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Recently I found an article on sciencedaily.com how caffeine decreased memory loss in aged mice bred to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The article began with the angle that “Coffee drinkers may have another reason to pour that extra cup.”  It continued by reporting on back-to-back studies published online July 6 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that showed that caffeine notably decreased abnormal levels of the protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease, both in the brains and in the blood of mice displaying symptoms of the disease.

But, before you opt to add an extra cup of coffee to your daily routine, let me, Dr. Jamie Phillips warn you that also on the website, under “Related Stories,” were a couple of articles about studies that professed to prove the not-so-healthy effects of caffeine, “Morning Jolt of Caffeine May Mask Serious Sleep Problems,” and “Coffee Consumption Linked To Increased Risk Of Heart Attack For Persons With Certain Gene Variation.”

In my experience, I’ve noticed that there are probably studies that will corroborate, or at least support, any angle of thought, in particular when it has to do with health and longevity. The “yin-yang” of caffeine benefits-deficits certainly aren’t, by any means, the only ones. Even so, it did get me to pondering about the reasonableness that there will not ever be any “one thing” that will absolutely aid we, humans, in living longer, healthier lives. We are dynamic, biological creatures. We are free to participate in life. We’re not bred in a cage! And, furthermore, though Alzheimer’s disease apparently is on the rise, obviously no one has been “bred to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” so caffeine isn’t absolutely the “one thing” that will prevent or reverse it.

The human body is an exquisite, complex system that is based on homeostasis (balance). It is likely, then, that good health is about a healthy, balanced approach to living, instead of our being briefly convinced by the latest health study and “doing” or “overdoing” one particular thing fooling ourselves into believing that it will reverse all of the other immoderate and unhealthy things we do to our bodies.

As a doctor of chiropractic in Santa Barbara, I believe that every single day we have an opportunity to make decisions that will help us to live longer, healthier lives, healthy choices for our body and mind. We know what actually “feels” right and what doesn’t when it comes to what is good for our body. So, I just wanted to offer a little something for you to keep in mind the next time you consider having that extra cup of coffee or second glass of red wine. There is no “one thing” that will do “everything” for your good health.

Technorati Tags: age-related health issues, caffeine, chiropractor, dr. jamie phillips, health, longevity, red wine, santa barbara chiropractor

The most prevailing purpose for visits to a pediatrician is earache. By the age of three years, more than 70 percent of children will have had at least one experience of earache, and about a third will have had more than three incidents. What you might not know, however, is that earache is also the most widespread reason for children under the age of five years to be brought to the chiropractor’s office.

How Chiropractic Care Relates to Earache and Ear Infections

When a child who has an earache is determined to have a middle ear infection by the pediatrician, the standard treatment includes a course of antibiotics. Advanced study, however, has concluded that this is often misguided. The reason for the child’s middle ear infection may not be due to bacteria, and because antibiotics are only effective against bacterial pathogens, quite often there will be no positive reaction. This is because numerous cases of middle ear infection can be caused by a virus, and viruses do not respond to antibiotics. This may explain why children develop chronic ear infections.

One of the intentions of a Honolulu chiropractor is to ascertain if the reason for the body’s incapability of combatting the earache or ear infection is produced by inflamation of the small nerves in the spine (called free nerve endings).

When these nerve endings are irritated, an undue tension is generated in the small muscles of the neck. Pressure generated on the lymphatic drainage ducts as a consequence of muscle tension can prevent adequate drainage from inside the ear. This condition prevents the body from naturally fixing the problem. Additionally, balance can also be affected.

Inadequate drainage of lymphatic ducts can be discovered by a chiropractor if there is increased tension in the neck and paraspinal muscles on the side with the earache. In addition, the chiropractor will check to see which spinal vertebrae are either slightly out of alignment or not moving within their normal range. This condition may have been due to any one of the many bangs, jolts and falls that the majority of children encounter in the early years of their life. Restoration of normal lymph drainage is usually accomplished with a short series of treatments that include spinal adjustments and manipulation of the neck muscles. If your child is suffering from an earache or an ear infection, contact your Honolulu chiropractor as soon as possible.

Advanced Research and Guidelines

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), ear infection, the most frequent childhood disease after the common cold, accounts for nearly 30 million doctor visits each year. What’s more, at least 6 million courses of antibiotics are unnecessarily prescribed for the affliction.Not too long ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for treating pediatric ear inflammation, and definitively recommended a period of “watchful waiting” since, in many cases, infections clear up on their own, without medication.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) applauds the AAP on the guidelines and reiterates that chiropractic treatment is a “good first option” for treating ear infection conservatively. “Doctors of chiropractic have been treating children for decades with great success - helping them to avoid painful ear infections, antibiotic overuse and resistance, and ear tube surgery,” said ACA President Donald Krippendorf, DC. “Particularly when dealing with young children, drugs and surgery should be an absolute last resort.”

Technorati Tags: children's earaches, chiropractic, chiropractor, ear infections, earache, earaches

Controlling and maintaining body position while remaining still orin motion is the most crucial function of good balance. Good balance helps an individual to walk without staggering, arise from a sitting position without tottering, and to climb stairs without tripping.

Approximately 9 percent of adults, age 65 and older, describe having problems with balance. Good balance is essential in helping an older person to stay independent, and perform daily chores and activities. Quite a few older men and women, however, undergo dizziness, “wooziness,” and problems with balance.

The label, vertigo, applies to the feeling that a number of people have that they, themselves, or their environment is spinning. About 40 percent of individuals in the U.S. will experience dizziness that is serious enough to go to a doctor. And, among older adults, falls are the most widespread cause of severe injury and deaths.

Balance and Inner Ear Problems

Three types of balance disorders that are most familiar are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, labyrinthitis, and Meniere’s disease, though there are quite a few other classes of balance disorders. Of these three, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most prevalent. Its symptoms involve a brief, intense feeling of vertigo with a change in head position, when rolling over to the left or right in bed or when getting out of bed, or when looking up for something on a high shelf. This affliction is more likely to happen in persons 60 and older, however it can also happen in younger adults.

There are various causes for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Inner ear infection, head injury, or simply aging can cause the problem. Often times a simple Epleys procedure can eliminate the affliction, although it can be connected with other disease processes. Your Santa Barbara Chiropractor has many years of experience in this procedure.

Labyrinthitis is an infection or iirritation of the inner ear that produces dizziness and loss of balance. It affects adults of any age and the cause is currently undiscovered.

Ménière’s disease is a balance disorder that creates vertigo, hearing loss inconsistent, tinnitus (ringing or roaring in the ears), and a “full feeling” in the ear.

Age is not the only reason these problems take place, but older persons are more likely to undergo balance disorders. Treatment for balance disorders varies based upon the reason. A chiropractor is well-educated in discovering and treating many of the causes. Not infrequently, even simple exercises for vestibular rehab can be the solution to balance challenges. Make an appointment with a health care professional, such as your Santa Barbara Chiropractor, if you have undergone, or are currently experiencing, dizziness, vertigo, or other abnormalities with balance.

Whereas some balance disorders are caused by problems in the inner ear, other disorders may be associated with another part of the body, like the brain or the heart. Head injury, stroke, certain medicines, circulation problems, upper respiratory infections and other viral infections, stress, fatigue, smoking, alcohol use,  high or low blood pressure, and heart disease are all factors that, in addition to aging and ear infection, may cause balance disorders.

Balance disorders caused by high blood pressure can usually be managed by less sodium intake,maintaining a healthy weight, and exercise. To assist in making the symptoms of dizziness less intense, most often eating low-salt or salt-free foods, and staying away from caffeine and alcohol, will help.

Balance disorders are dangerous. It is the most prevalent cause of falls and fall-related injuries in older people. It is essential to have a suspected balance disorder accessed and treated as soon as possible.

If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, you should discuss the symptom(s) with your chiropractor:

• Do you have the feeling of being “unsteady?”

• Does the room seem to spin around you?

• Is there ever a time when you feel as if you are moving when you know you are standing still?

• Do you lose your balance and/or fall?

• Do you feel as if you are falling?

• Does your vision ever become “blurred?”

• Do you ever feel disoriented, or lose a sense of time, place or identify?

Don’t wait until it’s too late! Call your chiropractor today.

Technorati Tags: balance, chiropractic, chiropractor, dizziness, falls, vertigo