Nothing to Sneeze At

by Dr. Steven Warfield

You know its allergy season when you walk outside only to find that your car has changed from blue to green overnight.  That yellow patina coating your paintjob is composed of millions of microgametes (plant sperm cells) that erupt from plants every spring.  While unsightly, this plant powder is easy enough to hose off your car.  If that was the worst that pollen could dish out then we would all breathe a sigh of relief.  However, therein lays the rub.  It is by breathing in this powder that causes many of us to sniffle and sneeze as allergy season kicks into overdrive.

Pollen Predates People

While some people have allergies to pollen, you have to take into consideration that pollen has been 

Pollen from a variety of common plants: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), morning glory Ipomoea purpurea, hollyhock (Sildalcea malviflora), lily (Lilium auratum), primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) and castor bean (Ricinus communis). The image is magnified some x500, so the bean shaped grain in the bottom left corner is about 50 μm long. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

around a lot longer than human beings.  In fact, not only have pine trees been around for hundreds of millions of years (did dinosaurs have allergies?), but the oldest living examples of trees are bristlecone pines some of which are estimated to be more than 4,600 years old.   While certain kinds of pollen cause people problems every year, this is not what pollen was intended to do.  It all has to do with reproduction.

So why are some people allergic to pollen while others are not? 

“The real question, according to Susan Waserman, professor of medicine in the division of clinical immunology and allergy at McMaster University in Canada, is not "Why pollen?" but "Why allergies at all?" Humans typically become allergic to things we're frequently exposed to as children. Pollen is one of those things; in the spring, a cubic meter of air can contain thousands of pollen grains, so we're inhaling them fairly constantly. But we're also routinely exposed to food and pet hair as kids, and we commonly develop allergies to those, too.” http://news.yahoo.com/why-pollen-allergies-common-195446150.html

The main reason that allergic reactions take place is due to the way our immune systems react to foreign substances.  Or, should I say overreact?  Designed to defend us from disease, the body’s immune response isn’t exactly hardwired into our system.  It actually learns what is and is not a threat.  This learning process occurs for the most part when we are children when we are all exposed to a myriad of bacteria and viruses. 

Every time the immune system detects the presence of an invading organism, it produces antibodies that transport the attacker to white blood cells which trigger the release of histamine.  This works fine when the offending organism is a bacteria or virus.  However, if the invader is pollen, the immune system can get carried away.  This is what causes allergies; the body misinterpreting a harmless organism as an invader.  Once your system designates pollen, dust or cat dander as a marauder, there’s no going back.  You’re saddled with the allergy for the rest of your life.

Some people even later in life can acquire sometimes life threatening allergic reactions to such things as certain kinds of food that can cause them to go into anaphylactic shock, which can block their airways resulting in suffocation. 

According to Susan Wasserman, the real reason that so many people have allergies these days has to do with inadequate exposure to bacteria and viruses during early childhood. “Thanks to modern hygiene including such things as antibacterial soap, pasteurized milk and more, kids aren’t exposed to nearly as many microbes as they once were.  As a result, their immune systems have fewer opportunities to learn how to discriminate between dangerous pathogens and harmless things like pollen. People whose immune systems are no longer busy fighting infection can become unregulated and allergic.”

This year in particular has proven to deliver a particularly heavy dose of pollen. Currently it is pine and oak pollen that is causing the most problems for allergy sufferers.  Later in the 

season will come ragweed pollen.  Other than popping antihistamines and carrying a hefty supply of Kleenex, what else can allergy sufferers do to cope?

Why Chiropractic Care is Nothing to Sneeze At

While traditional medicine simply treats the symptoms, chiropractic care is designed specifically to enable the immune system to work more efficiently.  One of the reasons that the body can have an allergic reaction is due to the fact that nerve interference can cause the immune system to overproduce histamine.  Since the nervous system controls immune response along with virtually every other reaction in the body, any imbalance can result in miscommunication between the brain and the body. 

While chiropractic treatment does not treat allergies directly, studies have shown that the nervous system has a direct link to the functionality of the immune system.  Chiropractors work to align the spine which in turn relieves stress on the nerves.  This in turn allows the immune system to work more efficiently which makes it easier to fight off infection while recognizing and not overreacting to allergens.

Antihistamines work by drying out the mucus membranes.  Chiropractic care works by allowing your body to better identify and deal with allergens.  Besides, long term antihistamine use can itself prove dangerous.  In a May 1994 Journal of the National Cancer Institute, it was noted that several antihistamines including Claritin, Hismanal and Atarax had been proven to cause cancerous tumors in rats to grow faster.  And unlike antihistamines whose side effects can include dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision and confusion, chiropractic care have none of the side effects.

So if allergy symptoms have you sniffing and sneezing, instead of reaching for that bottle of pills talk to your local chiropractor.  Your sinuses will thank you.

Dr. Steven Warfield and Dr. Dave Edenfield  are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com and http://chiropractor-orange-park-fl.com who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.  

Are You Running Yourself Ragged?

By Dr. Steven Warfield

Running is a great way to stay in shape.  It promotes heart health and muscle tone, while decreasing blood pressure and even spurring weight loss.  On the flip side, it can also result in a number of injuries brought about by the fact that the human body was never designed to run on concrete.  So on today’s blog I thought I’d cover the pluses and minuses of running.

Have a Heart

Without a doubt, running is one of the best things you can do for your heart.  It not only strengthens the heart muscle, but it also lowers your blood pressure and increases HDL cholesterol levels which helps stave off heart disease. As your cardiovascular system becomes stronger, it will pump more blood and oxygen to the rest of your body, which results in increased endurance and deceased body fat.

Studies have also shown that rigorous exercise strengthens the bones and stimulates the production of white blood cells that are crucial to fending off disease.  Improved circulation helps deliver these microscopic disease fighters faster to the places where they are most needed.  It is also known that cardiovascular exercise such as running can significantly reduce your risk of cancer.

Now for the flip side of the coin.  Many runners suffer from repetitive motion injuries caused by running on unyielding or uneven surfaces, inadequate running shoes, and running up steep slopes.  Statistics tell us that more than 70% of runners (whether professional or amateur) will sustain some kind of injury at one point or another in their lives. Some of the injuries will be the result of stress to their legs or joints, while others involve their backs.  Everything from shin splints to tendonitis and/or stress fractures are common complaints with runners.

Break a Leg

Stress fractures as the name implies are characterized by a crack or break in the bones of the leg or foot  that are caused primarily by repetitive stress. (In older patients it can also be caused by Osteoporosis.)  That is the definition of the term.  However the causative factors can be a bit more complicated.  Stress fractures while affecting the bones are in many cases triggered by an imbalance of the muscles. For instance, a weak or overworked muscle can cause increased stress on an adjacent bone.  Sometimes an imbalance of the back can interfere with the nerves that actuate the muscles of the legs or feet.  As the runner continues on his or her way, the miscommunication combined with the repetitive nature of running can ratchet these stresses up to the point where the bone can no longer sustain the load. 

Are You Pulling My Leg?

Another common source of pain in the lower leg, particularly one that begins nearly as soon as you start running is shin splints. Typically this condition begins as a dull ache in the front of the lower leg. Upon closer inspection the knee may appear swollen and inflamed as well.  Also known as medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), shin splints can be caused by a number of triggers, including everything from worn-out shoes, running on rough or uneven terrain or even not running for a long period of time.  In short, anything that causes a sudden increase in muscle activity in the calves can result in shock that the tibia is forced to absorb.  If left untreated, shin splints can result in stress fractures. (Women are two to three times more likely to have stress fractures resulting from shin splints then are men.) 

Treatment of MTSS includes rest, as well as putting ice packs on the affected area.  It is also important to allow any swelling to subside before returning to full activity.  Your chiropractor may also recommend a number of exercises that strengthen the lower leg and hip muscles.  It is also imperative that individuals stricken with shin splints gradually return to full activity in order to avoid a relapse. 

Tendonitis Anyone?

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel of the foot. When this tendon becomes stressed and inflamed, people (particularly runners) will experience everything from pain in their heel, to swelling and tenderness in the ankle, along with stiffness of the joint.  Like stress fractures, Achilles tendonitis can be brought on by misalignments in the back.  Unlike them, the pain associated with tendonitis is worst at the start of exercise only to lessen as the workout progresses.

Treatment for the condition revolves around resting the ankle and applying cold to reduce inflammation.  Just as with MTSS, it can take months to heal Achilles tendonitis, during which time you need to gradually ramp up your activities in order to avoid relapse and/or complications.

Run Away

Icon Runners MillaSagradaFamilia2005 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Runner’s knee is a painful condition that can develop in anyone that overworks their knee joint.  Typified by a dull ache that develops around the knee, the pain is most pronounced when either bending or twisting the leg.  This condition can be caused by a number of factors, including direct trauma to the knee (such as that caused by a fall), misalignment of the kneecap, overstressing of the tendons, or even flat feet.  While the being predominantly relegated to runners, runner’s knee can also strike any athlete that does a lot of knee bending or jumping, such as cyclists, soccer players, football players and basketball players.

Typical symptoms of the condition are pain around or behind the kneecap, pain when bending the knee, or pain when walking, squatting, kneeling, running or sitting.  While in severe cases surgery is needed to remedy this condition, the good news is that in minor to moderate cases, resting, icing and elevating the knee along with stretching and strengthening exercises can help speed recovery.  Along with treatment, your chiropractor may also recommend wrapping the knee and/or adding arch supports to your shoes.

While running can be a terrific way to ward off illness and stay in shape, the most important thing to remember is not to overdo it.  By pacing yourself and dealing with any aches or pains that crop up during or after a run you can maximize the benefits of running and minimize the damage done.  Because the last place you want to run to is the doctor’s office.

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments forback pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat autoaccident victims with state-of-the-art technologies. If you or anyone you know suffers from herniated discs, degenerative discs or spinal stenosis,visit http://chiropractor-orange-park-fl.com/ & http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com

Weed 'Em and Reap

How to Keep Spring Cleaning from Giving You an Aching Back

By Dr. Dave Edenfield

Spring is in the air.  With it come thoughts of gardening to many Floridians.  Unlike those in more northern climes who have spent the winter shoveling snow, for the most part we in Jacksonville have had a bit of a hiatus these past few months.  While this gives us reasons to gloat, what it can also do is set us up for undue physical stress once we start wheeling out lawn mowers, edgers, rakes and blowers.  My advice to those who have a green thumb is to take a bit of advice from their friendly neighborhood chiropractor.  Don’t let the growing season wind up planting you firmly in my office.

Here are a few things to do before, during and after yard work:

1.           Start off with a good stretch.  Yard work taxes virtually every muscle and sinew in your body.  Just like any athlete, before you get off the bench and get into the game, you need to limber up.  Ten minutes or so of stretching can save you days of aches and pains afterwards.
2.       Stay hydrated – I know this sounds elementary, but most people do not drink enough fluid when working outdoors.  Carrying a little bottle of water around is okay if you only plan on doing a little pruning.  If you intend on really getting a jump on your garden by spending several hours in the yard, think pitcher.  Not only will this help you avoid dehydration, but it will also help your system flush the acids that your muscles create when they are worked hard. 
3.          Lift with the legs as opposed to the back.  Whether you are planting a shrub, toting a bag of leaf litter or pulling weeds, most people make the mistake of using their backs as opposed to their legs when lifting.  Instead of leaning over when you need to heft a heavy load, get up close and personal and then lift straight up by bending your knees and keeping your back straight.
4.          Pace yourself – Instead of doing a marathon session in your yard, break the tasks down into a number of sessions and take breaks of at least twenty minutes between each session.  Better still, schedule the project over several days.  The weeds aren’t going anywhere and neither are you if you cripple yourself on your first go at yard work. 
5.         Wear shoes as opposed to flip flops.  Many garden implements could double as lethal
   
   weapons. Even something as innocuous as a shovel or rake can tear up your toes if it is dropped on them.  Not to mention the kind of damage a stick or a stone coughed up by a lawn mower or string trimmer can cause. 
6.         Whenever you have a choice between bending or kneeling, choose the latter. Buy either a set of knee pads or a cushion to kneel upon whenever you are weeding.  Or sit on an overturned bucket.  Your knees will thank you.
7.         Soreness is a common after effect of yard work.  It only becomes problematic if it fails to abate after 24-48 hours.  If you not only feel sore but experience any of the following symptoms, consult your doctor right away: Shortness of breath, dizziness, cold sweats, chest pain, pounding headache or muscle spasms.

The joys of the season of renewal should be a time to enjoy all the simple pleasures that come with more daylight, warmer weather, and balmy breezes.  Don’t let your zeal to embrace the rights of spring derail your health before you even get started.  Take the time to plan your activities and acknowledge the stresses that come with exerting yourself in the great outdoors.  Then all you’ll really have to deal with this spring are your allergies.

Dr. Dave Edenfield  and Dr. Steven Warfield are part of the team of doctors and therapists at http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com and http://endyourpain.org who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead  healthier, happier and pain-free lives.  

When Can Pain Be a Plus?

By Dr. Steven Warfield

Nobody likes pain, be it the pain of a stiff neck, a headache or your aching back.  So where’s the plus side of pain?  Pain in and of itself is just the body’s warning system trying to tell you that something is amiss, that you might be pushing your body beyond its limits.  In short it works like your home’s smoke alarm which tells you when a fire is imminent.  What you do about it and how fast you respond to these warnings can be the difference between an overdone pot roast to the fire department breaking down your door.

The same can be said of your body’s pain response.  Were we to feel no pain, our lives would literally be on the line 24/7.  In fact there is a medical condition known as CIPA (Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis), that literally renders people with the condition unable to sense pain of any kind.  While this sounds like a gift to anyone who suffers from chronic pain, what you need to understand is that people born with the condition can do irreparable harm to their bodies without even knowing it. 

In a report by NBC News on an infant with CIPA: The doctor put drops in Ashlyn’s eye to stain any particles that might be irritating it. The infant smiled and bounced in her mother’s lap while the dye revealed a massive scratch across her cornea. “They put the dye in her eye and I remember the look of puzzlement on all their faces,” Ashlyn’s mother says. “Ashlyn was not fazed by it by any means.”

Once CIPA was confirmed, the problems became even more pronounced for her parents. “There were many things they couldn’t anticipate. Ashlyn’s baby teeth posed big problems. She would chew her lips bloody in her sleep, bite through her tongue while eating, and once even stuck a finger in her mouth and stripped flesh from it.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6379795/ns/health-childrens_health/t/rare-disease-makes-girl-unable-feel-pain/

Far from being a blessing, CIPA can turn out to be a curse with a lifetime of injuries.  Those with CIPA can expect to collect their fair share of burns, strains, sprains and broken bones that if left untreated can lead to more serious conditions.  While CIPA sufferers can overcome pain, one thing that they are just as susceptible to as the rest of us is infection.   Because while CIPA covers up the pain, it doesn’t stop the complications that injury can bring.

  

The Pain Pill Cover Up

This is one of the reasons that I am often astounded at the ways in which the public has been taught to deal with pain.  Turn on any television and it won’t be long before you come across an advertisement touting one kind of “pain reliever” or another.  Some of these pain pills are available over the counter and some require a prescription.  But one thing is universal.  These pills do not “relieve” pain.  What they do is mask it.  And therein lays the rub.

Just as those with CIPA, by masking the pain, what we are doing in essence is removing the battery from the smoke detector instead of confronting the fire.  (Which is why it’s illegal to do so in most states.)  While I’m not suggesting that people should suffer in silence every ache and pain that comes along, what I am suggesting is that when you hurt, there is an underlying cause that needs to be diagnosed and treated.  This is the real way to eliminate pain, by putting out the fire. 

What most people do not consider is that in many cases simple aches and pains if treated promptly can mean quick and long lasting relief.  Masking the pain and ignoring it can lead to complications, infection and more radical treatment down the road.  And unlike those with CIPA, many analgesics are habit forming to those who use them and that can lead to even more complications. 

While nobody starts out trying to become addicted to prescription pain pills, it’s a habit that’s all too easy to start and all too hard to quit.  Statistics show that twenty percent of the population in the US reports abusing prescription drugs at least once in their lives. Just as with CIPA, it is possible that there is an inherited predilection toward addiction.

Andrew Saxon, MD professor of psychiatry at the University of Washington stated that, "It's clear that some people have a genetic predisposition to addiction. There's something different in their brains to begin with and prolonged drug abuse likely creates further chemical changes.” http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/prescription-drug-abuse-who-gets-addicted-and-why

With more powerful and longer lasting pain killers flooding the market, it’s the availability of these substances that produce the kind of pain that chiropractic treatment alone can’t cure.  While not everyone who uses analgesics will wind up sliding down the slippery slope to addiction, the best long term solution to pain is to heed the warning and seek medical treatment that can put out the fire and keep your house in good order.

Dr.’s Steven Warfield and Dave Edenfield offer the most advanced treatments for back pain, sciatica, neck pain, whiplash and headaches. They also treat auto accident victims with state-of-the-art technologies. If you or anyone you know suffers from herniated discs, degenerative discs or spinal stenosis, visit http://chiropractor-orange-park-fl.com/ & http://chiropractic-jacksonville-fl.com