Friday, May 28, 2010
Want to feel better, look better and actually BE better by summer?
· Remove trans fats from your diet- or at least minimize them. They are mostly found in commercially baked foods and processed foods.
· Increase water intake. The recommendation is to take your body weight in pounds (lbs.) and drink half that amount in ounces. (Example: a 150 pound person is to drink 75 ounces.)
· Increase the amount of raw fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. This will help with digestion and proper function of your GI tract. Try some new things to find your new favorites.
· Reduce the amount of snack foods- chips, candy, soda, ice cream, cookies, cakes, etc. Don’t worry- I didn’t say remove, I said reduce.
· Think about posture. Improving posture can improve almost all body functions and decreases the chance of injury.
· Get physically active. Start easy. Walking is a great exercise to begin with. Try to avoid high impact activities until you can build up to them.
· Stretch every day. Don’t overdo this one. Just stretch until you can feel a little pull in the muscle. It’s best to do this after warming up- after activity or just out of the shower.
· Do something that challenges you mentally on a daily basis. Sudoku, crossword puzzles, computer games, learning a new language. Make it fun.
· Take time for yourself. Spend 15 to 30 minutes a day doing something for you. It can be something from this list or anything else you decide. Just be sure to do it for yourself.
By beginning to implement these things into (or out of) your life you will enhance your own wellness and enjoy the benefits of a happier and healthier lifestyle.
-Harris Meyer, DC
Body Focus Health Center
415-956-3226
A few things you may not have known
The word “chiropractic” is taken from Greek, and means “done by hand”.
To date, much research has been done and much material published on the benefits and cost-effective nature of chiropractic treatment.
The number of Americans who seek chiropractic care has more than tripled in the last ten years, and continues to grow each year.
It is widely known by those who have visited a chiropractic doctor that the philosophy works, your body feels better, it heals better, and you are not cut, drugged, and off from work for 6 weeks to recuperate.
Dr. Meyer as a chiropractor believes in and practices the whole body approach to healing. Symptoms only tell us a small bit about what's happening with our health. If we choose only to alleviate the symptom or treat it as best we can, we are ignoring an opportunity to understand and improve our health as a whole.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
For all my pregnant patients and non-patients
I have been providing safe and effective care for pregnant women for many years as have many other chiropractors. When we think for just a minute about the health benefits we derive from adjustments at any age, it's not hard to understand why they can be SO valuable when another living being is developing inside your body. A compromised nervous system causes or allows errors and problems to arise. If there were ever a time to do everything in our power to prevent that, these nine months certainly qualify. The following article refers only to pain experienced during pregnancy, not the myriad of other health benefits produced by chiropractic care. Pain is certainly a motivator to seek chiro care, is unquestionably unpleasant, and can cause its own set of problems. For these reasons, I wanted to share the article. -Harris Meyer, DC
Pregnancy, Back Pain & Chiropractic By
Mark Studin DC, FASBE (C), DAAPM, DAAMLP
Back pain during pregnancy can be significant in terms of intensity and resulting disability. One study found that 35.5% of woman had at least moderate to severe back pain during 1 or more of their pregnancies. The pain scales of the pregnant woman (on the Owestry rating scale of 0-10, where 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain imaginable) ranged from 5.86 to 9.21. [1] One of the problems with patients not seeking care during pregnancy is this can become a long-term chronic condition and inherently more difficult to resolve. One such study of concluded a retrospective review of 179 pregnant woman in 5 clinics regarding back pain during pregnancy and labor found that 85% reported relief of their low back pain as a direct result of chiropractic care. In an unrelated study, 25% had complete remission of their back pain, 50% reported feeling very well and 15% were feeling better. Only 10% reported no changes.[2] The average pain scale prior to chiropractic care was 7.58 and post chiropractic care was 4.25 in one study. A second study revealed the average pain scale before chiropractic care 5.9 and post chiropractic care 1.5 out of 10 on the Owestry scale. This author, having practiced chiropractic for 30 years and cared for 100’s of pregnant patients during that time has had similar results in the clinical setting. The primary reason those pregnant patients to seek chiropractic care have been that it is a drugless approach and it works. Beyond that, pregnant patients need not spend 9 months in pain so they can enjoy an active pregnancy and get the exercise needed to have a healthy full-term labor and delivery. This study along with many others concludes that a drug-free approach of chiropractic care is one of the best solutions for pregnant patients with back pain.
[1]Kent J. Stuber DC, MSc, Dean L. Smith DC, PhD, Chiropractic Treatment of Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review of the Evidence, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 31, Number 6, 2008
[2]Kent J. Stuber DC, MSc, Dean L. Smith DC, PhD, Chiropractic Treatment of Pregnancy-Related Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review of the Evidence, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 31, Number 6, 2008
Monday, May 10, 2010
If you or someone close to you suffers with depression, please listen to this
Harris Meyer, D.C.
Body Focus Health Center
580 Market St., Mezzanine Level
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-956-3226 / 956-3313 (F)
Friday, May 7, 2010
Please watch this video about bottled water
Harris Meyer, D.C.
Body Focus Health Center
580 Market St., Mezzanine Level
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-956-3226 / 956-3313 (F)
www.bodyfocushealth.com
http://doctormeyer.isagenix.com
This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronically transmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error, please notify the sender and delete this message immediately.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Fibromyalgia Sufferers May Not Know This
Fibromyalgia & Chiropractic Care
Do you wake up feeling tired, washed out, and dragged down? Do you have generalized pain throughout your body that doesn’t seem to respond to anything you’ve tried? Do you wake up multiple times a night and fight getting back to sleep? These are classic symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM). However, when caught early and treated appropriately, FM can resolve or at least be controlled. Chiropractic care and management of FM is very effective and is becoming increasingly popular among FM sufferers. The goal of managing FM is to return you to a productive, enjoyable lifestyle allowing you to function and perform all of your desired activities. 
Chiropractic care is the most popular and sought after form of alternative care or complementary 
medicine as 20% of American men and women utilize chiropractic care at some point in their lives. Of all the health care options, few have been found to be as satisfying to their patients as chiropractic with 80% of those seeking chiropractic treatment reporting significant pain relief, better functioning and an increased sense of wellbeing. Still, many ask questions such as, what is the science behind chiropractic and, what exactly does a chiropractor do? The original hypothesis or theory of chiropractic that led to its founding in 1895 is that skeletal or bone misalignments cause nerve interference resulting in pain, loss of function, and a host of other symptoms related to the nervous system. The entire body is connected through bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, with their supporting circulatory or blood flow system and nervous system. When the skeletal structure is in good alignment, the body can handle the many stresses and challenges we all face on a daily basis. When there is a breakdown in this system, symptoms manifest and when left untreated, these symptoms can develop into chronic pain, including conditions such as fibromyalgia. Chiropractors focus on correcting the imbalances in the skeletal system which reduced problems with how the nervous system functions. The result: reduced or aleviated pain and other symptoms. But what happens if you take a pill or use another form of healthcare that doesn't get to the cause of the problem? That's right, it continues, often worsens, and the symptoms you can't stand return, persist, or also get worse. 
Many of the techniques utilized in chiropractic care include manipulation of not only the bony structures, but also the muscles, tendons, and ligaments through various forms of manual or hands-on therapy, stretching, posture correction methods, exercise, lifestyle modification recommendations including diet and nutritional management, and activity modifications. Chiropractic care also includes discussions and instructions for modifying methods of performing tasks including bending, lifting, pulling, pushing in both at work and home activities. Work station modifications are also investigated, especially when symptoms are consistently worse during or after the work day. Patients with fibromyalgia classically have generalized pain and tender spots throughout their body and often present with back pain, neck pain, headaches, as well as arm and/or leg pain. Chiropractic care can effectively reduce the pain associated with FM by reducing bony misalignments, restoring muscle tone, and improving posture. Proper exercise training has been found to be very important in maintaining long-term control of FM and is included in the management of FM. Diet and nutritional counseling may also be beneficial. Research has been very supportive of chiropractic care for patients suffering from FM.
We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.
Harris Meyer, D.C.
Body Focus Health Center
580 Market St., Mezzanine Level
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-956-3226 / 956-3313 (F)
www.bodyfocushealth.com
http://doctormeyer.isagenix.com
This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronically transmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error, please notify the sender and delete this message immediately.
Teach Our Children
Health and wellness are subjects that many of us consider every day but that all of us should consider all day long. Both children and adults should be aware of their choices and the effect those choice will have on wellness. Getting kids started learning about wellness at a young age means the difference between enjoying good health or risking true misery in their adult years. Our role at Body Focus is to facilitate this learning with our very young chiropractic patients.
Countless people visit chiropractors when they have back or neck problems. If these same people don't learn about the total health benefits of chiropractic, they are losing out on so much potential to live a life of glowing health…and painfree as well. We aim to educate while we provide care so that people can learn about living well and how to reap the rewards.
There are so many aspects of our lives to consider when we tackle the topic of wellness. How we sleep, what and when we eat, how our thoughts effect us, our posture, medications we take, our exposure to pollution, our occupation, and the list goes on and on. So why do I mention this? Well we want to take these different contributors into account in determining how well someone is doing and what changes are necessary BUT, there is one unquestionable truth that is the whole reason a great chiropractor is important for everyone: everything your body does is controlled by your nervous system. That means your body's ability to deal with pollution, to get a restful sleep, to get nutrients from your diet, and every single other event that happens with your body is controlled by the nervous system. Only a chiropractor is trained to detect pressure on the nervous system that blocks it from doing its job completely and accurately. And only a chiropractor is trained and licensed to safely correct the problem resulting in that blockage. The point? You can't know if you have nervous system pressure because it usually does not cause pain or other symptoms. If you DO have any, than something or many things in your body are not functioning the way they need to. It is then impossible to have real wellness. We can be fooled by "feeling fine" into thinking we have total wellness but as I said, nervous system pressure and blockage usually doesn't cause any pain or symptoms so we don't know it exists.
If you begin saving money today at your current age, and your children start saving the same amount right now as well, who will have more when they turn 70? If you start working with an expert today on your health and so did your children, who is more likely to have greater wellness when they turn 70? Hmm. Please bring your children for a chiropractic check-up and find out if all is well or you need to start working on some changes. You can't put these things off and expect the same result as if you act right away.
Wishing you and your family the greatest of health. We would be honored to work with you on achieving that. -Harris Meyer, DC
Body Focus Health Center
415-956-3226
Monday, May 3, 2010
For mothers and mothers-to-be
In honor of Mother's Day, we invite all moms to come in for a complimentary wellness assessment, a $200 value. All you need to do is call our office (415-956-3226), mention this post, and ask to schedule your evaluation. That's it.
Your assessment will include: health history, spinal examination, non-invasive nervous system scan. This is a $200 value available to mothers only during the month of May 2010.
Call now to schedule your appointment. Please allow approximately 60 minutes.
Harris Meyer, D.C.
Body Focus Health Center
580 Market St., Mezzanine Level
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-956-3226 / 956-3313 (F)
www.bodyfocushealth.com
