Benefits of Receiving Chiropractic Treatment

If you have stiff joints, a pain in the neck, arms, legs, or if you suffer from frequent headaches, then you are immediately a chiropractic candidate. Our doctors at Health First Chiropractic and Rehabilitation use hands-on spinal manipulation and other alternative treatments to revitalize proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, without surgery or medication. The benefits from this type of treatment are endless.

Most people are unaware of all the benefits of keeping your spine and nervous system healthy. Chiropractors don’t just crack your neck and send you on your way. In fact, they do much more than that. In general, proper chiropractic treatment of your body's lumbar, or lower back, region, involves very little risk and the rewards can be significant. It may sound silly, but with regular chiropractic care, you can improve your mood, your quality of sleep, and your energy levels, all without hospitals or medicine.

If you think you may benefit from chiropractic treatment, please give us a call. To schedule an appointment in any of our Triad locations including our Greensboro, NC office, call us at 336-543-2231 or visit the Health First Chiropractic and Rehabilitation website, www.hstriad.com. 

Tips for Safe Summer Yard Work

Warmer weather and sprouting gardens often mean yard work! This summer, be sure you know how to keep your back safe through all that work. Health First Chiropractic and Rehabilitation in Greensboro, High Point, Burlington and Winston Salem, NC want their patients to be mindful of their back. Keep reading for some tips!

• Know how much you can handle. Stop when you get tired or feel your back has had enough. Even taking small breaks throughout the day can help.


• Know how much you can lift. Use proper lifting techniques and do not attempt to lift, push, or pull something that you know is too heavy for you.


• Find ways to make tasks easier on yourself. Bring tasks up to your level so you do not have to crouch or hunch over them. Using a workbench is a lot of relief on the back. Another tip is watering the soil to make any digging or pulling weeds easier.


• Utilize garden tools. They are made to make tasks easier. Some of these helpful tools include kneeling pads, straps, and spades.

Yard work can be tough on the body if the proper precautions are not taken and prevention is the best medicine! To learn more about Health First Chiropractic and Rehabilitation in Greensboro, NC, give our office a call at (336) 543-2231. Our other locations may be found on our website, www.hstriad.com. 

Taking Synthroid? 5 Facts You Need To Know About Synthroid

Synthroid is the number 1 prescribed medication for people suffering with hypothyroidism.  After years of working with patients taking synthroid, here is a quick list of 5 facts you should know before you begin taking synthroid.

1.    Synthroid is a synthetic version of our own inactive thyroid hormone T4 or Synthetic Thyroxine.  This thyroid hormone is transported throughout the body and is converted to T3 which is the active thyroid hormone.  The first issue with this medication is that it is synthetic.  Whenever you add a chemical to the body, there are multiple processes the body must go through to utilize the medication - even though it “technically” is the same chemical make-up as the hormone our body produces.  The processes that the body must go through to utilize the synthetic thyroxine can initiate multiple reactions in the body, each of which can cause various signs and symptoms that a person taking synthroid should be on the lookout for.  For a list of reactions – read the label that comes with the medication.

2.    Synthroid is converted via the bodies metabolic processes into the active form of thyroid hormone better known as T3.  If you were unaware, T3 or triiodothyronine  is necessary for the cells of your body to initiate cellular activity.  In fact, thyroid hormones are the primary regulators of how much cell activity occurs in the body.  Although this explanation is an over-simplification of what truly occurs,  it does show how important the thyroid hormones are to our overall body functions.  This conversion of the synthetic medicine to the active hormone does not always occur as expected.  If there are issues with other body systems, the conversion process is unable to occur – making the medication not function as it was intended.    Let’s explain this more.

3.    If your body is unable to convert T4 to T3, many other body processes start to break down.  Since we know how important these hormones are to normal body function, and we are taking synthetic T4 (or the equivalent), our thyroid can become out of balance with the rest of the body and other processes begin to compensate.  This compensation can occur in the liver, the gut, or even in the brain, causing many of the other symptoms that people experience when their thyroid is not working properly.

4.    Synthroid has been shown to be effective for people with Primary Hypothyroidism.  Unbeknownst to most people, there are actually 6 different forms of thyroid dysfunction.  The difficulty is that of the 6 different types of thyroid dysfunctions, synthroid is only effective with one type of this disorder.  So millions of people who are taking medication for thyroid issues, may not be benefiting from the medication and in some cases may be making their thyroid issues worse.  It is important to understand which type of hypothyroidism you are experiencing and then understand what treatment protocols are appropriate for your particular case.

5.    If you are taking synthroid, make sure you have been properly diagnosed.  Since most doctors only test for TSH and T4 levels, many people have been incorrectly diagnosed with having primary hypothyroidism, when in fact, they have another type of hypothyroidism.  If you have been to your doctor, and have not had a comprehensive panel run for your thyroid dysfunction, you may be missing a piece of the puzzle that could help you truly understand what is going on with your thyroid.  We have found there are 9 specific thyroid tests that help determine the underlying nature of your thyroid issues.  If you haven’t had these 9 tests, you may be mis-diagnosed.

This is a quick list of what we teach our patients at our Thyroid Workshops, and our doctors have become educated in determining which lab tests should be run to give the best picture of a person’s thyroid function.  If you are suffering with thyroid issues and are searching for answers, now is the time to get your questions addressed.  Call any of our Triad offices, to schedule a time to speak with our doctors about your thyroid issues.

Proper Sleeping Posture

While you probably know that posture is important while sitting and standing, did you know that it is just as important while you are sleeping? Sleeping is meant to let your body rest and recharge. With an out-of-line spine, there are disrupted messages to and from your body and brain. At Health First Chiropractic and Rehab in Greensboro, NC, we want all of our patients to know proper sleep posture.

The first thing to know about sleep posture is that there are two preferred positions to sleep in and one that is not recommended. Sleeping on your back or your side is best. Sleeping on your stomach is not recommended because of the pressure it puts on your neck and lower back. However, we will give you tips for each position to help you rest comfortably and effectively.

 

Back and Side Sleepers

For those who sleep on their back or their side, thicker pillows are best for supporting your head and neck. When your head is hanging too low, a kink in the neck develops and disturbs the nerves. Make sure the pillow allows your head to rest at a level that keeps your cervical spine in line with the rest of your spine. Thicker pillows are usually best for these positions. In addition, side sleepers may want to place a pillow between their knees and back sleepers may want to place a pillow under their knees for extra back support.

 

Stomach Sleepers

For people who cannot sleep unless they are on their stomach, this is for you. Choose a very thin pillow or even use no pillow at all. This is so that your neck is not bent upwards while you are sleeping. Also, to take pressure off the rest of the spine, place a pillow under your pelvis/ stomach area.

 

Posture is important even when you’re sleeping! To set up an appointment at Health First Chiropractic in Greensboro, NC, call our office at (336) 543-2231 or visit our website, www.hstriad.com to learn about our other locations.

Happy 4th of July

Wishing You All A Happy And Safe 4th of July!