Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke & Sunstroke

sky-wallpaper-bannerHeat exhaustion happens when the body’s cooling system stops working. The next stage after heat exhaustion is heat stroke caused by strenuous exercise or activities outside during the warm summer months or sun stroke, where the sun is the heat source.

All three conditions are serious health issues and in severe cases, can cause organ dysfunction, brain damage, and death.

It’s important to get out of the sun and stay somewhere cool if you think you might be starting to feel the effects of heat exhaustion. This includes feeling lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous, or “headachy”. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms,  drink water,  and try to cool yourself down as quickly as possible: go inside an air conditioned building, cool off in a sprinkler or pool, wet your head with water, or at the very least find some shade.

Heatstroke occurs when your body is no longer able to keep your body cool. Your body relies on water evaporation to stay cool, so as your temperature rises, your body reacts by sweating.   Extremely warm temperatures can quickly overwhelm your body’s cooling system and when sweating can no longer keep you cool, body temperature quickly rise, causing the symptoms of heat-related illness.

Prolonged exposure to the sun contributes to sunstroke. When body fluids are not adequately replenished, sun exposure can cause rapid dehydration. Even on mild or overcast days, the sun can have negative health effects, including dehydration, sun burn, and sun allergies.

The medical definition of heat stroke is a core body temperature of 39 degrees Celsius or higher.  If you’ve spent a lot of time in the sun and you’re experiencing any of the symptoms below, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately!

  • Skin is hot to touch
  • Extreme Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Severe Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Rapid Heartbeat
  • Blurred Vision
  • Mental Confusion – if you’re having difficulty thinking or focusing
  • Seizures
  • Lack of Sweating

Your level of activity is one of the greatest indicators of the amount of water you should drink during hot summer weather.   For an activity that takes 30 minutes or less, one to two extra glasses of water will keep you hydrated. If you are exercising, going for a long hike, playing a game of tennis, you should drink three to four extra glasses of water to keep hydrated. And, any time you exercise in extreme heat or for more than one hour,  you should supplement the water with a drink that contains electrolytes.

Have fun outdoors, but be smart and plan ahead.

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Treat Chronic Back Pain with Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression provides relief to back and neck pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within spinal discs; this involves stretching the spine, using a traction table or similar motorized device, with the goal of relieving back pain and/or leg pain.

During a nonsurgical spinal decompression treatment, the spinal vertebrae are slowly and methodically separated using a computer-controlled Spinal Decompression table. (Kennedy Decompression Table)

As the vertebrae are separated pressure is slowly reduced within the disc until a vacuum is formed. This vacuum allows the gelatinous center of the disc to move back inside, thereby reducing the disc bulge or disc herniation.  Joint bio-mechanics are improved and spasms or tightness in back muscles are decreased.

Significant disc bulge reduction removes pressure off the spinal nerves and drastically reduces pain and disability. This momentary lower pressure in the disc, also pulls much-needed oxygen, nutrients and fluid into injured and degenerated discs allowing the healing to begin.

Is Spinal Decompression Right For Me? | chiropractor victoria bc

Spinal Decompression Table

On your first visit to Diversified Health Clinic your health care practitioner will take a detailed medical history and complete a physical exam.

Therapy sessions typically last 20 minutes with most people feeling pain relief with as few as 3-5 treatments. It is important to remember however, that pain subsiding does not infer that your discs and spine are healed, so it’s critical that patients follow the treatment protocol prescribed in order to achieve the full value of the decompression therapy.

Spinal Decompression can help alleviate pain caused by the following conditions:

  • Severe or chronic low back and neck pain
  • Arthritis pain in neck and back
  • Pinched nerves
  • Sciatica
  • Degenerative disc / joint disease /collapsed discs
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Herniated or bulging disc
  • Numbness, tingling or burning pain

For patients suffering from chronic pain, spinal decompression therapy can help to alleviate pain, and get you back to your daily activities.

Please contact our clinic if you have any questions regarding nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy.

 

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Your Foot & Heel Pain Might be Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis can be a painful condition caused by overuse of the arch tendon (plantar fascia) of the foot.

The most common cause of plantar fasciitis is a tight calf muscle which leads to persistent pronation of the foot, which over stretches the arch tendon, and can lead to possible inflammation, thickening of the tendon, and further injury.

Strenuous activities such as running or excessive walking in footwear that does not provide the proper support can make you more at risk, causing additional stretching of the plantar fascia. Being overweight can also be a factor and place you at risk due to the excess weight impacting on the foot.

A Chiropractor or Physiotherapist can provide treatment for this type of foot injury.

Home Treatments can consist of:

  • Resting your feet
  • Reduce inflammation
  • Wear proper fitted shoes, with a good arch support
  • Wear orthotics
  • Wear slippers, slip-on’s, or any type of foot wear that has a an arch support at all times

Clinical Treatments can consist of:

A healthcare practitioner can instruct you in a series of exercises to stretch the plantar fascia and tendons and to strengthen lower leg muscles, which stabilize your ankle and heel. A therapist might also apply athletic tape to support the bottom of your foot.

Shock Wave therapy initiates a healing response by the body; causing blood vessel formation and increased delivery of nutrients to the affected area, which stimulates a repair process and relieves the symptoms of pain.

Dry needling /IMS  causes minor bleeding within the tissues and can break up scar tissue. This minor trauma allows the body to recognize the injured tissue as an acute problem area and  increases blood flow and the delivery of nutrients to the affected area.

The healthcare practitioners will also analysis your gait and see if orthotics can be part of the solution for treatment and prevention.  Plantar fasciitis is a condition that has a high re-injury rate.

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Golf Injuries: How to Prevent Them

Golf is not a contact sport, and is perceived as a low-risk sport when it comes to injuries. Golfers, whether new to the game or have been playing the sport for years, will suffer from acute or overuse injuries if they lack proper technique.

Acute injuries are usually the result of a single, traumatic episode, such as the golf club hitting the ground. Overuse injuries occur over time, and are caused from the stress that the golfer puts on the back and shoulders when swinging.

Many golfing-related injuries are a result of poor mechanics or overuse. The most commonly injured areas are the lower back, elbows, shoulder, and knees.

Almost half of all golf injuries are from overuse. The main causes of these injuries include:

  • Lack of flexibility
  • Poor conditioning
  • Excessive play/practice
  • Poor swing mechanics
  • Ground impact forces

A golf swing is broken down into four parts: back swing, down swing, acceleration, and follow through. Any limitations in range of motion will increase the stress on the involved joints and muscles. A golf swing also involves repetitive, high-velocity movement of the neck, shoulders, spine, elbow, wrist, hips, knees, and ankles.

Here are some of the most common golfer injuries, and how to avoid them:

Back Pain

The repeated action of swinging a golf club, plus hours spent hunched over your clubs while putting places rotational stresses on your back.

  • To prevent back issues, practice correct form and adjust your swing
  • Stretching to improve your range of motion
  • Core exercises
  • Correct your posture
  • Chiropractic trreatments
  • Exercises that incorporate simple body twisting can help work on core stability and range of motion.
  • Don’t carry your golf bag

Rotator Cuff Pain

The rotator cuffs, are the four stabilizing muscles located in each of your shoulders. With this type of injury, the muscles swell and pinch the space between the arm and shoulder bones.

  • RICE method: rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
  • Strength training
  • Physiotherapy
  • Stretch the muscles of the shoulders, backs, and abs.
  • Exercises designed to strengthen shoulder and back muscles.

Elbow Pain

Tendinitis in the elbow is commonly referred as Tennis or Golf elbow which is an inflammation of the outer or inner tendon, usually due to repetitive strain.

  • Use proper swing techniques
  • Allow your elbows to get adequate rest ( reduce inflammation)
  • Massage Therapy
  • Avoid gripping the golf club too hard
  • Use sports tape

Knee Pain

Stabilizing the rotation of the hip axis at the beginning of a swing, can place a lot of stress on the knees.

  • Stretch calves, hamstrings, and thighs
  • Exercise core muscles
  • Wear a knee brace
  • Wear well-fitting shoes

Foot Pain

Walking 18 holes of golf can cause discomfort to your feet.

  • Choose proper fitting footwear
  • Wear orthotics
  • Wear golf shoes with short cleats

Understanding the mechanics behind your golf swing can help you prevent golf injuries. Remember to use correct posture: hold your spine relatively straight, with your trunk tilted forward, allowing most of the movement from your hips.

Before you play a round of golf, make part of your routine a 15 minute warm up, which includes walking, stretching your hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulders, spine and pelvis. Focus on flexibility.

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Physio Can Help: Chronic Pain

One in five British Columbian’s live with Chronic Pain. Physiotherapy can provide treatment and pain management to help people manage chronic pain. Physiotherapists use a combination of techniques to help chronic pain sufferers feel relief, improve function & mobility, and return to regular activities & normal life.

For more information, contact the Physiotherapy Association of British Columbia.

 

 

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Biking Injuries and How to Avoid Them

Most biking injuries occur as a result of an accident – falling off the bike, or as a result of repeated movements over time. Superficial soft tissue injuries and musculoskeletal trauma are the most common injuries.

Many problems are linked to poor posture on the bike, poor bike fit, and over training.

Although some injuries are impossible to avoid, there are some things every cyclist can do to prevent injuries. Here is a list of the most common and what you can do to avoid them.

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is an overuse injury caused by inflammation.  (This is not an Achilles tendon rupture, which requires immediate medical attention).

  • Reduce you training and use ice, ibuprofen and massage to calm the inflammation
  • Make sure to re asses your bike’s fit specifically the height of your bike seat.  Having your seat too high keeps your foot flexed, causing constant contraction of the calf muscles.

Muscle Tightness

If you are an avid rider, you may not be aware that your calves and hamstrings are too tight.  A hamstring ‘strain’ occurs when the muscle is loaded either quite heavily, or repetitively, or both.

  • Tightness can lead to tearing so always warm up before you get on the bike
  • Stretch so your muscles are flexible
  • Rest the strained muscle

Low Back Pain

Riding for long periods of time, especially if the bike doesn’t fit you properly will lead to lower back pain by forcing supporting muscles to compensate for weaken muscles.

  • Make sure that you participate in year round core strengthening exercises
  • Make sure your back is in the right position for the specific frame of your bicycle

Neck Pain

Neck pain is caused by tightness in the muscle that starts at the base of the skull and runs along the sides of the neck all the way to the shoulders.   This pain can be caused by an incorrect bike fit, or tensing the shoulder muscles while holding the head in an extended position for long periods of time.

  • Make sure your bike fits you
  • Shortening the stem and moving the seat forward will place your body in a more upright position,
  • Allow the neck and back to be in a more neutral position.
  • Keeping your grip loose on the handlebars will help to avoid tight shoulder muscles

Knee Pain

Your knees can be irritated by the repeated motion of cycling, especially if you try and do too much too quickly, or your bike set-up isn’t quite right. The repetitive motion of pedaling your bike without sufficient leg strength can potentially bring on knee pain and injuries.

These are changes in equipment or a position on the bike that the body’s not used to, including:

  • Check the seat height and seat setback
  • Length of cranks
  • Cleat position
  • Strength training is crucial for keeping your cycling knees pain-free

Riding a bike is a  great low-impact exercise; you just have to have the right equipment and engage in the exercise correctly.

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Direct Billing & Insurance Coverage

ExteriorDiversified Health Clinic offers the service of direct billing for your healthcare treatments, so you have one less chore to deal with.

We are approved healthcare providers and can direct bill to:

Many of Diversified Health’s services, modalities and treatments are covered by private insurance plans, extended health plans provided by an employer, Medical Service Plan (MSP), WorkSafeBC, and ICBC.

Medical Service Plan of BC Coverage:

The BC provincial health plan (MSP) covers core health services including:

  • Medically required services provided by a physician, including diagnostic services, (For example; laboratory services provided at approved facilities when ordered by a registered physician, or certain other health care practitioners

*MSP may provide limited coverage for other services and treatments provided at Diversified Health Clinic.

Extended Health Benefits:

Many extended health companies provide benefits that allow Diversified Health to bill your treatments directly on your behalf, or the insurance companies can reimburse you directly for treatments that are not covered by provincial health care.

  • Treatments such as Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, Registered Massage Therapy, and Acupuncture are often covered by extended health benefits.

WorkSafe BC Coverage:

If you have been injured on the job, WorkSafe BC (WCB) will cover treatments at Diversified Health for Chiropractic services.

ICBC Insurance Coverage:

If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, ICBC medical benefits will often cover physiotherapy, chiropractic and registered massage therapy treatments.

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Please feel free to contact Diversified Health Clinic to discuss your “payment” options, after an injury or accident.  Diversified Health is knowledgeable and adept at working with insurance providers and sorting out any “glitches”, whether it’s ICBC, WCB, MSP, an extended health insurance company or a lawyer.

Diversified Health can direct bill without the following information, however, we ask that you contact your extended health provider to find out your individual benefit coverage, including…

  • What is your annual coverage?
    What is your deductible?
    What is the percentage amount the insurance company will cover? ( ie: 100%, 65%)

For more information on how to set up your direct billing account, please contact our front desk staff at 250-382-0018 or email us.

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8 Sun-Protective Foods

You may be surprised to learn that many common foods offer some protection to your skin from the potentially damaging rays of the sun, from the inside out. This SPF or sun protective factor aspect of foods has to do with the presence of certain antioxidant compounds. Plants produce antioxidants within their own tissues to protect their own cells from premature destruction, due to exposure to heat, light, air, moisture and time.

When we consume many of these plant-derived antioxidants, these natural agents provide protection to the cells of our bodies, including skin cells. By eating certain foods, especially those that are brightly colored, you can actually help to reduce damage to your skin caused by exposure to UVA and UVB rays from sunlight. Let’s consider some of the better sun protective foods.

Colored peppers

The red, yellow and orange peppers that look so beautiful and taste so sweet are colored by natural pigments called carotenoids. These antioxidants convert to vitamin A in the body, and help to protect skin cells by inhibiting the destruction of the thin lipid (fat) layer that surrounds skin cells.

Yellow summer squash

Cube it and put it on kebabs or brochettes, or just eat it in salads. Yellow summer squash derives its bright color from the protective carotenoids. Eat it because it tastes good- and provides solar defense.

Ripe red tomatoes

The natural antioxidant pigment lycopene gives the characteristic red color to ripe red tomatoes. This antioxidant is well known for providing protection to the prostate gland, helping to mitigate cases of BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as enlargement of the prostate. But like other antioxidant compounds in foods, lycopene also protects skin cells from exposure to the sun.

Watermelon

Say ditto for watermelon, regarding lycopene. Watermelons get their red color from this pigment as well. When summer rolls around and the sun gets hotter and brighter, eat your share of watermelon to cool your skin cells.

Green tea

What doesn’t green tea do for health? It enhances cardiovascular function, demonstrates anti-cancer activity, supports the immune system, detoxifies the body, aids weight control, and also protects skin cells from exposure to UVA and UVB rays. The secret ingredients? Antioxidant compounds called polyphenol catechins provide super-powerful defense. You can’t go wrong drinking green tea every day.

Cocoa

Perhaps the healthiest substance you can put in your mouth after water, cocoa is the ultimate super-food, containing 712 compounds, many of which are potently antioxidant and skin-protective. The flavanols in cocoa provide profound protection for the heart, helping to greatly lower the risk of heart attack, stroke and high blodd pressure. But the same compounds help to armor your skin cells. The news about cocoa seems to get better every day. Eat the real dark chocolate, consume whole, organic cocoa, and enjoy.

Blue berries

What do blueberries, black currants, acai, cranberries, blackberries and elderberries all have in common? They are all rich in the potent purple pigments known as anthocyanins. These may be nature’s mightiest of all protective compounds, helping to reduce the risk of many chronic and degenerative diseases, and providing excellent SPF protection. Eat your berries because they are delicious, and enjoy the protection as part of the overall experience.

Turmeric root

This yellow root contains a profoundly beneficial compound called curcumin that possesses superior anti-inflammatory activity, aids the immune system, enhances the brain, and protects your skin. Curcumin from turmeric is a very popular anti-inflammatory remedy. You can sprinkle turmeric on food, cook with it, or use curcumin supplements.

Just because certain foods provide protection from the harmful rays of the sun does not mean that you can eat some veggies and then go lie out in the sun all day. But it does mean that if you are exposed to the sun, you will have the protective activity of nature’s antioxidants working in your body to protect your skin from the inside out. Tan responsibly. Use sunscreen before going out in the sun, and enjoy a safe and happy summer season.

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide. His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France.

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You Know You Have a Sunburn When……

The problem with a sun burn is that you don’t feel any symptoms until a few hours after the sun exposure; and depending on how severe the burn is, it can take a day or two to see the full extent of the skins’ damage.

Some of the symptoms of a sun burn are:

  • Pinkness or redness.
  • Skin feels hot to the touch
  • Pain, tenderness, and swelling
  • Blisters
  • Headache, fever, and fatigue

Once you have the sun burn there are a few things you can do to feel better and to help heal more quickly.

  1. Drink water – A sunburn is a burn.  With this type of burn the skin is dried out, and dehydrated. Keep a bottle of ice cold water on hand and keep yourself hydrated.
  2. Aloe vera gel – Aloe vera gel is soothing, and helps reduce the redness and sting of a sunburn.
  3. Pain medication – Topical over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream may help relieve sunburn symptoms like pain, itch, and swelling. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen can help relieve sunburn pain and inflammation.
  4. Bathing in cool/tepid water – Make sure that the bath is fairly quick as a long soak in the tub can dry out your skin. also make sure your bath is tepid, or slightly on the cooler side. Really cold water will close your pores and causing your body to trap the heat: a sunburn is hot enough that tepid water will feel cool/cold. When you have a sunburn, never bathe in soapy water such as a bubble bath; as soap will dry out and irritate your skin.

What can you add to the bath:

  • Vinegar – use pure unfiltered apple cider vinegar, soak a wash cloth in the vinegar and place on the sun burned area after a tepid shower or bath.
  • Oat meal – use about 2 cups of uncooked rolled oats and place in cheesecloth/gauze and let it soak for a few minutes before getting in the tub.  Squeeze the the gauze every few minutes, until the water becomes cloudy. Let yourself air dry, when  finished.
  •  Cool milk compress – A cool milk compress is one of the quickest, simplest ways to treat sunburn. The initial coolness of the milk will ease the heat, while it also creates a layer of protein to protect your skin. If the milk in the bowl becomes room temperature chill it before re-dunking your compress.
  • Cornstarch – Add cool water-not cold-to the cornstarch until it has reached a paste consistency. Place the paste  over the burned area and leave on until pain has let up some. Rinse off completely.
  • Plain yogurt – Live cultured plain yogurt contains an probiotics and enzymes that help heal our skin.  Apply cool yogurt directly to your burn, and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. When the pain has subsided, gently rinse it off with cool or tepid water.

Consult a doctor for sunburn treatment if the sunburn is severe, with blisters and covers a large portion of your body.  The sunburn is accompanied by a high fever, headache, severe pain, dehydration, confusion, nausea or chills and if the sunburn doesn’t respond to at-home care.

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Rehab for Frozen Shoulder

“Frozen shoulder” Frozen Shoulder Rehab victoria bcis a term that is used when the shoulder becomes painful and loses motion because of inflammation. The tissues around the joint stiffen, scar tissue forms, and shoulder movements become difficult and painful.

The joint capsule of the shoulder joint has ligaments that hold the shoulder bones to each other. When the capsule becomes inflamed, the shoulder bones are unable to move freely in the joint. This pain prevents you from moving your arm. The lack of movement leads to stiffness and then even less motion. Over time, you will struggle to perform activities such as reaching over your head.

Frozen shoulder most commonly affects patients between the ages of 40 to 60 years old, and it is twice as common in women than in men. Also, patients who sustain a shoulder injury, or undergo surgery on the shoulder can develop a frozen shoulder joint.

If you have shoulder pain and stiffness and suspect you may have a frozen shoulder, contact your health care provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.

At Diversified Health you health care practitioner will make the diagnosis based on your symptoms and an examination of your shoulder. The main symptoms are decreased motion of the shoulder, pain, and stiffness.

The goal of your practitioner is to release the scar tissue by bringing the shoulder through a full range of motion and to remove the scar tissue from the shoulder. Some of the therapies and modalities that will be used during your treatments are:  Graston Technique, Cold Laser, T.E.N.S and Shockwave Therapy , Dry Needling, as well as a set of specific exercises and some time in our Rehab Gym.

Stretching exercises for frozen shoulder serves two functions: first to increase the motion in the joint and secondly to minimize the loss of muscle on the affected arm (muscle atrophy). The importance of stretching and exercises cannot be overemphasized as these are the key to successful frozen shoulder treatment.

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