Sleep-Do you get enough?

Sleep-Do you get enough?

Various researchers have found that a habit that most of us take for granted -sleep — may

affect our memory in many ways. Not only does sleep help your memory, but lack of sleep may also hurt your health. A 2010 study from Biological Psychiatry found that chronic insomnia may lead to loss of brain volume. Insomniacs had a smaller volumes of gray matter in three brain areas — and the more serious the insomnia, the greater the loss of volume.
In 2012, a preliminary study from the Washington University School of Medicine found that in mice, poor sleep may be related to brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's. 

The third of our life that we spend sleeping has always been something of a mystery. Now a new wave of studies are finding indications that while we may appear to be in a stupor, our brains are actually hard at work. Most scientists agree that getting a decent night’s rest is a good idea. Chiropractic treatment can help you get that all important sleep. Chiropractic treatments can help with spinal tension/ headaches which can keep us up at night. By helping with all those aches/ pains that cause tossing and turning. Chiropractic adjustments can help you feel better and get more quality  and quantity of sleep.

-Dr. Stephen Kelly

Come and see Dr. Kelly Monday through Saturday at 142 Erickson Drive Red Deer (403)347-3261 or visit our website www.family1stchiro.ca

Getting old gracefully

Getting Old Gracefully

People tend to be more prone to eating unhealthy foods, spending their time clicking through channels in the recliner, and watching negative news or talk shows. This time could be spent planning their day and sending positive messages out to the universe. Making reference to the book –“The Secret”. What you put out to the universe is what you get.

 

Expressing health and happiness at your fullest potential. Takes a little effort. However we can simplify it by giving steps to ease up the journey.

Choose a healthier diet. Processed foods are bad. So if it doesn’t grow outside, swim, or graze on grass. Try to avoid it. Eat less sugars and dairy. Try organic, when possible! It’s more costly. However it’s worth the nutritional benefits. Eat less salt. Reducing sodium intake is beneficial in reducing blood pressure.

Get proper exercise.  Although a gym membership is great. You don’t have to get one. There are many activities. Red Deer has tons of green space to take advantage of. Walking and biking are great cardio exercises and stress relievers. Take advantage of the gorgeous fall weather--get outside breathe in deep and start walking!  The more we move the more oxygen intake. Endorphins kick in. This is when we start feeling really good while exercising.

Get adequate rest. This is where we repair and recharge to get through the day. Without sleep we are sacrificing energy needed for mental clarity and body function.  I understand that life gets in the way. So plan ahead. This leads to better choices.

Have an attitude of gratitude. Be grateful.  Some people opt for prayer. Others keep a journal where they record all the things to be thankful for. The more you start to being grateful. The more you will see the greatness in things!  Bring positive people into your lives .These people will help support and encourage us.

Finally get our nervous system checked.  While we are working on bettering ourselves it’s important to have an open connection between the brain and the body.  Stresses in life can cause interference in our innate to flow from our central nervous system out to our organs, tissues and cells (causing vertebral subluxations).  Your Chiropractor will remove your subluxations. Making your body work at it’s optimal level.

Blog posted by Dr. Elton Clemence at Family First Chiropractic located at 142 Erickson Drive Red Deer, AB T4R 2C3. Call us to book your next adjustment (403)347-3261 or visit our website www.family1stchiro.ca

Concussions

Concussions

In simple terms it is a brain injury sustained by a blow either to the head or to the body resulting in traumatic forces being applied to the brain. It is not a “bruise” to the brain, but rather a trauma. 

Some head injuries may appear to be mild but research is finding that concussions can have serious, long-term effects, especially repeat head injuries or cumulative concussions. A concussion is typically caused by a severe head trauma during which the brain moves violently within the skull. The brain cells all fire at once, much like a seizure. Some studies show that patients who suffer a concussion appear to have the brain activity of people in a coma.

A concussion may result from a fall in which the head strikes against an object or a moving object strikes the head. A suddenly induced turning movement such as a blow that twists the head (like a punch to the side of the face) is more likely to produce unconsciousness.

In the immediate aftermath of a concussion, there may be some structural damage which causes cell death.  However, the primary problem is a chemical one in the cells that have survived the trauma.

When there is a sufficient blow to the brain, the membranes of the affected nerve cells in the brain are stretched or twisted, allowing potassium to exit those cells, which triggers those cells to depolarize, thus the phenomenon of seeing stars if the affected area is involved with sight or ringing in the ears if the affected area is involved with hearing. The exit of potassium peaks at two minutes after the incident but continues for another 3-4 minutes.

Then, until the chemical balance is somewhat restored, those neurons (nerve cells) are unable to fire again. Furthermore, in a protective reflex of sorts, surrounding cells begin to shut down-causing a “spreading depression.” If enough cells become depressed, confusion, amnesia, and even loss of consciousness can result.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to recover, the brain starts using up massive amounts of blood sugar and will continue to do so for as long as 30 minutes. This overuse of this glucose results in the production of lactic acid which, in excess amounts, inhibits brain function.

For reasons not entirely clear, within two minutes of a concussion, the body decreases blood flow to the brain by up to 50 percent. This process continues unabated for 3-4 days but fully normal blood flow may not resume until an average of 10 days have passed. Consequently, at precisely the time the brain needs extra fuel to repair itself, it ends up getting less!

While the immediate chemical reaction of the brain to the concussion is brief and generally completed in 30 minutes, it takes days for the individual cell and the brain as a whole to restore that chemical balance which was lost so quickly. Until that balance is restored, the brain doesn’t work as well and is particularly vulnerable to re-injury.

2nd Impact Syndrome?

This is when an athlete, who has already sustained a head injury, sustains a second head injury before symptoms and pathophysiology from the first injury have resolved.  Many times this occurs because the athlete has returned to play too soon either due to not being truthful with doctors/coaches or not seeing anyone for the problem.

2nd Impact Syndrome is a problem isolated to the adolescent demographic, primarily due to the developing brain.  The second impact can result in a loss of auto-regulation of the brain’s blood supply, causing massive swelling.  This happens in a very rapid time frame and can be due to the most minor of “bumps”.

2nd Impact Syndrome has been reported to have a 95% morbidity rate (life long effect compromising brain function) and a WHOPPING 50-70% mortality rate (meaning death as a result).

Always see you family doctor or chiropractor to be evaluated after a trauma, sport or otherwise. Never return to a sport or activity after a head trauma without being evaluated.

Dr. Stephen Kelly www.family1stchiro.ca Family First Chiropractic and Wellness 142 Erickson drive, Red Deer 403-347-3261

Cerebral spinal fluid facts from Jeannette Raskin CST RMT

Cerebral spinal fluid facts

Jeannette Raskin RMT, CSTwww.family1stchiro.ca
practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness
403347-3261

Cerebrospinal fluid immerses the brain and spinal cord in essential nutrients, cleanses the brain and spinal cord of waste material, and flows throughout the body contributing to whole-body biochemical equilibrium. Imbalance of the autonomic nervous system can decrease the production of cerebrospinal fluid, which can lead to nutrient loss and toxicity of the brain or spinal cord, as well as biochemical and cellular stress throughout the body.
Cerebrospinal fluid is produced in four interconnected cavities within the brain, called ventricles. The autonomic nervous system controls the amount of cerebrospinal fluid that is created. Nerve fibers from two parts of the autonomic nervous system send signals to the ventricles.
The two autonomic nervous system parts are: the sympathetic, referred to as the “fight or flight” or “stress response” division; and the parasympathetic, called the “rest, digest and renew” or “healing” division.
The autonomic nervous system can become imbalanced due to things like infection, chronic pain, disease or stress. This can increase sympathetic division signals sent to the ventricles, which can lessen cerebrospinal fluid production by as much as 30%. On the other hand, parasympathetic signals sent to the ventricles increases cerebrospinal fluid production so the system can create the maximum amount for a healthy brain, spinal cord and body.
Reducing the body’s “stress response”, especially when a stressful state is chronic, helps to rebalance the autonomic nervous system. This can increase parasympathetic signals sent to the ventricles, which optimizes cerebrospinal fluid production. Then the brain, spinal cord and body as a whole can receive ideal levels of nutrition and cleansing.

Craniosacral Therapy is an effective method that can lessen stress, balance the autonomic nervous system, and optimize cerebrospinal fluid production and flow leading to optimal health, healing and well-being.

You sprained your ankle 15 years ago, why should it matter now?

You sprained your ankle 15 years ago, why should it matter now?

Dr. Elton Clemence- Family First Chiropractic and Wellness 403-347-3261

www.family1stchiro.ca

Ankles. We have two of them. The vast majority of patients I see have sprained one of them at some point in their lives.  This is a question I normally leave to the end of the consultation questions, normally receiving a confused look…  I can see the cogs turning in my thinking patients head, “…What? My ankles? Really, what has that got to do with my back…”.  Well, it has everything to do with your back pain.  It has everything to do with your knee pain, your hip pain, your neck pain, your shoulder pain, you name it pain.  Our feet and ankles are crucial aspects of our bodies that are far too often overlooked.

The soles of our feet have 200,000 receptors.  Our foot and ankle complex has 26 bones, with one quarter of the bones in our body in our feet (!).  There are 33 joints (!!) and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments (!!!).   All these structures within the ankle and feet are neurological powerhouses when it comes to sending our nervous system and brain information about where we are in space, the terrain we are walking on, how to safely move and change direction, plus many more.  If your car had one or two dodgy tires, how would your car drive? Not as well as it should. And what’s more, you wouldn’t put up with it.  The same applies to our feet and ankles.  If we have disrupted the information cycle between our feet and ankles and brain at any point during our lives, this can have ramifications for the rest of body, immediately or later on in the future.

When you sprain an ankle, it significantly changes the way that you walk.  It’s obvious at the beginning, but as time progresses and it begins to heal and you can walk more ‘normally’ again. However, it doesn’t mean that the ankle and foot have been properly rehabilitated back into a fully functional part of the body.  Your nervous system won’t think so, and will be protective of it without you even realizing.  These can cause potential problems later on, with many people re-spraining the same ankle over and over again.  The vicious cycle begin because the neurological information systems keeps becoming disrupted, and it goes on.

The bottom line is our ankle and feet are crucial to the optimum function of the body. Pay attention to those ankle sprains, they might be more important that you think!

Low back stretches for Guy Lacoursiere RMT

One of the most common questions I get from my massage clients is “what stretches can I do to minimize my lower back pain?” So here are the top 7 stretches I give to my clients.

1. The hamstring floor stretch.

Hold for 30 seconds twice for each leg.

2. Knee to chest stretch.

This helps strengthen and relax your glutes. Hold for 20 seconds for each leg twice.

3. Spinal stretch.

This was a favorite of mine when I suffered sciatica. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat on the other knee. Do this as many times as you like but don’t overdo it.

4. The piriformis stretch.

Hold for 30 seconds and repeat with the other leg.

5. The hip flexors stretch.

Hold for 30 seconds and then switch and repeat.

6. The quadriceps lying down stretch.

Hold for 30 seconds on each side. Do this one twice on each side.

7. The total back stretch.

Hold this for 30 seconds and then try this:

Hold for 10 seconds on both sides.

With any luck, this will have your lower back feeling great again!

Guy Lacoursiere practices at Family First Chiropractic and Wellness- 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer.T4R 2C3   403-347-3261 www.family1stchiro.ca