lifestyle Archives - Damron Chiropractic & Wellness

You Can Stop Preventable Disease

July 20, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

Two out of three U.S. adults are overweight or obese.

One in twenty adults have extreme obesity.

One out of three children are considered overweight or obese.

One of every five preventable disease and deaths is attributed to smoking.

One out of three adults have prediabetes.

One out of three deaths are attributed to cardiovascular disease.

These statistics are staggering. In fact, they are so alarming that one would think that the trend is declining, however, quite the opposite is true. Let’s face it, Americans are facing a serious epidemic that is completely within their control. Yet, despite this control, are still choosing to turn a blind eye to the consequences of their choices. Much like waving the white flag of surrender during historic battles.

Despite countless measures by reputable organizations and non-profits, even our own government for that matter, society continues on the same unhealthy path. Billions of dollars are invested to change these statistics, yet no one is listening. Similar to the decision of surrender during war, when troops are out numbered and lacking sufficient weaponry to defend themselves, modern society needs to acknowledge the same defeat. Except our enemy is not a person, or country. It is a lifestyle.

This lifestyle is also a mindset. Common sense is thrown out the window. Reliance on convenience and cost has trumped nutrition. Do we not know, at some level, that fried, fast food is not good for our health? That just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean sacrificing nutritional value for ourselves or children. Or that soda contains way too much sugar for our body to digest? What about the the ingredients in a package of food? Have you ever really tried to read the list? If you can’t pronounce it, chances are your body can’t use it.

Likewise, the surgeon general warns that cigarettes are harmful to our health, even to the extent of causing cancer. Television commercials show a former smoker with a tracheostomy (surgically created hole in the windpipe) telling people not to smoke or this might happen to them, too.

Isn’t it time that we wave that white flag, saying we are through with living on this slippery slope of unhealthy choices? Surrendering means realizing that our bodies are no match for processed foods, remaining sedentary, or overindulgence. If we were, we wouldn’t be in the health crisis we are in today.

Let’s start by waving that white flag – today.

What to Expect With Extra Weight

March 21, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

One of the most popular books for soon-to-be parents is the book What to Expect When You Are Expecting. It gives a month to month description of what to expect throughout a woman’s pregnancy. Offering tips, developmental stages of the baby, and answers to common questions and concerns. A mother’s overall health can help the baby thrive through proper nutrition, adequate sleep, exercise, wellness check-ups. A lot of thought and preparation can go into having a baby. The question we need to ask ourselves is why do we stop caring for our body once the baby is born?

Granted this is a general statement, not one that applies to everyone. However, statistics tell us that this is true as a vast majority of adults are overweight or obese. Did the perception change because the baby was born and no longer dependent on the mother? The reality is that the baby is still dependent on it’s mother and those who care for it. However, if a parent or caregiver is not healthy due to excess weight, it does impact the child, whether we admit it or not.

Our children need us and we owe it to them to make that happen. Choosing to not take care of our body with:

poor nutrition
a sedentary lifestyle
not exercising
excessive drinking
smoking
extra weight
fast food

not only sets a bad example for our children, but also impacts our quality of life with them. We are purposely adding risk factors that could very likely shorten our lives. And what excuse do we really have? Are we too busy? Putting our kid’s needs first? Minimizing our situation? There are countless excuses we could use. Our bodies are not designed to function with extra weight as it impacts every system in our body.

Eventually this weight is likely to cause a major setback in our health, because our body simply can’t withstand the strain the extra weight. Just like a shelf that holds more than it should. Eventually it will collapse, dropping everything it was holding. Was the shelf poorly designed? Was it flawed in some way? No. It was simply not designed to carry more than it should. Are we any different than this shelf?

Advertising Unhealthy Lifestyles

January 31, 2017 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

We will never live in a world without commercials. It would be nice, but commercials pay for the programming we watch and listen to on the radio. Companies that use this form of advertising for their product or service are hoping to attract more business. Regulations are in place to ensure that what is advertised is safe; however, there are no regulations in place to ensure that the product is not unhealthy. We must decide that for ourselves.

Recently, I heard a radio ad for life insurance asking if I enjoyed eating wings, mashed potatoes and gravy. If I was then this life insurance was for me. I could get the coverage I wanted for my family, yet still enjoy the lifestyle I wanted. As an added bonus I could also receive the company’s recipe for fried chicken! I kept waiting for the punch line, thinking it was obviously a joke, but none came. Here is a company leveraging American’s unhealthy lifestyle and increasing obesity rates to benefit their bottom-line. Is it safe? Yes. Is this product in our best interest? No.

We must be smarter than the companies that are advertising to us. Making assumptions that simply because the product or service is advertised it is in our best interest. This situation has contributed to the health crisis we face today from obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a sedentary lifestyle. Instead, most of us chose the path of least resistance, allowing companies to make millions on unhealthy choices and the consequences that follow. Perhaps it’s time to hold ourselves accountable and change this trend.

Think about the various commercials and advertisements you see and hear each day. What comes to mind? Cars, pharmaceuticals, weight loss products, chain restaurants, colas. Only those companies with the highest revenue can afford to invest in this form of marketing. Does this mean these products are safe? Not necessarily. Does this mean these products are in our best interest? Not necessarily. Advertising does not equal best or ideal. It only means the company had enough money to invest, whether or not the product is good.

Think about all the healthy things that are not advertised from organic produce, water, cage-free eggs, toxin-free cleaning products, and even chiropractic care. Should the benefits be discounted due to lack of high profile advertising? Should we let ourselves be swayed by what we see on television and hear on the radio? At what point do we assume responsibility for ourselves and our health?

Good Health Does Not Equal a Diet

December 29, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

One of the most successful women in the world is Oprah Winfrey. From her early days as a talk show host to a producer and actress later. As her career evolved so did her weight. On the television screen we have seen Oprah’s weight fluctuate between the extremes as she tried different diets. Most recently, this legendary woman has done something we can all learn from. She has let go of the hold food has had on her and instead uses it to nourish and sustain her. But, most importantly, she uses it to connect herself with others.

As we approach the new year and the habitual pull of the need to commit to a resolution, perhaps it’s time to change it up. The top resolution for last year, according to Statistic Brain, was to lose weight. While that may not be surprising, what is is the failure rate. Only 8% of those surveyed who made a resolution succeeded. We learned from Oprah’s visibility that a special diet simply does not work in the long run. While weight loss is initially achieved, it is simply not sustainable. Why? Because life happens.

Even our best intentions cannot stop life from happening. Our schedules change at the last minute, we get sick, sustain an injury, travel for business. Non-sustainable diets reveal themselves because we don’t have what we need when we need it, leaving us to find something else to eat. We cannot live in a vacuum. Oprah teaches us that our relationship with our wellness is an intimate one. Food is an essential piece of our overall health. It is the fuel that sustains us, ideally for the long haul.

However, probably even more important than Oprah’s food message is her new perspective on her own health. Being healthy is not about being skinny. It is not about losing weight for the sake of losing weight. Rather, it is about honoring you. Honoring your uniqueness and not trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Being active, eating a healthy diet, getting sufficient sleep, being joyful, not smoking and drinking in moderation are all important steps in living well. Healthy does not equal skinny. It actually equals a lifestyle.

In this new year, change your perspective on what it means to thrive. Feed your soul, nourish your body. Treat it as the temple it really is. With honor and respect.

A Healthy Lifestyle Is the Ultimate Vacation

November 17, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

There is a process we use when making a big decision from what our next car purchase will be, to where we will go on our next vacation. We talk to friends who have recently purchased a car or love to travel, search online for reviews and information, even talk to those in the business of selling cars or traveling. The purpose it to collect as much information as possible to make the best decision possible, especially if what we are looking to do is completely foreign to us. The knowledge we gain from our research may empower us to make the best purchase decision, but it stops there. Let me explain.

When buying a new car or vacationing at that new destination, we are only enjoying the car while we are in it. We are only enjoying the vacation while we are actually on it. Yes, we can look at pictures of our travels and yes we can take our new wheels out for a spin every day, but that’s it. We spent all that time, effort, and eventually money on something that cannot enjoy every moment of every day. Once that vacation is over, it’s over. We also cannot live and sleep in our car. Why not the same time, effort, and money in something that we can enjoy 24/7? Wouldn’t that be the best of both worlds?

Enjoying the fullness of good health and true wellness is something that you can enjoy each and every day. And obtaining that lifestyle is something that can be achieved if we do the right research and information gathering. Take a look around you and list those people you know who already have that lifestyle. What are they doing that you aren’t? Commit to asking them. Spend the time to research a healthy aging lifestyle. At the crux is probably some type of holistic health care such as chiropractic. A unique field of care that focuses on the entire body versus a single system. People who enjoy optimal health are more interested in making every day a vacation. This is quite different than enjoying only 2 weeks of vacation out of the year.

Treat your health as you would preparing for a vacation. Take the time to thoroughly research what it will take beyond exercise and healthy eating to really live well. Create a life where you don’t need to take a vacation from to enjoy it. Feel like you do on vacation, every day of the year.

Do You Have Metabolic Syndrome?

October 14, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

You know there’s a problem when a new syndrome is created because of the society you live in. In other words, a particular lifestyle makes a person more prone to developing a life threatening disease. One such syndrome with this association is metabolic syndrome which is found right here in the U.S.

Living in the Western world offers tremendous advantages from individual freedoms in speech, religion, and race, to opportunities in education, work, and healthcare. However, with these freedoms also comes choices in how we live our life. Modern day conveniences offer countless benefits in terms of time, effort, and cost, but the trade-off can be at the expense of our health. So, what exactly is metabolic syndrome?

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines metabolic syndrome as, “a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke.” These risk factors can be traits, conditions or habits that increase your chance for developing these diseases. The Western diet and a sedentary lifestyle play a significant role in the development of metabolic syndrome, which requires three risk factors to be diagnosed with it. These risk factors include:

Excess fat in the stomach area.
High levels of triglycerides which is essentially fat in your blood.
Low levels of the good cholesterol (HDL).
High blood pressure.
High blood sugar, especially while fasting.

The good news is that metabolic syndrome is preventable with a commitment to a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. Working with a team of healthcare professionals can help treat this condition effectively, too. Treatment begins with education to fully understand the implications of this disease, then a structured plan to achieve weight loss through diet and exercise. Many times the assistance of a rehabilitation specialist is needed as well. Other steps include re-balancing the gut bacteria by eating probiotics and supplementation.

Who’s Driving?

March 22, 2016 By Pam Rezai

There are two ways to live your life, and you may have heard this saying before, too. You can be in the driver’s seat or the passenger seat. Being in the driver’s seat means you are in control. You decide where you are going. Being a passenger, on the other hand, means something entirely different. You do not have control of the wheel. You are simply along for the ride. You have allowed someone else to make decisions for you essentially. When it comes to health and wellness, the question we need to ask ourselves is “Who’s driving?” Are we, or are we allowing modern day conveniences and a sedentary lifestyle drive us?

It may come as no surprise that our society is facing a health epidemic. Obesity rates are at an all time high and with that comes type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation. But why is this the case today? Is it because we have allowed ourselves to be put into the passenger seat of life? And if we have, why would we give up control on our life? Is it easier that way? Is it more convenient? Or have we simply given up on ourselves?

If you have found yourself in the passenger seat of life, there is a way to move over to the driver’s side. The first step is realizing you have put yourself in the passenger seat. The second step is actually wanting to move to the other side. The third is remembering that you always had control of you. Talk to anyone who has lost weight, got healthier, got off their medications for type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. You can see their joy before they even speak a single word. They decided to get in the driver’s seat once again. The feeling of accomplishment and success permeates from them. Yes, it may have taken a while to reach their goals, but each day they remained in the driver’s seat.

You can do it, too. Yes, it’s true. Just slide over to the driver’s seat and grab the wheel. Begin now on your journey back to wellness. If you need help, you can drive yourself right over to us. Our passion is restoring wellness to those we serve.

The Lifestyle Game Changer

September 3, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

People are interesting. We love to procrastinate, even though we know we shouldn’t. We claim to like change, yet resist it. We have a tendency to act like we are immortal, so we do some pretty crazy things especially when we are young. We are aware of what is unhealthy, yet still decide to drink too much, smoke, eat fried foods, cheat ourselves on sleep, or not exercise. Unfortunately, life happens. There’s an event that alters our course. It’s the game changer that causes us to consider doing things a bit differently, to change our lifestyle. A game changer can be:

Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Chronic pain
Migraines
Excessive fatigue
Cancer

But why do we wait until this point to change our lifestyle? Is it human nature? Is it denial of our own mortality? Whatever the answer, not waiting until we reach that game changer, is the ideal. For the benefits of preventative self-care save us from sometimes years of damage control. At some point in our life, we know that our choices are impacting our health. However, instead of acknowledging that reality, we choose to ignore that inner voice. We reason that we have time, we can change later. Or, “everyone else is doing it, so why can’t I?” This mentality has played a role in our society’s current health crisis – from obesity and type 2 diabetes to high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Yes, everyone else may be doing it too, but is it really worth it?

Ask those who have had a game changer experience and they will tell you it wasn’t worth finding out the hard way. They will tell you to make better lifestyle choices so you can benefit from healthy aging. Being proactive with your health is a lifestyle choice that will reap numerous benefits. The proactive choice of working with a chiropractor is one way to achieve that goal, but not all chiropractors are alike. Experience the Damron Chiropractic (DCW) difference with a team approach to your wellness. Combining chiropractic, massage, and rehabilitation not only increases the effectiveness of your treatment, but also the duration. Because retraining the body will allow it to function as it was meant to.

Avoid the game changers.

Adrenal Stress Diagnostic Testing

July 28, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

Stress is a normal part of life. It has been since the dawn of time when the stress of living simply kept you alive. Today, stress means something entirely different. It means stress beyond primitive “flight or fight” response. It means subjecting ourselves to a lifestyle that keeps us running from the moment we wake until the moment our head hits the pillow. And while at it’s most basic level stress is not harmful, continuous exposure to it is. In fact, continuous exposure over long periods of time is so detrimental that it affects our body in profound ways. This opens the door for any number of chronic conditions that can stay with us for a lifetime.

So how do we know if stress has impacted our quality of life when stress has become such a norm that we may not know any different? The answer – diagnostic testing specifically geared at evaluating the functioning of the adrenal gland. This is the gland that is responsible for the hormones that help our body fight stress.

As a part of the endocrine system, adrenal glands are located on top of each kidney. The hormones they release are essential to supporting life. The role of these hormones in the body can be divided into seven functions:

Metabolism support
Blood pressure controller
Stress response
Immune system response
Inflammation suppression
Maintenance of salt and water balance
Sex hormone regulation

Stress is a major underlying cause of many chronic illnesses and overtime it can affect the level of hormones. Our body can develop conditions as a result of over- or under active adrenal glands such as Chronic Fatigue syndrome, disease resistance, impaired metabolism, diminished energy, and diminished emotions.

Utilizing an adrenal diagnostic test can open the door for healing. Diet changes, lifestyle modifications, and nutritional supplementation help the adrenal glands return to functioning as they should. When they are able to do that, the quality of life improves. A simple test can have a huge impact and that’s priceless.

The Poor Posture Dilemma

June 4, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

Not only are we a highly sedentary society with the plethora of modern day conveniences, but we are also victims of prolonged sitting due to this sedentary lifestyle. Many times we mistakenly believe that poor posture only manifests itself in older adults, when we see an elderly person with kyphosis, or a hunchback. While it may have taken decades to reach this point, the usual culprit in this condition is poor posture. Being aware of our lifestyle and how it impacts our body can help prevent many ailments that can afflict us later in life, at a time when quality of life means that much more to us.

A study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine revealing strong links between excessive sitting throughout the day with heart-disease, diabetes, and higher odds of a shortened lifespan. On the surface, this isn’t really surprising because if we are sitting, we are not moving. If we are not moving, we are not burning the calories we are consuming. If we are not burning those calories, then our weight increases, and if our weight increases it puts considerable stress on our organs and our body. The reality is that we are born with this unrealistic notion that bad things only happen to others, not us, and that we’ll “start tomorrow” living a more healthy lifestyle. This is the popular mindset that inevitably gets us into trouble.

There’s a new saying being heard in the healthcare arena that “sitting is the new smoking.” This is our red flag that the time is now to change our habits. Correct posture is probably something we’re unsure of – what it looks like, what it feels like. The reality is that it means far more than standing straight and tall, it also means balance and equilibrium. Being in alignment, with each body region in its correct region, helps improve posture, reduce muscle stress, and minimize joint stress. This means the head is balanced over the torso, the torso over the pelvis, and the pelvis over the feet. Being aligned has many benefits such as lower risk of injury, increased stability, and more control – all essential to aging well.

Start today with a picture of your posture. Take inventory of your current state of affairs. Determine if all those hours working at a computer or hunching over a smartphone is beginning to take its toll on your posture. Posture can be corrected, but only if you know there is a problem and are willing to invest in doing something about it. After all, health is the only true wealth we really have.

You Can Stop Preventable Disease

What to Expect With Extra Weight

Advertising Unhealthy Lifestyles

Good Health Does Not Equal a Diet

A Healthy Lifestyle Is the Ultimate Vacation

Do You Have Metabolic Syndrome?

Who’s Driving?

The Lifestyle Game Changer

Adrenal Stress Diagnostic Testing

The Poor Posture Dilemma

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