Migraine sufferers have an increased sensitivity to a series of “triggers”, which can launch a migraine attack. One of the most commonly seen triggers is a change in sleep behaviours. Less sleep than usual, more sleep than usual, disturbed sleep or changes to daily bedtime or waking time have all been implicated in bringing on migraine attacks.

Studies have shown that sufferers of a migraine may be deficient in their ability to produce a chemical called Melatonin, which plays a role in regulating the sleep-waking cycle. It also has anti-inflammatory effects inside the body.

It has also been shown that people with impaired sleep have more sensitivity in a part of the brain called the “Caudal Trigeminal Nucleus”. This increased sensitivity can produce “allodynia” which means an increased sensitivity to pain.

Interestingly, nerve pathways from the upper neck also join into this same nucleus, and mechanical irritation to those nerves can add stress to an already struggling system.

This combination opens up the opportunity to treat the patient from two perspectives. Chiropractic adjustments delivered specifically to the upper neck can restore better movement and reduce painful signalling through those nerves. Also, ensuring that the person has adequate levels of melatonin can serve to minimise background sensitivity even further. Both of these factors are important because the further away from the threshold we can get, the less likely we are to initiate a migraine headache attack.

Both animal and human studies suggested that taking 3 mg of melatonin before bedtime had a positive effect on preventing migraine attacks, and was in many cases superior to commonly used migraine headache medications.

If you are a migraine headache sufferer, your chiropractor can discuss your specific case details with you, and explore the possibility of whether chiropractic adjustments, melatonin supplementation or a combination of both would be beneficial to help you manage your migraine syndrome. Please bear in mind that given the genetic nature of the migraine syndrome, a complete cure is not something we expect to occur, but like someone suffering from asthma, there are ways it can be managed to minimise the impact on your quality of life.

I’d like to acknowledge Dr Matthew Long for his work in providing this information on his clinical clarity blog.

References:

1. Stronks, D. L., Tulen, J. H. M., Bussmann, J. B. J., Mulder, L. J. M. M., & Passchier, J. (2004). Interictal daily functioning in a migraine. Cephalalgia, 24(4), 271–279. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2004.00661.x

2. Seidel, S., Hartl, T., Weber, M., Matterey, S., Paul, A., Riederer, F., et al. (2009). Quality of sleep, fatigue and daytime sleepiness in a migraine – a controlled study. Cephalalgia, 29(6), 662–669. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01784.x

3. Masruha, M. R., Lin, J., de Souza Vieira, D. S., Minett, T. S. C., Cipolla-Neto, J., Zukerman, E., et al. (2010). Urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin levels are depressed in chronic migraine and several comorbidities. A headache, 50(3), 413–419. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2009.01547.x

4. Bruera, O., Sances, G., Leston, J., Levin, G., Cristina, S., Medina, C., et al. (2008). Plasma melatonin pattern in chronic and episodic headaches. Evaluation during sleep and waking. Functional Neurology, 23(2), 77–81.

5. Peres, M. F., Masruha, M. R., Zukerman, E., Moreira-Filho, C. A., & Cavalheiro, E. A. (2006). Potential therapeutic use of melatonin in migraine and other headache disorders. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs, 15(4), 367–375. doi:10.1517/13543784.15.4.367

6. Lovati, C., D’Amico, D., Bertora, P., Raimondi, E., Rosa, S., Zardoni, M., et al. (2010). Correlation between presence of allodynia and sleep quality in migraineurs. Neurological Sciences, 31 Suppl 1, S155–8. doi:10.1007/s10072-010-0317-2

7. Tanuri, F. C., Lima, E., Peres, M. F. P., Cabral, F. R., Graça Naffah-Mazzacoratti, M., Cavalheiro, E. A., et al. (2009). Melatonin treatment decreases c-fos expression in a headache model induced by capsaicin. The journal of a headache and pain, 10(2), 105–110. doi:10.1007/s10194-009-0097-3

8. Peres, M. F. P., Zukerman, E., da Cunha Tanuri, F., Moreira, F. R., & Cipolla-Neto, J. (2004). Melatonin, 3 mg, is effective for migraine prevention. Neurology, 63(4), 757.

9. Peres M, Gonçalves AL. Double-blind, placebo controlled, a randomized clinical trial comparing melatonin 3 mg, amitriptyline 25 mg, and placebo for migraine prevention. Program and abstracts of the American Academy of Neurology 65th Annual Meeting, March 16-23, 2013; San Diego, California. Abstract S40.005.

10. Lu, WZ, Gwee, KA, Moochhalla, S, Ho, KY (2005). Melatonin improves bowel symptoms in female patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 22(10), 927–934. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02673.x

11. Romanello, S., Spiri, D., Marcuzzi, E., Zanin, A., Boizeau, P., Riviere, S., et al. (2013). Association between a childhood migraine and history of infantile colic. JAMA, 309(15), 1607–1612. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.747

The post What can help with my migraine headaches? appeared first on Adelaide Chiropractor.

The unfortunate reality is that postural problems are increasing exponentially in our society, and the most common one we see in chiropractic clinics is forward movement of the head.

Two of the most obvious consequences for people who have poor posture are neck pain and headaches. This is not particularly surprising when you consider that the average human head weighs approximately 3 kg or the weight of a bowling ball. The correct position for the head is to sit nicely on top of your spine. The human spine has inherent structural features that give it the ability to carry this weight without any problems when it is in its correct position. However, as the head leans forward, it is hanging off of the muscles, ligaments and connective tissues of the neck, which substantially increases the stress and strain on these structures.

This postural problem is becoming so common, that it has been given a name. The term “Text Neck” is being used to describe the forward head and neck posture that becomes a habit when people spend large amounts of time using smartphones and other mobile devices. This condition was featured in a number of media releases by the Chiropractors Association of Australia in recent times, discussing the latest research by New York Spine Surgeon Dr Kenneth Hansraj.

Text neck is considered to be an affliction of young people. This is of particular concern, because kids and adolescents who have spinal problems have been shown to become adults with spinal problems. The evidence shows that neck pain associated with poor posture is NOT to be dismissed as “growing pains” and it WILL NOT “go away by itself”.

While chiropractors are certainly of the opinion that screen time for kids should be limited, there is a simple technique that can be used to lessen the impact of using devices on posture. Having the child use them while lying on their stomach on the floor makes it harder to slouch their head forward, so if a child or adolescent needs to use a mobile device at home, this is the preferred position for doing so.

Finally, it isn’t only neck pain and headaches that have been linked to poor posture. Breathing problems have also been demonstrated to accompany postural distortion of this nature. Even more, interestingly, a study which tested young people’s ability to cope with a difficult reading task found that those with an upright posture were more resilient and more able to cope with the task than those who attempted in with a slouched posture. The upright group also reported having higher feelings of self-esteem, better mood, and less fear associated with the task in front of them.

All of these findings serve to highlight the importance of maintaining good posture, not only for the benefits to the spine but also for better overall physical and mental function. If you have any other questions about your posture and how it can be improved, your chiropractor is the best person to speak to, as they are experts in promoting healthy spinal function.

References: 

1. http://therealitycheck.com/animations/chiropractic-and-posture/

2. Hestbaek L, Leboeuf-Yde C, Kyvik KO, Manniche C. The course of low back pain from adolescence to adulthood: eight-year follow-up of 9600 twins. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2006 Feb 15;31(4):468-72.

3. Aartun E, Hartvigsen J, Wedderkopp N, Hestbaek L. Spinal pain in adolescents: prevalence, incidence, and course: a school-based two-year prospective cohort study in 1,300 Danes aged 11-13. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014 May 29;15:187. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-15-187.

4. Wirth B, Amstalden M, Perk M, Boutellier U, Humphreys BK. Respiratory dysfunction in patients with chronic neck pain – influence of thoracic spine and chest mobility. Man Ther. 2014 Oct;19(5):440-4. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2014.04.011. Epub 2014 Apr 30.

5. Bradley H, Esformes J. Breathing pattern disorders and functional movement. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Feb;9(1):28-39.

6. Nair S, Sagar M, Sollers J 3rd, Consedine N, Broadbent E. Do slumped and upright postures affect stress responses? A randomized trial. Health Psychol. 2015 Jun;34(6):632-41. doi: 10.1037/hea0000146. Epub 2014 Sep 15.

The post Poor Posture and the Spine appeared first on Adelaide Chiropractor.

Basically, ice treatment is best used for acute injuries. If an injury has begun to swell, you should look to ice it as soon as possible. This will help to curb the swelling around the injury and will likely prevent higher levels of pain. In any case, ensuring that treatment is applied early is critical – reducing the inflammation soon as possible will ensure that there’s minimal long-term damage. 

If you suffer from a chronic injury or are prone to hurting yourself in a particular area, icing the area after sport or activity, even when it’s not sore, can actually go a long way in controlling inflammation and preventing future injury. 

So when should you use heat? 

This sort of treatment is better used to relax and loosen muscles or tissue to promote blood flow. This is generally effective for chronic condition and shouldn’t be used after an acute injury as excess blood flow can promote swelling. 

The general rule for icing or heating injuries is such that no treatment should be applied for more than 20 minutes at a time. It should also be done in a 20-minute on, 20-minute off cycle for most effect.

If you have suffered an injury, or perhaps exacerbated an existing condition, it’s important that you seek medical advice as soon as you can. Adelaide Chiropractors are very knowledgeable in treating chronic and acute injuries all over the body. Our chiropractors at Walkerville Chiropractic have seen many patients with sports injuries receive excellent results from their continued chiropractic care. Not only can chiropractic addressing underlying and pressing conditions, it also helps to build up a strong foundation for a strong and healthy body – thereby serving to prevent injuries in the future. 

If you have any injury concerns are unsure how to treat ongoing pain during activity, please don’t hesitate to ask the doctor at your next appointment. They can advise the best treatment plans and also provide advice on exercises and plans of action for dealing with any condition.

The post Ice or Heat? appeared first on Adelaide Chiropractor.

If you’re in the market for a new multivitamin, here are some men’s health issues you should consider before making your decision:

Prostate Cancers: The fact that women don’t have prostates is a critical difference in nutritional requirements between the two genders. The prevalence of prostate cancer in Australia is relatively high and studies still can’t tell us the exact causes. For this reason, ensuring that you have a healthy, functioning prostate is good for optimum health maintenance. Both Selenium and Lycopene are common ingredients used in men’s multivitamins to help boost prostate health and prevent the onset of disease.

Reproduction: It takes two to tango and the same came to be said for couples looking to start or grow their family. A healthy sex drive is important for men and sperm quality and health is important for producing healthy babies. Magnesium and B vitamins have been proven to be effective in improving the quality and health of sperm and are therefore found in higher quantities in men’s supplements. Calcium, Zinc and Sulphur are also great for promoting reproductive health.

Heart Risk Until the age of 55, men are more likely to develop heart conditions compared to women. Potassium and Zinc are known to be effective in addressing cardiovascular health and are therefore important ingredients in any supplementation option.

As with all supplements, however, it’s important to remember that they are doing just that – supplementing your diet. Vitamins and minerals are best absorbed by the body when taken in their natural forms and with the fibres offered by the fruits, vegetables and proteins that we consume.

In addition, ensuring you lead a healthy lifestyle with a sound diet and regular exercise is important for ensuring an optimum level of health care.

If you have chosen to have chiropractic care as part of your strategy to treat your pain and symptoms coming from your musculo skeletal system, but you have questions or concerns about other aspects of your health and physiology, or if you would like to dietary management strategies with Dr Goran, please do not hesitate to ask at your next appointment. Chiropractors are trained to have a thorough understanding of physiology and may be able to explain to you some of the mechanisms of what is going on and make some suggestions in terms of what might be suitable avenues to explore for improvement.

If you have any questions regarding supplementation or your personal dietary needs, please do not hesitate to ask any of the knowledgeable Adelaide chiropractors at Walkerville Chiropractic during your next consultation!

The post Choosing a Men’s Multivitamin appeared first on Adelaide Chiropractor.

The post Natural Anti-Inflammatories appeared first on Adelaide Chiropractor.

Some research has however, suggested that what we eat could have some affect on preventing the onset of baldness or slowing its progression. We’ve put together a list of some of the foods you should look out for.

Steak If you’re a keen meat-eater, this one’s for you! The proteins found in red meats are essential for hair growth, as hair is mainly made up of proteins. And it’s not just red meats, get stuck into chicken, fish and legumes as well!

Iron Low levels of iron in the blood (medically known as anemia) is another cause of hair loss and this is something that can easily be addressed. Dates, raisins, leafy greens, nuts and fresh herbs are all great sources of iron. And if you’re struggling to get enough from what you’re eating, Iron is available in capsule form as a readily-available mineral supplement.

Omega-3 Fatty acids found in fish products and omega-3 oils are essential to keep the bacteria in the body balanced and the functions working well. Eating a diet rich in these goodies also helps hair to grow and keeps it healthy, with an extra shine!

Vitamin E Nuts and seeds, as well as garlic, onion and chilli are all packed with the goodness of vitamin E. We’re not sure why, but Vitamin E has long been used to promote hair growth. In the past it was even massaged into the skull to battle baldness!

Sulphur All of the fibres of the body, especially skin, hair and nails have a high concentration of sulphur in then. Thus, it makes sense that eating sulphur rich foods would be excellent to promote their growth and strength. The richest sources of sulphur are broccoli, onions, garlic and chilli.

While there’s not much that can be done about baldness in both men and women, leading a healthy lifestyle, with plenty of exercise and a balanced diet, is essential to maintain a good level of bodily function – even stimulate hair growth.

The post Hair loss and diet appeared first on Adelaide Chiropractor.

(1) How severe is the problem? 

A person who is in a great deal of pain (more than 7/10) will often need more intensive treatment than someone who only has very low level symptoms. If your functional movements are very limited (ie can’t bend in all directions, can’t turn your nose all the way to the shoulder etc), then it may take more time to re-establish these normal movements again. If your x-ray pictures show severe postural distortion and/or damage, then you probably won’t be “all fixed” on the first day. 

(2) How long has the problem been there? 

If you injured yourself mildly this morning and don’t have other associated conditions, then you will probably see improvement more quickly. If you have been getting progressively worse for the last 10 years, then we’ll have more work to do to get you back on the road to recovery. 

(3) How old are you? 

Younger people generally respond more quickly, as the likelihood of underlying degenerative changes and instability is lower. Older individuals will often have a higher degree of underlying “wear and tear” in their bones, joints and muscles. This may mean that 100% recovery is less realistic and partial improvement or preventing further deterioration becomes the goal. 

(4) What is your level of fitness / activity? 

Muscle tone is very important to holding and maintaining new habits with regard to better spinal position and movement patterns. People with a very sedentary lifestyle often won’t notice very stable improvement in the early going, as it is harder to establish better supported habits. On the other hand, people who engage in a lot of physical activity, particularly involving the spine and core muscles, will usually transition into good spinal postures and movement patterns more readily. 

(5) Do you only have short term availability? 

Are you going on holiday in 2 weeks or travelling for work every fortnight? Sessions might need to be more frequent while you’re around to make sure that you improve as much as possible before you go. 

Please remember that as individual criteria, these are general rules of thumb, and exceptions can and do occur. Rest assured that the chiropractor looking after you will take your overall situation into account when making a recommendation. Bear in mind that it is impossible to predict the outcome of any one off adjustment, however, by adhering to the recommendations made by your chiropractor, you are much more likely to reliably get the improvement you want. Your chiropractor has many years of experience helping patients and problems of all shapes and sizes, and they will draw on this experience to find the right plan to help you the most.

The post How long and how often will I need to come in? appeared first on Adelaide Chiropractor.

The Metagenics range that we recommend at our chiropractic clinic offers one of the most comprehensive and effective detoxification programs for rapidly improving the state of your health. It helps to clear toxins from the body and leaves you feeling healthier and replenished. 
While most people often associate chiropractic with the musculoskeletal system, it is important to remember that the whole body functions as a system, and we need ALL parts of it working at their best to give us the best health possible. In fact gut health is gaining significant attention in the medical community as an important contributor to overall health. 

It is always important to discuss your plans for detox with your chiropractor first, as they may be able to advise you of the best plan for your, any immediate risks to your health and go through how a detox works in more detail. If your chiropractor believes that a detox program could benefit you, he will make the appropriate recommendation to a naturopath or dietitian who specialises in the management of these programs. 
The natural supplements in the Metagenics range support your body and help it detoxify, allowing your body’s detoxification and repair system to function efficiently and without the unwanted side-effects. 

The Metagenics Integrated Detoxification Program works by decreasing exposure to toxic dietary and lifestyle choices, removing harmful bacteria and waste from your digestive system. After this a range of supplements can help to renew your digestive lining and improve its function, paving the way for releasing and eliminating toxins from the body more efficiently. 

Your chiropractor can also discuss the option of doing a shorter, less comprehensive detoxification program, which last for about two weeks. These are also available and should get you back feeling a bit better after some indulgence. 

As mentioned, it’s important to consider your personal circumstances before undertaking a detoxification program. Pregnancy, existing medical prescriptions and the known side-effects should be taken into account as potential risk factors. 

If you are thinking of undertaking a detox program, or would just like some general advice on staying healthy and keeping your body as active and healthy as you can, please don’t hesitate to talk to our chiropractor during your next consultation! Your chiropractor Dr Goran has personally undertaken this program several times and can speak to you in detail about his own experiences.

The post Detoxification appeared first on Adelaide Chiropractor.

Fats are a foreign substance to the body, despite them being essential for our survival. Omega 3 fats are the most beneficial and must be consumed to enter the body. Polyunsaturated fats are important for growth and brain functions, and also help with heart health because they lower triglycerides and cholesterol.

Other conditions like arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease have also been linked to low levels of Omega 3 and fatty acids in the blood.

So how can this help the heart?

Well, omega 3 fatty acids help to reduce inflammation through the body which can actually damage blood vessels and lead to heart disease. Decreasing triglycerides, lowering blood pressure and hence reducing blood clotting serves to boost immunity, improve arthritis symptoms and generally contribute to longer-lasting improved cardiac health.

Recent research has also found that Omega 3 fatty acids are an excellent natural alternative to treating blood conditions, such as clotting and heart disease, rating better than pharmacologically produced substances like warfarin and aspirin.

The European study found that Omega 3 rich diets in those with heart disease experienced less frequent and less severe blood clotting, experienced lower levels of stress and reported feeling more energetic and positive.

Unfortunately, modern diets to not receive the 4 grams of Omega 3 fatty acids that are recommended frequently enough. Excellent sources of the EPA and DHA components of fatty acids are most commonly found in cold-water fish (such as salmon, tune and sardines), canola oil, soy products (soybean, oils etc), tofu, flaxseed, walnuts and some leafy green vegetables.

These are commonly found ingredients here in Australia and are relatively inexpensive and readily available for purchase. For those that can’t seem to get enough however, high quality supplements are available on the market.

Our Chiropractic clinic stocks an excellent omega 3 supplement called “Omega Sufficiency”, which helps to boost vitality and strength, as well as offering all of the benefits of general omega 3 consumption.

We also advocate regular exercise and a balanced diet to ensure the body and its functions are working to their optimum level consistently. Regular chiropractic care can also address any issues within your musculoskeletal system that might be holding you back from exercising at your highest level and getting the most cardiovascular benefit.

If you have any questions regarding heart health or the benefits of Omega 3 supplementation, please do not hesitate to ask at your next consultation.

The post Omega 3 and Heart Health appeared first on Adelaide Chiropractor.

Here in South Australia, everyone seems to have an opinion about whether to redevelop the Royal Adelaide Hospital or whether to build the new Marjorie Jackson Nelson Hospital. Whatever your inclination might be with respect to this argument, we all know that the cost of the project whichever way it goes will be enormous. The figures that get thrown around are usually much bigger than any normal person can possibly relate to. Well, as the old song goes, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

How much do we as a society spend on health care? This time last year, the Australian institute of Health and Welfare published their annual report “Health Expenditure Australia” which listed the findings from 2007-08. As a nation, we collectively spent 104 billion dollars. I’ll say it again, one hundred and four BILLION dollars. This was the first time our federal health budget topped the 100 billion mark. In the 10 years leading up to that, the average annual growth in spending was 5.2 %. This means that each year we are spending 5 % more on health care than we did the previous year. The biggest single area of growth was in organised vaccination programs, which had a funding increase of 56% from the year before.

So what do all of these figures mean? Probably not much, unless we ask a more important question. For all of this money we’re spending, are we actually getting healthier? The biggest burdens on our health system are heart disease, cancer, diabetes and depression. All signs point to these illnesses becoming worse and more prevalent, needing more money to be spent on them each year while our collective health continues to deteriorate. As far as vaccination goes, we are constantly hearing about how each year is going to be worse than ever for flu, swine flu, whooping cough and an array of diseases. With such enormous funding increases, how is this possible?

It is obvious that throwing more money at the problem is not getting us anywhere. We need to start looking at ways of preventing health problems rather than treating them, as this usually proves to be cheaper and more effective in the long term. Hospital treatment procedures and advanced imaging techniques start accumulating costs in the thousands of dollars very quickly.

The complementary health care professions such as chiropractic have always had a focus on prevention. A chiropractor will usually look to counsel a patient on important lifestyle like diet, exercise, stress management etc to better equip them to deal with the increasing demands of society.

While we’re talking costs, at 100 billion spread over the population of Australia, we’re spending an average of $4613 per person per year on health. For a fraction of that, you could take your whole family to the chiropractor, eat healthier food, and exercise more for the entire year. If you want some tips on healthy living without the astronomical costs, speak to your chiropractor today.

The post Are We Getting Healthier? appeared first on Adelaide Chiropractor.