Statin Cholesterol Drugs Zap Your Energy!

    A study in the June 12, 2012 issue of the journal Archives of Internal Medicine reports that the cholesterol lowering statin drugs can leave users feeling drained and tired after exertion.

    Beatrice A. Golomb, MD, PhD, of the University of California San Diego (UCSD), and colleagues found that combined scores for change in energy and exertional fatigue worsened after patients started taking a statin compared to the group who did not take the drugs.

    The study included 1,016 men and women with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol screened at 115 to 190 mg/dL, who were given 20 mg simvastatin, 40 mg pravastatin (Pravachol), or a placebo daily for 6 months. The participants had no cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
    Overall, 21% of participants felt more tired after exertion. Women, however, were particularly affected. As many as 40% of women taking Zocor felt more tired and fatigued during physical exertion as women not taking the drug. 
    "These findings are important, given the central relevance of energy and functional status to well-being," the researchers said.
    
Of concern was increased fatigue and tiredness had the effect of decreasing the amount of exercise people wanted or were able to do. Exercise has been shown to be very important in lowering cholesterol counts.

One of the best things you can do to combat the fatigue is to supplement with CoQ-10.  This is depleted in large amounts in the body when taking any statin drug, and needs to be replenished.  Recommended dosage for anyone on a statin drug should be no less than 200mg per day! Some of the benefits ot taking CoQ-10 include:

•  producing more energy to be used by your cells
• boost your heart and cardiovascular health
• works as an anti-oxidant to protect against free radicals
• help reduce signs of aging
• provides a boost to your immune system
• helps support your nervous system and an active mind

If you know someone who is taking a statin drug for their cholesterol, please have them call our office to speak with Dr. Phil about natural ways to help lower cholesterol, as well as supplements like CoQ-10 to help protect their body from the harmful side effects of cholesterol and statin drugs.  

Smart Tips for a Healthy Back

We are honored to know that our patients consider us their first stop for treatment of their back pain.  Though we receive great satisfaction from helping our patients get back on their feet after an accident or injury, chiropractic treatments are just a portion of the service we provide.  We hate to see our patients suffer strains or pulled muscles while doing things they love, like gardening, tennis, or just tossing a ball with the kids in the backyard.  To help you enjoy life without back pain ruining your fun, we always take time to help you understand ways to protect your back from injury.  By following a few rules and developing some healthy habits, protecting your back is easy!

Healthy Back Tip #1: Warm up before you shape up!

One of the most common mistakes people make is neglecting to take time to warm up their muscles before strenuous activities.  When back muscles are not prepared for lifting, throwing or bending, it’s very easy to cause strain or injury that puts you on the sidelines and leaves you wincing.  Before sports or activities, like moving furniture or organizing the garage, take 5 minutes to warm up your back.  To make your exercises effective, consider the types of movement you might require of your back muscles and practice those movements gently to engage the muscles.  Will you be twisting and lifting?  Try side bends to warm up the muscles that support your spine.  Carrying heavy boxes?  Trunk rotations can limber up the lower back.  There are a variety of yoga exercises that can be performed while standing or lying down that help stretch and strengthen the back.  Learn more about yoga by trying a beginner’s class, researching yoga poses online or renting a yoga DVD.

Healthy Back Tip #2:  Practice Smart Lifting

Proper lifting technique isn’t just for weightlifters!  If you buy dog food in 40 pound bags at the warehouse store or lug baskets of laundry around the house, you, too, need to know to lift heavy loads correctly:

• Bend your knees—This move protects the lower back and distributes weight to your leg muscles, which can handle a heavier load than your back can.
• Keep heavy loads centered—Carrying laundry baskets on your hip might seem like the right thing to do, but that heavy load on one side of your body can cause spinal alignment issues.
• Brace yourself—If you anticipate a day of heavy lifting, investing in a lightweight lower back support brace will help protect your lower back from overexertion. 
• Cart it—Hand-truck carts and wheeled baskets can be your back’s best friend.  Keeping a small, collapsible cart in your car is great for transporting packages into the post office or getting that stack of sports drinks and snacks out to the ball field on game day.  Before you resort to carrying heavy loads, put safety first and load up a cart!  Check your local office supply store for a selection of inexpensive, sturdy carts or hand-trucks. 

Healthy Back Tip #3:  Stop if it hurts

Our bodies are constantly sending us messages about what they need.  Sudden back pain is a powerful message to stop what you are doing right away.  If you reach or bend and feel a twinge or pull, your body is telling you something just isn’t right.  Take a moment to consider why it hurts.  Should you have warmed up first?  Is the load too heavy for you?  Are you lifting properly?  Is there an easier, back-healthy way to accomplish the task?  Listen to your body and pay attention to its messages.  It will reward you with less sprains and strains!
Protecting your back from injury is an important part of a healthy life, and it is easy to do if you remember to warm up and practice safe movements that do not place unnecessary strain on your back muscles.  Keep your back strong with exercise and good posture.  Support your spine by strengthening your abdominal muscles and keeping your core strong.  Visit us for regular chiropractic adjustments, even when you are pain-free, to help keep your back healthy and ready for all the fun and adventure life has to offer!

5 Simple Exercises For Sculpted & Toned Legs

Are you self-conscious about your legs?

Do you dread the thought of wearing shorts-let alone a swimsuit?

Maybe you think your calves are too skinny or you hate that your thighs rub together and your buns jiggle when you walk.

Whatever you don't like about your legs, it isn't going to fix itself. So how can you fix it? Include strength training for your lower body in your regular routine.

To sculpt and tone your legs, try the following five exercises two to three times a week and see the difference they make. You'll be showing off those legs in no time.

#1: The Lunge
Arguably the best leg exercise, the lunge works pretty much every leg muscle as well as your buttocks. There are many variations to the simple lunge, but to do the basic lunge, stand up straight and tighten your core.

Step forward several feet with your right foot, landing heel first. Bend your right and left leg down until both legs are bent at 90 degrees (never more) and your left knee is about an inch above the floor. Make sure your knee doesn't extend further than your toes. Keep your body upright and work to keep your balance by not wobbling from side to side. Lift your body up and bring your hips forward until you're standing straight again. Then repeat, lunging forward with your left foot.

#2: The Squat
Perhaps the second-best full-leg workout is the squat. This powerhouse of an exercise works your glutes, hips and thighs all in one shot.

Here's how to do a beginner's squat. Stand between two chairs (if needed for balance). Place your feet shoulder-width apart. Keeping your back straight, chest up, and core tight, squat down like you're going to sit in a chair. Bend at the knees until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Hold this position, and then stand back up. Repeat without resting.

#3: The Mountain Climber
This leg exercise mimics the movement of climbing a steep mountain. The faster you climb (move your legs) the more of a cardio workout you'll get as well.

Get in a push-up position: hands and toes on the floor holding up your body. Holding in your abs, lift your right foot, bringing your right knee toward your chest. Tap the floor with your right foot then extend your leg back to starting position. Then lift your left leg, bring your left knee up toward your chest and tap the floor. Return to starting position. Repeat right, left, right, left for 20 repetitions.

#4: The Step-Up
Step-ups are great because they mimic movements you perform on a daily basis. This exercise works your legs and gets your heart pumping. When you do this exercise you can hold a dumbbell in each hand to increase resistance. In addition, you'll need some sort of step. This could be a bottom stair, sturdy box, or low stable chair.

Step up with your right foot, and then bring your left foot up. Step back down so both feet are on the floor. Then repeat, stepping up first with your left foot. Continue doing this 20 times.

#5: The Kettlebell Swing
This one is a winner.

Stand straight with your legs shoulder width apart.  Lean forward at your waist slightly and bend your knees so as to go into a semi-squat. Keep your back arched and head facing forward steadily.  Try a light kettlebell first. Let you arms hang loosely and raise the weight with both hands over your head and inhale. Then, swing the weight with both hands in between the legs towards the back of you while exhaling. Move the kettlebell using power thrusts from the hip, thigh, and lower back muscles, powerful hip snap on every rep are musts. With heavier weights, inhale on the swing between your legs and exhale when you raise it above your head.

A solid strength training routine will tone your legs, lift your buns, strengthen your core, and will result in healthy weight loss.

If you're ready to begin your body transformation then feel free to reach out to us. Email or call to get started today.

Chiropractic Proven to Help Debilitating Migraines

In the U.S., 30 million people suffer from debilitating migraines. Millions of these people also take over-the-counter and prescription painkillers for relief. Not only do these drugs have dangerous side effects, they do not address the root cause of the problem. However, several studies show that Chiropractic can reduce the frequency, duration and severity of migraines, and, sometimes, eliminate them completely.
The effects migraines have on one’s quality of life and productivity are astonishing: 91 percent of migraine sufferers can’t function normally during a migraine 70 percent have trouble with relationships because of migraines 59 percent miss family or social events due to migraines 51 percent say that migraines cut their work or school productivity in half 24 percent have had such severe pain they’ve gone to emergency rooms 25 percent have at least one migraine every week

To make matters worse, nearly 50 percent of migraine sufferers think they have something else wrong with them – tension headaches, sinus headaches, and so on. Consequently, they are never correctly diagnosed and never get the right treatment.

What can you do about migraines other than rest in bed or take drugs? According to several studies, you can visit your chiropractor.

One such study, a clinical trial conducted by chiropractor Dr. Peter Tuchin at Australia’s Macquarie University, worked with 123 migraine sufferers for six months. The participants had suffered from migraines for an average of 18 years. For two of the trial months, they received Chiropractic treatment. As a result of the treatment, seventy-two percent of the participants experienced either 'substantial' or 'noticeable' improvement.

Another trial found that the number of migraine attacks dropped by 90 percent for 22 percent of the participants. Nearly 50 percent of those involved in the trial also said that the pain of their migraines was significantly reduced.

Also, according to a review of 22 studies involving more than 2,600 patients with migraines, Chiropractic treatment is also a successful method of prevention.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from migraines, or other types of headaches that may have been misdiagnosed, consult your chiropractor to see how he or she can help you.

Sources: Migraine.com - http://migraine.com/migraine-statistics/, and
http://migraine.com/complimentary-and-alternative-therapies/chiropractic...
Medical News - http://www.news-medical.net/news/2005/05/22/10268.aspx;
Singer Health Reports - http://www.singerhealthreports.com

WATERMELON MAY REDUCE THE RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. If you or someone you know has CVD, or has high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, or any of the other factors that could lead to CVD, you have probably been told to exercise, reduce stress levels and avoid certain foods like sugar, white flours and junk food. Or you may have been prescribed drugs like statins. However, there are certain foods — known as ‘functional foods’ — that, in addition to the nutrients they supply, also specifically promote health or prevent disease in a certain part of the body. In the case of CVD, you still want to exercise and eat well, but there are also functional foods that may help prevent it, and may even help you avoid drugs.
Let’s just take one of the CVD risk factors: hypertension, high blood pressure.
Normal blood pressure is considered 120/80 or below. High blood pressure starts at 140/90. Between those you have a rating called prehypertension, which basically means that if you don’t do something to lower your blood pressure you could end up with full-blown hypertension — something you really want to avoid.
The risk level is much higher with hypertension than prehypertension, so getting your blood pressure under control now is a smart health move.
What functional foods help prehypertension? According to a recent study conducted at Florida State University, watermelon might be just what you need.
The study, though small, is very promising and is the first on human subjects. While the participants didn’t actually eat watermelon, they were given six grams daily of the amino acid L-citrulline/L-arginine from watermelon extract for six weeks. There were four men and five women, ages 51 to 57, and each were prehypertensive. All participants had positive results: improved arterial function and lowered blood pressure.
The real ‘active” ingredient, the one that’s making the difference, is the amino acid L-arginine. However, L-arginine taken on its own can be hard on the gastrointestinal system. The better option is another amino acid, L-citrulline, which converts to L-arginine once in the body.
Watermelon is loaded with L-citrulline, is well tolerated, has no side effects, and provides the added benefits of Vitamins A, B6 and C along with fiber, potassium and lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
If you’re looking for natural solutions to protect your heart, give watermelon extract a try. It is available at local health food stores and online!

SOURCE: Science Daily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101013173847.htm.

Summer Safety!

Summer outdoor safety is important to discuss this time of year. Are you a weekend warrior? A seasoned pro? It doesn't matter when the thermometer starts to creep above 90 degrees, you're putting yourself at risk for heat related illnesses. Fluid replenishment before, during and after your activity is essential! Your body can generate 15-20 times the amount of heat it normally produces with hard physical work. Be aware of the "Signals" your body sends as it begins to heat up!!! Know when to quit playing. Always consume more water than you think you need to. Do not wait until you are thirsty. If you wait till then, your body is already dehydrated and is desperately needing water. Whenever possible, don’t plan sporting events between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.(the hottest times of the day). Wear light colored, well ventilated, loose fitting clothing. Those type of clothes will help your body be able to cool off more quickly. And, make sure that shade is close – or bring your own umbrella to rest under. Stay safe out there and enjoy your summer!

Have you found us on Facebook yet? We share valuable information on how to be happy and healthy as well as information related to a variety of health issues. Please follow this link, and "Like" us, and help us spread the word of the priceless value of chiropractic care!

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Atlantic-Chiropractic-and-Wellness-Center/233396096411

Headaches and Chiropractic

If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea.

What do you do when you suffer from a pounding headache? Do you grit your teeth and carry on? Lie down? Pop a pill and hope the pain goes away? There is a better alternative.

Research shows that spinal manipulation – the primary form of care provided by doctors of chiropractic – may be an effective treatment option for tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.

A report released in 2001 by researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, NC, found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for those headaches that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.

Also, a 1995 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulative therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches and that those who ceased chiropractic treatment after four weeks experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit in contrast with those patients who received a commonly prescribed medication.

Headache Triggers

Headaches have many causes, or “triggers.” These may include foods, environmental stimuli (noises, lights, stress, etc.) and/or behaviors (insomnia, excessive exercise, blood sugar changes, etc.). About 5 percent of all headaches are warning signals caused by physical problems.

Ninety-five percent of headaches are primary headaches, such as tension, migraine, or cluster headaches. These types of headaches are not caused by disease. The headache itself is the primary concern.

“The greatest majority of primary headaches are associated with muscle tension in the neck,” says Dr. George B. McClelland, a doctor of chiropractic from Christiansburg, VA. “Today, Americans engage in more sedentary activities than they used to, and more hours are spent in one fixed position or posture. This can increase joint irritation and muscle tension in the neck, upper back and scalp, causing your head to ache.”

What Can You Do?

The ACA suggests the following:

• If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, on a sewing machine, typing or reading, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour. The stretches should take your head and neck through a comfortable range of motion.
• Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches. However, if you are prone to dull, throbbing headaches, avoid heavy exercise. Engage in such activities as walking and low-impact aerobics.
• Avoid teeth clenching. The upper teeth should never touch the lowers, except when swallowing. This results in stress at the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) – the two joints that connect your jaw to your skull – leading to TMJ irritation and a form of tension headaches.
• Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

Dr. McClelland says your doctor of chiropractic may do one or more of the following if you suffer from a primary headache:

• Perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress on your system.
• Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet and perhaps the addition of B complex vitamins.
• Offer advice on posture, ergonomics (work postures), exercises and relaxation techniques. This advice should help to relieve the recurring joint irritation and tension in the muscles of the neck and upper back.

“Doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive training to help their patients in many ways – not just back pain,” says Dr. McClelland. “They know how tension in the spine relates to problems in other parts of the body, and they can take steps to relieve those problems.”