Day: August 20, 2012

Obesity is fast becoming the number one health problem in the world, contributing to an increased risk of other diseases. Following are some interesting facts and figures related to obesity:

Obesity adds about $2,800.00 to a person’s medical bills annually.

An estimated 300,000 premature deaths in the US each year are caused by obesity.

One-third of US adults are obese, indicating a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.

80% of cases of Type 2 diabetes are related to obesity. The rate of diabetes has doubled in 8 states since 1995.

70% of heart disease is obesity related.

In the last 30 years childhood obesity has tripled, from 6.5% in children aged 6 to 11 years to 19.6% today. The obesity rate in teenagers aged 12 to 19 years has increased from 5% to 18.1%.

Of children who are overweight at age 10 – 15, 80% will be obese as adults.

The rate of obesity is increasing in the US. In 2007 only one state had an overall obesity rate of over 30%. In 2011, 12 states had a greater than 30% obesity rate.

40% of obese Americans aged 50 to 84 have osteoarthritis of the knee, caused by the wear and tear to the joints from excess weight stress. One extra pound of weight is equivalent to four pounds of stress on the knee.

Good health is a combination of many factors including your nutrition, preventative care, appropriate corrective care and the small choices you make every day in the course of living. If you have any questions about the above facts, or your general health, please ask. We are here to help you!

Spinal decompression is a treatment option for folks with long-term back pain, sciatica, leg pain, degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, numbness and other conditions that have not responded to initial treatments such as manipulation and physical therapy. All of these conditions may be the result of compressive forces on your vertebrae, which can cause spinal misalignment and compressed discs.

Compressed discs can lead to herniation or bulging of the discs, thus pressure on the nerves. Spinal decompression is a non-invasive, non-surgical alternative that offers gentle spinal decompression through the use of specially designed, FDA-approved equipment. Patients are placed on a decompression table in a comfortable posture that depends upon which area of the back needs treatment. The treatment applies a specific force to the compressed discs, and a computer alternates the decompression force with relaxation periods. The amount of time for decompression will be individually determined by your doctor. This process serves to gently elongate the spine and to create a vacuum that pulls the disc back into its proper location and shape within the vertebrae. Realigning the discs in this manner can reduce pain and promote healing. The number of treatments to achieve complete healing varies from patient to patient.

It is important to work carefully with your chiropractor to be sure you have a good chance of successful treatment. Your chiropractor may precede each treatment with soft tissue muscle work. He will also work with other health professionals as needed to determine the precise nature of your back pain and the type of treatments that are most likely to resolve your pain at its source.