Cedar Allergies? We can help!

We love Austin, but cedar allergies are seer this time of year and can last for months.  It is important to take care of your sinus health, especially during this time to avoid severe sinus infections, and Dr. Swanson can help!  Below, Dr. Swanson shares a few tips to help you handle Austin's cedar allergy season.

1.  Acupuncture Relief Treatment

Our acupuncture treatments relieve congestion in your sinuses (around the nose, eyes and ears) typically within 30 minutes.  It is important to repeat acupuncture treatments often during allergy season to ensure healthy drainage and open airways, thus avoiding severe sinus infections.



2. Chiropractic

Dr. Swanson's chiropractic adjustments stimulate a healthy immune system that operates correctly and also ensure your sinuses drain in a healthy way.  When your body is healthy, your immune system will naturally be able to identify what is a potential risk and what is not.  When you suffer from allergies, your immune system has become highly sensitive to something in your environment. In other words, your immune system is out of balance and causing your body to become irritated by allergens.

Dr. Swanson offers the latest technique, the innovative 'specific prone', which is a light, gentle, and comfortable method with outstanding results.

Dr. Swanson's chiropractic adjustment focuses specific movement to strengthen your body's immune function and also focus on the cervical spine to open the Eustachian tubes and allow for proper drainage of your sinuses.  Again, proper drainage of your sinuses and relieving pressure resulting from congestion help you to fight off or avoid sinus infections all together.



3.  NeilMed Sinus Rinse 

The NeilMed Sinus Rinse is an excellent (and cheap) way to ward off sinus infections the natural way.  It is best to use this sinus rinse right when you wake up and before bed.  We've found it will relieve a sore throat (caused by drainage) and keep fluids moving to avoid a sinus infection.  ($12 at Walgreens or CVS)

4.  Warm showers - Right when you wake up AND before going to sleep at night 

In the morning, relieve your allergy symptoms by standing in a warm shower with your shower head right on your sinus pressure points.  This will help break up congestion and keep fluids moving.  At night, a shower before bed is a must.  Your hair and clothes attract and collect pollen all day long.  If you do not wash your hair before bed, you are sleeping in cedar pollen all night, as well.  Give yourself a pollen break by washing your hair before you go to sleep at night.  It also helps to wash your sheets and pillow case often during allergy season to limit pollen buildup where you sleep.

5.  No milk during cedar allergy season

Any dairy product will increase mucus production and cause increased congestion.  Increased congestion not only feels worse, but puts you at a higher risk for sinus infections.  Avoid milk, cheese, or dairy of any kind, especially during cedar allergy season.

For more information from Dr. Swanson, please visit our website: www.SwansonChiro.com

Yours in health,

Dr. Swanson & Staff

T'was the Day Before Christmas

T'was the Day Before Christmas 
Author Unknown

T'was the day before Christmas, but there was no cheer.
No jingle bells jingled, no sound of reindeer.
The word had gotten out that Santa was sick.
There'd be no friendly visit from jolly St. Nick.

The people were sad; no gaiety sounded.
For Christmas had come, but Santa was grounded!
He walked down the street, and what should he see?
On a small sign was printed,  Swanson Clinics, D.C.

Now, Santa was not one to like a new tactic,
but all else had failed, so he'd try Chiropractic.
He entered the office and saw at a glance
in a place such as this illness hasn't a chance.

For all were smiling; the music was snappy,
with all the patients contented and happy.
In a very short time, to judge by the clock,
He was in the adjusting room, talking to Doc.

"It must be the hurry, the tension and all.
I simply can't seem to get on the ball.
Life used to be easy, just toys, guns and whistles.
Now I have to dodge fall-out, space ships and missiles."

"And Doc, take a look at the size of this pack!
Have you any idea what it does to my back?"
Poor Santa was miserable; just barely able
with the help of the doctor, to get to the table.

The doctor was gentle. Without fuss or tussle
He examined the vertebrae and relaxed the muscles.
He spotted the trouble, and then with a click,
started aligning the ailing St. Nick.

And Santa felt aches and pains slipping away.
In no time at all he began to feel gay.
The air was a tingle with a new fallen snow.
And a healthy Kris Kringle was rarin' to go.

As he went out the door, he threw all a kiss.
Why, it has been centuries since he'd felt as good as this!
Then once more he shouldered the bag full of toys.
His heart overflowing with true Christmas joys.

So, may we, your friends, echo this cheer?

Merry Christmas to you
and to all a good year!

The Doctors & Staff at Swanson Chiropractic Clinics

Lower Sugar, Lower Blood Pressure

Sounds pretty simple, right? Except in a society overwhelmed by processed foods loaded with added sugar, keeping your sugar (or blood pressure) in check can be a major challenge.
But let's leave the topic of limiting sugar consumption from all sources for another day, and instead focus on sugar from a single source: sugar-sweetened beverages. According to a study published in the June 2010 issue of Circulation (a journal of the American Heart Association), a reduction in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption of one serving per day reduced systolic blood pressure in adults by 1.8 mg Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 1.1 mg Hg over 18 months. (If your blood pressure is 120-75, for example, your systolic blood pressure is 120 and your diastolic blood pressure is 75.) Diet beverage consumption and caffeine intake did not appear to be associated with blood pressure.


Remember, even a small reduction, particularly if all you have to do is drink less sugar-sweetened beverages, can make a big difference. In fact, it might save your life. Your doctor can tell you more - much more - about the considerable dangers of sugar and high blood pressure.

To read more, please follow this link: To Your Health

For more information from Dr. Swanson, please visit our website: www.SwansonChiro.com

Yours in health,

Dr. Swanson & Staff

Winter Cold and Flu Defense

If you're looking to gear up for the cold and flu season without subjecting yourself or your family to the potential dangers of the flu vaccine, take heart: There are natural ways to boost your immune system and reduce your risk of getting sick. Here are a few to discuss with your doctor.

Last year, swine flu was a bust. The hype, the worldwide craze, the unnecessary vaccine, all fizzled out. Fewer people died of the swine flu in the 2009-2010 season than an average flu season. (Of course, that's not to diminish the fact that some people did in fact die.) But let's turn our eyes to the present, for the flu is back this winter season. We don't yet know how many people will be affected; perhaps it will be an average one, perhaps a true pandemic. No one knows for sure, but we must do everything to prepare our families, boost our immune systems, and have effective, natural treatments at the ready.

The influenza virus starts in November, but doesn't peak in activity until February and usually winds down in March. Approximately 5-20 percent of our population gets the flu, many mild, some so severe that they need to be hospitalized. On average, 36,000 people die from the flu in our country, the majority of them being the elderly; the death toll is 250,000 to 500,000 worldwide.

We are all familiar with the standard flu symptoms of fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, rhinitis (stuffy nose) and myalgia (muscle pain). Children can also experience nausea, vomiting, otitis media (ear infection), and diarrhea. The illness lasts up to a week, with cough and malaise lasting up to two weeks. Younger children (6-20 percent) can experience febrile seizures concurrently.

As stated, the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to boost your immune system and reduce your chances of complications if you do contract the flu or even a stubborn cold. Preventing and treating the flu is very effectively done using natural medicines, including vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and homeopathics. A combination of some or all will boost your immune systems for the entire winter season. 

Vitamin C

A study of 715 people showed that flu symptoms were decreased by 85 percent when people took 6 grams of vitamin C as a one-time loading dose, then continuing with 1 gram three times a day, compared with people taking only the 3 grams daily. The message here is to take a lot of vitamin C the first day you feel symptoms or the first day people around you are getting sick, and then take 3 grams daily after that. Keep in mind that vitamin C can loosen stools, so be careful if you are predisposed to this.

An additional study showed that vitamin C is 10 times more effective in its antiviral properties when taken with iron. Ten to 20 mg of iron can be taken on a daily basis, and is also a good mineral to balance the stool-loosening effects of vitamin C.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D has exploded in research and popularity the past few years. Most of us are familiar with its bone-building properties, however new research suggests it improves the immune system as well. Have your doctor test your vitamin D levels before supplementing. Research suggests 2,000 IU daily is safe for most adults and children. Higher doses are safe and effective, but must be monitored by your doctor.

Elderberry

Elderberry (Sambucus) was researched in a group of 60 people and found to alleviate symptoms four days earlier compared with controls. Elderberry helps boosts the immune system and is great-tasting for kids. Start taking as soon as symptoms manifest.

Gingseng

Panax quinquefolium (ginseng) was studied in a large group of 323 patients as a preventive natural medicine. The group that took panax experienced 30 percent less colds compared with the placebo group (people who didn't take ginseng), and average number of sick days were 11 compared with 16 in the non-treatment group.

Oscillococcinum

Last, but not least, the well-known oscillococcinum is a homeopathic flu treatment that is created new every year. Tough to pronounce, but effective; a Cochrane review of all oscillococcinum studies showed that it reduces the length of illness compared with placebo.

There's a high likelihood that the flu and/or colds will affect your family every year. In most cases it's nothing more than an inconvenience, in some cases it can be deadly serious. Prevention and immune boosting is essential for everyone to ensure that when they do get sick, it is only a short and mild inconvenience. Trust in the power of natural medicine. Talk to your doctor for more information about these and other natural ways to boost your immune system and ward off colds and the flu.

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The Flu Vaccine: A Few Words of Caution

Flu vaccines are available on an annual basis, but concern should be taken for the following reasons:

• Flu vaccines contain thimerisol, a neurotoxic mercury preservative.
• Children with severe egg allergy should not get the vaccine.
• Children with Guillain-Barre syndrome should not get the vaccine.
• Young infants with low immune systems should not get the vaccine.
• Children with acute illness should not get the vaccine.

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To read more, please follow this link: To Your Health

For more information from Dr. Swanson, please visit our website: www.SwansonChiro.com

Yours in health,

Dr. Swanson & Staff

Engage All Your Senses and Leave Stress Behind

Many people exist in such a perpetual state of stress that activities generally considered stressful actually come as a welcome relief. When you've been under the gun at work all day and find yourself faced with a screaming carload of kids, suddenly spending a little quiet time doing household chores or catching up on the bills - in silence - doesn't sound too bad. Really? You deserve much better than that. Here are a few ways to engage your senses and leave stress behind.
Taste: There's nothing like a soothing cup of tea and your favorite dessert to take some of the edge off a hectic, stressful day, particularly when combined with a little time to enjoy your own time, far away (as far as you can get) from the stress-inducers that seem to surround you.
Touch: When you're overworked, overstressed, overwhelmed and just plain over it, find the time to escape and experience the power of touch. Schedule a chiropractic adjustment or a massage, or retreat into the soothing, stress-releasing luxury of a bubble bath and see how your attitude changes in a matter of moments.
See: The so-called "daily grind" is a major source of stress, and it only gets worse when the work hours get long and the days get short. In fact, during the winter months, many people never see the light of day, arriving at work before sunrise and leaving after sunset. Take a midday walk around the block and open your eyes to what the world has to offer. And at night, turn off the glare and light a few calming candles instead.
Smell: The next time you're on the brink of losing it, let your nose take you to a better place. Sounds funny, but it's oh so true. Just try to stay stressed after smelling your favorite food wafting up at you from your plate. And don't discount the power of a scented candle or two; replace the unpleasantry of another dreary day with the aroma of peace and tranquility.
Hear: When was the last time you truly appreciated the lyrics, melody and arrangement of a song? Music has an incredible ability to soothe the soul, but many of us don't take the time to listen - we just use it as background noise while working out or flip from song to song, station to station in the car. Tune out the stress and tune into the relaxing power of music.
If you're feeling particularly stressed these days and are dreading the holiday crush and additional stress that's sure to come, talk to your doctor for ways (above and beyond the above) to reduce stress and improve your life.

To read more, please follow this link: To Your Health

For more information from Dr. Swanson, please visit our website: www.SwansonChiro.com

Yours in health,

Dr. Swanson & Staff

Too Little Sleeping = Too Much Snacking

Here's an important reason to get the kids off to bed: Too little sleep can lead to a bad habit: overeating. According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, reduced sleep time (less than six hours compared with more than eight) is associated with an increase in energy consumption - often in the form of snacks - without any increase in energy expenditure.


In other words, if kids sleep less, they tend to eat more, but don't expend energy during the extra time they're awake.


So, what could they possibly be doing that doesn't burn any energy? Perhaps they're studying for next week's exam or writing that long-overdue birthday card to grandma. But probably not. In fact, the chances are good that they're playing on the computer, watching television, texting their friends or pursuing some other sedentary activity, which is never a good thing, particularly when combined with additional caloric intake. That's a bad combination that could lead to chronic overeating and weight gain, not to mention fatigue, irritability, and reduced performance attributable to lack of sleep.


Talk to your doctor about the importance of adequate sleep and what you can do to ensure you and your family get the sleep they deserve every night.

To read more, please follow this link: To Your Health

For more information from Dr. Swanson, please visit our website: www.SwansonChiro.com

Yours in health,

Dr. Swanson & Staff

Understanding Wellness

Many have attributed the term wellness to Dr. Halbert Dumn, who wrote a booklet in 1961 titled High-Level Wellness, in which he basically defined it as a lifestyle approach for pursuing elevated states of physical and psychological well-being.

While the reality is that the term wellnesswas actually coined in the year 1654 by a Scottish physician, the true meaning has evolved beyond what they both intended.

Defining Wellness

Chiropractors are the originators of the wellness movement, being the only health care professionals who recognize the body's natural ability to heal itself. This is why they have spent more than 50 years educating their patients on the benefits of a wellness lifestyle. Proper nutrition, exercise and routine chiropractic care help the body to perform at maximum efficiency, resulting in improved function.

Wellness: Improving Function

The term improved function has been used by chiropractors for years to help patients understand the benefits of chiropractic care and the role it plays in true wellness. The body is made up of muscles, organs and glands that are controlled by the nervous system, and the nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord and nerves.

The brain sends signals down the spine and to the nerves, which tell the heart to beat, the lungs to breathe, the stomach to digest, the glands to produce necessary hormones, and so on. It's when the signals don't get from the spinal cord to the nerves and then from the nerves to the muscles, organs and glands that the body begins to lose proper function and symptoms begin to occur.

Mainstream medicine doesn't recognize these symptoms as simple alerts from the body that there's something amiss, but instead as something that must be eliminated through chemicals or pharmaceuticals. They don't seek wellness, but rather a lack of symptoms.

Medical vs. Wellness Care

The biggest difference between mainstream medicine and wellness care is just that: medicine. Today's medical professionals are still treating symptoms instead of the cause of the problem. The bigger problem lies with the fact that the medicines usually begin to create their own list of symptoms that must be treated with more medicines. It's a domino effect leading not to health and wellness, but to illness and dependence.

By focusing on symptoms instead of body function, they avoid having to look at the root cause and can ignore the lifestyle habits or outside influences that are the underlying problem. A drug-induced lack of symptoms leads to a false sense of security and avoids the lifestyle changes truly necessary for wellness.

On the other hand, the wellness chiropractic practitioner recognizes that the symptoms are there for a reason, an alert from your body that something isn't right, and begins to seek thecause of the problem.

What Wellness Is (and Isn't)

What is wellness? Many people think the absence of symptomatic disease means they are "well," but true wellness is actually quite different. If you're sick, and you take medication to mask the symptoms, it doesn't mean you get well; it just means the symptoms go away (at least temporarily). The root cause of the problem hasn't been addressed, and you may be no better off than when you started.

For example, do you have high cholesterol or know someone who does? If you're taking medication to regulate your cholesterol, it may work, but it won't address why you have high cholesterol in the first place. In many cases, it may be poor diet or lack of exercise. I think we can all agree that a person with high cholesterol, poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle who has to take medication is definitely not achieving a state of wellness.

Top Five Truths About Wellness Care

5. Symptoms are not the problem, but an alert to an underlying cause and should be heeded, not silenced with chemicals.

4. The body has an inborn ability to restore itself and will adapt to outside stressors, whether they are physical, emotional or chemical. When these stressors become too much, the body will eventually wear itself down trying to maintain balance; this results in an absence of health and wellness.

3. Wellness practitioners do not diagnose or treat conditions and diseases, but instead identify and remove outside stressors.

2. Wellness care focuses on improving function rather than hiding symptoms.

1. Doctors of chiropractic recognize the value of preventative care compared to symptom-based care. With regular adjustments, spinal health is maintained, encouraging proper nervous system function and allowing for the body to perform at its best.

To read more, please follow this link: To Your Health

For more information from Dr. Swanson, please visit our website: www.SwansonChiro.com

Yours in health,

Dr. Swanson & Staff