A visual disturbance is any abnormality in the ability to see. There are many types of visual disturbances such as double vision, loss of vision, blurred vision and a reduction in the visual field. In many instances, a visual disturbance is a symptom of another condition present. Neurological disorders can lead to vision problems as well as head trauma, cancer, vascular diseases, diabetes and some congenital conditions. When there is a loss of vision, the amount of loss can be partial or complete. Partial vision loss may allow a person to distinguish light from dark and see vague shapes. Vision loss can affect one eye or both, can appear suddenly and last temporarily or occur gradually and remain permanently. Some causes of vision loss include glaucoma, macular degeneration, damage to the optic nerve, cataracts and any damage to the retina. Among these causes of vision loss, the most common cause in the United States is macular degeneration. It is quite common that vision loss affects only certain areas of the eye (the visual field). For example, if a tumor is present that affects the left side of the brain or if a stroke has occurred that affects the brain on the left side, the visual field on the right side in both eyes can be affected, while the left side of the visual field is left unaffected. Another example would be if there is injury or a tumor near the pituitary gland, the outside of the visual field (peripheral vision) in both eyes can be affected while the inside of the visual field remains normal.

Vision Problems

Many times, if vision loss gradually occurs over time, the loss may not be noticed immediately. If vision loss is noted, it is important to seek care to possibly prevent further vision deterioration. A health history will be taken with questions emphasizing what symptoms are present and if any recent trauma has occurred. An eye examination will be performed testing the visual field, refraction, ophthalmoscopy, tonometry and a slit lamp exam. In some cases, the cause of vision loss may be successfully treated however in some instances, the cause of vision loss is not reversible. Treatable vision problems include cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration (if caught early enough) and trachoma (marked by repetitive eye infections that can cause blindness if not treated soon enough). While there are minor vision problems as well as serious cases, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as problems with sight begin because in some instances, early treatment can lead to a complete resolution of the problem.

References Cited in this Article

www.healthline.com

www.merck.com

www.livestrong.com

Nerve Impingement Syndrome can result in chronic fatigue.  Fatigue can be a major warning sign that there is a potentially serious life-threating underlying condition at hand.  A lack of energy can be linked to poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and malfunction of your nervous system.  Years of sitting can reduce your ability to fully move and wake up.  A loss of motion can cause your body to release stress hormones that in turn can make you tired. 

Nerve Impingement Syndrome

Chiropractic care, massage therapy, and physical therapy are an essential way to maintain full range of motion and support optimal energy levels.  Nerve Impingement Syndrome can also result in mood swings.  The standard approach for many suffering from mood swings has been medication, which can lead to potentially negative side effects.  Recent research has shown a natural approach to treating mood swings that include: a balanced diet, increased exercise, and improving nervous system function.  Nerve Impingement Syndrome can result in sinus and allergy problems.  The most common immune system disorder is allergic reactions to the environment that cause the body to produce too many chemicals in response.  When the nervous system is impaired, this results in the body’s immune system to be at sub-optimal levels. 

Chiropractic care

What is the Chiropractic approach to sinus and allergy attacks?  A health consultation to analyze potential dietary allergies, an examination of the patient’s head and neck to target problematic areas, and specific treatments to alleviate symptoms and increase nervous system function.  Chiropractic physicians can analyze a patient’s diet and make recommendations on an individualized basis.  Are you someone who is constantly sick?  Before they take another round of prescribed antibiotics consider Chiropractic care to jump-start their immune system.  Nerve Impingement Syndrome can result in digestive problems.  A malfunctioning nervous system can adversely affect the body’s ability to digest food and receive proper nutrients.  Poor diet, lack of exercise, and increased stress play an important role in digestive disturbances.  Chiropractic care is proven effective in treating digestive disorders.  The Autonomic Nervous System controls specific nerves that exit the spine and supply organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and digestive organs.  Specific nerves supplying a person’s digestive system can become impinged and effect normal function.  Chiropractic adjustments improve the Autonomic Nervous System function and can alleviate the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Colic, and constipation.  Talk to your Chiropractor today about Chiropractic Care and Nerve Impingement Syndrome.

What is Chiropractic Care?  Chiropractic healthcare is based on the scientific fact that our nervous system controls and coordinates the function of every cell in our human body.  The purpose of the Chiropractic approach is to uncover your health conditions, not merely cover up your systems.  The Chiropractic oath is to help as many people as we can without the use of drugs and/or unnecessary surgery.  Doctors of Chiropractic essentially promote the healing process by minimizing interference to the nervous system.  When the nervous system is free from obstruction, the body can function at its highest level.  Interference to the nervous system, caused by subluxation, will affect how the nervous system relates to the cells to which it travels.

Subluxation

A subluxation is a misalignment of the spine that irritates a nerve which affects normal function.  Nerve impingement syndrome caused by subluxation, occurs when a mis-alignment of one or more of the joints in the spine places pressure on a nerve.  Pressure on the nerve can cause interference, resulting in pain, loss of function, as well as other symptoms.  Nerves communicate from the brain through the spinal cord and nervous system. 

Headaches

Nerve impingement syndrome can result in headaches.  Millions of people suffer with throbbing headaches each and every day.  They can be a distraction that affects your family, friends, job, and your ability to live life to the fullest extent.  The most common type of headache is a tension headache caused by muscle tension attributed to subluxation and nerve impingement syndrome.  What are the six misconceptions about headache relief?  1) over-the-counter medication treats the cause of your headache, 2) headache medications can’t harm you, 3) stress causes headaches, 4) headaches go away on their own, 5) all doctors know how to treat headaches, 6) your problem is always where your pain is. Drugs only mask the pain they don’t treat the headache.  Drugs can cause side effects that are far worse than your headache. 

Chiropractor

Stress is a very common way of life but not the cause of a headache.  How your body adapts to stress is the true indicator of health.  If you don’t treat the cause or the root of the problem the headaches will never go away completely.  Chiropractors offer natural and safe alternatives to treat headaches without the use of unnecessary pharmaceutical drugs.  In addition, not all headaches originate in the head.  Many headaches are associated with neck and upper back tension.  Chiropractic Care and Headache Relief go hand-in-hand; talk to your doctor today about your options.

Vertigo is a dizziness feeling when a person is standing completely still.  Vertigo is caused from a dysfunction with the 8^th cranial nerve called the Vestibular-cochlear nerve.  The dysfunction ultimately lies within the vestibular, or balance portion of the nerve and not the hearing portion. 

Symptoms of Vertigo

Vertigo presents the following signs and symptoms: nausea, vomiting, difficulty standing and walking, patient will feel like their swaying when standing still, and feeling of passing out.

Causes of Vertigo

Some known causes of Vertigo include but not limited to the following: Benign paraoxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular migraine, Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, and excessive alcohol consumption.  Vertigo is divided into two classifications: either central or peripheral.

What is Central Vertigo?

Central Vertigo arises from the brainstem and can cause neurological symptoms.  These symptoms can range from slurred speech, double vision, and pathologic nystagmus which is eye fluttering. 

What is Peripheral Vertigo?

Peripheral Vertigo is caused by dysfunction within the inner ear or vestibular system.  Some causes include Meniere’s disease, BPPV, labyrinthitis, and inflammation. 

Nystagmus

Most vertigo sufferers will experience reoccurring symptoms.  This can be detrimental to one’s quality of life.  Nystagmus may be unilateral, bilateral, asymmetric, vertical, horizontal, congenital, or acquired.  Horizontal nystagmus occurs in patients suffering from a unilateral cerebral hemisphere disease, especially with posterior lesions.  Their eyes will drift horizontally towards the side of the lesion. 

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of the vertigo symptoms.  Vertigo can be treated with pharmaceuticals taken by mouth, a patch on the skin, or an IV administration.  A bacterial infection causing symptoms will require an antibiotic, Meniere’s disease sufferers may also be required to be on a low salt diet in addition to meds, a hole in the inner ear will require surgery, and BPPV patients will have a maneuver performed on them called the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver.  This is where the doctor places the patient in a certain position in order to move the small stones to their correct position since they become displaced with this condition.  This particular movement is repeated until there is no longer visible eye movement or dizziness symptoms.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic Care may be utilized to decrease the symptoms of Vertigo.  Since the C1 vertebra is in such close proximity to the brainstem, when this bone is mis-aligned or subluxated it may cause dizziness or nausea.  C1 has many muscles that attach to it and when they become taut they can pull this bone out of its normal alignment causing a subluxation.  When this happens, some individuals will complain of headaches, nausea, dizziness, eye pain, ear aches, and general fatigue.

What is TMJ?  TMJ stands for Temporal-Mandibular Joint Disorder.  TMJD can be caused from trauma, disease, general wear and tear due to the aging process, and habits like chewing gum or motions with the mouth.  Trauma may be divided into two types such as micro-trauma and macro-trauma.  Micro-trauma is like teeth-grinding or clenching.  Macro-trauma would be described as a blow to the face in which the jaw is contacted.  This can break the jaw or even damage this disc (joint).  This area connects the lower jaw to the skull and allows for the jaw to open and close.  Two conditions which can affect the TMJ and cause significant pain and discomfort include both Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

Symptoms

TMJ Disorder is a general term clustering many different types of symptoms a patient may experience including but not limited to: locking of the jaw, clicking of the jaw, earaches, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, permanent speech abnormalities, toothache or loss, facial pain, and headaches.  Things you may notice are the following: pain on one side of the face, difficulty opening the mouth, your bite may feel off, you may feel dizziness, nausea, or even experience vomiting. 

Treatment

There are many treatment options available to TMJ sufferers and they include the following: Arthocentesis which is considered a non-invasive procedure by some which lasts about fifteen minutes in which the doctor drains the fluid that accumulated in the joint, Arthoplasty (surgery) may include repositioning of the disk itself, discectomy or removal of the disc, and joint replacement.  Some conservative treatments include the following: massage therapy, acupuncture, and Chiropractic care.  Massage therapists will work the facial muscles, and Chiropractors will re-position the joint itself either manually or with a specialized instrument.  Another effective treatment includes wearing a mouth-guard at night while sleeping.  This allows the mouth-guard to take the shock of the bruxism, or grinding.  These may be custom-fitted at dentist offices or basic mouth-guards may be sold at retail chains for a much-reduced fee and sell for around twenty dollars.  However, these mouth-guards require boiling in hot water prior to fitting them yourself.  Both are extremely effective in the treatment and management of TMJ Disorder. 

www.mayoclinic.com

www.emedicine.health.com

Do you ever wonder what exactly a Pinched Nerve is?  Well, a pinched nerve happens when a boney prominence puts added pressure on a spinal or accessory nerve.  This is also what happens sometimes with a spinal or extremity subluxation.  A subluxation is a mis-alignment of the spine and/or extremities that may or may not put pressure on a spinal nerve root or accessory nerve.  A pinched nerve will almost always cause local pain and inflammation.  In addition, a pinched nerve may cause the patient to suffer from reduced range of motion in the affected area. 

The Chiropractor’s Role

The Chiropractor will take a detailed case history and perform a through physical exam to obtain a diagnosis in order to deliver a tailored treatment plan accordingly.  The doctor will perform static and kinetic palpation to effectively determine the level of the subluxation and where the restriction lies.  After this, they will perform a HVLA (high velocity low amplitude) thrust to that particular segment in order to correct the mis-alignment.  They will re-check the segment post adjustment to see if the correction has indeed been made.  The Chiropractor may also choose to incorporate some physiotherapy modalities to further heal the pinched nerve and speed up the recovery process.  These modalities may include but not be limited to the following: electrical muscle stimulation to calm down spastic muscles, ultrasound (which is the deepest of the deep heaters working from the bone to the muscle interface), cold laser (this is also a deep heater modality), whirlpool bed, inter-segmental traction (this opens up the facet joints of the spine, taking the pressure off the nerves), and spinal decompression (this machine opens up the disc spaces allowing blood and nutrients to replenish the spine and promote healing to the disc and surrounding structures).  They may also choose to add acupuncture and/or massage therapy to add to the treatment plan.  Massage therapy will help to alleviate any muscle spasms, reduce pain and inflammation, and reduce or eliminate any tender or active trigger points found within the muscle belly or tendinous structures.  After the treatment plan has been sought out, the Chiropractor will perform a re-evaluation to notate the progression and see if the care should be altered, if the patient should be released from care, or if the patient should be referred to another health care provider. 

Seeking a health provider for an individual’s healthcare needs is an important step on the successful road to their recovery. The type of care the individual doctor provides is the most important bit of chiropractor information a prospective patient would need in making their physician choice. Chiropractor information is available online at their clinic websites. Almost all chiropractic physicians have a website and these sites are very helpful in determining whether or not their office and practice style would be a good fit for a patient. Primary care referrals are also helpful because medical doctors will only refer their patients to a chiropractor that is well respected and trusted in a community. The Better Business Bureau and a local Chamber of Commerce will also be able to help a patient locate an appropriate chiropractic physician. Because each chiropractor brings with them different skills and accomplishments and educational certifications, finding a chiropractor that is trained in specific care is important as well. There are chiropractic physicians that have received additional education and certification in pediatric chiropractic care while others have a diplomate in sports chiropractic care.

The Chiropractic Profession

Chiropractic care is a form of conservative therapy that works to treat as well as prevent certain health care problems. This form of treatment focuses on the entire body and the problems it may have with form and with function. Because more patients are looking for conservative treatment options, the chiropractic profession is projected to grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of practicing chiropractic physicians present in the United States is expected to increase by 20% in the ten years from 2008 to 2018. According to the World Chiropractic Alliance, roughly 27 million Americans visit a chiropractic physician each year. In general, chiropractic students who will graduate are expected to easily find employment as this number of patient visits is expected to rise. Students who join multidisciplinary groups with a variety of healthcare providers are expected to be more successful. Students will also have the opportunity to find employment within the United States military as it is becoming more common for this government entity to hire chiropractic physicians and staff them in VA hospitals and military base hospitals. The chiropractic profession is growing and integrating more effectively into mainstream medicine. This integration is the most beneficial for patients as it gives them an alternative therapy and more health options that will only improve their health conditions.

References Cited in this Article

www.consumersresearchcncl.org                    www.worldchiropracticalliance.org

www.bls.gov

www.nlm.nih.gov

Stress! Who doesn’t experience stress from time to time? Work can cause stress, family, friends, relationships, new situations, life in general. In many cases, we can handle the stressors that we experience and once managed, the stress decreases. While stress is a non-physical factor in our lives, it can cause physical symptoms, ranging from mild to severe because the body treats both physical and psychological threats in the same manner. These physical symptoms of stress are so common that it is estimated that nearly 50% of all visits to a doctor are due to stress. It has been proven that stress physically reduces the strength of the immune system, making it easier for the body to contract illness, not able to fight off sickness as efficiently compared to a body with a healthy immune system. Some couples actually have trouble with fertility when their stress levels are too high. Most people are aware of their own stressors and know that certain issues in their lives will cause stress. Although they may be aware of stressful situations, stress levels do accumulate slowly and this progression can cause silent symptoms at first. The progression of stress can go unnoticed until it reaches a level where more severe physical symptoms may begin to surface.

Internal Symptoms of Stress

While there are plenty of outward physical symptoms of stress, there are also internal symptoms of stress that may not be noticed. Stress can affect the nervous system, raising blood pressure, increasing heart rate and glucose levels and altering digestive function. Cardiovascular changes include more powerful and quick heart beats while under stress and if these changes continue for long periods of time, risk of coronary disease and heart attack is greatly increased. The adrenal glands are affected when stressed; these glands will produce more epinephrine, which is also termed a “stress hormone”. Outward reactions to stress include personality changes such as more aggression, feelings of guilt and apathy. Headaches and depression, numbness and tingling in the extremities due to nervous system alterations, sweating, diarrhea and a possible increase in the frequency of nightmares may also occur. These are just a few examples of what stress can produce in the body. A lot of health issues can be difficult in treating but stress can be relatively simple to work on. If a stressful situation can be avoided, it is recommended to completely avoid it. If there are situations that produce stress that cannot be avoided, it is advised to develop a plan to minimize the amount of stress when dealing with the situation. Massage therapy is a great way to find relaxation as is yoga, meditation and any other form of relaxation technique that works well on an individual basis. Exercise in general is a great way to reduce stress, increase endorphins to fight stress and keep the immune system healthy. It is important to work on reducing stress before serious health problems become present in the body.

References Cited in this Article

www.stress-management-for-health.com

www.mayoclinic.com

A migraine is a severe headache that lasts in duration from several hours to several days. In some cases, a migraine may be preceded by warning symptoms such as flashes of light, tingling in the arms or legs and blind spots in vision. At times, these symptoms, or auras, may also be present during the migraine. Some people report nausea and vomiting along with severe sensitivity to light during a migraine. Some other symptoms reported include intense, throbbing or pulsating pain along one or both sides of the head that may increase during physical activity. There are several types of migraines including common migraines, ones with no auras, and classic migraines, ones that do include symptoms of auras. In either case, a person may have a premonition of an upcoming migraine and feel drowsy, excessively thirsty, depressed, have cravings for sweets or have feelings of intense energy. While there is no cure for migraines, there are several treatment options to help decrease the severity and frequency of migraines. One of these treatment options is chiropractic care. Studies done have shown that some patients who suffer from migraines and receive chiropractic manipulations have experienced less frequent migraines of less severity that lasted for a shorter period of time.

Chiropractic Care

While much understanding of the causes of migraines is not yet known, it is generally accepted that a person’s genetics and the environment in which they live, as well as hormone levels, can contribute to developing migraines. Some of the more common triggers for migraines include stress, bright lights and certain smells, some foods such as alcohol, caffeine and MSG. Hormonal changes experienced by women may also play a role because of the rapidly changing levels of estrogen during menopause, menstruation and pregnancy. Some factors that may put a person at risk for experiencing migraines are family history, being under the age of 40 and being female, as females are three times more likely to suffer from migraines, possibly due to the hormonal factor. Chiropractic care has been shown to have beneficial results for people suffering from migraines. Because there are links between migraine sufferers and increased chance for stroke, receiving chiropractic care, which lowers the frequency and severity of migraines, may also prove to help patients potentially avoid a higher risk of stroke during their lifetime. While only two types of migraines were discussed in this article, there are several others that may be potentially dangerous if left untreated. It is always recommended to seek medical care when experiencing migraines. References

Cited in this Article

www.mayoclinic.com

www.migraines.org

www.dynamicchiropractic.com

While pain is one symptom that all headaches share, there are several types of headaches from which people suffer.

Tension-Type Headaches

Tension-type headaches are quite common. This type of headache is divided into two groups; chronic and episodic. Both titles are quite clear; chronic meaning that a person suffers from this headache nearly every day for an extended period of time. Episodic implies that a person will experience this headache from time to time, usually as the result of stress, fatigue or anxiety. Since the resulting episodic headache appears following these experiences, most people recognize this form most commonly as the classic tension-type headache. The pain, in both cases, is generally felt around the temples, forehead or the back of the head and neck. It can also be felt into the muscles of the neck and upper shoulders.

Cluster Headaches

This form of headache is less common but can produce more intense pain than a tension-type headache. A cluster headache begins typically in the morning or late in the evening with little or no warning and can last for as little as 30 to 45 minutes. Many sufferers can experience several cluster headaches in one day. Once considered a migraine, a cluster headache is vascular in nature and generally is felt on only one side of the head, commonly felt first around the eye, causing it to tear and appear bloodshot.  The pain can also be felt in the cheek, temple and forehead on the affected side. While genetics does not play a role in cluster headaches, chain smoking and alcohol consumption may increase the risk.

Sinus Headaches

Our sinus cavities are located in the forehead, cheeks and bridge of the nose. They produce a mucous that needs to drain out of the nose. When these sinuses become infected, inflamed due to allergies or if there is a tumor present, the resulting inflammation blocks the flow of mucous and causes sinus headaches. The pain felt is deep throughout the sinus areas and generally increases during head movement. Other symptoms may include fever, nasal draining and swelling of the face.

Chiropractic care, as well as massage therapy, is an alternative treatment option for many forms of headache. OTC medications are usually prescribed for a headache but complimentary care is a good way to not only treat current headache symptoms but also may be used to help to prevent future headache occurrences.

References Cited in this Article

www.headaches.org   &   www.webmd.com