And until we flip the calendar over to a new year, the chaos just doesn’t let up. “Our bodies have the capacity to do a little more than we normally do,” says Dr. Scott Bautch, past president of the American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) Council on Occupational Health. “But our bodies do not adapt very well to doing a lot more than we normally do. Since the added demands of this season can stress the capacity of our bodies, we need to do everything we can to help ourselves. Eat right, drink plenty of water, stretch, exercise and take a few minutes to slow down and reflect on what the season is all about.” So relax and enjoy the holidays!

Dr. Bautch and the ACA encourage you to consider the following tips to help keep you and your loved ones healthy, happy and safe this season.

Treat Holiday Shopping As An Athletic Event

• Stay hydrated! Drink eight to ten 8-ounce glasses of water a day. (Coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol are diuretics/dehydrators. Don’t substitute them for water.) On shopping days, you may need to drink even more water.
• Be sure to stretch before and after a long day of shopping. When you are stressed-out, your muscles are less flexible than usual.
• Wear shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of walking on those hard shopping mall floors. According to recent studies, 60% of women report wearing shoes that are uncomfortable.
• Make sure the clothing you wear is as comfortable as possible. It’s a good idea to wear layers, because you may be going from a cold environment (outdoors) to a warm environment (indoors).
• Leave your purse at home. Wear a light fanny pack, or if necessary, a light backpack instead. Pack only those items that are absolutely essential (driver’s license, credit card, etc.).
• If you start to feel some pain, nip it in the bud. Apply an ice bag to the affected area for 20 minutes, then take it off for a couple of hours. Repeat a couple of times each day over the next day or two. “During the holiday season, we’re running at absolute maximum capacity, which can lead to stress and even depression,” says Dr. Bautch. “Why do so many people become depressed around the holidays? We need to stretch and stay hydrated to increase our capacity, so we are not overwhelmed by the activities of the season.”

Plan Frequent Breaks Into Your Shopping Day

• During a day of heavy shopping, most people should take a break every 45 minutes. Those with less stamina may even need to take a break every 20-30 minutes. If you work in a physically demanding job where you are accustomed to being on your feet most of the day, you may be able to get away with taking less frequent breaks.
• If possible, obtain a locker. Lockers can help cut down dramatically on how much you have to carry around. You can take a load off by scheduling trips to your locker into your breaks.
• If your mall or shopping center doesn’t offer lockers, try to plan trips to your car. Don’t carry around more than is absolutely necessary at one time.
• When taking breaks, try to eat light foods. A salad and some fruit is a much better option than a burger and fries.
• Skip the coffee break! Coffee and sodas contain caffeine and sugar, which add even more stress to your body. Pass on the designer coffee at the java stand and keep drinking water. “We actually need to eat better than normal during the holiday season,” explains Dr. Bautch. “On average, people gain five to six pounds during the holidays. And heart attacks occur more often during the holidays as well. Eating a heavy meal and then running out on an exhausting shopping trip can be very dangerous.”

Shopping With Children

• If at all possible, DO NOT bring a child or children along on a holiday shopping trip. Most children simply do not have the stamina for such an event, and you and your child will only become frustrated with one another. Don’t add this type of stress to an already stressful situation.
• Try to split “child duty” up with a spouse or another parent. They’ll watch your kids while you shop, and vice-versa. “Shopping with children is just a bad idea,” says Dr. Bautch. “If your hands are loaded with shopping bags, you may not be able to hold your child’s hand, which could increase the chances he or she might wander away from you. Take whatever steps necessary to not have to bring your child along.”

Wrapping Your Gifts

• Since there is no “ideal” position for wrapping gifts, the most important thing to remember is to vary your positions. For example, try standing at a table or countertop for one package, sitting on a bed for another, sitting in a comfortable chair for another, etc.
• Do not wrap packages while sitting on the floor. Wrapping packages while sitting on a hard floor can wreak havoc on your posture, and should be avoided.
• Always stretch before and after you wrap gifts. “When wrapping presents, it’s a good idea to ‘stretch the opposites,’” says Dr. Bautch. “In other words, if you are leaning forward when wrapping your gifts, stretch backward when you are done.

Dr. Jeffry T. Vendsel, Advanced Chiropractic, holds an Advanced Certification of Competency Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certificate from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego as well as being recognized as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician by the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians.

“We never know how far reaching something we may think, say, or do today will effect the lives of millions tomorrow.” B.J. Palmer  D.C., PhC. Founder of Chiropractic

And yet still we hold back!  Each of us can be the great person we want to be for others, just find a purpose.  Realize how much you can help others just by not being afraid to do so.  It is okay to be rejected, at least you tried!

“Great spirits have always experienced violent opposition from mediocre minds.” Albert Einstein

If you knew in advance that everyone would reject you, but you would succeed later, what would you do?  Sometimes greatness is a lonely path.  Just think of the bigger picture, the long term, rather than today!

“Your greatest risk is to underestimate your potential.” Burleigh Cook

Your potential in spirit and body are linked closely.  If you do not rise to your goals or are not true in your word, your body feels this defeat.  It is of the greatest importance to realize this connection and maintain health in both aspects.

“People are whole – a package of the problem and the solution.  There is nothing we can do about it, we are not in charge!” Dale Lotter, D.C.

“Each patient carries his own doctor inside him.  We are at our best when we give the doctor who resides within each patient a chance to work.” Albert Schweitzer, M.D.

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.” Thomas Edison

“If all the medicine in the world were thrown into the sea, it would be bad for the fish and good for humanity.” O.W. Holmes, M.D. Professor of Medicine, Harvard University

“The power that made the body, heals the body, it happens no other way.” B.J Palmer, D.C.

“Whether or not you believe it, doesn’t make it any less true.” Damon J. Popovics, D.C.

So remember to give your body a chance to heal itself that is the way it was designed.  It was a far greater intelligence that made the human body.  Do you have faith in the arrogance that believes something was left out? If you see someone who needs help, tell them the truth that you know about the body.  Give them the chance to rise to their potential.  That is the right thing to do.

Dr. Jeffry T. Vendsel, Advanced Chiropractic, holds an Advanced Certification of Competency Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certificate from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego as well as being recognized as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician by the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians.

• Fallen of a swing
• Slid into first base
• Been in a car accident
• Fallen off a bike
• Played football
• Wrestled
• Slept in the wrong position
• Maintained sustained postures for a long period of time
• Lifted improperly
• Sat at a computer with your head in a forward posture
• Studied in college for hours at a time with your head down
• Noticed a short leg
• Carried a backpack
• Slouched
• Done gymnastics
• Gotten in a fight
• Fallen out of a tree
• Slept on a plane
• Played golf
• Jumped off a swing
• Gotten hit in dodge ball
• Been pregnant
• Worked a desk job
• Fallen while learning how to walk
• Worked construction
• Lifted weights
• Done aerobics
• Gotten spanked
• Thrown your back out
• Driven across the country
• Wiped out surfing
• Ran a marathon
• Carried a baby
• Vacuumed
• Slipped on the ice
• Skydived
• Had a concussion or other head injury
• Broken and arm or leg
• Been stressed
• Delivered a baby
• Been shopping
• Had a low shoulder
• Worked as a cashier
• Been to the dentist
• or just plain been under the influence of gravity?

…and this is just a partial list! If you have or someone you know has a spine, and has had one of these things happen, then you could have subluxation. Schedule a Chiropractic checkup for you and your loved ones today!

Dr. Jeffry T. Vendsel, Advanced Chiropractic, holds an Advanced Certification of Competency Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certificate from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego as well as being recognized as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician by the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians.

Every message sent from the brain to your legs, comes down the spinal cord and into your sciatic nerve. In order for you to walk, run, stand in gravity, and sit, messages must flow freely through your Sciatic nerve. More importantly, your Sciatic nerve controls your ability to heal a cut on your knee, and for your immune system to react to anything that comes in contact with that cut, and for blood flow as well!

SCIATICA

• The irritation of the Sciatic nerve root
• Causes pain in the thighs, knees, calves, heels, and toes.
• Causes low back pain, sharp and dull.
• Is not just about the nerve giving you pain!

Sciatica is the name Doctors have given to the symptoms people receive from the irritation or compression of the Sciatic nerve root. Subluxations can cause this interference, as well as a disc herniation or degenerative disease. The interference that these things cause, slow the messages from the brain by 60%. This impairs response times, healing time, and ability to sense or feel. The impingement of this nerve can go unnoticed because one cannot always “feel” subluxation. While in other cases, there can be severe pain associated with the interruption of this nerve. It is easy to understand why, when you look at the sheer size of the Sciatic nerve alone! M.D.’s would prefer you to take a drug or have surgery, but why not just get rid of the problem rather than covering up the symptom. Get the pressure off the nerve naturally, thus freeing the flow of healing messages from the brain and allowing your body to heal! See your Doctor of Chiropractic to remove the subluxations and the interference. They are the only trained professionals who know how to do so!!!

Dr. Jeffry T. Vendsel, Advanced Chiropractic, holds an Advanced Certification of Competency Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certificate from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego as well as being recognized as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician by the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians.

Food ~ the body can live approximately 30 days without food.
The nutrients gained from food give the body energy, supplying fuel for movement as well as healing and self-sustaining actions, (ex. Breathing, blood flow, muscle contractions, etc). It is the quality of this food that determines how much nutrition the body receives. Also determined by this factor, are what toxins the body must “weed out” in order to gain nutrition. Many processed foods today lack nutrition altogether, many vegetables and fruits are covered in pesticides or are genetically engineered. This just presents the body with yet another obstacle, taking away valuable energy from the body to rid itself of such toxic junk. Make a choice, choose organic unprocessed foods, the way nature makes them, and minimize the toxins in your lifestyle.

Water ~ the body can live approximately 4 days without water.
You body has an average of 60 to 70% total make up of water. Your brain is 83%, muscles 75%, and bones 22%. Infants are approximately 70 to 80% water. So really we all just need to drink more, but what about the quality? There are things lurking in our water supplies today. In fact many cities send out alerts as to the local water contents. It is best to start drinking filtered water, and because your skin is an absorptive organ, possibly filter the water in which you bathe!

Air ~ the body can only live for a matter of minutes without air (about 4min.).
Some people have trained hard to gain larger lung capacity. However the world record for holding ones breath is still a matter of minutes. It is the oxygen in our air that allows the body to thrive, a major part of the chemical cycle that produces energy for all the body’s functions. Do your part to help keep the air as clean as possible!

~ And Nerve Supply ~

The body can only live a fraction of a second without nerve supply!

The Nervous System has two main parts, the Central and the Peripheral systems. The entire nervous system acts as a master system, it controls everything that you do, and don’t think about doing. That is to say, not a single thing happens without your nervous system first initiating an action. In fact it is so important that it is the first thing that is created when a fetus is growing and it is entirely encased in bone for protection. Every action, healing, hearing, seeing, breathing, blood flow, temperature maintenance, originates in the brain. A message travels down the spinal column and out into the body. Subluxations block and slow these messages, and the only way to remove the interference caused by subluxations is to get adjusted.

It is about quality of life! In order to be at 100%, your body must be functioning at 100%! It all begins with your Nervous System! Health comes from within!

Dr. Jeffry T. Vendsel, Advanced Chiropractic, holds an Advanced Certification of Competency Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certificate from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego as well as being recognized as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician by the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians.

Spines are no different!  Subluxations tend to run in families and people who do like activities.  It is not usually for x-rays to show entire families exhibiting nearly the same low hip, short leg, or scoliosis.It is for this reason the we recommend families to have a spinal checkup in this office if we see subluxation in one of the family members.  Parents can pass these traits on to their childern!  If one parent has subluxation, then the children may inherit the same spinal characteristics, and if a child has it, then he or she may have inherited it from one, or both parents.

Even if we have the gift of not inheriting our parents’ maladies, other similarities in lifestyle can cause spinal damage that may not be seen or felt for years to come.  Car accidents are a prime example.  It is common, unfortunately, for an adult to experience serious injury in a car accident, with children in the car, and because the childern have not outright complained, they are simply neglected to develop serious spinal problems later in life!

So, if you are reading this, and you have been diagnosed with subluxation, do not wait another minute to schedule a complimentary checkup for your entire family.  That’s right, there will be absolutely no charge!  At best, we can confirm that your family is healthy.  At worst, if a problem is found, it has been detected early, and we can correct it now before it becomes permanent!

Dr. Jeffry T. Vendsel, Advanced Chiropractic, holds an Advanced Certification of Competency Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certificate from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego as well as being recognized as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician by the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians.

In fact travel and stress are two of the main causes of Subluxation, this is why we create momentum in your correction or maintenance process by adjusting you around your busy lives.

So when you take off or are noticing a busy week, let us know ahead of time.  Then we can figure out the easiest schedule for you, and make sure not to lose what we have worked so hard to gain.

This is the best way for you to get the health results for which you have come to us!

Thank you for helping us help you achieve your most optimal health!

Dr. Jeffry T. Vendsel, Advanced Chiropractic, holds an Advanced Certification of Competency Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certificate from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego as well as being recognized as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician by the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians.

Dr. Jeffry T. Vendsel, Advanced Chiropractic, holds an Advanced Certification of Competency Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certificate from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego as well as being recognized as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician by the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians.

Stress Management Techniques
1. In with the Good Air, Out with the Bad
Take a breathing break. Frequent short breaks during the day allow you to breathe deeply and relax your mind, preventing stress build-up.
2. Know the Enemy
What, exactly, is stressing you out? Is it your job? Your home life? Your relationships? Without knowing the root of the problem, you are unlikely to resolve it
3. Move It or Lose It
Begin an exercise program. Exercise helps release endorphins, which relieves stress.
4. Let Go
Recognize the difference between the things you can control and the things you cannot. Make a list of these two categories. Starting today, make a pact with yourself to stop stressing about the things in your job you have no control over.
5. Beware of the To Do List
Take note of all the good work you do and give yourself credit for it. Set short-term goals and allow yourself to take satisfaction in achieving them. Most people have too many long term goals, and have too many things on their minds at the same time.
6. Develop a Tough Skin
Try not to personalize any criticism you receive. Look at negative comments as constructive criticism that allows you to improve your work. “Who cares what other people think?”
7. Share the Load
Delegate or share work whenever possible. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are the only person who can do the job right. Your coworkers and boss might start to buy into that concept as well.
8. Don’t Make Work a Four Letter Word.
Job stress builds when our minds are constantly focused on work. Strive for balance in your life. Make time for family, friends, hobbies and, most importantly, fun.
9. Get Adjusted.
Your nervous system is how your body deals with stress! The easier it is for your body to deal with stress, the less of a deal it will seem to be!

Dr. Jeffry T. Vendsel, Advanced Chiropractic, holds an Advanced Certification of Competency Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certificate from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego as well as being recognized as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician by the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians.

• Did you know the 1^st subluxation causing trauma your child encounters is at birth?
• Did you know children fall down an average of 1500 times while learning to walk?
• Did you know that Chiropractors can identify and correct scoliosis in children?
• Did you know that Subluxation can be the cause of an ear infection?
• Did you know that the immune system can be boosted by getting adjusted?
• Did you know that a child’s adjustment is different from that of an adult?

Here at Advanced Chiropractic we make it a point to check all our families’ children, either when we meet them or upon birth.

Our bodies are made to grow and heal from within.  Subluxations can rob the body of its basic communication system that allows us to function at 100%.  Our nervous systems allows us to breath, regulate core temperature, walk, talk, you name it.  Most importantly for your child, the nervous system controls the immune system!

Our check-ups are easy, take little time, and depending on age and trauma history may not even require x-rays!

Just so you know, if your child requires care, children’s adjustments are much different than an adult’s.  They are lighter and take less time.  If subluxations are identified in your child’s spine, they usually take less time to correct than those found in adults.  This is due to the amount of time the subluxations are present.

It is as easy as scheduling a time during your next appointment for your child.  We are always here to help you, your health is our goal!  We cannot afford to wait to check for subluxations because of the damage that they can cause.

Dr. Jeffry T. Vendsel, Advanced Chiropractic, holds an Advanced Certification of Competency Whiplash and Brain Traumatology Certificate from the Spine Research Institute of San Diego as well as being recognized as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician by the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians.