Women's Health
Osteoporosis
Menstrual Problems/Irregularities
Pregnancy & Chiropractic Care Questions
Osteoporosis is the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density over time.
There are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
Symptoms occurring late in the disease include:
- Bone pain or tenderness
- Fractures with little or no trauma
- Loss of height (as much as 6 inches) over time
- Low back pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
- Neck pain due to fractures of the spinal bones
- Stooped posture or kyphosis, also called a "dowager's hump"
Prevention
EXERCISE
Regular exercise can reduce the likelihood of bone fractures in people with osteoporosis. Some of the recommended exercises include:
- Weight-bearing exercises -- walking, jogging, playing tennis, dancing
- Resistance exercises -- free weights, weight machines, stretch bands
- Balance exercises -- tai chi, yoga
- Riding a stationary bicycle
- Using rowing machines
Avoid any exercise that presents a risk of falling, or high-impact exercises that may cause fractures.
DIET
Get at least 1,200 milligrams per day of calcium, and 800 - 1,000 international units of vitamin D3. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Available at our office are Whole Food Suppliments through Standard Process that will provide you with the assurance that you are getting the proper calcium you need.
Follow a diet that provides the proper amount of calcium, vitamin D, and protein. While this will not completely stop bone loss, it will guarantee that a supply of the materials the body uses to form and maintain bones is available.
High-calcium foods include:
- Cheese
- Ice cream
- Leafy green vegetables, such as spinach and collard greens
- Low-fat milk
- Salmon
- Sardines (with the bones)
- Tofu
- Yogurt
STOP UNHEALTHY HABITS
Quit smoking, if you smoke. Also limit alcohol intake and carbonated drinks. Too much alcohol or carbonated drinks can damage your bones, as well as put you at risk for falling and breaking a bone.
Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease.
Osteoporosis occurs when the body fails to form enough new bone, when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both.
Calcium and phosphate are two minerals that are essential for normal bone formation. Throughout youth, your body uses these minerals to produce bones. If you do not get enough calcium, or if your body does not absorb enough calcium from the diet, bone production and bone tissues may suffer.
As you age, calcium and phosphate may be reabsorbed back into the body from the bones, which makes the bone tissue weaker. This can result in brittle, fragile bones that are more prone to fractures, even without injury.
Usually, the loss occurs gradually over years. Many times, a person will have a fracture before becoming aware that the disease is present. By the time a fracture occurs, the disease is in its advanced stages and damage is severe.
The leading causes of osteoporosis are a drop in estrogen in women at the time of menopause and a drop in testosterone in men. Women over age 50 and men over age 70 have a higher risk for osteoporosis.
Other causes include:
- Being confined to a bed
- Chronic rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, eating disorders
- Taking corticosteroid medications (prednisone, methylprednisolone) every day for more than 3 months, or taking some anti-seizure drugs
- Hyperparathyroidism
White women, especially those with a family history of osteoporosis, have a greater-than-average risk of developing osteoporosis. Other risk factors include:
Absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) for long periods of time- Drinking a large amount of alcohol
- Drinking a large amount of carbonated drinks (pop)
- Family history of osteoporosis
- History of hormone treatment for prostate cancer or breast cancer
- Low body weight
- Smoking
- Too little calcium in the diet
If you feel that you are at risk or are interested in learning more on how to prevent osteoporosis happening to you give Dr. Collard a call 801-569-1141. Dr Collard is also available for free lectures on how to prevent osteoporosis.
Menstrual Problems/Irregularities |
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Many patients have found protection from unnecessary surgery, useless
medication and needless suffering when they started to read drug product
inserts; books on their condition; got second and third opinions; and,
whenever possible, explored alternatives to hysterectomy and drug therapy.
Remember, a healthy spinal column is essential for the health of the
female reproductive system and it is vital for women with gynecological
problems to have routine spinal checkups by a doctor of chiropractic.
A chiropractic spinal examination could make all the difference between
sickness and health.
Your Spine, Nerves & Hormones
The female sexual organs-the ovaries, oviducts (tubes), uterus, cervix,
vagina, glands and related structures-all need a healthy nerve supply
from the spine to function properly. Doctors of chiropractic help see
that the sexual organ/spinal column relationship is a healthy one.
The Chiropractic Approach
Though not a treatment for gynecological troubles, the chiropractic
approach has been a blessing to countless women with such problems.
Chiropractors correct the vertebral subluxation complex (a dangerous
condition in your spine that interferes with the nervous system and
causes a state of "dis-ease" or reduced health and wholeness)
that can lead to disease.
Spinal Care
It is no coincidence that many who suffer from menstrual cramps also
suffer from neck or back pain. In one study of 122 dysmenorrhea sufferers,
most had lower back problems and spinal displacements. Perhaps that
is why many women who initially visited a chiropractor for neck or back
problems experienced beneficial effects on menstrual cramps, pain and
other gynecological problems. There are, however, many women who suffer
from menstrual problems and other health conditions who will not go
to the chiropractor because: "If I don't have a backache, why go
to the chiropractor?" Because of this misperception that chiropractors
are "backache doctors" many never receive the true benefits
of chiropractic care.
Many organs other than the sexual ones are responsible for reproductive
health. For example, chemicals produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands
that are essential for reproduction are broken down by the liver. If
the liver isn't working properly, these chemicals can build up to unhealthy
levels and cause fibroid tumors in the uterus (leiomyomas), which, although
benign, account for at least one-third of all gynecological admissions
to hospitals.
The Spine/Pelvis Relationship
For over a hundred years, many women who have suffered from a wide variety
of pelvic and gynecological conditions-from pain to PMS-have discovered
the natural benefits of chiropractic care. Patients have also observed
that menopausal symptoms including depression, hot flashes, back or
joint pain, irritability, headaches or fatigue have been reduced from
chiropractic spinal care. Dr. J. E. Browning is a doctor of chiropractic
who has written extensively on the chiropractic management of patients
with pelvic problems. His clinical observations have led him to state
that, "Various disturbances in pelvic organ function have been
successfully managed by chiropractic ... symptoms [include] bladder,
bowel, gynecologic, and sexual dysfunction ..."
If you have any questions please give us a call. 801-569-1141. Dr. Collard
will be happy to discuss with you how chiropractic, acupuncture, and
therapeutic massage may help you.
Pregnancy and Chiropractic Care |
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Can Chiropractic Care Help During Pregnancy?
Chiropractic care and spinal adjustments help to ensure a healthier pregnancy, and alleviate some of the discomfort, as well as prevent future problems that may arise as a result of pregnancy.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can be helpful in the following ways:
• Help to maintain daily activities during and after pregnancy
• Promotion of spinal stability
• Increased endurance
• Pain relief
• Improved physical fitness
• Promotes self care
• Aides a speedier recovery following childbirth
Chiropractors can evaluate and treat pain in the body, especially in the spine, joints, and muscles. One of the most common complaints in pregnancy is muscle soreness and spinal discomfort. Chiropractors can do safe adjustments that will help maintain motion in the spine as well as soft tissue work and massage to relax muscles that have been strained due to the changes in the woman’s body. Your chiropractor may also advise you on proper ergonomic positions for lifting, getting up from seated, and getting in and out of the car, to keep yourself from unnecessary strains on your body and decrease some of the common pregnancy discomforts.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe During Pregnancy?
Because chiropractors use a drug-free approach, chiropractic care is absolutely safe during pregnancy for both you and your unborn baby. Chiropractors can use special tables and adjustments that are safe for the baby and equally as effective for you. Because your body is going through a great deal of changes in a short time, it is recommended that you get regular chiropractic care, as this will keep your body limber and moving easily, thus aiding in a healthy delivery and faster recovery.
What Causes Back Pain In Pregnancy?
Back pain is a very common complaint during pregnancy. This can be caused by a number of things. It is most often the result of your center of gravity shifting with your growing abdomen, causing strain and stress on the muscles and ligaments surrounding your spine. As you get further along in your pregnancy, a hormone called relaxin is produced to help your body loosen the ligaments in preparation for the birthing process. Unfortunately, this can also be a cause of back pain, as well as pain in other areas of the body, as they are more easily strained and your body misaligned. This hormone can remain in your system for some time after pregnancy also, causing instability in the joints. Your chiropractor can give you some mild exercises to help re-strengthen the muscles of your back and abdomen, aiding in support of your spine.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help After Pregnancy?
One of the more common complaints following childbirth is lower back pain. Due to the stress of carrying the baby, the relatively rapid weight gain, and hormonal changes within your body, the spine and the muscles surrounding it are strained and stretched. Chiropractic treatments can help to restore your body structure to its pre-pregnancy state.
Can Chiropractic Care Be Helpful For My Partner And Baby?
Although mainly the mother experiences the majority of the changes during pregnancy, parenting a new baby can be physically and mentally demanding on the whole family, including the infant. Parents often complain of beck and neck aches from holding and feeding their new baby. The baby also goes through a demanding birth process, and a chiropractor can help your baby recover and adjust to their new environment.
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