If you lined up all the blood vessels in your body, they’d be 60 thousand miles long. And every day, they carry the equivalent of over two thousand gallons of blood to the body’s tissues. What effect does this pressure have on the walls of the blood vessels? Wilfred Manzano gives the facts on blood pressure.
Lesson by Wilfred Manzano, animation by Fox Animation Domination High-Def.
A lot of people continue to be frightened of trying alternative treatments, especially chiropractic care, due to myths and misconceptions. Here are a few basic misconceptions you may have heard about chiropractic care:
Misconception 1: Chiropractic Care is Agonizing
Chiropractic care is by and large pain-free. Many patients instantly feel relieved and also relaxed following treatment procedures. Others even describe the procedure and experience as being much like a good therapeutic massage. Individuals who have always been affected by neck pain and back pain can experience a bit of discomfort, however, their sessions end up being much more relaxing and comfortable with time.
Nearly all adult people will enjoy chiropractic therapies. Chiropractic therapy for youngsters as well as babies is likewise usually pain-free, despite the fact that kids may feel trepidation and fright in the beginning.
A session might range from thirty to sixty minutes, dependent upon the disorder being dealt with and also the affected regions. Patients can experience discomfort or perhaps slight pain depends upon the seriousness of the problem, in addition to their own personal threshold regarding pain.
Misconception 2: Chiropractic Care Can Be Dangerous
Chiropractic care is extremely safe. Chiropractic corrections are believed to be amongst the safest treatments regarding neck and back pain. The danger regarding having serious complications as a result of spinal manipulation is, in fact, unheard of. Spinal adjustment is actually recommended by nearly all physicians before people are generally advised to have surgical procedures. The alternative treatment is likewise viewed as a preliminary choice before you take powerful prescription drugs such as steroids or antidepressants.
Misconception 3: Chiropractic Doctors Are Less Competent In comparison to Medical Doctors
Chiropractic doctors actually undergo extremely stringent and demanding training and education. These kinds of courses are much like those undertaken by medical doctors, apart from subject matter such as surgical procedures and pharmacology. Chiropractic doctors have to study for two to four years initially as an undergraduate, prior to completing four to five years of academic studies in a chiropractic college.
The certified professionals are therefore well-equipped in things like pathology, radiology, biomechanics, differential diagnosis, physiology, chiropractic correction techniques, along with other health issues. Additionally, there are State and also National Board Examinations to guarantee certification. Ongoing training is necessary for all chiropractors as well.
Misconception 4: Chiropractic Care is Expensive
Chiropractic care is actually deemed to be both efficient and also cost-effective. Chiropractic care is usually significantly less expensive in comparison to having major medical treatments such as surgery and going on long-term prescription drug plans. Chiropractic care patients found that they may have substantially reduced costs regarding inpatient appointments, healthcare programs, and medicines.
Evaluation consultations are usually quick and inexpensive. Individuals might only have to see their chiropractors a couple of times each year, dependent upon the progress regarding the problem. When patients have successfully completed a therapy program, they are given a choice to carry on receiving treatment or to opt for occasional sessions.
Preventive plans are also offered in order to help individuals eliminate back, spine and throat troubles before significant interventions are needed.
NYU Langone Spine Center Co-Director Dr. Anthony Frempong-Boadu sat down with Tech Insider to talk about spine health, and gave his honest opinion about working with chiropractors. As with choosing any doctor, its smart to do your research and find someone who can truly help you.
Over the past years, chiropractic has emerged as one of the most commonly utilized health care techniques, and its field has been more widely recognized by medical organizations, particularly in the United States and Canada, as well as in Australia. Despite the many debates on whether chiropractic should be classified as a legitimate medical discipline or a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), it is seen to be most effective in treating and managing back pain.
Overview of Chiropractic
The principle of chiropractic is anchored on the belief that a person's overall health condition is heavily dependent on his musculoskeletal structure. Thus, if his spine is properly aligned, a person will less likely experience headaches, neck and back pains, and other conditions associated with his musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors, then, advocate the use of noninvasive and nonsurgical techniques in dealing with said conditions. Instead of resorting to expensive, and sometimes traumatic, medical "under-the-knife" procedures, chiropractors employ manual and hands-on adjustment and manipulation of the spine, as well as certain joints and soft tissues to diagnose, treat and prevent musculoskeletal-related conditions. Because of this approach, chiropractic is often mistaken for physical therapy and even for general massage services.
It should be noted that chiropractors must first undergo a formal and professional degree and training in chiropractic before being able to provide services to patients. Some areas even require chiropractors to secure a license from the government. While they are authorized to adopt manual techniques, however, they are not allowed to prescribe medicines to their patients. Instead, they can only refer their patients to medical specialists such as an orthopedic or a sports medicine doctor.
A typical chiropractic clinic or center offers services that care for patients experiencing pain or discomfort in musculoskeletal regions, namely, the back, neck, head, arms and legs. While chiropractors focus more on treating said conditions, they also diagnose the cause of the pain and recommend a short-, medium-, or long-term program to address the same, depending on the nature and gravity of the patient's condition. Some chiropractors also offer on-site or home services for patients who can no longer travel to their clinic. Still, other chiropractors set up a free consultation hotline where they respond to chiropractic-related queries from individuals.
Management of Back Pain
Among the many conditions that chiropractors are able to manage, back pain seems to be the most common complaint of their patients. The question now is: How do chiropractors effectively treat back pain?
First, the chiropractor administers a detailed physical examination of the patient and takes into account his previous medical conditions, ailments or operations. After getting a clear and holistic picture of the patient's need, the chiropractor then maps out a treatment plan, which can either be a manual manipulation of the spine or of the muscles, or a combination of both. Spinal manipulation aims to enhance the structure and function of the spine and nerve systems, while chiropractic mobilization targets muscles and joints to improve movability and the motion capacity of the body. To ensure that all factors that may be contributors to back pain are eliminated or mitigated, chiropractors likewise give nutritional advice, and if necessary, recommend an exercise or rehabilitation program.
Since chiropractors do a hands-on technique, their manipulation is said to be more direct and zeroed in on the problem area. It is for this reason that chiropractors' services are often more cost-effective and sometimes even faster-acting than drugs, pain relievers and pain killers, or any other traditional medical procedure.
There are a growing number of people who have realized the
benefits that are offered for both adults and children through
chiropractic care. The good news: you are never too old or too young to
benefit from the treatment offered by chiropractors, which will have the
experience and training to provide superior care for patients. Modern
chiropractors understand how to work with even the youngest patients to
ensure proper health and well-being.
Chiropractic Care Benefits for Children
children reach school age and begin to interact with other children in a
different setting, they will also become susceptible to their nervous system and spine being compromised. These compromises can be brought
about by heavy backpacks, rough housing and their sitting posture. A
chiropractor can help to address these issues, as well as problems that
may seem much less obvious.
For example, there is some evidence
that suggests that chiropractic care may work to relieve and prevent
allergies including watery and itching eyes, coughing and sneezing as
well as the common cold. This is not suggesting that a chiropractic
treatment will eliminate these issues; however, it may help to
strengthen a child's immune system over a period of visits.
Treatment for Infants
chiropractic treatment that your child receives will be custom tailored
to each child, according the specific circumstances, as well as the
weight and height of the child. The fact is that there is no minimum age
for chiropractic care, and that even newborns may benefit from the
treatment method. There are some cases where chiropractic care may be
able to be used to detect various spinal problems that may lead to
asthma, ear infections and colic. With early detection, you may be able
to help to prevent the actual development of these various conditions as
well as the complications that are associated with them in order to
improve the quality of life, for even the youngest patients.
Treating Older Children
children age, they may find pain associated with growing and changes
with their body. A chiropractor can help to increase the flow of blood
and fluids to promote optimum health. Chiropractor care can be used for
children from infancy through the college years and beyond. Not only
will it help to strengthen the immune system, but this type of treatment
can also be beneficial for preventing future problems and pain in
Your Child's Health Care Team
is often considered an alternative form of medicine, due to the fact
that it is all natural and non-invasive, and lacks the use of any type
of medication. It can be used to treat a wide array of ailments, which
has made it extremely popular in recent years. However, if you choose to
take your child to a chiropractor for treatment, it is important to
talk over the decision with all members of your child's health care
team. In most cases, the primary care physician, which is usually a
chiropractic physician, general practitioner or pediatrician, can help
you coordinate the care that is achieved. You should keep in mind that a
great chiropractor will always be willing to let you know when the
condition that your child is suffering from is outside of their realm of
treatment. This is when they will likely refer you to a different
specialist to seek treatment.
While there are many people against
the use of chiropractic care for children, it has many benefits that can
last far into adulthood. If you want your child to achieve optimum
health and well-being, scheduling regular chiropractic care visits can
be extremely beneficial.
The spine is a very complicated structure. It is composed of twenty-four moveable bones (the vertebrae), five layers of music, nine common ligaments, the central and peripheral nervous systems, and various connective tissue. The vertebrae offer protection to the spinal cord. They are moveable and can twist and bend in a variety of positions. While this freedom of motion allows us to locomote and move our bodies in a variety of configurations, it also can set the stage for injuries. Joints that are pushed too far can suffer sprains and strains. Joints that don't get enough motion can get stuck. Abnormal gravitational loading on the joints and soft tissues cause degenerative changes such as arthritis and disc disease.
Chiropractic is the philosophy, art and science of natural healing. It is concerned with the integrity and function of the spine and nervous system. A doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) is a physician who is an expert at evaluating, diagnosing and treating problems with the spine. The process starts much like it would when visiting any other doctor.
There is some paperwork that is completed (including a description of the problem and medical history). Then the chiropractor will have a consultation followed by an examination to discover the cause of the problem. In the examination, the chiropractor will do a variety of orthopedic and neurological tests. Following this, there may be diagnostic tests (such as x-ray, MRI, etc.). Then the chiropractor will diagnose the problem, give the patient a prognosis and present a treatment plan.
How does a chiropractor help to eliminate back pain? The prescribed therapies may vary greatly from doctor to doctor. These therapies may include chiropractic adjustments, physical medicine therapies (including ice, heat, decompression, massage, acupressure, ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, diathermy, infrared, traction, acupuncture), active care rehabilitation (stretching, exercises for strengthening and stabilization), and nutritional therapies (such as professional strength supplements designed to reduce pain and inflammation at the chemical and cellular levels).
The chiropractic adjustment is concerned with restoring normal joint motion, re-aligning the vertebrae, relieving pressure on the nerves (which may be pinched due to vertebral misalignment), eliminating muscle spasms, and of course, eliminating pain. The doctor of chiropractic has four years of specialized training in the art of delivering adjustments. The adjustment is a low-force correction in which the chiropractor gently slips the bone(s) back into their normal position while restoring normal joint motion. Adjustments are almost always pain-free and result in an incredible sense of relief and well being.
Many people have never been to a chiropractor. They may not have ever even considered going to a chiropractor. They may have thought that chiropractic is a new concept or experimental and unproven. But what they didn't realize is that spinal manipulation is nothing new. It has actually been around for thousands of years. Hippocrates (the father of medicine) himself said: "look to the spine as the source of all disease". While bone setting has been around for millennia (as opposed to traditional western medicine which has only been around for 300 years), chiropractic as a profession started in 1895. Today there are over 70,000 chiropractors in the United States. It is a science-based form of health care that has become mainstream and accepted by the medical and scientific communities.
Not only is chiropractic extremely effective and all natural, but it is also the safest form of health care known to humankind. Chiropractors pay the lowest malpractice premiums of any doctor. The reason for this is clear - they don't injure people. There have been hundreds of research studies done to investigate the risk associated with chiropractic adjustments. And the results came back that chiropractic is safer than drugs and surgery. One research paper showed that a patient has 100 times greater likelihood of being injured from taking a Motrin than from getting a chiropractic adjustment. So if your back is hurting, give chiropractic a try. You have nothing to lose but the pain.