Stress

This Made Me Think Of You

2021-02-17T20:03:26-05:00

Allow me tell you a quick personal story. On Valentine’s Sunday, my son Hayden made a trip to the hospital for a few chin stitches, after a run-in with a pole during tobogganing. Now don’t worry – Hayden is ok, and enjoying the return to school almost as much as his exhausted parents! Aside from a big band-aid altering his jaw opening “comfort”, he was himself again just a few hours later. (Kids bounce back so fast, don’t they?) But when the dust finally settled after our hectic day, my chiropractor’s brain finished connecting a few dots…and it prompted this note. [...]

This Made Me Think Of You2021-02-17T20:03:26-05:00

Anxiety

2020-11-17T16:22:02-05:00

Doesn’t is seem like everybody has been stressed out or on edge lately?  Between the ongoing restrictions and a super contentious election in the U.S., I’m getting frequent reports from patients, friends and colleagues of arguments and people snapping over little things. Myself included from time to time. Almost everyone is on pins and needles. Fact is, there is a pandemic within the pandemic. As a culture, we've had a mental health, drug, and alcohol addiction epidemic well before COVID hit.  Yet, in June, alcohol sales were up 250%, and mental health hotline calls up 800%. If more of us were willing [...]

Anxiety2020-11-17T16:22:02-05:00

Try This Simple Rule For Better Sleep

2020-10-13T16:09:46-04:00

Perhaps the #2 complaint I hear – from new patients anyway – is “I don’t have enough energy”. (COVID work-from-home scenarios have increased spine & body pain complaints up to #1) Well, it might not surprise you to know that the foundation for energy is none other than consistently getting a better quality of sleep. And while some people claim they’re good with six hours or so, research would suggest otherwise. According to most studies on cognition, 7-8 hours is mandatory. Researchers have also found that the effect of not enough sleep builds up! This is true even if subjects don’t [...]

Try This Simple Rule For Better Sleep2020-10-13T16:09:46-04:00

How Your Core Controls Your Stress (New Study)

2020-09-09T21:40:16-04:00

I’ll dive into the results of this fascinating new study in a minute.  But first, some context: The stress response in your body is carried out by your adrenal glands.  Parked on top of the kidneys, these little guys pump out wads of adrenaline when we need it for ‘fight or flight’ – when I describe your HRV (heart rate variability) test results, this is the sympathetic (left side) dominance I refer to.  Critical in life or death situations, there isn’t much in modern life that requires it. Yet most of the time our stress responses are running in the background, keeping [...]

How Your Core Controls Your Stress (New Study)2020-09-09T21:40:16-04:00

Why Runners Should Get Stronger

2020-06-23T17:30:26-04:00

I haven’t done a running theme for a while.  Even if you’re not a runner, read on, you may still gain some health knowledge. Chances are you know I love to run.  And while I haven’t been consistently running, it’s a work in progress, as Hayden can’t get enough of it these days, and he’s a great motivator!  And since it seems the lockdown has pushed many more into our ranks, I thought it was time to show a little love to the runners. So for your viewing pleasure today, here is why I strongly feel runners should get stronger (let’s [...]

Why Runners Should Get Stronger2020-06-23T17:30:26-04:00

Are Standing Desks A Good Idea?

2020-05-26T14:07:23-04:00

My email a while back about neck pain from working at home turned out to be prophetic. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that members of The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) have been flooded by calls from patients hit with neck or back pain since working remotely. Since this is an obvious problem right now… I thought it would be good to “unpack” the idea of a standing desk a bit more. Sitting for long periods has proven to be very detrimental to your health. Not only can it be the culprit for weight gain, chronic pain, indigestion, fatigue, and even cancer, but [...]

Are Standing Desks A Good Idea?2020-05-26T14:07:23-04:00

Simple Tip To Avoid The “Quarantine 15” (And Lower Anxiety)

2020-05-05T14:04:28-04:00

Ever heard of “the freshman 15”? It’s an expression about how students typically gain weight in their first year of University. Well, the 2020 equivalent is “the quarantine15”. With gyms shuttered, home baking on the rise, and most of us reaching for a bit of comfort food during these stressful times, fifteen pounds of weight gain in a few months isn’t that far-fetched! Listen, we all know we’re better off to eat less and to eat healthy.  And there’s no shortage of advice circulating right now for how to do just that.  But with everything going on, I think you could be forgiven [...]

Simple Tip To Avoid The “Quarantine 15” (And Lower Anxiety)2020-05-05T14:04:28-04:00

How To Avoid Neck Or Back Pain From Yard Work

2020-04-21T13:31:15-04:00

In my last email I mentioned we’re making our backyard more hospitable for extended homestays. This is going to require a little landscaping and other forms of yard work.  I even got Hayden in on the fun this week.  Here’s a peak behind-the-scenes: Well, it turns out I’m not the only one who had this idea. I guess with most of us being stuck at home, and the weather getting warmer (fingers crossed), some of my colleagues this week reported more “essential” visits from patients who were hit with neck or back pain from yard work or gardening. So here are a [...]

How To Avoid Neck Or Back Pain From Yard Work2020-04-21T13:31:15-04:00

25 Mental Wellness Tips From A Psychologist

2020-04-14T13:16:50-04:00

I’ll make this real simple for you… Below is a list by a psychologist of 25 mental health tips for getting through quarantine. (I’m paraphrasing, and have added my own two cents here and there.)  Print this list, put it on your fridge, make these tips a part of your life and it will help you manage the coming weeks and months as gracefully as possible. Sound good? Let’s dive in: Stick to a routine. Notably, wake up at the same time every day.  The systems in the brain that mediate negative emotions are tied to your circadian rhythm.  Rising like [...]

25 Mental Wellness Tips From A Psychologist2020-04-14T13:16:50-04:00

How To “Self-Adjust”, Sort Of

2020-03-31T13:22:47-04:00

I enjoyed many of the responses that came my way from my "healthy living at home" post recently. One that I particularly enjoyed was from a patient who said: “I was hoping you would tell us how to adjust ourselves!” And, well…no. :-) There’s no reliable or safe way to self-adjust.  But there’s another point I’d love to drive home in this week’s instalment which is this: yoga/stretching/motion/regular body movements, etc…ALL will help keep the spine more fluid and flexible vs. all the sitting and being glued to their smartphones most people are likely up to during this lockdown.  I won’t [...]

How To “Self-Adjust”, Sort Of2020-03-31T13:22:47-04:00
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