July is UV Safety Month

While some exposure to sunlight can be enjoyable, too much is
dangerous, causing immediate effects like blistering sunburns,
as well as longer-term problems like eye damage.
Ultraviolet radiation is composed of high-energy rays from
the sun. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation (“sunburn
rays”) may contribute to the development of various eye
disorders, such as: age-related macular degeneration, the
leading cause of vision loss among older Americans; and
cataracts, a major cause of visual impairment and blindness.
Everyone is at risk for eye damage that can lead to vision loss
from exposure to the sun.
It’s important to protect your eyes from acute damage caused
by even a single outing on a very bright day. Intense, excessive
exposure to ultraviolet light reflected off sand, snow or
pavement can damage the eye’s surface. Similar to sunburns,
eye surface burns usually disappear within a couple of days,
but may lead to further complications later in life.
To ensure your eyes are protected, wear sunglasses and a
broad-rimmed hat. When selecting sunglasses, make sure they
block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays. But don’t be
deceived by color or cost. The ability to block UV light is not
dependent on the darkness of the lens or the price tag.
Also, while out enjoying the sun in the water, remember to
wear swimming goggles whenever you swim. Chlorine can
make your eyes red and puffy, and ponds and lakes may have
bacteria that can get underneath contact lenses and cause
inflammation of the cornea.

Just some helpful tips from the Doctors of Back To Action Chiropractic.

Dr. Jerry Dreessen and Dr. Jason Gilmore

Enjoy Your Summer

How Chiropractic Can Help With Sciatica

Research found on the internet estimates that up to 40 million people suffer with sciatica pain each year. Yet it seems to remain a relative ‘secret’ how effective chiropractic care has been in reducing and often completely eliminating sciatica pain.

Did you know that the sciatic nerve is the longest of all the body’s nerves? In fact it runs from the spinal column near the pelvis… all the way down each leg… and it can be as wide as your thumb! Each sciatic nerve is made up of five smaller nerves that branch into the thigh, knee, calf, ankle, and foot. This is why sciatica can effect people in many different ways! But the bottom line is that sciatica occurs when this nerve is compressed, irritated, or inflamed.

How do you know if you have sciatica pain? Sciatica pain can either be dull and aching… or… it can be a shooting pain down the leg sometimes all the way to the toes. This pain can last for several days or weeks or it can subside for even a few hours. However, someone who has had sciatica for a long period of time will find that the pain localizes in the buttock and thigh. In severe cases it can damage nerves and reflexes or cause the calf muscle to deteriorate, so if you have sciatica pain you do not want to ignore it and “hope it goes away.”

What will a chiropractor do to treat sciatica pain? The first thing we’ll do is take a look at your medical history to identify possible causes. Then a thorough but gentle chiropractic exam is performed. Often we will discover the source of the nerve “blockage” and we’ll use adjustments to fix the problem, often resulting in immediate reduction of the sciatica pain. Sometimes massage therapy is used to reduce muscle spasms as is ultrasound and/or ice therapies. Chiropractic works and is 90% less expensive than the cost of surgery… without having to deal with recovery time.

If a loved one seems to be suffering with sciatica pain and you would like to get them into our office to be examined, or you have concerns about their health, please give us a call @ (425) 670-2600 to schedule an appointment. We’re here to help!

June is Men's Health Month - Include Chiropractic

The purpose of Men's Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Chiropractic can be an integral part of this prevention and promotion of wellness.

In short, because the body's innate recuperative powers are affected by and integrated through the nervous system, correcting spinal abnormalities which irritate the nervous system through chiropractic can lead to a number of favorable results in patients suffering from various, seemingly non-spinal health conditions. These conditions can include increased sense of well being and energy, enhanced tissue healing and decreased tissue inflammation.

Alarming statistics show that men's health is at great risk. On average, men die almost 6 years younger than women and suffer higher mortality rates for the top causes of death. The lives of hundreds of thousands of men will continue to be threatened unless immediate action is taken to combat this growing crisis.

Research shows that:

- men do not see physicians for a physical exam nearly as often as women

- men are dying of the top causes of death at higher rates than women

- men are more likely to be uninsured than women

- approximately 30,000 men in the US die each year from prostate cancer.

Find events in your area by checking the Men's Health Calendar at : www.menshealthnetwork.org

Start on the road to promoting men's health by scheduling an appointment today at Back To Action Chiropractic.

Migraines - How Chiropractic Can Help With Headaches

Ouch, Another Migraine! Here’s what you can do about your headache pain…

Did you know that research has shown that many headaches are caused by irritation of the nerves in the neck? It’s true. When the pain is pulsating in your head, it sure doesn’t seem like it’s because of what is going on in your neck.

Why Am I Getting These Darned Headaches?

Answer: We have actually found that your nerve irritation is the result of a previous injury that the patient was unaware of or something that occurred so long ago they had forgotten about. What is really interesting is how fragile the neck can be and how easy it is to have problems result from that area. For example, since the link between the head and the rest of the body is your neck, the neck is vulnerable to even slight jars which may cause a misalignment of the vertebrae in the neck. Now imagine if your car were to be rear-ended. This is why whiplash can occur in accidents in which the vehicles were only going 5-miles per hour. Numerous studies have proven this to be in fact quite common.

So why are you getting headaches?

Picture a traffic jam during rush hour. All those cars trying to travel down the same expressway simultaneously. The same thing is happening in your neck. Since the nerves and blood vessels pass through small openings between these vertebrae, a misalignment can substantially reduce the amount of blood and nerve impulses going to your face and brain.

Thus, the headaches. Not all headaches are caused by neck problems. Some are due to lack of sleep or excessive “partying.” However if you get frequent headaches, it’s possible that chiropractic can help you.

A good rule of thumb is if you experience headaches more than twice a week, we’d suggest having your condition looked into further because chances are it can be successfully addressed. We’re here to help!

Dr. Jerry Dreessen and Dr. Jason Gilmore

Clothing Drive at Back To Action Chiropractic « Back To Action Chiropractic’s Blog

The Week of Monday, April 6th through April 10th marks Back To Action’s 12th Anniversary in exsistence.

To celebrate, the clinic is holding several events. The first, is conducting a Clothing Drive in conjunction with Northwest Center. During this week, anyone can bring your reusable clothing to the Collecton Bin located at Back To Action. Types of re-usable items to donate include: clothing (for all ages) inluding shoes, handbacks and clothing accessories, backpacks, linens and blankets. All donations are tax deductible.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and the Chiropractic Approach « Back

“Experiencing some wear & tear from work?”

Did You Know that Carpal Tunnel is the #1 Most Reported Workplace Medical Problem?

Did you know that because of the prevalence of people desk jobs, carpal tunnel syndrome is becoming one of the most common medical problems in the workplace? The course traveled by many is surgery… and… the issue with surgery is that is can have many long term consequences.

Warning: Here’s What Carpal Tunnel Feels Like…

When you’re working at your computer do you feel pain, numbness, tingling or aching in your hands? Do your hands ever feel swollen or “clumsy”? These are the most common symptoms of carpal tunnel.

What the Government Tells Us…

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, carpal tunnel is now the most common reported medical problem in the workplace. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome accounts for nearly 60% of work related injuries. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons estimate that Carpal Tunnel costs $27 billion annually in medical treatment and lost income. Until recently there were only three choices for sufferers: (1) Do nothing. Not a good plan. (2) Take anti-inflammatory medication or wear hand splints. Yeah, that looks good. (3) Surgery. I’ve known patients who opted for 3 or 4 surgeries on the same hand before relief was obtained! The recovery period is lengthy often leaving you out of work for months.

What many people are learning is that chiropractic has an excellent track record treating some forms of carpal tunnel. Surgery should be the last resort. In 80% of the cases where surgery has been completed, the symptoms have returned within two years. Increasingly patients are turning to chiropractic to treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is why more and more people are seeking out chiropractic as their first line of defense against Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Only after non-invasive options have been tried should one consider surgery, in our opinion. The obvious benefits of chiropractic are no surgery, no recovery, and no taking medications.

If you or a loved one think they have some of the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel than I’d encourage you to get your condition looked into at your earliest convenience. To determine whether someone is appropriate for this procedure, we welcome patients or their referrals to call our office and we’ll schedule them for a diagnostic appointment. We will review your symptoms, tell you what your options are, and explain in detail how our non-surgical approach might help. Give our office a call at (425) 670-2600, we’re here to help. Also if we can provide any additional info on this condition, let us know.

Dr. Jerry Dreessen and Dr. Jason Gilmore

Patient Safety Awareness Week - March 8 - March 14 2009 « Back To Action Chiropractic’s Blog

Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) is a national education and awareness-building campaign for improving patient safety at the local level. Hospitals and health care organizations, such as Back To Action, are encouraged to plan events and promote patient safety within their own organizations. Educational activities are centered on educating patients on how to become involved in their own health care, as well as working with hospitals to build partnerships with their patient community.

For more information: www.npsf.org