Why Are Chiropractic Patients Healthier

Research has shown that patients who are under consistent chiropractic care get sick much less often that people who are not.  With this post, I am going to attempt to show why this is the case.
The brain and the nervous system controls and coordinates all the  functions of the body. From your heart beating, to your breathing, to your immune system fighting off disease, to your gall bladder digesting fats to your kidney and liver filtering out toxins from the body.  Each activity is controlled by the brain sending it’s signals through out vast nervous system.  So, the first reason chiropractic patients are healthier is because chiropractic directly affects the nervous system.  Pressure on a spinal nerve will not only cause pain and muscles spasms, but it also affects whatever organs that nerve goes to and controls.  If the brain can’t get 100% of its signals to a particular organ, it only makes sense that the organ cannot function at 100%.  By removing pressure on the nerve through an adjustment, we are also allowing the body to function at a higher level.
The second reason chiropractic patients are healthier is because of the intimate relationship between the nervous system and the immune system.  There is an entire field of study now called psychoneuroimmunlogy which looks at this connection between the mind, the nervous system, and the immune system.  Researchers are finding that it is almost impossible to separate the immune system from the nervous system. This fits perfectly with chiropractic because, again, we are the only discipline that can remove pressure on spinal nerves through an adjustment.  It makes sense that when the nervous system is function better, the immune system will also function better.  Germs don’t make us sick.  There are germs EVERYWHERE.  If germs made us sick, we would be sick all the time.  It’s our body’s ability to fight off the germs that keep us healthy.  When our immune systems aren’t functioning at the highest level is when the germs are able to invade our bodies causing dis-ease.
The final reason chiropractic patients are healthier is because chiropractic patients tend to lead healthier lifestyles.  People who are concerned about their health tend to eat a little bit better.  They tend to exercise a little more.  They tend to take less prescription and over the counter medications.  All of these things, along with getting adjusted regularly, lead to better health.
Obviously, I am not saying that all you have to do is get adjusted consistently, and you’ll never have any health problem.  There are many factors that affect health…your attitude, your diet, your rest, your stress levels, your exercise, and your environment. However, I don’t believe that any one of those things is more important than taking care of your nervous system and getting adjusted.  I get checked once a week just to make sure I keep myself tuned up.
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Overworked and Under Pressure — Stress on the Job

Overworked and Under Pressure – Stress on the Job
by Michael Taylor, D.C.

Read Overworked and Under Pressure – Stress on the Job by Dr. Michael Taylor to learn more about MIchael Taylor Chiropractic and our Chiropractic office in MOdesto, CA.

We look forward to serving you! Call – 209-521-1122.

Columbia Work Stress

Stress has been called the spice of life, the common cold of the psyche, and even a socially acceptable form of mental illness. No doubt, stress can be beneficial—for example, a deadline can help us focus and become more alert and efficient. Persistent or excessive stress, however, can undermine performance and make us vulnerable to health problems, from cancer and heart disease to substance abuse and obesity.

Stress is a physical and mental response to the difference between our expectations and our personal experience, real or imaginary. While reacting to stress, the body goes through alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. Released hormone epinephrine, or adrenaline, prepares the body for physical action (“fight or flight”) by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. Then, the body releases glucocorticoid cortisol, or hydrocortisone, producing anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressing effects.

Consequences of Chronic Stress

Although occasional stress can be of benefit, too much stress is taxing on the body. Excessive levels of glucocorticoids can hinder growth, delay wound healing, and increase risk of infection. Chronic stressors—or their constant anticipation—can make us believe that we must always be on guard, leading to anxiety. Feelings of hopelessness or avoiding solving our problems can spark depression.

Past or present psychological distress can also lead to pain, particularly low-back pain, which often comes with leg pain, headaches, sleep problems, anxiety, and depression. Stress may even be a more powerful pain generator than strenuous physical activity or repetitive motion. Research shows, for example, that pain in adolescents is associated with depression and stress, but not with computer use or physical activity.

Stress is highly individual and depends on our circumstances. For example, we react to stress better if we can vent our frustrations, feel in control, hope that things will change for the better, and get social support.

Gender also determines how we handle stress. Women are easily stressed by household problems, conflicts with people, or illness in people they know. Men get more significantly affected by job loss, legal problems, and work-related issues. Men are also more likely to get depressed over divorce or separation and work problems. Depression in women, however, is more likely to spring from interpersonal conflicts or low social support, particularly from family.

Stress on the Job

The workplace has become a major stressor, contributing to the risk of hypertension and heart disease. Recent studies have shown, however, that what stresses us out is not so much the job demands, but our attitude toward them. For example, people who react with anger to their high job strain or who are worried about their chronic work overload have much higher morning corsisol levels. Lack of a sense of control over a job is also associated with higher blood pressure, especially in women and in people with higher socioeconomic status.

Stress Relief Is Important

No matter what stresses you out, consider taking active steps to change your attitude toward stress and to reduce stress in your life

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Wake Up Your Hands – Chiropractic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

By: Michael Taylor, D.C.

Read Wake Up Your Hands – Chiropractic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by Dr. Michael Taylor to learn more about Michael Taylor Chiropractic and our Chiropractic office in Modesto, CA.

We look forward to serving you! Call – 209-521-1122.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ColumbiaCarpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is caused by pressure on the median nerve, located just above the wrist. It is one of the most common occupational health problems, affecting millions of people every year, largely thanks to our ever-increasing use of computers. Anyone can develop CTS, however, even if they are computer-phobic, as it is essentially a repetitive stress injury. This means anyone involved in repeated actions for extended periods may suffer from it, or it may be brought on by a trauma to that area.

Common symptoms of CTS include wrist pain, weak grip, numbness, tingling, and burning. The pain may also cause problems sleeping. Treatments vary, and can include drugs and invasive surgery, but one that is both conservative and very effective is chiropractic. Adjustments made to the affected area can help resolve the issue, as can work on certain areas of the back or neck, where the nerves are being impinged upon and referring pain to the wrist. Chiropractic treatments may also include physical therapy, and stretching and strengthening exercises. Many people with CTS have found that they experience great relief from their symptoms after visiting a doctor of chiropractic.

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Watch What You Say…it just may come true!!

It amazes me sometimes how parents talk to their kids.  With all of the information out there about how powerful the brain is, how could a parent ever tell his/her kid that they’re a brat, or a delinquent, or stupid?  I have a tough time with parents who complain about how terrible their kids are when the parents are the problem.  I believe from the bottom of my heart that children of all ages will do what is expected of them.  The problem we have right now is that we’ve lowered expectations so much, and our children, as always, are meeting those expectations.  Disrespect of adults, talking back, poor performance in school,  and defiance are all things that are prevalent today when 30-40 years ago they never would have been allowed to happen.

When a kid is misbehaving, don’t call them a brat, CORRECT THE BEHAVIOR!!  Your negative words are just perpetuating the situation and guaranteeing that it will happen again.  When a child is told over and over again that they’re a brat, especially when it comes from the person they look up to most in the world, they are going to live up (or down) to those expectations!!  Kid’s need discipline not to be denigrated.  They need to know exactly what their boundaries are and what is expected of them.  Then when they do something right, praise them.  Tell them how incredible they are.  Let them know they can have anything they want to have, that they can be anything they want to be, that they can do anything they want to do.

When my kids were much younger, I used to put them to bed every night.  As we were saying our goodnights, I would ask them three questions….:”What kind of day is tomorrow going to be?”  They would answer with words like spectacular or terrific or awesome or incredible.  Then I would ask them, “and who is going to make it that way?”  They would excitedly say, “I AM.”  Finally, I would ask them, “What are you going to think about as you fall asleep?”  I would get answers like, I am a champion, I am a winner, I am incredible, I can do anything…”  This went on every single night for many, many years.  Now I ask you, is it any wonder that I have very happy, positive, successful children.  They were planning their lives every night, and they were planning them in a very positive way.  Isn’t that better than the kid who goes to bed every night with their parents telling them they’re brats or stupid or worthless?

Maybe I’m crazy, but I truly feel that the biggest problem with kids nowadays are their parents.  Kids will truly do what they’re expected to do.  What are you expecting from your kids, and more importantly, what are you saying to them?  Raise your expectations, change your words, and you’ll be amazed at the results.

Hello world!

Welcome to the RhinoBlogster!!  This is the place where I will post my rants and raves on a whole host of subjects!  Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride as we venture into the dark recesses of my mind.  I think you will enjoy the journey.