Sciatic Nerve Pain

I was experiencing severe pinching of the sciatic nerve and lower back pain, especially when standing and walking.  The pain had started earlier this summer and hasn't stopped.  I had several treatments by a various chiropractors using different techniques in other towns that did not work.  Dr. Yoder used a very specific technique called flexion-distraction and after two treatments the zapping down my right leg stopped. This is the kind of treatment I was looking for and it is working wonderfully!  Thank you Dr. Yoder!

-Joyce
Kalamazoo, MI

Does Soda Cause Cancer?

Can Soda Cause Cancer?

It seems as though every time we log into social media or turn on the tube, we hear of a new study linking possible cancer risk to some food, beverage or product we’ve stashed in our cupboard.  But have you noticed it all seems a bit hazy?  Specifically, what of soda-pop & its so-called cancer risk factors?  Below are some findings concerning soda that you may find informative. 

Regular Soda’s “Caramel Coloring”
In January of this year an interesting, and for some, alarming study published by Consumer Reports suggested that a potential carcinogen may be found in many sodas, both diet and regular.  This study found that a chemical known as 4-methylimidazole, or 4-Mel, may cause cancer to humans.  Haven’t seen 4-Mel listed in the ingredients on your can of soda?  Look for its’ harmless sounding label: “caramel coloring”. The FDA was alarmed enough by the Consumer Reports study to announce that it will conduct a series of new research initiatives to get to the bottom of the caramel-coloring question.  The studies are currently being conducted and some states, such as California, are already limiting the amount of caramel coloring allowed in products sold to their consumers.

Diet Sodas
Many people you talk with will have an opinion on whether they think it's worse or better to drink diet sodas vs non-diet.  As far back as the 1970’s, concerns arose regarding unnatural, artificial sweeteners contained in diet drinks.  In one study it was found that an artificial sweetener known as Saccharin was linked to bladder cancer in rats.  This prompted the government to require a warning label on any products containing Saccharin to inform consumers that the product “may be hazardous to your health.”

Over time, however, additional studies suggested that this effect was specific only to rats and no conclusive evidence linked the substance to cancer in humans.  That is why you no longer see a warning label on products containing Saccharin.  Although similar studies related to other artificial sweeteners have raised different red flags over the years, the truth is there has never been a clear link established between cancer and these products.  For more information from the National Cancer Institute on this topic, click here.

Bottom Line
A good rule of thumb is moderation, and whenever possible, err towards natural, organic products.  While there is still debate over the cancer-causing possibilities of the substances listed above, there is conclusive evidence that our bodies thrive when we primarily hydrate with that boring, universal, essential-for-all-life-liquid:  water.  So if you’re worried about cancer, shock your liver and drink more water.

 
Dr. Sam Yoder

Chiropractor in Campbellsville, KY

Exercise, so much better than you thought

Exercise is important for physical health.  We all know that.  But in the last decade research has uncovered a wealth of new data showing that exercise essentially effects all aspects of life for the good.  We were made to move, not lay around.  Below are four interesting benefits of exercise that your mom may not have told you: 

Exercise increases productivity 

Rather than depleting your motivation, as one might think, exercise ultimately boosts your energy level.  A recent study published in the Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine found that workers who exercised at least 2 & ½ hours per week out performed all other employees, even when they worked less hours on the job.  In other words, if you feel you are behind schedule – stop what you’re doing and exercise.  This study found that exercise boosts productivity in real time and decreases time needed off work due to illness.  Stop running behind by actually going for a run.

Got a worried mind?

Did you know that exercise is the best and safest way to balance your brain chemicals?  The research is startling – exercise helps tremendously with many social and mental problems in contemporary society – including depression, addiction, aggression, Alzheimer’s, dementia, ADD, insecurity, learning challenges, anxiety and stress.  The list goes on.  Regular activity is so successful that many psychologists are now prescribing exercise as part of their treatment therapy.  The bottom line is that we all need to exercise, not just for our bodies, but for our minds.  Talk to your spouse, your friend or family member, and schedule regular exercise together.  You’ll soon find yourself looking forward to the daily peace of mind and joy this time brings.

Forever young

Scientist now know what makes us die.  The culprit is a tiny strand on your chromosome called a telomere.  Your telomeres shorten just a little bit every time your cells divide.  Once your telomeres are gone, your cells die and, so do you unfortunately.  Think of a telomere a little bit like a candle, when there’s nothing left to burn, the light goes out.  Your telomere length is determined by two things:  your genes and your activity level.  The best way to increase your telomere length and, hence your life, is to exercise.  It is believed that regular exercise can add as much as a decade to your life.  You want to live longer?  Push your body to your limit.

Bigger brains

Exercise does two important things to the brain that will make you more creative:  1^st – Exercise gets rid of brain waste and brain fog.  Over time, toxins and harmful chemicals build up in our brain’s highways just like they do in the rest of the body.  Exercise cleans up these toxins and clears the traffic jams from these mental highways.  2^nd, exercise actually builds more avenues in the brain.  The protein called BDNF, which stimulates brain growth, is secreted when you exercise.  This protein builds pathways – think of them as new streets and roads between separate places and ideas, thus increasing creativity and your ability to multitask.  You want to be the one with the brilliant but unexpected solution in your next meeting?  Hit the gym.

Dr. Sam Yoder, D.C.

Chiropractor in Campbellsville, KY

Don't let heart disease kill you

Heart disease is the American killer.  In 2008 it caused 25% of all deaths – that’s 616,000 people who died at the mercy of their own failing heart.  The yearly medical cost to treat heart disease is over 100 billion.  Before I go any further, it should be said that if you have heart disease, you need to remain under the supervision of your doctor.  But - and this an important but - there may be some things you need to know, things your doctor may not be aware of.  It’s generally thought, even among many health care professionals, that there is no real cure for heart disease.  But is that true?  If you or someone you love has heart disease, are you really just waiting to die?

In 1990, Dr. Dean Ornish, a medical doctor, conducted a groundbreaking study that showed you can actually reverse cardiovascular disease naturally.  Dr. Ornish found by eliminating smoking, and making real changes in your diet and exercise, you can have a significant decrease in chest pain, a decrease in cholesterol levels, and a decrease in arterial stenosis – also called hardening of the arteries.  Note what he found:  his program didn't just halt the progression of heart disease - it reversed it.  Dr. Ornish was the first to demonstrate that not only is there an alternative to our invasive, traditional cardiology, the alternative might actually be superior.  

Following this study, Dr. Ornish published a mouthful:  Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease:  The Only System Scientifically Proven to Reverse Heart Disease Without Drugs or Surgery.  Don’t let the title put you off – the book is very accessible, written for lay persons.  It contains numerous recipes and is laden with practical steps for killing America's #1 killer.

A few years after Dr. Ornish’s study, another doctor tackled and even greater hurdle.  Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, a Surgeon at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio took 17 pts with advanced heart disease and implemented a change in diet and exercise.  Most of these patients had such sever heart disease that they’d been given less than 1 year to live.  Incredibly, within months of implementing Dr. Esselstyn’s program, every single patient saw a dramatic decrease in chest pain, cholesterol levels, and increase blood flow.  For the next decade there was not one single major cardiac event.  Dr. Esselstyn’s study continued for 20 years, with staggering results.  

As a cardiologist, he argues that conventional cardiology has failed to appropriately treat heart disease – ultimately to the patient's demise.  The problem, he contends, is that the traditional approach focuses on the symptoms, or the effect of heart disease, rather than the underlying cause.  He published a book called Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease.  It offers a simple, nutritional based program that anyone can implement.  I highly recommend it.

The point is, you don’t have to live in fear.  You do not have to be a slave to your heart disease.  With the proper supervision and proper lifestyle changes, you can reverse heart disease and take control once again.  Always remember that health is a choice.  

Empower your health.

Dr. Sam Yoder, D.C.
Chiropractor in Campbellsville, KY

Headaches

At some point in your life you will have a headache.  Most people have at least one or two a month.  Unfortunately, some people have headaches every day or every week.  Below we highlight three possible causes for reoccurring headaches.  If you or someone you know has frequent headaches, there’s a fair chance that a little bit of education & treatment (self or otherwise) could resolve the headaches:

Sinus/Seasonal:  Sinus headaches are very common during seasonal changes.  It seems that sinus headaches in particular have been more frequent in 2012 due to climate change and weather patterns.  Some home treatments include supplementing with Vit C, Vit A, Bromelain (extract of pineapple stem) and Cod Liver Oil.  Receiving chiropractic treatment for your sinus headache is almost always recommended.  Your chiropractor will stimulate access points along your sinus pathways, helping break loose congestion and relieve sinus pressure.

Diet & Malnutrition:  One of the most common causes of frequent migraines is diet related. A partial list of triggers include:  wheat, oranges, eggs, coffee, tea, chocolate, wine and foods with lots of sugar.  Anyone with daily or weekly headaches should strongly consider that they may have a food allergy.  Keeping a log of what you’re eating and when you have headaches is the first step.  Also, many studies have suggested that the artificial sweetener – aspartame – found in diet drinks and diet foods, is a major trigger for migraines.   We would all be wise to limit fluid intake to water and organic juices, but this is especially true for those who suffer from migraines.  While it’s true that what we put into our mouths might be causing our headache, it’s also true that what we fail to eat my do just the same.  Many studies have shown that partial malnutrition (aka – the Average American Diet) may also cause reoccurring headaches.  Supplementing with essential nutrients & vitamins such as Magnesium, Vit D3, Riboflavin, Coenzyme Q₁₀ or Omega 3s found in fish oils have been shown to eliminate or reduce migraines.

Posture:  spending a long time with the head tilted down, or with the head jutted forward - as is common for desk jobs and repetitive work stations - can cause headaches.  These headaches typically start at the base of your skull and travel up the back of your head.  Changing positions every few minutes and taking time to move and stretch will help.  Make sure you train yourself to hold your head upright – the ears should be in line with the shoulders.   If this fails to resolve the issue, you should consider spinal manipulation (also called chiropractic adjustments).  An adjustment to the upper cervical spine will help relax your tight muscles, restore range of motion, and help relieve your headache.

There are many more potential causes for reoccurring headaches.  I recommend finding a good health care provider who will work with you in identifying the root cause.  With proper investigation and some trial and error, you stand a good chance of laying your headaches to rest.

Empower your health.

Dr. Sam Yoder, D.C.

Chiropractor in Campbellsville, KY