Cedar Crest Chiropractic February 2020

Cedar Crest Chiropractic February 2020

CEDAR CREST CHIROPRACTIC

February 2020

Dr. Paul Braadt

1028 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Allentown, PA 18103 • 610-776-2005 • www.CedarCrestChiropractic.com

SPRING IS NEAR Healthy Living This February

It’s February, the shortest month of the year. If you’re like me, you’re probably ready to move past the ice and snow. (Unless you’re an avid skier — I know who you are!) March 19 is the first day of spring, and if you’re tired of the dark and the cold, a trip South may be helpful! I have some patients who say, “See you in April, Doc!” However, for many, leaving for warmer weather may not be practical. So, let’s talk about some health issues to be aware of and a few strategies to get through the winter. As a young boy, I didn’t mind the snow and cold. Growing up in the “snow belt” (in Williamsport, Pennsylvania), we had a lot of snow all winter. We walked to school every day for what seemed like miles, even if it was only four blocks. We rarely had snow days. My chores included shoveling the sidewalk at home and building snow forts for my younger siblings. We got so cold that we couldn’t feel our hands or cheeks, but we resisted going inside because it was just too much fun. My mother would hang all the wet and snow crusted boots and clothes in the kitchen, get us changed into something flannel, and warm us up by a radiator with hot soup or cocoa. She knew just what to do with the six of us! Well, that was then. If you’re like me now, you may need some strategies other than trying to get warm in the sauna at the gym. First, there are some health issues to be aware of if you “just can’t get warm.” Make

you’re still eating healthy with lots of greens and other vegetables and healthy fats and proteins. Minimize snacking between meals and avoid sugar. Schedule regular exercise to increase your heart rate. If you’re not building snow forts or skiing, consider stationary biking or walking on the treadmill while watching beach videos. Just move your body! Get adjusted, as it stimulates nerves and improves circulation and immunity in addition to getting you out of pain, which also reduces stress.

sure you’re not anemic. This means you don’t have enough normal red blood cells to carry oxygen through your body. Also, you may be fatigued, look pale, or experience skipped heart beats. Hypothyroidism — too little hormone or too little conversion for use — can produce thinning hair, dry skin, fatigue, constipation, and resistant weight gain. It’s important to be checked for any of these symptoms. Blood vessel disorders, like Raynaud’s disease, can produce white or blue fingers with numbness. Neuropathy causes numbness in the hands or feet, and chiropractic care is very helpful to stimulate nerves in this case. Keep your nutrition weatherproof. A high nutrient, low carbohydrate keto eating plan with intermittent fasting is my preferred way of eating. If you don’t know how to do it, schedule a Nutrition Consultation with me and get a copy of the “Healthy Keto and Intermittent Fasting” booklet at the office. If you’re not following a keto diet, make sure

So remember, spring is near! Let’s get through February in good health!

In knowledge and health,

–Dr. Paul Braadt

Safe, Effective Health Care Without Drugs & Surgery

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DR. BRAADT’S WELLNESS COLUMN

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ARTHRITIS. NOW WHAT?

replacement. The study concluded that there is no pharmaceutical treatment for osteoarthritis other than temporary pain relief.

People are often diagnosed with arthritis and told nothing can be done about it. Options include taking drugs for the pain; getting injections in the knee, hip, or spine; and learning to live with it! Well, that’s not very encouraging. What drives most patients to chiropractic care is spinal pain. There is a public perception of chiropractors as “back doctors.” This is true because most research demonstrates that chiropractic care is more efficient, costs less, produces higher patient satisfaction, is safer, and generally helps keep patients out of surgery. However, what about the knee, hip, shoulder, or other joints affected by arthritis? In our office, every joint can be evaluated and potentially treated. I’ve invested an additional three years in a board certification program in orthopedics and an additional year in board certification in rehabilitation. This allows you to take advantage of a nondrug, noninjection, and nonsurgical treatment for joint pain. Common medical treatment for an arthritic spine or any other arthritic joint is chemical care with drugs. A quick Google search on the side effects of any long-term use of the most common drugs, including steroids, will give pause. Their safety is really in question, especially if you must take these drugs for the rest of your life. The most common treatment in orthopedics for joint pain is steroidal injection. The American Academy of Neurology stated recently that spinal epidural injections may cause some small, temporary improvement, but there’s no meaningful impact beyond three months. It was stated further that the evidence was insufficient to even support their use in clinical practice. Side effects studied included liver damage, kidney disease, heart attack and stroke, weight gain, and uncontrolled blood sugar. A recent study at Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center found that steroid injections for osteoarthritis may do more harm than good and are not as safe as generally thought. The study found that the shots may accelerate the progression of osteoarthritis and potentially hasten the need for surgery and joint

So, what’s a person to do?

Of course, lifestyle changes are vital, including diet change, weight loss, exercise, and adjustments in daily habits. Osteoarthritis is essentially a wear and tear problem. It is a mechanical problem . Orthopedically trained chiropractors, like me, are uniquely positioned to address this problem. Adjustments to the knee, hip, shoulder, and especially the spine can stop the wear, tear, and grinding that results in osteoarthritis. Joint supplements, especially from Standard Process Supplementation , are very helpful to reduce inflammation safely and aid in joint repair.

We also have an electromagnetic device developed in Germany called a BEMER.

• The BEMER treatment is safe, painless, and has no side effects.

• It drives oxygen into all the cells of the body and removes toxins. This reduces swelling and pain. Plus, when you have extra oxygen in the body, you have energy and reduced fatigue.

• It increases circulation to all body parts, including where you’re hurt.

So, if you are dealing with arthritis affecting your joints, please let me know at your next office visit. We also have gift certificates for you to share with someone in need. There are safe, effective alternatives to drugs and surgery for arthritis. As always, we’re here to help you get healthy and stay that way!

–Dr. Paul Braadt

CedarCrestChiropractic.com

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610-776-2005

Everyone forgets things. It’s not unusual to have trouble remembering the name of someone you’ve just met or recalling the face of a classmate you haven’t seen in 20 years. But it’s less normal — and a lot more inconvenient — to become chronically absent-minded. If you find yourself struggling to remember the minutiae of daily life, which page of a book you left off on, or when it’s time to pick your kids up from soccer practice, digital dementia could be to blame. The term “digital dementia” was coined in 2012 by German neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer, who studies how our addiction to technology is impacting our brains. According to Alzheimers.net, Spitzer found that “overuse of digital technology is resulting in the breakdown of cognitive abilities in a way that is more commonly seen in people who have suffered a head injury or psychiatric illness.” Because of the shared symptoms, Spitzer called the affliction digital dementia. In the years since, speculation has abounded about the causes of digital dementia and how people can fight it. A 2017 Forbes article theorized that the problem isn’t just time spent with screens but how much we rely on our smartphones to feed us once-memorized information. SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED ABOUT DIGITAL DEMENTIA? What It Is, Where It Came From, and What It Could Mean for Our Screen Time

“In theory, having a device to store phone numbers, dates, maps and directions, and other information like that frees you up to focus on bigger and theoretically more important things,” Tony Bradley wrote in Forbes. “If you just use your device as a memory crutch, though, and you don’t take advantage of the opportunity to put your brain to work on other things, you aren’t exercising your brain, and it will atrophy.” Research shows digital dementia can be blamed in part on the mental strategies encouraged by video games. According to one study, gaming encourages the “response” strategy of following the same rote movements, while nongamers tend to use the “spatial” strategy of relying on landmarks when they navigate, which is better for mental sharpness. Whatever the root cause, we can take steps to fight digital dementia. As Dr. Carolyn Brockington told Alzheimers.net, the best strategies involve stepping away from screens and relying on brainpower. The next time you’re considering picking up your smartphone, try reading a book, playing a musical instrument, hitting the gym, or learning a new language instead.

SUDOKU

Keto Feta Tomato Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 tsp dried oregano • 1 tsp dried basil • 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional) • 3 cups water • 1 tsp honey or sugar or erythritol (optional) • 1/3 cup heavy cream • 2/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled

• 2 tbsp olive oil (or butter) • 1/4 cup onion, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, peeled • 10 tomatoes, skinned, seeded, and chopped (or 2 14.5-oz cans of peeled tomatoes) • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/8 tsp black pepper • 1 tsp pesto sauce (optional) 1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, pesto, oregano, basil, tomato paste, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add honey. DIRECTIONS

2. Cook on medium heat for 20

minutes, until tomatoes are tender. Using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. Add cream and feta cheese. Cook for 1 more minute.

3. Add more salt if needed, and serve warm.

Safe, Effective Health Care Without Drugs & Surgery

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LOGO Cedar Crest Chiropractic Dr. Paul Braadt

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1028 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. Allentown, PA 18103

Hours of Operation: Mon: 3–6:30 p.m. Tue–Thu: 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Fri: Closed

Give Us A Call! 610-776-2005

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

PAGE 1 Healthy Living This February PAGE 2 Dr. Braadt’s Wellness Column PAGE 3 Should You Be Worried About Digital Dementia?

Keto Feta Tomato Soup

PAGE 4 Learn All About Leap Year

Like the Olympics and presidential elections, leap years only occur once every four years, which is why many people look forward to Feb. 29. But there’s a lot that you might not know about this quirk on the calendar. WHY To keep the calendar in sync with Earth’s orbit around the sun, an extra day is added to it every four years. Earth takes exactly 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds to orbit the sun. Those extra hours add up over time, so another calendar day becomes necessary. But a leap year doesn’t occur every four years. Adding that extra day still doesn’t quite keep Earth on track, so the calendar skips leap years that occur during century years not divisible by 400. For example, 2000 was a leap year, but 2100 won’t be. WHO The odds of being born on Feb. 29 are 1 in 1,461. That means that of the roughly seven billion people in the world, only about five million of them are “leaplings.” The number of leaplings currently living in the U.S. is roughly 187,000. Some famous leaplings include motivational speaker Tony Robbins, rapper Ja Rule, and singer Mark Foster of Foster the People. However, the most famous leapling is probably Superman. When you invent a super- being, you might as well give him a super-birthday. FACTS ABOUT THE LEAP YEAR LEAP INTO 2020

WHERE Anthony, Texas/New Mexico (a single town that straddles the two states’ borders), claims the title “Leap Year Capital of the World.” The city throws one massive birthday party for all leaplings but invites everyone to join the celebration. Two leapling neighbors from Anthony began the tradition in 1988, and it’s blossomed into a festival with thousands of participants every four years. It includes banquets, hot air balloons, a carnival, concerts, parades, and more. When you have four years to plan in between each shindig, there’s time to go big. Celebrate this leap year by doing something unusual or new. It’s a special day that doesn’t occur often, so make the most of it by doing something you’ll talk about for another four years.

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610-776-2005

CedarCrestChiropractic.com