Archive for headaches
Drugs…Just in Case?
Posted by: | CommentsAs a chiropractor who believes in the human body’s ability to heal itself, often with the aid of natural, non-invasive, drug-free chiropractic treatment, I am always dismayed, but never surprised, at some of the pernicious claims and tenacious effrontery of drug companies when it comes to pain killers, in general, and the “treatment” of a number of conditions that don’t get any better with drugs or are made worse by them. And, as a chiropractor who has helped hundreds of headache sufferers not only get temporary, but permanent relief, when I read about a drug study for yet another pain med that will likely keep headache sufferers numbed to their pain, but in the process numb to the rest of their life as well, I feel like shouting from the rooftops: “Try chiropractic first!” But, today, when I read about a study, sponsored by Merck (who also makes the product), I really felt compelled to say that this particular study is shamefully playing to the fears of migraine sufferers when, in fact, the drug itself only offers “less severity” at best when it comes to a migraine headache.
The study, conducted by Dr. X. Henry Hu of Merck & Co.and colleagues, found that one in five migraine sufferers had “avoided” a work-related commitment because they were afraid of getting a migraine, while 27 percent reported canceling a work commitment for this reason, and round 28 percent said they had avoided or canceled social commitments due to fear of migraines.
I have treated many patients who told me how much they’d “feared” the onset of a migraine and limited their activities in life because of that fear, so I do understand how devastating the fear of migraines can be. And, yet, the only “solution” this study offered?
This study is “important,” said Dr. Hu, because the unpredictability of migraines could contribute to people’s anxiety and fear about them and early treatment with migraine drugs called triptans can help reduce headache severity. “Because of the lack of predictability of future migraine attacks, migraine sufferers may benefit from increased education on the importance of keeping medications available at all times,” he and his colleagues concluded.
My conclusion? If you suffer from migraines, give your chiropractor a call today!
SOURCE: Headache, published online March 25, 2010.
Drinking Plenty of Water Is Vital For Optimum Health
Posted by: | CommentsChiropractors, like Dr. Kim, are determined to educate their patients about the importance of drinking plenty of water each day. The positive repetitive stress is on “Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!” For humans to survive, they need air and water (in that order). Therefore, one would suppose that drinking a sufficient quantity of water would be as instinctual as breathing in a sufficient quantity of air, but an astonishing 75 percent of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration. (Most individuals are not breathing enough either, but let’s talk about why staying well-hydrated is so important.) You you cannot maintain or regain good health without drinking enough water. Every cell, tissue, organ and system in your body relies on the water you drink to function healthfully. Your saliva, and the fluids surrounding your joints, are fundamentally water. Your blood is kept circulating and your body temperature and metabolism are regulated by water. The improvement of nutrient absorption and toxin removal, as well as the reduction of heartburn, hypertension, exhaustion, headaches, and even back pain have been associated with the daily intake of plenty of water.
Athletes are particularly at risk when it comes to functional challenges caused by dehydration. “Physiologically, their core body temperature could be higher than it should have been if they were hydrated. Their heart rate will be higher, and they’re going to perceive that they’re working harder than they actually are,” said Susan Yeargin, assistant professor of athletic training in Indiana State’s College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services. According to researchers at Indiana State University, a high percentage of collegiate and professional athletes begin the season dehydrated, putting their health at risk even before they begin strenuous workouts. In fact, 80 percent of football players exhibited dehydration during pre-season physical examinations.
Just how much water is enough water might be a little confusing. Chiropractors, like almost all health care professionals, recommend at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of water every day for many patients, however for our patients who are athletes, or for patients who carry around excess weight or exercise or work in a hot environment, we propose even more. There is a fairly simple way for you to be sure that you’re drinking a healthful quantity water. The color of your urine is a good indicator. You’re well-hydrated if it is a light, pale yellow!
Chiropractic Care Can Help Relieve Tension Headaches or Migraines
Posted by: | CommentsDo you frequently suffer from tension headaches or migraines? If so, then you are painfully aware of their incapacitating impact on your life. Chiropractic treatment can help. Dr. Yong Kim understands the differences between the causes of tension headaches and migraines and he is an expert at treating both.
Tension headaches: Like it or not, life can be a pain, now and then, and result in a tension headache. Many people have suffered from more than one, and maybe you are one of them. If you are someone who’s had a tension headache, then you probably experience it as a dull, aching head pain that is sometimes accompanied by a sensation of tightness or pressure across your forehead or on the sides and back of your head. Occasionally, you might feel a tenderness of your scalp, neck and shoulder muscles, and at times you may experience a loss of appetite.
Tension headaches are generally characterized as mild to moderately intense. The severity of the pain varies from one individual to another, and from one headache to another in the same person. Tension headaches can happen occasionally or you may have them regularly. Your headaches are considered chronic if they occur fifteen or more days a month for at least three months. If tension headaches are disrupting your life, chiropractic care may be the solution.
Migraine Headaches: Migraine headaches differ from the average tension-related headache. For example, migraines more often than not occur on only one side of the head, according to the National Headache Foundation. They throb or pulsate and are accompanied by nausea or vomiting. Auras, visual disruptions an hour before a migraine attack, and symptoms such as pulsating light, lines or dots, are experienced by one-fifth of migraine sufferers.
Migraines have an upsetting, debilitating effect on a sufferers life. If you suffer from migraines, then unfortunately you already know from experience that, more often than not, standard over-the-counter medications are ineffective, and prescription drugs generally have alarming side effects. Yet, the pain of a migraine can incapacitate you for hours, days, even a lifetime. It’s time to finally get rid of the pain and get your life back! Chiropractic treatment has been shown to be highly beneficial in relieving and eliminating migraine headaches.
If you suffer from tension headaches and/or migraines, make an appointment today with Dr. Kim, your Sacramento Chiropractor. He can help!
You Might Have Whiplash Injuries Even From a "Minor Fender Bender"
Posted by: | CommentsIf you drive a big car and you’re in an accident, it’s easy to assume that you haven’t been injured if your car doesn’t look “hurt.” After all, isn’t that the purpose of driving a big vehicle? It’s for protection, right? Then you might be surprised to learn that research has revealed that occupants of vehicles, both large and compact, can be injured a lot more than might be predicted from a minor auto accident. In reality, as far as your body goes, there’s really no such thing as a “minor fender bender.”
Let’s face it. There are going to be repercussions when your body is forced to stop abruptly and without warning. You might be offered a clean bill of health by an emergency room attendant if you haven’t sustained any broken bones, and you may be given a prescription for drugs to relax the muscle spasms that you are no doubt experiencing as a consequence of the structural changes in your neck or lower back that you received from the impact. But, your problem could go from bad to much, much worse unless you’re treated for the bodily trauma you’ve sustained. In fact, quite a few individuals encounter problems years after a car accident due to the fact that they didn’t get the help they needed in the first place.
Dr. Yong Kim truly understands what your body experiences during a car accident. If you’ve encountered a minor auto accident, he knows that you are likely to need more repair than your car. Neck and back injuries are not only painful in the regions in which they happen, but they can also generate pain, tingling, and numbness in your arms and hands and create headaches days, weeks, even months after an accident occurs.
Chiropractic techniques include treatment for soft tissue injuries and spinal bio-mechanics dysfunction. chiropractic care offers a drug-free, natural road back to feeling good again. It can help to put the trauma of your accident where it belongs – in the past. Moreover, because your chiropractor has experience communicating effectively with insurance companies and lawyers, not only will you undergo less physical stress, but less emotional stress, as well!
