Posts Tagged ‘Folsom chiropractic’

When Are Antibiotics Appropriate and When Should I Avoid Using Them?

Posted on: November 25th, 2014

Folsom Chiropractor-AntibioticsPeople are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers that can result from the overuse of antibiotics. When antibiotics were first discovered in the early 20th century, researchers believed that they had found the key to conquering many deadly diseases. Since that time, antibiotics have certainly helped to cure diseases that once wiped out large parts of the population.

However, there is growing evidence that antibiotics are now being used too frequently, and that they are often being used in inappropriate circumstances. This has led to many previously curable diseases becoming antibiotic-resistant, which means that a cure now requires the use far stronger antibiotics. In fact, some diseases have now become resistant to nearly all antibiotics. It is obvious that if antibiotic use continues in this way, we may have a major health crisis on our hands.

The first thing to be aware of is that antibiotics are not effective in the treatment of viruses. They only treat bacterial infections, certain fungal infections and parasites. For diseases such as the common cold, flu or bronchitis, antibiotics are completely ineffective and their use in cases such as these will only contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

You should not ask your doctor to prescribe antibiotics if you have a sore throat or the stomach flu, for instance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotics were prescribed for an acute respiratory infection in 68% of visits to the doctor. However, 80% of those prescriptions were unnecessary.

Antibiotics are often an appropriate treatment for conditions such as severe sinus infections that last longer than two weeks, ear infections, bladder infections and skin infections. These are frequently due to a bacterial or fungal infection, and treating them with antibiotics is effective.

If you have been prescribed an antibiotic, it is very important that you take it exactly as directed by your physician. If your symptoms happen to clear up before the entire course of antibiotics is completed, you must still continue to take them as prescribed. This is because there may still be a few lingering bacteria in your system, and-if they are not all killed-the strongest ones may survive to produce new generations of ever stronger bacteria that might make current antibiotics less effective.

Some doctors feel pressured by their patients to prescribe something, whether it’s really going to be helpful or not. A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that pediatricians will prescribe antibiotics for children 62% of the time if parents expect them to, and only 7% of the time if the parents do not expect an antibiotic prescription. Do not put pressure on your doctor to prescribe antibiotics for your condition. He or she is the best judge as to whether antibiotics are appropriate.

Interested in knowing some alternatives to prescription antibiotics that have far fewer side effects?   Dr. Jim Barger has extensive training in Functional Diagnostic Medicine.  Stop by our office at 231 Blue Ravine Rd #200, Folsom, CA  95630 and/or call us at 916-984-9999 for additional information.  Take control of your health!

Improving Your Energy Levels

Posted on: October 5th, 2014

Energy Level_Chiropractor FolsomSometimes it seems that even the simplest everyday tasks are hard to accomplish, even after we get a decent night’s sleep. Our busy lives leave little time to stop and recharge our batteries, so sometimes it can feel as though we’re operating on a chronic energy deficit. However, there are ways of gaining that energy back. It all starts with recognizing the little places where it is likely to leak away. Here we provide some tips on how to improve energy levels.

Do not skip meals – Studies published in the journal Nutritional Health found that those who skipped any meal during the day had greater feelings of fatigue overall than those who ate regular meals. Breakfast is particularly important, as it jump-starts your system to prepare you for the day. Just avoid eating sugary breakfast foods, as it will only lead to an energy crash mid-morning. Eggs, oatmeal and smoothies are all good choices to provide you with energy that will last throughout the morning.

Drink more water – A lack of sufficient water can leave you feeling sluggish, even if you are only slightly dehydrated. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that women who were only 1% dehydrated reported feeling fatigued and depressed, in comparison with the participants who were optimally hydrated. You don’t need to drink 8 glasses a day, but if you find yourself feeling tired, drink a glass of water and it may boost your energy.

Get more magnesium – This mineral is responsible for over 300 of the body’s biochemical functions, including creating energy from the breakdown of glucose. According to the USDA, almost 60% of the American population is deficient in magnesium. When levels are even just a little low, your energy can drop. Increase your intake of magnesium-rich foods such as nuts, seeds, whole grains and dark chocolate.

Get some exercise – Contrary to what you may think, exercise actually increases energy levels. Walking is particularly good for giving you more get-up-and-go. The results of a California State experiment found that subjects taking a brisk, 10-minute walk reported increased energy levels for the following two hours.

Reduce stress – Of course this is easier said than done, but there are stress reduction techniques you can learn to lower levels of energy-zapping stress in your life. Yoga, deep breathing and meditation are good ways to handle stress. Slow, deep breathing through the abdomen has been practiced by eastern cultures for centuries as a way of increasing energy. Even things as simple as listening to music or reading a book can help you to relax.

Chiropractic is a great way to reduce several forms of physical stress. For additional information, feels free to call Barger Chiropractic of Folsom (916) 984-9999 or stop by at 231 Blue Ravine Rd, #200, Folsom, CA 95630.

Look Who Else Uses Chiropractic Care: Water Polo Players

Posted on: July 11th, 2014

Folsom Chiropractor water poloAlthough it may not seem like it, water polo is a very physically demanding sport. Its players are required to spend an hour and fifteen minutes in a pool, during which they cover a distance of as much as three kilometers. There is a good deal of physical contact above and below water. In addition, teammates must shoot and pass the ball without the benefit of contact with the ground to help generate force in the upper body.
The current US Men’s Water Polo team goal keeper, Merrill Moses, attributes much of the team’s success to the benefits they get from chiropractic care and their chiropractor Dr. Terry Schroeder. According to Merrill, “I can honestly say that without chiropractic, many Olympic athletes would not be able to perform to their potential. We take such a pounding on our bodies, especially in water polo, because it’s a contact sport. I like to get a chiropractic adjustment everyday just to keep my body healthy.”

Dr. Schroeder, coach of the US Olympic Water Polo team, was himself a water polo captain and helped the US win medals in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. In 1998 he was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.

Schroeder says, “Athletes know that the difference between winning and losing can be a matter of fractions. When looking for that edge, chiropractic often makes all the difference.” Schroeder adds, “I believe that chiropractic is going to continue to be of growing importance in the Olympic world.”

Upper body injuries are common among water polo players, particularly rotator cuff injuries and other types of shoulder pain. “Every guy I think on our Olympic team was being adjusted pretty regularly,” said Schroeder. “Some of them were a little bit slower to come on board… but as they saw the other guys kind of respond and said ‘Man my shoulder feels so much better, my neck feels so much better’ – one by one they all said ‘Maybe you can help me out. Maybe I’m going to perform a little better too.'”

Schroeder is continuing in a long chiropractic tradition. His grandfather and father were both chiropractors. “I grew up seeing people arrive at my dad’s office in pain and then watching them come out with a smile,” Schroeder says. “I’ve never taken an aspirin or had a shot. I’ve always had chiropractic care as primary care, and I believe I’m in balance, that my immune system is better for it. I’m not saying there’s no place for surgery, but the body will take care of itself if you let it.”

“Chiropractic has played a huge role in keeping me healthy – I’m the only four-time Olympian in the sport of water polo in the United States.” Schroeder added, “I won two silver medals as an athlete and now I came back with a silver medal as a coach. My gold medal in my life is chiropractic.”

Contact Barger Chiropractic of Folsom at 916-984-9999 or visit us at 231 Blue Ravine Rd #200, Folsom, CA  between Prarie City and Turnpike.

Folsom Chiropractor:Medical vs Chiropractic Interventions

Posted on: December 5th, 2013

Folsom Chiropractor:Medical vs Chiropractic Interventions

Dr. Jim Barger does a comprehensive consultation and examination to rule out any medical emergencies.

Can Yoga Relieve Back Pain?

Posted on: August 7th, 2013

hübsche frau auf strand macht jogaCan Yoga Relieve Lower Back Pain?

by James Barger

As the leading reason for impairment in Americans under 45 years of age, lower back pain is the second most typical reason individuals visit their physician. An estimated 60 % to 80 % of the grownup populace suffers from low back pain eventually in life, and traditional medical therapies are generally ineffective in the long term.

Nonetheless, there are alternative means of dealing with lower back pain that have actually been proven to be more effective which do not involve medicines or invasive surgical treatment. These consist of chiropractic care, massage therapy and– interestingly enough– yoga.

A study carried out by researchers from Manchester and York Universities and released in the journal, Annals of Internal Medicine, discovered that those who took part in weekly yoga sessions showed substantial improvement when performing day-to-day physical tasks such as walking, bending and getting dressed. Lead author of the research, Professor David Torgelson, who is the director of the York Trial Facility at the University of York, stated, “In the past when you had back pain, you were told to lie down till it passed. These days, the main advise is to keep your back moving. It appears yoga has even more beneficial effects than usual care consisting of other types of exercise, although we have not carried out a direct comparison.”.

A total of 156 patients with chronic lower back pain took one 75-minute yoga class once a week for 12 weeks in addition to seeing their routine doctor, while 157 clients only saw their doctor. Even 9 months later, those who had taken the yoga classes were better able to do daily tasks than the group who had only had standard medical therapy. Another study of 228 individuals that was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (a different journal than the one above) likewise found that regular yoga sessions improved function and decreased pain better than conventional treatment.

In both papers, the clients who were approved to take part all had non-specific back pain, which means that their pain was not detected as being triggered by a specific underlying condition such as a slipped disc, spinal stenosis, sciatica, and so on.

There are a few reasons yoga could be advantageous for lower back pain. First off, yoga is a practice that both strengthens and stretches the muscles. A certified yoga educator will know which are the most valuable positions for you to practice based upon your body’s condition and capacity. For example, tight hamstrings can tilt your pelvis to an angle that does not offer ample support to your back. Gentle yoga stretches in this area can assist to straighten the pelvis, taking pressure off your lower back. At the same time, specific yoga poses enhance the core muscles of the trunk, which are the most important in offering correct support and versatility to the upper body as it moves, again taking pressure off the back.

Before beginning any yoga class to treat your lower back pain, make certain to consult with your doctor to dismiss any hidden issues that could be causing your discomfort. You must also let your yoga teacher know about your back pain so that she or he can select the proper poses for you and adapt any poses so that they do not worsen the issue. As these researches have actually shown, participating in yoga classes on a regular basis can help to ease back pain and get you moving again.

If there are any questions, give Barger Chiropractic of Folsom a call at 916-984-9999.