Vitamin K as important as Vitamin D?

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Dr. Chris Yanchus
This is a great article showing how Vitamin K may be just as important as Vitamin D in the battle to improve cardiovascular health. Please read this article completely if you or any one you know has concerns over cardiovascular health (HBP, hypertension, stroke, CAD, etc). The effects can be seen by simply adding more greens to your improving diets!
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/03/26/the-delicate-dance-between-vitamins-d-and-k.aspx

Vitamin K health benefits:

  • Arterial calcification, cardiovascular disease and varicose veins
  • brain health
  • prostate cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer and leukemia
  • tooth decay
  • infectious diseases (pneumonia)
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Hyaluronic Acid

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Dr. Chris Yanchus
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is present in every tissue of your body. HA aids in the retention of water, providing nutrients, and removing waste from cells that lack a direct blood supply, such as cartilage cells. Cartilage is a specialized form of connective tissue, that provides strength, flexibility and shock absorption to your body. A key component of your cartilage is Hyaluronic Acid.

The joints in your body are surrounded by a membrane called the synovial membrane, forming a capsule around the ends of your bones.  This membrane secretes a liquid called the synovial fluid into your joint cavities to serve as a lubricant, shock absorber and nutrient carrier. As a lubricant and shock absorber, it functions to protect your joints and bones during normal movement.  Your cartilage is immersed in, and fed by, the synovial fluid. Without HA, good nutrients cannot move into these cells, and bad waste cannot be removed.

Unfortunately, the process of normal aging reduces the amount of HA synthesized by your body. Your body stops producing it after the age of 35.  Oral hyaluronic acid supplementation may effectively help most people cushion their joints after just 2 to 4 months. The office is proud to offer Baxyl, which is an all natural and 100% vegan product that has no known side effects or contraindications to other medications.  Baxyl helps lubricate your joints, making them feel less stiff and achey.  Cathy Higgins (wife of Dr. Jim), who started using the product over 6 months ago, swears by the product stating that she no longer has any hand pain or stiffness, and noticed a change just after one month of taking the supplement.

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NSAIDs or Cox 2 Inhibitors?

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Dr. Chris Yanchus
As I have talked to more patients (new and existing), many people have expressed concern on their dependence on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs (aspirin, advil, motrin), and how they negatively affects their stomachs or digestion of foods.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is an enzyme that is responsible for the formation of important biological mediators called prostanoids, including prostaglandins, prostacyclin and thromboxane. Some of these mediators are the precursors to pain-producing chemicals and are always found at sites where inflammation is present. Over-the-counter pain-relief drugs (Advil, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, etc) are COX inhibitors that stop the production of both COX-1 and COX-2.

COX-1 enzymes promote the production of the natural mucus lining that protects the inner stomach and contribute to reduced acid secretion and reduced pepsin content. This natural lining has a protective role in maintaining proper stomach/intestinal function.

COX-2 enzymes are responsible for inflammation and pain (what NSAIDs are designed to inhibit/stop!)

There are natural products that stop the production of COX-2 enzymes. A small list of these include:

  • green tea
  • ginger
  • basil
  • turmeric
  • garlic

The easiest way to add these to your diet is spice up your food to prevent pain and inflammation. Another great product is ZYFLAMEND. This all natural supplement is a proteolytic enzyme mixture that is used to prevent chronic pain and doesn’t affect COX-1 enzymes, so it has no gastrointestinal side effects. Each softgel contains natural rosemary, turmeric, ginger, holy basil, green tea and oregano already in it! Please ask us if this supplement can help you. Nature’s Nutrition in Drum Point Plaza (the corner of Drum Point Rd and Brick Blvd) carry this product and we all highly recommend it!

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Trail Towards Muscle Pain!

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Dr. Chris Yanchus
A muscle is literally numerous individual bands/fibers linked together to form a single functioning unit. When these bands are stressed, the body reacts in an attempt to protect itself from injury through tightening or spasm. When you keep stretching and pulling this tightness, the nervous system eventually sends a signal not only of pain but also to that muscle to deactivate (decrease tone and contraction) in an attempt to prevent damage. As a result of this signal, the muscle relaxes too much and it becomes weaker and less stable. That is, until your body attempts to find that stability somewhere else and adds tightness to another region. Muscles don’t function in isolation, so there are always compensation patterns that must be assessed and treated. That is why injuries are often not limited to one site or body part.

Most common example:
neck pain → shoulder instability/pain → shoulder blade pain → mid back pain

This common trend can be easily explained! Please consult one of the doctors in the office if this injury sounds like you or someone you know!

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An End to Recurrent Low Back Pain? Rehab This!!!

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Dr. Chris Yanchus
What is the multifidus and why is this small muscle so important in back pain?

The multifidus muscle consists of a number of fleshy and tendinous muscle fibers which fill up the groove on either side of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, spanning almost the whole vertebral column. It is a group of very thin muscles deep in the spine that work to stabilize the joints at each segmental level. The stability provided by the multifidus muscles makes each vertebral joint work more effectively, and reduces the degeneration of the joint structures.

The multifidus muscle is key in the stabilization that is often weakened during episodes of low back pain (LBP). So if not properly rehabilitated & strengthened, what commonly occurs after LBP relief is achieved? RE-INJURY!!!

So what can we do to avoid re-injury or a new episode of LBP?…we can implement stabilization and strengthening exercises to our daily programs to not only strengthen the multifidus muscles, but the entire low back musculature as well.

Some examples of exercises are:

  • Bridges/planks
    • further challenge w/ opposite arm/leg lift
  • Side bridges
  • prone lumbar extension
    • further challenge by lifting both arms/legs (Superman)

These exercises implemented w/ chiropractic care will strengthen the effectiveness of the adjustment and build strength to decrease the chances of re-injury.

Patients often injure themselves by pushing their bodes too hard, too soon at the beginning stages of care. Please take caution with these exercises and ask the doctors for exercise forms or demonstrations before adding these exercises into your home care program.

Posted in Exercise and fitness, Health Articles | 2 Comments