Children

Chiropractic Care For Healthy Children

28 Dec
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Children, Chiropractic   |  Comments Off on Chiropractic Care For Healthy Children

Why chiropractic care for my child? His back doesn’t bother him!

Doctors of chiropractic hear from parents that they appreciate the importance of regular check-ups for their child’s teeth, eyes and ears, but they draw a blank when it comes to a spinal check-up.  Yet that could be one of the most important check-ups your child will ever have! Chiropractic care for healthy children is essential.

You might be surprised to learn that most adult problems chiropractors deal with actually have a start in childhood.  For example, the “growing pains” of a 12-year-old boy can become crippling low back and leg pains in adulthood; the “jolly jumpers” used by a toddler can cause spinal curvatures (scoliosis) in the adolescent.  Your child’s spine is his or her lifeline.  Running through it is a spinal cord containing billions of nerves that send messages and information from the brain to every part of the body and back again.

Yes, we all have our very own internet!  As long as none of these messages are interrupted, your child should have optimal function and the best health possible.  If, however, there is any interference with this “information highway” the message sent by the brain will not reach the part of the body it is intended to reach.  As a result the body starts to work improperly.  Chiropractors call this “malfunction”.  It can be a serious threat to health.  This interference will often affect the immune system, lower body resistance and leave your child prey to various bugs and infections.

The Function of the Immune System

It is generally agreed that the immune system is very closely linked to the nervous system.  The immune system is like a “circulating nervous system”. Most diseases children get are really the result of the improper functioning of that system.  This interference in your child’s nervous system is what chiropractors refer to as a vertebral subluxation – small misalignments of the bones of the spine pinching delicate nerves.

How does your baby’s spine lose its natural alignment?

Vertebral subluxations have many causes.  The major cause of most is actually the process of being brought into the world – birth.  For an infant, it can be very stressful.  Subluxations associated with birth trauma can cause hyperactivity, lowered resistance, ear infections, asthma and allergies, as well as signs of “central motor impairment”.

As babies get older, they are often subjected to some uncomfortable traditions: wearing tight diapers that do not allow proper hip development; “jolly jumpers” which place an infant in an upright position long before the spine can deal with gravity; just to name a few.  Then of course there is the usual process of crawling, walking, and running.  As your child matures, other incidents and activities can also create vertebral subluxations.  For instance, falling off a bike or down stairs, soccer, football, and cheerleading.

As an example, the so-called growing pains I mentioned earlier that children often experience in their legs have traditionally been explained as part of childhood.  Worried parents hear such nonsensical statements as “It’s nothing – they’ll grow out of it”, or “It is because they are growing”.  Many parents tend to buy these excuses.  But when we really think about it, those explanations simply do not make any sense.  After all, when did it ever hurt to grow?  And why only in the legs? Don’t the arms also grown?  Why don’t they hurt?

From a chiropractic perspective these “growing pains” are a vertebral subluxation in the low back or they are caused by a “functional pelvic imbalance”.  In simple terms, it’s a subluxation of the pelvic bones which then changes the way a child walks.  These pelvic imbalance subluxations can lead to the development of early scoliosis (spinal curvature), knee problems and difficulty with balance.  These are often the children who are wrongly labeled as “klutzy”.

If allowed to remain, subluxations are the starting point of nerve system and body malfunction.  When a vertebral subluxation has existed for some time it will eventually produce symptoms (pain is the most common) as a warning to let you know that something is simply not okay, that there is a threat to health and well-being.

One must remember that symptoms are similar to a fire alarm.  They let you know that there is a fire.  At this point you have a choice.  You can put out the fire (correct the subluxation), or turn off the fire alarm (using medication) to make yourself feel better.  Which is logical?

Chiropractic care is for everyone who wants to experience wellness, but especially important for children.  It can make a huge difference in their lives.  Conditions easily corrected by chiropractic therapy at an early age are often neglected and can be carried by a child as a burden throughout a lifetime.

I firmly believe that all children should be checked by a chiropractor to ensure a normally functioning nervous system and a healthy body.  Please contact us at 913-681-6013 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Andrea today!

Infantile Colic and Chiropractic Care

09 Aug
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Children, Chiropractic   |  Comments Off on Infantile Colic and Chiropractic Care

Infantile Colic

Of all the health challenges that seem to plague infants, this is probably the one that causes the most upset with parents.  Imagine for a moment feeding your child, when all of a sudden he/she begins screaming at the top of their lungs, arms curling in, legs drawing up, with what seems to be agonizing pain.  All the common remedies associated with “over-the-fence” and grand motherly advice seem to be of no avail.  Colic and ear infections are the two that tug at mothers’ and fathers’ heart strings more than any other condition that you will see. Infantile colic and chiropractic care need to go hand-in-hand in minds of parents when their child is suffering from something this horrible.

Most text books describing colic mention that it usually happens in the evening hours.  I have not found that to be the case.  I found that it tends to occur at any time of the day and seems to have no rhyme or reason.  Colic, it seems, tends to start sometime in infancy, around the first few weeks of life, and persists for a number of months.

For those who are not familiar with infantile colic, and have never had the pleasure of dealing with a child who is so afflicted, you have no idea how devastating it can be on parents’ nerves.  Why?  I’ll tell you.  It is characterized by constant crying, screaming, whining, pain in the stomach area, and acute irritability.  (This is not cute irritability, this is acute irritability…big difference between the two).  The spells of crying can last for hours and parents’ nerves are shot at the end of such spells.  This type of crying leads to aerophagia, which means the swallowing of air.  This then causes distention or enlargement of the bowels which then creates more pain which creates more crying which creates more air being swallowed which then becomes a cycle.  Colic is also characterized by passing an exorbitant amount of gas and abdominal distension, which simply means the stomach area is enlarged and bloated.  As well, the infant does not appear to be ill, is gaining weight, and has a good appetite.  If either of those are absent, then the incessant crying can be caused by a problem different from colic.

There have been many theories people have used in the past to attempt to explain what colic really is and why it occurs.  Some authorities have blamed lactose intolerance, some felt it is caused by stress of the parents, stress of the baby, abnormal gallbladder function, higher levels of intestinal hormones, allergic reactions, digestive hormone instability, etc.  None of these seem to be it.

One of the biggest concerns of a child having colic, is that there is a potential for possible child abuse.  To be very frank, try to imagine a child screaming for hours nonstop.  I find that this will sometimes get on parents’ nerves and on occasion we see a condition which is called “shaken baby syndrome”.  This is a condition whereby the baby is literally shaken by the parents to somehow stop him/her from crying. This only takes place when mom and dad are at the very ends of their wit.  But, there is a no excuse for this behavior.  Shaking an infant can cause irreparable damage to a baby and even death.  I am not suggesting that this is a huge problem, but there is potential for abuse of an infant who happens to be colicky.  If you do ever feel that you as a parent are close to “losing it”, remember that there is a reason this takes place.

Colic is usually caused by a vertebral subluxation in the spine affecting the way the nervous system is controlling bowel functions.  Any chiropractor involved in seeing children will attest to this fact.  You must understand that the digestive system is essentially a long tube and is made of muscle walls, which are under the direct control of the nervous system.  I find that a vertebral subluxation will reduce the amount of information flowing from the brain to the large intestine in the case of colic – thereby reducing the normal function and motility of the large intestine.  This causes food to “stick around” in the large intestine longer than it should, and it tends to produce gas.  This gas causes distention of the intestinal wall, causing pain and crying.  The cry of the baby is really for help.

Dr. Ogi Ressel, D.C.

Children who are affected by colic generally show a wonderful response in the hands of a chiropractor.  If you have any questions please feel free to call us at 913-681-6013!

Chiropractic Care and Asthma

12 Jul
by Dr. Andrea, posted in Blog, Children, Chiropractic   |  Comments Off on Chiropractic Care and Asthma

Let’s chat about a condition that strikes fear and anxiety into the heart of almost every parent:

Asthma:

Most likely someone you know is suffering with this condition: Could be your child, a parent, someone close to you, or even yourself. I say this because there are thousands of children (and adults) afflicted by difficulty with breathing.

Just a few short years ago, a report on the status of Asthma in the United States conducted by the Pew Environmental Commission, estimated that Asthma cases will double by the year 2020. This means that one out of every 14 people will suffer from this condition. One out of fourteen? That is huge! I have to tell you that I am absolutely not Ok with that!
Currently, Asthma care costs over $11 billion annually and it is the number one reason for school absenteeism. It accounts for almost 2 million hospital visits and over 5000 deaths yearly in the United States alone!

From 1980 to 1994 the overall number of Asthma sufferers increased by 75 percent and 160 percent specifically in youngsters under four. The Department of Health and Human Services (Healthy People 2000 Initiative) includes an Asthma strategy, although this report[1] states, “it will not be effective in reversing this alarming trend.”  A review of the research budget revealed that 70 percent of the funds designated for Asthma were spent on treatment and drug research while less than 9 percent was targeted for prevention.

“Almost nothing is going towards tracking the disease and very little is going
towards prevention and discovering the cause of the disease,” states Dr. Paul Lock, Deputy Commissioner of the Commission.[2]

It is estimated that in the next twenty-five years, 50 percent of all children will have difficulty in catching their breath —Did you catch that? 50%! That is not OK!

Why is this “dis-ease” becoming so rampant? Fabulous question! The medical community has no clue! We, on the other hand, have our suspicions! So….What can be done? Well, let’s see….United Kingdom scientists are beginning hospital trials to see the affects of certain bacteria on Asthma. “There is a global network of biological Asthma research which has demonstrated that the lower the exposure of a baby to certain types of bacteria, the higher the risk of Asthma,” states Dr. Charles Warner, child coordinator and professor of child’s health at the University of South Hampton.

As a matter of fact, researchers are adding a low dose of bacteria, which is commonly found in dirt to the diet of some 400 babies whose families have a history of Asthma. They will then study and assess the child’s risk of developing asthma. It is hoped that these bacteria will eventually play a role in boosting the children’s immune system.

Consider this: Consumers have been driven to be afraid of bacteria, fostering an inappropriate use of antibiotics (“just-in-case” prescriptions), and a market saturated with antibacterial soaps and cleaners. Not only have we created an environment in which resistant super-bug bacteria can thrive, but we also kill bacteria, which are actually beneficial and essential to balance the internal environment of our own bodies.
Not very smart or intelligent, is it?

Let’s look at Science of Breathing: Your body takes air from the outside. This air then passes through your nose, windpipe, and your bronchi. These are all parts of your personal “air conditioning” system, so to speak. This air is then filtered, purified, cleansed, warmed, and humidified before it enters your lungs. Think about the science behind this for a moment. There are amazing biofeedback loops at work here that inform your brain whether the air you are breathing in is too cold, too dry, too polluted, etc. These messages are relayed to your brain, which then makes minute corrections to your ‘program’ every second that you are alive. It is an amazing process and happens very exactly under the perfect guidance of your nervous system. Yes, your nervous system is responsible for this function – it is responsible for your breathing!

So, what is Asthma then?

In children (and adults) who have Asthma, the small tubes in the lungs, called bronchioles, become inflamed and irritated. They then contract and even spasm and produce mucous, which tend to plug up the breathing passages. Children can literally gasp for air. These “attacks” can last minutes or hours and can persist for a lifetime.

It is generally felt that an Asthma attack can be triggered by allergies, stress, pollen, pollution, lack of water, heredity, etc.
And it can be life threatening!

These children (and adults) are condemned to a life of bronchodilators, drugs, and steroids, all of which have serious side effects. These side effects can be either immediate or develop over a lifetime of chronic drug use. Asthma is said to be the leading cause of chronic illness among children. Not a fun thing to have. It is definitely a condition best avoided.

Here is the catch however, and I want you to really think about this for a moment: Have you ever wondered why some children subjected to the same stresses, pollens, etc., develop Asthma while others do not? After all, if Asthma was caused by all the factors the public has been taught and led to believe, then all children absolutely would have it.
Right?
Wrong!
Only some do, and their numbers have been rising at an alarming rate!

Why is that? (I love that question)
The standard medical first-line approach to dealing with Asthma is to prescribe inhalant steroids, the so-called “puffers.” These often reduce the frequency and intensity of Asthma attacks, but not without a price – and they certainly do not “cure” it. Steroid use has been linked to osteoporosis, stunted growth in children, nerve damage, and cataracts. The effects of long-term use are unknown since these drugs are still fairly new, believe it or not.
Steroids substitute for and decrease the body’s ability to make its very own steroids,
in response to stress. They also cause a major suppression of the immune system. Those taking high doses of these drugs are warned to avoid vaccinations that are made up of live viruses (MMR, Polio, Chicken Pox). If any of these viruses are contacted while steroids are being used, it could be life threatening. Although these drugs are often taken by pregnant and breast-feeding mothers they have not been tested for safety under these instances (though it stands to reason that these drugs will have similar effects on babies).

Many moms do not realize that all drugs cross the placental barrier and affect their baby. According to a recent study, “the majority of adults and children with Asthma experience unwanted side effects of medication; such as feeling generally restless, shaky hands, shaky feet, racing heartbeat, etc. These side effects have prompted 1 in 3 adults to reduce their medication and cause one in four to skip a dose at some point.”

Some authorities feel that Asthma is really a reaction to a lack of proper hydration of the body; that it is a lack of water. They, therefore, suggest drinking plenty of pure water to hydrate the body. In my practice, I have not met many children who like to drink pure water – it is boring. If you believe this is the solution, I recommend that you use a fruit concentrate, such as Ribena Blackcurrant Concentrate, mixed with 5 parts water for taste. It is an English drink but moms can pick it up in most grocery stores. Or you can use any other fruit drink that is not loaded with sugar.

Many researchers, on the other hand, have found that Asthma seems to be related to our current vaccination program: There are increasing numbers of scientists and practitioners who support this conclusion. Bart Classen M.D., of Classen Immunotherapies in Maryland, is among the most vociferous. (You are welcome to visit his web site at www.vaccines.net).

How does this work? Here is the reason: Vaccination alters the normal immune response and makes a child’s immune system overreact to something perfectly innocuous, plus, it introduces a foreign agent into their body – I shudder at the thought (I will be discussing vaccination and its effects on the health of our children in later issues of this newsletter)!

As a result, a child’s immune system is over-stimulated and becomes over-sensitive. Air, for example, that would not normally bother a person, can have an adverse effect on a child whose nervous and immune systems are “overloaded.” You may be surprised to learn that Asthma, difficulty breathing, coughing, chest tightness, etc., are actually only symptoms.

It means that your child’s body (or yours) is not able to deal with this problem on its own!

To understand this better, I want you to think about this for a moment: D. D. Palmer, the Discoverer of Chiropractic, once explained it this way in 1885, “I desired to know “what is it that causes one man to be sick, while his partner, sitting at the same table, eating the same food, drinking the same water, breathing the same air, is healthy?”

If you understand this, you are on your way!

Doctors of Chiropractic like myself have been helping children with chiropractic care and Asthma for years. We need to remember that we are dealing with children, NOT their Asthma. Our approach recognizes that difference. We feel it is important to deal with the child, NOT his label.

Let’s take a look at how the body functions; Your Health is based on four profound principles:

1.    Your Body is self-healing

Yes, your Body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism. It is designed to heal itself and regulate all its functions. Amazing!

And it follows a very exact program in order to perform all of its amazing functions.

You could say you are on “Auto Pilot!”

2. Your Nervous System runs and
controls your whole body and all its
functions. It controls the way you breathe, the way you digest food, what you see, the way you move, your immune system, and everything else.

3.   As long as there is no interference to the normal function of your nervous system, you should experience the best of health.

Period!

If something interferes with the function of the nervous system, it will no longer be able to control the body as it was meant to.
Your body will not work as it should.

It will do its “own thing.” This is called

Malfunction!

And if a part of the body is malfunctioning,

it will slowly start to become sick.

This is called Dis-ease.

When your body is no longer able to handle the disease stage, it will then “talk” to you in a language you can easily understand.

The language your body uses is called “Symptoms.”

So… what can interfere with the function of your Nervous System? Well….If one of the vertebrae of your spine becomes subluxated, it will interfere with the way the nervous system controls your body functions. You will no longer be able to function normally. Your body will do its own “thing”.

4.  My mission is to correct these Vertebral Subluxations.

This restores normal nervous system balance and all body functions start to improve – including Breathing!!! And no drugs are involved! I like that!

Dr. Ogi Ressel, D.C.

If you know someone who is suffering with Asthma, please have them talk with me. I can help!

Please…if you have any questions, or would like any information on any health topic, it would be my pleasure to help you!

 

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