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Whole family ‘health care’

February 19, 2013 By

submitted by Dr. Stephen M. Sell, www.SellChiro.com

Some people believe that “health care” or “caring for one’s health” begins when there is an apparent problem. We are even taught this by popular advertising that all we need to do to “stay healthy” is treat symptoms and feel good.

In fact this is hardly “health” care; rather it is merely crisis intervention.  As people in our community have become more educated about health and are asking more questions about the care we receive, we are realizing that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” 

One way that thousands of families and millions of people have chosen to pursue health is with regular Chiropractic care. Chiropractic is extremely safe, gentle, and effective for all family members of every age. 

Chiropractic works on a simple principle that the spine and nervous system controls and coordinates the function of every organ and cell in the body. The simple question is then, which of my family members have a spine and nervous system?

The simple answer is everyone does, of course. However, if there is interference with the nervous system, usually due to spinal vertebrae being displaced, normal body function is disrupted and poor health results.

The high school athlete in the family may complain of back pain or a knee problem, the middle school child may be having trouble concentrating and is getting poor grades, a mother may be having menstrual problems, an infant may have colic or ear infections, a father may have neck pain and headaches, and these are all related and have been corrected by Chiropractic.

Remember, health is “a state of optimal physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease.”

Are you operating at OPTIMAL health? Or just squeaking by?

Let Chiropractic care lead your family to optimal health.

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Staying Healthy Despite Stress

December 11, 2012 By

submitted by Dr. Stephen M. Sell

In our fast-paced lives, stress is a normal occurrence for most people. The following will explain how stress occurs, what stress does to the body, and what we can do to decrease the effects of stress on our body to live a more healthy life.

Inherently, some level of stress is necessary and good for the body. However, too much stress can create a huge negative impact on us. Unfortunately for most of us, we usually don’t have just one stressful event of the day.

Rather, every part of our lives can carry some level of stress. This results in a condition known as chronic stress.

Chronic stress irritates our nervous system, which is our master control system that is responsible for all of our body functions. This stress to our nervous system leaves our body fatigued and more susceptible to infections, colds, high blood pressure, headaches, joint pain and arthritis, digestive problems, and premature aging.

Our defense is learning how to deal with our stress and improve the health of our nervous system.

Here are some tips:

Deep Breathing - Periodically during the day, close your eyes and take three to five very deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. You will be surprised at your relaxation.

Better Posture – Sitting up straight with shoulders and head back reduces body stress.

Improve Diet – Healthy foods keep us energized while processed foods and drinks with chemicals in them irritate our body.

Get Adjusted - One of the simplest and easiest ways of stress reduction is with a chiropractic spinal adjustment. By taking pressure off the nervous system, muscles immediately relax and our body’s function improves promoting better adaptation to stress, whether physical or psychological.   

The more of these stress-relieving activities we do, the healthier our bodies will be.

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Can backpacks cause spinal problems?

July 31, 2012 By

submitted by Dr. Stephen M. Sell, www.SellChiro.com

Many children use backpacks to carry their books and other materials to and from school. However, many times these backpacks cause undue stress on the spinal column, which can lead to serious problems later.

In a recent study, 10 children wore backpacks loaded to 0%, 10%, 20% or 30% of their body weight for 30 seconds to determine the amount of pressure under the backpack’s shoulder straps. The study found that pressure beneath the shoulder straps was “significantly increased” when the backpack was loaded at 10% of the child’s body weight or higher.

This study, and other studies such as this, has proven that heavy and/or uneven backpack loads could alter the curvature of a child’s spine and cause subluxations. Subluxations are misalignments in spinal vertebrae that impinge the nerves exiting the spinal cord.

These nerves are responsible for every bodily function in ourselves and in our children.

Here are four recommendations to help reduce spinal stress for children who wear backpacks:

  1. Backpacks should be positioned high on the back to discourage a “rounded-shoulders and forward head” posture. 
  2. Backpack straps should be worn over both shoulders to make the load even and reduce stress on the spine.     
  3. Weight in the backpacks should be minimized; no more than 10-15% of the student’s body weight.  
  4. Backpacks should have wide shoulder straps to disperse the force of the load and decrease the risk of shoulder injury and pain.

Many children can have spinal problems yet not show any outward signs or symptoms of a problem.

That is why it is also important for children to have regular chiropractic checkups to ensure proper spinal alignment and nervous system function. It is fast, easy, healthy, and fun for them all at the same time.

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Obliterate low back pain

June 27, 2012 By

submitted by Dr. Stephen M. Sell

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability and morbidity in people under age 45. Fifty percent of the working age population will experience back pain every year.

Low back pain costs the United States $50-$75 billion per year. The numbers are staggering.

Some people only think of falls, car accidents or sport injuries as the ways in which we injure our backs, but think of all the daily activities we do and don’t do that cause back injury.

We injure and reinjure our backs continually, daily. We injure our backs by not thinking of how we are lifting, by not stretching before activity or before lifting a heavy object, and sleeping in poor positions.

We injure our backs by not being aware of the negative effects of sitting slouched at the computer or on the couch for hours; or the position sitting in the car, with our hips shifted and leaning to one side.

These activities cause the spinal bones to become misaligned, leading to pressure on the nerves that exit the lower back. Over time these misalignments get worse and cause the spine to bread down prematurely.

One treatment option uses drugs to cover up the pain, which doesn’t correct the cause and damages the body. Surgery can be performed, but has proven to be problematic in thousands of cases and is extremely invasive.

Safer and more natural resolutions include constantly thinking about and correcting your posture in everything you do, perform regular spinal stretches, and get checked by a Doctor of Chiropractic. A Chiropractor is a spinal specialist who detects and corrects spinal stress in the presence and absence of pain.

Aligning the vertebrae and taking pressure off the nerves has very effectively helped millions become pain free and remain that way.

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Battling childhood obesity

November 30, 2011 By

submitted by Solomon Brenner, author of “Black Belt Parenting” and Master Instructor for Action Karate

Childhood obesity is becoming an increasing problem across the country. While we can blame societal changes, advertising, and even schools for our children’s weight problems, when it comes down to it the real changes have to be made in the home. You want to establish a lifetime of healthy habits for your whole family by creating a healthy eating and active environment.

When trying to improve your child’s eating habits, put the whole family on the same healthy diet, one that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains. This will keep your child from feeling singled out. By keeping the “bad” foods out of the house entirely, it will also be easier for them to avoid eating too much unhealthy food.

Make exercise a family event, too. Making time for the whole family to participate in regular physical activity, like bike riding or swimming, will make getting healthy more fun and also allow for more time together. You can even organize special family outings once in a while, like canoeing or skiing, that keep the family active.

Encourage your child to help you prepare the food together. This will give him a sense of independence and will make him feel better about eating healthy. Learning about healthy foods and recipes can increase your child’s enthusiasm for their new eating habits.

Schedule regular meal times. This will help keep your child from grazing during the day and will also ensure that you supervise what kinds of foods he is eating, so that you know your child is getting the vitamins and nutrients he needs. Not only that, but scheduling meals also allows more time together to talk about your days and spend quality time with your family. Having a regular snack time with low-calorie and nutritious snacks like fruit or yogurt can keep your child from feeling hungry between meals.

[Read more...]

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Get personal with your bank

November 30, 2011 By

submitted by Joseph J. Tryon, Jr., President, Hatboro Federal Savings

If you weren’t among the millions of Americans who ditched their big banks last month during national “Bank Transfer Day,” you still might be mulling over the thought of moving your money somewhere else. Here’s what you should expect from a community bank.

Interest Rates.  According to Bankrate.com, community banks tend to offer better lending and savings rates than the bigger banks.

Family Focused. Megabanks generally cater to big business. Community banks focus on individuals and families in the communities they serve.

Customer Service. Since community banks are often smaller, with fewer customers, it’s only natural you’ll get more attention from people who actually know your name.

Lower Fees. We’ve all been reading lately about how the bigger banks have attempted to charge their customers fees to use their debit and ATM cards. Community banks in general have not been raising fees for debit and ATM card usage.

Free Checking. Most big banks have discontinued free checking accounts, and the ones that still have them are requiring much higher minimum balance requirements. Check the Web sites of community banks in your area and you still might find a few that actually offer totally free checking.

Free Nationwide ATMs. Many people are still hesitant to move their money from a big bank to a community bank citing fewer branches and ATMs. Yet, there are some ATM networks – Allpoint is one – that offer over 43,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide. If your bank is not part of an ATM network like Allpoint, you may pay a fee for transactions. So, find a community bank affiliated with Allpoint and you have no more excuses not to move your accounts elsewhere.

Better rates, free checking, no tacky fees and great customer service. Is this what you’re getting from your bank? If not, move your money to a community bank.

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Nickel and dime bank fees

November 1, 2011 By

submitted by Joseph J. Tryon, Jr., President, Hatboro Federal Savings

Many banks in this area are inventing brand new fees to stick you with…and raising the ones they dreamed up years ago. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid these new gotchas.

Debit card fees – Starting in January 2012, many banks will begin charging their customers a monthly debit card fee for purchases. 

ATM fees – If you use an out-of-network ATM machine, be prepared to pay a fee. This may be unavoidable if your bank’s ATM network is limited to a small geographical location, like just in Bucks and Montgomery Counties.

Checking account fees – Two years ago, 75% of all banks offered free checking. Now, fewer than half do. And the fees keep mounting. Today, 60% more bank accounts carry fees and balance requirements than a year ago.

So, what can you do? Well, if you’ve had enough of your bank siphoning your money with new and higher monthly fees, consider dumping them and look to a smaller community bank for relief. Many community banks do not charge fees for using debit cards. And you can find out which ones simply by going to their Web site and poking around.

[Read more...]

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One chance to start over this year

October 4, 2011 By

submitted by Solomon Brenner, author of “Black Belt Parenting” and Master Instructor for Action Karate

It’s a brand new school year, and with it comes a brand new chance to start fresh and have a successful year. Now is the perfect time to break bad study habits and start developing new ones. The more value you place on your child’s education and the more interest you take in it, the better chance he has of doing better in school.

For children, each school day has it’s own routine, and that structure shouldn’t change once the bell rings at three o’clock. Establishing a regular homework routine will not only help you child get more done, it will also keep him focused and allow for more care-free hours once the work is done.

When you schedule homework time will vary on each child. Some children are more productive right after school, when they are still in work mode. Others benefit from a break or a snack between school and homework. Find out what time works best for your child and make that study time for everyday.

Setting a defined study time not only helps your child be more productive, but it also means that he’ll be able to complete assignments and study in smaller increments, rather than procrastinating and doing everything the night before it is due, or studying entire chapters of material the night before the test.

Eliminating procrastination habits now will help him through his schooling in the years to come. In addition to a defined time, you should also have a defined space in which your child can study. TV, radio, phones, and games can be major distractions, and will end up causing your child to spend longer on the work than he would have if he had been able to work uninterrupted. Having their own space to do schoolwork helps children stay focused.

If your child keeps an assignment book, look it over to make sure he completes everything on the list, especially with younger children. Helping them stay organized means fewer forgotten assignments and more time to study for upcoming tests.

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‘Magical,’ some parents say

August 30, 2011 By

submitted by Solomon Brenner, author of “Black Belt Parenting” and Master Instructor for Action Karate

It’s that magical time of the year again – back to school – and you know what that means: back to bedtimes, homework, school supplies, and hectic schedules.  But this time of the year doesn’t have to be scary for parents or kids.  All it takes is a little summer preparation to ensure that the road back to school is smooth sailing.

First thing’s first: remember all those summer mailings you got from your children’s school about book lists, school supplies, activities fees, and health concerns?  Pull them out of the drawer and get organized.  Mark any important upcoming events, like parent-teacher nights, on the calendar now so you don’t forget about them as things get busier.  Make sure school has the forms they need before your kids head back, that way you can concentrate on making sure they are adjusting rather than worry about all the red tape.

Schedules can get pretty hectic once school starts up again, so take advantage of the relaxed summer schedule while you still can to make any doctor or dentist appointments your child may need. You’ll want to make sure you find out any health issues sooner rather than later.  Also, alert the school office as well as your child’s individual teachers about any health concerns, like asthma or food allergies, that could crop up while your child is in school.

Start your school shopping early, that way if you aren’t able to conquer the entire school supply list at once – especially if you have multiple children – you give yourself enough time to get everything over a few weeks.  Some teachers require specific supplies, so save your receipts in case you need to return anything.

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Can backpacks cause spinal problems?

August 30, 2011 By

submitted by Dr. Stephen M. Sell, www.SellChiro.com

Many children use backpacks to carry their books and other materials to and from school.

However, many times these backpacks cause undue stress on the spinal column, which can lead to serious problems later.  In a recent study, 10 children wore backpacks loaded to 0%, 10%, 20% or 30% of their body weight for 30 seconds to determine the amount of pressure under the backpack’s shoulder straps.

The study found that pressure beneath the shoulder straps was “significantly increased” when the backpack was loaded at 10% of the child’s body weight or higher. This study, and other studies such as this, has proven that heavy and/or uneven backpack loads could alter the curvature of a child’s spine and cause subluxations. Subluxations are misalignments in spinal vertebrae that impinge the nerves exiting the spinal cord.  These nerves are responsible for every bodily function in ourselves and in our children.

Here are four recommendations to help reduce spinal stress for children who wear backpacks:

  1. Backpacks should be positioned high on the back to discourage a “rounded-shoulders and forward head” posture.
  2. Backpack straps should be worn over both shoulders to make the load even and reduce stress on the spine.
  3. Weight in the backpacks should be minimized; no more than 10-15% of the student’s body weight.
  4. Backpacks should have wide shoulder straps to disperse the force of the load and decrease the risk of shoulder injury and pain.

Many children can have spinal problems yet not show any outward signs or symptoms of a problem.  That is why it is also important for children to have regular chiropractic checkups to ensure proper spinal alignment and nervous system function.  It is fast, easy, healthy, and fun for them all at the same time.

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