Why see a chiropractor?

The answer to why see a chiropractor depends on you. If your life is disrupted due to back pain, neck pain, headaches, sprains or strains, or another problem involving your muscles, joints, and nervous system, chiropractic care can help you feel like yourself again. Injuries to the spine can happen at any stage of life and for various reasons including car crashes, workplace incidents and sports injuries. Even simple everyday tasks such as going for a walk or washing the dishes have the potential to cause pain or discomfort that many of us just decide to live with. Sometimes these aches and pains even prevent us from working or doing the things we love. You don’t have to live with the pain.

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What Can Protect Me From UV Rays Other Than Sunscreen?

You can be in the sun without sunscreen for up to 20 minutes a day.  This is extremely variable depending on your genetics. The darker and thicker your skin, the longer the sun exposure needed to start sun radiation damage. For freckling individuals, sun exposure may cause damage very quickly, even in less than 5 minutes. This is why it is very important to protect your skin with sunblock when you are outside.  But what if you don’t want to use sunscreen… What other protection can I use?

Wear Sunglasses

Sunglasses protect the sensitive skin around the eyes and also helps to prevent cataracts. The best sunglasses block 99 to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Wrap-around sunglasses and styles that fit close to the eye are especially good because they prevent the sun’s rays from coming in through the sides.

Wear a Hat

A tightly woven hat with a 4-inch brim all the way around, helps shade your face, ears, and the back of your neck. Baseball caps leave your ears and neck exposed.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

This means long-sleeve shirts, and long pants. The colour of the fabric can also make a difference; as a general rule, lighter coloured fabrics let more UV rays through than darker coloured fabrics. Also the tighter the weave, and the thicker the fabric, and the better the clothing is at blocking  UV rays.

Fabric Matters in Regular Clothing

Nylon – highly effective protection, Watch out for “stretchy” fabric – clothing that the weave expands when the material stretches, will let in more UV rays, so the correct fit is very important in elastic clothing.

Wool – moderately effective

Silk – moderately effective

Cotton, rayon, and hemp – least effective (unless chemically treated)

Denim (heavy weight) – superior protection

Lightweight cotton jersey knit, typical of T-shirt fabrics: SPF 4 (white) / 18 (dyed blue).
Heavy cotton twill – 8 oz. denim: SPF 12 (white) / 100 (dyed blue). Blue jeans eliminate 100% UV rays

Buy dark coloured clothing with tight-knit weaves or clothing with UPF.

UPF Clothing

The UPF rating is to clothing what the SPF rating is to sunscreen. The UPF rating is applied to textiles that protect your skin from the sun.  SPF measures only how much UVB is blocked, but not UVA (unless it is labeled “broad spectrum”). UPF clothing blocks both types of damaging rays.

UPF clothing either blocks or absorbs UV radiation to protect your skin.  The UPF rating is based on a fabric’s content, weight, color, and construction.

UPF rating for clothing:

15 to 24 – Good
25 to 39 – Very Good
40 to 50 – Excellent
It’s best to choose clothing with a UPF rating of 30 or higher; UPF 50 blocks 98 percent of UV rays.

Whether you buy UPF clothing, or wear what you have in your closet, make sure that you are protected from the suns damaging rays.

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Allergies To Sunscreens and Oxybenzone

We all know that too much sun is bad for us…. but what happens if you have an allergic reaction to sunscreen? Many adults and children have allergic reactions to the chemical ingredients found in sunscreen.

Allergies to Sunscreen | health care victoriaHere is a list of what you don’t want in a sunscreen:  (courtesy of Environmental Working Group)

  • oxybenzone – One of the biggest culprits to making the sunscreens more of a toxin hazard.  The overall concerns with this ingredient is developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes.
  • Vitamin A – The sunscreen industry often adds vitamin A to its products because it is an anti-oxidant that slows skin aging. That may be true for lotions and night creams used indoors, but the FDA study of vitamin A’s photocarcinogenic properties raises the possibility that it results in cancerous tumors when used on skin exposed to sunlight. Scientists have known for some time that vitamin A can spur excess skin growth (hyperplasia), and that in sunlight it can form free radicals that damage DNA.  It may also speed the development of skin tumors and lesions. This finding is quite troubling because the sunscreen production companies adds vitamin A to about 30 percent of all sunscreens.
  • benzophenone-3, homosalate, or octyl-methoxycinnamate – These ingredients not only behave like estrogen and are known to disrupt users’ endocrine systems, they are more readily absorbed through the skin.
  • Sprays or powders. They have a greater potential to be inhaled.  Choose cream based products instead. Make sure to reapply them often, because sunscreen chemicals break apart in the sun, wash off in pools and rub off on towels and clothing.

So now you know what you don’t want, what’s left?  Below are a few websites that will show you what types of natural and organic sunscreens are available.

Natural Living Ideas

Ewg.org

Organic Authority

There are many natural sunscreens on the market, but just like everything else make sure you do your homework.

Choosing the Right SPF for Your Skin Type

· Fair skin — can stay in the sun 10 minutes before burning
· Olive skin — can stay in the sun 15 minutes before burning
· Dark skin — can stay in the sun 20 minutes before burning

Multiply the SPF by the number of minutes you can stay in the sun before burning. For example: (SPF) 20 x 10 (Fair skin) = 200 minutes (amount of time you can stay in the sun before burning if you have Fair skin and use an SPF of 20).

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How To Increase Your Daily Physical Activity

We all know the benefits of exercise.  Yet many of use still find it difficult to incorporate physical activity into our daily lives. Most of use have good intentions, but do not seem to find the time to exercise.

Not enough time is the number one excuse for remaining inactive.  We believe that five or ten minutes isn’t going to effect anything.

Too tired is the second most common excuse. Sitting at a desk all day will make you feel tired and sluggish.

For any of the other excuses you come up with just remember, they are only that, acknowledge them for what they are and do it anyway. Remember it’s important for your well being to add physical activity into your lifestyle.

Stop thinking exercise and start thinking about fun recreational physical activities that you can do with friends.

What can you do at home?

Modern technology has taken most of the physical activity out of chores. You need to replace the lost physical activity with something else. For instance, when you are watching television, use the commercial breaks to, fold laundry or unload the dishwasher. When working at a your computer remember to take “physical breaks” every 40 minutes, for 5 minutes to tone your muscles with a few easy stretching and strengthening exercises.

What can you do at the office?

Next time you need to talk to a co-worker, why not hand-deliver a message instead of picking up the phone or texting. The simplest way to increase your physical activity at work is to walk during your lunch, and not to use the elevator or stairs.

Bring your runners to work and turn your coffee breaks into a “stress-reduction and revitalization break,”  you can also try biking to work a few days per week.

What can you do with our cars for short trips?

For most of us, it is just force of habit combined with very little time. If you stop to think about this, does an extra 10 minutes really make such a big difference to your schedule? Think of the saving of wear and tear on your car and think of the benefits a quick walk will do.

If you must drive, park in the farthest space in the parking lot, so you will have to walk for an extra few minutes – remember it all adds up!

Walking!

Walking is the easiest and most popular way to increase your level of physical activity. Try to incorporate walking every day… go window shopping, walk around your neighbourhood, remember if you make it fun, there is a greater chance that you will continue.

The key to success is variety; so change your routes, change your pace, change your stride.

Plan ahead

  • Get organized.
  • Planning helps to overcome the tendency to put off the activity when the time comes to actually “do it”.
  • Remember to place your runner and socks by the front door the night before so they are ready to leave with you to go to work.
  • If your family is going hiking on the week end, make sure that everyone’s out door gear is ready and near the door, also that all supplies including the food is ready to go. This will help you to overcome the “ I’m so comfortable and cozy let’s go next weekend” scenario.

Make this month, the month you make a commitment to increase your physical activity on a daily basis. You will soon find out that it is much easier than you thought and that the reward of feeling better and having more energy will motivate you to keep “up the pace” and to find more creative ways to fit fitness, into your daily schedule!

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Do’s & Don’ts of Pain Free Gardening

Here are some simple tips on the do’s and don’ts for pain free gardening, and how massage therapy can help  with pain relief if you overdo it.

1. Warm up with light movement or a brisk walk to loosen your muscles and increase your flexibility. The smooth coordination of your muscles and ligaments is an important part of safe exertion in gardening and avoiding aches and pains. Also set modest goals for each portion of the day and assess your progress and how you feel every couple of hours.

2. Know your strengths and limitations. Do not overexert, vary your activities, and take regular rest breaks. Every hour, give yourself 5 minutes to stretch, sit down, and drink to replenish the fluids lost from your exertion.

3. Avoid bending over repeatedly while standing upright when performing ground-level work like weeding. Get closer to the task by kneeling or sitting on the ground or a gardening bench, rather than bending and twisting from the waist.

4. Keep your back protected when you stand up from a sitting or crouching position. Rise up by straightening your legs at the knees, not by lifting your torso at the waist.

5. Lift dirt and plants by letting your arms, legs and thighs carry the load: bend and straighten at the knees instead of the hack and hips. You are most vulnerable to injury when you are bending at the waist and reaching, so lift the load close to the body’s torso and handle smaller, more manageable loads at a time.

6. Use long-handled tools to give you leverage and help avoid having to stoop down while raking or digging.

7. Switch hands frequently when doing prolonged raking, hoeing or digging actions. Repetitive motion on one side can bring on progressively serious joints imbalances and may produce postural mis-alignments and pain. Avoid repetitive-motion injuries by dividing up each task into sections that allow you to switch activities and posture often.

8. Don’t work too long in one position, especially one that is awkward or unusual. This can reduce circulation, restrict mobility, and promote strain injuries.

If you should find yourself with painful joints and muscle because of gardening, remember that massage therapy provides significant reduction in back pain, (including lower back pain), migraine headaches, neck aches, shoulder pain, joint pain, overused or sore muscles, arthritis, and muscle injuries.

At Diversified Health our Registered Massage Therapists tailor each session to your needs from a whole body massage to a quick half hour hand massage.

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Acupuncture Can Help with Seasonal Allergies

For those who suffer from seasonal allergies, springtime can be a mixed blessing. The warm weather, the flowers, versus the allergy symptoms: runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, headaches, fatigue, and difficulty breathing.  Left untreated, allergies can lead to sinus infections, feeling groggy, headaches, depression, and in serious cases, allergies can be fatal.

Allergy medications temporarily alleviate these symptoms, while acupuncture addresses the underlying imbalance that’s causing the symptoms in the first place.

An allergen enters the body through the skin or is inhaled. The immune system identifies the substance as potentially dangerous and creates antibodies to attack it. The IgE antibodies in turn affect mast cells throughout the body and cause the release of histamines.

The body produces too much histamine when it has an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction is an overreaction of the immune system to certain substances that normally do not affect most people. This heightened immune response, which causes histamine to be released leads to the allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, itchy throat, and itchy watery eyes.

With acupuncture, seasonal allergies are not isolated to the histamine response.  Acupuncture looks at allergies as a general disruption of a person’s defensive mechanisms.

Instead of accepting the over reactive immune response and suppressing it with medication (antihistamines), acupuncturists look at why the person’s immunity is compromised.

During a treatment, acupuncture points are selected for healing the symptoms and bolstering the underlying imbalance.  Depending on the specific symptoms, many additional points are also used.

The systems that are most commonly involved in chronic allergies are the lung, kidney and spleen. Treating the underlying imbalance as well as the symptoms helps to optimize immune function and prevent future allergic reactions.

Seasonal allergies are something many people have come to accept as an inevitable part of springtime, a trade off of sorts for the warm weather. It doesn’t have to be this way.  Acupuncture can relieve and prevent seasonal allergies, without negative side effects.

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What is an Allergy and Do I Need an Allergist?

An allergy occurs when the body’s immune system sees a substance as harmful and overreacts to it.  When the immune symptom detects anything unwanted or unknown, it will defend itself by attacking and destroying the dangerous substance. (There are hundreds of ordinary substances that can trigger allergic reactions). However, sometimes, the defenses are directed toward harmless substances such as dust or pollen and are incorrectly identified as dangerous.

When someone has allergies, their immune system makes an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies respond to allergens. The symptoms that result are an allergic reaction.

Allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe, with may mild symptoms not requiring any treatment.  Some allergies can be controlled with the occasional over-the-counter medication, such as someone suffering from seasonal hay fever. However, there are many severe allergies that can interfere with your daily routine, and where allergic reactions can be life threatening.

Many allergy sufferers will tolerate or “put-up-with” minor symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion or wheezing. For those who suffer from moderate to severe allergies, the best defense is with the help of an allergist, to prevent or control the symptoms.

An allergist can develop a treatment plan with the goal of you leading a life that is as normal and as symptom-free as possible.

A visit to the allergist might include:

  • Allergy testing
  • Prevention education – avoiding the factors that trigger the condition
  • Medication prescriptions
  • Immunotherapy “Allergy Shots”

Allergies can appear at any time and any age, and sometimes allergies that have disappeared, will return years later.

Make an appointment with an allergist if you suffer from any of these symptoms:

  • Chronic sinus infections, nasal congestion or difficulty breathing
  • You experience allergy symptoms several months out of the year
  • Antihistamines and over-the-counter medications no longer work
  • Allergies interfere with day-to-day activities, and decrease the quality of life

As with most health issues, talk with your doctor or health care practitioner to find the best plan for you.

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Food Allergy or Food Intolerance

Food allergies occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to food you have eaten, triggering an allergic reaction.

Many people believe they have a food allergy, but in fact they have a food intolerance. Food intolerance is much more common than a food allergy, and while food intolerance can be uncomfortable (upset stomach) it does not involve your immune system and is not life threatening.  Food allergies are a reaction to food by your body’s immune system, and can be very dangerous, even fatal.

While any food can cause an adverse reaction, eight types of food account for about 90 percent of all food reactions:

  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Peanuts
  • Tree nuts
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Wheat
  • Soy

Symptoms of a food allergy can range from mild to severe. A food that triggered only mild symptoms on one occasion may cause more severe symptoms at another time.

Most food-related symptoms occur within two hours of ingestion; often starting within minutes. Food allergy symptoms can appear at any age, and you can develop an allergy to a food you have eaten for years with no problems.

The most severe allergic reaction is anaphylaxis which is a life-threatening allergic reaction that impairs your breathing, blood pressure and heart rate. Anaphylaxis can come on within minutes of exposure to the trigger food.  Individuals with food allergies at risk of anaphylaxis carry an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) which contains medication in case of an allergic reaction.

An anaphylactic reaction can involve any of the following symptoms:

  • Hives, swelling, itching, redness, rash
  • Rapid swelling of the throat or tongue, trouble swallowing
  • Trouble breathing, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain/tightness, throat tightness
  • Signs of shock
  • Nausea, pain/cramps, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Moist, cool skin, or profuse sweating
  • Restlessness, confusion, or a sense of impending doom
  • Turning  pale/blue colour, weak pulse, passing out, dizzy/lightheaded, feeling faint

Having food allergies needs to be taken seriously – Even if you have been given an epinephrine shot, even if you feel better,  call 911!

If you have any reactions to any food, be sure to talk to your doctor or healthcare practitioner.

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Job Posting – Receptionist/Front Desk Clerical

Diversified Health Clinic is currently hiring for a Receptionist/Front Desk Clerical position. This is not an MOA position.

We are a multi-disciplinary, collaborative health and wellness center that combines a wide range of services including Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, Registered Massage Therapy, and Acupuncture. We are proud of our strong team of practitioners and staff and are looking forward to adding another team member as we continue to grow.

This is a customer focused position with duties including patient bookings, answering phones and email inquiries, filing, insurance submissions and billings, MSP/Extended Health billings and processing, opening and closing procedures and various office duties as needed. This is not an MOA position, however, a strong administrative background in health services is an asset and the ability to prioritize and multi-task is essential.

We are currently recruiting for a permanent position; approximately 30-32 hours per week – Fridays to Tuesdays (inclusive of weekends). This is an hourly wage-based position with an extended health benefits package.

Resumes can be emailed to the Clinic Manager, L. Steel at lsteel@diversifiedhealth.ca or dropped off at the Clinic at 1063 Fort Street, attention to L. Steel.

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What is Sciatica, And How Do I Stop The Pain?

There are two types of categories of sciatic pain:

  • Acute sciatica (short-term) lasting 4-8 weeks.
  • Chronic sciatica (long term) lasting for 8 weeks or more.

The main symptom of sciatica is a shooting pain anywhere along the sciatic nerve. That can range from the lower back, through the buttock, and down the back of either leg. This pain can range from a mild ache to severe debilitating pain.

There are several reasons why someone might suffer from sciatic pain. This may be the result of something as simple as bad posture, muscle strain or spasm, a sports injury, car accident, being overweight, sleeping on a too soft mattress, or a simple sneeze, cough, bend, or lift, if you are out of shape and have a weak core. More seriously the sciatic pain maybe caused by a slipped disc in the back.

Pain from sciatica can change on a daily basis: it can be shooting, burning, sharp, dull, non-stop, or intermittent.  Many people complain of intense and acute pain, while others experience a numb and weak feeling in the parts of their leg where it hurts. This may sometimes indicate more serious neurological problems.

Your health care practitioner; chiropractor or physiotherapist can check the spine for areas of tenderness, and test for sensation, coordination, and muscle strength. Sciatica can be relieved by treating symptoms and any specific causes that exists, such as a slipped disc.

The healthcare practitioners at Diversified Health use manual therapy as well as numerous modalities, such as the Kennedy Spinal Decompression Table,  (provides relief to severe back pain sufferers by gently reducing the pressure within the spinal discs) Dry Needling, Laser therapy, and eToims Therapy, when treating Sciatica pain.

Moderate exercise will be recommended when pain is minimal, and when acute symptoms have lessened. Rehab therapy will be suggested to help strengthen abdominal and back muscles, which is important to prevent a return of these symptoms.

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