Real LIfe Situation.

Monday of this week I had a patient bring in his girlfriend with acute pain in her left arm and hand and left side of low back and into the left leg.  She had been hurting for over two months but got worse the weekend before he brought her in.  After an exam and x-rays I determined that I might be able to help her. Today she comes in feeling a whole lot better but not completely over it.  I will continue to treat her until she has had as good a recovery as she can get.

Stay tuned for more current case historys (brief) and the results.



Unplug during Screen-Free Week



The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends zero screen time for children under 2 and less han two hours per day for older children.  Yet, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that 40 percent of 3 month old infants are regular viewers of television and DVD's and school age kids spend nearly twice as many hours with screen media such as television, video games, computers and handheld devices as they spend atending school.  To help kids, families, schools and communities turn off screens and turen on healthier activities, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) urges everyone to participate in Screen-Free Week, April 30 through May 6.

CCFC is a national coalition of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups, parents and individuals, with a mission to reclaim childhood from corporate marketers.  Learn more at www.Commercial-FreeChildhood.org.

Laugh It Up!

What makes YOU laugh?

For years, Readers Digest has featured the column “Laughter, the Best Medicine.” It contains jokes, riddles and humorous musings designed to tickle the funny bone. But just how important is laughter to our everyday health?

Turns out that when we laugh we produce natural killer cells which destroy tumors and viruses. Plus there’s an increase in the production of Gamma-interferon (a disease-fighting protein), T-cells (important for our immune system) and B-cells (which make disease-fighting antibodies). Besides lowering blood pressure, laughter increases oxygen in the blood, which also facilitates healing.

Laughter helps us to deal with stress, cope with loss, work through tragedy, hide our embarrassment and calm our fears. Laughter helps the body relax. It lowers blood pressure, increases immune system functioning and assists in warding off disease.

In terms of mental health, laughter:

Helps us connect with others – humor is often used as a means to help us collectively cope with grief, fear or loss.

Makes us more productive – happy people have more energy.

Releases negative emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, resentment, depression.

Increases the likelihood that we will feel happy.

Releases endorphins in the brain that help you to feel good.

Did you also know that laughter is a form of aerobic exercise?

You may even feel fatigued if you laugh continuously for any length of time! Just remind yourself to laugh well and often in order to experience the aerobic benefits of laughter.

What steps can you take to increase the amount of laughter in your life?

 

Surround yourself with positive upbeat people who laugh a lot – laughter really is contagious!

Find out what makes you laugh – is it funny movies, watching the comedy channel, reading funny material?

Whatever it is – do it more often!

Don’t take yourself, or anyone else, or even life so seriously.

Always remember, happiness is your birthright… so laugh and when you do, laugh loud and often!