Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Get your Kids "Back" on Track this School Year!

School is about to begin which means that families are gearing up for busy schedules, homework, after school activities and the hectic pace of our 21st century lifestyles. To insure that your child has a healthy and successful year, it will be important for them to have their back aligned and balanced and on track.

Every activity affects the spine. Contact sports, playing an instrument, sitting down and studying, and paying attention in class are all important for a successful school year and they all require a healthy spine and nerve system.

When we watch our kids participating in sports we often cringe at the intense beating that their spines take when they are hit by another person or twisted through their activities. Keeping their spine aligned and balanced is crucial for them to be able for them to enjoy a healthy and successful year and have a healthy spine for a lifetime.

* Children make 775,000 visits to the emergency room each year because of sports-related injuries.

* Every 2 ½ minutes a child is injured on a playground.

* 150,000 kids are treated in the emergency room for football injuries. Many of these injuries are accompanied by trauma and damage to the child's developing spine and nerve system.

*More than 40 Million students carry school backpacks.

Backpacks that are too heavy or worn incorrectly can injure your child's back, neck and shoulders, which can lead to other health problems. Heavy backpacks, playground and sports injuries can cause non-structural or functional scoliosis, an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine that typically appears in early adolescence. This type of scoliosis is not caused by a structural spine abnormality, but develops as a result of misalignment and pressure on the spine and nerve system.

Millions of other kids injure their spine and remain symptom free until later on in life when the damage becomes more permanent.

British medical researchers have found through MRI technology that nearly 10% of children show signs of disc degeneration before reaching puberty. Disc degeneration is a condition in which a damaged spinal disc wears down unevenly causing pressure on the nerves which can limit activity levels, stamina, and quality of life as we age.

A simple examination can determine if your child's spine is on track or off track. Chiropractic care can keep your child's spine and nerve system healthy and insure your best school year ever.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Stay Healthy During the Fires

Local air quality ratings range from "Hazardous" in the foothill burn areas to "Unhealthy" in the San Fernando Valley. Brief exposure to smoke and ash from the wildfires can irritate your nose, throat and sinuses. Prolonged exposure could result in decreased lung function, making you susceptible to asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and even some cancers.

Keep yourself and your family safe by following these tips:

* Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed.

* Use an air conditioner with a re-circulating option. If your air conditioner only pulls air from the outside, try using indoor fans instead, or opt to spend the day in an air conditioned public place.

* If you must go outside, limit your activity. Participating in sports or strenuous activities will make you breathe harder, increasing the amount of harmful particles you ingest. Wearing a mask can protect you from larger particles but not from smaller, more dangerous ones or toxic gases.

* Drink plenty of water to help your body flush the extra toxins caused by smoke inhalation out of the body.

* Take double doses of Antioxidant Vitamins A, C, E, Zinc. Give children vitamin C as well. These vitamins neutralize toxins and prevent cellular damage.* Take Detoxifying herbs or do a Foot Detox to further assist the body in detoxification.

* Stay informed of the latest wildfire developments. Listen to your local radio and television newscasts or check their websites for updates on the fire's progress. Check for air quality alerts from AQMD.

Children and seniors are at a higher risk for injury or illness due to air pollution, therefore it is even more important to be mindful of safety precautions for these groups.

Call your doctor immediately or go to an urgent care facility if you experience symptoms of serious illness, such as:

* severe coughing
* shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
* wheezing
* chest tightness or pain
* palpitations
* nausea
* unusual fatigue or lightheadedness

We pray that the fires are contained soon. In the meantime we are here to support our patients and our community.

Yours in health,


Dr. Heidi & Staff

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