The Holidays Don’t Have to Be Hazardous – to Your Waistline

Home » Blog » The Holidays Don’t Have to Be Hazardous – to Your Waistline

The Holidays Don’t Have to Be Hazardous – to Your Waistline

By Editorial Staff

Yes, it’s that glorious time of year again: six weeks of glorious indulgence, starting with Thanksgiving and rolling through New Year’s. Combine ample decadent treats with hectic shopping, end-of-the-year work deadlines and “I deserve to take a break” syndrome, and you’ve got a recipe for holiday weight gain that can undo your entire year of progress.

But don’t fret: Success can be yours with these tips to enjoy the holiday season without it being hazardous to your waistline.

• Stay in the Zone: Exercise and diet are as important as ever over the holidays, if not more so, because you’ll surely succumb to at least a few treats at a holiday party or family gathering. And that’s OK – you didn’t get in shape with a Spartan lifestyle, but with moderation and consistency. So stay in the zone by staying consistent: enjoy the holidays, but don’t abandon the habits and dedication you’ve displayed for the past nearly-11 months. Don’t overeat. Don’t ignore the gym. Don’t “give up” when you’ve come so far.

• Give a Gift (to Yourself): Stress can be the operative word around the holidays, for all the reasons mentioned at the beginning of this article (deadlines, shopping, etc.). And when it comes to weight gain, stress can be the trigger, biochemically and mentally. Stress triggers the production of cortisol, the so-called “stress hormone,” and cortisol can lead to weight gain, among other health issues. Stress also “weighs you down,” making you more likely to curl up on the couch with a gallon of ice cream than hit the gym. So give yourself a stress-relieving gift while you’re out shopping for family, friends and loved ones: a massage, a trip to the movies, or even just a long, hot, relaxing bath before bed can do wonders.
•  Take It Step by Step: Your quest for health and wellness is an evolving journey, not a single leap; it’s a day-by-day, step-by-step  process. Use that same philosophy over the holidays to stay active, even when you find it difficult to stick to your standard exercise routine. Holiday shopping at the mall? Escape the packed lots by parking in an open space and walk to the stores, no matter the distance (within reason). Why drive around for hours attempting to find that open space up front when you can escape the stress – and get some exercise – by parking farther away? Family in town? Catch up on old times while taking a nature hike or walking around town.

The holidays don’t have to be hazardous to your waistline if you remember what you’ve been telling yourself all year long: I’m in control. Don’t lose control this holiday season, no matter how hectic things get. You’re in control, so stay strong and stay healthy – you deserve it. After all, your New Year’s Resolutions should never say, “Lose the weight I regained over the holidays” again.

Three Reasons to Choose Chiropractic

Home » Blog » Three Reasons to Choose Chiropractic

Three Reasons to Choose Chiropractic

By Editorial Staff

When you’re suffering low back pain, shoulder pain or any number of similar musculoskeletal conditions, who gets the call: your medical doctor or your doctor of chiropractic? Your choice of health care provider in those situations could make a big difference, and research is continuing to prove it.

According to the latest study, chiropractic and pain management care is at least as effective as medical care for certain musculoskeletal conditions, while reducing health care costs and leaving patients more satisfied with the results.

The authors of the study, published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), went so far as to state that for certain musculoskeletal conditions, visiting an MD first instead of a DC may actually be a mistake:

“The findings of this study support first-contact care provided by DCs as an alternative to first-contact care provided by MDs for a select number of musculoskeletal conditions. Restrictive models of care in which patients are required to contact a medical provider before consulting a chiropractic provider may be counterproductive for patients experiencing the musculoskeletal conditions investigated and possibly others.”

The study sample included 403 patients who saw medical doctors and 316 patients who saw doctors of chiropractic as the initial health care providers for their spinal, hip or shoulder pain complaint. Four months following care, all patients completed a questionnaire that evaluated pain on that day and four months earlier (11-point scale); satisfaction with care received and the results of that care (5-point scale from “very satisfied” to “very unsatisfied”); and other variables. The researchers evaluated related costs of care by reviewing an insurance claims database.

“Patients initially consulting MDs had significantly less reduction in their numerical pain rating score and were significantly less likely to be satisfied with the care received and the outcome of care.” What’s more average per-patient costs over the four-month period were significantly lower in patients who initially consulted DCs ($368 difference compared to MD care).

JMPT Editor-in-Chief Claire Johnson, DC, MEd, emphasized the importance of the latest findings: “Comparative studies – in other words, research that compares the outcomes between two different providers or modalities – are rare for chiropractic care,” she said. “Thus, this study … is especially important if payers and policy-makers are to better understand the ‘triple aim’ as it relates to chiropractic. Specifically, this study helps us better understand what type of care provides better patient satisfaction, is more cost effective, and improves population health.”

The answer, suggests an increasing body of research, is chiropractic care.