Improve Gut Health with These Tips

A healthy gut is essential for your overall health – the bacteria that live in our digestive tract are largely responsible for the strength of our immune system, the condition of our skin as well as for our general well-being. Here are some tips that can help you improve your gut health:

• Physical exercise – exercise gets the intestines and the colon moving, leading to more regular bowel movements and healthier digestion. An excellent chiropractor in Denver near me confirms that Yoga practice is an outstanding choice – there are plenty of yoga exercises that promote gut health;
• Switch to a healthier diet – fresh fruits and veggies, lean meat, fish, eggs, nuts and whole grains are all essential for gut health. Make sure to consume plenty of dietary fiber – you can never have too much of it;
• Eat five meals a day – beside the three main meals, you should have two snacks, one between breakfast and lunch and another one between lunch and dinner. Try not to skip any of the five meals – they are all important for gut health;
• Drink plenty of water, but avoid alcohol and caffeine;
• Take probiotics – available in the form of supplements, probiotics increase the quantity of healthy bacteria in the gut.

The Most Common Scoliosis Symptoms

Scoliosis is among the most common problems related to the spine, an issue that affects the curvature of the spine. There are many causes that can lead to scoliosis, but the issue is usually caused by incorrect posture and sedentary lifestyle. A leading alternative chiropractic Denver practitioner identifies the most common symptoms that indicate the presence of the affection:

• Shoulders and hips are at different heights – when the spine curves in an unhealthy way, the body is trying to restore its balance by changing the position of the shoulders, moving one of them to a lower position than the other one. The same goes for the hips – one hip may be higher than the other one or one hip might protrude more;
• Back pain – the most common sign of scoliosis, often appearing even before any visible signs, is pain, usually in the lower back;
• Numbness or weakness in the leg – the position of the spine affects the nerves that run to the legs as well, often causing tingling, numbness or weakness in the limbs;
• Problems walking, running and standing up – especially if a movement or a position needs to be sustained for a long time;
• Fatigue – with scoliosis, the muscles and the bones of the body are continuously trying to regain their balance, which causes fatigue.

Tips for Better Sleep

Getting enough sleep of good quality is essential for our health – without it, our physical and mental performance as well as our health suffers. Today, almost half of the world’s adult population suffers from some type of sleep problems, but fortunately, progressive stem cell therapy Denver healthcare providers suggest that there are many good, natural ways to improve the quality of our sleep – here are some:

• Get regular exercise – physical exercise has many benefits, including improved sleep quality. Pick a type of exercise that you enjoy and that is suitable for your fitness levels and work out three or four times a week. Make sure that you finish your training sessions at least 4 hours before going to bed to allow your body to calm down;
• Avoid digital devices for at least two hours before bedtime – the blue light emitted by phones and TV sets stimulates the brain and disturbs the production of melatonin (the hormone that regulates sleep), so try to avoid using them right before bedtime. It is also a good idea to remove any TV and computer screen from your bedroom;
• Do not eat right before you go to bed – ideally, you should stop eating about 4 hours before bedtime, that way your sleep will not be hindered by digestive processes.

3 Ways to Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation can cause an incredibly wide variety of symptoms, from chronic fatigue and skin problems to issues of the digestive system. When the inflammation that is the culprit for the symptoms is eliminated, the symptoms usually go away, too, so here are some changes that you could implement to reduce or, even better, to get rid of the inflammation in your body:

• Switch to an anti-inflammatory diet – while certain groups of food are known to increase inflammation, while others reduce or eliminate it. Berries of a deep color, such as blueberries, cruciferous vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts and broccoli, spices, such as turmeric and healthy fats, like olive oil, are all known to help reduce inflammation, therefore you should have lots of them. You should also avoid foods that cause inflammation, such as red meat, hydrogenated fat and semi-prepared meals;
• Try the elimination diet – if you suspect that the inflammation in your body is caused by a one or a set of ingredients, try to eliminate them, one at a time, to see whether your condition improves;
• Try to reduce stress – stress is a major cause of inflammations in the body. While eliminating it completely might not be possible, countering the harmful effects by finding an activity that relaxes you is certainly doable.
• If you are suffering from inflammation and knee pain in Denver,  a respected Denver provider can offer additional insight and care to improve your condition.

Causes of Indigestion

Indigestion is a common affection of the stomach that usually manifests in the form of pain or discomfort at the level of the upper stomach. Indigestion is not considered to be an illness – it is usually just a set of symptoms that goes away in a maximum of a couple of days. Here are some things that can lead to indigestion:

• Eating too much – indigestion is common among people who tend to ingest quantities of food that are too high for their stomach to digest;
• Fatty or spicy food – some spices aid digestion, while others make the food harder to digest;
• High levels of stress and anxiety – stress can affect the body in many ways, one of the most common symptoms being problems with the stomach, including indigestion;
• Medication – certain pain relievers and supplements can also cause symptoms of indigestion and antibiotics also affect the way our stomach is able to digest food, especially if they are taken for a longer period;
• A symptom of other conditions – inflammation that affects the pancreas or the stomach, especially the lining of the stomach, peptic ulcers, reduced blood flow to the intestines can all lead to the classic symptoms of indigestion.
• If you are experiencing unexplained indigestion symptoms, Downtown’s Healthcare, downtownshealthcare.com, professionals strongly encourage you to explore medical services to identify and resolve these issues.

 

4 Exercises to Help Maintain a Healthy Spine

Back pain is a common problem that affects most of us, at least occasionally. Fortunately, there are great exercises that can counter the harm caused by sedentary lifestyle or incorrect posture – here are some exercises explained by one of the best chiropractor Denver has in this area.

• Back flexion – this exercise is not only beneficial; it is enjoyable as well. Just lie on your back on the floor, pull your knees up towards your head, grab your knees and push your head toward your knees. You will feel how your spine is stretching and getting rid of all the tension;
• Knees to chest – the exercise is similar to back flexion, but you will have to lie on the floor with the legs straight, then lift only one knee at a time;
• Bridges – this classic is great for strengthening the muscles of the lower back and the glutes. Lie on the ground, place your feet flat on the floor and your arms next your body, then press the feet into the floor and lift your hip. Maintain the position for a couple of seconds, then lower your hip to the floor again;
• Lower back rotation – lie on the floor on your back, with the feet flat on the ground. Roll your knees toward one side while stretching your arms in the opposite direction to eliminate the tension from the lower back and the hips.

What is Scoliosis

Scoliosis is an affection of the spine, a condition that can be caused by many factors, the most common ones being sedentary lifestyle and incorrect posture. The human spine is not completely straight – it has curves that ensure erect posture and correct movement. When the healthy position of the vertebrae that make up the spine becomes compromised, the spine becomes misaligned and develops unhealthy curves – the condition called scoliosis.

The problem most commonly develops in children between the age of 10 and 15, but it can appear at any age, in early childhood as well as in adulthood. The symptoms are mild in the beginning, usually in the form of mild pain during certain movements. If left untreated, the pain can become worse or permanent and other symptoms, such as shoulders and hips that are not at the same height, a shoulder blade that is more prominent than the other and one or multiple visibly incorrect curves of the spine might also appear.

A great chiropractor in Lowry near me confirms that Scoliosis can be diagnosed by a medical specialist through a simple physical exam and the diagnosis can be conformed with imaging tests. The treatment of the affection is usually through physical therapy, with movements that slowly realign the spine and correct the patient’s posture.

3 Tips to Relieve Stress and Anxiety

Stress is with us all the time and anxiety is also a common experience for most people. When left to take their course, both heightened stress levels and feelings of anxiety can trigger harmful processes in the body – processes that can even lead to the development of illnesses. Fortunately, there are many ways to relieve stress and anxiety – here are some:

• Change your attitude – one of the potential reasons why some are more stressed than others is the increased need of these people to control all the things around them. Accepting that you cannot control everything and that is ok might help a lot;
• Pay attention to what you eat – following a nutritious diet is essential for giving your mind and your body what they need to be able to cope with daily stress. Have lots of leafy greens, legumes and whole grains and replace fatty meat with poultry and fish;
• Exercise more – Downtown’s Healthcare providers assert that including a 20-30-minute exercise session every day is a great way to get your body moving, to improve your blood circulation and to tone your body. It is also an excellent way to divert or to stop racing thought and to relieve anxiety.

 

The Symptoms of Repetitive Joint Injury

Repetitive joint injury, also known as repetitive strain injury, is a condition that affects the body’s muscles, tendons and nerves, most commonly the forearms, the elbows, the wrists, the knees, the hands, the neck and the shoulders and is usually caused by repetitive, damaging movement. The symptoms usually start as very mild and they aggravate over a long time – here are the most common signs:

• Pains and aches – these are the most common symptoms associated with musculoskeletal disorders, repetitive joint injuries included;
• Stiffness – the affected joint might have reduced range of motion;
• Throbbing, tingling and mildness – these symptoms are milder than pains, but they are still a nuisance;
• Muscle weakness and pain – the injured area is usually affected not only by pain in the joint itself, but also by pain in the muscles.

When the symptoms start, they are usually felt only when repeating a certain movement. If left untreated, the symptoms can become permanent and they might also become stronger and stronger until they become unbearable. Noted knee pain treatment Denver doctors affirm that the pain usually becomes associated with swelling, redness and other symptoms of inflammation. The treatment usually consists of physical therapy and the administration of pain killers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.

What is Subluxation?

In chiropractic treatment, the term “subluxation” is used for denoting the misalignment of the spine caused by the separation of the articular surfaces and the resulting diminishment in function. The condition either develops slowly, over time or it can be caused by a single movement and it can involve many processes, including the accumulation of excess blood in an area caused by obstructed blood flow (a process called hyperemia); a process called congestion, defined as the accumulation of toxins in certain areas of the spine, leading to the irritation of nerve endings and pain; the development of scar tissue in the affected area (fibrosis) and tissue rigidity.

When treating subluxation, alternative chiropractic Lowry  medical professionals first identify the affected spine area, then they use various types of manual manipulation to restore the correct alignment of the spine. The specialist will locate apply manual pressure on the affected area and will rotate the spine to ensure its proper position. The movement intended to realign the spine is usually quick and strong. The patient might experience a strange feeling in the spine and might feel some numbness in the extremities, but the intervention is painless and the positive effects are usually felt right after the specialist performs the realignment.

What is ‘Tennis Elbow’?

Tennis elbow is a condition that affects the outer tendon of the elbow joint and manifests in the form of pain in the affected area when gripping, lifting or bending movements are executed or when the patient tries to lift objects, even small ones.

Tennis elbow is very common and it is usually caused by overusing the muscles that surround the elbow joint. When those muscles are strained, they develop tiny tears and inflammation that might go away with time if the movement that causes pain is avoided as much as possible, but that might get worse.

If the symptoms do not ameliorate with time, a visit to a specialist is recommended. The doctor will check the affected joint and will perform some simple tests, such as stretching and bending the joint. Lowry stem cell treatment  specialists say that treatments are usually aimed at reducing the inflammation and might involve home remedies, such the application of ice bags or frozen peas or the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. In more severe cases, the doctor might recommend physiotherapy to relieve the pain and the stiffness associated with the condition and to restore the range of motion in the joint. The process usually takes quite long, between 2 and 6 months on the average.

6 Ways to Boost Your Immune System

Our immune system is a complex system that helps our body defend itself from harmful micro-organisms, such as bacteria and viruses. The efficiency of our immune system is influenced by many factors, including not only external factors that we cannot influence, such as the amount of stress that we are exposed to, but also by factors that depend on us, such our diet and lifestyle. Here are some easy tips about you can actively stimulate your immune system:

• A healthy diet – a diet consisting of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, healthy proteins coming from lean meat, dairy and fish and healthy carbs coming from whole grains is the best way not only to achieve or to maintain healthy weight, but also to give your immune system what it needs to function at optimal levels;
• Regular exercise – exercise is a great way not only to trim your muscles, but also to stimulate your immune system, especially if you exercise outdoors, enjoying the fresh air and the sun;
• Avoid stimulants – alcohol and caffeine are all stimulants that can weaken the immune system, therefore they are best avoided or consumed only in moderate quantities;
• Get enough sleep – the human body needs around 8 hours of sleep per night. Sleeping less than that will stress your immune system, so try to go to bed before midnight to give your body the rest that is so important for its health.
• Immune boosting injections – Most people can benefit from a vitamin injection. When vitamins and minerals are injected directly into the body, they bypass the digestive system, helping the body absorb the nutrients more quickly.
• Chiropractic Adjustments – Denver chiropractor reviews mention positive impact on immune system functioning. Find out more about this at Downtown’s Healthcare.

What Are Some Non-Surgical Options for Facial Rejuvenation?

The face is among the first parts of the body to show the signs of aging. In the past, the only way to turn back time was surgery, but fortunately, today there are several efficient options available that do not involve the use of a knife. Here are some:

• A Vampire facelift Denver PRP treatment, offered by Downtown’s Healthcare, is a anti aging cosmetic procedure that can make skin look less wrinkled, firmer, and more elastic.
  Chemical peels – the treatment involves the removal of old, dead skin cells from the surface of the skin with the help of an acid solution. The process of applying the solution usually takes about 15 minutes, then the skin will shed the dead cells over the next few days to reveal fresher skin that has fewer wrinkles. The method is also efficient against age spots and other blemishes;
• Microdermabrasion – the method involves the exfoliation of the skin with tiny crystals and it is efficient against small wrinkles, sunburn marks and acne scars;
• Thermage – the method heats the skin with radio-frequency to boost its ability to produce collagen. The results are usually visible soon after one treatment, but the changes will keep appearing for at least 4 or 6 weeks;
• Laser treatment – this method also boosts collagen production, thus diminishing fine lines and improving skin tone. The special lasers used do not damage the skin surface, therefore recovery time is very short.