New Year's Resolutions

In just a couple of days many people will be making New Year's resolutions.  Usually the resolutions focus on making changes to improve one's life in some way.  By January 2 many people have already abandoned their resolutions and by the end of January most people have long forgotten what they "resolved to do" on January 1.  Why does this happen?  Is there a way to keep resolutions?  I'm interested in continually improving my life and helping others do the same.  That's why I so often talk about a healthy chiropractic lifestyle.

Too often resolutions are made because we think there are certain things we should do, like lose weight, exercise more, eat better, etc.  All these things may be good, but are they really something the person is ready to commit to?  Is it someone else's expectation?  Resolutions are a promise to ourselves and no one else.  They need to be something we can passionately commit to.  They should be something we are willing to do, whatever it takes to achieve.  Resolutions made casually are doomed to failure.

Resolutions should also be specific and limited.  If a person wants to eat better, they need to define some specific change they can make.  Perhaps it could be to eat no white foods on week days.  Maybe it will be to eat a low carbohydrate breakfast each day.  If the goal is to become physically fit the resolution could be to walk 30 minutes at lunch Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  A person will be more likely to succeed if they only make one resolution at a time and that the resolution is measurable.  In each of the examples I gave, the person will know whether they have kept their resolution or not.  The person should also set a date when they will re-evaluate their progress.  At the end of January did I succeed in avoiding white foods, or did I eat a good breakfast, or did I exercise during my lunch break.  If I did the one thing I set out to do, I have kept my resolution and will be better for it.

Making a resolution like "I want to loose 30 pounds" is usually not successful.  It is far better to make resolutions about the changes to be made, such as "I will eat only one helping at each meal".  Also make the resolution something you will do, not just something you want to do.  If your desire is to read better literature make your resolution that in January you will read a specific book or books.

Making resolutions should be an ongoing process, not just on New Year's Day.  Making improvements to our lives happens in small incremental steps.  Trying to make too many changes, or too great a change at once, dooms us to failure.  Make one small step at New Year's and another one a few weeks later and then another one.  By 2013 you will be a better person.

Something else to keep in mind is that resolutions are promises to yourself.  Do you trust yourself enough to make a commitment to make a small positive change in your life?

Milestones

Milestones have been placed along roads since Roman times to assure travelers that the proper path is being followed.  They indicate either how far the traveler has come or how far they have yet to travel.  I've recently had the privilege of passing a milestone in my life; a birthday that tells me how far I have come.  The birthday does not however tell me how far I have yet to travel on this earth.  Should I meet with a calamity, my life could be gone very soon.  By the grace of God I may live for many, many more years.  I believe I need to plan to be here for some time while still being prepared to exit soon.

Living well as we age requires planning.  I see too many people coming to my office who, as they age, regret not taking better care of themselves when they were younger.  What we do today can have a profound effect on how healthy we will be in the future.  Unfortunately there are no silver bullets to assure health as we get older.  There are many claims for anti-aging products and services.  Much has been written about things that will support physical, mental and spiritual well-being.  I strongly believe the correct answer to aging well is to adopt a lifestyle that promotes health.

Total health requires that a person's healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually.  If any one area is unhealthy, the person is unhealthy.  Neglect one area and the others will soon deteriorate as well.  On the physical level all parts of the body age at the same rate.  You can't have young skin while having an old liver.  Uncontrolled stress will affect the entire body and accelerate the aging process.  Being at peace with our Maker reduces stress for today and gives hope for tomorrow.

One of the great things about chiropractic is that it recognizes the interconnection between physical, mental and spiritual health.  Chiropractic focuses on the health of the nervous system which controls every function in the body.  The proper functioning of the nervous system assures communication between the brain and every part of the body.  Chiropractors are also proponents and coaches of healthy lifestyles.  Combining chiropractic care with a chiropractic lifestyle gives the body the best possible chance to age well.

I like to think of myself as a bottle of red wine.  If I look after myself my tannins will soften, my flavours will mellow and I will grow in complexity.  I will become a person to be savoured and enjoyed.  However, if like a bottle of red wine improperly cared for, I neglect myself I will become bitter and difficult to take.  My body will be lost.  Once the wine is deteriorated there is no bringing it back to its former glory.  Thank goodness human bodies, unlike wine, can recover from neglect! 

As I passed my recent milestone I looked at where I've been and where I'm going.  I think I'm aging well, but I can't take it for granted.  I need to look after this fine life I have been given.

Arthritis

"Oh, it's just my arthritis acting up."  Just my arthritis?  "My doctor told me that I have back pain because I have arthritis and I just need to live with it."  Live with the pain?  "It's nothing serious, just some arthritis."  Nothing serious?  "I was told I have arthritis in my muscles."  Now that's an impossibility!

I've heard each of these statements and similar ones many, many times.  They indicate a lack of understanding of what arthritis is.  By definition, arthritis is inflammation in a joint.  There are about 100 kinds of arthritis and each type has a different cause.  Different types of arthritis need to be treated differently and the long term effects are different.

The most common type of arthritis is degenerative arthritis also called osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease.  When people talk about arthritis, this is usually the type they are referring to.  Although degenerative arthritis is found more frequently as people age, it can be found in younger people as well.  It is not a direct consequence of age, because not everyone develops it.  It may be present in only one joint or in many joints.

I prefer the term degenerative arthritis because it is the most descriptive of what is happening.  At some point in time the joint was injured.  This may have been a single incident trauma, but more commonly it's due to small repetitive injuries.  These repetitive injures may have only caused minor discomfort at the time, but the cumulative effect is significant damage to the joint.  Injured joints become inflamed, hence the term arthritis.  If injuries are not properly rehabilitated degeneration will result.  The pain is usually worse with activity but the most common symptom is stiffness.

Although there is no cure for degenerative arthritis, symptoms can be controlled and further degeneration stopped.  Joints are meant to move, however degenerating joints move abnormally.  Restoring as much normal motion as possible significantly reduces symptoms of stiffness and pain while halting the progressive degeneration.  Chiropractic adjustments are very effective at normalizing joint mobility.  The Activator Methods adjustments use in our office are non-traumatic and gentle.  Exercise to tolerance enhances the effects of the adjustments.  Chiropractic adjustments also assure that there are no vertebral subluxations interfering with nerve supply to the affected joints.

Low level laser therapy is also a very effective tool for helping sufferers of degenerative arthritis.  Near infrared laser light stimulates cells to heal.  Inflammation is reduced, circulation improved, and nerve signals normalized by the painless laser therapy.

A number of nutritional supplement have also been shown to be helpful.  These include: glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, MSM, ASU, devils claw, boron, boswellia, bromelain, niacin, SAMe, tumeric, and willow bark,  NSAID drugs have been shown to only moderately improve the symptoms of degenerative arthritis and only when used for short periods of time.  There can be significant side effects from these drugs.

People with degeneration arthritis in weight bearing joints should try to be diligent in not carrying extra weight.  A sedentary lifestyle can also aggravate degenerative arthritis.  Blood sugar needs to be controlled to reduce inflammation and prevent further degeneration.

  

12 Ways of a Healthy Christmas

Black Friday is behind us, Movember is gone,  and Christmas is now less than a month away.  Even big kids like me are getting excited.  But we will only enjoy the Holidays if we are healthy.  Spending Christmas Day in bed is no fun for either the sickie or those who want to enjoy the sickie's company.  We should stay healthy for ourselves and those we love.

Here are my tips for staying healthy this Christmas season:

1. Plan ahead.  Planning allows you to prioritize activities.  Getting things done in advance reduces stress.
2. Be realistic about what you can do this Christmas season.  This means there are only so many activities you can participate in; prioritize them as I've already said.  There are only so many things you can bake or make.  There are only a finite number of things you can afford to buy.  Saying no can be a very healthy thing to do.
3. Make sure exercise remains part of your plan.  It doesn't mean fitting exercise into your busy schedule, rather that there are other things you cannot do because exercise is scheduled and needs to get done.  It may not be your regular exercise routine, but make sure you do some activity that keeps you moving.
4. Although the days are short, try to get out into the fresh air everyday.  If the sun is shining, enjoy it. 
5. Recognize things that are out of your control and let go of them.  Focus on what you can control.  You can't control people, you can only control your actions.
6. Germs love cooler temperatures and they love crowds.  Shaking all those hands is a fabulous way to spread the germs around.  Standing under the mistletoe can really spread some germs.  Wash your hands often with good old fashioned soap and water.
7. Rest is vital to stay healthy.  Make sure your schedule doesn't have several late nights in a row.  One thing that will depress your immune system real fast is sleep deprivation.  Lack of sleep will also make you more accident prone.
8. The holiday season is also a time when many accidents occur.  Try to avoid clutter.  Focus on the task at hand.
9. Eating well during the Christmas season can be a challenge with so many sugary, fatty treats calling your name.  Here's an area where planning can be really beneficial.  When you are not partying, be extra conscious of eating nutritious food.  Then plan to have a few treats when you are surrounded by them.  Don't go to the party hungery and you will be less tempted to over-consume the goodies.
10. Limit alcohol consumption.  Again planning ahead really helps.  Avoid activities that may encourage binging.  Make sure nutritious food is available.  How about pretending that you are the designated driver?
11. Get your spine adjusted.  That will assure that your your body is functioning at its best.  The immune system can work, you'll sleep better and your coordination will be better.
12. The thing that helps me most to plan my Christmas season and keep me doing focused on looking after myself is to remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season.  It keeps everything in perspective and I find it much easier to do healthy things than harmful things.

I want to be healthy so I can enjoy Christmas this year.  How about you?  I'm prepared to do things to help me stay healthy.  Are you willing to do good things for your body this Christmas season?