Are you “put out of commission” by your tension headaches? Are you ineffective while working, or worse, forced to stay home from work? Do they interfere with your family and social life? Most people have experienced more than one tension headache in their life. If you are someone who has had tension headaches, the intense, dull ache in your head is a familiar one. A feeling of tightness or pressure along the forehead or on the sides of the back of the head often accompanies such pain. Occasionally, you might feel a tenderness of your scalp, neck and shoulder muscles, and periodically you may lose your appetite or feel nauseous.

Though the severity of pain varies from one person to another, and can vary in intensity from one headache to another in the same person, most tension headaches are usually defined as mild to moderate intense. Do your headaches occur often? Did you know that if your headaches take place fifteen or more days a month for a minimum of three months, they’re viewed by healthcare professionals as chronic?

The good news is that chiropractic treatment can relieve your pain whether tension headaches are interfering with your life once in a while or chronically. Whether an individual suffers from back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, knee pain, foot pain, or headaches, Dr. Helwig has been helping the Oak Lawn Community to get out of pain for over twenty years. Just in case you didn’t know, chiropractor don’t just treat back pain. They take care of the entire musculoskeletal system!

So, if you’re not living your life as fully as you’d like, call Dr. Helwig, your Chiropractor in Oak Lawn, Illinois today. Get your life back!

Technorati Tags: chiropractic treatment, chiropractor, tension headaches

As anyone who is news-aware knows, not too long ago Mrs. Obama launched a public awareness campaign against childhood obesity, and what an important launch is was. As a healthcare provider I could not have been happier. But, just like with every good idea, there were detractors to this one, criticizing what they characterized as a campaign that focused on “body size” and, therefore, had the potential to make overweight and obese children “feel bad about themselves.”

Of course, that was neither Mrs. Obama’s intention nor target. Body size was never the issue. The focus was on changing the diet of children from their eating too much fats and sugars to a more nutritious, healthy diet. Of course, such a change would decrease the body size of overweight and obese children in our country. But, it would do much, much more than that! A healthy diet gives children more energy, stimulates their brain, and wards off many childhood diseases. In addition, a healthy diet in childhood is an excellent foundation for good health as an individual ages.

Mrs. Obama has said that she believes too much talk about weight and body size can lead to eating disorders. I could not agree more. The conversation should be about children eating right and why that’s important.

Technorati Tags: childhood obesity, childrens health issues, chiropractor, healthy diet

Chiropractic Marketing

The “hottest” buzz word on the internet today is Social Media. For those of you who would like to delve into Social Media marketing as part of your overall chiropractic internet marketing strategy, but aren’t really sure what all the buzz is about, let’s talk a little about the “Who, What, When, Where, and How” of social media and you, that’s “Who.”

Social media marketing is probably very much like, and totally unlike, any chiropractic marketing strategy you’ve considered. In the “very much like” category, you wouldn’t consider any type of marketing plan without taking the time to understand what you’re doing and what you want to get from it. It’s important to ask yourself, “What are my goals?” Once you know what you want, you’ll be more capable of using social media to your greatest advantage.

Before you actually start your social media venture, you will need to make certain that you “own your name” on all the social media outlets, that is to say, be certain that your name or your clinic’s name is available so that you can use the identical same name on each and every one of the social channels you decide to use. There is a service that is free and will assist you with your search when you’re ready. Knowem.com is the who to go to. This service will find out where your name is and/or if it’s available for use or not on a large number of social media sites.

When you have “captured” all of your social media accounts, the next step is to choose where you ought to be active. Beginning with only a limited number of social media sites is the most beneficial because, let’s face it, you have a clinic to run and patients to see. You won’t want to get caught up in too many social media sites. How do decide which sites are best for you? Choose the social media site where the most action is, which are facebook, twitter, linkedin, and Youtube

What successful social media activity will do for you is build a real presence in your community. What you don’t want to do is “sell” on your social media sites, that means don’t sell your chiropractic services, don’t sell products, don’t sell anything! The objective of social media is for you to have an addition channel through which to network with the community. By all means, inform them about what you do, but do it by becoming a participant. There is actually no difference between social networking offline and social media networking. People on social media sites don’t want to be sold to, plain and simply. Social media sites are a lot like a neighborhood backyard barbecue. People are standing around talking about who they are and what they do, and then a participant asks you what you do. Or, maybe you begin the conversation by (just) saying, “Hello, I’m Dr. ____. The same dynamics apply with social media. Social media sites should be handled the same way you’d “work” offline networking opportunities to promote yourself, i.e., answer the questions and concerns that let people know who you are and gets them interested in the who that’s you!

Technorati Tags: chiropractic marketing, facebook, linkedin, social media, social media marketing, twitter, Youtube

As a chiropractor and healthcare provider, I would be remiss if I didn’t address the vital issue of excess weight and how it negatively affects every part of the human body. I explain the health challenges to my overweight patients and hammer away on the subject in my blogs because in addition to the cardio-vascular diseases caused by obesity, much of the back pain, hip pain, and knee pain that people experience is influenced by the undue stress excess weight puts on the joints of the body. And, though it may not surprise you, an expert panel in a report out just today said that people in this country must slash their calories and increase physical activity because the obesity epidemic is “the single greatest threat to public health in this century.” 

We all know that dieting isn’t easy, but the advisory committee for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans gave this clear-cut advice: “People in this country need to cut the calories they consume from added sugars and solid fats (butter, marbled meats) and start eating a more nutrient-rich, plant-based diet.”

The report called for many changes in the food environment. To read more, go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-06-15-

Posted via email from chironews4u’s posterous

San Diego Chiropractor

As a Chiropractor in San Diego, I counsel many individuals who come to my clinic who want to lose weight. I know how hard it can be, and I also know how important it is to lose those extra pounds. What’s an extra pound or two? Over time, they can add up to a large number of health issues from heart and pulmonary diseases and diabetes to back challenges and joint degeneration. Extra pounds put excessive stress on organs, like the heart, as well as on joints in the low back, hips, and knees. A shocking 62% of men and women in America are overweight or obese, according to recent studies. That is a very significant percentage and an enormous problem (no pun intended).

Though we try to pretend otherwise, most of us know that the human body has not evolved to schlepp around a surfeit of weight in the form of body fat. Just an additional 20 or 30 pounds can veritably overload and encumber the joints and muscles of the body. Excess weight in the abdominal region, for example, requires that the body compensate (counterbalance the weight) by tilting the pelvis forward. This shift produces compression in the joints of the low back. Joint compression inhibits nerve activity and causes painful inflammation. Most people who have a heavy midsectionexperience low back pain generated by  a compressed sciatic nerve or spinal misalignments that impinge nerves due to weight-bearing stresses. If not addresses, misaligned vertebra not only continue to irritate the degenerative changes that have already taken place, but can develop into new arthritic changes in the spine in the future.

Here are the ways in which chiropractic treatment can help. First of all, to be clear, a moderate body weight is required in order for the musculoskeletal system to function in the way it is meant to. That said, in addition, chiropractic adjustments relieve nerve impingements in the spine and assist in getting motion back into the joints of the musculoskeletal system, such as in the low back, hips, and knees. And, of course exercise and physical activity is a lot easier, and more beneficial for the body, when the the joints have good mobility and the spine is aligned. Not only will exercise help with weight reduction, but it can actually inhibit degenerative changes as we age.

It is always best to review your diet and exercise options with a healthcare professional, like your chiropractor. In addition to assisting people suffering from back pain and joint inflammation, chiropractors offer expert suggestions on the type of lifestyle modifications that can help a person to stay healthier, more vital, and more active through the years. It isn’t a foregone conclusion that arthritis and immobility an inescapable part of the aging process. The structure of the human body is intended to carry a person through an entire lifetime of pain-free movement.

So, if those extra few pounds have started to add up to a lot of pain, as your chiropractor in San Diego and someone who cares deeply about your overall health, I can help. Make an appointment today!

Technorati Tags: arthritis, back pain, chiropractic, chiropractor, excess weight, joint inflammation, weight loss

Advantages of in-house chiropractic internet marketing

Technorati Tags: chiropractic internet marketing, chiropractic marketing, SEO

Let’s face it, you can’t stop kids from carrying backpacks especially with school lockers being removed from many schools. And, we, adults use them, too, for plenty of activities in addition to hiking. But, not all backpacks are equal when it comes to their impact on the musculoskeletal system of young and old, alike. That’s why the endorsement of nine backpackes and daypackes from The North Face, announced today by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is so important. The endorsed styles are the Big Shot, Borealis, Box Shot, Cornice, Hotshot, On Sight, Recon, Surge, and Yavapai. \

Here’s what a panel of doctors of chiropractic found with regard to the benefits of The North Face packs:

• Injection molded shoulder straps: creating innovative flex points to alleviate clavicle and pressure point strain;

• Anatomically correct shoulder straps: constructed in a shape specifically suited for males or females;

• Back panels with improved fit: featuring a recessed channel designed to take pressure off the spine and a more comfortable fabrication for load-bearing activities; and

• Updated interior organization: providing ample pockets and dividers for storing and organizing the necessities of school, work and play .

“After careful study and consultation with Scott Bautch, DC, The North Face designers revised specific backpacks and daypacks, making improvements to fit, comfort and usability,” said Scott McGuire, equipment product director for The North Face. “Improvements to features such as shoulder straps, back panels and hipbelts increase both the function and comfort of this collection.”

For additional information and to purchase the new ACA-endorsed packs visit www.thenorthface.com.

Posted via email from chironews4u’s posterous

You’ve no doubt surmised from reading my past blogs that, as a chiropractor, my philosophy is a resounding “motion is life,” and that I believe that daily exercise is one of the most important elements to health and longevity, mentally as well as physically. So, naturally, whenever I run across a new study that validates the importance of exercise, I like to pass it along to my patients. And, that’s just what I’m doing here. A new study by researchers from the University of Essex, and published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, found that just five minutes of exercise a day in “the great outdoors” can improve mental health. That’s right, “green activity” like walking in the park, cycling around vineyards, and gardening, or even farming, can actually boost a person’s mood and self esteem.

Even though plenty of studies in the past have confirmed that outdoor exercise can not only increase a sense of well-being, but reduce the risk of mental illness in general, there hasn’t been a study focusing on just how much time outdoors is needed to produce positive benefits. What may come as a surprise to many people is just how little time is required. The study found that the largest positive effect on self-esteem came from just a five-minute “tip-toe through the tulips.” Surely, we all have five minutes to devote to your sense of well-being. Of course, if you don’t live or work close to a park, allow time for the commute.

You can read more on this study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology or go to msnbc.com/health

Posted via email from chironews4u’s posterous

Here’s another research finding to file under “Duh, you think?” Recent scientific research found that junk food is addictive. Hey, mom, don’t blame your kid when he has a meltdown when his  “fix” at McDonald’s is replaced by a nutritious home-cooked meal that includes (yikes!) vegetables! And, you dieters out there, stop beating yourself up when you find that no matter how many fresh fruits and vegetables you add to your diet, you still find yourself at a midnight In-N-Out Burger drive-thru. It’s an addiction, man!

The study found that eating junk food can actually change the chemistry in your brain. How? High-calorie foods affect your brain in much the same way as cocaine and heroin, and can lead to compulsive eating habits that resemble drug addiction. Plus, foods stripped of healthy nutrients, like junk food, make you more hungry because your body “thinks” you need more food when, in fact, what you really crave is more nutrients.

Chiropractors, like me, work with our patients to achieve overall health through regular chiropractic care, a nutritious diet, good hydration, and daily exercise. If any one of these components is missing, your good health and longevity are at risk. See your chiropractor today. He or she can help you “kick” your junk food “addiction.” 

For more on this study, go to reuters.com.

Posted via email from chironews4u’s posterous

Of course, the study’s “revelation” probably comes as no surprise to anyone (including the researchers, themselves) that junk food can cause an addiction, similar to alcohol or substance abuse. Any parent who’s had deal with the “withdrawal” hysterics of a child whose “fix” at McDonald’s was replaced by a nutritious home-cooked meal knows far too well the insidious pull that soda, shakes, and french fries can have on a developing physical body and emotional psyche. And, as mentioned above, over-weight adults attempting to change their unhealthy habits frequently find themselves going “in” more than staying “out,” of an In-N-Out Burger.

But, would you be surprised to learn that a new study shows that frequenting tanning beds can also be “addictive”? Yep, that’s right! Tanning bed tanners beware…an intervention may be coming your way! Though the junk food study found that eating junk food can actually change the chemistry in your brain, the tanning booth researchers suggested that many people “crave” a nice tan and, therefore, this “constant craving,” especially in winter months (in wintry climates), is like a form of addiction that sends people over the edge and into risky behavior of tanning bed tanning that has been shown to considerably raise a person’s risk of developing skin cancer.

Are we to start making excuses for artificially-tanned people by calling their behavior an “addiction”? Or, could it be that the word “addiction” needs to be used in its proper context? The researchers stated that “in addition to a desire for appearance enhancement, motivations for tanning include relaxation, improved mood and socialization.” Could it be, then, that cosmetics are addictive? I know many women who are absolutely agoraphobic without their mascara and lipstick. Could sports be addictive? No one can doubt the “high” that an athlete feels when he or she “scores.” And, could it be that love, itself, is addictive. And, of course, that reasoning would take pages to explore.

The dictionary definition of addiction is “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.” I seriously doubt that those who engage in bed tanning would experience “severe trauma” if an invention were to take place. Let’s not make anymore excuses for ourselves when we “choose” ego enhancers. Instead, may I suggest that we help ourselves by seeing ourselves as simply egotists who are psychologically superior to our exterior.

Technorati Tags: addictions, fitness, health, healthy lifestyle, junk food, weight loss