"Our Patients Speak"

"Being pregnant with my first child my midwives told me to find a good Chiropractor. I instantly thought of Dr. Steve.

Today was my first visit, the office is remarkably comfortable and calming. Dr. Steve patiently explained the process to me and made both my husband and I feel very comfortable.

After todays adjustment I am feeling alot more comfortable and I look forward to my next visit."

"I went in today really feeling nauseous (I'm four months pregnant) and a little stressed from traffic. I immediately felt calmer walking in the door. The office is an oasis. Both Dr. Steve and the fantastically friendly receptionist were smiling and really kind.
Walking out I was smiling and feeling alot better. The office was full of happy clients, which says something by itself!
This is an awesome place to go, I wont trust anyone else with my spine but Dr. Steve and I will be recommending him to friends and family, as well as all the women (families) at my birth center."

~Tristen W.



"I lived in the seattle area for a while and finally found a chiropractor thru word of mouth...

DR. STEVE to the rescue! He got me fixed up and back on my feet in no time. I never made any appts and he was happy to fit me in whenever i needed an adjustment. It was nice not having to wait when i was in pain. I also had tummy issues which he was able to correct as well - which made a huge difference in my life. Me and my husband moved over to the tricities and i have yet to find a chiropractor that i feel comfortable with as i did with dr. steve or who asks if i have any other discomforts going on.

Thank you !!!!!"

~Hannah W.



"Dr. Steve is in!
He is in every way wonderful! He really cares. He listens to you. He is without a doubt the best in his profession.
I went to see him today for a horrible headache I had for the last couple of days. He made room for me all the while not making me feel like an inconvenience to his schedule. But then it wasn't a surprise, he has always done what he can to get you in.
After he adjusted me almost instantly I felt relief. Mind you the entire headache wasn't gone but WOW, what a difference! And a bonus, all of a sudden my sinus' were clear, that wasn't part of the treatment plan (i didn't mention it to him, I didn't think that it was a Chiropractic thing) but I'll take the bonus! Oh and by the way, the entire headache was gone by the time i got home (about a 30 minute drive) and was finally able to get on with life, instead laying in bed, in the dark.
That was only one of the fabulous treatments I have received from Dr. Steve, and I have never been disappointed. I have always walked out there better then i came it, much better.
I have so much confidence in Dr. Steve that my daughter, and husband sees him. I also took my mom to see him when her hip was giving her problems last summer when she came into town for a visit.
Well I could go on, I just can't express enough how much Dr. Steve has helped me. I hope you give him a try, I have no doubt you will be surprise what he can do for you."

~Tracey J.

Sugar-Free And Spice... And Everything Nice

Sugar-Free and Spice and everything nice that’s what little boys and girls are made of. This saying sounds a little bit off, but it is very true in today’s world. When I review an average kids’ diet in my office, it’s terrible. The average kid eats fruit rollups, 1-2 Mountain Dews a day and has a sugar cereal/pop tart for breakfast. Did you know that one can of Mountain Dew (or any other cola) has 17 teaspoons of sugar in it? You wonder why kids are so hyper today. They are consuming massive amounts of sugar on a daily basis. I cannot imagine what all that sugar will do for the up-down insulin levels through all the growing years. Research has shown that sugar will weaken the immune system, which means the kids will get sick more often.

Have you ever looked at the ingredients on a box of cereal? Usually the most popular cereals have either the first and or second ingredient as sugar. Ethan’s cereal isn’t called Buzz Blasts or Lucky Charms; it is a high fiber and protein combination. Little does Buckaroo know that I just empty the Buzz Blast Cereal out and put the “healthy” cereal (from the Health food section at Kroger’s) in the box. Only when he is older, will he figure this out. By that time it will be such a part of his healthy lifestyle that it really won’t matter to him.

Do this sugar test: give your child what he normally eats that has sugar in it and watch what happens. Within 20 minutes, his/her energy will increase and a mood change will occur. Also in the mid afternoon, they will become very sleepy and crave something with sugar in it.

I have a story to tell that will hit home with a lot of you. Several months ago, we received a call from Ethan’s teacher, saying that he had been misbehaving in school. After talking with her, I asked her what he had been eating. She stated that it had been one of his classmates birthday and the parents brought in some cake. I informed her that Ethan is not allowed to eat sugar because it makes him extremely hyper and very aggressive. My wife proceeded to bring healthy snacks and high protein bars for him to eat on those “celebration” days. It has been about 4 months now and we haven’t had a complaint since. But what about juice? Ethan only drinks Northland 100% Juice or something that we have juiced ourselves. Most juices are made of sugar. My best advice is to look on the ingredients and make sure that if you do feed them something that contains sugar, that it’s at least the 3rd or 4th ingredient. Ethan knows that when he eats sugar, it is not healthy or good for him. If he eats sugar, it changes and alters his personality (aggressive, emotional and doesn’t listen), sleeping patterns and digestive habits. We decided that our household would be a sugar free zone. It has made a big difference on his disposition and the family atmosphere.

For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(209) 367-2224.

A Chiropractor To Keep The Headaches Away? Yes!

This picture sounds all too familiar: Mom is upstairs because she has a migraine headache. Her door is closed, the lights are off and we have to be “really quiet.” Hopefully the shot (Immetrex) worked and she’ll be “all better” in the morning. I also here people say, “I just get a couple of ‘normal’ headaches a week.”

No headache is “normal;” rather it is a symptom of some underlying problem. Occasionally, this problem is easy to trace, such as alcohol or allergies. However, headaches are usually a warning sign of a more serious health condition. Each day, 5-10 million adults in the United States use an over-the-counter medication in hopes that it will cure their headache. Some get temporary relief…some do not. While pain killers like aspirin can cover up symptoms by blocking the pain, but they don’t tackle the real problem. If you have tried to “cure” your headaches with painkillers, you know how fruitless that approach is in the long run. The headaches keep coming back, and drugs alleviate the pain, for now, without doing anything to correct the underlying problem. Any pain, including headaches, is your body’s way of warning you that something needs immediate attention.

A Chiropractor will examine your spine and nervous system and ask questions to find out the cause of your headache. There are over 200 different types of headaches. Stress headaches are most common in ages 30-39 with 47% of females suffering from these. By finding out why you are getting headaches, your chiropractor can help correct or eliminate the causes.

Have you ever had just one of those days? Were your neck was so tight it was difficult to move and you could not turn your head and look to back out the car? These dull steady headaches from tight muscles in the neck, back and head are usually the result of stress. These steady muscle contractions use up oxygen and irritate the muscles causing pain. Most types of headaches, including migraine, respond very well to chiropractic care. A research study revealed in the Chiropractic Journal that 74.6% of patients with recurring headaches, including migraines, were either cured or experienced reduced headache symptoms after receiving chiropractic adjustments. The reason is simple: the chiropractor locates and, if possible, corrects the cause of the headache.

What causes headaches? Most headaches result from spinal subluxations; in other words, malfunctioning vertebrate. These subluxations cause irritation of the delicate nerves and arteries that supply the head and face area, causing pain. Subluxations are caused from traumas (automobile accidents; slips and falls); stress (family, work or emotional); or chemicals (alcohol, drugs and NutraSweet). The chiropractor’s “adjustment” keeps the body free of nerve interference and allows normal flow. This allows the body to use its own inherent healing ability to maintain an optimum state of health.

You and your family have nothing to lose except for the possibility health and happiness.


For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.

Be Safe When You Lift

You can take lifting in stride if you know how to protect your back. Lifting right involves a few simple steps. Above all, remember to rely on your strong legs, not your back. You can adapt safe lifting principles when you’re faced with a difficult lift - like a heavy or awkward load.

LIFTING & MOVING ON THE RUN
• Take Lifting in Stride
• Learn All the Right Moves
• READY, SET, GO Approach

LIFTING RIGHT
• READY - Learn the Steps
• SET-Do a Deep Squat
• GO - Bend you knees. Test the weight. Get a grip on it. “Hug” the load. Align your spine. Lift with your legs.

LIFTING DIFFICULT LOADS
• READY - Size Up the Load
• SET - Do a Pelvic Tilt - stand or sit and tighten your stomach muscles. Curl your buttocks forward, holding for a count of 5.
• GO - Lifting Odd Shapes - Test the load. Get as close to the load’s center of gravity as you can. Follow the steps.
• GO - Lifting Heavy Weights - Test the load. Get help if too heavy to handle alone. Use verbal signals.

LIFTING IN AWKWARD PLACES
• READY - Survey the Space
• SET - Do a Backbend - Stand and place your palms on our low back. Lean your upper body back, without overarching our neck, hold for a count of 5; repeat 3 times.
• GO - Lifting from High Places - Push up to test the weight, then grip the load securely. Slide the load to the edge and down to waist level. Readjust your grip so our hands are underneath the load, then put the load down.
• GO - . . .and Low Places - Kneel on one knee. Support the load on one knee to reduce the stress on your back. Stand backup, lifting with your legs.
• GO - Lifting Within Confined Spaces - Kneel on one knee and face the load. If you must kneel on both knees, be sure you don’t twist your back as you turn. Crawl, don’t stoop, to move. Wearing kneepads makes this easier to do. Slide the load, whenever possible, to lessen the weight on your back.

MOVE RIGHT
• READY - Think It Through
• SET - Do a side bend - Stand or sit with your hands clasped overhead. Lean to one side, stretching as far as you can. Feel a slight pull from your shoulder to your waist. Hold for a count of 5; repeat 3 times on each side.
• GO - Hold loads close. Balance your back. Pivot, don’t twist. Step, don’t reach. Bend your knees.

BUILDING A LOAD
• READY - Know the Right Strategy
• SET - Do arm circles - stand or sit with your arms straight out from your sides. Slowly move your arms in circles, gradually increasing the size of the circles. Continue for 30 seconds. Rest, then repeat 3 times.
• GO - Lift the load, readjust your grip. Use your legs, readjust your grip. Set the load down.

PUSHING & PULLING
• READY – Plot Your Move
• SET – Do a wall slide. Stand with your back against a wall and your feet apart. Slide into a half-sitting position. Hold for a count of 10, then slide back up. Repeat 3 times.
• GO – Push it. Place your hands on the load and bend your elbows. Bend your knees, putting one foot forward. Push off with your back leg and take short, steady steps.
• GO – When you must pull, get a firm grip on the load, bending your elbows slightly. Bend your knees, putting one foot back for balance. Push off with your forward leg, taking short, steady steps.

THE HOMESTRETCH
When you’re heading for home at the end of your shift, your back will feel a lot better if you used the right lifting and moving techniques throughout the day. You can enjoy your free time more when you’re less tired and your body is flexible and pain free.

Tips for Summer Sports & Hydration

With beautiful weather, no school, and the sun shining daily, most children have spent their summer participating in some kind of physical activity, such as a local sports league, or taking lessons in a skill such as gymnastics or golf. As a parent, your goal is to keep your child happy, healthy, and functioning on the field and off. Since injury prevention is key, follow these easy suggestions to make the most out of your summer activities… these tips apply to adults as well!

Choosing an Activity:
Determine the child's physical maturation level and match the child's size with an appropriate sport team or level.
Most competitive children's sports are organized according to chronological age rather than physical skill or maturation. Slower maturing children are often at greater risk of injury because they are competing with peers who may be larger and physically more developed.

Have an examination before play:
Have your child be examined from “Toes to Nose.”
This examination is important because it will detect imbalance, poor posture and nerve interference that once corrected will reduce chance of injury and increase performance.

Use Good Judgment about Pain:
Seek professional advice.
As children inevitably get hurt in play, it is critical that parents use good judgment in treating complaints about pain. What may act like a simple sprain may actually be a growth plate injury, which is very common in youth sports, and requires professional diagnosis and treatment.

Emphasize Water Breaks and Proper Hydration:
- Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day.
- Take a water break every 15 minutes during activity, and begin the habit of having water on hand during games, bike rides, etc.
- Don’t overdo it: take the time throughout the day to hydrate. If you only drink water when you are feeling thirsty, you are already feeling the effects of dehydration.
- Don’t substitute juices or soda to prevent dehydration. Most contain sugars and caffeine that can speed up dehydration.

Plan your trip to Northgate Chiropractic today
For your FREE Consultation and Examination!


Northgate Chiropractic
Dr. Stephen Lachuta
11065 5th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98125
Phone: (206) 367-2224
Fax: (206) 260-2701
NorthgateChiropractic.net
NorthgateChiropractic@gmail.com

Please reference:
Summer Sports Offer
when scheduling your appointment!