Month: September 2019

Have a blessed, prosperous, healthy New Year from Dr James Schofield’s pain relief chiropractic office.

One of the best ways to be healthy, relieve chronic pain, attain a desirable weight and promote longevity is through our diet. Unfortunately, many of us have been given the wrong information on what, how and when to eat. This article will describe an alkaline anti-inflammatory diet, why it is so good for our health and how to utilize this natural nutritional approach.

To begin a little human history is in order. For most of the history of humans on this planet we were nomadic. We traveled around the globe in search of large mammals that could be killed and eaten. Alternatively, humans herded mammals such as goats, sheep, reindeer and other cattle that required traveling to abundant pasture lands. Our ancestors ate a lot of meat and fat. They did not stay in one place for very long, therefore they were not able to farm. They did collect vegetables, a small amount of fruit and a very small amount of grains. There were very few starchy carbs such as cereal, bread, pasta and other grains in their diet. It wasn’t until about 5000 years ago when the Egyptians began to farm that humans began to have a large amount of starchy carbohydrates to eat.

Now, let’s introduce some very simple and easy to understand biochemistry. We have all heard of fish oil and its main component of omega-3 fatty acids, sometimes called omega-3 oils. Most know that these omega-3 oils are good for us. Another, sometimes overlooked, oil is omega 6 fatty acid. When our ancestors were nomadic and ate few starchy, carbohydrates their diet consisted of an approximately 1:1 ratio of omega-3 and omega six fatty acids. This ratio is very healthy for the body. It makes the body more alkaline versus acidic. The more alkaline we are the healthier we will be.

However, if we become imbalanced in our omega-3 and omega 6 fatty acids we become more acidic and have more inflammation in the body. More inflammation leads to chronic pain, weight gain and lifestyle related diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular problems, arthritis and other disease processes that affect us today. When we eat high amounts of carbohydrates such as wheat, corn and rice we are ingesting foods with more omega 6 fatty acids. These may create a ratio imbalance of 1:10 omega-3 versus omega 6 fatty acids or more. Potato chips, for instance, have a 1:60 ratio of omega-3 versus omega 6 fatty acids.

Inflammation created by in improper balance of omega oils from too many carbohydrates creates a systemic, general inflammation in the body. Conversely a diet lower in carbohydrates, promoting a ratio more in line with 1:1 fatty acids allows the body to heal and function more optimally.

A very simple way to achieve an alkaline anti-inflammatory diet is to simply eat fewer starchy carbs. If one were to consume 100-200 grams per day of products containing grains  this would lead to a healthier lifestyle. Certainly, this diet would include high amounts of vegetables and a reasonable amount of foods containing proteins and fats like eggs, meats, fish and nuts. It is also recommended that this diet be low in sweets and sugar, like candy, cookies, soda, sports drinks and cakes and pies.

This diet does not have to be excessively stringent. Most people who do not have serious metabolic diseases could certainly afford to have a “cheat day” or two each week when they could exceed the 100-200 grams of starchy carbohydrates and some sweets.

Not all healthcare practitioners or nutritionists will necessarily subscribe to what has been detailed here. However, there are many books and healthcare practitioners who align themselves with this plan. Some of these would include The South Beach Diet, The Paleolithic Diet, The Keto Diet and The Mediterranean Diet.

People interested in this dietary approach can certainly find an expert who can give them more guidance.

Most people utilizing an alkaline anti-inflammatory diet will find they have improved health in a reasonable period of time. Many of us who initially utilized this approach found that within a year we reached a desirable weight, eliminated chronic pains, had increased energy and better sleep. While an alkaline anti-inflammatory diet may not be mainstream there is certainly enough scientific and anecdotal evidence for one to investigate this lifestyle.

To learn more about chiropractic pain relief see our site. Visit UPMC pain relief chiropractor.

While it’s hard to say goodbye to summer it’s very easy to welcome our beautiful Western Pennsylvania autumn season!

Happy autumn from the pain relief chiropractic office of Dr. James Schofield!

Today is the 124th anniversary of the founding of the chiropractic profession. On September 18, 1895 Daniel David Palmer is credited with giving the first chiropractic adjustment in Davenport Iowa. Dr. Palmer believed that pinched and irritated nerves caused by spinal misalignment’s caused pain and dis-ease.

No other healthcare profession had ever conceived this idea. Dr. Palmer started a very successful chiropractic clinic and later founded the first school for training chiropractors. Since then the chiropractic profession has helped millions of people to get relief of pain.

Happy Birthday and Founders Day from the Pittsburgh North Hills chiropractic office of Dr. James J Schofield!

As a practicing chiropractor of 35 years I have seen a great number of patients who have suffered needlessly from neck or back pain that originally occurred from a trauma like an auto accident. Once we help them to get rid of their pain with chiropractic care, their frequent comment has been: “I wish I had come here years ago.” This article will discuss the effects of trauma to the body, consequences and what can be done to mitigate the effects.

It is very common to have an auto accident, fall or be struck by something and not feel any immediate pain. This does not mean that our spine did not suffer an injury. It may not start becoming painful until days, weeks or months after the trauma. In fact, research studies show that from 50% to 88% of the people having whiplash from an auto accident continue to suffer years after.

When there is an unexpected sudden trauma from an accident, like whiplash, there can be injury to the soft tissues–muscles, ligaments, tendons and other tissues. If there is a significant accident, I recommend that you first go to an emergency medicine center to make sure there are no life-threatening conditions. However, I’ve seen many times where patients were sent home after x-rays, MRIs or CAT scans found nothing broken or dislocated yet the spine had suffered soft tissue injuries that were not detected by these tests.

Whiplash is a term describing an injury that occurs to a person’s spine, typically their neck. Suddenly and unexpectedly the neck and head are very quickly thrown in one direction and then in the opposite direction. We could say the head is “whipped around” on the neck. This itself be deleterious to the structures of the neck. However additionally, if the head is turned to the right or left a little when the impact occurs this can complicate the effects of the injury. If soft-tissue injuries are not treated the neck and back will not heal properly and may develop problems years later.

To avoid this, I strongly recommend that person be checked to see if there is damage to the spine. If there is not, one can be free from worry. If there is injury, it can be addressed with treatment, quickly, so it doesn’t worsen. Chiropractic care is the most effective form of helping the spine to repair and become healthy. If chiropractic treatment is neglected it could make the difference between health or disability and comfort or pain.

Who is a chiropractor near me for neck pain relief? Who is a North Hills Pittsburgh chiropractor for headache relief?

September 11… Let’s make this a day filled with prayer and remembrance from Dr James Schofield’s chiropractic office.

Most people know that direct sunshine hitting our skin produces vitamin D. Research now indicates that vitamin D is vitally important, in many ways, for a child’s health.

When we are outside and have exposure to direct sunlight on our skin vitamin D is produced. For many years we didn’t know the wide-ranging benefits of vitamin D. It was found that vitamin D is important for the strength of our bones. Children deficient in vitamin D developed a condition called Rickets. Vitamin D helps calcium be absorbed and deposited into bones. This makes the bones stronger. If children did not have enough vitamin D their bones were weak and this condition was named Rickets. As a result milk was fortified with vitamin D and Rickets was virtually eliminated in the United States.

However, in recent years we have found that the health benefits of vitamin D are very wide ranging, especially for children. This article will describe some recent research outlining health benefits of vitamin D.

Vitamin D is produced in the body as a result of exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays of the sun.

 Scientific Reports, June 2019 showed an analysis of data concerning over 422,000 mother-child pairs in Scotland and revealed that kids born to women with lower levels of exposure to UVB rays during pregnancy were more likely to have a learning disability later in life. Lead author Dr. Jill Pell notes, “Learning disabilities can have profound lifelong effects on both the affected child and their family. The importance of our study is that it suggests a possible way to prevent learning disabilities in some children.” We can see that it is important for women to have adequate levels of vitamin D through their pregnancy.

Another study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2010 found children who had adequate levels of vitamin D were less likely to become ill with the flu.

Still another scientific study published in the Journal Medical Hypothesis, 2008 indicated that women who had low vitamin D levels during their pregnancy are more likely to have children who developed autism.

When we talk of vitamin D we should be more specific and note that the actual exact type of vitamin D needed is vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 must be obtained through one of two extraneous methods. The first is by receiving direct sunlight to our skin. If one were to be outside, with a short sleeve shirt and shorts, thus exposing the arms, legs and head and neck to the sun for 20 minutes one would obtain sufficient vitamin D for that day. It should be said that no sunscreen should be worn during this time, but can be applied after 20 minutes. We require repeated exposures over the course of weeks and perhaps months to raise our vitamin D levels to a sufficient, healthy amount. Vitamin D3 is transferred from a pregnant woman to a developing fetus.

Another way to obtain vitamin D3 is orally. A pregnant woman could take a supplement of 5000 IUs a day, through the course of her pregnancy to obtain sufficient levels. Children should take a lesser amount. It would be wise for a pregnant women to consult with her obstetrician and for a child to have a consultation with a pediatrician as to their specific vitamin D requirements. Many times physicians will perform a simple blood test to evaluate an individual’s vitamin D3 levels and suggest measures to make improvements.

It is important for all people to have adequate vitamin D levels. This appears especially so for pregnant women and children. Everyone is urged to check with their healthcare physician to determine their vitamin D levels and take appropriate action if they are deficient.

Dr James Schofield is a chiropractor certified in providing the Webster Technique for women during their pregnancy. To learn more about more about chiropractic care during pregnancy visit James Schofield DC’s website

WHAT WAS YOUR CONDITION?

My problem was in my neck.  I could not turn by head very well from side to side without a lot of pain.  It was also difficult and painful to look over my shoulder.  I had this pain for over six months before seeing Dr. Schofield.

WHAT STEPS HAD YOU PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO GET HELP?

Before seeing Dr. Schofield I had tried massage therapy, which brought me no relief at all.

HOW WERE YOU REFERRED TO CHIROPRACTIC?

My husband and my mother recommended that I see Dr. Schofield.  He had helped both of them with their back issues.

IN YOUR WORDS, WHAT DID THE CHIROPRACTOR DO?

Dr. Schofield identified the problem, did regular adjustments to my neck twice a week for a month.  He also instructed me on exercises and stretches and advised me to use ice therapy.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS?

I enjoy playing outside with my kids and dogs.  I also enjoy exercising.

HOW HAS CHIROPRACTIC HELPED YOUR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS?

The pain had really made it difficult to do the things I enjoy.  Following Dr. Schofield’s instructions brought me a lot of relief.  I now continue to enjoy being active with my family -without pain.

HOW HAS CHIROPRACTIC HELPED OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE?

Even doing things like driving, which I did a lot, was excruciating.  I also watched children all day and the pain was making it difficult as well as affecting my mood.  Since seeing Dr. Schofield my neck is feeling so much better and has just made my life in general better.  I wish I had seen Dr. Schofield sooner.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS?

I would encourage others to not only trust Dr. Schofield but to follow his instructions.  It may take some time to work but if you stick with your appointments and follow the doctor’s advice you will see results and you will feel better again.  If Dr. Schofield says he can help you he can, but you have to do your part and be diligent.

Who is the best UPMC chiropractor for headache relief? Who is the best North Hills Pittsburgh chiropractor for neck pain relief?

Many people suffering from lower back pain also have associated poor sleep. When their back is giving them pain many find it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. This certainly can be disruptive to their quality of life. This article will discuss how a back complaint can affect sleep and other aspects of life. It will note recent research regarding back complaints and poor sleep. And, it will offer an alternative solution to help with this healthcare dilemma.

A scientific research study published on Spine Universe, 2019 found of 757 patients with lower back pain 27% also had sleep disorders, most commonly insomnia. It was found, in many cases, that these patients were in a vicious cycle. Because their back hurt, they got less sleep. And, because they got less sleep their back pain increased. Subsequently, they took more medication to gain relief of their pain and they were found to be taking medications to help sleep.

We all know that there are side effects from taking medications. These can lead to further problems. For instance, many times patients are given steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for their back complaint. But a side effect of oral steroids is the patient being hyperactive and agitated with difficult ability to get normal sleep.

Another pharmaceutical that patients may be given our opioids such as OxyContin and Percocet. Besides being highly addictive these medications lead to poor sleep. They especially affect the portion of sleep when people dream. When we sleep there are certain periods when we dream called rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep). This REM sleep is necessary as it is very restorative and necessary for our brain. Without adequate REM sleep people feel sluggish, tired and have difficult cognitive functions like making decisions and remembering facts. It is certainly deleterious to a patient’s health for them to be on an opioid medication or anything but a short length of time.

Fortunately, for people suffering from lower back complaints, there is a natural, alternative solution to help them with their discomfort and to help them return to normal sleep patterns. Chiropractic care is the answer, in the majority of cases, for this predicament.

Doctors of Chiropractic are trained to find the specific cause of patients back problems. Most of the time, the source of the complaint is a misalignment or improper movement of the bones of the lower spine and pelvis. Chiropractors are trained to find this problem and, with chiropractic adjustments (sometimes called spinal manipulation) to help patients get relief from their back pain. Of course, once the back pain is allieved and eliminated problems with sleep also diminished and improved.

Those looking for relief of low back complaints and subsequent poor sleep are encouraged to investigate chiropractic care. It may be as simple as going online and researching chiropractors in your area and scheduling an initial appointment. Many find it is the best decision they will make.

Who is the best chiropractor near me for lower back pain relief? Who is the best UPMC chiropractor for neck pain relief?

Happy Labor Day from Dr. James Schofield’s North Hills Pittsburgh chiropractic office.