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

Andre Gide

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October 2006

Contents

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

Stress

Stress. What a powerful word. It’s one that carries many meanings and questions. What is stress? Is all stress bad? Are there different kinds of stress? What effect does it have on our health? Can the human body thrive under moderately stressful conditions? These are all important points to consider because stress plays a huge role in our overall wellness.

Here is a dictionary definition of stress. A specific response by the body to a stimulus, as fear or pain, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism. The key point to notice here is that stress produces a response in the body. By doing so, it takes the body out of its regular balance. Is that a good thing or a bad thing for you?

By the language in this definition, you would think that it’s harmful. But not all stress is bad. Exercise is a form of stress. It takes the body out of its normal state and makes it work harder. This helps the body get stronger and healthier over time. Mental challenges are also beneficial for the body. Solving a problem facing you or something as simple as working on a crossword puzzle keeps the mind sharp.

When most people think about stress, it’s the emotional variety. There are actually three types of stress. Emotional, physical and chemical stress can impact our health everyday. Recognizing all three forms of stress helps you lead a healthier life. For example, reducing the amount of caffeine we take in can greatly improve how well the body works.

Stress can have a huge impact on our health. Stress-related illnesses is one of the biggest reasons people miss work. The pace of life today is a challenge for most people. However, we can thrive under moderately stressful situations when we are healthier. It involves identifying the stresses in our life and improving how well we see and respond to them.

Chiropractic care helps the body perceive and to respond to stress in a healthier way. It is through our nervous systems that we live our lives. When the spine supports the nervous system, our view and reaction to stress is healthier. Get your spine checked regularly and ask for tools to identify areas of stress in your life. It will improve your overall wellness! 

Question of the Month

Someone told me that having a cold is a healthy response. Is that true?

Most people automatically think that you are sick when you have cold symptoms. But let's consider the aspects of a cold and the purpose of them. The three main parts of a cold are a fever, runny nose and coughing. The purpose of the fever is to raise body temperature so the immune system can kill off the offending viruses and bacteria. The runny nose and cough is a way the body gets rid of viruses and bacteria. If our bodies did not perform these functions, what would happen? A simple cold could develop into pneumonia or something more serious. Should we try and suppress the fever, runny nose and coughing or let the body exercise its immune system? Things to think about the next time you get "sick". 

Fitness Corner

Exercise is a great way to deal with stress in your life. Subscribe to Scott McDermott’s free monthly newsletter to get up-to-date information from the fitness and health fields. To subscribe, send an email to mybestbody@shaw.ca Your body will thank you for it!

Health News

One third of U.S. kids are out of shape, study finds

In a landmark study of adolescents from age 12 to 19, one third of those tested failed cardiovascular fitness testing. The more studies that are done on our youth, the more we find out how extensive this problem is. To read more:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-10-02-us-kids-unfit_x.htm 

This is a serious issue. Kids who are unfit are likely to become unfit adults. With that comes health related issues like developing diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic diseases. Those health issues are all lifestyle related. If we can change their activity levels, all those threats to their health are minimized. Lets all work to get our kids and ourselves more active.

Sleepless nights can cause worse problems than grumpiness

Sleep changes can have a big impact on our health. Just ask any new parent. This article addresses some of the issues surrounding sleep and how it can lead to other problems we may not realize. To read more:http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/09/29/sleep.health/index.html

If there is one truth in life that I know, it’s that life goes better with adequate sleep. There are many things that affect our quality of sleep. Many patients have reported that they sleep better after they have been under chiropractic care. It is something to consider if you or loved one is having trouble in this department.

Office Happenings

1. Be Thankful Week. In celebration of Thanksgiving, you are invited to write down reasons to be grateful on the wall of the office. It’s important to put things into perspective because we all have things to be thankful for. During the first week of October you are welcome to do that.

2. Office Hours. There are no changes in them but here are our office hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8:00 to 12:30 and 2:00 to 5:30, Tuesday 8:00 to 12:30 and Thursday 1:00 to 7:30 pm.

3. Office Closures. Our office will be closed until 4 p.m. on Thursday October 5 while I attend a seminar. The office will also be closed on Monday October 9 for Thanksgiving Day. 

4. Wellness Orientation Workshops. We live in an information age, especially when it comes to health. Learn powerful ways to influence your overall wellness at one of our Wellness Orientation Workshops in October. They are scheduled for Wednesday October 4 and Monday October 16 here in the office. They start at 5:30 p.m. Bring a friend!