What’s Your ‘Pain in the Neck’?

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Posted on 28th June 2010 by admin in Family Health Tips

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For a variety of reasons, a lot of people suffer from neck pain.  Most often neck pain is due to one of the following:

-  Worn joints which can lead to osteoarthritis in your neck

-  Muscles strained from sitting at a computer or driving for long periods of time

-  Injuries, especially car accidents, resulting in whiplash and other neck problems

-  Rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, meningitis or other diseases with symptoms that include neck pain

-  Nerve compression including bone spurs, herniated disks and stiffened disks which decrease the function of the nerves branching out of the spinal cord in the neck area

If you’ve got a ‘Pain in the Neck’ find out what the cause is so that it can be treated and corrected properly.

Alleviating TMJ Pain

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Posted on 21st June 2010 by admin in Family Health Tips

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TMJ is short for the temporomandibular joint which refers to problems with the jaw joint.  Symptoms can include jaw pain, pain around the ear, clicking, popping, locking or grating when opening and/or closing the mouth.

The following are suggestions by the  TMJ Association to help alleviate pain associated with TMJ:

  • Moist Heat: Moist heat from a heat pack or a hot water bottle wrapped in a warm, moist towel can improve function and reduce pain. Be careful to avoid burning yourself when using heat.
  • Ice: Ice packs can decrease inflammation and also numb pain and promote healing. Do not place an ice pack directly on your skin. Keep the pack wrapped in a clean cloth while you are using it. Do not use an ice pack for more than 10 – 15 minutes.
  • Soft Diet: Soft or blended foods allow the jaw to rest temporarily. Remember to avoid hard, crunchy, and chewy foods. Do not stretch your mouth to accommodate such foods as corn on the cob, apples, or whole fruits.
  • Jaw Exercises: Slow, gentle jaw exercises may help increase jaw mobility and healing. Your health care provider or a physical therapist can evaluate your condition and suggest appropriate exercises based on your individual needs.
  • Relaxation Techniques: Relaxation and guided imagery can be helpful in dealing with the pain that accompanies TMJ dysfunction. Deep, slow breathing enhances relaxation and modulates pain sensations. Some have found yoga, massage and meditation helpful in reducing stress and aiding relaxation.
  • Side Sleeping: Sleep on your side using pillow support between shoulder and neck.
  • Relax Facial Muscles: Make a concerted effort to relax your lips, and keep teeth apart.
  • Yawning: Use your fist to support your chin as you yawn to prevent damage to the joint and to prevent your jaw from locking open.

Sun Savvy–Keeping Kids Safe in the Sun

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Posted on 14th June 2010 by admin in Family Health Tips

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Fresh air and sunshine are great for kids!  But, it’s important to make sure kids are staying safe at the same time.  Here are a few things to keep in mind:

-  Make sure everyone is drinking to replenish their fluids.  Water is best!  Kids can get caught up in playing and forget to drink, even if you make it available.  They can also find lots of other things to do with water–squirting it at each other, making mud, etc.  Periodically ask the kids to take a water break so you can watch them re-hydrate.

-  Avoid the strongest rays of the day, which are usually between 10:00am and 4:00pm.  Overcast and cloudy days can be dangerous because UV rays still come through the clouds.  Take the same percautions on these days as you would on hot, sunny days.

-  Cover up with light-weight clothing and hats.  A lot of parents forget about the top of the head which can be very painful if sunburned.

-  Have the kids wear sunglasses with UV protection lenses.  The sun can actually burn the cornea of the eye.

-  If your kids are taking any medications, check to make sure there are no warnings regarding sun exposure.

-  Use a sunscreen with a UV protection factor of 15 or more.  Check the instructions on the bottle and reapply often.

-  Make sure shade is available.  This can be from trees, pavilions, pop-up canopies or large umbrellas.

Natural Remedies for Migraine Headaches

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Posted on 7th June 2010 by admin in Family Health Tips

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If you suffer from migraine headaches, these natural options might help:

- Wrap an ice pack in a towel and place one on your neck and another on your forehead.

- Lie down and rest in a dark room.

- Use your finger to put pressure on the nerve just under your eyebrow to immediately release pain-killing endorphins.

- Drink 10 teaspoons of cayenne pepper mixed into water.  This also releases pain-killing endorphins.

- Increase your magnesium by eating green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

- Massage your earlobes.

- Eat a banana and drink tomato juice.

- See your chiropractor.

At Chiropractic Wellness, we have had tremendous success with aleviating migraine headaches.  Here is what one patient has to say…

I’ve been having headaches for over 10 years. Had gotten help from another Chiropractic Doctor but then moved and headaches returned. I met Dr. Tomes at a networking group and noticed immediately that I was in pain. He described just by looking at me the type of pain I was in. After just one week, I’ve cut back on the OTC pain medications from 5-6 tablets down to 1 or 2 tablets. On top of that, I’ve had 2 days with no pain at all. Thank you Doc!‎  -Ken, Dallas GA

Hypertension/High Blood Pressure: Symptoms and FREE BP Checks

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Posted on 2nd June 2010 by admin in Family Health Tips

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They call hypertension (high blood pressure) the silent killer because often there are no signs, symptoms or warnings for this fatal condition.  Due to the lack of symptoms, almost one in every three people have hypertension and don’t know it.

Most people with hypertension don’t report any symptoms.  However, with extremely high blood pressure, the following may occur:

Headaches

Vision problems

Difficulty breathing

Dizziness

Pulsations in your chest, neck or ears

Weakness

Chest pain

Fatigue

How do you know if you’re at risk?  Get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis, especially if you have any relatives with hypertension.

Your blood pressure and heart rate can change many times over the course of a day or week.  It is ideal to check your blood pressure an average of about 3times/day and record the results in a notebook.  Also, make sure to wait at least 30 minutes after you’ve eaten or smoked before testing.

We offer FREE blood pressure checks in our office, regardless of if you’re a patient or not.  If you would like to get your blood pressure checked, just call us for a no-cost, no-obligation appointment.