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Chiropractic Care and Low Back Pain

Did you know that among people seeking back pain relief alternatives, most choose chiropractic treatment!? About 22 million Americans visit chiropractors annually. Of these, 7.7 million, or 35%, are seeking relief from back pain from various causes, including accidents, sports injuries, and muscle strains. Other complaints include pain in the neck, arms, and legs, and headaches.

As chiropractors we use hands-on spinal adjustments and other alternative treatments, proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine (the house of the spinal cord), will enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication. Adjustments are used to restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue injury caused by a traumatic event, such as falling, or repetitive stress, such as sitting without proper back support.

Research has also shown chiropractic to be helpful in treating neck pain and headaches. In addition, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia may respond to the moderate pressure used both by chiropractors and practitioners of deep tissue massage.

So as you can see chiropractic is wonderful relief of symptoms by enhancing the bodies natural ability to heal itself! So if you or someone you know fall into the 80% of people suffering from low back pain make an appointment with your chiropractor! Don’t have one?? We would love to serve you here at Yost Family Chiropractic! 

Pic2Dr. Nicole Davis graduated from Logan University with not only her Doctorate in Chiropractic but her Bachelors in Life Sciences. After working with hundreds of clients a week in a busy Ohio Chiropractic clinic, she decided to head home to Des Moines to be closer to her family.  She currently specializes in family wellness care with advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy care, working alongside 2 other doctors in the only Wellness Center in Iowa to offer Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Specialized Pediatric and Pregnancy Care as well as Functional Medicine.  She loves spending time with family, friends and her dog, Maci. She is here to serve her community with love, support and enthusiasm.

Do You Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

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Carpal tunnel syndrome is very common nowadays, especially with so many people using computers and any repetitive activity with the hands and wrists.

So what is a carpal tunnel?

Carpals are eight bones that make up the wrist. And we all know what a tunnel is. There is a ligament, called the transverse ligament, that goes over these bones and they form the carpal tunnel. Through this carpal tunnel, there are several tendons and the median nerve that pass through it. When the median nerve is compressed it can cause pain, numbness, tingling or burning into the wrist and down into the fingers. Since the median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel, many people suspect that problem is coming from this nerve being compressed in the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Which in many cases, this is not the cause.

All the nerves that supply the arm, wrist and hand all come from the cervical spine or the neck, specifically the median nerve in this case. If there are subluxations or restrictions in the spine, meaning the spine is not in alignment, it adds stress or pressure on that nerve and can lead to pain, numbness or tingling down the arm into the fingers.

As chiropractors, we remove these subluxations to take the stress off the nerves and allow the body to function optimally while decreasing pain and inflammation. Not only will we look at the spine, but we also look at the wrist, elbow and shoulder for carpal tunnel syndrome because decreased motion in these joints can also cause the symptoms into the hand.

I think it is really important that people know that there is another option, a more conservative option, for treating carpal tunnel syndrome than surgery. In over half of these surgeries, the symptoms reoccur after about 2 years. Why do you think that is?

So if you have carpal tunnel syndrome or know someone who does, give chiropractic a try!

Dr. Jess

2Dr. Jessica Stensland is a busy family wellness Chiropractor in Urbandale, Iowa. She spends her weeks taking care of dozens of families.  Not only does Dr. Jessica specialize in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care, but she’s a board certified Acupuncturist.  Dr. Jessica believes that a healthier community means taking care of all ages.   She is a Minnesota native and enjoys seeing family and friends in her free time, in addition to staying active and reading the many books she has on her kindle.

Chiropractic care and Plantar Fasciitis

Chiropractic care can help with a lot more than just neck and back pain. Today I wanted to shine some light on how we can help those struggling with plantar fasciitis. First of all, what is plantar fasciitis? It is a condition of the bottom of the foot that causes pain and discomfort. You have a tendon that runs from your toes to your heel and when this becomes irritated or inflamed it becomes painful to walk.

What causes plantar fasciitis? Being on your feet a lot can cause this condition due to the increase stress that is placed on your feet. Wearing high heels can cause this because it forces you to stand on your toes which stretches the tendon on the bottom of your feet which can lead to irritation. Not having a curve in your neck can also cause this condition, when you don’t have the proper curve this makes you more prone to anterior head carriage, or in other words your head sits forward on your body instead of on top of your shoulders. Why don’t we fall forward then with forward head carriage? Our bodies will compensate.. and one of the things that compensate are the feet. If you can picture leaning forward what happens? You place more pressure on the balls of your feet, just like when you wear high heeled shoes.. this in turn stretches that tendon and can cause irritation and inflammation.

How can chiropractic care help? The first thing we would want to do is treat the foot directly with chiropractic adjustments. We will also incorporate therapeutic ultrasound on the foot to decrease inflammation and speed up the healing process. Along with directly treating the foot itself we will also treat the whole spine with adjustments including the neck. So like I mentioned above not having a curve can have a direct impact on plantar fasciitis so adjusting the neck to help restore the proper curve will be an essential part of our treatment.

If this has been helpful please share! If you know anyone that is struggling with plantar fasciitis direct them here! Natural and safe help is available!

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Dr. Nicole Davis graduated from Logan University with not only her Doctorate in Chiropractic but her Bachelors in Life Sciences. After working with hundreds of clients a week in a busy Ohio Chiropractic clinic, she decided to head home to Des Moines to be closer to her family.  She currently specializes in family wellness care with advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy care, working alongside 2 other doctors in the only Wellness Center in Iowa to offer Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Specialized Pediatric and Pregnancy Care as well as Functional Medicine.  She loves spending time with family, friends and her dog, Maci. She is here to serve her community with love, support and enthusiasm.

 

How chiropractic adjustments help with headaches

If you have a headache, you’re not alone. Nine out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing, and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. 

Headaches occur for a reason. A headache is your body’s way of signaling you that something is not right. Some of the milder headaches are the result of occasional “morning after” problems brought on by excess smoking, drinking or eating. Others may be the indirect symptom of eye strain, improper diet, hunger, poor lighting, excessive noise, constipation, foul air, daily pressures or infection, to name a few. In rare cases, headaches can be attributed to organic conditions such as brain tumors or diabetes. Our examination process helps identify the most likely cause.

Doctors of Chiropractic recognize that a headache is the body’s warning alarm that pain may also be attributed to muscle tension and irritation of the nerves and blood vessels in the neck. The seven cervical vertebrae (spinal bones) can become misaligned from excessive physical, chemical and emotional stress. This misalignment can irritate the nerve roots in the neck and may even cause minor constriction in some vessels which supply blood to the brain. When this happens, a headache can strike. once, twice, and again and again. If not cared for, more serious symptoms may develop.

Research shows that spinal adjustments – one of the primary treatments provided by doctors of chiropractic – is a safe, natural and effective treatment option for headaches.

So what can your chiropractor do for you??

  • Perform chiropractic spinal adjustments  to improve spinal function and alleviate the stress and tension on your nervous 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 beyond just treatment for things like low-back pain. 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. 

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Dr. Nicole Davis graduated from Logan University with not only her Doctorate in Chiropractic but her Bachelors in Life Sciences. After working with hundreds of clients a week in a busy Ohio Chiropractic clinic, she decided to head home to Des Moines to be closer to her family.  She currently specializes in family wellness care with advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy care, working alongside 2 other doctors in the only Wellness Center in Iowa to offer Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Specialized Pediatric and Pregnancy Care as well as Functional Medicine.  She loves spending time with family, friends and her dog, Maci. She is here to serve her community with love, support and enthusiasm.

Foods that Cause Inflammation

A while back I wrote a post about what inflammation does to your body, so I thought I would expand on that a little bit and talk about foods that cause inflammation.

Your diet plays a huge part in your health and in how your body functions. If you have inflammation going systemically, or everywhere in your body, then that can cause a lot of issues, including chronic pain.

So what are some foods that cause inflammation?

  1. Trans fats: Trans fats can induce inflammation by damaging the cells in the lining of blood vessels.
  2. Sugar: Too much sugar can alert the body to send out extra immunity messengers, called cytokines to cause inflammation.
  3. Refined carbohydrates: flour products (breads, rolls, crackers) white rice, white potatoes (instant mashed potatoes, or french fries) and many cereals are refined carbohydrates.
  4. MSG: Mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor-enhancing food additive that can trigger two important pathways of chronic inflammation, and affect liver health.
  5. Gluten and Casein: allergens like gluten and casein (proteins found in dairy and wheat) may also promote inflammation. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley and any foods made with these grains. Casein is found in whey protein products.
  6. Aspartame: Aspartame is an intense artificial sweetener found in more than 4,000 products worldwide. It is a neurotoxin, which means it affects the brain. If you are sensitive to this chemical, your immune system will react to the “foreign substance” by attacking the chemical, which in return, will trigger an inflammatory response.
  7. Alcohol: Excessive use weakens liver function and disrupts other multi-organ interactions and can cause inflammation.
  8. Saturated fats: It has been shown that saturated fats trigger adipose (fat tissue) inflammation, which is not only an indicator for heart disease but it also worsens arthritis inflammation. Examples include cheese, meat products (especially red meat), full-fat dairy products, pasta dishes and grain-based desserts.
  9. Dairy products: As much as 60% of the world’s population cannot digest milk. Milk is a common allergen that can trigger inflammatory responses, such as stomach distress, constipation, diarrhea, skin rashes, acne, hives and breathing difficulties in susceptible people.
  10. Red meat and processed meats

If you suffer from chronic pain or inflammation, there are anti-inflammatory diets out there you can try and give your body a chance to function properly and naturally.

Dr. Jess

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2Dr. Jessica Stensland is a busy family wellness Chiropractor in Urbandale, Iowa. She spends her weeks taking care of dozens of families.  Not only does Dr. Jessica specialize in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care, but she’s a board certified Acupuncturist.  Dr. Jessica believes that a healthier community means taking care of all ages.   She is a Minnesota native and enjoys seeing family and friends in her free time, in addition to staying active and reading the many books she has on her kindle.

Chiropractic adjustments actually change brain function!!

Why do people visit their chiropractor??

Answers to this question are most often things like… Back pain, neck pain, headaches, sciatica…etc. Dr. Jessica and I want the world to understand just how much more a chiropractic adjustment can do for you! We have addressed a number of these things right here on this blog already and will continue to educate on the benefits of chiropractic care and why you and your family should be getting your spines checked regularly!

What I wanted to share with you today is that a chiropractic adjustment actually has a DIRECT effect on your brain! This is crazy awesome and there is more and more research being done on this everyday!

The latest study suggests that the changes that we do see in the brain when we adjust the spine do occur in the prefrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain that is like the conductor. Here are some of the things the prefrontal cortex is responsible for: behavior, decision making, memory and attention, intelligence, processing of pain and emotional response to it, autonomic function, motor control, eye movements, spatial awareness and more!! So what does this mean for chiropractic if each adjustment we make has an impact on this part of the brain?? That we do sooo much more than just treat pain and symptoms, the power of your adjustment goes far beyond that .

As chiropractors we indeed observe a wide variety of changes in the people under our care following adjustments. Along the wide spectrum of claims from those under care are those who say they feel better or focus better and those who notice improvements in movement and coordination. This isn’t a coincidence, your adjustments are causing changes in your brain that in turn result in these amazing changes in your everyday life.

We already know that adjustments cause improvements in sensorimotor function relevant to falls-prevention; better joint-position sense in both the upper limb and the lower limb; improve muscle strength in lower limb muscles; better pelvic floor control; and better ability to carry out mental rotation of objects. With all the amazing research that is being done we are now able to prove how much more chiropractic care can actually do for you and your loved ones.

Pic2Dr. Nicole Davis graduated from Logan University with not only her Doctorate in Chiropractic but her Bachelors in Life Sciences. After working with hundreds of clients a week in a busy Ohio Chiropractic clinic, she decided to head home to Des Moines to be closer to her family.  She currently specializes in family wellness care with advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy care, working alongside 2 other doctors in the only Wellness Center in Iowa to offer Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Specialized Pediatric and Pregnancy Care as well as Functional Medicine.  She loves spending time with family, friends and her dog, Maci. She is here to serve her community with love, support and enthusiasm.

 

 

Is There a Healthier Salt?

We always hear how salt is bad for us, but what if I told you there is a healthyier salt you can use that has tons of health benefits? It’s called Himalayan pink salt.

Salt is actually essential for life, we cannot live without it. But most people don’t know that there are huge differences between table salt and natural health-promoting salt. These differences can have a major impact on your health. If you want your body to function properly, you need a salt with all-natural elements.

Did you know? Table salt is actually 97.5% sodium chloride and 2.5% chemicals, such as moisture absorbents, and iodine. While it is dried at over 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, the excessive heat alters the natural structure of the salt.

Himalayan Crystal Salt is by far the purest salt available on earth and is uncontaminated with toxins or pollutants. It contains at least 84 naturally occurring trace elements in their natural mineral form!

What are the benefits of natural Himalayan Crystal Salt?

  • Regulating the water content throughout your body
  • Promoting healthy pH balance in your cells, particularly your brain cells
  • Promoting blood sugar health and helping to reduce the signs of aging
  • Assisting in the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in your body
  • Absorption of food particles through your intestinal tract
  • Supporting respiratory health
  • Promoting sinus health
  • Prevention of muscle cramps
  • Promoting bone strength
  • Regulating your sleep – it naturally promotes sleep
  • Supporting your libido
  • Promoting vascular health
  • In conjunction with water, it is actually essential for the regulation of your blood pressure

Who knew salt could have so many health benefits?!

Dr. Jess

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2Dr. Jessica Stensland is a busy family wellness Chiropractor in Urbandale, Iowa. She spends her weeks taking care of dozens of families.  Not only does Dr. Jessica specialize in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care, but she’s a board certified Acupuncturist.  Dr. Jessica believes that a healthier community means taking care of all ages.   She is a Minnesota native and enjoys seeing family and friends in her free time, in addition to staying active and reading the many books she has on her kindle.

Why Vacation Time is so Important :)

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I just got back from my vacation in Mexico so I wanted to share with everyone why it is so important to take time off and for yourself!

Did you know…..

Downtime May Decrease Heart Disease

A host of studies have highlighted the potential cardiovascular-health benefits of taking a vacation, including:
The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial for the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease sponsored by the National Institutes of Health’s Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The trial followed 12,000 men over a nine-year period that had a high risk for coronary heart disease. The study found that any such men who take frequent annual vacations were 21 percent less likely to die from any cause and were 32 percent more likely to die from heart disease. How awesome is that!?
The landmark Framingham Heart Study – the largest and longest-running study of cardiovascular disease – revealed that men who didn’t take a vacation for several years were 30 percent more likely to have heart attacks compared to men who did not take time off. And women who took a vacation only once every six years or less were almost eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack compared to women who vacationed at least twice a year.
Other Upsides of Downtime
In addition to reducing the risk of heart disease, studies have shed light on several other potential health benefits associated with vacationing, including:
Decreased depression – A study conducted by Marshfield Clinic of 1,500 women in rural Wisconsin determined that those who vacationed less often than once every two years were more likely to suffer from depression and increased stress than women who took vacations at least twice a year. Similarly, the University of Pittsburgh’s Mind Body Center surveyed some 1,400 individuals and found that leisure activities – including taking vacations – contributed to higher positive emotional levels and less depression. The benefits of vacationing also extended to lower blood pressure and smaller waistlines.
Less stress – A study released last year by the American Psychological Association concluded that vacations work to reduce stress by removing people from activities and environments that tend to be sources of stress. Similarly, a Canadian study of nearly 900 lawyers found that taking vacations helped alleviate job stress.
Improved productivity – The professional services firm Ernst & Young conducted an internal study of its employees and found that, for each additional 10 hours of vacation employees took, their year-end performance ratings improved 8 percent, and frequent vacationers also were significantly less likely to leave the firm. Additionally, research by the Boston Consulting Group found that high-level professionals who were required to take time off were significantly more productive overall than those who spent more time working.

So take your vacations and know that you are doing wonders for your health as well as enjoying yourself 🙂 

Leave questions and comments right here and don’t forget to like YFC on facebook!

Pic2Dr. Nicole Davis graduated from Logan University with not only her Doctorate in Chiropractic but her Bachelors in Life Sciences. After working with hundreds of clients a week in a busy Ohio Chiropractic clinic, she decided to head home to Des Moines to be closer to her family. She currently specializes in family wellness care with advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy care, working alongside 2 other doctors in the only Wellness Center in Iowa to offer Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Specialized Pediatric and Pregnancy Care as well as Functional Medicine. She loves spending time with family, friends and her dog, Maci. She is here to serve her community with love, support and enthusiasm.

 

 

What are Natural Ways to Help Digestion?

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Do you have digestion issues? As it turns out, a lot of people do. But guess what? It’s not normal!

Your digestive system breaks down the foods you eat into nutrients your body needs. If you neglect your digestive health, your body could run into problems digesting foods and absorbing those nutrients.

And when your digestive system is off, your health can suffer in all sorts of ways. In addition to digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, or gas, you may also experience food allergies, weight gain, eczema, exhaustion, asthma, and more.

So what are some natural ways to help improve your digestive system? Let me tell you!

  1. Exercise: It takes healthy muscle tone all around the abdomen for food to digest properly to help food move through the digestive tract. Exercise can improve digestion by increasing muscle tone.
  2. Don’t over eat: Overeating can affect the digestive system and affect the rate of digestion. It causes the body to use a lot more energy, it adds stress on the digestive system and the body will try to use too many nutrients at once.
  3. Reduce or eliminate processed foods: The body has a hard time digesting these foods causing more energy and nutrients to be used for breakdown, so the body actually uses more nutrients than it receives from process foods.
  4. Chew your food: Take time to actually chew and enjoy your food. Digestion actually begins in the mouth because saliva contains digestive enzymes. Eating on the run makes digestion harder.
  5. Eat more fiber: Fiber keeps your colon healthy. Besides making stool soft and bulky, it also speeds the process through the colon, it dilutes toxins and eliminates bad bacteria from the colon.
  6. Take probiotics: We need good bacteria to help support our immune system, decrease inflammation, help heal leaky gut and aid in digestion. About 80% of our immune system comes from our gut!
  7. Drink water: The stomach needs water for digestion to help protect the lining of the stomach. Lack of water in the digestive tract can lead to ulcers, indigestion, heartburn, fatigue, brain fog, memory loss and constipation.
  8. Boost stomach acid: Most people have low stomach acid levels, which could result in heartburn, belching or gas, headaches, fatigue and much more. To help boost your stomach acid, squeeze fresh lemon juice in your water each morning.
  9. Acupuncture: Acupuncture helps improve the body’s function and promotes self-healing. I have a few acupuncture patients right now that are seeing me for this very issue!
  10. Chiropractic: The nerves that go to your digestive tract come from your spine. By removing nerve interference from misalignments in the spine, we are able to let the brain and the digestive tract communicate optimally to allow the digestive system to function like it should.
  11. Watch what you eat: A lot of us might have food sensitivities, with gluten and dairy being the most popular, that could cause digestive issues, skin issues or even asthma. Take a food sensitivity test to help narrow down specific foods that might be causing problems.

There are natural ways to help with your digestive problems so you don’t have to reach for over-the-counter medications and maybe even help skin problems! So start treating your body by treating your gut!

Dr. Jess

 

 

2Dr. Jessica Stensland is a busy family wellness Chiropractor in Urbandale, Iowa. She spends her weeks taking care of dozens of families.  Not only does Dr. Jessica specialize in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care, but she’s a board certified Acupuncturist.  Dr. Jessica believes that a healthier community means taking care of all ages.   She is a Minnesota native and enjoys seeing family and friends in her free time, in addition to staying active and reading the many books she has on her kindle.

What Does Sunlight Do For My Body?

Now that spring is here, the sun is shining bright and we finally have nice weather, we should be outside enjoying it! So I thought I would mention the health benefits that the sun has. It does more than give us a nice tan (or for some, a nice sunburn) and vitamin D. We get these amazing benefits from 10-15 minutes of sunlight each day:

  • The sun’s light kills bad bacteria.
  • Sunlight has a beneficial effect on skin disorders, such as psoriasis, acne, eczema and fungal infections of the skin.
  • Sunlight lowers cholesterol. The sun converts high cholesterol in the blood into steroid hormones and the sex hormones we need for reproduction. In the absence of sunlight, the opposite happens; substances convert to cholesterol.
  • The sun’s rays lower blood pressure. Even a single exposure significantly lowers blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.
  • Sunlight penetrates deep into the skin to cleanse the blood and blood vessels preventing or improving atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
  • Sunlight increases oxygen content in human blood. And, it also enhances the body’s capacity to deliver oxygen to the tissues; very similar to the effects of exercise. The sun has a great effect on stamina, fitness and muscular development.
  • Sunlight builds the immune system. The white blood cells, which increase with sun exposure, are called lymphocytes, and these play a major role in defending the body against infections.
  • Regular sunlight exposure increases the growth and height of children, especially babies.
  • Sunlight can cure depression. Sunlight deprivation can cause a condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression. It is more common in winter months, but also common in people who work long hours in office buildings.
  • Sunlight can improve sleep quality. Exposure to sunlight during the day increases the natural production of melatonin (hormone that helps you sleep) at night. Low levels of melatonin production are linked to poor sleep quality.

So go outside, relax and soak up these benefits!

Dr. Jess

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2Dr. Jessica Stensland is a busy family wellness Chiropractor in Urbandale, Iowa. She spends her weeks taking care of dozens of families.  Not only does Dr. Jessica specialize in pediatric and pregnancy chiropractic care, but she’s a board certified Acupuncturist.  Dr. Jessica believes that a healthier community means taking care of all ages.   She is a Minnesota native and enjoys seeing family and friends in her free time, in addition to staying active and reading the many books she has on her kindle.