You Need Your Knees - Be Kind to Them

Knee pain is very common and can stem from a variety of different sources. Whatever the cause, it can be a debilitating condition that can have a significant impact on all aspects of your life.  If left untreated, the condition can worsen leading to permanent damage to the knee joint, and often other problems such as hip pain, ankle pain and back pain.  The knee joint is such an important part of body movement - we use it to stand, walk, sit in various forms, and so much more.  Because of the high degree to which we use our knees in everyday life, it is important to keep it healthy.  First, lets talk about some different conditions that might be causing your knee pain.   Some of the most common causes of knee pain are listed below: 

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1.  Sprains, often involving the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL): These types of injuries usually occur as a result of trauma, often in the form of a sporting activity.  Hyperextension of the knee, or a hard blow to the knee can cause the tiny ligaments in your knees to tear.  As a result, you may experience weakness of the knee joint, or a sensation of it giving out.  You may also experience swelling that becomes more severe with use of the joint, and you may have difficulty or pain performing certain movements, especially those that involve bending the knee such as climbing stairs.  If you feel you may have this type of an injury, it is important to have the condition evaluated to initiate the healing process and prevent the injury from getting worse.  In cases of a severe ACL tear, conservative treatment is usually not enough and surgical intervention may be required.  In less severe cases, many individuals are able to function normally through the use of conservative treatments such as chiropractic care and physical therapy.  

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2. Arthritis: Arthritis of the knee is very common.  The two major types are Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune, inflammatory condition, and Osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition.  You can read more about these two conditions by visiting the links below.  The more common type of arthritis is Osteoarthritis, and this is typically what people are referring to when they say they have "arthritis".  In the knee, this condition is fairly common among younger individuals, although Osteoarthritis is typically a condition that affects elderly individuals.  The onset of this condition can be prevented if joint health is maintained and any injuries to the knee are treated properly.  

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3. Meniscus tears: Like knee sprains, meniscus tears are usually a result of an injury.  Typically, meniscus tears occur with compression and twisting of the knee, as may occur in quick stopping or turning motions of playing certain sports.  Symptoms of meniscus tears include clicking or popping in the joint that is usually painless, or locking of the joint preventing the knee from being flexed or extended.  

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Knee injuries rarely heal completely on their own without proper treatment.  Therefore, if you've sustained a knee injury, it is important that you contact a physician for an evaluation to determine the best course of treatment for you. You may contact our Daytona Beach office to schedule your evaluation with Dr. Fleming. Online scheduling is available by clicking the link below. 

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Dr. Alesha Fleming

Natural Health and Wellness Chiropractic, LLC

Daytona Beach, FL

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Dr. Fleming is a family chiropractor in Daytona Beach, Florida.  She is passionate about preventative health care and nutrition and enjoys empowering her patients to improve their health and fitness, one day at a time!

Of the many "Silent Killers", this one is Preventable

The U.S. Department of health and human services reported that in 2014, 25.8 million Americans are suffering from diabetes and 7 million individuals are unaware that they have this disease.  One of the first signs of developing diabetes may be insulin resistance.  Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas that signals cells in the body to allow the glucose that is ingested through the diet to enter the body’s cells.  Without insulin, glucose will not be able to enter the cells to be used by the body for energy, which can cause a number of different problems to occur.  This is what happens in insulin resistance.  Eating a diet that is high in simple sugars can cause your blood sugar to spike very high after meals, and crash again shortly after, leading to a similar spike and plummet of insulin.  Over time this causes the body to stop responding to insulin, which in turn keeps glucose from entering the cells.  Insulin resistance is diagnosed by measuring the levels of glucose in the blood.  In insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, blood glucose will usually be elevated. 

Although lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise are the major factors contributing to insulin resistance, other factors such as certain medications, pregnancy and genetics may also play a role.  Current management of insulin resistance that exists without the presence of type 2 diabetes involves improvement of the diet and implementation of an exercise program.  If the condition progresses to type 2 diabetes, it may become necessary to manage the condition with insulin or other medications prescribed by your physician1.  If you are suffering from insulin resistance, implementing positive lifestyle changes is imperative to prevent the condition from progressing to type 2 diabetes. 

Exercising, ingesting a lower calorie or low sugar diet, and supplementing antioxidants and fish oil, have all been found to decrease insulin resistance.  One study, conducted on a group of 30 women with metabolic syndrome, examined the effects of fish oil on insulin resistance.   They found that 0.41g of EPA and DHA per day had a significant impact on insulin resistance as well as blood pressure. A decrease of approximately 6 mg/dL in glucose levels was observed in the group receiving the fish oil supplements, compared with a 3mg/dL decrease in glucose levels of the control group.  Another study found that daily supplementation with a combination of vitamin E, vitamin C and S-adenosylmethionine have also helped manage insulin resistance by reducing postprandial insulin response1.  However, the most significant change in the response of glucose to insulin is found in response to improved diet and exercise.  Along with type 2 diabetes, it is directly linked to obesity, and therefore weight loss is also a very important factor in improving health and reversing and preventing the progression of symptoms. 

Sources:

1. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19 May 2014. Web. 19 Aug. 2014

2.  Chowdhury, K., Legare, D., Lautt, W. Lifestyle impact on meal-induced insulin sensitization in health and prediabetes: A focus on diet, antioxidants, and exercise interventions.  Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 2013; 91: 91-100.

3.  Carvalho, A., Uehara, S., Netto, J., Rosa, G. Hypocaloric diet associated with the consumption of jam enriched with microencapsulated fish oil decreases insulin resistance.  Nutr. Hosp. 2014; 29(5): 1103-1108. 

4.  Fleming, Alesha.  Natural Health and Wellness Chiropractic. www.nhwchiro.com, Daytona Beach, FL, 2015.

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Dr. Alesha Fleming

Natural Health and Wellness Chiropractic, LLC

Daytona Beach, FL

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Dr. Fleming is a family chiropractor in Daytona Beach, Florida.  She is passionate about preventative health care and nutrition and enjoys empowering her patients to improve their health and fitness, one day at a time!

It's Not the Monster in the Closet Keeping you From Falling Asleep...

Approximately 60 million people in United States suffer from some form of long- or short-term sleep disorder.  Experiencing difficulty falling or staying asleep is not uncommon.  If you have trouble falling asleep at night, try a few of these tips to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.  

1. Drink a glass of warm milk and honey before bed.  Drinking warm milk can help to raise your body temperature, relaxing you and making you sleepy.  Honey contains L-tryptophan which is converted to seratonin, and further converted to melatonin in the body.  Melatonin is critical in regulating your sleep cycle and is used to signal your body that it's time to go to sleep!

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2. Have a cup of Chamomile Tea before bed.  Some studies have shown that chamomile has a mild soothing, anti-anxiety effect.  Drinking a cup of this tea before bed may help relax your mind and help you fall asleep more easily.  

3.  Try 30 minutes of exercise in the afternoon, about four hours before bed.  Studeis have shown that exercising during the day can actually help you sleep better at night.  Try to avoid exercising right before bed.  This can give you an adrenaline rush that will interfere with your ability to fall asleep quickly.  

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4. Avoid late night snacking, especially on items high in sugar or simple carbohydrates.  This type of lat-night snacking can raise your blood sugar and give you a rush of energy when you don't need it, making it harder for you to fall asleep.  

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Dr. Alesha Fleming

Natural Health and Wellness Chiropractic, LLC

Daytona Beach, FL

Dr. Fleming is a family chiropractor in Daytona Beach, Florida.  She is passionate about preventative health care and nutrition and enjoys empowering her patients to improve their health and fitness, one day at a time!

Don't Keep it All to Yourself! Babies Like to Feel Good Too! :)

Though we don't remember it, we've all experienced child birth firsthand.  This is a very traumatic experience.  Whether by C-section or by natural birth, chances are, there was a significant amount of pulling, tugging, and jerking of various parts of our bodies involved.  It is important to promote proper joint function and alignment in newborns and children early on to help ensure that proper joint motion is maintained in their growing bodies.  Newborn babies often suffer from neck and back pain, but unfortunately, it can be difficult for them to communicate this to their parents.  Many babies that seem to cry incessantly are suffering from these symptoms.  Some other signs that your baby may be in pain include difficulty sleeping through the night, "failure to thrive" and trouble nursing. 

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Adjustments of newborns and children usually involve the use of a small, low force adjustment tool called an activator that is gentle enough to use on the tiniest spines!  Often times just a small amount of pressure with the fingers on certain areas of the spine is enough to relax the muscles, provide movement to the joint spaces, and significantly improve your baby's pain.  Find out more by scheduling your first visit with Dr. Fleming.  She will explain the benefits of chiropractic care and answer any questions you might have about treatment for your little ones.  Be sure to also check out the tabs on pregnancy and chiropractic for information on easing labor and delivery, as well as the tab on children and chiropractic to learn the benefit that chiropractic care may have for their health.  

Dr. Alesha Fleming

Natural Health and Wellness Chiropractic, LLC

Daytona Beach, FL

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Source: American Chiropractic Association.  Increasing numbers of children receive pediatric chiropractic care.  January 2009.  

http://www.acatoday.org/press_css.cfm?CID=3247

Dr. Fleming is a family chiropractor in Daytona Beach, Florida.  She is passionate about preventative health care and nutrition and enjoys empowering her patients to improve their health and fitness, one day at a time!

So Many Headaches, so Little Time!

Headaches have a number of different causes and many of them are still largly not understood. Below is a list of common types of headaches, the causes or triggers known to be associated with them, and what you can do to manage them.  

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1. Migraine Headaches: Migraines are very common and can be quite debilitating.  They usually manifest as unilateral (one-sided) headaches that may cause pain in both the face and neck.  They may start as a result of a "trigger" such as the ingestion of caffeine or chocolate, or exposure to certain chemicals or pollen.  It is not uncommon for people to also experience dizziness, vomiting or nausea in conjunction with the pain.  Many also experience light sensitivity or double vision.  Migraine headaches can last anywhere between several minutes to several days and may come on quite frequently.  In some individuals, they take on a very regular pattern or come on in times of stress.  The exact cause of migraines is still largely not understood.  It is thought to possibly relate to vascular spasms related to the above "triggers".  Management of migraine headaches often involves avoiding the triggers of the symptoms, stress management, or medication.  Chiropractic care can also yield some significant results in some cases.  

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2. Tension Headaches: Tension headaches are related to stress.  These headaches typically present as a band of tightness or pain across both eyes and in the temples.  These headaches are largely stress related and usually last for about 5 to 7 days.  These headaches can be managed fairly well with stress management and conservative care.  Talk to your chiropractor for details on managing this condition. 

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3. Cluster Headaches: Cluster headaches are extremely painful headaches on one side of the face.  They present as a sharp stabbing sensation behind the eye and are most common in men.  Tearing of the eye, sweating, or runny nose may all be present in an episode of a cluster headache.  These headaches may last for anywhere from days to months and can be quite debilitating.  These headaches are typically treated medically although patients may find some relief from conservative management as well.  

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4. Cervicogenic Headaches:  These headaches stem from a problem in the neck region.  Muscle tightness and joint fixation in the muscles of the neck may cause you to feel pain in the back of the head and up over the top of your head, to the front of your eyes.  Applying pressure to the muscles of the back of the head often helps to relax them and can relieve some of the symptoms on a temporary basis.  People with cervicogenic headaches often do very well under the managment of a chiropractor.  Adjustments and soft tissue work to the joints and muscles of the neck help to relax the area and release the pressure causing the headache.  

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These headaches are some of the most common headaches amongour population.  As you may have noticed, many of these headaches are associated with sress and muscle tightness in the neck region.  Chiropractic care can relieve the tension in your muscles and joints and may also help decrease the frequency or intensity of your headaches.  To see if chiropractic care may help to improve your quality of life, we invite you to chontact our office for your free initial consultation.  If you're ready to schedule your first visit, you may call our office during business hours, or you may schedule your first visit 24/7 through our convenient online scheduling option.  

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Dr. Alesha Fleming

Natural Health and Wellness Chiropractic, LLC

Daytona Beach, FL

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Dr. Fleming is a family chiropractor in Daytona Beach, Florida.  She is passionate about preventative health care and nutrition and enjoys empowering her patients to improve their health and fitness, one day at a time!

What is COPD? Are you at risk and can chiropractic help?

I have composed a series of articles discussing how chiropractic care can be incorporated in the treatment plan for a variety of different conditions.  Chiropractic adjustments, in addition to making you feel good due to freeing up irritation to the nervous system, can be an effective tool to assist in the management many different conditions.  Since your nervous system is involved in nearly every function in your body, having a healthy nervous system is essential to maintaining good health! I hope you enjoy this series! Please let me know if you would like to see other conditions discussed in the future!

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (also known as COPD) describes a set of respiratory conditions, the most common of which are Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis.  These conditions are commonly seen in individuals with a long history of smoking and can severely affect one's quality of life.  Both conditions involve difficulty breathing and usually require medical intervention, especially in the advanced stages.  Although chiropractic care will not cure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, many patients find symptomatic relief by visiting a chiropractor.  Upon visiting the office, your chiropractor will conduct an examination to find out if you are a good candidate for chiropractic care, and what treatment plan will best suit your needs.  Your treatment plan may involve an adjustment of the thoracic (mid back) region of your spine, or your ribs.  Improving the motion in your rib cage may allow you to breath more easily and take in more air with each breath.  Since many patients with emphysema and bronchitis have trouble taking in enough oxygen, this could help improve your blood gases and provide some relief of your symptoms, making every day life a little bit easier.  Chiropractic care can also help improve other aspects of your daily life by improving the function of your joints, muscles, and nervous system.  For more ways in which chiropractic care can help improve your quality of life, be sure to check out the "Resources" tab at the top of the page.  Here you will find a number of other conditions for which chiropractic care may be of benefit, as well as more information on how our office may help you reach your health goals.  If you'd like more information on your unique condition, you may contact our office to schedule your free initial consultation with Dr. Fleming. 

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Dr. Alesha Fleming

Natural Health and Wellness Chiropractic, LLC

Daytona Beach, FL

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Dr. Fleming is a family chiropractor in Daytona Beach, Florida.  She is passionate about preventative health care and nutrition and enjoys empowering her patients to improve their health and fitness, one day at a time!

Natural Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a disorder that occurs when the fibrous sheath covering the front of your wrist becomes too tight, causing compression on the median nerve, a nerve that supplies the muscles and skin of the thumb-side of your hand.  Signs and symptoms of the disorder may include numbness or tingling in the hand and fingers, pain in the hand or wrist, or even weakness in the muscles of the hand.  You may notice the pain or weakness when you are squeezing or holding objects such as a pen or door knob. Repetitive activities such as typing or writing may also cause you to feel these symptoms.  

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I have composed a series of articles discussing how chiropractic care can be incorporated in the treatment plan for a variety of different conditions.  Chiropractic adjustments, in addition to making you feel good due to freeing up irritation to the nervous system, can be an effective tool to assist in the management many different conditions.  Since your nervous system is involved in nearly every function in your body, having a healthy nervous system is essential to maintaining good health! I hope you enjoy this series! Please let me know if you would like to see other conditions discussed in the future!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that is commonly seen in the chiropractic setting and that can usually be effectively managed conservatively.  After conducting an exam, your chiropractor will give you a treatment plan to address your condition.  This treatment plan will likely consist of in-office treatment, as well as home care recommendations.  In the office, she may also administer adjustments to your wrist if areas of joint fixation are found in that area.  There are eight tiny bones in your wrist! Misalignment of these bones may further compress your carpal tunnel and worsen the compression of the median nerve.  Providing an adjustment in the form of traction (stretching) or through the use of a low-force instrument, may assist in opening up your carpal tunnel.  Your doctor may also offer support in the form of bracing or athletic taping to allow your carpal tunnel to open up as the inflammation dies down.  Finally, she may recommend certain lifestyle modifications or ergonomic retraining, as well as home exercises or stretches to help retrain your muscles and relax the tension in your wrist.  Your treatment recommendations depend on your condition and the way in which you acquired your specific problem.  

  

There are several different conditions that present with symptoms similar to those of carpal tunnel and it is therefore a condition that is often misdiagnosed.  Therefore, if you think you may have this condition, be sure to visit your chiropractor so that she may examine the area to determine the correct diagnosis.  

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Dr. Alesha Fleming

Natural Health and Wellness Chiropractic, LLC

Daytona Beach, FL

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Dr. Fleming is a family chiropractor in Daytona Beach, Florida.  She is passionate about preventative health care and nutrition and enjoys empowering her patients to improve their health and fitness, one day at a time!