Not too long ago, the Eighth Joint National Committee (originally commissioned by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) released a new set of evidence-based guidelines for evaluation and treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). The . . .
In general most people pay close attention to auto maintenance. Whether the concern is tires, brakes, transmission, or windshield status, people make sure that their cars do what they need them to do. People count on their cars to perform effectively. . . .
Trigger points are painful nodules in muscular tissue, commonly found in the upper back, low back, and gluteal muscles. Trigger points are frequently chronic, persisting from day to day without much relief. When someone says, “My muscles are . . .
As we get older, rotator cuff injuries become more common, a result of the natural aging process. A similar mechanism operates in the discs separating the vertebrae in your lower back. These cartilaginous structures lose water over time, becoming less . . .
If you’ve ever been involved in a motor vehicle collision, you’re probably familiar with the term “replacement parts” or “crash parts”. Your auto insurance company will usually offer to repair your car using after-market . . .
Here’s an all-too-common situation. You develop low back pain that lasts for more than a few days and you’re uncomfortable enough to go see your primary care physician. He or she tells you it’s not clear what’s going on and . . .
We are awash in numbers, thanks in large part to the proliferation of personal mobile devices and the wrong-headed use of so-called big data.1But applying statistical tools to the same set of data can support competing theories and lead to contradictory . . .
In chess, checkmate occurs when a player’s king is under attack and has no safe place to go. The king is threatened and every possible escape route is blocked. Such an existential condition, an allegorical “no exit,” is known as . . .
Driving fast is not necessarily a good thing. We want to get where we’re going as quickly as possible, but we also want to arrive safely. If we drive too fast, we may encounter all sorts of problems. If we drive too slow, we’re wasting . . .
Whether you live in the United States, Canada, or Western Europe, your health care decision-making is impacted by the type of health insurance available. In the United States, a fee-for-service system implies that you will be paying for some or all . . .
Many people experience radiating pain as a component of neck pain or low back pain. A person with neck pain might have pain that radiates down the arm, possibly into the hand.1 A person with low back pain might have accompanying leg pain, possibly . . .
“60 is the New 40” is more than a marketing slogan. The phrase is also a metaphor for optimism, as well as a metaphor for good health. How can 60 really be the new 40? First, there are the demographics. Forty years ago, when today’s . . .
Many people have medicine chests in their bathroom, small shelving units filled with bottles of pills, capsules, and tablets. Others, instead, have first-aid and personal grooming cabinets in their bathrooms, containing rows of bandages, tubes of antiseptic, . . .
“The Stress of Life” is a perennial bestseller by Hans Selye, written in 1956. Selye almost single-handedly introduced the notion of stress into the worldwide consciousness. By doing so, Selye changed the way we think about ourselves, our . . .
Most of us, at one time or another, have traveled for business. Some of us do this fairly often, and when we travel for business, we’re usually getting where we’re going by plane. Air travel used to be quick and easy. But lately, within . . .
Repetitive stress injuries are typically very difficult to treat successfully. These injuries are the result of actions done repeatedly, frequently, and consistently over time. They’ve taken a long time to build up and, therefore, the healing . . .
You’ve finally decided to paint your kids’ bedrooms. Not only that, but you’re going to do it yourself. Congratulations. Or your rooftop gutters have become so filled with leaves that the only place for overflow rainwater to go is . . .
You’ve finally decided to paint your kids’ bedrooms. Not only that, but you’re going to do it yourself. Congratulations. Or your rooftop gutters have become so filled with leaves that the only place for overflow rainwater to go is . . .
Most people are aware of the worldwide epidemics of diabetes and obesity. The World Health Organization definition of overweight is a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than 25. Obesity is defined as a BMI equal to or greater than 30.1 Worldwide . . .
We all know someone who has suffered a serious driving-related injury that had nothing to do with being involved in a motor vehicle accident. For example, turning your head suddenly and swiftly for a last minute check of your “blind spot” . . .
Chiropractic care is the one form of health care that keeps on giving. Chiropractic care certainly helps people to recover from short-term health problems, but this powerful method of healing also helps people stay well and assists in preventing new . . .
We all want to get the most out of the time we spend exercising, and it’s natural to think that exercising harder is going to provide a bigger, faster payoff. But exercising harder without adequate preparation often leads to injury. Then there’s . . .
According to a recent report, cardiovascular disease claims more lives worldwide than any other disorder.1 Diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, are responsible for more than 4 million deaths in Europe each year2 . . .
We usually don’t think of our bodies in terms of their being “smart.” For example, we walk to the corner store without giving a single thought to the complex mechanics involved in getting there and back. But behind the scenes there’s . . .
Most of us like to think of ourselves as young: young in heart at least, if not actually young in years. But is it possible to stay “forever young” in terms of health and wellness? Of course, probably no one would want to remain forever . . .
Most of us have undergone some type of screening exam in the last several years. Depending on your age, personal history, and family history, you may have needed to go for a periodic mammography, colonoscopy, or cardiac stress test. If everything was . . .
In the field of medicine, the term pain management is code for drugs and intraspinal steroid injections. Pain management drugs are almost always opioids such as Vicodin, OxyContin, and morphine. Intraspinal steroid injections are at best a temporary . . .
Regular, vigorous physical exercise, a healthful diet, and sufficient rest are not the only components of a comprehensive program of health and well-being. Regular chiropractic care is an additional key factor.
Each of these lifestyle choices contributes . . .
How do you know whether your pain needs to be evaluated by your chiropractor? This is the age-old question. The answer needs to be specific to your particular problem, rather than a one-size-fits all solution. But there are good guidelines that everyone . . .
Your body’s awareness of where it is in three dimensions is critical to your ability to function effectively in the world. This awareness depends on proprioceptors. These specialized nerve endings are part of your nervous system – your . . .