Our bodies respond to three types of stress – physical, chemical, and emotional. Physical stresses can include car accidents, falls, or simply stepping off a curb wrong. Chemical stresses may be eating pro-inflammatory foods, long rounds of antibiotics, or being exposed to allergens. Emotional stresses can come from many different sources. These can be anything from stress at work to a family member passing away.

When these constant stressors are placed on our lives, our bodies respond to them. In our spine, these show up as subluxations. Subluxation is just a big word for a misalignment or segment in your spine that is not moving as it should.  When left there, over time the subluxation will start to cause inflammation. Inflammation in turn is going to start to affect the nerves in that area and create some interference with the signal it’s trying to put out. The longer these subluxations remain under the surface, the more damage they cause. Over time they manifest and make themselves known through various symptoms. These can be things like low back pain, headaches, sinus congestion, digestive issues, and hormone imbalances.

If left long enough, these subluxations can also lead to degeneration and decay within the spine. In a way, subluxations are very similar to cavities you get in your teeth. They eat away at surrounding tissues. This means that the normal curves are lost from the spine, the disc thins, and the vertebrae begin to collapse.

The good news is, chiropractic adjustments help to remove these subluxations and aid your body in returning to its proper function. Chiropractic adjustments are much like regular teeth cleanings at the dentist. We locate the subluxations (aka cavities) and remove them. Now your brain can properly talk with all of your organs and tissues again and the ability for it to heal itself is restored.

Dr. Meghan

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that our body needs to function.  Unfortunately, our bodies cannot make them ourselves so we have to get them from outside sources.  The benefits of omegas are numerous but they are most known for their anti-inflammatory properties. They also play a very crucial role in nervous system development and brain function. Omega 3 fatty acids have also been shown to improve heart health and lower the risk of heart disease.

While these fatty acids are so vital for our health, many Americans are deficient in them.  Symptoms of omega 3 fatty acid deficiency include poor memory, fatigue, dry skin, heart problems, and joint pain. The typical American diet is often high in omega 6 fatty acids and low in omega 3’s. Omega 6 fatty acids are found in things like grains, eggs, and grain-fed livestock. These fatty acids will actually promote inflammation within the body. Ideally, you want to have a 2:1 ratio of omega 6 fatty acids to omega 3 fatty acids. Most Americans linger around a 20:1 ratio.

The great news is, there are tons of healthy and nutritious sources of omega 3’s. The following are just a few:

• Salmon
• Grass-fed beef
• Flaxseed
• Chia Seeds
• Walnuts
• Tuna
• Grass-fed dairy

Using supplementation to improve your omega 3 levels is always great as well! This way you know your body is absorbing the proper amounts it needs.

Dr. Meghan

Acupuncture has numerous benefits and it’s impossible to count all the conditions it can help with.  The following are just a few of them!

1. Insomnia

Regular acupuncture treatments have been shown to improve sleep quality and length up to 3+ more hours a night

2. Balanced Mood

Acupuncture will calm the sympathetic nervous system by releasing endorphins and neurotransmitters that control our stress levels. Our sympathetic nervous system is in charge of releasing our adrenaline and is our “fight or flight” nervous system.  There are about 40 million Americans suffering from anxiety and about 17.5 million suffering from depression. Many have found a significant reduction in symptoms with acupuncture treatments.

3. Improved Immune System

Certain acupuncture points will actually trigger your body to release immune cells. These cells are responsible for seeking out infections and foreign invaders. Studies have actually shown that acupuncture treatments improved cell counts in those with HIV/AIDS.

4.Chronic Pain Management

Many people suffer from chronic pain that they are just left to manage it. Acupuncture can actually double the chances of experiencing relief from this pain whether it be low back pain, neck pain, or migraines.

5.Reduced Stress

I’m sure most of you would say that you deal with quite a bit of stress from day to day. 1 in 5 Americans report that they experience “extreme” stress. These constant stressors have actually been liked to causing 60% of illnesses and disease. Treatments with acupuncture can help to relieve a lot of this stress and even lower stress-induced high blood pressure.

6.Hormone Balance

Hormone imbalance is becoming more prevalent. Women reaching menopause in particular can suffer from extreme symptoms. Specific acupuncture points will target the reproductive organs to regulate hormones and increase blood flow to them. Acupuncture is also very effective in supporting the process of IVF and conception.

7. Acid Reflux relief 

About 60% of adults suffer from some sort of gastric reflux disease. Regular sessions of acupuncture has been shown to reduce the reflux and relieve patients of its symptoms.

8. Allergy Reduction

Studies have shown that 2 acupuncture sessions a week for 6 weeks will help to reduce and manage allergy symptoms.

9. Weight Management

Many don’t know that acupuncture can actually help with cravings. By treating certain points, these cravings can be reduced and help you lose weight and keep it off.

10. Back Pain Relief

33% of people with low back pain saw an improvement with regular acupuncture treatments. Many cases of low back pain are related to tight and spasming muscles. Acupuncture can help to reduce that tension and relax the muscles.

If you suffer from any of these things or are just curious about acupuncture, give our office a call! (515)278-9678

Dr. Meghan

It’s that time of year when everyone’s allergies are hitting them in full force.  I have seen many people with terrible congestion, sinus pressure, and sinus headaches. Often we will get calls from patients saying that they’re not feeling well and want to cancel their appointment. What many people don’t know is that it is actually VERY beneficial for you to get adjusted when you don’t feel well!

All of the nerves that help supply and regulate your immune system come from your upper neck. Misalignments and subluxations in your neck will interfere with the message your brain is trying to send to your immune system. An adjustment will remove that interference between the two and get your brain talking to your immune system again! Research has shown that an adjustment will release 200-400x more immune cells!!

If you’re suffering from allergies or a cold, vitamin D is a fantastic supplement to help boost your immune system as well. Being proactive now by taking or increasing your vitamin D can help protect yourself this winter and help you avoid colds and the flu.

Next time you’re not feeling well or your allergies are flared up, make sure you get adjusted ASAP to boost that immune system!

Dr. Meghan

I have many patients asking me when they should use ice versus heat for their pain or injuries. This is a really great question and there are a few simple rules of thumb to follow.

Ice should always be used for acute problems. This means anything that has happened within the last 24-72 hours. During this time after an injury or flare-up, inflammation is at its highest. The best way to calm down and eliminate inflammation is to apply ice. This will slow down the blood flow to the area and reduce the swelling and heat. Ice is also great for migraine headaches and bruising.

Heat is best used for more chronic conditions. This is something that has been around for quite some time, such as arthritis.  When using heat, it will increase blood flow to the area and help loosen up tight joints. This is also great for muscle tension. The increased blood flow will help the muscles to relax and decrease soreness. You should never use heat however on areas that are numb or have lost sensation. Those with diabetes should also avoid heat as well. Never use heat over an area with bruising or swelling.

With both ice and heat, they should never be applied directly to the skin. Always use a towel or cloth between. Each should be applied to the area for about 20 minutes and can be reapplied about 40 minutes later.

If you are ever in doubt of which you should use, stick with ICE!

Dr. Meghan

It’s back-to-school time once again and parents are sending their kids off to school with backpacks filled with brand new supplies and books. What many parents may not know however, is that their child’s backpack could be harming their spine.

An average 6th grader’s backpack weighs about 18 lbs and can sometimes weigh up to 30 lbs (1). This large weight is distributed across a child’s shoulders and back placing a lot of stress on their body. Over time, this will start to take a toll, causing forward rolled shoulders, jutting forward of the head and neck, and low back pain (2). These effects can all occur just in a short amount of time.

Carrying these heavy loads over an entire school year will actually start to effect the natural curves in a child’s spine (2). Children’s spines are still growing and changing and do not become skeletally mature until their mid-20’s.  During this venerable time, this stress can have detrimental effects. When a backpack is carried on just one shoulder, the stress is multiplied and it could actually lead to the formation of a scoliosis over time.

A NY Times article published that, “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child’s backpack weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child’s weight. Consumer Reports recommends keeping the weight closer to 10 percent of a child’s weight.” (1). When choosing the right backpack for your child, take into account their height and weight and make sure you weigh their backpack at home.

1. https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/weighing-school-backpacks/
2. https://www.spine-health.com/wellness/ergonomics/backpacks-and-back-pain-children

Dr. Meghan

Believe it or not, what you do in your sleep can greatly affect your spine! While it is hard to control what you do in your sleep, sleeping in optimal positions can help reduce stress on your spine.

The most common sleeping position is on your side. About 69% of people say they are side sleepers. There are many benefits to sleeping on your side but it can put your neck or low back at as disadvantage. When sleeping on your side, make sure to keep a pillow between your knees. This will level out your pelvis and neutralize your low back. You also want to make sure your neck is in a neutral position. You don’t want it propped up too high or too low. That is why we suggest the contoured pillows we carry here in the office at YFC. The contour follows the natural curve of the neck and allows perfect support throughout the night.

Another great sleeping position is on the back. This actually places the least amount of stress on the spine. Just like with side sleeping, you also want to make sure you have the proper support for your neck. Again, our contoured pillows are perfectly made to fully support your neck while on your back as well. When sleeping on your back, it’s also a good idea to have a pillow under your knees. This will take even more pressure of of your low back and give you a perfectly restful night’s sleep.

The worst sleeping position for your spine is sleeping on your stomach. This is harmful for your spine in a few different ways. First, it places a lot of stress and pressure on your neck because you are forced to turn your head to one side.  More stress and pressure is also placed on your low back because it forces it into a hyper-extended position.  While sleeping on your stomach may feel comfortable, it is actually harming your spine every night. So if you are a stomach sleeper, try to start training yourself to sleep on your side or back!

Dr. Meghan

There has been a lot talk about coconut oil lately and if it is actually good or bad for you.  A study was recently published by the American Heart Association (AHA) connecting saturated fats to heart disease.   The AHA is stating that coconut oil raises cholesterol, which in turn will cause heart disease. This is actually true, but only partly. Coconut oil will increase your HDL cholesterol (“good cholesterol”). So while the overall total cholesterol does go up, it is only due to the rise in HDL numbers.

Studies in Brazil have shown that increased levels of HDL cholesterol actually help those with heart disease lose weight and protect the heart (1). Other studies have actually proven that low cholesterol, not high, can increase a person’s risk of early death (2).

Instead of looking at cholesterol as the culprit to heart disease, we should start looking to inflammation.  Chronic inflammation causes damage to the arteries over time. This damage leads to plaquing and hardening, and eventually to heart disease.

The overall takeaway here is that coconut oil is actually great for you. When you consider if a fat or oil is healthy, you really just need to think about where it is coming from. Coconut oil, olive oil, butter, etc. can all be traced back to their sources. Oils such as Canola oil, vegetable oil, and margarine are synthetically processed and produced. So please consider this next time you’re shopping at the store. Natural is always better.

Dr. Meghan

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26545671
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26545671

Fruit juice is one of the most common drinks given to children. Did you know that it could actually be harming your child? Just this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics warned parents that children under the age of 1 should not be given fruit juice at all.  They reported that too large of quantities of juice can lead to energy imbalances, digestive issues, tooth decay, and metabolic distress.

For children ages 4-6, it’s recommended they be given no more than 4-6 oz a day. Children ages 7 to 18 shouldn’t consume more than 8 oz a day. When comparing those servings to typical bottle sizes you can buy at the store, children are getting 2 or 3 servings!

Back in 2012, Consumer Reports found that 10% of apple and grape juices contained arsenic levels higher than US drinking water standards. These harmful levels of arsenic get into the fruit juice via insecticides that are unable to be removed from the fruit.

When it all comes down to it, the risks of obesity, arsenic levels, and digestive side effects appear to outweigh the benefits of drinking fruit juice for children.  To get the nutritional benefit from fruit, it’s much simpler to eat fresh fruit! If you’re still looking for a juice that would be safe for your child, there are some options.

Pomegranate juice is packed full of antioxidants and small amounts can actually reduce inflammation.  Vegetable-based juices are also an excellent alternative. These juices will be free of the high sugar levels.

Like all things, juice should be consumed in moderation. Make sure you educate yourself on the quality of the juice and where exactly it’s coming from!

Dr. Meghan

While acupuncture is relatively new to the United States, it is actually an ancient practice that dates back thousands of years. The study of acupuncture is very complex and diverse but to break it down simply; your body is made up of many meridians o f energy that flow throughout it. This flow of energy keeps you healthy and well. When you get a blockage of energy in a meridian it can lead to health problems or various conditions. By placing a needle in a point along that meridian, it will draw more energy there and remove the blockage.

Acupuncture can be used to treat countless things such as:  headaches, low back pain, digestive problems, anxiety, and appetite control. During the needling process, endorphins are released as well which elevate the mood and reduce pain.  Not only is acupuncture great for physical health, it is also fantastic for mental health. During the 20 minute treatment time, you get to relax and take some well deserved time for yourself.  Chiropractic and acupuncture go together amazingly to help treat the whole mind and body.

Dr. Meghan