Category: Chiropractic Care

Stopping Headaches for GOOD!

Chiropractic and Headaches: Are There Normal Headaches?

One of the most bizarre things I’ve heard recently is a patient told me they get “normal” headaches. Since when have headaches been “normal”? They are common but not normal. Thousands of people suffer unnecessarily from headaches on a regular basis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that around 47% of the world has had at least one headache in the last year. It is estimated that 2-3 million people chronically suffer with migraine headaches, that can be debilitating and life altering, not just for them but also for the family and friends that love them.

The World Health Organization defines a headache as the most common disorder affecting the nervous system. It also states that it is the most under-estimated and under-recognized disorder throughout the world. Many people are taking a wide variety of medications with dangerous side effects to be able to function normally on a regular basis.

It’s More Than Just A Headache

A headache is a sign that something is affecting our nervous system. Like many symptoms, it is our body’s way of letting us know that something is wrong. Most of the time these issues can arise from a subluxation in the upper neck.

In the picture to the left you see the skull and the cervical spine. The first two vertebrae in your neck lie in very close proximity to your brainstem making it’s proper alignment very crucial. Also all blood vessels, nerves, and cerebrospinal fluid must pass through this first bone in your upper cervical spine. It is very common for headache sufferers to also have recurring sinus congestion, due to poor drainage, which may lead to sinus headaches.

As you can see from the picture, a subluxation in the upper cervical spine can interfere with the delicate balance and flow of the many fluids and nerves that must pass through this tiny pathway. If these are interfered it with it can cause a lot of stress to the nervous system as a whole, but can also interfere with proper blood supply to the brain and meninges, this is the tissue that holds your brain in place and keeps it from knocking against your skull. The meninges have a lot of blood vessels running through it and are very sensitive to pain. The meninges extend into the spinal canal and protect the spinal cord. Any twisting or torsion of the meninges may show up as a headache.

Headaches are a signal from the body for help. Many times we try to cover up that signal by taking a pill or prescription to cover that up, but that doesn’t address the CAUSE of the headache. It’s not until you address the cause of the headaches or migraines that you will find relief for good!

Get To The Root Cause of Your Headaches

At Vitality Family Chiropractic in Westlake Village, CA we use state of the art, NASA-certified technology to get to the true underlying cause behind your headaches. By using this technology we can let you know what the problem is and how long it will take using objective and accurate testing that’s pain-free and radiation free.

Ready to get started? Email us or call [PRACTICE PHONE] today!

Chiropractic Myth: Chiropractors Aren’t Real Doctors

A statement I have heard far too many times is “Chiropractors aren’t real doctors.” I always ask this question in response, “What’s a doctor?” Seems like a silly question, but you’d be surprised at the responses you can hear. It seems most people, when confronted with the question, give me a response along the lines of “Someone who diagnoses and/or gives medicine.”

But what are doctors really by definition? It’s derived from the Latin word doc?re, which means to teach. Essentially a doctor is meant to be a teacher. But what should a doctor be teaching? Judging by the definition I get from many people, they aren’t meant to teach, but more to point out what is wrong, name it, and give you something to “fix” it.

Which path leads to greater health: 1) Waiting until something happens and when it finally comes around deal with it then or 2) Take care of the body God has given you now and insure optimal functioning and health of your body now, so that these issues won’t manifest themselves? Which seems like a better strategy?

So if doctors are meant to teach, they should be teaching on health right? What does our society tend to study and focus on right now? Sickness and disease. How can a doctor teach about health, if all they study is sickness and disease? Shouldn’t they be studying health and be teaching about how to be healthy instead of just fixing what’s going on. What kind of dentist would tell you just to come in when something hurts? A horrible one! We understand taking care of our teeth and maintaining healthy teeth, but with the rest of our body we follow this mindset of “wait and see,” which cannot lead to health.

So lets ask the question again, what makes a real doctor? A real doctor is one who is committed to see you reach your complete and full health, not waiting until something happens. That first sign that something is malfunctioning in your body can be your last. We’ve all heard the story of a guy he seemed completely normal, then during a round of golf on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, he drops dead of a heart attack. Was he healthy before the heart attack? No, it has been going on for years.

As your doctor, I’m committed to helping you reach your full and complete health. My job is to activate the unlimited potential for health that starts right inside of you and help you achieve the life you’ve always dreamed. I desire that kids have a life without limits and are able to fulfill their God-given purpose that they were put on this Earth to do.

Start you journey to health. [PRACTICE PHONE]

Once You Go To A Chiropractor…

You’ve heard it before, “Once you go to a Chiropractor, you have to go for the rest of the your life.” I’ve always found this question funny, but really this question stems from a lack of understanding of the intention and purpose of Chiropractic. Many people when they think about the reason to see a Chiropractor, they usually are thinking about back problems or pain. Most of them think, just get “cracked” a couple times and feel better and get on your way. To be honest, there are Chiropractors that do focus solely on the pain and how you “feel.” However this is missing the boat on the true benefits and purpose of Chiropractic. Chiropractic’s intention is RESTORATION: to restore balance and function of the nervous system by removing subluxations located within the spine. The removes stress on the most important system of your body, which allows you to not only feel better, but actually function and live at a higher capacity.

Neurology has shown us that only 10% of our nervous system is dedicated to how we feel, the other 90% being dedicated to our Autonomic System, which is the part of our nervous system that governs our unconscious functioning, such as digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, absorption, energy distribution, liver functioning, filtration by the kidneys, etc. That list could go on forever, because our nervous system governs all the functions in our entire body. The other 90% of our nervous system is focused on how our body functioning and only 10% on how you’re feeling.

So does it make sense to focus so much on how you’re feeling, when that’s only 10% of what is important for your body? Of course not. Chiropractic is focused on this 90%, how you function!

So I will have to go the rest of my life?

It’s the same as brushing your teeth, you want to keep healthy teeth so you need to maintain them and take care of them. Or take going to the gym for example. Once you get a membership you always have to go right? Wrong, you chose how healthy and fit you want to be. Same with Chiropractic, you chose how healthy you want your nervous system to be.

Of course, I would love for you to become part of the Vitality Family and experience health and vitality for your entire family. I want the best for you and I know that through a healthy and fully functioning nervous system, you get TRUE health and get the most out of life!

“Once you go to the Chiropractor, you’ll experience LIFE and health like you never thought was possible!”

Numbness and Pain in the Arm or Hand

One of the more common symptoms that bring people to a Chiropractic office is numbness and pain down the arm. Neck pain is often associated with this as well. Many believe that it is a circulation problem; similar to when you fall asleep on your arm and after awhile you feel the “pins and needles” sensation down the arm. This however is not the case. Many probably wish they could just “shake it off” but it is not possible. The real cause behind the issue is irritation to the nerves that travel down the arm.

Getting to the Source of the Problem

The nerves that travel down the arm and into the hand originate from the neck. The nerves that exit the spine must exit between two vertebrae with a disc in between them. When one of these vertebrae come out of their normal alignment and get stuck in that position, they lose their ability to go through normal ranges of motion. This causes inflammation to build in the area and the muscles located near the nerve to tighten. If this misalignment is left untreated the condition may worsen causing degeneration to the disc and further irritation to the nerve.

Many people suffering with this condition have had incredible results through Chiropractic. Dr J.K. Paterson took 364 patients suffering from neck pain, 115 of which had numbness and tingling down one or both arms. 90% of these patients had 100% resolution of their complaints through Chiropractic adjustments. Why? Chiropractic addresses the cause of the issue, the irritation to the nerve from the spine.

How Can We Help?

At Vitality Family Chiropractic we take a multi-faceted approach to determining the true cause behind your problem.

First, our physical exam will determine help determine the areas of the spine that seem to have lost normal motion, as well as any areas that could be compensating for the problem.

Second, we will take scans of your nervous system using Surface EMG and Thermography. These scans highlight areas of the nervous system that under stress.

Lastly, we will take X-rays of your spine to determine the extent of the problem.

From there we will have a specific plan for you to get you back living the life of vitality you deserve.

If you are tired of suffering, give us a call at [PRACTICE PHONE].

Chiropractic and Posture: What’s the Big Deal?

Posture is the window to health?

What’s the big deal? Why is my Chiropractor so interested in how straight up I look? Truth be told, it’s way more than just how you look. Posture can tell a great deal as to how well you function.

Walk through an exercise with me. I want you to sit in “perfect” posture. Sitting as tall as you can, head above your shoulders. Now turn you head to the right and left and notice how it feels. Ok. Now try it again, but this time I want you to jut your chin out in front you. Notice a difference? Of course you did. Changing your posture changes the way your spine is able to move and position itself.

Structure Determines Function

It’s important to understand that the spine is much more than just a sack of bones, ligaments, and muscles. It’s the protective housing for your Central Nervous System, which consists of your brain, spinal cord, and the nerves that exit from the spine. Your central nervous system controls and coordinates function of your entire body.

Changes in the posture of your spine, can adversely affect the function of your central nervous system. This in turn can cause a wide variety of health concerns. When the spine doesn’t move correctly and gets “stuck” in an abnormal position, this creates tension and stress and the delicate nerves that exit from the spine, connecting brain to body.

Bad Posture Leads to More Stress

This can also leave your body more susceptible to stress. Stress comes in many different forms such as physical (car accidents, falls, posture), chemical (diet, toxins, environment), and emotional (work, relationships, loss). When your central nervous system is adversely affected, it doesn’t allow your body to deal well with stress very well. This can leave you feeling more stressed, worn down, tired, achy, etc.

When stress builds up in your body, it takes a toll. It can affect your muscles, mood, and even your vital organs, which are supplied by nerves that exit the spine. All organs need optimal connection to the brain to be able to function properly.

Have you had your spine and nervous system checked with a complete examination recently? If not, contact us or give us a call at [PRACTICE PHONE].

“Text Neck”: Is It A Real Problem?

Smartphones and Spinal Health

Smartphones are far more common today than ever before, and now are commonly in the hands of children and teenagers. Texting is overtaking calling and more time is spent on smartphones than anywhere else. For an average of 2-4 hours a day, millions of people around the world stare at their iPhones and Androids. Many people are starting to realize that with this advancement in technology there could also be some consequences that are going unseen. Many people are questioning whether looking down for such prolonged periods of time could be the cause of some common issues in adults as well as our teenagers.

The average human head typically weighs around 12 pounds, but as the head moves forward more stress and added weight get put on the cervical spine (the neck). Research shows that up to 60 pounds of stress can be placed on the spine as the head moves forward. Many surgeons are calling for a change, realizing that this added stress to the neck of teenagers and adults can cause early wear and tear, degeneration, and even surgery to the neck.

On average smartphone users spend 2 to 4 hours a day on their phone. This means 14 to 28 hours a week are spent with stress on the spine. This repetitive stress can actually change the shape and curvature of the neck leading to significant issues on health and the nervous system. The neck should have a 40-degree curve, forming a C shape. As stress is placed on the neck from the head going forward, it can start to straighten and over time, if allowed to progress, can start curving the opposite direction. This over time can place excessive stress on the discs, causing herniations and early degeneration.

Chiropractic Interventions

The latest technology is being used by Chiropractors today to determine if “text neck” is affecting in the nervous system as well. This technology uses Surface EMG and Thermography to determine the level of stress being placed on the nervous system.

This has become an increasingly common problem amongst teenagers, leading to increased incidences of migraines, headaches, inattention, trouble focusing, neck pain, poor posture, as well as other issues.

This change in curvature and increased stress on the spine can lead to serious health and neurological concerns as well, especially in children and teenagers. Experts believe it can lead to headaches, migraines, ADHD, neurological issues, depression, and even heart disease.

Technology has come a long way and we need to be ready to adapt to some of the consequences of this new technology. It’s important to make sure you and your child are staying current on regular spinal examinations/corrections from your Chiropractor to make sure you do not incur stress and damage to your spine and nervous system. It’s also important to make sure you are maintaining good posture throughout your day and doing the proper exercises to counteract the stress of poor posture. Make sure to sit tall, pull the shoulders back, and tighten your core.

Have you ever heard of spine transplant? Neither have I so make sure you take care of the one you have. If damage is done to the spine it can take months and in the worst cases over a year to correct the damage done. Even though this problem is correctable, waiting until you have a problem can do more harm than good. Your Chiropractor can analyze your X-rays and examine your spine to determine the health of your spine and nervous system.

Have you and your child checked by a Chiropractor to determine if you or your child are suffering from “text neck” — call our office for an appointment today!