Hello September! ...and Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

If you didn't already know, this is your reminder- August is over and September is HERE! With September, comes back-to-school activities, cooler weather, and Childhood Obesity Awareness Month (COAM), which is being promoted by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

What is the potential impact of childhood obesity?

Well, if you're tired of hearing about childhood obesity, you're not alone! But, bringing awareness to the positive lifestyle changes we can all benefit from by helping our kids learn healthy habits is still worth it.

And whattaya know...

If you're still trying to get your back-to-school schedule figured out, here are some tips from a great group at the Greatist- 30 Healthy Snacks for Mornings on the Run!

Now What?

Help your kids- and kids you know- stay healthy by encouraging them to eat well, be active, and get adjusted! 

Is TV making our kids Unhappy?

TV Advertising- IT WORKS!

In case you didn't know this already, TV advertising makes us (ALL- especially kids) want stuff. And, because it works, TV advertising apparently encourages materialism (defined: having a preoccupation with possessions and believing that products bring happiness and success). The significance of materialism is that it is related to life satisfaction-  in a NEGATIVE way! A new study published in the journal Pediatrics suggests that time spent watching television as a child has an impact on their satisfaction in life. 

What Researchers Say

"Children who were less satisfied with their lives do become more materialistic over time, but only when they are frequently exposed to advertising," said study lead author Suzanna Opree. "Advertising seems to teach children that possessions are a way to increase happiness."  She added, "previous studies among adults indicate not only that people with lower life satisfaction become more materialistic, but also that more materialistic people become less satisfied with their lives." "Hence, although we do not find any short-term affects- after one year- it is likely that children's materialism will lead to decreased life satisfaction later in life."

More Bad News

Developmentally, babies that watch television have shown delays. They can have delayed cognitive and verbal development, according to a 2010 study. And, TV watching can decrease the likelihood of babies learning new words, shown in a 2009 study.

There is evidence supporting the negative impact of increased TV viewing, including: being overweight, encouraging poor dietary habits, leading to poor academic performance, contributing to poor behavior, developing poor sleep habits and adding to other health issues. 

What To Do

The easy answer is NOT watching TV yourself- teaching your children better viewing habits by being a better example. If you need other ideas, there are resources out there- here are a few (Interventions Strategies, Learn the Affects). 

Bottom Line

It is recommended that child under 2 years should NOT watch television- AT ALL! After that, limit screen time and make sure content is constructive and appropriate. It seems like a difficult task, but when considering the negative impact viewing-time can have on our kids- being unhappy, overweight, less intelligent, and outburst-prone- it seems like an easy decision.

Share this information with your friends and family- talk to your kids about it as well. Also, if you have comments/questions/concerns let us know!

Concussions- Do you know enough?

North Dakota High School Activities Association Report on Concussions

Following urging from the State Legislature, the North Dakota High School Activities Association conducted a study on concussions, results of which were recently reported. The study was a survey sent to 169 schools in North Dakota, requesting information about concussion incidence during school activities. The reported results come from 117 returned surveys (69% response-rate, which is good). Total, there were 580 concussions reported- occurring in 24 different sports. The most concussions occurred in football (232) with girl's basketball having the second most reported concussions (65). Overall, 1 in 45 North Dakota high school athletes will suffer from a concussion. Read the full press release HERE.

Concussions- What's the big deal?

Concussions have been a hot topic in the news during the past few years- and for good reason. Athletes in all sports including football, hockey, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball- at all levels- suffer from concussions. Professional sports leagues have notably been the leaders in advancing concussion recognition and treatment, but healthcare professionals, coaches, athletes and parents, and political groups have been active at all levels working to bring more attention to and address this growing problem. 

Concussions in Sports

Concussions get the most attention in professional sports. They happen to seemingly otherwise elite athletes and leave lasting negative side-effects that we are only now beginning to fully appreciate. Examples of careers and lives being altered can be found in all major sports-

Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins suffered a concussion in 2010 that threatens to end his career.

Taylor Twellman of the MLS New England Revolution had his career end following a concussion.

James Harden of the Oklahoma City Thunder was sidelined due to a concussion caused by this infamous elbow.

Most of the recent press has dealt with concussion injuries in the NFL. DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles suffered memory loss after a vicious hit in 2010. Due to concerns that the league possibly ignored or withheld information about how dangerous concussions are, former players have filed a lawsuit against the league.

Apparently, it is even possible to sustain a concussion in the long jump! ...who knew?

Long Jump FAIL

NHL star Sidney Crosby- Concussion improved following chiropractic care

One star athlete receiving attention for his concussion treatment is Pittsburgh Penguins star, Sidney Crosby. After receiving treatment from experts across the country, Crosby finally found results after being evaluated and treated by chiropractic neurologist, Dr. Ted Carrick, DC, PhD. Dr. Carrick treated Crosby in his lab at Life University in Marrietta, Georgia, where he has helped countless others. His methods have received attention for being controversial, but patients like Crosby see improvements in their condition as a result of his treatment.

What can YOU do?

Step one: Be informed! 

Understand that concussions can happen ANYWHERE and not just athletes- ANYONE can suffer a concussion from a fall or other accident.

Prevention is key- these guidelines can help.

Step two: Learn to recognize a concussion

If you learn the key signs and symptoms of a concussion, you will know when someone might be suffering from a concussion- and if they are, get them to see a professional! 

There are ways to help athletes in your life- even yourself- become more aware of concussions and take them seriously. They are SERIOUS! 

Finally: Help your DOCTOR!

While concussions are becoming more recognized nationally, it doesn't mean your doctor knows how to best recognize or treat them. So, help them out- bring THIS information with you!

One more thing....

Send this information to your friends and family- anyone you know- who either has an athlete in their family or coaches young athletes. You could help in ways you could never have imagined!

The Equity of Trust- How American healthcare is FAILING

So what's the deal with TRUST

If you are unsure what the title of this blog means, I will explain. But, rest-assured it is a critical point that we all need to understand and face head-on. In recent blog post by Seth Godin, he points to several steps that we all take before we "Trust a new Idea." I generally agree with the points he uses:

1. Who are you?

2. Do I trust you?

3. Am I afraid of it?

4. Will this work for me?

5. Who says it's important?

6. What will my peers think?

And, in the end he boils it down to how will this process make me feel?

Trust is a very important thing! We make decisions everyday based on trust- whether it is a new idea or when we make choices as consumers. When we shop for groceries, vehicles, cellphone service- we choose products and brands based on trust. We have choices- Wal-Mart or Target; Lowes or Menards; Verizon or AT&T. We want to trust we will be treated well and our needs met. Price can sometimes limit certain options- I trust brands like Rolex and Mercedes, but prices keep me out of their market. Their reputation precedes them- trust is there. Trust is critical when making decisions about healthcare as well. The following quote that often comes to mind:

"People don't care what you know, until they know that you care."

Two recent developments from medicine show how we are being duped by our medical profession as a whole- making it difficult to TRUST the people we all grew up trusting most- DOCTORS!

Strike 1

Apparently, in CA, Medical Corporations are involved in what appears to be backroom politics in an effort to strong-arm independent physical therapists out (Read- if PT's aren't practicing in a clinic owned either directly or indirectly by medical doctors, which benefits medical corporations financially, they are trying to make it very difficult for them to practice). No one trusts someone that makes a deal and then goes behind your back in an attempt to weasel you out. 

Strike 2

How would you feel about paying $10 today for something that only cost $5 yesterday? Probably not great. When we're talking about a trip to the doctor's office, things usually cost 10-100 times as much- so how would you feel about doubling the price then? Well, a recent report in the Wall Street Journal reveals that in medicine that is exactly what is happening- when your doctor works for the hospital. 

Impact

This doesn't mean you can no longer trust your doctor. It simply points to the fact that while healthcare is changing, trust is still a big part of our decision-making process. We should be able to trust healthcare professionals. When we don't trust them, we are less likely to follow their advice. Medical Corporations are undermining our trust, which makes physicians' jobs more difficult- and negatively influences ALL healthcare.

Whom do you trust?

We all have our favorites- Chevy or Ford; John Deere or Case IH. If you haven't thought about it before, think about what and whom you trust.

Tell us what you think- comment below!

Never Lost With Chiropractic

“Never Lost with Chiropractic”

   Ever drive lost for miles and miles before stopping for directions? Before the advent of GPS, that was pretty common. When you finally discovered how off course you were, you most likely had to re-trace the roads you were on to get back on track.

 Getting lost with your health is similar. If you've ‘traveled’ the wrong way for miles and miles with your health – popping pills to mask your pain or searching endlessly for the right pillow – when you finally stop at a Chiropractor’s office to get good directions, you might have to retrace those lost miles with intensive care to get back on track.  But the good news is, you won’t be lost any longer.

 Once you get pointed in the right direction, Chiropractic care is the GPS that keeps you on course.  Get checked regularly, take adjustments when necessary and stay on the right road - we’ll help you reach your destination.

“Healing on a Spare Donut…”

In case you get a flat, the temporary “donut” in your trunk is meant to get you off the road and to the nearest service station for proper repair ASAP. Manufacturer’s instructions warn you to take it slow and easy when driving on them - those tiny tires aren’t designed to withstand the load of normal driving. But regardless of that warning, you’ve probably seen some idiot speeding down the highway on one, oblivious to the potential risks.

Some people treat their health that way. When they get an injury or a health problem they mask their symptoms with ‘spare tire’ medication, all the while continuing the activities that got them there in the first place.  They pay little attention to the risks of temporarily patching their problem with drugs and pass on fixing the CAUSE of their problem. That can get you into trouble.

When it comes to acute or chronic health problems, the best policy is to fix the underlying cause   of the problem the right way instead of masking the symptoms with medication.  That’s the core philosophy of drugless Chiropractic care.  In the short term drugs may bring you false comfort, but in the long run you’re risking a serious blow out.