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A Wellness Chiropractor, Dr. Eric Janowitz serves families in the Winter Springs, Oviedo, and UCF areas. He is the clinic director of Oviedo Family Chiropractic, voted Business of the Year for 2005 by the regional chamber of commerce. Dr. Janowitz is available to speak at your local business, civic organization, or place of worship on various health related topics.

The Next Best Investment
Lifestyles Magazine 2007

Healthy Spines, Like Healthy Teeth, Require Proactive Care
Lifestyle Magazines 2007

Breathe Easier In The Fight Against Stress
Oviedo-Winter Springs Life, March/April 2007

Eat What You Pronounce
Seminole Chronicle

Stop Arthritis Before It Starts
Seminole Chronicle

Patient, Heal Thyself
Oviedo-Winter Springs Life

Getting Healthier Begins With Good Habits
Seminole Chronicle

Back-To-School Brings Backpack Concerns
Oviedo-Winter Springs Life

Common Children's Medication Alternatives
Oviedo-Winter Springs Life

Freedom From The Burden of Headache Pain
Oviedo-Winter Springs Life

Talk Handouts

Reduce Your Cholesterol Naturally
Presented By Dr. Eric Janowitz

Green Smoothies
By Tracy Neely

7 Steps For Perfect Health for 2009
Presented By Dr. Eric Janowitz

5 Secrets to Permanent Weight Loss (and Diabetes Management)
Presented by Dr. Eric Janowitz

Disclaimer

The Next Best Investment
By Dr. Eric Janowitz

A recent survey in Wired magazine reported the human body to be worth more than $45 million! When people say they “feel like a million bucks,” they undervalue themselves by a huge margin. As you can imagine, something worth that amount of money should be cared for meticulously. Yet, many people spend more time examining the values of their stock portfolios than paying attention to their bodies. How many people’s investments are valued more than their bodies? We fret about things that have considerably less worth than the health of our bodies and, while investments can be gained, if our health is lost, it is often irreversible.

We assume aches and pains are simply part of the aging process. But, this is not necessarily true. Chronic pain and discomfort tend to condition us so we no longer remember what it was like to feel good as we did early in our lives. It is possible to feel younger again by investing in your body through taking the time necessary to pay attention to warning signs of impeding problems and embarking on a path to correct them. The benefits of healthy eating, regular exercise, and avoiding the intentional introduction of pollutants such as alcohol or tobacco are obvious. But, many people may not be aware of the proactive ways they can improve their health. Chiropractic care is one important component of a healthy life style.

Chiropractic care is a non-drug, non-surgical method to healthy living by approaching problems through the body’s nervous system. Your nerves are the conduit for electrical signals continuously traveling throughout your body. Nerves control and coordinate bodily systems from the conscious movements of your legs and arms to the subconscious control of food digestion and cardiac rhythm. Signals travel your spinal column delivering and receiving messages. Whenever misalignments of the spinal bones, or vertebrae, occur, nerve pressure or irritation may result in dysfunction. Misalignments may be the result of such obvious factors as vehicular accidents, falls, or sports injuries. They may also be a consequence of repetitive trauma from such things as poor sitting or sleeping posture for extended periods of time. Whatever the cause, the results are invariably the same. Nerve irritations lead to pain, numbness, weakness, or even more debilitating, impairment of proper organ function. Over time, that paves the way for disease. Ill health may not be immediately realized as in cases of overt trauma as many health crises develop over years or decades. Modern chiropractors function as wellness doctors on the path back to healthy living, not only through clinical techniques, but also through education. Just as we must learn to ride a bicycle, we must also be taught how to live well.

Modern chiropractic care returns a higher quality of life through a combination of scientific techniques aimed as diagnosing and treating individual nervous systems faults. This is done through visual observations such as an examination of posture using a bilateral weight scale, as well as modern technologies including the use of computerized nerve scans (much like a heart EKG), to detect spinal imbalances. Specific X-rays are often used to verify a course of correction. Upon detection of problem areas, a chiropractor uses precise, gentle adjustments to realign vertebrae, often times resulting in pain relief. Chiropractors also help communities proactively by teaching topics such as stress and time management, nutrition, exercise, and backpack safety to school children.

When looking for the best investment for your portfolio, do not simply focus on Wall Street and neglect the mirror. It is imperative we all constantly evaluate whether we are doing everything for our bodies to achieve the most in life.

Lifestyles Magazine 2007

Healthy Spines, Like Healthy Teeth,
Require Proactive Care
By Dr. Eric Janowitz

Certain rules of life most of us consider obvious. Looking both ways before crossing a street, not running with scissors, and certainly never tugging on Superman’s cape are just a few. Brushing our teeth is another one and here credit goes to our parents and dentists for making us aware of its importance. No one argues against the wisdom of preventative dental care through regular checkups as a critical component for early detection and correction of problems. But, like good dental habits, there is another part of healthy living involving our spinal column which requires proactive thought. If overlooked, it may saddle us with a lifetime of suffering; in addition to brushing our teeth, we need to learn to “brush our spines.”

As sometimes happens with teeth, we may not be aware of serious problems with our spine until symptoms, usually pain, occur. That’s because science has shown few of the nerves in our body actual transmit pain signals. The bones (vertebrae) of our spinal column decay gradually by becoming misaligned, a condition known as spinal subluxation. If ignored, these subluxations become more problematic with time, just like cavities in our teeth. This can occur with little or no pain until we suffer a spinal “toothache.”

To protect the area of spinal subluxation, the body will create muscle spasms, muscle “guarding,” or general muscle tightness, which causes the “use it or lose it” phenomenon to occur. The spinal nerves exit the spinal column through a hole made by the vertebrae above and below. Between the vertebrae are cartilage discs which allow for shock absorption of the spine and overall body weight. When the spine moves poorly due to being in a misaligned position, the effects of gravity and life’s demands can be devastating. Just like a car tire out of alignment will wear away early and unevenly, the discs in our body can flatten or degenerate, decreasing the size of the hole for the exiting nerve. The abnormal pressure can even cause the discs to bulge or become herniated, often leading to very painful conditions like sciatica and arm pain.

A misaligned spine also places undue physical stress on vertebrae. A well-known phenomenon, known as Wolf’s Law, states bones will reform in response to pressures placed upon them. So, bones under a heavy load will reshape to deal with increased pressure. This isn’t always beneficial. That’s because vertebrae will begin to form painful bone spurs on regions of stress, a condition known as osteoarthritis. Most people assume arthritis is a condition affecting only older folks. Unfortunately, that’s a myth. My practice has evaluated hundreds of younger people suffering from osteoarthritis, which is sad, since most of these cases could have been prevented had spinal subluxations or trauma been corrected or treated. But, most folks simply mask the problem with one of a multitude of pain remedies too readily utilized in our society or just live with pain. The underlying problem is never addressed or corrected, although it could have been had the person been taught the basics of spinal maintenance.

Four pillars exist to maintaining a healthy spine. First, a qualified chiropractor must examine you to determine whether you possess healthy posture: the back should be level from the shoulders to the hips; the head should not tilt; from the side, the body should have healthy curves, forward curves in the neck and lower back and a backward curve through the mid-back. Chiropractors can measure and analyze the spine through X-rays and physical examinations. Secondly, a daily regime of spinal stretches is necessary. Stretches should be free of discomfort and the spine should move with fluidity. It’s never too late to begin these stretches; however, the best chance for a healthy spine occurs if we begin them in infancy. Parents can be taught how to move their baby’s spine in a healthy way; older children can be instructed on how to do it on their own. Next, we should be conscious of our posture throughout our day, whether we are sleeping, sitting at our desks at our jobs or on the couch, carrying heavy purses or school back packs, or engaging in sports or hobbies. Finally, it is important that we make chiropractic visits an integral part of our lives, just like visits to the dentist. While chiropractors do not necessarily replace a medical doctor, they are an essential component of any health care team. As dentists assist us in maintaining healthy teeth, chiropractors provide treatment and education on maintaining healthy spines.

So, as we begin and end our days by maintaining good dental health through brushing our teeth, we must not neglect the other part our body requiring constant attention. We should always remember to “brush our spines.”

Oviedo-Winter Springs Life, March/April 2007

Breathe Easier In The Fight Against Stress
By Dr. Eric Janowitz

Human beings could do well to learn a lesson taught by the whales and dolphins. Unlike us, they are conscious breathers, they must actually think about breathing. Certainly, this makes sense since they spend a considerable portion of their time underwater. This condition is very different from us however because we live on land and can afford to be automatic breathers. But should our breathing always be automatic? Although for us breathing may not require active thought for our physiological needs, it becomes very important for our psychological well-being.

Just recently, I took my office team and their spouses on a cruise to the Bahamas. These vacations are important to me not only because they provide the chance to thank my staff for their hard work, but because something magical happens to all of us. We remember to breathe in the fresh air, allow our whole bodies to relax, and “unwind.” It’s a wonderful transformation; yet, one we all too often do not seem to find time to experience. Our culture moves at lightning speed compared to previous generations, because we are surrounded by cell phones and emails demanding answers, drive through fast food, and the general hurriedness we all seem to experience. Most days there is barely enough time to be attentive to our physical and emotional needs. The results are devastating. Our bodies, our minds and, in the end, our lives suffer.

Many health professionals recognize that unhealthy amounts of stress affect the Central Nervous system (CNS) which controls and coordinates the entire body. Our CNS consists of our brain and spinal cord and is connected to the rest of our body through nerves. Among other things, our CNS is responsible for regulating the body’s automatic functions such as heart beat or the body temperature, as well as things like digestion and breathing. Optimally, the CNS operates in two balanced modes. One, called the Sympathetic, controls our basic survival instincts, the “fight or flight” response. It’s what enables us to quickly prepare for impending danger and take appropriate response (fight or run away). It is automatic because it is done without conscious thought. In the past, these dangers might have been a hungry lion chasing us, but now it is more likely a car swerving into our lane or the constant demands of work and home. Regardless of the source of danger or stress, our body responds the same way. Blood rushes to our extremities, our heart rate increases, our breathing becomes shallow, and our pupils dilate. On the other hand, the Parasympathetic, known at the “wine and dine” mode, is activated during the more relaxing moments of our lives such as when we are at rest or after a meal. Both of these modes are necessary for survival; however, we suffer when one or the other becomes dominant.

Health care professionals tell us our culture is increasingly affected by a condition known as “sympathetic dominance.” We get stuck in the fight or flight mode because we are constantly subjected to the stresses of everyday life. The result is ill health. Sympathetic Dominance can cause our immune system to weaken and can lead to chronic infections, obesity, constipation, poor digestion, mental and physical exhaustion, and even poor breathing.

Luckily, there are several solutions to restoring balance to these modes. Medication is one option, but typically it treats only the symptoms and not the problems and can produce undesirable or even dangerous side effects. More naturalist approaches include involve prayer or relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, or controlled breathing exercises. Chiropractic care is another naturalist method by which to combat the rigors of our hectic everyday lives. Chiropractic doctors utilize modern techniques to remove direct pressure from the nervous system, thus allowing a restoration of normal body balance.

Now more than ever in today’s culture, it is vital that people derive a lesson from our whale and dolphin relatives by discovering ways to “take time to breathe.”

Seminole Chronicle

Stop Arthritis Before It Starts
By Dr. Eric Janowitz

According to the Arthritis Foundation, about 45 million Americans (1 in every 5 people you meet) suffer from arthritis. That certainly seems like a lot of suffering older folks. But youngsters beware. That figure includes nearly 300,000 children not to mention the 8.4 million young adults between the ages of 18 and 44 who either have it or are at risk for development. In my practice alone, I have evaluated patients as young as in their mid-thirties who suffer from arthritic degenerative. Therefore, our perception of arthritis as an exclusive malady of the elderly is flawed. This is due mostly to commercials and advertisements that focus on the elderly as they market the latest drug to alleviate the symptoms. Yet, hope does exist. Arthritis is not an inevitable consequence of aging; rather, it is a result of improper spinal alignment.

The nature of arthritis is analogous to a situation where someone neglects their teeth. As you might imagine, the act of chewing is considerably stressful on teeth. This is something that would be confirmed upon visiting a dentist as they would most likely find at least one, if not several, problems demanding treatment. The joints of our spinal column are similar in that they decay due to the degenerative effects of gravity and improper positioning. A combination of these factors yields an almost certain recipe for problems. That is not to say that our bodies do not possess unique and fantastic powers of regeneration; but, at times, the body’s cure causes almost as many problems as the disease itself. In the case of spinal column misalignment, the body senses a problem with the joint itself and responds by depositing calcium at the affected areas in attempt to provide additional support. While this does have the intended effect, it is not without consequence. These calcium deposits are commonly referred to as bone spurs or simply arthritis. All that is left for someone possessing a bone spur is to twist just the wrong way causing a very sensitive nerve to rub over that bone spur. The resultant pain is immediate, intense, undeniable, and debilitating.

One of the most common methods people employ in battling the pain of arthritis is through the use of anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin. But, this treats only the symptoms. The root cause of the pain, the arthritic joint, is never approached. Just like with decaying teeth, a pain reliever such as Anbesol® may diminish the pain, but it will most certainly never repair a damaged tooth. A better solution for arthritis suffers is to engage in a program of chiropractic care. A chiropractor will gently manipulative the offending bone away from the irritated nerve, thereby relieving the patient’s pain and providing an opportunity for the nerve to heal. This will be done without the use of pharmaceuticals which sometimes have unintended side effects. The best course of action though is through prophylactic care which will prevent the arthritis from even beginning.

A healthy, properly aligned spine tends to stay that way. People whose spines are properly positioned tend to suffer from little, if any, arthritis throughout a lifetime. So many times, younger patients I see suffering from spinal arthritis complain of neck or back pain, chronic headaches, fatigues and general limb numbness. Upon further evaluation, it is often discovered they have experienced multiple traumas such as a car accidents, severe falls, or sport injuries which occurred years prior. Although there may have been a cessation of the initial pain through the use of medications and rest, the underlying spinal damage may have never been addressed. When a patient is finally desperate to find relief, it is often times after years of needless suffering. To add misery to insult, the period of time between the initial treatment and the painful realization the problem still exists has the unintended consequence of potentially making the problem all the more difficult to fix.

The solution has always been only as far away as a chiropractor. The goal of chiropractic medicine is to halt the progression of spinal decay and alleviate the pain. Upon completing this, the initial misalignment can be corrected and stabilized reducing spinal and nervous inflammation. With the removal of inflammation comes a reduction in pain. So, just like visiting the dentist is an appropriate behavior to protect against future dental problems, regular visits to a chiropractor can assist people to live healthier, happier, more productive lives, free of chronic, treatable pain.

Seminole Chronicle

Patient, Heal Thyself
By Dr. Eric Janowitz

Ill health and disease transcend all economic and educational levels in today’s society. Since the rich suffer from illnesses just a surely as the poor, it seems money may not always be a hedge against an unhealthy lifestyle. The problem is not necessarily a lack of resources or education, but rather a lack of understanding concerning the source of true healing.

Society tends to view health from the “outside-in,” that is, we have been conditioned to believe many illnesses are caused by outside influences, such as germs. We respond by attacking these invaders with chemical warfare utilizing the latest drugs as weapons. Patients become “victims,” feeling as if they have failed, are inherently weak, or cannot survive without these external remedies. An unfortunate consequence of this mentality is that the psychology of healing is forgotten. Chiropractic provides an alternative approach and promotes the concept of God-given healing properties found in all of the body’s systems, the most notable being our nervous system.

The brain and spinal cord function as the command and control center of the body; they regulate all the functions including those associated with digestion, cardiovascular, immunity, and emotions. Chiropractors realize disease results from an imbalance from within because healing flows down from the brain, down your spinal cord (“above-down”) and out to organs and muscles (“inside-out”). What people need is the education and empowerment necessary for them to realize that healing does not come from a doctor, but from the patient. A chiropractor’s responsibility lies in the detection and removal of the nervous system interference hindering the body’s innate ability to heal.

The most common instrument of interference is nervous system irritation brought on by direct pressure localized in the spine. A lack of fluid spinal motion typically brought on by trauma (falls, sports injuries, vehicular accidents, poor posture) can cause unhealthy shifting to spinal position which exerts dangerous pressure on spinal nerves, resulting in a condition known as spinal subluxation. Subluxation lowers the body’s ability to function and heal by constricting nerve impulses flowing from the brain out to the rest of the body. Consider what would happen if a nerve to the heart was completely severed; the heart would die instantly. Now, what if that nerve, rather than being cut, was subjected to unhealthy pressure over time. The heart would continue to function somewhat imperfectly, and over decades, this scenario could potentially be fatal.

A person’s attitude about the causative agents of ill health will ultimately guide his or her decisions. If you are an “outside-in” thinker, you will most likely reach for the pill bottle as a solution. If you are an “inside-out” thinker, you will focus on ways to restore your body’s internal healing mechanism and find ways to remove the interference on your nerve system. The reward is increased health, energy, and a new appreciation for the incredible life that God intended for us. Utilizing this key to good health, a chiropractor should be an integral part of everyone’s health care team.

Oviedo-Winter Springs Life May/June 2007

Getting Healthier Begins with Good Habits
By Dr. Eric Janowitz

Women are busier than ever these days. In addition to traditional maternal roles as caregivers, their prevalence in the work force has increased by nearly half again as much over the last 35 years. They live longer now too, the average woman living into her 80’s. So women are doing more and living longer, but are they living healthier?

Over half the women in the United States are either overweight or obese. This condition puts them at risk from ailments such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and cancer, just to mention a few. But, by employing a few practical eating strategies, a healthy weight can be realized and maintained.

At the grocery store next time, notice where the healthier, natural foods are mostly located. Not coincidentally, their positioning is directly related to where of the store’s refrigeration systems are located, typically on the store’s perimeter. In that, there is a message. While natural foods require cool temperatures to maintain freshness, products found on the store’s interior are generally processed, packaged, and refined to keep them “fresh.” Limit your intake of these processed foods. You should avoid skipping meals such as breakfast and condition yourself to eat more frequent, smaller meals throughout the day.

Maintain hydration by drinking at least ½ of your body weight in ounces of pure water or water-rich foods per day. Stay away from carbonated beverages and fruit juices which are typically loaded with sugars. Avoid artificially sweetened products such as flavored waters. In fact, many health care professionals believe the prevalence of artificial sweeteners in our foods may be causative agents behind some typical health problems (Sweet Deception by Dr. Joseph Mercola). Certainly don’t neglect the supreme benefits of cardiovascular exercise and practice it at least 30 minutes a day to most effectively metabolize fats. Finally, take it easy! Complement your healthier lifestyle by providing your body ample opportunity to rest. Many women suffer from sleeplessness because they attempt to tackle too much. Learn to prioritize by fixing your focus on urgent matters, leaving the rest for another day. Learn to say “no” when needed by learning to say “yes” when your body craves rest.

Indeed, aging is an inevitable consequence of living. As it is typically our skin that weathers the greatest brunt of our exposure to the elements, it is usually our face that shows the initial signs of aging. We can assist our skin in growing old gracefully by avoiding environmental toxins. Those such as cigarette smoke or exposure to intense sunlight without proper sunscreen should be strictly avoided. Don’t neglect the benefits of healthy eating. Provide your body with vital nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish products, natural whole foods, and green drinks. Don’t forget to practice proper face “posture.” Just as your mother told you to sit up straight, remember to relax your facial muscles to diminish those face lines we all associate with aging. But don’t fret excessively over a wrinkle here and there; in fact, some people suggest crow’s feet are actually an indication of people who smile a lot!

An estimated 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis, 80% of them are women. Osteoporosis is a condition resulting from significant losses in bone density. It is prevalent in older females and accounts for an astonishing 1 ½ million fractures annually! A few simple tips can prevent as well as manage this problem. Increase your calcium intake from natural sources such as green vegetables. Pay attention to vitamin intake; vitamin C, D, and K are all necessary for proper bone maintenance. Be sure you get enough of these. Here again, exercise is a key factor. While weight bearing exercises have been shown to stimulate increases in bone density, simply walking 30 minutes every day will provide amazing skeletal health benefits.

Seminole Chronicle

Back-To-School Brings Backpack Concerns
By Dr. Eric Janowitz

For parents of students preparing for the new school year, sending your kids back to school doesn’t conjure up images of back pain and health problems. However, if your kids are carrying too much weight on their backs and shoulders, they may stretch or strain their muscles, causing direct injury to the spine and the exiting nerves.

How widespread is the problem? New research reveals an alarming danger associated with childhood backpack use. By the end of their teen years, for example, more than half of youths experience at least one episode of low back pain. One study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the effects of backpacks on the spinal discs. Researchers concluded that backpacks alter the fluid content, making the wearer of the backpack a prime candidate for disorders such as herniated (“slipped”) discs and osteoarthritis later in life. It doesn’t take a scientist to understand the effect of backpacks on young spines; watch children in any school yard struggle to walk while bent sideways under the weight of an overloaded backpack on one shoulder.

The problem, according to Dr. Marvin T. Arnsdorff, cofounder of the Charleston, SC-based Backpack Safety America, is that backpacks are overloaded and improperly carried. So, is it time to get rid of the backpacks? "The backpack itself is not the cause of this epidemic of back problems among students," said Dr. Arnsdorff. "The primary cause stems from improper packing, lifting and carrying by children wearing and using the packs." I had the privilege to train with Dr. Arnsdorff, and I’ve used his program to teach our local schools the importance of backpack safety. Here are some recommendations according to Backpack Safety America:

• Select the right pack. Buy an appropriate-sized backpack, one that ends just a few inches above the waist. Use a backpack that has soft, padded straps to maximize comfort. Look for a pack with compartments that help distribute the weights. Or, try one of the new models with wheels that your child can pull.

• Pack it properly. The proper maximum weight for loaded backpacks should not exceed 15 percent of the child’s body weight, a limit recommended by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. For example, an 80-pound child should not carry more than 12 pounds in a pack. If the pack forces the carrier to bend forward, it is overloaded. Help your child sort through everything before packing up and see what can be left home that day. Place heaviest items in first, the closer they are to a child’s back, the less strain they’ll put on those muscles.

• Lift with your legs. Often ignored is the act of lifting and positioning the backpack. Lifting 20 pounds improperly can cause damage. Follow these simple steps: 1) Face the backpack before you lift it. 2) Bend at the knees. 3) Using both hands, check the weight of the pack. 4) Lift with your legs, not your back. 5) Carefully put one should strap on at a time; never sling the pack onto one shoulder.

• Wear it balanced. Use both shoulder straps. Make them snug but not too tight. Carrying the backpack on one shoulder, while fashionable, can cause long term neck, shoulder, back and postural problems. Use the stabilizing strap around the waist.

Oviedo-Winter Springs Life July/August 2007

Common Children's Medication Alternatives
By Dr. Eric Janowitz

An issue that repeatedly arises in discussions of pediatric medical care is the use of prescription medications. Parents express concern over the prolonged use and possible-long term side effects of drugs administered to their children, including antibiotics, and medications to treat allergies, asthma, ADHD and depression. Many parents wonder if there may be an alternative and growing numbers have begun investigating chiropractic care.

Chiropractic focuses on the central nervous system and the associated exiting spinal nerves which send vital information to all the organs in the body. The delicate spinal cord is normally well protected by the spinal bones; however, these bones may shift out of position from traumas, such as falls or the birth process. When this occurs, the exiting nerves become irritated and affect the way muscles and organs work.

Middle ear infections are one of the most commons reasons for seeing a pediatrician. A survey revealed that 70% of pediatricians treat ear infections with antibiotics, however much research suggests that this is unnecessary and possibly harmful. The infection is actually the result of fluid that is not draining properly in the ear which allows the bacteria to grow. Chiropractors understand that the muscle which helps the ear drain properly can be traced back to the spinal cord in the upper neck. Children often respond favorably to gentle adjustments in the upper neck. In our office, we have had patients who show amazing improvements.

Doctors typically treat infantile colic by doing nothing or perhaps eliminating cow’s milk from the diet. In more severe cases, drugs (Dramamine, Donnatal) are prescribed. But, in a study by the Danish Chiropractic Association, 91% of infants with colic responded favorably, typically within one week, to chiropractic care focusing on the neck region affecting the vagus nerve. I have also found significant results when adjusting the sacral region and performing soft tissue massage on the abdomen.

Asthma in children has skyrocketed in recent years with one study reporting a more than 200% increase from 1985-1990! According to another study, children receiving just one round of antibiotic prior to 6 months old have a 150% increased chance of developing allergies and a 250% increase in the chance of being asthmatic by the time they are 7 years old. Antibiotic use on pregnant mothers may also increase the fetus’ chance of developing allergies or asthma. While careful use of antibiotics is beneficial, over-prescribing may kill not only the bad bacteria but the beneficial bacteria leading to a compromised immune system. Chiropractic care addresses these problems directly by performing adjustments to regions affecting lung function and overall nervous system balance. Consider the case of my patient, Tyler, who was on two daily asthma medications in addition to intermittent use of a nebulizer. Following two months of chiropractic care, his parents report that he has discontinued all his medications, and has not needed any breathing treatments.

Chiropractic care should not be considered a “strange” treatment for children. I began chiropractic care at age six and never missed a day of elementary school due to illness. When considering the nature of the treatment, chiropractic care is far more conservative and safer than taking a prescription drug or surgery. Indeed, more progressive pediatricians now refer children to chiropractors for treatment.

Oviedo-Winter Springs Life

Freedom From Burden of Headache Pain
By Dr. Eric Janowitz

Headaches can disrupt every aspect of your life, from performing your work and enjoying your free time to sleeping well. Many people are turning towards the “quick fix” by taking a wide array of over the counter medications or expensive and powerful prescription drugs. The challenge is in finding the source of the problem, not in simply covering up its symptoms.

When you experience a headache, it is not your head that is aching because the brain actually lacks pain sensitive nerves. Most headaches, including migraines, are cervicogenic, defined as originating from the cervical spine (or neck). This is because the nerves that travel around your aching skull actually arise from your neck. When we are under high amounts of stress, either mentally overworked or physically in poor positions like sitting in front of a computer, the neck muscles can become tense and spastic. This subsequently causes the neck bones to shift out of position and irritate the nerves traveling to the skull. This is why many people experience neck pain and headaches around the same time.

My first patient in outpatient clinic was a twenty-five year old woman named, Erin. Erin suffered from migraines that occurred four to five times per week. Her method of abating them consisted of a cocktail of Excedrin (a headache medication with caffeine) three times per day and two doses of Aleve at night. She would relate to me how “crippled” she was by these headaches and would have to rush home from work early to go in her darkened apartment with a garbage bin next to her side. She had been taking this medication protocol for several years with little to no relief. Upon my evaluation, the x-ray showed that her second neck bone, called the axis, was rotated about forty-five degrees! Within one week of adjustments, she no longer had any more migraines. This completely changed her life. She had more energy, and even went back to school to earn a Masters Degree. Her story was my inspiration early on in my quest to serve patients, especially those afflicted with headaches.

I have found is that most people have an excellent response to Chiropractic care for headache relief. There are some patients where special testing such as MRI’s or CT scans can find other less likely, but dangerous problems. A good chiropractor should have a relationship with a neurologist to work side by side with difficult cases.

The problem is that most people will have the series of these special tests first, with out looking for the most common logical causes, mainly in the neck. I often share my patient’s frustration when many of their other health professionals simply ignore the position of the neck bones which might be pinching or irritating the nerves. What’s worse, some are told that their pain is “all in their head” and are given antidepressants.

Headaches are common, but they are not normal. If you are experiencing them, you should begin your journey by determining the cause of them. Consider a Chiropractor who focuses on headaches, who understands what you are going through, and who will work with other health professionals in a team approach to correct your problem once and for all.

Oviedo-Winter Springs Life November/December 2007

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Oviedo Family Chiropractic

1791 East Broadway St.
Oviedo, FL 32765

Phone: 407-505-4320
Fax: 407-359-7464

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