The H1N1 Issue: Flu Pandemic, Fear Pandemic, or Both?

Let's start with the H1N1 flu virus itself.

The FACT is that the type of illness associated with this virus in over 99.9% of CASES is mild to moderate flu symptoms which include fever, nausea which can include vomiting, and of course general malaise. Not very pleasant to be sure but is this any different than the symptoms associated with the flu viruses that have been the source of the seasonal flu for the past 50 years? No. Although not every seasonal flu virus is associated with vomiting the truth is that vomiting is not considered serious. Seriously uncomfortable - yes, seriously risky in terms of death or severe complications - no.

In other words we need to know how many of the deaths ASSOCIATED with H1N1 are actually CAUSED by H1N1.
In Canada as of Oct 17, 2009 there had been a total of 1,604 hospitalizations, and 83 deaths associated with H1N1. So, out of a population of approximately 35 MILLION there were 83 deaths. This means the chance of death from H1N1 was 0.0002%.
To date these risks are similar in the United States and throughout the rest of the world.

It is not easy to get exact numbers on the number of deaths that are caused by underlying conditions or secondary bacterial infections but estimates are that these would represent at least 99% of all deaths associated with H1N1. So, if you do not have an underlying illness your chance of dying from H1N1 is 1% of 0.0002%. Not exactly worthy of widespread panic.
The chances of dying in a car accident, airplane accident, a fall, from complications of air pollution, from complications from industrial toxins or from medical treatment are EXPONENTIALLY GREATER. What is the difference? The media and the health authorities are not focusing your attention on these risks. You have more chance of dying in a car accident on your way to get an H1N1 vaccine than dying from H1N1.


So what should you do?

Be rational, put things in proper perspective and ask the right questions.
Be scientific and logical. Get the facts and apply them to your strategy.
Don't panic if you or a loved one gets the flu. Keep hydrated, stay home, eat intelligently and REST. If severe complications arise go to your medical doctor or a walk-in clinic.
Be preventative. Eating well, exercising, and staying relaxed are evidence-based ways to optimize your immune defenses, to minimize risk of both becoming ill and of complications, and to maximize your recovery should you become ill.

Take Vitamin D - this is absolutely one of the most evidence-based interventions available for reducing incidence and severity of seasonal cold and flu. The data is very very strong.

One thing to do to keep your immune system strong is get adjusted regularly by a Chiropractor

What is Good Posture?

Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, sitting or laying down. Good posture involves training the body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments.
The benefits of Proper Posture:Keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly.
Helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces.
Decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together.
Prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy.
Prevents backache and muscular pain.
Contributes to a good appearance.
How Does Poor Posture Develop?

Common causes are uncorrected physical stresses from the Birth Process, Sports Injuries, Car accidents and far too much time spent slouching in front of a TV, playing on video games or working at a PC.

Will Poor Posture Lead To Arthritis?
Yes it will. Arthritis (spinal decay) can result from abnormal, chronic adaptation to incorrect body posture. It has been said that sitting down is to your spine what sugar is to your teeth i.e. its no good for your spine at all! The body deposits calcium on malfunctioning spinal joint surfaces in a bid to stabilize the joints which leads to bone spurs and eventually fusion of the joints.

If you or any of your family members show any of these signs then you need to have a Spinal Health Check to assess what may be causing the problem. These assessments maybe carried out by qualified Physiotherapists or Chiropractic.

Spot the Early Signs Postural Problems

· The head tilting to one side

· Forward Head Carriage

· Rounded Shoulders

· Stiffness and pain in the neck and between the Shoulder Blades

· Discomfort or fatigue sitting up straight for any length of time

· One Shoulder higher than the other or one hip higher than the other

· Uneven wear on your shoes

10 Tips for A Healthy Back

10 Tips for A Healthy Back


If you would like us to come into your workplace to present a FREE workshop to demonstrate the importance of correct posture please contact us on 01293 510 210.

The Posture Workshop, which is essentially a 45 min PowerPoint presentation, can be presented to as many as can fit into a room comfortably. There is no charge for this service including the Postural Analysis for your staff at the conclusion of the presentation. You will need to allocate 15 minutes for each staff member interested in booking a short postural analysis throughout the day.

With regards to the numbers of participants for the Manual Handling course we have in mind a maximum number of 30 participants in order to achieve the highest impact. If suitable, we plan to divide the audience into 10 groups of 3 for the demonstrations and exercises. We have some fun, interesting and relevant ideas and material to make the course educational and entertaining.

I look forward to hearing from you again soon.

THESE OUR THE TEN TIPS FOR A HEALTHY BACK....

Follow these simple guidelines to keep your back in good shape:

1. Standing… keeping one foot forward of the other, with knees slightly bent, takes the pressure off your low back.
2. Sitting… sitting with your knees slightly higher than your hips provides good low back support.
3. Reaching… stand on a stool to reach things that are above your shoulder level.
4. Moving Heavy Items… pushing is easier on your back than pulling. Use your arms and legs to start the push. If you must lift a heavy item, get someone to help you.
5. Lifting… kneel down on one knee with the other foot flat on the floor as near as possible to the item you are lifting. Lift with your legs, not your back, keeping the object close to your body at all times.
6. Carrying… two small objects (one in either hand) may be easier to handle than one large one. If you must carry one large object, keep it close to your body.
7. Sleeping… sleeping on your back puts 55 lbs. of pressure on your back. Putting a couple of pillows under your knees cuts the pressure in half. Lying on your side with a pillow between your knees also reduces the pressure.
8. Weight Control… additional weight puts a strain on your back. Keep within 10 lbs. of your ideal weight for a healthier back.
9. Quit Smoking… smokers are more prone to back pain than nonsmokers because nicotine restricts the flow of blood to the discs that cushion your vertebrae.
10. Minor Back Pain… treat minor back pain with anti-inflammatory and gentle stretching, followed by an ice pack.

Ring us now for a Chiropractic Assessment

How Does Poor Posture Effect Your Health?

The body is designed in such a way so that it works most efficiently when we are stood up straight and also sat up straight when we are seated. It is all centred around the nervous system and the scientific fact that your nerves control every aspect of your body. These nerve messages start off in your brain and run down the spinal cord to every organ and tissue via the spinal nerves. Any misalignments in the spinal bones causes nerve interference leading to ill health.
We have curves in our spine (in the neck, thoracic spine and lumbar spine) that need to be maintained in order for the vital messages to get from our brain to our bodies effectively. Poor posture is detrimental to your health because it causes misalignments of spinal bones (vertebrae) which cause nerve interference. This nerve pressure often manifests itself in the form of pain, numbness, weakness, inability to cope with stress and malfunctioning organs to name but a few.

Unfortunately stress is a problem we all have to deal with in modern life, although some of us handle it much better than others. There are 3 main types of stress: physical stress, chemical stress and emotional stress. Poor posture is definitely a physical stress along with things like previous car accidents, sports injuries and falls. Chemical stressors include poor nutrition, prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco and pollution. Emotional stress could be stress at work or home which could manifest itself as fear, grief, anger or depression. We are better able to handle these stresses in life when the nerve interference is reduced which improves our posture and general well being.

Who should have a Spinal Health Check and when? Well, anyone who wants to improve nerve communication between the brain and the body. The earlier in life you have your spine checked, the more likely you are to avoid health problems in the future http://www.icpa4kids.org. We believe prevention is better than cure. Do you? Remember that nobody is too old and nobody is too young to benefit from having a nervous system that functions at its best.

Running Injuries

Two types of injuries are commonly sustained by runners: Acute trauma and Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI’s). There are a few simple things you can do to prevent either of these happening to you: Regular stretching, good quality trainers with good shock absorption, avoid over training and also to regularly utilise Chiropractic care.

The minute a person starts to experience symptoms of an injury i.e. pain, is usually when they believe the problem began, but in actual fact the problem was developing way before the symptoms ever showed up because symptoms are the last phase of dysfunction as oppose to the first. So if you want to train consistently well for many years to come it is very wise to get checked now while you are asymptomatic (have no symptoms) so you can remain fit and healthy.

Strains and sprains can be caused by running on uneven ground and can initially be treated by remembering ‘R.I.C.E’: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. To significantly reduce the recovery time and get back to training as soon as possible it’s important to get checked out and treated by a Chiropractor straight away.

Overview of Common Injuries

Plantar Fasciitis

This is caused by stretching or tearing of the connective tissue on the bottom of the foot where the tissue attaches to the heel and causes pain in a specific area on the bottom of the foot near the heel and sometimes radiates towards the ball of the foot.

Bursitis or Tendonitis

Irritation to the bursa (a fluid filled sac that sit under a tendon) or tendons from injury or repetitive strain type dysfunction. This results in pain, stiffness and eventually swelling when the condition worsens. This often affects the ankles, knee’s and hips.

Achilles Tendonitis

This tendon connects the ankle to the calf muscle group and is a common injury when occurs because many people ignore and run through pain they experience in the Achilles Tendon. Don’t run through the pain, these symptoms are your bodies way of telling you something is wrong, so seek help!

Shin Splints

This is very often a result of poor posture, poor quality shoes, fallen arches, fatigue, and insufficient warm up technique. Shin splints cause pain or discomfort on the front, the inside and / or the outside surface of the shin. Good shoes with shock absorbing features and regular calf stretches will help to prevent this injury occurring.

Ankle Sprains

This is common when running on uneven ground e.g cross country or trail running. This should be treated immediately with R.I.C.E. with the ice pack being applied for 10-15 minutes per hour until the swelling reduces after which it is advised to seek help from a professional.

Illiotibial Band Syndrome

Iliotibial band syndrome is due to inflammation of the iliotibial band, a thick band of fibrous tissue that runs down the outside of the leg. The iliotibial band begins at the hip and extends to the outer side of the shin bone (tibia) just below the knee joint. People who suddenly increase their level of activity, such as runners who increase their mileage, often develop iliotibial band syndrome. Others who are prone to ITBS include individuals with mechanical problems of their gait such as people who overpronate or have leg length discrepancies and these people should consult a Chiropractor for an assessment.

Chiropractic is all about preventing injuries occurring in the first place. So if you feel absolutely fine that’s great, Chiropractic care will help you stay that way and continue to train injury free for many years to come.

For more info come to our clinic in Crawley West Sussex

Accidents & Trauma

If you have ever been in an accident or suffered a trauma you need to have your spine checked by a Chiropractor.
Any dysfunction created in your spine during the accident often remains in your body and prevents you from healing properly. That may be the reason why over half of accident victims never completely recover from their injuries and may live on painkillers, physical therapy or even repeated surgery for years. Sometimes they’re told that they’ll have to live in pain for the rest of their lives!

It must be emphasized that Chiropractic never opposes necessary medical care. In emergencies the first order of business is always controlling life-threatening situations such as haemorrhage, cessation or breath, broken bones, serious contusions or abrasions, shock and the like. That is the specialty of emergency medicine.

Unfortunately today, millions of accident victims leave the hospital with as many vertebral dysfunctions as they had when they entered. That’s a big reason why so many people say “I haven’t felt right since the accident,” and why they may continue to suffer for months, years or even decades afterwards.

Anyone who has been in an accident even if there are no obvious symptoms should get a Chiropractic check up. The damage from spinal dysfunction may take months or years to surface and a simple spinal check up today could save an accident victim from much pain and illness later.

Diet ACID/ALKALINE

Your body has a natural acid/alkaline balance. Medications, sugars, poor diet and stress can all make the body more acidic.

When the body is acidic, yeast, bacteria, viruses and cancer can thrive. And conversely, when the body is alkaline, foreign bacteria, viruses, yeast and cancers can not live.

Our body has a natural balance called homeostasis. When we are too acidic, minerals like calcium are leached from our bones to help alkalize the body. Another way our body tries to protect us from acid is to buffer it with fat and store it in the body.

Luckily, there are ways to naturally boost your PH which should stay at 7.365. Eating more green vegetables and less sugars, meat and dairy. There are also some great supplements out there that are alkalizing as well.

We advise people on not just diet but all types of musculoskeletal disorders.