Month: December 2010

Holiday Stress – It’s a Killer!

Health and Wellness

How to handle the stress that the holidays add to our lives:

Look what’s coming through the clinic door! Holiday stressHow to relax from holiday stress bainbridge island
Are you feeling the Holiday stress? Are you sleeping poorly, feeling short tempered, or having more headaches and pain than usual? Perhaps stress is getting the best of you.

  • Cookies, Candy: Holiday Carbs
    Too much of a good thing.
    Everything in moderation, including moderation
    What’s your “drug of choice”? Chocolate, cookies, dressing, potatoes, pie?
  • Hey Baby, Its Cold Outside
    The stress that big storms bring
    Here in the Pacific Northwest we experienced our first big storm of the season. Over 125,000 households lost electricity during the week of Thanksgiving.
  • There is No Place Like Home (and Family) For The Holidays
    We live our busy lives for weeks and months on end then suddenly we throw ourselves in the middle of our families to celebrate the holidays.
    Old Tensions/Old Dramas/Old Resentments
    They know how to push your buttons because they helped install those buttons!
    Its so hard to say goodbye, so lets fight!
  • All I Want for Christmas is . . .
    Big lists, small budgets
    Redefine your holiday traditions. Let Go of the Shame and fear of disappointing and give yourself a break!

The bottom line is be kind to yourself. The stress we put on ourselves is a killer. It is perfectly ok to cut yourself some slack. It is really hard to be perfect all the time!

Bartok the fruit bat said it best, “…Stress, its a killer, Sir”. ~Anastasia. Disney 1997

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How to Avoid Chronic Back and Hip Pain

Back Pain, Health and Wellness, Injuries

The Back and Hip Pain

Back and hip pain can be so debilitating that it can bring the most stoic to tears. Even minor lower back pain can make it impossible for you to sit or stand comfortably for any extended amount of time. While there are many prescriptions that issued each year to lessen the symptoms it still leaves the sufferer to wonder how to get rid of back painback pain Bainbridge Island instead of masking the symptoms.

There are basically two types of back and hip pain. Acute back pain which is a result of a strain or injury is the most common form and usually lasts a period of a few days to a few weeks. Chronic back and hip pain is any pain that lasts longer than three months and fortunately is uncommon. Acute back and hip pain is usually characterized by dull aches or debilitating spasms that are intense and painful.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is most common especially in an active and aging population. Often lower back pain is caused from lifting improperly because we tend to lift with our backs and not with our stronger leg muscles. Here are some things to do to take care of your lower back:

  • Bend at knees and not at waist
  • Maintain good posture
  • Take frequent breaks and change positions

How to Get Rid of Back Pain

lower back pain Bainbridge IslandLearn how to get rid of back pain by listening to your body and giving it ample opportunity to rest supported. That might mean visiting a chiropractor  or even investing in a new mattress, lowering the intensity of your exercise routine and focusing on strengthening the weaker more troublesome muscles. Perhaps it means starting a regular exercise routine that you may have been neglecting.

It is easier to push away from that cliff of pain then to pull you back over the edge. Regular chiropractic check ups are a good way to prevent the pain from turning into something more chronic. A good chiropractic routine will help keep your tail wagging and your head on straight!

If your back continues to bother you for more than 24 hours or the pain is too intense to sit or stand for any period of time it is time to seek out a professional. Getting rid of back and hip pain may be a slow process of making adjustments to routines or incorporating new ones. Lower back pain, if not addressed properly can turn to chronic back pain. Pay attention to the signs, get moving, and see your health care professional to learn how to get rid of back pain.

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