"The only real education comes from what goes counter to you."

Andre Gide

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February 2004

Breaking News! Marnie McBain, an iridologist has joined our team. For more details, check out the Office Happenings.

Contents

1. Keep On Keeping On
2. Question of the Month
3. Fitness Corner
4. Health News 
5. Office Happenings

Keep On Keeping On

It’s been one of those days, weeks, months or even years. Nothing seems to be going right. When things get stressful, it’s easy to get depressed and frustrated. You have been doing what you’re “suppose to” and you’re not getting the results you hoped for. And they are not coming fast enough. You just want to say “the heck with it” and quit. Hang in there.

This is a story I have lived, I see it in the people around me and in the patients’ lives that come to our office. It’s important in the rough times to remember a sense of perspective. When it seems like all the good things you have been doing don’t matter, they do. 

An example of this is when a patient is frustrated with the progress of their situation. Sometimes it’s a person who is new to chiropractic who isn’t seeing the result they wanted. Other times, it’s someone who has been under care for years and they’re having a new struggle with their health. In both cases, know that what you are doing is helpful and that you’re doing the right things.

It would be like driving someplace where you are not quite clear on the directions (men have never experienced this, nor have stopped to get clarification). You could keep going but you end up turning around. You find out later that if you had just kept going, your destination was just down the road from where you stopped. It’s the same thing with chiropractic care, exercise, eating well and staying positive.

So when you get frustrated, remember all those healthy habits make a difference. They have gotten you to where you are and will continue to help. Get that adjustment, make that work out a priority, choose healthy foods and be optimistic. And then keep on, keeping on.

Question of the Month

I’m feeling really stressed right now trying to balance a busy life and it seems to be affecting my health. How does that work? 

Stress does have an impact on your health. Harmful stresses fall under three categories: physical, emotional and chemical. When any of these stresses become too great for the body to adapt to, it starts to break down. One of the first areas affected is the spine and nervous system. This leads to poor communication between your brain and body, called a vertebral subluxation, and your body becomes weaker. If stress is allowed to accumulate, unchecked over time, it can lead to sickness. By getting your spine and nervous system checked regularly, you can offset the negative impact that stress has on your body allowing you to be healthier.

Fitness Corner

The topics for Scott McDermott's monthly newsletter are as follows:

1) The Atkins Diet Takes over the States (and Canada) - again....BUT, is it any good for you?
2) Cooking in a microwave vs reheating.
3) Working out is IRRITATING. That's actually a good thing.
4) Magazine Watch: Articles from current magazines reviewed.
5) Coming Events.

To sign up for this free, informative newsletter, send an email to mybestbody@shaw.ca. You will be glad you did!

Health News

Study Suggests Flu Vaccine Didn't Work Well

“The influenza vaccine that many Americans clamored for this year was not very good at protecting people against influenza, colds and similar viruses, a preliminary report state.” In fact, there was only a 2% difference between the vaccinated and unvaccinated. Read more: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=MIRMVQDIY5UGECRBAELCFEY?type=healthNews&storyID=4136011&pageNumber=0

Another interesting article is available at the following address: http://www.redflagsweekly.com/conferences/vaccines/2004_jan12.html.

It is written by a retired pediatrician, F. Edward Yazbak, M.D. It gives you facts behind the numbers reported for the apparent flu epidemic. It’s important to look for other sources of information when the media claims the sky is falling and a vaccine is the answer. Please educate yourself around these issues.

Kids Can Suffer From Disc Degeneration, Too 

Conventional wisdom has held that back problems occurred after puberty. But a recent study shows that damage is done to the spine before then. To read more: 
http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?ap=1&page=newsdetail&id=516257

Often people think that kids don’t need chiropractic care because they don’t complain of back pain. That is not true on a number of levels, least of which is that a developing spine is susceptible to damage. I check my boys’ spines once a week. I have since they were a few minutes old. The spine needs care from start to finish. It ensures a healthy nervous system and a healthier future for our kids.

Office Happenings

1. Iridologist Joins Our Team. We welcome Marnie McBain, who joins our office to offer iridology on Tuesday mornings from 8:00 to 12:30 pm starting February 3. For those of you who aren’t familiar with iridology, please go to the webpage for more information. Call or email Carol for an appointment and with any other questions.

2. Wellness Orientation Workshops (W.O.W.'s). How would you like to lead a healthier life? Our workshops are just the place to start. Here are the dates for upcoming classes: Monday February 2, Wednesday February 11, Wednesday February 18 and Monday February 23. They all start at 5:30 pm in the office. They’re fun and educational. See you there!

3. Office Closing. The office will be closed February 16 for Family Day. Sorry for any inconvenience.

4. Introduction to Wellness. This is the perfect gift for Valentine's Day for those you care about. The package includes a 1/2 massage with our Registered Massage Therapist and a complete Chiropractic Assessment including 2 computerized scans. Email or call Carol for more details.

5. Community Educational Workshops. Dr. Stacy has a number of educational and entertaining presentations available. He can speak to your business, school, community group or sports team. He has spoken to corporations such as Telus and ATB, local dentists, elementary and high school students, local college sports teams and service clubs. Check out the webpage for further information.

6. Wellness Club. Are you a member yet? Sign up and receive lots of benefits, least of which is a complimentary 30-minute massage after completing 12 months of consecutive care. We’ll keep you on track and healthy. Stop by for more details and to get started.