Foods that can help ease back pain

Chronic back pain is an invisible-yet-crippling condition that many Americans suffer from daily. This kind of pain limits interactions and activities and is often the source of stress and anxiety. While there are many types of exercises that one can do to reduce back pain, altering your diet can also do wonders in alleviating the pain. Here are some examples of foods that you can add to your meals that can help ease back pain.

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 Kale: Kale has rich anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce swelling and overall pain. Mix kale in your salads, smoothies, sandwiches, or fry them to make tasty kale chips as a snack.
Ginger: Ginger has lots of anti-inflammatories called “gingerols” that have been proven to alleviate pain in individuals suffering from arthritis. Increase your ginger intake by boiling them and drinking ginger tea, or cutting small pieces to put in soups, stews, and broths.

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Salmon: Salmon meat is filled with omega 3 fatty acid or the fat that helps reduce chronic pain. Salmon also has calcitonin, therefore reducing joint inflammation as it promotes blood regulation.
Olive oil: Rich in anti-inflammatory properties, olive oil is a healthier substitute for other kinds of oils. It is believed that olive oil contains similar compounds to ibuprofen, a known pain reliever.

Red grapes and turmeric: Red grapes have anti-inflammatory compounds called resveratrol that is known to fight and ease bodily pains. When mixed with turmeric in a smoothie or a salad, the pain relieving properties are enhanced.

Dr. Karl Jawhari, DC, founded Core Integrative Health, a practice specializing in medical services and alternative care such as spinal decompression, Class 4 Laser, rehab, and nutrition. For similar reads, click here .

Everyday changes to improve spine health

When people experience backache or lower back pains, they are more likely to shrug the pain off or resort to pain medication or a massage. Ignoring the causes of back pain will simply result in its recurrence. Even worse, the pain could be a symptom of another disease or could lead to a bigger health risk. To reduce back problems, here are everyday changes you can follow to improve spine health.

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Make exercise and proper diet a habit Getting into shape has a lot of benefits, including less stress for the back. Weight is definitely a factor which can cause lower back problems. By reducing weight and strengthening the abs, core, and back muscles, you will be able to perform most tasks without experiencing back problems.

Always be mindful of your posture It can be hard because of old habits, but realizing our bad postures is necessary to the maintenance of spine health. Walking, sitting, running—all these activities require proper postures in order to reduce stress on the lower back.

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Rest the spine when sleeping Sleep is the only time the spine can rest. This is why it’s important to have a mattress that can properly and comfortably support your back and keep your spine at a good position while sleeping. As for pillows, it is best to shop around and find some that adjust to your natural sleeping position and at the same time provide support for your neck muscles.

 Dr. Karl Jawhari founded Core Integrative Health, a practice that specializes in spinal decompression and painless natural healing. It has a multidisciplinary approach to healing people’s bodies structurally and nutritionally, working toward having their patients experience an abundant and fulfilling life. For more insightful reads on spine health, visit this website.

Common causes of back pain for women

Back pain for women can be a common occurrence, especially with age.  Because of their physiology, women’s backs tend to be more stressed than those of men.  And while back pain can be relieved through stretching, exercises, and medication, knowing its root is a primary tool for prevention.  Here are some of the common causes of back pain for women.

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Muscle or ligament strain

Muscle or ligament strain is commonly caused by strenuous lifting.  However, for women, this could be caused by pregnancy or sports-related activities.  This can easily be remedied by applying ice or heat to the affected area, rest, or physical therapy.

Arthritis

Arthritis often reveals itself when women get older.  This affects the joints along the spine, limits movement, and causes pain.  This can be avoided by exercise and weight management.  Treatment for arthritis includes physical therapy, aqua therapy, and medication.

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Osteoporosis

When the bone loses calcium density, it begins to thin out and causes compression fracture, affecting the vertebrae.  This is common for women 60 years of age and above.  Treatments for osteoporosis include improving calcium intake and physical therapy.  In severe cases, back braces as well as surgeries are necessary.

Spinal stenosis

Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal narrows with old age.  This causes severe pain and is common for women above 60 years of age.  Treatment for spinal stenosis includes physical therapy, pain medications, as well as injections.

Herniated disk

This usually occurs as the result of an injury.  A herniated disk occurs when a disk in the spine protrudes into the nerves, causing pain.  Treatment for this includes physical therapy and chiropractic treatment. 

Dr. Karl Jawhari, DC founded Core Integrative Health, a practice specializing in medical services and alternative care such as spinal decompression, Class 4 Laser, rehab, and nutrition. Read more articles on spinal health by visiting this website. 

Could this be the future of back treatment?

While the science behind it is still relatively young, stem cells have already earned a reputation for being one of the leading technologies to usher in the future of medicine.  Stem cells have now been known to treat a number of congenital and degenerative diseases.  Recently, research on how this technology can treat back pain has taken a significant step forward.

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For a few decades now, doctors and researchers have been searching for an alternative treatment for opioids, which an increasing number of patients have been overdosing on.  In fact, in 2015, over 30,000 people have died due to the overuse of opioids, which is a direct result of addiction to prescription drugs taken to relieve lower back pain.

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The number of cases of chronic back pain in the United States has ballooned to the point that almost 50 percent of the opioid painkiller sales are attributed to patients trying to get some relief from lower back pain. 

This is where stem cells come in.  Researchers have found that if stem cells are injected to the damage discs found within the spine, they can have a dramatic effect on the damaged tissue.  The decrease in inflammation and secretion brought about by the injection helps in the recovery process of the muscles, bones, and tissues.  Trials so far have been very promising, and once the technology is well and ready, people with back pain may find a safer solution and a more long-term relief to their back issues. 

Dr. Karl Jawhari, DC, founded Core Integrative Health, a practice specializing in medical services and alternative care such as spinal decompression, Class 4 Laser, rehab, and nutrition. The goal of his practice is to heal people’s bodies structurally and nutritionally so that patients can experience abundant and fulfilling lives. For more updates like this, visit this blog.

What Are The Common Causes Of Wrist Pain?

The wrist is one of the body's most overused parts. Most people usually ignore the wrist pain attributing it to a simple strain. However, prolonged discomfort can be a sign of something more serious. Below are some of the common causes of wrist pain:

Wrist sprain: A sprain occurs when the ligaments are overextended due to a fall. Though the pain could persist in a few days, it may just be a simple injury.

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Repetitive stress injury: Some day-to-day actions cause tension to the wrists. Activities such as writing, engaging in sports, or driving for hours straight can cause a repetitive stress condition such as De Quervain's disease that causes inflammation and swelling on the side of the thumb.

Bursitis: This condition when the fluid-filled sacs near the tendons, bones, and muscles near the joints become inflamed.

Carpal tunnel syndrome: The pinched nerve in the wrist area causes numbness, sharp pain, and tingling sensation. Medication can be prescribed to manage the pain as a result o the compressed median nerve. Surgery meanwhile is recommended for more complex cases.

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The wrist is an important part of the body. To prevent complications, one must consult medical professionals when the pain begins to hinder one's regular movements.

Dr. Karl Jawhari, DC is the founder of Core Integrative Health, a medical facility that employs medical doctors, nurse practitioners, and chiropractors. For updates, visit this page.

Reasons You Need To Bring Your Child To a Chiropractor

Chiropractic treatments are not exclusive to grownups.  There are several situations in which children need to seek the help of a chiropractor.  Here are some of the reasons you need to bring your child to a chiropractor.

If your child has suffered from a minor injury and has hurt their back in the process, it is a red flag.  If the back pain persists, a visit to the chiropractor is recommended. If a child’s spine is misaligned due to a nasty fall or after getting hit, it is possible for their bodies to react differently.

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Some of the effects of spinal trauma are constipation, colic, ear infections, torticollis, and trouble sleeping.  Other pediatric conditions that chiropractors can help address include ADD, ADHD, asthma, hypertension, birth trauma, epilepsy, and respiratory infections.

If a child’s spine is misaligned and is not corrected immediately, they could develop long-term medical problems.  A misaligned spine can affect the development of nerves and brain cells, reduce the effectiveness of their immune system, hinder their height during growth spurts, worsen their digestive health, and a lot more if left untreated.

Keep in mind that chiropractic treatment is safe for children and infants.  Initial improvements observed by parents who’ve had their child undergo chiropractic treatment are improved sleep, improved behavior, and improved immune system functions.

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Dr. Karl Jawhari, DC, founded Core Integrative Health, a practice that specializes in spinal decompression and painless natural healing. The center employs a multidisciplinary approach for healing people ’s bodies structurally and nutritionally, working toward having its patients experience an abundant and fulfilling life. For more insightful articles on chiropractic treatments, visit this page.

The Basics Of Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal decompression therapy is a form of mechanical spinal traction, or the separation of the bones, joints, and discs of the back. This nonsurgical intervention is believed to relieve pressure on the nerves in the back, helping reduce pain and enhance function.

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Spinal decompression applies the same principle of spinal traction offered by chiropractors and similarly trained health professionals. The goal is to kickstart healing for bulging, herniated, or degenerating discs, through ways such as creating a lower pressure in the disc that will provide an influx of healing nutrients and substances into the affected area.

The spinal cord connects the brain to the entire body and transmits important messages to direct a broad range of human functions. The normal adult spine consists of 33 vertebrae or protective bones, each cushioned from the bones above and below them by discs acting as shock absorbers and “cushioning” the vertebrae whenever the body works, bends, stretches, and exercises. With time and stress the discs can become flattened, hardened, or injured. Nerves passing through the vertebrae are squeezed and pinched by the structures that originally protect them, leading to severe pain.

During therapy for the lumbar spine, the patient lies fully clothed on a motorized table, the lower part of which is mobile. A harness is positioned around the hips and attached to the table’s lower half near the feet. This lower part where the patient remains harnessed slides back and forth, providing traction and relaxation.

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Depending on the decompression therapy, the patient could be in the prone position on the table, lying face down, or lying supine, or face up. There’s a resulting stretch in the spine, but not pain during or after the procedure.

Dr. Karl Jawhari, DC was a teacher assistant at Life University in Marrietta, GA. He has taught colleagues updated and effective chiropractor techniques utilized by the industry today. Read more on this site.

Be Careful Of These Mistakes And Avoid Bad Posture

Although many factors contribute to back pain, there are very few that will directly lead to severe conditions. Physical trauma and obesity are some causes of major back problems. Another cause that may advance the severity of back pain is constant bad posture.

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Fortunately, bad posture can be corrected easily if a person knows he’s doing it. If he’s sitting or lying down the wrong way, he should feel it after a few minutes. 

If a person is injured in sports, figures in a car accident, or slips and falls, he most likely will experience back pain. His natural reaction to back pain is to hold his body in a position opposite to the position that’s causing him pain, expecting relief. This opposite position is most likely a bad posture. What he should do is hold his body in a neutral position and consult a healthcare specialist. 

Sitting the wrong way may lead to back problems. This is a very common problem among office workers, who don’t notice it until it’s too late. People should sit in an upright position with the computer screen level to their faces. This prevents any hunching and neck extensions. 

Other causes of bad posture are wearing uncomfortable clothes for the sake of fashion and constantly carrying heavy load. It’s very important that people let their bodies rest once they feel a strain or a pull, so as to prevent aggravating the condition. 

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Dr. Karl Jawhari is a teacher’s assistant at Life University in Marrietta, GA. He is also the author of “How Hormones Are Making You Fat” and the co-author of “Neck Pain, You Don’t Want It, You Don’t Need It” as well as the “The Little Black Book of Fitness.” Check out this page for more on Dr. Jawhari.

Easy-To-Do Stretches For Easing Back Pain

One of the most effective ways to relieve oneself of back pain also happens to be one of the simplest – stretching. Most of the time people take for granted their posture until they feel something wrong with their back. They wake up one day, reach down to grab the paper, or get something from the bottom of the fridge, and they feel their lower back screaming. But fear not. Here are some stretches to help ease back pain.

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Knee-to-Chest: This stretch aligns the pelvis and stretches the lower back and rear muscles. Lie flat face-up on a mat and bend the right knee up. Pull your leg to your chest and hold the position by hugging the knee/shin area. Hold this for 16 to 20 seconds and repeat with the other leg.

Lying Knee Twist: This stretches the paraspinal muscles while working out the abs. Lie flat face-up on a mat with the legs straight and bend the right knee up. Cross the knee to the opposite side of the body. This twist should gently stretch the back and glutes. Hold this for 16 to 20 seconds and repeat with the other leg.

Cat StretchL Kneel on all fours with hands directly under the shoulders and knees below the hips to resemble the position of a cat. Breathe out and slowly arch the spine down. Hold this for 5-10 seconds before inhaling. Tighten the core and arch the spine upward.

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Dr. Karl Jawhari was a teacher’s assistant at Life University in Marrietta, GA. He has taught colleagues effective chiropractor techniques utilized today. He is also the author of “How Hormones Are Making You Fat” and the co-author of “Neck Pain, You Don’t Want It, You Don’t Need It” as well as the “The Little Black Book of Fitness.” Check out this page for more on Dr. Jawhari.