover chiropractic services. If cost is a concern, speak with your chiropractor or insurance company to determine what is covered.

Fear of the Unknown: For many,  going to a chiropractor can be intimidating. To ease these fears, it’s important to find a chiropractor you can trust, and to discuss your concerns with them.  

Fear of Making Things Worse: This is a common fear, but it’s also unfounded. Chiropractors are trained professionals who understand the anatomy and function of the body, and they are well-equipped to diagnose and treat conditions.  

If you have fears about chiropractic care, it’s important to discuss them with a chiropractor, who can help put you at ease and explain the process. We look forward to serving you.

Tackle Stress this Fall with Chiropractic Care

Autumn brings changing weather, beautiful color changes and a new school season for some of us. It can also bring stress and pain on our bodies and mental health. With school, holidays and family schedules, stress impacts people of all ages. It is important to prioritize your overall wellness and take the proper steps to maintain your good health. Chiropractic care can help as a preventative measure and form of treatment.

Chiropractic care is one of the natural methods used to help reduce stress. The mind and body approach helps to ensure that your whole body is more relaxed and functioning properly. Research shows that regular chiropractic care can improve mental health, increase energy levels, and boost your immune system. Especially during a time when immunity is so important, additional steps should be taken to keep your family healthy. 

Autumn also brings time changes, schedule adjustments and busier workloads, which can disrupt a healthy nighttime routine. Without proper sleep, concentration on the job and in class is much more difficult. Chiropractic care helps improve the quality of your sleep and helps increase blood flow, which produces relaxation and calm. 

If you play Fall sports, physical demands can take a toll on your body and mind. Chiropractic care offers a holistic solution, not only addressing physical stress but also promoting mental well-being. Proper spinal alignment can positively impact the nervous system, helping you  manage stress and fatigue more effectively.

Seeing your chiropractor regularly for checkups and realignment can help tackle stress and ensure that to keep your back healthy, all year long. If you want to learn more about our services, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment at our clinic. We look forward to serving you.

Spinal Beach Safety Tips

Trips to the beach are a popular summer pastime. Sand, water, and sun – there’s so much to enjoy. However, what many do not enjoy is the spinal and back pain that can occur without taking the right precautions.

If you’re heading to the beach, these tips can help prevent injuries and encourage spinal health.

1. Drink water – Staying hydrated helps nourish your spinal discs and ensures the body is adequately prepared to handle the heat. Bring water bottles and keep them just cool enough for better absorption into the body. Ice cold drinks can shock the system.
2. Take a walk – Keep your body moving for at least 10 minutes every hour by walking down the beach, strolling along a pier or heading to a restaurant. Also, wear the right shoes to help give proper support and keep your legs and backs from aching.
3. Use a Wagon – Too many people overpack for the beach and then attempt to carry multiple bags with them. This excess weight can put major strain on the body that can lead to back pain. Instead, use a wagon and pack smaller bags to help manage the heavier loads.
4. Avoid looking down at your book – Who doesn’t love a good book while relaxing on the beach? But arching your neck forward may cause problems in your cervical spine. To avoid this, try holding your book closer to eye level while keeping your head and neck upright. 
5. Monitor tanning positions – Lying face down on the sand is a popular sun tanning position. But it can also be a potentially harmful one for your spine due to stress on the vertebrae in your lower back and neck. Instead, keep your head in a neutral position or well-positioned in a lounge chair. 

Any beachgoers still feeling sore after taking precautions should visit a chiropractor. If you’re in need of spinal care, contact our clinic and our team of professionals will be happy to talk with you.

Chiropractic Tips For Pain-Free Travel This Summer

It’s almost summertime! If this is your vacation season, be sure to plan accordingly. Traveling can disrupt your regular health and wellness routine. Spending time in the car, airport, train or bus, can cause muscles and joints to become stiff and sore. To kick-off the summer season, here are tips to avoid travel-related discomfort.

1. Take Breaks: Remaining in one position for too long affects your posture and may strain your joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. If possible, take breaks to reduce stress on bones and tissues which may help you avoid post-trip pain. If traveling by train, bus or plane, you can keep your body loose and limber by walking up and down the aisles, if possible.

2. Stretch Out the Kinks: Stretching before, during and after your trip relaxes your muscles and increases blood flow to your muscles and joints. This also helps you avoid neck and back pain. During your trip, try a few simple seated exercises like rolling your shoulders back and forth, moving your neck from side to side, lifting your legs, and rolling your ankles in small circles.

3. Get Comfortable: Use a neck cushion or pillow to support your neck during your trip. If lower back pain is a problem, buy a lumbar cushion designed to fit and support the curve of your back.

4. Lighten the Luggage: Use a suitcase with wheels to make navigating easier and bend at the knees when lifting luggage. If you need carry-on luggage, try using a backpack with two straps to help evenly distribute the weight.

5. Visit the Chiropractor: Pre-trip treatments can realign your spine, improve your posture, and keep your muscles and tissues loose and flexible. Post-trip appointments can prevent minor pain or soreness from becoming major problems. Your chiropractor will look for misaligned vertebrae, tight tissues and knots, and offer treatments.

Stay ready for your summer vacations and road trips. Contact our office for your chiropractic adjustment before and after your travels to keep you aligned and functioning properly.

Epilepsy Awareness and Chiropractic Care

Living with seizures is incredibly challenging and can have a huge impact on your quality of life. Often the stigmas and challenges associated with the disorder can be more challenging than the seizures themselves.

What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes people to have seizures, but the exact cause is often unknown. This disorder affects people of all ages from newborns to seniors. Studies show an estimated 3.4 million Americans suffer from epilepsy, including 3 million adults and 470,000 children. A person must have two or more seizures to be diagnosed with epilepsy.

What are the far-reaching effects of seizures?
Seizures are placed in two primary categories: generalized and focal. Generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain, while focal seizures target one specific area of the brain. Because seizures are rooted in the central nervous system, they can impact all areas and systems of the body, and their effects can be from very mild to extremely severe and life-threatening.

Is Chiropractic care an effective form of seizure treatment?
Because seizures stem from the central nervous system, chiropractors are one of the best doctors to see when you’re struggling with seizures or seizure disorders. In the 19th century, scientists discovered that applying pressure to one of the two carotid arteries will stimulate the Vagus nerve and help prevent a seizure from occurring. Since this breakthrough, chiropractors have found that the upper cervical area of the spine affects the Vagus nerve. This knowledge helps chiropractors perform specific, gentle adjustments to the upper cervical area of the spine. In turn, this helps remove any vertebral subluxations and allows patients to better manage their seizures.

How we can help
Proper spinal alignment through chiropractic care has been shown to reduce pain, improve movement, reduce blood pressure and reduce seizure activity. If you or your loved one suffers from seizures of any kind of severity, contact our clinic in Clinton, MD to learn more about how neurologically-based chiropractic care can improve your overall health.

Before Grabbing the Allergy Meds, Try Chiropractic Care

Spring is in the air and that means pollen is, too. If you’re an allergy sufferer, this is not good news. According to the American Academy of Asthma and Immunology, approximately half of the adult population in the United States lives with known sensitivities to allergens. If you have allergies, it’s important to know how you can treat them.

When it comes to treatment, there’s no shortage of allergy medications to purchase. However, most have unpleasant side effects that can leave you drowsy and barely able to function. Fortunately, there are other alternatives. Chiropractic treatments can be an effective and natural method of easing allergy issues.

Here are ways chiropractic care helps boost your body against allergies:

Strengthens the immune system. Your spine affects nearly everything in your body. Misalignments in the spine can disrupt the brain’s lines of communication with the rest of the body. This can lead to lower immunity and your body will have a tougher time reacting to stressors. By manipulating the joints and soft tissue, a chiropractor can restore the body’s alignment and re-open essential pathways between the brain and spine.

Regulates Histamine Production: Chiropractic adjustments can help regulate histamine levels in your body. Curbing histamine production is a big help during allergy season, as this compound within the body is responsible for many allergy symptoms.

Regulates stress hormones. Many allergy sufferers have compromised adrenal glands, which makes it harder to moderate allergic reactions. Since the adrenal glands are fed directly by spinal nerves, a properly aligned spine can help regulate the amount of cortisol the body produces. This can help mitigate the severity of allergy symptoms.

Supports the respiratory system: Like the immune system, the respiratory system depends on an unimpeded flow of information to and from the brain. Chiropractic care keeps the pathways open, fortifying the respiratory system to better withstand allergic attacks.

If you suffer from allergy symptoms, you don’t have to continue to just deal with it. Contact our clinic in Clinton, MD., and our team of professionals will be happy to talk with you.