Dehydration signs and symptoms

July 23, 2010

Dehydration:

Dehydration happens when we excrete more fluids than we take in.  We lose fluids by sweating, urinating, defecating, vomiting.

Most of the time dehydration happens because of diarrhea, vomiting, flu/fever.   It is recommended to drink approximately 8 ounces of fluid before any exercise.   Not drinking water before a workout and after can produce dehydration and also create a headache.

It can happen to anyone at any age, but older adults and individuals with illnesses are more at risk.  Anyone may become dehydrated, but young children, older adults and people with chronic illnesses are most at risk.   Always make sure you drink at least 8 ounces of water per day and if you are athletic or ill, add another 8 ounces or more.

What are the symptoms of Dehydration:

  1. Dry mouth
  2. Fatigue
  3. Thirst
  4. Yellow urine (also decreased frequency of urination)
  5. Decrease in tear production
  6. Weakness of musculature
  7. Headaches
  8. Dizziness/vertigo

For individuals experiencing severe dehydration, these are some of the symptoms: (this can become a medical emergency)

  1. Extreme thirst
  2. Irritability and confusion
  3. Extreme dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes
  4. No sweating
  5. Very little urination
  6. Eyes are sunken
  7. Skin that does not bounce back when pinched/pulled lightly
  8. Low blood pressure
  9. Rapid heartbeat
  10. Fever
  11. Delirious behavior
  12. Unconsciousness
  13. In infants, sunken fontanels (baby “soft spot”)

(See a medical doctor if symptoms are severe, if you vomit for more than 8 hours or have severe diarrhea for more than 3 days)

*Always add electrolytes (sodium, potassium and calcium) to water if vomiting or having extreme diarrhea.

Water has zero calories and is essential to human function.  An average adult sweats, breathes and secretes up to 2.5 liters of water a day.  This needs to be replenished in order to transport and absorb nutrients.

In most cases, simply adding fluids and electrolytes will slowly bring energy and nutrients to the surface.  If you body is not responding, then it may be necessary to see a medical doctor for further testing.

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Comments (0)

Bell’s Palsy, what is it? What can be done?

July 21, 2010

Bell’s palsy happens suddenly.  You may awake with one part of your face drooping.  The 7th cranial nerve is responsible for this problem.   The 7th cranial nerve passes through an opening in the temporal bone located on the side of your head.  If irritated, stretched or impinged it will lose its ability to innervate the facial muscles of your face. You may be unable to raise your eyebrows, pucker your lips, blink or smile.  Basically, you have lost the ability to produce a facial expression.

Symptoms:

Pain around the ear can often happen before the facial nerve shows signs of paresis or paralysis.  The front of one side of the face usually feels heavy or numb.  often precedes facial paresis. Paresis, often with complete paralysis, develops within hours and is usually maximal within 48 to 72 h. Patients may complain of a numb or heavy feeling in the face.

After the examiner notices a drooping face on one side, general cranial nerve testing is administered and if positive, safe chiropractic care can be started.   If treatment is unsuccessful, then you may want to get checked and cleared for:

  1. Herpes
  2. Ear infections
  3. Sarcoidosis
  4. Lyme disease
  5. Skull fractures
  6. Carcinomatous
  7. Meningitis
  8. Tumors

Treatment:

Medical doctors like to administer corticosteroids which can only be given a limited amount of times and actually has been shown to decrease healing time for tissues in the body.  Chiropractors can adjust the first bone (Atlas) in your neck which can free up the fascial nerve.  C1 or Atlas is located near the brain stem and can affect the whole body.

Before ingesting drugs which can produce harmful affects on the liver, kidneys, pancreas and other organs, try chiropractic, you may be surprised by the results!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Weight lifting technique, lets do it the right way!

July 11, 2010

When I am at the gym, I see numerous people working out incorrectly and have no idea that it is going to cause a problem eventually.   Improper posture, lifting too much weight and rushing through the workout can cause long term issues.

Here are some ways of lifting weights at the gym the right way:

1. Lift the proper amount of weight. If you can comfortably lift a weight 12 to 15 times, it is the proper weight for you. As you get stronger, increase the weight while still maintaining the 12 to 15 drill.

2. Use the proper technique. If you have a problem maintaining your posture then try lighter weights and less repetitions. It really makes a difference. Your knees should be slightly bent, shoulders pulled back and back should be relatively straight

3. Breathe out as you lift the weight and in as you lower the weight. For more of a workout, keep a bit of tension on the way back down. This will work the muscle more and you get so much more out of your workout.

4. If you do weights with the front muscles of the body, do them in the back. Most people work on their quadriceps but neglect the hamstrings in the back. What is really popular is working the calf muscles in the back leg but not working the muscles in the front and side of the leg. You want balance in the body and not over work some muscles while under working others.

5. Exercise different muscles each day. Don’t do biceps and quadriceps two days in a row. Switch to triceps and hamstrings. Resting muscles after a workout allows them to regenerate and get ready for the next set of repetitions.

Here are the Don’ts:

  1. Don’t skip your warm up. Remember, we are shortening muscles with a workout. That means they should be stretched before and after. Shortening a muscle that is already short will provoke an injury. Each stretch should last 25-30 seconds.
  2. Don’t rush your workouts. This will make you lose your form and won’t work the muscle as much as you would like.
  3. Don’t overdo it. I quite frequently hear people saying they are so sore they can’t move the next day. Working the muscle to fatigue is really all you need. Becoming so sore that you can’t move will not motivate you to get back into the gym. I recommend going about 70% in the beginning and working your way up. This way, you won’t be at risk of hurting yourself and you will be motivated to keep doing your workout.
  4. No pain, no gain theory is not a good way of working out. If it hurts to do an exercise, stop! This is your body telling you that something isn’t right. You may need to alter your weight or check your body posture.

Now that you know the proper way to work out, you can avoid hurting yourself and have the workouts you desire.

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

San Carlos Summer Concert Series

July 9, 2010

The 20th Annual San Carlos Summer Concerts 2010, presented by Mills-Peninsula Women’s Center, starts tonight!

Friday Evenings
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
July 9 – August 6 at Burton Park
Free Entertainment!

Gather with friends and family and enjoy a picnic dinner in the park (sorry, no BBQ’s)

July 9
The Distractions
Rock ‘n Roll Classics
sponsored by Sequoia Healthcare District

July 16
Big Bang Beat
Ultimate Party Classics
sponsored by Crippen & Flynn Funeral Chapels – Belmont & Redwood City

July 23
The Bell Brothers
Country Rock
sponsored by Palo Alto Medical Foundation

July 30
The Refugees – A Tom Petty Tribute
sponsored by Mills-Peninsula Women’s Center

August 6
E-Ticket Band
Oldies Rock n’ Roll
sponsored by RE/MAX Today and BOW WOW Meow

We will try to have a booth to raise money for San Carlos Together to support a San Carlos Dog Park. So, stop by if you see us there.

By admin | Posted in San Carlos California | Comments (0)

Bisphosphonates or natural foods?

July 8, 2010

What are Bisphosphonates?

Bisphosphonates are drugs used to try and prevent bone loss.  Cancer patients are put on this because drugs they take to treat pain associated with cancer can lead to bone loss.  It is also used with patients with Osteoporosis.

Drugs prescribed for this problem are:

Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, Aledndronate, Ibandronate and Risedronate.

Health Concerns:

With every drug there is a side effect.  Some of the side effects with using Biphosphonates are abdominal pain, dyspepsia (upset stomach), nausea, constipation or diarrhea, flatulence, vomiting, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), gastritis, muscle and joint pain, headaches, dizziness just to name a few.

So, if you can avoid taking drugs for the problem, here are some food and vitamin suggestions that can help keep your bones healthy.  Calcium, vitamin D and phosphorous are key to bones health.  Eating dairy products, salmon, sardines, almonds, and green leafy vegetables are great to keep your bones strong.

Whole grains, shell fish, lean meats, beans along with fruits and vegetables (especially brussel spouts) are filled with zinc, boron and copper which is needed as well.

With every problem we encounter in health, there are most often natural methods of relief.  It just takes a bit of an effort and research to find out what they are!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Bed Wetting in Adults and Children

July 7, 2010

Bed wetting is sometimes called ” nocturnal enuresis”.  It can be embarrassing and a nuisance.  Lets talk about how chiropractic can help with this problem without drugs or surgery.

First lets find out how bed wetting occurs. If you have seen a doctor and it has been proven that the occurrences are not because of emotional stress than it is a physical problem.  Drinking less water before bed is recommended but in many cases, this isn’t enough. One treatment people rarely think of with this problem is chiropractic.

So what do our nerves have to do with this problem?

We have a reflex in our body that keeps our smooth muscles preventing ourselves from urinating in our sleep to stay contracted. It is called a phrenic reflex. If is not working properly the smooth muscles relax and release any fluid inside the bladder is released causing you or your child to wet the bed.

So what can a chiropractor do about the reflex?

Often times the reflex is just obstructed by a vertebral misalignment known as subluxation. A subluxation means the bone is out of place causing the nerves around the area to become dysfunctional. So, if the nerves affecting the phrenic reflex are not working properly because of being impaired, we need to get the bone and nerve back to where they need to be in order for the body to function properly.

We allow the bone to move back into the joint and the body can now function the way it should.

Does this Really Work?

Yes it does! Check out these study results:

1. The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, examined 171 children who had bed wetting every single night. Chiropractic care was administered to each child.

After receiving treatment, the average “wet” nights for the entire group decreased from 7 to 4 nights per week. Also, 25% had a 50 percent reduction in bed-wetting nights. 15% had no more occurrences after treatment.

2. A control group of 46 bed-wetting children. Some were not treated with chiropractic care and others were. 31 children receiving treatment showed an almost 18% reduction in wet nights, the untreated group showed no improvement at all.

So while we may not always completely alleviate the problem, we can help decrease the amount of bed-wetting significantly.

Dr. Amie B. Gregory

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Comments (0)

Is it normal for my child to have chronic pain?

June 18, 2010

Kids are resilient!  Remember when you were a kid?  You could fall down, scrape your knee and it wouldn’t bother you a bit.  How many times did you fall learning how to walk, ride a bike, or just strain yourself during physical education class?

Kids are small and flexible so doesn’t it make sense that a bone may be moved out of place? Sometimes the body can take care of itself and put the bones back to where they belong, but sometimes the body may need some help.  One warning sign is a child with long term pain.  The body is saying there is something wrong

If your child has chronic pain, it usually means there is a problem and is not normal.  Abdominal pain could mean many different things and it would be a good idea to see a medical doctor to make sure it is not appendicitis or a serious condition.  If your child is experiencing musculo-skeletal problems then there may be a fracture, tear or bio-mechanical problem that needs to be addressed.

After ruling out a fracture or serious problem, chiropractors can analyze and examine your child to make sure that they are functioning properly and are not pulling or straining ligaments, tendons and bones in their bodies.  We are experts in body mechanics and can promote healthy posture, alignment and function.   Starting early in life being aware of your body will lead to a long, vibrant and happy life with limited stress and injury.

Chiropractic is safe for everyone, even kids. We offer gentle ways of allowing the bones to go back and stay where they belong.  We can help keep your child happy, healthy and loving life!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Are backpacks good for my child’s posture?

June 16, 2010

Kids carry heavy backpacks with school supplies.  Many times the backpack is carried over one shoulder pulling on one side of the neck.  This causes one shoulder to be higher than the other.  This can start to cause postural problems, headaches and neck pain.  Also, because the load is so heavy, kids often bend over pushing their head forward causing more stress on the neck and shoulders.   Research has come back showing that kids backpacks can be up to 30% of their body weight.  That is pretty heavy and to carry this load several days a week can have some huge affects on the body!

Prolonged stress on the back not only causes upper back and neck problems but lower back problems because of the strain on the spinal column.  Posture can be greatly affected because children are still very flexible and growing.  Please choose ergonomic backpacks that put less stress on the back and shoulders and ALWAYS have both straps around the shoulders to prevent unnecessary stress on the body.  This will enable your child to have a fighting chance against postural problems in the future!

Here are some things to look for when buying a backpack:

- Padded backs to help reduce pressure on shoulders, arms and back.

- Belts for the hip and chest to aide in proper weight distribution.

- Multiple compartments so that items can be placed in the pack with better balance and distribution plus keeping them secure and easy to access.

- Stabilizing compression straps on the sides and bottom to help secure and compress the contents.

- Reflective patches to increase pre-dawn or night safety.

Hope this helps!

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Updated Baker’s Cyst Information

June 15, 2010

Q: What is a Baker’s Cyst?

A: A Bakers Cyst is a fluid growth that occurs on the back of the knee. It can become hard and very painful.  A Baker’s Cyst can occur in children and adults.

Q: How does it happen?

A: A cyst starts to grow when there is a biomechanical problem adding stress to the joint such as with walking, running, standing and/or posture. It is also called a Popliteal Cyst.  Pulling of the muscles, tendons and ligaments can form swelling and then the cyst will start to form.

Q: What are the symptoms of Baker’s Cysts?

A: Symptoms of Baker’s Cysts can include:

  1. swelling behind the knee which can get to to size of a golf ball
  2. Difficulty and pressure on the joint when bending the knee. This pressure can go all the way down the calf muscle.
  3. Pain and tenderness after exercising

Q: What can be done to help alleviate a baker’s cyst?

A: Rest is the number one way of relieving problems with the cyst. Inflammation will go down and the fluid in the cyst will start to alleviate. Braces can also be worn to reduce the stress on the joint and prevent bad body mechanics which start to build the cyst back up again.

If given time to heal and stress is taken off of the joint, the cyst will get rid of its fluid and disappear.  Did you know that there is a 40% chance that a cyst removed by surgery will reoccur. That is a pretty high percentage!  So, if you can bear it, give it some time to take care of itself instead of opting for invasive surgery.  Once your tissues are cut open, there will be scar tissue left over and it may be hard to recuperate.

It is also important to alleviate the bio-mechanical problem.  It can be caused by uneven leg length, foot problems, tight muscles which add stress to the knee joint, trauma to the knee joint.  Taking care of the cause the cyst occurrence is key.   This will avoid a lot of unnecessary pain and irritation.

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Chest pain can be caused by a rib out of place

June 15, 2010

Most people are amazed to find out that the ribs are not directly attached to the vertebrae.  There is tissue between the rib and vertebrae which allows them to move and expand when we breathe. When a rib is not in the right place, it will inflame causing pain and discomfort.

So, what does it feel like when a rib is out?

When a rib is out of alignment, pain can occur in the front of you chest, side or upper to mid back.  In the case of a rib out in front of out chest, it may sometimes feel like you are having a heart attack.  Many patients check into the emergency room only to find out that cardiac or pulmonary problems are ruled out.  If this occurs, it is probably a rib out of place.  I personally have had a rib out of place in the front from boxing and I can say from experience that it can be a bit scary until you know that you are not having a heart attack.

If a rib is out in the back, pin point pain will occur in the upper/lower back or side, especially when breathing.

So, what can be done?

A chiropractor can find the rib easily with a “hands on” assessment.   After finding the problem and guiding the rib back in place, the rib will stay in place and the tissues and nerves around the area will heal which will stop the pain.

Ribs are overlooked by many health practitioners but I have seen several patients with pain that just won’t go away and they are unsure what is causing the problem.
After finding a rib that is out of place and correcting it I have gotten amazing results!  The patient can normally get fast relief and reassurance that they do not have a serious health problem.

By Dr. Amie Gregory | Posted in San Carlos California | Tagged , , | Comments (0)