Balanced Health Solutions

01/23/2025

Here are some ways you can work on improving your balance. Try to practice at least one of these exercises daily.

◾ Stand on one leg whenever you're waiting in line at the theater, bank, or grocery store.

◾ Stand on one leg while brushing your teeth: one minute on one leg while brushing the upper teeth, and another minute on the other leg while brushing the lower teeth.

◾ Keep a wobbleboard (see photo below) in your office; stand on it during a break or whenever you're on the phone.

◾ Ask someone to toss you a Frisbee or beach ball while you balance on one leg and then on the other.

◾ Practice sitting down and getting up from a chair without using your hands.

◾ Practice walking heel to toe — that is, like a tightrope walker, placing the heel of one foot just in front of the toes of the opposite foot each time you take a step.

◾ Take a tai chi or dance class (or use DVDs at home), or take up social dancing. Although more research is needed, there's evidence that dance can improve balance and stability. Studies comparing dancers to nondancers suggest that dancers rely more on proprioception than on visual cues.

◾Visit a fitness center and find out if it offers balance classes or the use of (and training on) balance or wobble boards.

✅ And remember, too much stress on your nervous system can contribute to balance issues. Brain based providers can reduce this stress through proper care.

Get your brain checked!

-Adapted from Harvard Health

01/23/2025

Balance Issues Are A Sign Of Brain Issues: Try This Test At Home https://ecs.page.link/zuSzb

How long can you balance on one foot? The answer may surprise you and also tell you how well your brain is functioning. Poor balance is a sign of poor brain ...

01/22/2025

New names for the snowplows. (What creative names have you come with? Share below.)
• Scoop Dogg
• Plow McCartney
• Snowy Deschanel
• Frostin Bieber
• Leonardo Di-Icecaprio
• Gwyneth Plough-trow
• Sleetwood Mac
• Winona Rider-on-Ice
• Mariah Scary (for icy roads!)
• Ice Cube Plowtruck
• Billie Ice-lish
• Meryl Sweep (for slush cleanup!)

01/21/2025

Try balancing on each leg for 20 seconds. Can you do it? If not, your health is at stake.

Tune into our FB page this week for tips to help you improve your balance. 🙌

01/20/2025

Your Ability to Balance Could Help Determine Your Future Health

It is well known in scientific circles that your ability to balance is directed by specific areas of the brain BUT now research is starting to show that your ability to balance is a good predictor of future health.

According to a study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke, “struggling to stand on one leg for less than 20 seconds was linked to an increased risk for stroke, small blood vessel damage in the brain, and reduced cognitive function in otherwise healthy people”.

It also concluded that “the ability to balance on one leg is an important test for brain health”.

Before you read any further, stand up and try to balance on one leg at a time, for at least 20 seconds…can you do it?

Having poor balance puts you at risk for brain disease and cognitive decline.

BUT WAIT…now for the good news!

A study that explored the role of chiropractic for the treatment of dizziness/balance disorders through an analysis of data from the 2008 National Health Interview Survey showed that “chiropractic was highly effective in helping resolve these issues.”

The odds ratio for perceiving being helped by a chiropractor was 95%.

Brain based providers can influence the brain via specific brain based care and help the brain to communicate more effectively and keep your body functioning the way it should, starting with better balance.

In addition to suggesting proper brain-based care for balance issues, this week our focus will be on things you can do to improve your ability to balance.

Be sure to schedule a brain-based assessment in our office to see how well your brain is functioning!

Sources:
J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med 2016 Apr;21(2):138-42. doi: 10.1177/2156587215604974. Epub 2015 Sep 11. Ability to balance on one leg may reflect brain health, stroke risk https://ecs.page.link/M2V6P

01/16/2025

6 Things You Can Do to Stop Doomscrolling

1. Don't spend more than 15 minutes at a time scrolling, set a timer.
2. Start and end your day with some positivity
3. Take a break from the news, unplug for awhile
4. Before responding to a post when you're heated, stop and count to 10 before posting
5. Block the sites you find distressing, you can set up filters on your phone so you don't see the doom and gloom
6. Don't use technology right before bed as it can make sleeping more difficult, better yet make your bedroom a technology-free zone

- adapted from amenclinics

You are in control of how much negativity you expose yourself to.

And remember to schedule a brain based assessment! We can help reduce stress on your nervous system!

01/14/2025

4 𝒖𝒏𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒎𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒐:

𝟏. 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩

Research shows that “teenagers who on average get an hour less sleep at night were 38% more likely to feel sad and hopeless, 42% more likely to consider su***de, 58% more likely to attempt su***de, and 23% more likely to engage in substance abuse.”

𝟐. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐬

Which negatively impacts your moods and mental well-being.

𝟑. 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥

In March 2020 shortly after the pandemic hit, There was a 54% Increase in alcohol sales. This trend has continued over the last few years. Alcohol is a toxin and can cause a number of health issues including increasing your risk of cancer.

𝟒. 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬

The stress caused by doomscrolling and the addictive nature of this habit (consuming your time) can lead to relationship conflicts.

Later this week we will discuss things you can do to stop this harmful behavior.

But you can start by limiting your scrolling to 15 minutes at any one time.
It is so easy to get sucked in once you start, and before you know it an hour or more has gone by!

01/13/2025

DOOMscrolling! What Is It And How It Is Damaging Your Brain And Health

Doomscrolling is the act of scrolling through your phone or computer for content that causes physical and mental distress and it’s becoming more and more common these days. It’s so widespread now that the word doomscrolling has been recognized by Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words https://ecs.page.link/R9UCw.

I’m sure you have found yourself sucked into that rabbit hole of scrolling, especially in light of recent events.

Doomscrolling actually causes changes in your brain that drive anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and addictions.

Constantly seeing and reading negative and frightening images/information activates the fear circuits in your brain (amygdala), which leads to a constant state of feeling anxious and afraid.

Neuroscience shows us that the human brain is wired for negativity and pays extra attention to anything that might harm us.

In a survey from the American Psychological Association, “56% of people said that regularly following the news causes stress.”

And that’s just following the news and doesn’t even compare to the excessive doomscrolling many are partaking in.

“Over time, elevated stress hormones shrink the major memory centers in your brain, increase inflammation leading to numerous health issues including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, memory issues, ADD, diabetes, depression, anxiety and more .”

The good news is this can all be reversed. Lifestyle changes, including regular chiropractic adjustments, have been shown in research to help the brain function better so your body can function like it should, helping you live a better life.

This week our focus is going to be on how doomscrolling affects your health and relationships but more importantly, share some tips on how to help you stop doomscrolling and reverse the negative effects.

01/10/2025

01/09/2025

What natural remedies have proved successful for your child’s ear infections besides chiropractic?

01/08/2025

Ear Infections: A Better Way https://ecs.page.link/5B4LS

If you or someone you know who has kids then you most likely have dealt or will deal with each infections. Antibiotics are NOT the best way to treat these ea...

01/07/2025

Ear infections are very common, as is the problem – antibiotics to treat them. The truth is that it’s impossible to protect your kids from bacteria and germs, including those that cause ear infections.

A better functioning immune system is the answer!

If your nervous system is stressed and not functioning optimally, your immune system won’t function the way it is supposed to which can lead to a variety of health issues including ear infections.

What causes nervous system stress?

Chiropractors refer to it as the three T’s. Trauma (major or minor such as staring at your phone for long periods), Thoughts (stress), and Toxins, all of which we are exposed to every single day.

One of the best ways to reduce this stress on your nervous system is to make sure your brain and nervous system is functioning optimally.

So, rather than opt for antibiotics for your child’s ear infection, get them in for an appointment to get their brain checked and started on a care plan just right for them!

01/06/2025

A Better Option for Your Child's Ear Infection and Why!

If you’re a parent, there’s a better than average chance that you’ve had a child with an ear infection, maybe even chronic ear infections. This means there’s also a really good chance that you took your child to a pediatrician who prescribed an antibiotic.

But did you know that there’s a better alternative?

Ear infections are the number one reason parents take their kids to the pediatrician and account for around 35% of all pediatrician office visits. In other words, this is a huge problem. And one in which a better alternative is definitely needed.

The problem is the treatment itself – antibiotics! The research is clear; antibiotics are not effective when treating ear infections in many cases. And now, the medical profession is beginning to change its position on antibiotics as a treatment option for ear infections.

However, there’s another reason why antibiotics are a poor treatment option –and a reason for their ineffectiveness – and that’s something we call antibiotic resistance.

This issue has become a global problem and one that transcends well beyond ear infections.

Antibiotics have been used so prevalently for so many conditions and illnesses that we’ve built up resistance. And you’ve heard the saying – whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

This is why using antibiotics to treat ear infections has become less effective.

Brain based care is a better alternative for ear infections.

There is a common misconception that goes something like this – chiropractors only treat back and neck pain. However, what chiropractic care really does is keep the brain and nervous system healthy and functioning properly.

Research shows that brain based care and chiropractic adjustments can help treat ear infections faster and more effectively.

One 1996 study published in JMPT, showed that 93% of children who received chiropractic adjustments for their ear infections showed improvement. More than 75% showed improvement in less than 10 days and 43% showed improvement after just one or two visits.
It comes down to this, do you want to get to the source of the problem or just medicate the symptoms?

Germs and bacteria aren’t going anywhere. However, our bodies are completely capable of handling them, which is why we have immune systems. The key is making sure your immune system is working as it should, and this requires a brain and nervous system that’s working properly.

Please share this information. The normal treatment option of kids going on antibiotics over and over for ear infections (or other things) is doing more harm than good and is only contributing to a cycle of suffering.

Be sure to bring your kiddo into our office for a brain assessment to see if poor brain function is contributing to ear infections.

Get your brain checked!

01/02/2025

4 Must Do Exercises For A Healthier Brain In 2025! https://ecs.page.link/PH7mH

12/31/2024

What is one healthy habit (lifestyle change) you are going to commit to for 2025?

12/30/2024

Forget The Resolutions, Create Healthy Habits Instead
Welcome to 2025!

According to a Duke University study over 40% of everything we do EACH day, we do not even think about, they are habits that have been formed.

Other studies show that over 90% of New Year’s resolutions are dropped by January 19th, so why are we making resolutions? We should be creating healthy habits (lifestyle changes) instead.

For most, at least one resolution each new year is regarding health.

This week our focus will be on sharing lifestyle changes (health habits) that have been shown in research to improve brain health which in turn positively influences overall health.

Why is brain health important?

Because the brain controls and coordinates every cell, tissue, organ, and muscle in your entire body. This includes every system as well. Your cardiovascular system, your digestive system, your respiratory system, your reproductive system, your IMMUNE system, and every other system.

Before we get into the actual habits that will improve brain health let’s talk about the best ways to develop habits.

1) Habits are best formed when you perform them at the same time each day.
2) Connect the habit to something you already do each day. The new habit can be done when you brush your teeth, or when you brew your morning cup of coffee. You get the idea.
3) Commit to the new habit for a minimum of 3 months.
4) Expect to not feel like doing “it” each time. Do it anyway.
5) Develop a support system or an accountability partner for this new habit.

One of the habits we are going to recommend is the habit of getting your regular chiropractic adjustment.

A 2016 study conducted by the Spinal Research Foundation and published in the Journal of Neural Plasticity shows that chiropractic spinal adjustments significantly increase activity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, the area where higher learning and cognition happen.

As your brain functions better YOU function better!

Be sure to schedule a brain based assessment in our office to see how we can help you have your healthiest year yet!