Healthy Brain Workout
—Feb 05, 2010I just came from a great seminar this past weekend called Neurotransmitters and The Brain. While it might not sound as riveting to you as the season finale of Lost it kept me glued to my chair. The health and well being of the brain has been a key interest to me [as it should to you as well] since my father died of Alzheimer’s disease.
I won’t go into detail on the way the brain works. I think that few patients are interested in the cascade of chemicals that make the brain and body work. It’s a little like our relationship to a microwave. Most of us have no idea how it works but we do know how to get it to work.
Here are the brain basics. The magnificent computer inside our skull needs two things. Fuel and activation. The fuel is sugar, which is why glucose metabolism is so important. When our bodies lose control of sugar [diabetes and hypoglycemia] it’s a very big problem. The brain is activated by stimulation. The how and why our body loses control of sugar is the subject for another day. Right now, let’s focus on what stimulates the brain.
First and foremost, the services we offer {chiropractic, acupuncture and massage] at Fink Family Wellness already do that. A good example of this is a study in the Journal of Neuroscience which evaluated the brain/body response to massage. The result? An increase of the vital neurotransmitter dopamine and a dampening of cortisol production. Cortisol is a hormone that makes it easier to pack on fat around the stomach. That’s just one study, there are many more.
So getting adjusted, massaged or receiving acupuncture treatment has a direct positive effect on the brain. Is that the only way to increase brain stimulation? Not by a long shot.
The easiest way to accomplish this is regular exercise. It stimulates the brain directly. The effects of exercise on the brain are well documented. Regular exercise can stave off dementia and even reverse memory loss. A recent article by Dr. Mercola summarizes these findings.
Now you have another reason to get off the couch and start working out. It’s more important than firming up and looking better…it’s about the health and well being of your brain.
— Richard Fink, DC, FIAMA
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Antidepressants...Do They Really Work?
—Jan 17, 2010Manufacturers of prescription antidepressants have to be happy. Millions of people pop these pills every day. These products swell the corporate till and make stock holders very, very happy. So you can just imagine that the latest study on the effectiveness of antidepressants caused a wee bit of depression in the drug company boardrooms. In fact, executives would love it if you would stop reading this article and forget about the study and pop a few more pills.
Antidepressants are no more effective than placebo [fake] pills for the vast majority of people suffering from depression. That’s right. According to a meta-analysis study done at the University of Pennsylvania, these drugs are only effective for people with severe depression. And that’s a long way from the garden variety blues.
So, if there’s no point in taking these drugs for mild or moderate depression [who needs all the side effects if the pills aren’t going to help anyway], what can you do? In a word, exercise. Exercise releases endorphins, the great feel good chemical that your body makes with a little bit of encouragement from you.You don’t have to take my word using exercise to stem depression, visit the Mayo Clinic website for a good summary on the subject. Beyond that, exercise is one of the magic bullets for good health, done regularly it lowers the risk of many life threatening diseases. And let’s face it, nothing is more depressing than being unhealthy. So, start working out and get on the road to saying goodbye to the blues.
— Richard Fink, DC, FIAMA
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2010 - This Is The Start Of Something Good
—Dec 29, 2009In a few days a new decade begins and with it comes optimism. Many people believe that 2010 will be a good year…maybe even a great year. Some of that is due to the sheer exhilaration of being done with 2009. Let’s face it, this past year was very tough on a lot of people. But it is on its way out the door and that’s just fine with me.
Take a deep breath and try to let go of the stress. Begin the new year feeling good. Take a few minutes to think about the coming year. What will you change in your life? What do you want to learn? Achieve? Make up your own questions and write down your answers. Wait a minute. Am I trying to trick you into making a list of resolutions? No, not resolutions…goals. Spend a bit more time thinking about those goals and you have a plan. It’s a good way to kick off a new year.
And as you’re moving toward your goals, it’s important to keep records. And believe it or not, it’s fun. That’s right. I’m bringing up the Achievement Ledger idea one more time. Update a word document at the end of each day of the year. This takes 2 minutes…max. Watch the achievements pile up. It’s a great feeling to get to the end of the year and see how many things you have done. Want more details? Click back to the Get The Year Started Right Wellness Wave blog.
Beginning the New Year right starts with ending the Old Year well. If you’re stressed out, suffering from joint pain, exhaustion, sleep problems, indigestion…the list goes on…you don’t have to end 2009 on that sour note. Chiropractic and acupuncture services are available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and New Year’s Eve morning. There are also a few massage appointments available.
Have a happy and safe New Year. Viva La 2010!
— Richard Fink, DC, FIAMA
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Health Savings Account Reminder
—Dec 21, 2009Health savings accounts expire at the end of the year. If you don’t spend that hard earned money that you ear-marked for health related services, it disappears. Never to be seen again. Sure, the holidays are hectic and there are a million things to do but don’t forget to check your HSA balance. Once upon a time you could buy vitamins and it was considered an approved expense. In recent years, the HSA industry has denied approving a wide variety of health expenses…even though this account is entirely funded with your own money. That’s wrong, plain and simple. Fortunately, chiropractic, acupuncture and massage do not usually fall into that category. So, if you are hurting from shoveling or just stressed out from the holidays, get in before the end of the year. Clean out your HSA account before the insurance bean counters do it for you.
— Richard Fink, DC, FIAMA
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Arrive Alive...Driving Tips For The Holidays
—Dec 12, 2009The holiday season is upon us and with it comes dark nights and slippery roads. And while it’s tempting to dash here and there for gifts and parties remember that it’s more important to arrive safe and sound. Here are a few tips to help make sure that happens:
- Stop checking your watch while you’re driving. This habit tends to accentuate the anxiety of running late. Worrying about the time won’t get you to your destination any faster.
- If the cell phone rings, let it go to voice mail. You don’t need any distraction in bumper to bumper traffic. If you’ve ever been insane enough to text while driving, thank your lucky stars that you haven’t caused an accident. It’s as bad as drinking and driving.
- Speaking of drinking and driving, you need to be extra vigilant for the party goer on the road during this season. Keep checking your mirrors, including the passenger side view mirror for knuckleheads who are passing on the right.
- Beware of the tailgater. If you’re on a road and someone is riding your rear bumper, pull over and let him pass.
- The deer are out in force, especially at dusk. When you’re on country roads, slow down and keep scanning the sides of the roadway. And remember these are herd animals. If you see one crossing the road there are bound to be others right behind.
- If you do get in an auto accident, let us help you. Call the office and get checked. Seemingly minor injuries can end up as years of pain without treatment. For more information on auto injuries, visit our sister website www.auto-injury-leesburg.com.
Have a happy and safe Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa!
— Richard Fink, DC, FIAMA
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Swine Flu Panic...You Can Thank The Media For This One!
—Nov 06, 2009When it comes to the swine flu, if you believe what you see on TV, read in the papers or stumble upon on the Internet, it’s only a matter of time before we will hear cries of, “Bring out your dead” from the streets below.
Relax. No matter what the news actress spouts on the tube, this is not a rerun of the 1918 killer flu.
To begin with, no one can say with certainty how many have been inflected by H1N1. Since August 31st patients exhibiting flu-like symptoms have been counted as swine flu cases. Specific testing for H1N1 was deemed too expensive to do it on every case. What passes for testing now is a nasal swab, which will only confirm that influenza is present. It doesn’t identify the strain of flu. But for our 24 hour news cycle media that fact is considered a minor technicality. Instead it’s reported that the CDC stated that 5.7 million Americans were infected by the H1N1. Actually the CDC said that between 1.8 million and 5.7 million were infected. To get the top number the CDC took the total number of confirmed cases and multiplied it by 80. That’s right…80. That’s based on the assumption that for every confirmed case, 80 had it and toughed it out. If that’s true, it sounds like a fairly mild virus.
And those assumptions and their underlying numbers have been brought into question. CBS completed a three month investigation that reviewed the CDC’s lab results for suspected flu samples from all 50 states. H1N1 was only a small percentage of the suspected samples. That means the real swine flu numbers could be a fraction of the official report. The fact is, when it comes to the number of swine flu cases, no one knows. So don’t let the numbers rattle you. It’s just an opinion, not a hard fact.
Still, night after night, we hear nothing but stories of clinics overrun by panicked mobs demanding vaccines. It makes for good television. It gets viewers’ hearts racing. It freaks people out.
It’s time to put this in perspective. The president stated that 1000 Americans lost their lives because of swine flu. Last week it was reported that 114 were under age 18 [labeled children]. That’s tragic. Unfortunately, people die tragically from a multitude of unexpected illnesses every day. From a statistical perspective, 1000 deaths in ten months is a small crisis. Every year, 200,000 die from medical mistakes in hospitals. And you’d better believe that includes a lot of children. Imagine if we put the same time and effort into solving that problem. How many lives could we save? Personally, I think a little bit of public outrage over that issue would be well placed…but that’s a topic for another day.
Close your eyes, take a deep breath and clear your mind of swine flu worries. And instead of being glued to your television or laptop for the latest news on H1N1, go outside, enjoy the fresh air and take a long walk. That’s the healthy way to weather any crisis.
— Richard Fink, DC, FIAMA
Filed under Lifestyle
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Fast Track to 2010...And Stressville
—Nov 06, 2009With Halloween behind us, we are on the fast forward track to the end of the year. Blink and it’s Thanksgiving. Blink again and it’s Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. Blink a third time and the ball is dropping at Times Square.
That’s a lot of celebrating…and a lot of stress. Thanksgiving weekend is the crown jewel of stress for the year. It’s travel time, cooking and, of course, dealing with relatives.
Stress weakens the immune system, which can open the door to sickness and disease. Nobody needs that during the holiday season. With that in mind here are a few tips to keeping your immune system going strong:
Exercise. Regular moderate exercise boosts the immune system as well as wards other debilitating diseases.
Sleep. There are numerous studies that demonstrate how important adequate sleep is on the immune system. For those who are planning on getting the vaccine, inadequate sleep can make the shot far less effective.
Chiropractic adjustments. Getting your spine adjusted definitely boosts your immune system. Studies have shown an increase in white blood cell production immediately following the adjustment. In addition patients under chiropractic care had a much lower death rate during the 1918 Spanish flu.
Supplement with Vitamin D, specifically D3. As I have said in previous newsletters, we are all running on empty when it comes to Vitamin D. We just don’t get out in the sun [sunlight on the skin triggers Vitamin D production in the body]. Even when we do, we slather ourselves with sunblock [which is just like staying inside]. This mineral is critical for the immune system. Pick up a supply at the office the next time you’re in.
Nutrition. Cut down on the sugar. Refined carbohydrates depress the immune system. Excessive sugar intake also increases weight, undermines blood sugar management and leads to a host of nasty diseases So put down the Halloween candy and grab an apple instead.
— Richard Fink, DC, FIAMA
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E-cigarettes No Substitute For Quitting
—Aug 27, 2009Ah, the glory days of cigarettes. Everybody smoked and thought they looked glamorous. Of course they didn’t smell glamorous, but that was another thing entirely. If you want to peek in on the golden age of blue haze and nicotine addiction, tune in to Mad Men on AMC.
Fast forward a half a century and smokers are under siege on every front. No smoking in the workplace, the restaurants or [gasp] the neighborhood bar. What’s a smoker to do? If you said, “Quit”, you’re right on target. Unfortunately, that’s isn’t easy. And Americans like things easy.
So it’s Big Tobacco to the rescue with a brand new product, the e-cigarette. This device is battery powered and uses a cartridge that delivers nicotine and other flavorings. The user expels water vapor instead of smoke. Hey, it’s almost like a toy. Wouldn’t that make a great Christmas gift for the kids? Now you can have your addiction without irritating everyone around you. And since there’s no smoke, it’s got to be healthier, right?
Sorry. File this under “If it sounds too good to be true, it is.” While the e-cigarette doesn’t produce smoke it delivers a high dose of nicotine. Anyone thinking that this is a stepping stone to quiting is misinformed. And according to the FDA, these devices may actually encourage people to smoke regular cigarettes once they become addicted to nicotine. As far as being harmless, FDA analysis of e-cigarette cartridges has uncovered carcinogens and other nasty chemicals, including diethylene glycol, an antifreeze component. Most of the e-cigarette materials are manufactured in China, which has had more than a few quality and safety issues in the past.
So, if you’re a smoker and you want to improve your health, don’t bother buying an e-cigarette. Just quit. Yes, it’s hard. Damn hard. I used to be a hard core smoker. In my mind, there is no substitute for going cold turkey. Forget the patches, pills and e-cigarettes. Put down the cancer sticks, gnash your teeth and be grumpy as hell for about three weeks. That’s about how long it takes for your body to shake off the addiction. Going through withdrawal and making it to the other side has an added benefit. You won’t want to go through it again. Keep reminding yourself of the ordeal you went through and it’s easier to stay quit.
— Richard Fink, DC, FIAMA
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Obesity and The Swine Flu
—Jul 15, 2009Let's face it. If you're overweight, you already know it. You also know it isn't exactly a health condition. In fact, the media [and all your skinny friends] will be the first to tell you that those extra pounds may shorten your life. You could end up with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, etc. Sure, you know all that but that knowledge hasn't motivated you to drop those extra pounds. Why is that? It's because the threat isn't immediate. All those bad things could take place sometime in the distant future.
What about the recent animal [volunteer monkeys] study on diet and longevity? Monkeys on skimpy diets outlived strap on the feed bag comrades. How about living longer and better. Sounds good, but once again it's sometime in the distant future. Time to turn on the TV and open another bag of chips.
How about a killer flu? That's the H1N1 swine flu that's making the rounds this summer. The World Health Organization is worried that this virus will make a big comeback in the fall in a very nasty way. If they are right, millions will die. And, according to a new study, the most likely to catch this virus and die from it are...you guessed it...the obese. People with a BMI over 30 are clinically obese.
To determine your BMI, go to an online BMI calculator. Obese folks are at the highest risk of catching a severe flu because their bodies are overtaxed. That weakens the immune system. Abdominal fat obstructs the diaphragm, limiting the expansion of the lungs and the ability to cough deeply. That encourages viruses to settle in for the long haul...or as long as you last.
The swine flu virus is an immediate threat. This isn't years down the road. The prevailing scientific opinion is that the H1N1 flu will come back stronger in the fall. You have about three months to drop some weight and strengthen your immune system.
Not sure where to start? Go to the staying fit section of the website. There you'll find a simple plan to reduce weight and increase strength. If you want more detail, encouragement or handouts, just ask one of the doctors on your next visit to Fink Family Wellness. And while you're losing weight, don't forget that chiropractic and acupuncture will also help boost your immune system.
Slimming down and shaping up this year [as opposed to a year in the distant future] may just save your life. If the swine flu peters out this summer and doesn't return in the fall, who cares? You'll have the strong, healthy body you're only daydreaming about right now.
— Richard Fink, DC, FIAMA
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Keep Your Pancreas Healthy By Avoiding Killer Fats
—Jun 30, 2009As many of you may already know, I lost my mother-in-law to pancreatic cancer this year. Pancreatic cancer is merciless and deadly. Unlike colon cancer, there is no regular test to catch it early. Sadly, for most victims, pancreatic cancer isn't found until it has spread to another organ, usually the liver. By then, it is just too late.
Every year, 42000 Americans contract pancreatic cancer according to the American Cancer Society With that cheery fact in mind, it only behooves us to do everything in our power to lower our risk of developing the disease.
A National Institute of Health study shows a clear link between pancreatic cancer risk and a high fat diet. This was a very large study. The records of 500,000 participants were analyzed. Those with a high fat diet had a 23 percent greater risk of pancreatic cancer. And the higher the fat intake, the greater the risk, especially for men. Men with the highest percentage of fat in the diet had a 53 percent increased risk.
This is bad news for folks that rely on fast food which has 40 to 55 percent fat. Many of the 'quick and easy' foods from the grocery store are just as bad. Add to that the alarming array of chemicals used to preserve food and enhance the taste and its no wonder that our vital organs are having a tough time keeping us alive.
So what's the solution? First, eat out less. Brown bag your own lunch. When you go grocery shopping, stick to the perimeter of the store where the fresh foods are located. Start a garden. If your diet is loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables that's the best way to avoid becoming another cancer statistic.
— Richard Fink, DC, FIAMA
Filed under nutrition
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