The conditions that chiropractic treat may be looked at in two different views. The first view tells us that chiropractic treats disorders of the spine that result to musculoskeletal or nerve issues, including pain. The second view holds that chiropractic does not treat or heal specific diseases but only paves the way for the body to use its self-healing capability after freeing it of subluxations and relieving nerve pressure.

Common Condtions Chiropractic Treat

Among the the many spine-related problems chiropractic care may evaluate and treat are:

1. Back sprains or strains – Approximately 75% of adults experience these conditions. Sprains are caused by overstretched or torn ligaments while sprains involve muscles or tendons. Common causes of either one of these problems include lifting too much weight, playing a strenuous sport or activity or bending or twisting improperly. They can cause all types of pain – sharp, dull, aching, stabbing, burning, or tingling.
2. Cervicogenic headaches – They are caused by referred pain from the neck. The pain is typically felt in the temples, behind the eyes or at the back part of the head.
3. Coccydynia – It is pain that is felt in the tailbone in the spine. It may develop through riding a bike for long periods of time or falling down, and can worsen when sitting. Sometimes though, coccydynia begins without a known cause.
4. Degenerative disc disease – It is associated with aging. From years of overuse, misuse or strain, the intervertebral discs can break down or degenerate. It can lose elasticity, flexibility and shock absorption. They also tend to become thinner from dehydration.
5. Herniated disc – It is sometimes called slipped disc. Herniation occurs when the outer ring of the vertebral disc breaks or is damaged causing the interior matter to flow out. They may press on a nerve root that causes pain.
6. Myofascial pain – It is a chronic disorder involving referred pain, which is caused by pressure, from trigger points or sensitive points in the muscles to another seemingly unrelated part of the body.
7. Piriformis syndrome – This occurs when the sciatic nerve gets compressed or irritated by the piriformis muscle, a narrow muscle in the buttocks. The symptoms are described as sciatica and they include pain or tingling or numbness sensations that pass down through the buttocks into one of the legs or both legs.
8. Leg length discrepancy or short leg – Also called limb leg discrepancy, it is caused by a structural problem, as in a birth defect, or postural problems, like pelvic tilt.
9. Spinal osteoarthritis or spondylosis – This is a type of arthritis typically associated with aging. It may affect the facet joints in the spine or other bones.
10. Whiplash – It is a hyperflexion-and-hyperextension injury of the neck, which usually occurs when a vehicle is rear-ended. The condition may result to severe sprain or strain in the neck.

Other Conditions Chiropractic Treat

When chiropractors are able to detect and remove spinal misalignments or subluxations, proper brain and body communication is facilitated and nervous system function is restored. As a result, improvements in many conditions outside of the musculoskeletal area can be experienced by the patients. This is made possible by the self-healing ability that the body is able to exercise once again. Some of the common non-musculoskeletal related conditions chiropractic has successfully helped treat are: asthma, allergies, , Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), chronic sinus issues, colic, constipation, ear infections, learning disorder, gastrointestinal dysfunction, menopausal symptoms, menstrual dysfunctions, poor immune system , and stress among many other conditions.

With chiropractic care, the medical diagnosis does not matter. The chiropractor’s goal is to help improve the overall health and well being regardless of the conditions of the patients. This is what sets chiropractic care apart from other therapies. It is also what makes the chiropractic profession distinct and noble.

Subluxations occur when the spine is misaligned. They result in some form of nerve interference. Sometimes, pain indicates that subluxation is present. However, in many instances, subluxations do not present any symptom. Like a tooth decay that does not cause ache until the enamel is damaged, subluxations are often painless. They will often lead to painful conditions later on, if left uncorrected.

Everyone has been subluxated on various separate occasions. Factors such as sports injuries, vehicular accidents, poor posture, and awkward sleeping positionsall cause subluxations. Children, with their playful and restless ways, can also easily experience subluxation. And even infants who undergo natural childbirth process are prone to subluxations.

It is a health tragedy when people who are sick, living on painkilling medicines and other drugs, facing surgery, fatigued and ill, suffering and dying have not known, let alone, tried the healing effect of chiropractic care. It is unfortunate that they are unable to get the necessary help they badly need, when most of the time, help is just around the corner.

Chiropractic Care: What it Does

Chiropractic care focuses on removing the nerve interference through vertebral adjustments. Spinal nerves travel through the spine and when the spine does not bend or flex properly, the nerve path will be affected also. Through spinal adjustments, chiropractors help in the restoration of proper nerve flow by restoring motion to the spine. The spine must be so adjusted to give way so that the nerves do not experience pressure. 33 spinal nerves need to pass through and exit the spinal column along with its associated muscles, ligaments, fascia, fat and other structures without encountering any external pressure. Otherwise, whatever those nerves intend to innervate will not function properly. By simply not receiving the complete information that nerves supply, the organ or part of the body will suffer and dysfunctions and disease will arise.

The nervous system has a very close association to the immune system and its maintenance. An optimally working nervous system allows an individual to be in the best position to fight off sickness and infections. The nervous system prioritizes the immune system and lets it work at its top efficiency.

The spinal nerves do not just control the immune system and its function, but everything you do, either consciously or unconsciously. The nerves that control the legs are the same nerves that control bladder and bowel function, reproductive sensation and intestinal motility. The nerves controlling the muscles responsible for the extension in the mid-back are the same nerves that also innervate the heart and lungs. It is therefore possible for a pinched nerve condition in the mid-back to also interfere with stomach, lung or adrenal function. The nerves do not just make us feel and move things. All messages from the brain going to the body, including voluntary movements and reflexes run through the spine by way of the nervous system.

Who Needs Chiropractic Care?

There are so many cases of patients going for chiropractic care for different symptoms experience relief not only for the conditions they came in for, but for some other symptoms they may not have even told the chiropractor about. Though the most common symptoms patients come to chiropractic clinics for are back pain, neck pain, migraines, sciatica, tension headaches and all types of headaches and leg injuries, it is not unusual for patients with symptoms that are not seemingly musculoskeletal in nature go in for chiropractic care. These people have either known the positive effects of chiropractic care for similar conditions from others or they truly believe in the body’s innate natural healing capability brought about by a healthy spine. So who needs chiropractic care? The answer is everybody. Whether you are in pain or not, with a health condition or apparently physically healthy, chiropractic care will reawaken and unleash your body’s inherent potential healing power for an even healthier life.

It is important to select the best chiropractor for you, one who is not only wellness-oriented but will help you attain your personal goals for your health and wellness and improve your quality of life.

Choosing the Right Chiropractor

Here are some pointers on choosing a chiropractor, coming from professional chiropractors themselves:

1. Ask recommendations from friends and relatives. If your friends or relatives have the same viewpoint about health and wellness as you, get their recommendation for a good doctor of chiropractic. You can ask them candid questions pertaining to the doctor, the clinic staff, availability, services offered and the fees. The important thing about asking a friend or a relative is that they know both you and the chiropractor well enough to tell whether your philosophies on health and your personalities are compatible.
2. Meet the chiropractor. Most chiropractors may not charge you for a preliminary consultation meeting. Make this meeting productive. Try to determine whether you are comfortable and will have a good match with the doctor. Some of the things you need to look for and ask are:
3. Does the chiropractor seem to live a healthy lifestyle? If the chiropractor does not look healthy, is obese, or smells of cigarette smoke, they indicate the chiropractor’s lack of commitment to wellness and should be considered an important concern.
4. Do you get along well? Remember that you will be entering into a special relationship, therefore, it is a must that you communicate well and like each other. Do not go for a chiropractor who seems rushed or talks autocratically to you like a parent.
5. Is wellness given special attention in the practice? Spinal subluxations due to physical as well as biochemical and psychological stresses must be a special focus of the chiropractor and the practice should not just be confined to the mechanical treatment aspect of back and neck pain relief.
6. How will you be evaluated? The chiropractor should be able to evaluate your nerve system function objectively. A baseline data when the care begins should be established to help chart your progress. Care should not be based on pain or symptoms alone as spinal subluxations may occur even without symptoms.

Additional checks like x-rays should be performed only if necessary and after an examination has been made.

1. What types of chiropractic care techniques are used? There are numerous different techniques used in chiropractic. Adjustments by hand or using instruments, and techniques using different levels of force, velocity and amplitude can be utilized. What is important is for the appropriate technique for you to be available. Ask the chiropractor what the techniques to be used for you are.
2. Know the chiropractor’s special trainings and experience. Although chiropractic practice is regulated and chiropractors’ education and licensing requirements are now standardized, it will be better knowing whether the doctor has had specialty training and enough experience on wellness.
3. Fees. Most health insurance policies cover only services that treat specific conditions. Wellness care and chiropractic care if you do not have symptoms are often not covered by insurance. After the examination, the chiropractor should be able to explain the recommended course of care to you, together with the fees and payment options.

Choosing a Chiropractic Clinic

In addition to the knowing the right information about the chiropractor, it will greatly help to also know important details about the chiropractic clinic for you you to make a wise decision on your choice of a wellness partner. They include:

• The policy on payment for services that are not included in the insurance
• Is there a fee for the initial consultation?
• The types of discounts the clinic offers
• Any guarantee the clinic offers
• Will you be provided the recommended plan of treatment in writing for you to think about?
• Does the chiropractor provide a professional reference list that you can check on?

The importance of chiropractic care to your health and wellness cannot be overemphasized. Choosing the chiropractor whose philosophies and values are aligned with yours and who will be your partner to your personal health goals which in turn affect your self-development is just as important.

No matter what your faults, weaknesses, and imperfections are, you can still me the most beautiful person in your own little ways. Know how to bring out the prettiest version of yourself with these body and beauty secrets.

Acceptance is the key

Remember the adage beauty is in the eye of the beholder? If you really want to learn to love your body, acceptance must be at the top of your list. Accept that your bone structure is not the same as your favorite celebrity actress or that you inherited Mommy’s frail figure. Change your attitude about the way you see yourself – feeling ugly is all in the mind. It may be a long and tedious process, but once you have finally come around to accepting the body you were born with, then you can work with what you have and find ways to feel good about yourself.

Do not let your body image weigh you down

Being big is not the end of the world. So find something you love doing and are skilled at; indulge in it and it will definitely boost your self-esteem. Soon you will forget all about your body blues and feel like a million bucks! Bear in mind, however, that things will not always go towards your direction. You may encounter rejection once in a while, and it will always feel horrible. But that should not stop you from believing in yourself! As long as you know your best traits, no amount of rejection can put you off. Work harder! Treat these obstacles as inspirations for you to be an even better person.

Recognize what’s unique in you

If you keep comparing your body to others, you will always find someone with flatter abs or more toned arms than yours. Do not bother competing with other people and being the best. You will never be satisfied that way. Instead, capitalize on what’s great about you and be proud of it.

We all have our own insecurities but these flaws should never pull you down. Instead, turn these insecurities into positive thoughts by remembering that these imperfections are what make you different, unique, and special. And when things get a bit too weird for you, let out a good laugh.

In other words, the only way to be happy is to love yourself. Be confident about who you are – whatever size or shape you are in and no matter how you look. What is most essential is how crazy you are about yourself – and the rest will just follow.

The eyes are the windows to the soul. Despite their small size, they say a lot about you and your personality. But do you know what is really going on within them? Here some interesting facts about your eyes that you may not have heard of before.

What you eat affects the health of your eyes

They say you are what you eat, and this is true even for your eyes. Eating foods rich in vitamin A and antioxidants can help you develop good vision and reduce the risk of eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

You lose eyelashes every day

Just like how you lose several hair strands every day, you also lose eyelashes. According to Dr. Ellen Marmur, while it is difficult to track the exact number, on average, we lose about one to four lashes per day and it is considered normal. However, for women losing more eyelashes, the primary causes are wearing too much makeup, rubbing eyes, and poor nutrition or hydration.

Your eyes are more delicate than you think

Do you know that you can easily scratch your cornea with your fingernail or when a foreign object gets stuck in your eye, such as dirt or sand? When you start to tear, experience pain in your eyes, and feel extreme light sensitivity, then you might be having corneal abrasion.

Not all sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays

Just because they are covered with sunglasses doesn’t mean your eyes are completely protected from the harmful rays of the sun. Sunglasses that do not provide UV protection are actually worse than wearing no sunglasses at all. Why? Because it tricks the eyes into thinking they are protected when in reality, they’re not.

The eyelids and eyelashes serve an important purpose

Aside from making your eyes look natural and beautiful, your eyelids and eyelashes serve an important purpose and that is to provide protection to your eyes. The eyelids lubricate the eyes with tears with every single blink you do, while the lashes filter incoming offending particles and foreign objects.

The eyes are one of the most important parts of the body. Not only do they have to be beautified or styled; more importantly, they have to be taken care of and protected at all times.

We normally associate stress with a negative feeling. But according to studies, they are not necessarily correlative concepts. In fact, there are 2 types of stress.

Eustress is “good” stress. This is the kind of stress arising from a pleasantly competitive environment. The most common example is the stress a child feels in sports. This creates a healthy feeling brought about by games, practices and competitions.

Distress, on the other hand, is the natural response when a child feels threatened or overwhelmed. This is unhealthy stress.

The most common source of child distress is being in too many activities that s/he loses time to just do nothing or play without the confines of instructions from teachers or coaches. “Nothing time” develops creativity and if a child does not have this, it stumps ingenuity and imagination.

Children need time to breathe which they cannot do if they are being shuttled from one endeavor to the next. This leads to exhaustion. Furthermore, involvement in too many sports, for instance, results in too much competitiveness which in the long run is unhealthy in a child’s personality.

Knowledge of stress of children is important because the parents may not easily discern that their child is already suffering from distress and what the possible source is. More often, parents enroll their children in various activities because of good intentions, however misguided it may be. They somehow think that if they just let them stay in the house, then they are not doing their jobs as parents.

What then can be done if your child is already stressed?

1. Lessen the activities s/he is involved in or decrease the time spent for each of the activity s/he is currently doing.
2. Spend more time with your children just hanging out or lounging around.
3. Give them time to read or color or do a puzzle on their own or go biking around the neighborhood with their friends.

Just because children as still young doesn’t mean they don’t experience stress yet. Make sure that you provide a comfortable and stress-free environment to your children to ensure that they are living relaxed, happily, and peacefully.

If you realize that your baby is experiencing difficulty in breathing the following are things that you can do:

In the first four seconds try to figure out the possible reason for his or her difficulty in breathing. If you discover that it is because he or she is choking then a few taps on the back may be the remedy for him or her.

If choking was not the cause, then immediately call for medical assistance. In the meantime place your baby on a flat surface such as the floor or a table. Tilt his or her head backwards so as to open up his or her airway. Provide support for the neck and bend down to try to hear if the baby is breathing.

If you feel that the baby has started to breathe but is struggling check if his lips are pink, if they are pink then you need not start giving him or her breaths. This being the case, be sure to still keep his airway open.

If, on the other hand, his lips turn blue, this means that he is not getting enough oxygen. This is a sign that you need to give the baby breaths to assist the baby’s breathing process.

Begin by taking a breath, place your mouth over the baby’s nose and mouth and give about four gently breaths into the baby’s mouth for five seconds. In an adult CPR you may need to pinch the nostrils but remember that you cannot and should not do this with an infant.

Don’t take a deep breath because too much air may trigger vomiting. Check for the pulse in the artery above the wrist. If you find it difficult to locate this try the brachial pulse located about halfway between the elbow and the shoulder on the inside part of the arm.

If there is a pulse, continue giving a breath for every five seconds. Remember that at this point you do not have to compress the chest.

If you can’t feel a pulse, then it’s best that you do chest compression. Using your first two fingers, press the middle of the breastbone. The breastbone is located at the point where the ribs meet. The pressure you need to use such that is enough to be able to press down about an inch into the chest.

Do not forget that while doing all of these, you are to provide constant head and neck support and to keep the airway open.

The ratio of the compressions to time should be about five compressions for every three seconds and one breath for every five compressions.

In reality nose bleeding should not be a cause for worry or alarm but due to the excessive amount of blood that may flow during a nose bleeding episode it is quite understandable that instant panic may ensue.

The important thing is to remember that it is not dangerous and that there are simple first aid steps that one can do.

1. Keep the person calm since the higher the blood pressure the greater the bleeding and longer it will last.
2. Keep the person in an upright position on a chair or allow him or her to lie back with his or head elevated. The key is to have his or head higher than her heart.
3. Do not allow the person to lean back for it will only result to the flowing of the blood to the back of the throat, which may only trigger coughing, and vomiting.
4. Pinch his or her nose shut using your thumb and your index finger.
5. Firmly press the nose gently towards his or her face and remain in this position for a full five minutes without stopping and stop checking if the bleeding has ceased.
6. Alternatively, put a piece of moist cotton into the nostril.
7. Apply ice to the person’s cheeks and nose for a cooling effect.
8. Keep the person calm for the next two hours after nose bleeding.
9. Discourage the person from blowing or picking of his or her nose.
10. Lastly, apply Vaseline or any lubricant inside nostril particularly on the septum.

The key in preventing more episodes of nose bleeding is first to allow the person after a couple of hours after to bend down. But do not allow him or her to lift or carry anything heavy. Also, for kids, cut their nails to avoid their scratching of the septum.

Although nose bleeding is not a cause for alarm you should see a doctor immediately when the bleeding is from both nostrils and was a subsequent to a blow to the head. Also, when you think the nasal bone is fractured and the bleeding is not stopping despite the lapse of fifteen minutes. As for children, they should be taken to the doctor immediately when he or she has something stuck up on his or her nose and such is hard to remove, he has difficulty breathing and he has been suffering from frequent nose bleeding.

It is very often that our little kids suffer minor burns and it is appalling that many of us are still ignorant on what we can do whenever it happens. Before embarking on the discussion on the things we can do to address these kinds of injuries, it is vital that we first identify the different degrees of burns so as to know what kind of treatment we are going to employ should the need arises.

Burns of the first degree are those that only affect the outer layer of the skin. These kinds of burns are characterized by redness and slight pain but with no blistering.

Second degree burns are more serious, they affect deeper layers of the skin than the first degree burns. They will involve blistering of the skin and its burn is actually moist as compared to the dryness of the first degree burn. It is also more painful.

Third degree burns are those burns that penetrate all the layers of the skin. This is a very severe kind of burning that will require hospitalization. In this case, the skin will be charred and would feel leathery if touched, the burned are would noticeably be white in color and the burnt area may feel numb since the nerve endings are destroyed.

Fourth degree burns are those that penetrate up to the muscles and bones these kinds of burns are the rarest of them all.

When a person is burnt, be sure to cool down the burn by placing it under cool and running water. In between washing it under the running water you can also apply to it a cloth dipped in chilled water however, do not apply ice on the burnt skin because it will increase the pain. Keep it under cool, running water until the pain somehow diminishes.

Immediately remove the clothing from the burned wound, if it is stuck to the wound as in second and third degree burns leave it be. If a chemical caused the burn, remove the clothing while under running water, to prevent it from spreading.

Be sure not to break any of the blisters that may have formed in the burnt area leave the matter to the experts and the doctors.

After cooling down the burnt area for fifteen minutes you may then apply the proper ointment for burns, then cover it with a sterile gauze.

If the eyes are the burnt part, then flush them continuously with water and call a doctor immediately. If the victim is wearing contact lenses, remove them.