Medical

Although rest and relaxation are the goals for most vacations, they usually involve a lot of walking and a lot of walking usually involves sore feet.

“Walking is great exercise and one of the most reliable forms of transportation,” says Leslie G. Levy, DPM, FACFAS and Dana Lavian, D.P.M., FACFAS, foot and ankle surgeons with offices in Valencia and Northridge.  “But if your feet aren’t in the best shape or you don’t have the right shoes, too much walking can cause foot problems.”

We receive so much information on the skin regarding all of the latest and greatest lotions, potions and skincare treatments, so I thought this month it would be fun to share with you some other less publicized facts on your skin and skincare.

Most illness and disease are caused by imbalances in the body.  A wellness approach takes into consideration factors that may contribute to the development of illness before complete health is lost.  These may include stress, environment, level of fitness, nutritional status, digestive function, immune function, and hormonal balance.  High levels of prolonged stress, lack of sleep, and poor eating habits along with poor nutrition have been linked to illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart disease, and cancer.

Most likely you have Achilles tendonitis.  The Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the human body and can withstand forces of 1,000 pounds or more.  But it’s also the most frequently ruptured tendon.

What causes the back pain?  Overuse a sudden or improper movement can result in strain or sprain of the spinal ligaments, the muscles in the back, or the sacroiliac joints that joins between the spine and either side of the pelvis.  You can damage your discs the same way so that they tear, stretch, or rupture.  If the tear is large enough, the jelly-like material inside the disc may leak out and press against a nerve.  The nerve may also become irritated due to swelling or inflammation in other parts of the back.

Have you ever looked into getting laser vision correction only to be told that you’re not a candidate?  Here are the main reasons why you might not be a candidate for laser vision correction:

1. You are either too far-sighted or too near-sighted
2. Your cornea is abnormally shaped
3. Your cornea is abnormally thin
4. You have cataracts or other ocular problems limiting vision
5. You have expectations that cannot be met
6. You are unwilling to accept the risks of surgery

Has this happened to you?  Your employer gives you a list of dentists and asks you to pick one.  It’s like throwing a dart at a board!  You make an appointment, “Three months from now?”  You question.  You arrive to your appointment and hang out in the waiting room well past your scheduled appointment time.  Did anyone smile or greet you warmly?  Ultimately, you leave, disappointed.  These high volume “Plans” or clinics can’t treat you with the care you deserve!  We can and do.

People talk of strength and power as being similar and positive in most aspects of life.  I want to redefine the words and clarify their role in a relationship.  Strength can be physical or mental and requires no action.  Power is all about action.  It is the use of (or threat to use) real or implied strength to accomplish one’s goals.

There’s no doubt where we all want to be as we age.  The majority of seniors polled in recent surveys say they definitely want to stay at home.  But until an accident happens, many seniors and their families don’t think about the fact that homes must adapt to the changing needs of seniors as they age.

“Chia” is the Mayan word for strength.  The chia plant is a member of the sage family.  There is no commercial growing of chia in the United States.  Chia is imported from Mexico and Central and South America-Ecuador, Argentina and Bolivia.

Fat happens.  Like it or not, we can’t escape the reality that trouble spots on our body may exist even with proper diet and exercise.  The media has been quick to label common problem areas with enduring terms, such as “muffin top”, “love handles”, or “stomach pooch.”  But the reality is that certain fat deposits may never go away without intervention and calling attention to them with cute names doesn’t improve the situation.

How many hours have you been on the computer today?  Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a condition where symptoms of eye and vision problems related to near work are experienced during or related to computer use.  Symptoms of CVS include blurred vision, eyestrain, headaches, dry or irritated eyes, neck and/or backaches, light sensitivity or double vision.  These are a result of the intense near point of activity required by using a computer.  There is no minimum limit as to how much time one sits in front of a computer to have this problem.   Interestingly, computer users would take a break when their necks are tired, but unknowingly continue working on a computer because visual problems are subtle, slower to develop and less painful.

Urination disturbance is manifested by frequency of urination, painful urination and incontinence of urination, resulting mainly from accumulation of heat in the bladder and sometimes also from emotional factors and deficiency of the kidney.

Noise-induced hearing loss is caused by exposure to harmful noise.  Nearly a third of the 28 million people with hearing loss can at least partially attribute their impairment to noise.  Noise-induced hearing loss can happen at any age and ranges from mild to profound.  It may be accompanied by tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.

One of acupuncture’s main focuses is helping patients’ ability to make necessary lifestyle changes.  Many people have questions about challenges they face when trying to change their lifestyle.  Most often people express concerns about a lack of energy, increased stress and difficulty with pain from new exercise regimens.  Acupuncture is mainly helpful in weight loss because it increases patients’ energy, making them want to exercise, and also alleviates the pain associated with a new exercise routine. Acupuncture helps if there is a metabolic condition that may result in weight gain.  It increases metabolism, reduces food cravings and improves body-wide circulation.

Don’t wait to seek help.  A “wait and see” approach to dealing with spinal injuries such as whiplash can be dangerous.  Consult your doctor of chiropractic to have a spinal checkup whenever you have suffered a whiplash injury.  No matter how minor the accident, spinal damage should be ruled out to protect your long-term health.  If you have suffered whiplash, a chiropractic checkup can tell you the extent of your spinal injury and determine what care will help realign your spinal column.