eChiropractor.org

The Ultimate Chiropractic Resources

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Alternative Care for Edema

Edema swelling can interfere with daily activities.  There are alternative forms of care that can be beneficial for this condition.

What is Edema?

Edema means swelling.  It can affect particular areas or the whole body.  Edema is the body’s response to inflammation or injury, infections, medical problems, pregnancy, or medications.  In edema, the blood vessels leak fluid into the tissues, which causes the swelling.  Edema is a common allergic reaction, and it can also occur in heart, liver, and kidney diseases.  Cerebral edema affects the brain, such as when head trauma occurs.  It may also come from low blood sodium, high altitude, and tumors.  Cerebral edema can lead to confusion, headaches, or coma.  Many medications trigger edema, such as corticosteroids (prednisone), NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen), and others.1  There are two types of edema:  cutaneous (pitting), where pressing into the swelled area leaves an indent, and the non-pitting form.  In the latter, the indentation doesn’t persist, such as in lymphedema.

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Vertigo and Chiropractic Care

The dizziness of vertigo can interfere with a person’s life.  Chiropractic care may be beneficial.

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a condition where a patient feels as if there is motion when there is not.  It is a type of dizziness due to a vestibular system dysfunction.  It can cause balance problems, as well as nausea and vomiting.  Objective vertigo occurs when the patient feels as if objects are moving.  Subjective vertigo concerns the patient feeling as if they are in motion.  A third type, pseudovertigo, is “an intensive sensation of rotation inside the patient’s head”. While vertigo can affect anyone, it increases with age and is more common in women. Read more.

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Helping and Preventing Heel Pain

There are many ways to prevent and resolve heel pain.  The solutions don’t have to be medical in nature.

Causes of Heel Pain

Pain in the heel impacts the bottom of the foot and back of the heel.  The most common cause of pain on the bottom of the heel is plantar fasciitis.  The back of the heel pain is likely due to Achilles tendinitis.  Heel pain can cause problems with daily activities, such as walking and exercise.  There are many other causes of heel pain, including arthritis, neuropathy, fractures, tarsal tunnel syndrome, gout, bursitis, heel spurs, osteomyelitis, and more.1  Heel pain can occur easily:  “Every mile you walk puts 60 tons of stress on each foot”. Read more.

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Tonsillectomy Risks and Benefits

Once a more common surgical procedure, tonsillectomies are now reserved only for certain situations.

About Tonsillitis and Tonsil Stones

Tonsils reside in the back of the throat as “gland-like structures”.  They contain lymphocytes, which help fight infection.  The role of tonsils in the immune system is that they act like a net that traps viruses and bacteria.  When they do their job correctly, they can help keep the body healthy.  When they do not, they can develop tonsil stones (tonsilloliths) or they can become inflamed, which is called tonsillitis.

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Boosting Metabolism

Traditional medical science doesn’t hold all of the keys to boosting metabolism.  Chiropractic can help.

What is Metabolism?

In technical terms, metabolism refers to chemical transformations in cells that allow organisms to reproduce, grow, and respond to the environment.  This includes digestion and transportation of substances throughout the living organism.1  Humans have a basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the energy spent when the body is at rest.  BMR decreases with age and increases with muscle mass.  The BMR is also affected by food and temperature, and is a consideration for weight loss.  Glucose, fats, and proteins are all involved in providing energy to the body. Read more.

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Healthy Holidays

The holiday season brings people together in traditions and celebrations.  Stress, illness, and injury, however, can often accompany the joy.

Holiday Stressors

Typical holiday stressors can range from trying to do too many activities, to spending too much on gifts, to finding enough time to cook or clean for parties and visitors.  People can experience anxiety over familial relationships.  The sleeping schedules and the diet can be off, too.  Holiday food is generally more fattening, with higher sugar and sodium.  People could be exposed to more food, pet, and environmental allergens.  Heart attacks during the holiday season are possible, due to all of these changes, as well as inclement weather and snow shoveling. Read more.

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New Technology for the Deaf

Technological advances have provided many new options for deaf people, but not without some controversy.

Causes of Deafness

The inability to hear, or deafness, can occur from birth, age, noise, illness, medications, chemicals, or physical trauma, such as head injury.  Deafness can range from the mild to the profound.  Hearing loss can be genetic.  When there are other medical problems involved, this genetic deafness is called syndromic.  Nonsyndromic genetic deafness is when no other medical problems are associated at the same time.  There are many illnesses that can cause deafness, such as measles, meningitis, mumps, autoimmune disease, fetal alcohol syndrome, some sexually transmitted diseases, and tumors. Read more.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have many traditional and alternative treatment options available to help them cope.

What is PTSD?

Normal “fight or flight” response to danger is different for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  After a traumatic event, or one of physical harm, PTSD may develop.  It can even happen when witnessing such an event.  PTSD can occur due to the effects of war, from rape, torture, or mugging, after kidnapping or child abuse, from train, car, or plane accidents, or even as a result of natural disasters. Read more.

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Treating Adhesions

Scar-like adhesions may require various types of treatments, from medical to chiropractic and massage.

What are Adhesions?

Internal body parts are normally slippery, so that they can move around each other easily.  Adhesions are “scar-like tissue that form between two surfaces”, leading them to stick to each other.  These can be caused by surgery, injury, or inflammation, and adhesions can occur most anywhere in the body.  Common places would be the abdomen, pelvis, eyes, and joints (i.e., shoulder).  Arthritis or overuse can also cause adhesions in the joints.  The problem comes when the adhesions can pull a body part out of position so that it can’t move as well. Read more.

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About Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps are painful, but they can be prevented.

Causes of Cramps

A cramp is when the muscle spasm is “forceful and sustained”.  Spasms and cramps are painful.  The most common locations for cramps and spasms are the quadriceps, calves, hamstrings, back, hands, arms, and feet.  It is thought that cramps can come from fatigued muscles and not enough stretching.  Overexertion, poor fitness, and dehydration are other potential causes.  Medications can deplete the body of magnesium, sodium, and potassium, which can lead to cramps.  Certain injuries and medical conditions can also lead to cramps and spasms.1 Read more.

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Treating Calcifications

When calcifications build up in the joints and tendons in the body, the painful inflammation can be treated by traditional and alternative methods.

What are Calcifications?

Excess calcium deposits can build up in the body.  They are called calcifications.  They can be found in arteries, the breasts, kidneys (kidney stones), muscles, lymph nodes, and in the joints.  Most causes of calcifications in soft tissues are due to damage from infection, injury, autoimmune disorders, loss of blood flow, aging, and tumors. Read more.

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Coping with Lymphedema

Lymphedema swelling is a long-term problem that requires daily support.

What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema concerns the swelling of the arms and legs due to a lymphatic system blockage.  When the lymph fluid cannot drain well, the fluid continues building up, causing swelling.  The most common cause of (secondary) lymphedema is cancer treatment, where damage to, or removal of, lymph nodes may occur. Read more.

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Dental Health and the Body

Oral hygiene and dental health can impact other body systems.

Oral Hygiene Techniques

Oral hygiene is a regular habit that is easy enough to practice for preventive care.  A regular brushing routine is important.  It helps prevent plaque (which causes decay), freshens the breath, and can stave off gingivitis and other mouth diseases.  If an electric toothbrush isn’t being used, it is important to brush manually in a circular motion.  Both sides of the teeth, as well as the gum line, need to be brushed.  The brush should be held at a 45-degree angle. Read more.

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Ways to Rehabilitate the Shoulder

Many rotator cuff and general shoulder injuries can be treated with chiropractic and massage therapy, as an alternative to medications and surgery.

Types of Shoulder Injuries

The shoulder is made up of muscles, tendons, and joints.  The bones of the shoulder include the clavicle, scapula, and humerus.  The tissues that help keep the arm centered in the shoulder are referred to as the rotator cuff.  Shoulder pain can have many causes, and it can be temporary or chronic.  The general categories of shoulder pain are instability, arthritis, fracture, or inflammation of the tendon (i.e., tendinitis, bursitis).  Rarely, nerve problems, infection, and tumors are involved.  Bursitis refers to when the fluid-filled sacs of the joints (bursae), which cushion between the bones and soft tissues, are inflamed. Read more.

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Walking for Fitness

Walking a form of exercise that is low-impact.  It can be practiced by athletes and people of all ages.

Benefits of Walking

Walking is a simple form of exercise that doesn’t necessarily require a lot of special equipment.  It strengthens the bones, improves the mood, may help in weight maintenance, and it can also improve coordination and balance.  For people with heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, walking can help to manage or prevent these systemic conditions.1 Walking can help people avoid osteoporosis by strengthening the bones and muscles.  Moderate exercise can improve health and reduce stress, even when heredity plays a role in risk factors for diseases. Read more.

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Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS)

ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is debilitating, degenerative, and incurable.  There are several options in managing this disease’s progression.

What is ALS?

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.  It is sometimes referred to as Motor Neurone Disease (MND).  It is a disorder of the motor neurons and leads to muscle spasticity and atrophy, difficulty speaking and swallowing, trouble with breathing, and progressive weakness.  All voluntary movement can cease due to the degeneration of the “upper and lower motor neurons” and muscle weakness.  The parts of the body often spared in ALS are bowel, bladder, and eye control, as well as cognitive functioning. Read more.

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Chiropractic and Massage for a Healthy Lifestyle

Regular chiropractic care and massage treatments are not just for relieving pain.  They can be part of a healthy lifestyle and injury prevention.

Chiropractic Care

Doctors of Chiropractic are specialists in musculoskeletal health, as well as its impact on the nervous system and overall wellness.  Chiropractors approach healthcare from a drug-free perspective.  They practice hands-on therapies, and they can recommend exercises, stretches, nutritional, and dietary counseling.  Chiropractic care looks at the individual holistically, and it aims to prevent issues and resolve underlying problems.  Chiropractors can recommend ergonomic changes in a patient’s lifestyle to help reduce repetitive stressors and injuries.  The treatments and spinal manipulations can help adjust the spine, joints, and tissues, restoring mobility and alleviating muscle pain and tightness. Read more.