Chiropractors Are Quacks. Are You A Chiropractic Skeptic?

For Skeptics Only

Are you skeptical?

It's okay to be skeptical. But learn the simple facts about today's chiropractic.
If chiropractic care seems promising, but you have doubts, join the club. Chiropractic is different. And it is this difference that has brought results to millions since 1895 and caused them to rethink the nature of health and the role of chiropractic care in it.

Once and for all, let’s put to rest some of the most common myths:

Chiropractic isn’t scientific.
Chiropractors are poorly educated.
Chiropractors aren’t real doctors.
Chiropractic adjustments cause stroke.
Once you go, you have to go for the rest of your life.
Don’t fix it if it’s not broken.
My medical doctor wouldn’t approve.
Chiropractic isn’t appropriate for children.
You need a referral to see a chiropractor.
Chiropractic results are just the placebo effect.

If these myths were true, chiropractic would have disappeared long ago, just like bloodletting and countless other ineffective procedures. But not only has chiropractic survived, it's thriving as more and more people want a safe and natural approach to better health that avoids drugs or surgery.

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” ---Arthur SchopenhauerGerman philosopher (1788 - 1860)

Dr Douglas Yost Real Doctor, Chiropractor

How’d You Sleep Last Night?

If you find yourself yawning throughout the day, it may be because you aren’t getting enough sleep. Or enough high quality sleep. The problem? It may simply be the amount of light you’re exposed to.

Drowsiness at Work

Many shift workers have difficulty sleeping well because their work schedules conflict with their bodies’ natural sleep-wake cycle clues.
Melatonin, which is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, affects both our desire to sleep and the quality of our sleep. Darkness enhances melatonin production, while light inhibits it.

Therefore, shift workers typically experience drowsiness when at work and suffer from insomnia when they try to sleep during daylight hours.

Night Lights

Because bright lights can disturb the normal production of melatonin, and interfere with your ability to get a good night’s sleep, make sure your bedroom is completely dark. Create a darker environment by using light–blocking shades, lined curtains or even an eye mask to block out all light.
And don’t overlook night lights and those bright clock radio lights! Even an area of light the size of a quarter falling onto your skin can affect the production of melatonin.

The Elderly Suffer Too

One of the major health complaints for the over-65 population is difficulty sleeping.
This may be due to the fact that many elderly people do not spend sufficient time outdoors and therefore, lack an adequate amount of bright light exposure.

Getting outside more, or increasing the level of light in their homes during the day and early evening hours may actually alleviate the major cause of their sleep distress!

Ramsey County Chiropractor

Are You A Survivor?

We’ve become a disposable society. We’re lucky if our television lasts 10 years. Computers? Two or three years! We grumble, but few of us would prefer Windows 3.1 to our current operating system!

Unlike mechanical devices, some say our bodies are designed to last 120 years or longer. To achieve this feat, our bodies are designed to survive. In fact, many everyday symptoms are merely survival strategies.

Runny nose? Survival strategy. Extra mucus production enhances immune system function.

Bleeding from a cut? Survival strategy. Blood contact with air invokes the clotting response.
Diarrhea? Survival strategy. Remove toxic food as quickly as possible.

Vomiting? Survival strategy. Remove toxic food even more quickly!

Pain? Survival strategy. This warning system tells us to make a change.

When you consider how many survival strategies our bodies use, you understand why the nervous system is so important—it orchestrates the whole show.


Ramsey County Chiropractor

Pain: Cause or Effect?

Many of us have been misled into thinking pain is a problem.

Headache? Numb it. Gall bladder malfunctioning? Remove it. Sore throat? Soothe it.
All of these so-called “solutions” make the symptom the problem rather than attending to the underlying cause.

Imagine if you approached your car with the same attitude. Engine noise? Turn up the radio. Annoying vibrations at highway speeds? Drive slower. Squealing brakes? Turn the radio up even louder!

Ridiculous, right? Yet many of us employ this attitude when it comes to our body. We occupy this miraculous self-healing, self-regulating organism, and if we’ll listen, it warns us when things are amiss. First, with a little whisper. Then a serious warning. Or finally by SHOUTING!
Then we have a choice: address the underlying cause (fix) or merely quiet the warning sign (patch).

Chiropractic care produces great results by attending to the cause, rather than merely suppressing symptoms. Do you know a pill-popping symptom-treating friend who could benefit from chiropractic care? Encourage them to give us a call. Or bring them along with you on your next visit.


55126 Chiropractor

Could It Be Burnout?

Stress Management

Simple, everyday tasks can feel monumental if you don’t have enthusiasm for life.

Could It Be Burnout?

You’re constantly tired, life is just “too hard,” and your get up and go just got up and went! You heave a heavy sigh and wonder if whatever it is that you’re doing is really worth the effort. Burnout? Could be…
The word “burnout” was first used by Herbert Freudenberger in his 1974 book, Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement. He defined the term as “the extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where one’s devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce the desired results.”

What are some symptoms of burnout? If you suffer from burnout, you might just experience:

• Physical Exhaustion – You feel drained of all physical energy, barely able to get out of bed every morning to face the world
• Emotional Exhaustion – Life is, well let’s face it – hard. You’re irritable and more easily frustrated and you’re suffering from a definite lack of motivation
• Lowered Immune System Response – You’re often sick – headaches, body aches, colds, flu-like symptoms can result from burnout stress
• Lack of Interest/Personal Investment in Work – You arrive late to work, you call out sick, your relationships with your boss and co-workers are strained and there are frequent conflicts
• Withdrawal from Personal Relationships – You have less interest in personal relationships; they’re just too much effort. You no longer have fun in any relationships and you have no patience with people
• Behavioral Changes – Maybe you’re abusing alcohol, food or drugs and isolating from others. Maybe your work or family responsibilities are too much of a bother or you’re becoming increasingly frustrated with everything and everyone around you

Let’s face it – experiencing burnout is like resigning from life – you have no drive and no energy to invest in anything or anyone.

What can you do to recover from burnout? Slow down and take some time for yourself to rest, relax and reflect. Let go of any unnecessary commitments that are a burden. Lean on loved ones or professionals for the emotional support you need during this difficult time. Try to discover what’s not working in your life. Are you suffering from a lack of balance between family and work time? Do you need to delegate more on the job? Are you missing out on something you’d really like to do?

Remember that burnout is triggered by your reaction to stress. One of the best ways to manage physical, chemical and emotional stress is to obtain regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic adjustments relieve many of the results of chronic stress on your body; this allows you to adapt better and it helps keep your immune system in tip-top shape too!

Please be sure to let us know if you have any questions when you come in for your next visit. Together, let’s try to keep your power turned on so you don’t experience the dark side of burnout.

Stress Pain, Joint Pain, Back Pain Management

What To Eat Before & After A Workout

Eating and Working Out

Not only is it important to engage in some type of regular exercise, it’s also important to pay attention to your diet and the foods you eat, both before and after you exercise, and how you eat if you want to tone and lose weight.
Food is fuel and your body needs fuel to “go.” However, you don’t want to eat a heavy meal before you work out or all your energy will be directed at digesting your meal, making your workout a lot more strenuous for you. On the other hand, you don’t want to exercise on an empty stomach or you simply won’t have the fuel you need to get through the workout.

Some rules of thumb regarding pre- and post-workout eating:

Before your workout:

• Eating a low-glycemic index meal before exercise reduces blood sugar level spikes and burns twice as much fat as a high-glycemic index meal, according to one UK study conducted at the University of Nottingham. Low-glycemic index foods include muesli, yogurt, whole grains and soy.
• Drink plenty of fluids; continue to drink fluids during your workout to remain well-hydrated. Once you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.
• Don’t eat a high-fat meal or snack – it takes longer to digest.
• Some suggested pre-workout meals include whole grain cereal with fruit and fat-free milk, banana and yogurt, fresh fruit (oranges, bananas) or a multigrain bagel with jelly.
• The time you wait between eating and working out depends largely on what you eat. Thirty minutes to one hour is good for a light meal, while three to as many as six hours may be necessary after eating a heavier meal.

After your workout:

• Replenish fluids lost to sweating during exercise; rehydrate until urine is clear or pale yellow and you are urinating frequently.
• It is important to replenish depleted carbohydrate stores (glycogen), which are stored in your muscles, after a workout. Carbohydrates combined with small amounts of protein work best (i.e., bagel with peanut butter, fruit with cheese, cereal with milk).
• Replace potassium lost through sweating by eating bananas, yogurt, and raisins or by drinking orange or grapefruit juice.

Keep in mind that your workout diet is supposed to support your exercise, weight loss and/or body-toning goals. Please feel free to ask us for our recommendations when you come in for your next chiropractic adjustment.

Shoreview, MN Chiropractor

What Is The “Slow Food” Movement?

The tenets of the “Slow Food Movement” include educating people about the dangers of fast food.

The “Slow Food” Movement

You probably haven’t heard much about it, but the “Slow Food” Movement is taking the world by storm!
Just what is the “Slow Food” Movement? Simple – think “fast food” and then think about the direct opposite. That’s what “slow food” is all about!
The Slow Food Movement was started by Carlo Petrini of Italy, in 1986, as part of a campaign against the opening of a McDonald’s fast food restaurant near the Spanish Steps in Rome. The movement has grown to include more 100,000 members with chapters in more than 132 countries.

Because it is a young, grassroots movement, very few people even know about slow food. Some of the main objectives of the slow food movement are to:

• Educate consumers about the dangers of fast food
• Promote organic gardening and lobby against the use of pesticides
• Preserve and enjoy local food traditions, food products and preparation methods, safeguarding them for future generations; celebrate local cuisine with regional food festivals
• Organize and preserve small scale meat and food processing plants, rather than large scale, commercial food farms
• Teach gardening skills to students and prisoners
• Recognize the strong connection between the plate and the planet by encouraging bio-friendly farming methods that don’t harm the environment

The philosophy of the Slow Food Movement, according to their website http://www.slowfood.com/ is as follows:

We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to pleasure and consequently the responsibility to protect the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible. Our movement is founded upon this concept of eco-gastronomy – a recognition of the strong connections between plate and planet.
Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.
We consider ourselves co-producers, not consumers, because by being informed about how our food is produced and actively supporting those who produce it, we become a part of and a partner in the production process.

Healthy eating is an essential component of the chiropractic lifestyle, along with adequate sleep, regular exercise and routine chiropractic adjustments. Any movement that promotes healthy organic foods while preserving local food culture and protecting the environment should be embraced and encouraged as the antidote to fast food!


Shoreview, Roseville, Blaine Nutrition, Diet, Exercise

Bad Posture Can Cause Back Pain, 10 Tips To Improve Your Posture

Mom was right – standing up straight is important, both for the image you present to the world and for your spinal health.

Essentials of Good Posture

Do you remember when you were a child and your Mother or teacher would say, “Stand up straight!” Or… maybe it was, “Sit up straight – no slouching!” You might have thought that it was annoying to hear that repeated time and time again… but you knew that their intentions were always good.
After all, you can exercise, eat healthy food and get enough rest, but if your posture is bad, other people’s impression of you might be that you are not well! Your posture sends out a lot of information about you and how you feel about yourself. Ever notice the person who walks along with their head down, looking at the ground? What do you think when you see someone like that? Perhaps that they don’t feel very good about themselves?
So… your posture is very important and, if it’s bad, not only do you give off a negative self -impression, but you might also be subjecting your back, neck and head to chronic pain as well. Good posture means maintaining the normal S-curve of your spine because that is what keeps your entire body properly aligned.

Here are some things to consider when it comes to proper posture:

Sitting

Many of us spend hours each day sitting, usually at a desk and often in front of a computer, so focusing on maintaining proper posture in this environment is absolutely essential.

• Sit with your shoulders back and your back straight. Your buttocks should touch the back of your chair.
• Your feet should be flat on the floor, your knees at a right angle. Keep knees even with or just a bit higher than your hips. Use a footstool if necessary to maintain the proper alignment.
• Change position and take frequent breaks to get away from your desk, stretch or walk around for a few minutes.
• If you use a computer, the monitor should be positioned 2 – 3 inches above your eye level and no further than an arm’s length away.

Standing

Standing in the same position for a long period of time can also cause strain on your back if posture becomes too relaxed. When standing, remember to:

• Hold your head up straight with your earlobes positioned over the center of your shoulders.
• Keep your shoulders back, your chest forward and your stomach tucked in.
• Make sure your knees are straight and the arches in your feet supported.
• Do not stand in the same position for any length of time.

Sleeping

Many people don’t realize that sleep position is important – both for sleeping well and for maintaining proper spinal curves! When sleeping, it is best to maintain what is known as a “neutral” position:

• Avoid sleeping on your stomach – it is by far the least-friendly spine support position!
• Sleep on your side with your knees bent, with a pillow between your knees if you wish, or on your back with a pillow under your knees

Following these guidelines can help you achieve better posture. Of course, keeping to a regular chiropractic adjustment schedule also helps with the aches and pains you get when you forget to maintain proper posture! If you would like to have us evaluate your posture – be sure to ask at your next visit!

Tips For Good Posture, Reduce Pain

Does Arthritis Affects Your Spine?

Injuries to your spine during the rough-and-tumble years of childhood can set the stage for arthritis later on.

When Arthritis Affects Your Spine

Maybe you know someone with arthritis in their hands or even their knees. But arthritis in their spine – now that might be a new one on you!
Arthritis of the spine is known by several names, including osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease and subluxation degeneration. It is actually quite common - but do you know what it is or what causes it?
This is how it starts – after all – we’re talking about degeneration, which by the very nature of its definition means a process of deteriorating over time. In fact, the first phase of subluxation degeneration can take 20 years to develop!
One of your spinal joints experiences some sort of trauma. When this happens, your body tries to stabilize the joint by splinting together the bones that make up the joint. It does this by moving calcium into the area of the inflamed joint; the calcium is what actually causes the splint to develop. As the calcium deposits built up, abnormal bone growth results. Subluxation degeneration eventually takes its toll on your body’s health, leading to other conditions.
Maintaining proper joint movement is essential to prevent subluxation degeneration. It is best to have a chiropractic examination as soon as possible after any type of spinal trauma to reduce your risk of doing damage to your spine.
Keep in mind that trauma to the spine may occur during the birth process or during any of the “tumble and fall” years of early childhood and adolescence – right on up through the early adult years. In fact, it can take 40 – 65 years for full spinal degeneration to set in – that’s a long time to go without care for a vertebral subluxation that may have occurred when you fell off the bed at the age of two!
Remember that chiropractors are uniquely qualified to detect any type of degenerative change in the spine. The earlier it is detected, the better chance you have for total correction, protection against further damage and a real opportunity to experience what true health is all about!
Chiropractic adjustments can help to improve joint function and remember, we can also advise you on the best exercise to do to help relieve pain and keep the condition from progressing. But we can only help you if you come in for regular examinations so we can monitor your spine for any telltale signs of degeneration.

Arthritis Pain Shoreview, Roseville, Blaine

What comes first, compromised physical function or the obvious pain symptom?

The Chicken or the Egg?

What comes first, compromised function or the obvious symptom?
It’s tempting to think pain appears at the same time the function of an organ or tissue is compromised. But there’s typically a lag.

Because our bodies are so adaptable, we often manage in spite of a growing problem that keeps nagging us. We may not yet have obvious symptoms, but our capacity to adapt is diminished. Then, all it takes is a sneeze, tying our shoes or the stress of a deadline to put us over the edge and symptoms appear.

You might say, “But I didn’t do anything!”

Actually, there were probably subtle signs that something was amiss. We all have a different threshold of “body awareness.” Some are aware of an impending head cold with the earliest hint of a sore throat. For others, it takes full-blown sinus congestion before they admit, “Hey, I have a cold!”

Become more aware of your body. Take note of even small changes in your energy level, sleep habits and elimination. Take action while your body is still whispering, rather than waiting until it’s shouting for help!

By the time the most obvious symptom appears, it’s likely that the problem has been quietly worsening, just below the threshold of recognition, annoyance or impairment.

Back Pain, Joint Pain Shoreview, MN

How Is Chiropractic Like Flying An Airplane?

Cruising Altitude

“United 475, you’re cleared for take off on 32 left.”

Soon after your pilot receives a message like this, you’ll start down the runway. In a matter of mere moments, you’ll be going fast enough to cause the low pressure above the wing, created by its unique shape, to lift the plane into the air.

To create the speed necessary to produce lift requires an enormous expenditure of energy. Large quantities of fuel are burned during the first twenty minutes of your flight, when your pilot is guiding the plane in its initial ascent. Once the proper "cruising" altitude is reached, it takes hardly any fuel at all to maintain the appropriate cruising speed.
Just like chiropractic care.
At the beginning, lots of energy is used. The visits are frequent. The goal is to create sufficient momentum to reverse the unhealthy spinal pattern that has prompted a visit to our office.
Then, as symptoms subside, it usually takes fewer visits to maintain the progress and start retraining the spine for more lasting change.
Now that they are feeling better, this is when many chiropractic patients bail.
And since they’re on the ground, not cruising along in the stratosphere, it’s easy to do. Which, of course, predisposes them to a relapse.
Which again, requires massive amounts of fuel...
Which again, gets them to a comfortable cruising altitude...
Which prompts them to discontinue their care... Which, well, you get the idea.
Conserve your energy. Stay well with regular chiropractic checkups so you don’t have to keep burning lots of energy getting well.

Shoreview, MN Low Back Pain Specialist Chiropractor