Choosing the right mattress for back support, good posture, and sleep comfort has a significant effect on back pain relief. Although many doctors have traditionally recommended a hard (firm) mattress to people with back pain, a recent study conducted in Spain found that a medium-firm mattress may provide better back support and help alleviate more [...]
With reference to the Nutrition Alphabet, we have compiled a description of each of the chosen foods, and why they are essential to any healthy diet. Avocado: Contains monounsaturated fats, which are good for the heart, and a significant amount of potassium (60% more than bananas, ounce by ounce) and vitamin E. Blueberries: Contain more [...]
It’s easy to neglect physical activity, especially with our increasingly demanding schedules. However, even a small amount of physical activity can make a big difference—revitalizing our bodies by providing oxygen to our brain and muscles. Below are some practical tips on how to incorporate exercise into your daily routine—no matter how busy! At work, why [...]
As the holiday season tests our spirit of peace and joy, and many of us become time-challenged, here’s a reminder that taking a quiet, purposeful moment may be our best bet to a Healthy and Happy New Year. A new study shows that meditation can boost your immune system and also lift your spirits. People [...]
As some of you are harvesting your own tomato crop, and others are happily finding their produce at stores and markets, here’s the scoop on why you should enjoy your garden’s bounty…. Tomatoes are loved for their fresh taste and the versatile role they play in cooking, but research indicates there may be another reason [...]
This simple bean, called “ta-tau” or “greater bean” in China, packs incredible health benefits Liz Applegate, PhD Soy is truly one of nature’s super foods. Yet so many runners avoid it, using the same misguided excuses: “I don’t really need to eat soy. . . . Tofu just isn’t my idea of real food. [...]
Pain Not Necessary for Health and Fitness, but Walking Is Women who lift weights will get bulky muscles. Women don’t have enough testosterone to develop large, bulky muscles. Strength training will not cause women to build muscles, although steroids might. Spot reducing is possible. It’s simply not possible to “burn off” fat in one [...]
C. Laird Birmingham, BSc, MD, MHSc, FRCPC, FACP, ABIM You are considering going on a diet to lose weight. There are three key points to consider. Many people lose weight, but few can maintain it. The problem with diets is keeping the weight off. You cannot stay on a diet forever. Unfortunately there is no [...]
By Kathleen D. Baumgardner, D.C. We know the body is a self-healing mechanism. It’s helpful to view health as a triangle with three components—structural, chemical and mental—forming equilateral sides. When any of the triangle’s sides are out of balance, our health is compromised and difficult to maintain. Thus, we should be aware of all aspects [...]
For once and for all: to stretch or not to stretch? How do you know if you are stretching correctly? How flexible should a person be? Does it increase or decrease your risk of injury? When should you stretch? How long do you hold it for? How many times? Stretching should never be painful. To [...]
A 3-Minute Spinal Health Exercise Program After five weeks of daily practice of “Straighten Up” exercises, 83% of study participants reported that they had improved their posture. 78% reported that they had strengthened their core muscles. 80% reported that they sat and stood more uprightly and that their backs were more comfortable. Please perform these [...]
Why they can cause more harm than good The use of back belts is quite common in work and athletic settings, but when is it appropriate? Many people believe that the use of a back belt will prevent injury to the back, and help them to be able to lift greater loads. However, research shows [...]
While most people suffer from the odd headache, for some they are a regular debilitating occurrence. The good news is that up to 80% of headache sufferers find relief at the hands of a chiropractor. A major cause of headaches is a stiff, painful neck, often the result of disorders of the spinal joints, muscles [...]
Dr. Ray Baker Chronic pain syndrome is a cluster of signs and symptoms in which the pain and disability it creates cannot be explained by demonstrable tissue damage or pathology. It persists in time, at least six months. It is usually accompanied by chronic sleep deprivation. The sufferer becomes depressed, anxious and often angry. Away [...]
Sleep your way to good health and a better quality of life Before Thomas Edison’s invention of the light bulb, people slept an average of 10 hours a night. Today, we average just 6.9 hours of sleep on weeknights and 7.5 hours per night on weekends—a far cry from our pre-light bulb days! Sleep experts [...]
The merits of exercise are hard to ignore. Check out 7 specific ways exercise can benefit your life. 1. Exercise improves your mood. Exercise stimulates various brain chemicals, which may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed than you were before you worked out. You’ll look better and feel better when you exercise regularly, which [...]
Just Answer 3 Questions A recent study in the August 2003 issue of Neurology involving 400 headache sufferers asked each patient a nine-question survey at their doctors’ offices. Afterwards, they were sent to a headache specialty centre, where they had their headaches diagnosed without knowledge of their survey answers. Later, researchers were able to narrow [...]
Sciatica is a term that is often misused. It is meant to define a set of symptoms rather than a diagnosis. Sciatica is a general term that refers to pain in the back of the leg caused by compression or irritation of one or more nerves exiting the lower spine that make up the sciatic [...]
A good exercise routine is important to reduce the chances of recurring back pain. Studies have shown that bed rest and inactivity can lead to a longer recovery time from injuries. Movement distributes nutrients into the soft tissues of the spine to keep the discs, muscles, ligaments and joints healthy. A lack of exercise can [...]
Improve Your Health, Simply By Giving Thanks The custom of offering thanks is traditionally only celebrated once a year on Thanksgiving, but health care professionals are now urging people to express their gratitude throughout the entire year as the connection between gratitude and health is becoming more and more evident. Research has shown that feelings [...]
Your core muscles are your deepest muscles of your abdomen, back, and pelvic floor. Your core muscles, when strong, will stabilize your trunk. This will prevent injuries to your back. A stable trunk also provides support, allowing your limbs to move effectively. There are levels of challenge, from low to high, to develop your core [...]
You may have experienced a headache sometime in your life, but do you know the reason why? Or which ones require special attention? Primary types of headaches include tension, migraine and cluster. Secondary headaches are caused by other problems that include caffeine/analgesic withdrawal or more serious diseases like brain tumours, strokes, or hematomas. The more [...]
Carrying heavy backpacks on a continual basis can cause stress to the growing spinal column which could lead to future pain and health problems. To prevent back and neck pain from an overloaded backpack, it is important to recognize the correct way to choose, pack, lift and carry a backpack. When choosing a backpack, ensure [...]
We spend a lot of time talking about what to do to care for your back and spine. For a change of pace, we thought it would be valuable to provide some input about common mistakes to avoid. Mistake #1: Ignore It For Too long While it’s true that the majority of episodes of back pain will [...]
Most people think that they won’t get back pain. However, eight out of ten people will experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. Here are some common misconceptions regarding low back pain and its most effective diagnosis and treatment. Myth: My parents had back pain, so I’m likely to have it [...]
The Truth about Supplements Nancy Clark, MS, RD When you look at the ads in almost any sports publication, you cannot help but notice the supplement industry is hard at work promoting protein powders, bars, and shakes. Their goal: to convince athletes they need extra protein to build muscles and recover from exercise. Never [...]
Studies show that your mental health directly affects your physical health. Certain opposing personality traits – optimism and pessimism – can influence not only your quality of life, but the length of it as well. Individuals (without psychiatric problems) who scored very high on a personality test pessimism scale had a 30% increased risk of [...]
Healthy Eating. Active Living. Positive Self & Body Image. See how much you know about the healthy pleasures of Vitality. Losing weight is a good way to improve your health. False. Losing weight will not necessarily improve your health. If you are at a healthy weight, losing and regaining weight (yo-yo dieting) is more harmful [...]
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in Canada and is responsible for one third of all deaths in British Columbia. In a new 17 year study of nearly 9,800 adults, researchers at New York’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that exercisers had a 30% lower risk of heart attacks than the [...]
Lower back pain is very common, affecting at least 80% of the general population at some time. While neck pain is less common than lower back pain, millions of people will experience neck pain at some point in their life. Here are some common neck and back problems that respond to conservative treatment. Strain/Sprain Most [...]
Cervicogenic headaches, or headaches caused by structures in the neck, are caused by irritation or injury to the structures of the upper neck region, resulting in local neck pain as well as referred pain to the temporal (at the side of the eyes) and facial (on the cheeks and forehead) regions. This headache is often [...]