Superior Health Center -April 2020

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APRIL 2020

About Overuse and Misuse of Prescription Medications WHAT OUR PATIENTS SHOULD KNOW

the medication functions as intended, it will not give you the full relief you need. When someone relies on pain medication too heavily, it not only will start to feel like their lives depend on it, but they also run the risk of serious addiction. Becoming addicted to prescription pain medication can lead to severe health risks, including other drug use, dependence, and death. Opioids, for example, have become a serious health concern within the U.S.Within 2017 alone, 191 million opioid prescriptions were given to people across the country despite the medication’s high addiction rate. More than ever before, it’s essential that we as health service providers improve the treatments we use to treat pain, and that starts with patient education. One example we give our patients to help them understand the difference between fixing the problem and hiding the problem is to think of a car. If you’re driving around and the check engine light comes on, do you open the dash and stick duct tape over the warning? Or do you take the whole car into your mechanic to find what the root of the problem is? In the same way, you should not ignore or dull the messages your body sends to your brain to warn you that something is wrong.

However, pain medication is only one part of the issue.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2015–2016, about 45.8% of Americans used prescription drugs within a 30-day study.This study found that prescription drug use increased with age. Of the participants, 18% of children under 12 used prescription drugs, which rose to 85% in adults over 60.The most popular medications used included antidepressants, central nervous system stimulants, bronchodilators, and lipid-lowering drugs. While many of these drugs have helped people, they also increase the risk of developing chronic pain or neuropathy, especially in older adults. MedlinePlus states, “Neuropathy [...] is a loss of sensation or movement in part of the body due to nerve damage from taking certain medicine or combination of medicines.” Many of the medicines our patients should be aware of include hydralazine, cisplatin, disulfiram, phenytoin, dapsone, and nitrofurantoin. Our team at Superior Health Centers understands the risks involved with prescription drugs.The treatments we provide are alternative answers to prescribed medication, which can help you live medication-free.

National Prescription DrugTake Back Day is on April 25 this year, giving our team here at Superior Health Centers an opportunity to inform our patients of the dangers of prescription drugs, from taking pain medication to using multiple prescriptions at once.We hope to spread awareness of the increased risk of continued prescription drug use and offer an alternative means of treatment. One of the largest problems we see far too often is when patients, attempting to relieve their pain, turn to a doctor who will prescribe them pain medication.While taking prescribed pain medication will likely make you feel better, that is the exact reason these drugs are dangerous.A prescription pill may seem like the answer you’re looking for, but it is neither a permanent nor effective solution for pain. Instead of receiving treatment for the health issues that are causing pain, these medications merely slow, block, or dull the signals of pain in the body. Even when

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PATIENT STORY OF THE MONTH! Trying Something New Opens the Door to Relief

We’ve all heard that laughter is the best medicine, and it turns out that human physiology supports this claim.When we laugh, our body releases a flood of feel-good chemicals and neurotransmitters. Our blood flow increases, and our production of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, decreases. Oh, and laughing also burns calories! The feel-good, endorphin-inducing benefits of laughter are exactly what prompted Dr. Madan Kataria to develop laughter yoga in 1995. Laughter yoga incorporates breathing, stretching, clapping, and of course, laughing. Kataria developed the initial idea after coming across research into the benefits of laughter on overall health and well-being. He began to put the research into practice by telling jokes to his patients, and after seeing the positive effects, he took his material to a local park. Parkgoers, who were initially skeptical, joined in on the practice, and the first laughter yoga club was born. The laughter meetup had everyone in high spirits — until the group ran out of jokes. Unsure of what to do next, Kataria found another medical book suggesting the group didn’t need jokes to laugh. Fake laughter is just as beneficial as the real thing because the body can’t tell the difference between the two. Collaborating with this wife, Madhuri, Kataria combined common yoga warmups and breathing techniques with facilitated laughter to create the form of laughter yoga that is practiced worldwide today. If you’re interested in trying laughter yoga for yourself, then you’re in luck. Laughter yoga clubs exist across the United States and the world.Videos onYouTube can teach the basics, but laughter yoga tends to be most beneficial in a group setting. Just think about the last time you found yourself in a fit of giggles with a group of friends or during a comedy show. Didn’t it feel great? Rather than wait for a silly situation to trigger laughter, use laughter yoga to promote laughter and alleviate stress on any day at any time. LAUGH WITH ME! A Lighthearted Approach to Decreasing Stress

Before our patient Mrs. Kennedy came to our clinic and started receiving treatment for her neuropathy, it was excruciating for her to be on her feet. Throughout her day, she would experience burning, aching, and

even itching of her feet. “It felt like someone putting nails into my feet or like I was walking on glass,” she remembers. At times, the inside of her feet would even swell “beyond the point of walking.” Due to the pain she felt, Mrs. Kennedy couldn’t participate or enjoy the activities she loved. She was unable to take walks around her neighborhood or participate at her gym.While this was disheartening for Mrs. Kennedy, it wasn’t what truly dismayed her. “The thing that hurt me the most is that when I was in the classroom, I was unable to work with my students or play with my grandbabies.That really hurt.” Wanting to be able to walk on her feet again without pain, she turned to our services here at Superior Health Centers, and our doctors and nurses walked her through the process. “When they first said they were going to inject me in the feet, I said,‘Heck to the no!’ until they explained it to me exactly how it was going to be.The nurse was very gentle with me, and it did hurt a little bit,” she admits, “but what pain is not worth getting relief?” Mrs. Kennedy started on treatments, and the results have lifted her spirits immensely. “Right now, I can walk, I can play with my grandbabies, and I can even jump rope!” She is very thankful to have given these treatments a try, and she encourages others to follow in her footsteps and to not be afraid of trying something new. “If what you’re doing is not successful, then reach out and go beyond.” For information regarding our injection treatments, call us at 888-530-6465 today.

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HOW DOES STRESS IMPACT YOU?

And a Simple Way to Reduce It

Stress is an unavoidable part of life and something that everyone experiences nearly every day. In short doses, stress can be a positive influencer.The feeling can help motivate you to meet deadlines faster and even avoid danger. However, when you feel stress in large quantities for an extended period of time, it can start to wear on your physical and emotional health. Stress and the Body When you’re feeling stressed, the body releases hormones that increase your brain’s awareness, quicken your pulse, and tense your muscles. In an acute stress response, also referred to as the fight-or- flight response, stress gives our bodies an extra boost in situations where we feel threatened, thus giving us a chance to fight or run for survival.

However, when the body is exposed to this reaction for long periods of time — also known as chronic stress — it can increase physical health risks. People who suffer from chronic stress may experience the following: • High blood pressure • Depression or anxiety • Heart disease • Headaches • Forgetfulness • Lack of energy • Trouble sleeping Relieve Stress and Anxiety There are many methods that can help you reduce your stress and allow you to relax.

One of the best ways to reduce your stress is to get physically active.When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which help both your body and mind relax. Moving your body, whether that’s by walking, biking, gardening, or going to a gym, also helps your mind focus on something other than your stress. Enjoying an activity you like can improve your mood and release the pent-up tension you were feeling. If you have trouble managing your stress, take the time to talk to your health care provider.They can help you find the perfect options for you.

VEGAN SPRING ROLLS

Inspired by SimpleVeganBlog.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 4 cloves garlic, sliced • 1 onion, julienned • 2 large carrots, julienned

• 4 leaves cabbage, julienned • 1 oz soybean sprouts • 2 tbsp tamari or soy sauce • 8 sheets spring roll pastry

“EMBRACE THE PRESENT MOMENT FULLY AND WITH PASSION, BECAUSE ONLY THROUGH THE PRESENT MOMENT DO WE TRULY LIVE.” –RICHARD L. HAIGHT

DIRECTIONS

1. In a wok over medium-high heat, add olive oil, vegetables, and tamari or soy sauce. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Set aside filling mixture. 2. Place a pastry wrapper on a flat surface and tilt it to be in the shape of a diamond. Scoop 2 tbsp of filling onto the lower corner of the wrapper. 3. Tightly roll the wrapper and

fold in the left and right corners. Brush the top corner with water and close the roll. Repeat with all wrappers.

4. In the wok, heat a generous amount of olive oil. 5. Add the rolls when hot, cooking for 1 minute or until each side is golden brown. 6. Place rolls on a paper towel to drain oil and cool before serving. 3 888-530-6465

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17748 Skypark Cir. #240 Irvine, CA 92614 888-530-6465 www.superiorhealthcenters.com

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INSIDE The Dangers of Prescription Medication Use

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Laughter Yoga’s Rise as a Global Health Movement

Reach Out and Go Beyond

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A Simple Way to Reduce Stress

Vegan Spring Rolls

Finding a Job You Love at Any Age

3 Tips for Changing Careers Later in Life A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR GOLDEN YEARS

It’s 6 a.m. on Monday morning, and your alarm clock blares in your face.You groan and, with the thought of another week looming over you, pull yourself out of bed. But the early wake-up call is the least of your worries.Another week has begun, and you’re still stuck in a job that you no longer love or maybe never did. Does this sound familiar? If so, you may believe changing careers isn’t worth the hassle, especially if you’re close to retirement, but here’s the secret: It’s not too late!There’s nothing stopping you from finding a career you love later in life. Here are three tips to get you started. Be Flexible If it’s been a while since you’ve hunted for a job, then you may have forgotten what it’s like. Job searching can be exhausting, and some job requirements can look overwhelming. But getting stuck in your ways and focusing on the things you cannot do will only hinder your ability to find a job you actually love. Instead, take a deep breath and be open to what comes.You may discover a hidden talent or passion!

Forget the Money Money matters, but it shouldn’t be your first priority on the job hunt. Instead, consider what’s going to make you the happiest.What’s your dream job?What have you always enjoyed doing? If money wasn’t an option, what would you be doing right now instead of counting down the hours to 5 p.m.? Be realistic in your goals and find something you love.

Seek Guidance Remember, you’re not alone in this fight! Plenty of people switch careers midway through their lives to focus on something they really enjoy. Seek guidance from those who have had a similar experience and look to professional job hunters or consultants for help. Furthermore, after years in the same job or industry, you’re bound to have made a few connections. Reach out for professional support. Regardless of what path you choose, remember that a career you enjoy is always possible.We can’t promise that you’ll love getting up at 6 a.m., but at least you won’t dread what comes next.

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