“How Can I Ever Repay You?”

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©2018PatientMedia,Inc.Allrightsreserved.This information is to educate and informand is not a substitute for the advice of alicensed health care provider. Seekpromptattentionforanyspecifichealthissueorbeforestartinganexerciseprogram.Images©2018iStockphoto.com.

Bones? Muscles? Nerves?Chiropractic suffers from countless myths and misconceptions. Perhaps among the more common is the belief that chiropractors are back doctors.

It’s not true.

That would be like thinking medical doctors are mouth doctors because prescriptions usually enter the body through the mouth.

“I’m interested in your spine because it must protect the nerve messages that travel your spinal cord—while allowing you to stand, walk, turn and bend,” says Dr. Kirschner. “Our primary focus is on the integrity of your nervous system.”

It’s true.

Bones are static structures that move when muscles contract. And muscles contract when commanded by your nervous system. That’s why chiropractors are more accurately nerve doctors, not bone or back doctors.

If your nervous system, which controls and regulates every cell of your body, is tense or hyperactive (perhaps from emotional stress), you’re more likely to experience muscle spasms. Spinal misalignments often result, which can affect the ability of nearby nerves to transmit vital brain-to-body nerve messages.

“If you’re suffering from ill health, your nervous system is probably involved in some way,” continues Dr. Kirschner. “Our job is to find areas of your spine disrupting normal nerve flow and restore normal transmission. When we do, your body functions better and your health can return.”

Do you know someone who needs a nerve doctor? We hope you’ll send them our way for a natural, drug-free solution. Oh, and we help with neck and back problems too! (813) 907-9553

What prompted you to try chiropractic?A friend or family member probably made a recommendation. They got results and figured you might, too. Or they explained how reducing nervous system stress along the spine feels great and permits the body to function as it was designed.Now it’s your turn.If we’ve met or even exceeded your expectations, I hope you’ll tell someone you love

about today’s safe and natural chiropractic care.Your referrals pay it forward.Your encouragement is often all it takes to

persuade someone to try chiropractic and get off their medication or avoid irreversible surgery.

When you do, a warm, fuzzy feeling will come over you in a pleasurable,

feel-good mist of gratitude and appreciation.

Thanks for your trust and confidence.

Dr. Jeff Kirschner • Dr. Josh Ledbetter • HealthSource of Wesley Chapel5808 Boyette Road • Wesley Chapel, FL 33545 • (813) 907-9553 • Winter 2018

When You Lose Weight, Where Does It Go?About two-thirds of us are either overweight or obese. So it’s no surprise that our new year’s resolutions often include a plan to lose some weight.The formula is well known: Eat better, exercise more.Whether with a short-term diet or a bold embrace of new, long-term lifestyle choices, you’ll often hear statements such as…“The weight just fell off.”“I lost two inches in two weeks.”“The weight just disappeared.”Just where does the weight go? The answer comes from Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov. In 1756, he discovered the Law of Mass Conservation. His experiments

proved that matter is neither created nor destroyed. However, its form can be altered. That’s what happens when we lose weight.

Our body needs a certain amount of energy to function. When

we eat more fuel than we need, the excess

is converted into fat for later use.When we don’t

eat enough fuel, our bodies turn our

stored fat into triglycerides that they use for fuel. Energy is released as these fatty acids break down into smaller chemical components. Eventually, what’s left is some water and lot of carbon dioxide, which we exhale through our lungs.It turns out, when we lose weight, our lungs are doing most of the work. Surprised?

Facts About PoopWhat goes up must come down. And what goes in must come out.There are some social taboos that often prevent us from talking about our “number two.” Too bad. Because our feces can reveal some important aspects of our health.What you see in your toilet bowl is a combination of fiber, water, undigested fats, cholesterol and dead and living bacteria. In fact, as much as 30% of your bowel movement consists of dead bacteria you didn’t digest.Our digestion depends heavily upon the helpful bacteria in our guts.This is reason enough to think twice before indiscriminately taking an antibiotic, which kills the good bacteria along with the bad.Our poop is generally brownish in color due to the bile that aids digestion. Color changes may reveal significant health issues.Green – Either you’re feasting on spinach or your food is quickly passing through your digestive tract.Yellow – This could mean that you’re having trouble absorbing fats, or you

might have a gluten sensitivity.Black – Have you been taking iron supplements? Or an anti-diarrhea medication?Red – Have you been eating beets? If not, blood in your stool is never a good sign. Consult a doctor.Purple – You may be a space alien with a special digestive tract. Just kidding.And how often should you be going? Most people go once a day. Anything over two times a day might be concerning.Going three or more days without a bowel movement could mean you’re eating too much processed food, not getting enough exercise or under a lot of stress. It could be time for a stress-relieving, calm-inducing chiropractic adjustment.

“Gimme a Cawfee!”

More than 80% of the world’s population uses some form of the mood-altering drug 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, more commonly known as caffeine.Many of us depend upon regular doses of this bitter white powder obtained from plants growing in tropical or subtropical regions of the world. The caffeine in these plants is a naturally occurring pesticide that is toxic to insects and other pests.Whether obtained by drinking coffee, tea, sodas, energy drinks or some other source, we use caffeine to help us wake up, stay alert and keep going through the day. Caffeine causes our feel-good dopamine levels to increase, producing a positive state of mind.Depending on a person’s tolerance and sensitivity, like virtually any other drug, caffeine can produce some unwanted side effects:Jitters – Too much caffeine can cause moderate to severe shaking.Insomnia – For some, consuming caffeine late in the day can make sleep difficult.Addiction – Caffeine being moderately addictive, withdrawal headaches are common.High blood pressure – Stress hormones released by caffeine can elevate blood pressure.Anxiety – Caffeine can increase nervousness and create a heightened sense of anxiety.Are you a caffeine user? Here are the most common dosages in these 8 oz. servings:

Brewed coffee 95–165 mgEnergy drink 27–164 mgBlack tea 25–48 mgCola 24–46 mgDecaf coffee 2 mg

Medical doctors are generallyanti-chiropractic.

These days, more studies are showing the benefits of

chiropractic care, and many MDs are recommending chiropractic for a variety of spinal health problems.

What Makes Your Car Go?It surprises many of our patients and practice members to learn that chiropractic adjustments don’t treat their symptoms.

Granted, it’s their symptoms that often prompt them to consult our practice. But our recommendations, which include a series of chiropractic adjustments, don’t treat their symptoms.

In other words, neck adjustments don’t treat neck pain or headaches. And lumbar adjustments don’t treat sciatica or other low back conditions.

Confused?

Consider your car key.

It doesn’t make your car go. It merely unlocks the potential engineered into your vehicle by its manufacturer. It’s the same with adjustments.

We use adjustments to reduce interference to your nervous system. They restore your body’s ability to function as it was designed to. When spinal joints are able to move correctly, tension in the nervous system is reduced. As better function is restored, your body no longer needs

to sound the alarm, and symptoms naturally subside.

It’s as simple as that.

Our National Crisis

By now, you’ve heard that America has an opiate problem. The use of these powerful drugs often results in addiction.

What are opiates? And are there natural, non-addictive alternatives?

Opiates are drugs derived from the opium poppy plant. When the active ingredients are extracted and modified in the lab, the man-made products are called opioids. They are highly addictive.

The search for painkillers is as old as the human race. And no wonder: A 2012 survey found that about 40 million US adults had had severe pain every day for the previous 90 days.

That’s a lot of pain. Chances are you know someone in pain. Here are some drug-free approaches:

Chiropractic – Conservative, non-pharmacologic pain management should be explored before riskier and potentially addictive solutions.

Hot or cold – A change in temperature can often reduce painful symptoms. Use ice for a new injury and heat for an older, chronic injury.

Move – Physical activity can help interrupt the pain cycles associated with arthritis and fibromyalgia. Try walking, swimming or cycling.

Meditate – Meditation, mindfulness and visualization techniques can dial down the “fight or flight” response, which worsens muscle tension and pain.

Biofeedback – Relaxation and breathing exercises, with the help of a biofeedback machine, can help control the response to pain.

Remember: chiropractic first, drugs second and surgery last.

What Your Mouth Reveals

If your eyes are the windows to your soul, then your mouth is the window to your overall health. Your mouth, teeth and gums reveal major clues about your general health.

Gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among those with diabetes. People who have gum disease also have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels.

Routine X-rays taken by your dentist can

reveal periodontal bone density and tooth loss. This may be an early indication of osteoporosis.

Increased bacteria in your mouth can put your immune system on high alert. The resulting inflammation can affect the entire vascular system, a potential precursor to heart disease.

White, yellow or brown spots and grooves or pitting on the enamel surfaces of your teeth may be a sign of celiac disease.

Canker sores are crater-like sores that appear inside or outside the mouth. They are often signs of stress, hormone imbalance, allergies or a nutritional deficiency.

Periodic visits to the dentist can catch little problems before they become serious. Similarly, periodic visits to the chiropractor can help you stay well after you get well.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2616395

In This Issue:

•Bones? Muscles? Nerves?

•“How Can I Ever Repay You?”

•Facts About Poop

•“Gimme a Cawfee!”

•Our National Crisis

•What Makes Your Car Go?

•What Your Mouth Reveals

Why Spinal Problems Often ReturnChiropracticskepticsoftenpooh-poohtheideaofperiodicchiropracticcheckupsaftersymptomssubsidewiththeclassic“ifitain’tbroke,don’tfixit”line.Thisjustificationoftenresultsinarelapseintotheoriginalproblemforcountlesspatients.Howcome?Becausebiomechanicalchangesalongthespineaffectingnervesandmusclesdon’theallikeacut,infectionorsomeotherself-resolvinghealthcondition.By the timespinalproblemsproduceobvioussymptoms,theproblemhasbeen there forsome time—maybeeven decades.Yet the symptomdidn’t emerge until “lastweek,when I bent down to pickupthepaper.”Thankfully,achiropracticcareplanmayproducesymptomaticimprovement in a matter of months,

sometimesweeks.Thepatientisdelighted,butwehaven’tcompletedtheretrainingoftheunderlyingmusclesandsofttissuesnecessaryforlastingspinalchanges.That’swhy the original problem islikely to return. It’shard toknowwhen,butit’salmostalwaysaftersomemajorphysical,chemicaloremotionalstress.“I thought you fixedme,”lamentsthereturningpatient.Granted, there wassymptomaticimprovement,but without some type of

ongoing supportive care,the weakened area remains

susceptibletoreinjury.If that should happen to you, give

usacall.You’llbewelcomedbackforanotherepisodeofcare.Yourrecordswillalreadybehere,alongwithourgenuineconcernforyouandyourhealth.

HealthSource of Wesley Chapel5808 Boyette RoadWesley Chapel, FL 33545(813) 907-9553www.healthsourcechiro.com/wesley-chapel

Dr. Jeff KirschnerDr. Josh Ledbetter

5808BoyetteRoad•WesleyChapel(813) 907-9553

Next door to the Wesley Chapel Post Office.Monday ................... 8:00-12:00 ............. 2:00-6:00Tuesday ...................................................... 2:00-6:00Wednesday ............ 8:00-12:00 ............. 2:00-6:00Thursday ................. 8:00-12:00 ............. 2:00-6:00Friday ....................... 8:00-1:00 .................................

www.healthsourcechiro.com/wesley-chapel