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As a Santa Barbara Chiropractor I treat many pregnant women not only for common low back pain associated with pregnancy, but for other pregnancy symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, and swelling due to water retention or joint stress. A healthy pregnancy is crucial for both mother and baby. And although regular chiropractic care during pregnancy is very important, there are many other influences that can affect a woman’s health during her pregnancy. Some of these influences are well-known, but others are not. In fact, I just ran across a new study released in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives that discusses the effects of high levels of common flame-retardant chemicals on the thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women. It is the first large study to investigate levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their effects on the highly sensitive thyroid hormone in pregnant women. “Normal maternal thyroid hormone levels are essential for normal fetal growth and brain development,” stated Jonathan Chevrier, one of the study’s authors and a researcher in epidemiology and in environmental health sciences at UC Berkeley, “so our findings could have significant public health implications.”
Where are PBDEs found? Just about everywhere, such as in carpets, textiles, foam furnishings, electronics and plastics. PBDEs can leach out into the environment and accumulate in human fat cells. Is it any wonder then that PBDEs can be found in the blood of most American residents? And, if you live in California the situation is even more criticaul because of the state’s rigorous flammability laws. Concentrations of the chemicals in blood and breast milk have increased dramatically in the last three decades.
Though it is not currently known just how the chemicals interfere with thyroid function, researchers believe that PBDEs could bind to thyroid receptors and alter how the hormone is released. The bottom line, however, is that these chemicals are dangerous, especially for pregnant women. “Our results suggest that exposure to PBDE flame retardants may have unanticipated human health risks,” said Brenda Eskenazi, a professor of epidemiology and of maternal and child health at UC Berkeley.
Technorati Tags: chiropractic, chiropractor, heartburn, joint swelling, low back pain, nausea, pregnancy, Where:Santa-Barbara-CA
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Chiropractors, like your Santa Barbara Chiropractor, are determined to educate their patients about the importance of drinking a sufficient amount of water daily. The chant is “Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!” Water is second only to air when it comes to human survival. Survival instincts, then, would seem to assure that we would drink enough water as habitually as we breathe in air. (Most individuals are not breathing enough either, but let’s talk about why staying well-hydrated is so important.) Your good health is based on your drinking water, and lots of it. Every cell, tissue, organ and system in your body depends on the water you drink to function properly. Water is the base for saliva and the fluids surrounding the joints. Your blood is kept circulating and your body temperature and metabolism are regulated by water. Drinking plenty of water daily has been shown to improve nutrient absorption and toxin removal, and to reduce heartburn, hypertension, exhaustion, and headaches.
When it comes to conditions created by dehydration, athletes are especially at risk. “Physiologically, their core body temperature could be higher than it should have been if they were hydrated. Their heart rate will be higher, and they’re going to perceive that they’re working harder than they actually are,” said Susan Yeargin, assistant professor of athletic training in Indiana State’s College of Nursing, health, and Human Services. A high percentage of collegiate and professional athletes begin the season dehydrated, putting their health at risk even before they begin strenuous workouts, according to researchers at Indiana State University. In fact, eighty percent of football players displayed symptoms of dehydration during pre-season physical examinations.
Confused about how much water is enough water? Chiropractors, like most health care professionals, advise no less than eight, 8-ounce glasses of water daily for most patients, however for our athletic patients, or for patients who carry around excess weight or exercise or work where it’s hot, we advise even more. How can you be sure if you, personally, are drinking a sufficient amount of water? The color of your urine is a good gauge. You’re well-hydrated if it is a light, pale yellow!
Technorati Tags: chiropractors, drinking enough water, exhaustion, headaches, heartburn, hydration, hypertension
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Chiropractor Santa Barbara knows that you may be worried about getting adjusted while pregnant. Is it a good idea to get your spine checked while you are pregnant? Yes, it is a very smart idea, and to get adjusted if necessary. Obviously, your body is going through a variety of changes, and these alterations will continue as the pregnancy progresses. A subtle change is your body’s increased production of the hormone elastin. This hormone is designed to relax the tendons in the pelvis. This relaxation allows the pelvis more flexibility during the birthing process to make delivering the baby easier. This process, although designed to help the mother during labor, can produce much discomfort in the months leading up to the birth. The elastin is being released in increased amounts as the months go on, which allows the pelvis to become increasingly more unstable.
In combination with the increased size of the baby and uterus, and you have the formula for severe low back pain. As an Santa Barbara Chiropractor, I currently have several pregnant patients coming into my office for symptoms associated with their pregnancy, but usually it is for their low back pain. A bonus to seeing a chiropractor routinely during your pregnancy is that it has been shown to actually decrease labor time. Why is that you ask? Simply put, if the pelvis is where it needs to be, the muscles contracting during the labor process are more efficient and won’t have to strain against misaligned joints.
To answer the second question from the introductory paragraph, most assuredly chiropractic care during your pregnancy is safe. Chiropractic is not only safe and beneficial in relieving the low back pain associated with pregnancy, but other symptoms like heartburn, nausea, swelling, and so on. In addition, should the need arise, a trained chiropractor can assist a mother who has a breached baby. This is done by using the Webster Technique, a low force manipulation of the uterus that helps to get the baby into the appropriate position for birth. A simple Google search on the Webster Technique can give you much more information. In summation, not only is chiropractic safe for pregnant women, it is also very beneficial in helping with the symptoms associated with their pregnancy.
If you are pregnant, I highly recommend that you go to see a good local chiropractor, or if you are close enough, look up your Santa Barbara Chiropractor. We can make you feel a lot more comfortable during your pregnancy, and we can even make the labor process easier.
Technorati Tags: heartburn, low back pain, pregnancy, Santa Barbara Chiropractor, Webster Technique
