Allergies
A healthy immune system means high resistance to disease and infection, an enhanced ability to deal with environmental stresses, and greater health and well-being. The immune system is one of the most complicated, sensitive, and mysterious systems in the body. It is influenced by our neurological and hormonal systems, by our diet, and even by emotional and mental stress. Science's understanding of it is in its infancy, yet many believe it holds the ultimate key to life and health.
Thus we can see that if the immune system were to malfunction we could be in very serious trouble. The most common disorder of the immune system is one that is a lot less frightening: the allergy.
Substances that cause an allergic reaction are called allergens. An allergic reaction (sensitivity) occurs when the immune system overreacts to an allergen and produces too many neutralizing chemicals (especially histamines) to counteract it. Some examples of allergens are dust; pollen; medicines; dog or cat dander; dairy; soaps; detergents and other kitchen chemicals; and even foods like strawberries or chocolate (heaven forbid!).
A common example of an allergy is hayfever. Although most people who breathe ragweed pollen aren't bothered by the microscopic bits of plants that constitute pollen, some have an immune system that overreacts to it. The runny eyes, irritated mucus membranes, redness, pounding in the head, fullness in the sinuses - are produced by the neutralizing chemicals.
The cause of allergies and immune system disease has not been conclusively determined. However, there are those who attribute the proliferation of allergies and other immune system diseases to the mass vaccination campaigns of the past few decades.
Medicine has no cure for allergies, only treatment. According to Robert Mendelsohn, M.D “You can depend on most doctors to largely ignore the cause and instead rush madly to treatment.” Unfortunately, the treatment is often worse than the disease, especially since the relatively safe folk-measures of yesteryear have been replaced by the sophisticated, dangerous drugs of modern medicine.
Overreaction to allergens causes the body to release the chemical histamine (as well as other chemicals) that cause inflammation
and other symptoms. Antihistamines are often prescribed to counter these effects. In most cases the antihistamines dry up the nasal passages and decrease the discomfort from itching, but do not correct the immune system overreaction.
Antihistamines, steroid hormones, and long-term desensitization all carry significant negative side effects.
Regarding allergy shots (desensitization), Dr. Mendelsohn states, "Although millions of patients have received the shots over the past 60 years, there are no, good, long-term studies to determine possible neurologic or other consequences of this treatment." Also mentioned was "a striking incidence of positive 'rheumatoid factors' in allergic children receiving shots.” Clinical studies have shown that breast fed babies have fewer allergy problems than formula-fed babies. Although chiropractic is not a treatment for diseases, allergies included, it does, by permitting the nervous system to function with less stress, permit the immune system to function more effectively - and this is something all allergy sufferers need.
Many studies have revealed the effect of a healthy nervous system on immune system health. Ronald Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York's Preventive Medicine Institute and professor of medicine at New York University, measured the immune systems of people under chiropractic care as compared to those in the general population and those with cancer and other serious diseases.
His study found that chiropractic patients have a 200% greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic care. Allergies can make people's lives miserable. The standard medical approach may give short-term relief but is controversial and dangerous, and its long-term effects are untested. Common sense tells us to explore the safest, most natural means of dealing with problems before resorting to more extreme measures. A two-fold approach to allergies is often recommended: first, the avoidance of those substances that cause severe reactions and, second, correction of the basic cause - a malfunctioning immune system.
As one authority states, “A healthy body is capable of neutralizing these toxic substances and a body which has malfunctioning defense mechanisms cannot. The emphasis on allergies must be on building a healthy body, not on trying to use evasive tactics by eliminating all the allergens."
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sugar-Free and Spice… 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.
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.
Friday, March 6, 2009
The most important piece of Golf equipment is your spine!
Professional golf instructors estimate that 80-100% of golfers' swing problems begin from faulty posture. Therefore, having a Chiropractor evaluate your posture should be the first and most important step toward building an optimal golf swing. Most postural faults are caused by muscle and connective tissue imbalances that pull a golfers body out of alignment, or a misalignment in spinal bones. The result of an unbalanced or asymmetrical standing posture will always be unbalanced and decreased performance. If the golf instructors are correct, a poor posture, when addressing the ball, will result in a poor and/or inconsistent golf swing. Moreover, sooner or later, golfing with a poor posture and swing motion will cause injuries. Research states that 80% of the population has lower back pain.
An onlooker may assume that the never-ending quest to put the little white ball into the cup calls upon little of the athleticism required by other warm-weather sports such as tennis or cycling. Not true. Many avid golfers contort their bodies into oddly twisted postures, generating a great deal of torque-the twisting force that opens a bottle cap-on the back. Couple this motion with a bent-over stance, repeat 90 to 120 times over three or four hours, add the fatigue that comes with several miles of walking, and you've got a good workout-and a recipe for potential lower back trouble.
As America's love affair with the game continues to grow and are playing in a big tournament, chiropractors advocate taking a proactive approach that will prepare your body for many years of pain-free play. "Most golfers go until they are in pain, then look for immediate relief. Northgate Chiropractic advocates a different approach-by helping patients look at what they can do right now to reduce the likelihood of future injury.” We want people to be able to play without pain and have the greatest potential for a lifetime.
If you take this approach, you're in good company. As a chiropractor I have found the direct connection between the spine and performance. Nerves control every muscle in your spine. A pinched nerve will decrease performance. Stan Sheppard states, “The difference between winning and losing could be just one stroke.” Many professional golfers such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson rely on chiropractors to increase their performance. To find out if chiropractic could increase your performance in golf please call our office to schedule an appointment at (206) 367-2224.
An onlooker may assume that the never-ending quest to put the little white ball into the cup calls upon little of the athleticism required by other warm-weather sports such as tennis or cycling. Not true. Many avid golfers contort their bodies into oddly twisted postures, generating a great deal of torque-the twisting force that opens a bottle cap-on the back. Couple this motion with a bent-over stance, repeat 90 to 120 times over three or four hours, add the fatigue that comes with several miles of walking, and you've got a good workout-and a recipe for potential lower back trouble.
As America's love affair with the game continues to grow and are playing in a big tournament, chiropractors advocate taking a proactive approach that will prepare your body for many years of pain-free play. "Most golfers go until they are in pain, then look for immediate relief. Northgate Chiropractic advocates a different approach-by helping patients look at what they can do right now to reduce the likelihood of future injury.” We want people to be able to play without pain and have the greatest potential for a lifetime.
If you take this approach, you're in good company. As a chiropractor I have found the direct connection between the spine and performance. Nerves control every muscle in your spine. A pinched nerve will decrease performance. Stan Sheppard states, “The difference between winning and losing could be just one stroke.” Many professional golfers such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson rely on chiropractors to increase their performance. To find out if chiropractic could increase your performance in golf please call our office to schedule an appointment at (206) 367-2224.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
When Should You Take Your Child To a Chiropractor?
When Should You Take Your Child
To a Chiropractor?
Did you know that some hospitals in Australia have newborn babies checked by a chiropractor right after delivery? I feel this procedure should be routine throughout the world.
You might be surprised to learn that most adult problems chiropractors deal with actually have a start in childhood. Think about this for a moment, your child’s spine is his/her lifeline. Running through it is the spinal cord containing billions of nerves that send messages and information from the brain to every part of the body and back again.
Yes, we all have our very own internal Internet! As long as none of these messages are interrupted, your child should have the very best health possible. If, however, there is any interference with this information “highway,” these messages will not reach their designation. As a result the body starts to work improperly. Chiropractors call this malfunction a subluxation. It can be a serious threat to health. It may affect the immune system, lower body resistance, and leave your child prey to various “bugs” and infection.
Some of the examples of malfunction that I see are: asthma, bed-wetting, ADD, chronic ear infections, colic, scoliosis, “growing pains,” etc.
When should you take your child to a chiropractor?
When you want your child to have all the benefits of a conservative, natural, drugless, approach to health. A visit to a Doctor of Chiropractic should be a pleasant experience, one without painful injections and procedures but with plenty of nurturing. It is critical to have your child examined as soon as possible after birth, as the process of delivery can be very traumatic for a newborn and can create subluxations, or misalignments of the delicate spinal bones. This can interfere with your child’s “information highway” and cause a myriad of malfunctions.
When your child takes a fall, tumbles, or is involved in some trauma. Such an incident can easily create a subluxation, which can lie undetected for years, surfacing in the adult years as a major health problem.
Your baby should have six check ups at six crucial events in the first year of life.
Chiropractic is one of the safest forms of health care in the world, and the largest drugless health care profession on the globe.
When choosing a chiropractor for your child, ask if he or she has special pediatric training or certification; as in all health professions, Doctors of Chiropractic have a number of specialties within the profession. So ask!
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(209) 367-2224.
To a Chiropractor?
Did you know that some hospitals in Australia have newborn babies checked by a chiropractor right after delivery? I feel this procedure should be routine throughout the world.
You might be surprised to learn that most adult problems chiropractors deal with actually have a start in childhood. Think about this for a moment, your child’s spine is his/her lifeline. Running through it is the spinal cord containing billions of nerves that send messages and information from the brain to every part of the body and back again.
Yes, we all have our very own internal Internet! As long as none of these messages are interrupted, your child should have the very best health possible. If, however, there is any interference with this information “highway,” these messages will not reach their designation. As a result the body starts to work improperly. Chiropractors call this malfunction a subluxation. It can be a serious threat to health. It may affect the immune system, lower body resistance, and leave your child prey to various “bugs” and infection.
Some of the examples of malfunction that I see are: asthma, bed-wetting, ADD, chronic ear infections, colic, scoliosis, “growing pains,” etc.
When should you take your child to a chiropractor?
When you want your child to have all the benefits of a conservative, natural, drugless, approach to health. A visit to a Doctor of Chiropractic should be a pleasant experience, one without painful injections and procedures but with plenty of nurturing. It is critical to have your child examined as soon as possible after birth, as the process of delivery can be very traumatic for a newborn and can create subluxations, or misalignments of the delicate spinal bones. This can interfere with your child’s “information highway” and cause a myriad of malfunctions.
When your child takes a fall, tumbles, or is involved in some trauma. Such an incident can easily create a subluxation, which can lie undetected for years, surfacing in the adult years as a major health problem.
Your baby should have six check ups at six crucial events in the first year of life.
Chiropractic is one of the safest forms of health care in the world, and the largest drugless health care profession on the globe.
When choosing a chiropractor for your child, ask if he or she has special pediatric training or certification; as in all health professions, Doctors of Chiropractic have a number of specialties within the profession. So ask!
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(209) 367-2224.
Monday, March 2, 2009
A little help with our Yelp!
So many of you know about Yelp and the reviews that you can do there.
Well, for those of you who are reading this blog and have come into our office, we kindly request your great review on Yelp.
Help us let the world know about the work we do.
It only takes a moment of your time and we will be extremely grateful. ;)
To post a review:
-Go to yelp.com/Seattle
-Type "Chiropractic" in the search tab with your zip code in the "near" box
-Click on Northgate Chiropractic
-Click on "Write a Review"
-Please create profile (if you don not have one)
Thank you very much
~Dr. Steve Lachuta
Northgate Chiropractic
PS Thank you to Valentine's Men's Grooming Salon for the wonderful haircut and detailed instructions from the back of the card they gave me. ;)
Well, for those of you who are reading this blog and have come into our office, we kindly request your great review on Yelp.
Help us let the world know about the work we do.
It only takes a moment of your time and we will be extremely grateful. ;)
To post a review:
-Go to yelp.com/Seattle
-Type "Chiropractic" in the search tab with your zip code in the "near" box
-Click on Northgate Chiropractic
-Click on "Write a Review"
-Please create profile (if you don not have one)
Thank you very much
~Dr. Steve Lachuta
Northgate Chiropractic
PS Thank you to Valentine's Men's Grooming Salon for the wonderful haircut and detailed instructions from the back of the card they gave me. ;)
Friday, February 27, 2009
Add Years to your life And life to your years
I have always said that you should begin chiropractic adjustments at birth and continue throughout your entire life. Richard is Eighty-Two years old and continues to receive his chiropractic adjustments. Just as everyone in your family should receive adjustments, you should also bring in your grandparents. With medication use on the rise with the elderly, it is especially important that these people receive adjustments. The average grandma and grandpa are on approximately seven to eight different medications, each one to treat the side effect of the other.
Chiropractic is the essential ingredient to a healthier, more productive and longer life. Research shows that the smallest amount of pressure on a nerve from a subluxation will take away the functions of any organ, tissue or blood vessel that it controls. Chiropractic care should be on a maintenance visit level for their entire life. Colonel Sanders received his adjustments every week for the last Sixty-Five years of his life (He lived into his mid 90’s). Here are what some of the studies have showed how chiropractic care added years to our grandparent lives and life to their years.
A detailed analysis of a database collected during a three-year randomized study of senior citizens over 75 years of age and chiropractic care revealed that they received the following: better overall health, used fewer prescription drugs, and spent fewer days in hospitals and nursing homes than elderly non-chiropractic patients. The chiropractic patients were also more likely to exercise vigorously and more likely to be mobile in the community.
Eighty-seven percent of the chiropractic patients described their health status as good to excellent, compared to only sixty seven percent of the non-chiropractic patients.
Furthermore, the chiropractic patients spent fifteen percent less time in nursing homes and twenty one percent less time in hospitals than the non-chiropractic patients.
A retrospective assessment of 2,818 respondents in 156 chiropractic practices found a strong connection between persons receiving Chiropractic Care and self- reported improvement in health, wellness, and quality of life.
Ninety-five percent of the respondents reported their chiropractic expectations had been met, and ninety nine percent wished to continue care.
Now matter how much arthritis, degeneration you have, chiropractic is the only profession that will detect and correct interference in your nervous system. A healthy nervous system is the key to a longer and healthier life. It is my wish that through chiropractic care you will be able to unlock your fountain of youth.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
Add Years to your life And life to your years
Chiropractic is the essential ingredient to a healthier, more productive and longer life. Research shows that the smallest amount of pressure on a nerve from a subluxation will take away the functions of any organ, tissue or blood vessel that it controls. Chiropractic care should be on a maintenance visit level for their entire life. Colonel Sanders received his adjustments every week for the last Sixty-Five years of his life (He lived into his mid 90’s). Here are what some of the studies have showed how chiropractic care added years to our grandparent lives and life to their years.
A detailed analysis of a database collected during a three-year randomized study of senior citizens over 75 years of age and chiropractic care revealed that they received the following: better overall health, used fewer prescription drugs, and spent fewer days in hospitals and nursing homes than elderly non-chiropractic patients. The chiropractic patients were also more likely to exercise vigorously and more likely to be mobile in the community.
Eighty-seven percent of the chiropractic patients described their health status as good to excellent, compared to only sixty seven percent of the non-chiropractic patients.
Furthermore, the chiropractic patients spent fifteen percent less time in nursing homes and twenty one percent less time in hospitals than the non-chiropractic patients.
A retrospective assessment of 2,818 respondents in 156 chiropractic practices found a strong connection between persons receiving Chiropractic Care and self- reported improvement in health, wellness, and quality of life.
Ninety-five percent of the respondents reported their chiropractic expectations had been met, and ninety nine percent wished to continue care.
Now matter how much arthritis, degeneration you have, chiropractic is the only profession that will detect and correct interference in your nervous system. A healthy nervous system is the key to a longer and healthier life. It is my wish that through chiropractic care you will be able to unlock your fountain of youth.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
Add Years to your life And life to your years
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The 3,000 Mile Tune-Up
Northgate Chiropractic
11065 5th Ave NE, Suite E
Seattle, WA 98125
The 3,000 Mile Tune-Up
The question often arises over and over again…should I still continue to come for regular adjustments even if I don’t have pain? Well, I am glad you asked. I would personally agree with getting regular chiropractic adjustments because I have been receiving maintenance adjustments for ten years now. I have only had low back pain with my occasional accidents. Pain should never be the controlling factor of why you return to get adjusted. Your nervous system is made up of over seventy-five miles of nerves and the nerve impulses can be as fast as three hundred and fifty miles per hour. Only 10% of your body registers pain and 90% controls functions like breathing, digesting, thinking and eliminating. In the last moment of the pressure on a nerve will you feel the pain, but well before that pressure your bodily functions will be affected and decreased.
Would you rather just feel good and be out of pain or be healthy. The first symptom of some who is having a heart attack is death. Prior to that heart attack, that person felt good. Again I cannot stress how important it is to have your nervous system functioning at 100%. Well Dr. Steve, how often do you check your family? I check and adjust my family about 1-2 times per week. Why would I do any less for you and your
family?
Since I started driving 15 years ago, my dad always instilled in me to have my car tuned every 3,000 miles.
Why would you not want your nervous system to run at its optimum peak for the entire life? How long would your car last if you only tuned it up when the engine started smoking or the oil light came on?
When it comes to your health and nervous system, it should be your number one priority with your family. As my dad had taught me, “teeth and an engine can be replaced, but it can never be as good as the original.”
What is more expensive, Pain care or Maintenance care? Well, say that you have two flare-ups a year at 50 adjustments (times $25 co pay=$1,250) to stabilize your spine compounded with all the excruciating pain plus lost days from work or maintenance adjustments at 2 to 3 times a month at a total of $750 with your full ability expressed at all times. You make the choice. Health is your responsibility and you do have a choice to keep your family’s nervous system always operating at 100%. I hope to see you and your family for a regular tune-up.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
11065 5th Ave NE, Suite E
Seattle, WA 98125
The 3,000 Mile Tune-Up
The question often arises over and over again…should I still continue to come for regular adjustments even if I don’t have pain? Well, I am glad you asked. I would personally agree with getting regular chiropractic adjustments because I have been receiving maintenance adjustments for ten years now. I have only had low back pain with my occasional accidents. Pain should never be the controlling factor of why you return to get adjusted. Your nervous system is made up of over seventy-five miles of nerves and the nerve impulses can be as fast as three hundred and fifty miles per hour. Only 10% of your body registers pain and 90% controls functions like breathing, digesting, thinking and eliminating. In the last moment of the pressure on a nerve will you feel the pain, but well before that pressure your bodily functions will be affected and decreased.
Would you rather just feel good and be out of pain or be healthy. The first symptom of some who is having a heart attack is death. Prior to that heart attack, that person felt good. Again I cannot stress how important it is to have your nervous system functioning at 100%. Well Dr. Steve, how often do you check your family? I check and adjust my family about 1-2 times per week. Why would I do any less for you and your
family?
Since I started driving 15 years ago, my dad always instilled in me to have my car tuned every 3,000 miles.
Why would you not want your nervous system to run at its optimum peak for the entire life? How long would your car last if you only tuned it up when the engine started smoking or the oil light came on?
When it comes to your health and nervous system, it should be your number one priority with your family. As my dad had taught me, “teeth and an engine can be replaced, but it can never be as good as the original.”
What is more expensive, Pain care or Maintenance care? Well, say that you have two flare-ups a year at 50 adjustments (times $25 co pay=$1,250) to stabilize your spine compounded with all the excruciating pain plus lost days from work or maintenance adjustments at 2 to 3 times a month at a total of $750 with your full ability expressed at all times. You make the choice. Health is your responsibility and you do have a choice to keep your family’s nervous system always operating at 100%. I hope to see you and your family for a regular tune-up.
For additional information, please call Northgate Chiropractic at
(206) 367-2224.
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