Tuesday, May 6, 2014

How to Stay Healthy During Spring Break

Spring break is just around the corner for many in the greater Kansas City area. Spring break may mean vacationing or simply enjoying some downtime in the Kansas City area. During spring break, you want to relax and enjoy yourself. Sometimes this can include some unhealthy behavior; especially for those looking to lose weight. From extra calories to lazy days relaxing by the pool, spring break can make it increasingly more difficult to stick with your weight loss plan. If you are planning a vacation or a stay-cation, think ahead. There are ways to stay healthy during spring break.


how to stay healthy during spring break



  • Never engage in yo-yo dieting thinking this is a way to stay healthy during spring break. Before a vacation or getaway, it is common to be slightly more conscious over the amount of food you are consuming. This especially holds true when beach attire is involved. Being especially conscious of the food you eat is fine, but you should avoid any form of crash or yo-yo dieting. This can reduce your energy levels and you will be much more likely to overindulge while on vacation. Another thing to remember about crash diets is the second you stop the diet, the pounds will creep back very quickly as your metabolism works to adjust itself.




  • Avoid giving yourself a free pass on calories while on vacation; this can help you to stay healthy during spring break. As much as you don’t want them to count, calories still count while you are on vacation. While a burger and fries may sound like the perfect spring break meal, try to avoid the temptation. Do your body a favor by nourishing it with foods that are rich in vitamins and will give you plenty of energy to enjoy your vacation.




  • Don’t skip your workout just because you are on vacation. Pack your sneakers, a pair of shorts and a workout top. Remember to stay healthy during spring break, you cannot just lounge by the pool all day. Instead of just lounging swim some laps in the pool, go for a run on the boardwalk or enjoy a walk on the beach. You can still workout while enjoying the scenery that spring break has to offer.




  • Never skip a meal to stay healthy during spring break. Skipping meals will only make you more hungry and more likely to overindulge. Be sure to enjoy the local cuisine in moderation and make sure you are not hungry — hunger can put in you in bad mood.



  • Try to avoid the late night snacking. With round-the-clock room service or a late night on the boardwalk, snacking can be tempting. It’s okay to treat yourself to something little, but don’t use this opportunity to have an entire late night meal.


How to Stay Healthy During Spring Break

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Get Yourself Out of a Workout Rut in Kansas City

Warmer weather means clothes that are often a little more revealing as well as possible time spent at the pool, beach or other vacation destination. If you have been hibernating this winter instead of working out or just could not seem to stick to your New Year’s resolution, it is possible to get yourself out of a workout rut in Kansas City and back on track to success when it comes to achieving your fitness goals. Start off with these tips to get you back on track and get yourself out of a workout rut in Kansas City:


get yourself out of a workout rut



1.  Remember that you need to get up and get moving in order to get yourself out of a workout rut in Kansas City. Make just a few healthy changes at a time to get yourself out of a workout rut. Even if you do not know much about fitness, remember that moving around burns many more calories than sitting around all day does. Start by making small changes such as walking to the store instead of driving.


2. Even the tiniest bit of exercise helps. If you are worried about time, remember that exercising 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there and another 10 minutes later on in the day can help to get yourself out of a workout rut. Instead of thinking of these small increments of exercise as a daunting or even boring task, think of them as steps in the right direction to achieving your health and fitness goals.


3. You will not get yourself out of a workout rut in Kansas City if you overdo it. If you’ve spent all winter or longer not working out, doing too much too soon can take a toll on your body as well as your mind. Overdoing exercise can also lead to injury, which can mean more time spent sitting down (as you recover) instead of working toward your fitness goals. You cannot (and should not) overall your entire health and fitness regime in just one workout session. These things are going to take time.


4. Set realistic fitness goals in order to get yourself out of a workout rut in Kansas City. Set goals that you know you will be able to meet. Avoid setting unrealistic fitness goals that you know you will not be able to meet. In order to achieve your fitness goals, pick days and times of the days to workout that you know you can stick with. If you begin a workout regime that just seems to hard for you, adjust your routine instead of just skipping your exercise session altogether.


 



Get Yourself Out of a Workout Rut in Kansas City

I Just Didn’t Want to go that Pain Medication Route!


What is Sciatica?


Sciatica is a fairly common form of pain that affects the sciatic nerve — a large nerve that extends from the lower back down the back of each of the legs.


Sciatic Symptoms:


Common symptoms of sciatica pain include pain in the leg or rear that becomes worse when sitting as well as burning or tingling down the leg. Other symptoms include numbness, weakness, or difficulty moving the foot or leg. Those who suffer from sciatica may also experience constant pain on one side of the rear or a shooting pain that makes standing up more difficult.


Sciatica Treatment:


Treatment of sciatica may include:  spinal manipulation, rehab therapy and trigger point injections.


“I’ve been coming to LifeWorks Integrative Health for a little over a year now. When I first came here, I had extreme sciatic pain running down the left side of my body. It was nonstop; it got the point where I was doing epidurals, injections and was finally on pain medications. I just didn’t want to go that pain medication route. I have to say that I am so glad, that despite my reservations, I did it. Now I can exercise, walk (at least a mile) and sciatic pain is completely gone. It’s just been kind of a lifesaver for me.” – Kathleen



I Just Didn’t Want to go that Pain Medication Route!

Friday, May 2, 2014

Can Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Help Prevent ADHD in Children?

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics has discovered a possible link between acetaminophen use and ADHD in children.


ADHD in children



Acetaminophen is found in Tylenol and a wide-variety of other pain pills and is the most common medication taken by expectant mothers. Expectant mothers often used acetaminophen products to help reduce the joint and back pain that are so frequently associated with pregnancy.


This research study followed more than 64,000 Danish children born between the years of 1996 and 2002, whose mothers took acetaminophen, the results were as follows:


  • These children were 37 percent more likely to be diagnosed with hyperkinetic disorder or more severe ADHD.

  • 29 percent of these children were more likely to find themselves being prescribed ADHD medications.

While the findings are still preliminary, findings fall short of proving a direct cause-and-effect relationship between acetaminophen use in expectant mothers and ADHD in children. However, these findings have set off alarms and healthcare professionals indicate that we really need to start looking at non-pharmacological ways of dealing with pain. While acetaminophen should still be used in the event of fevers, there are alternatives to dealing with just pain itself.


One alternative method to pain medications, that continues to grow in popularity, is chiropractic care. The American Pregnancy Association indicates that chiropractic care can help women to maintain a healthier pregnancy while controlling nausea, relieving back and joint pain, reducing labor and delivery time and preventing a possible cesarean delivery.


With extensive education and training in working with pregnant women, chiropractic care during pregnancy can help reduce pain and symptoms without the risks of using pain medications during pregnancy.


If you have questions about acetaminophen use during pregnancy and ADHD in children, contact LifeWorks Integrative Health today to learn how we can treat the aches and pains of pregnancy without the need for pain medications. 913-730-5838.



Can Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Help Prevent ADHD in Children?

Recent Posts



Recent Posts

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Subluxations in Shawnee, KS

Subluxations go by a variety of different names including vertebral subluxation, nerve interference or vertebral subluxation complex. Subluxations in Shawnee, KS occur when spinal vertebrae lose their normal positioning or motion. This can cause irritation to nearby nerves that pass out from the spinal column and on to the tissues and organs of your body. Nerves relay messages between your body and your brain. As as result, taking care of subluxations in Shawnee, KS is very important to your health!


Kansas City Chiropractor



What Causes Subluxations in Shawnee, KS?


There are three main reasons why subluxations usually occur:


  1. Physical reasons. Being involved in a car accident, a sport injury, repetitive stress on the body, a slip, a fall, improper lifting techniques, poor posture and inadequate sleep can all lead to subluxations in Shawnee, KS.

  2. Chemical reasons. Smoking, drinking alcohol, poor nutrition and substance abuse can all read to subluxations. Toxins in your food and water can be a contributing factor as well.

  3. Emotional reasons. Anger, grief and a negative attitude can affect your muscle tone, which can lead to a burden on your body.

Symptoms of a Subluxation:


  • Severe pain.

  • Visible displacement of a joint.

  • Low energy.

  • Stiffness or difficulty moving.

  • Subluxations can trigger headaches, neck pain and joint pain.

  • Spinal muscle spasms.

  • Reduced mobility.

  • Balance issues.

  • Tenderness of the back.

  • Pain in the neck or back.

How Can a Chiropractor Help With Subluxations in Shawnee, KS?


Chiropractors receive training that is specific to the spine. Chiropractors receive special training that is designed to help reduce nerve interference and allow the body to begin functioning normally again.


For individuals, who have longstanding subluxations in Shawnee, KS, poor muscle patterns can begin to form and a series of frequent visits to your chiropractor may be required to help strengthen and retrain the muscles.


For many people with subluxations, they do not even know that they have one. How can you find out if you have a subluxation? Regular chiropractic visits — even if you are feeling great — can help to keep your nervous system in great shape. The pain and stiffness of a subluxation can often be too much to deal with on your own. As a result, many people seek the help of a chiropractor to help ease the pain and get themselves on the road to recovery.


If you have questions about subluxations in Shawnee, KS or the Kansas City area, contact LifeWorks Integrative Health today at 913-730-5838.



Subluxations in Shawnee, KS