National Hand Washing Week is always the first week in December. With the news outlets blaring about this illness and that, this is a great time to remember that the easiest, and often most effective, way to prevent the spread of any illness is to...can you guess? Of course it's wash your hands! According to the US Centers for Disease Control, "Hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection." Hand-to-other transmission is a critical factor in the spread of bacteria and viruses that can cause disease such as colds, flu and foodborne illness. According to St. Lawrence University, you should pay particular attention when: after coughing or sneezing (if you covered your nose or mouth with your hand); before, during, and after you prepare food; before you eat; and after you use the bathroom; when your hands are dirty; and more often when someone you live with is sick.
Sites to visit are: http://web.stlawu.edu/health/hands.htm; or http://www.henrythehand.com (the originators of this 'celebration').
-Yours in health, Life Care Center & Dr. Sharman
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Congratulations to our newest Registered Chiropractic Assistant
Congratulations are due also to Russell Therrien, our rehabilitative exercise Chiropractic Assistant (CA), for passing his Maryland State Board Exam. Russell has been a valued of member our staff since July of 2008. Although he completed his clinical training, he had not yet taken his Board Exam to obtain his license. As our other licensed CAs on staff, Cherie and Nicky, can tell you, there are lots of required classes and an immense amount of study that is done before taking the Board Exam. For those that don't know, Chiropractic Assistants in Maryland are required to be versed in Anatomy & Physiology, Office Management, Physiotherapy, Interpersonal Relations, Biomechanics, and Therapeutic Exercise demonstration and much more. Congratulations Russell! By the way... he scored a 98%. Way to go!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Maryland Chiropractor of the Year 2009
No really. That's what the plaque reads. "Chiropractor of the Year 2009, For devoted service to the profession, Maryland Chiropractic Association"
Our own Dr. Sharman was presented with this surprise recognition during the last meeting for the Maryland Chiropractic Association. It means that she was chosen by her peers here in Maryland, for her service to the chiropractic profession and to her patients. For those that don't know, Dr. Sharman is responsible for most of the logistics behind the MCA's ongoing con-ed programs, conferences, and workshops.
As members of her staff here at Life Care Chiropractic and Wellness, we would very much like to add our own "Congratulations!" and "Thank You" for a job well done.
-Nicki, Cherie, Russell, and Allison
Friday, September 18, 2009
Allergies got you feeling miserable?
You're not alone. My allergies get really bad sometimes too. One method of dealing with strong allergic reactions is to stop them before they start. Not by taking anything, because that usually has side effects that are almost worse! I'm suggesting you try an ages old method of sinus irrigation rapidly finding new users. It's called "neti" in Sanskrit, but most folks just call it relief. By gently irrigating the sinuses, you can literally flush out much of the allergens that cause reaction.
In our office, my staff and I personally use (and yes, sell) SaltAire Sinus and Allergy Relief. It's sold in an easy to use bottle with complete instructions inside. The procedure is very easy to do, and has brought real relief to myself and many of our patients with regular use during the worst of allergy seasons.
In our office, my staff and I personally use (and yes, sell) SaltAire Sinus and Allergy Relief. It's sold in an easy to use bottle with complete instructions inside. The procedure is very easy to do, and has brought real relief to myself and many of our patients with regular use during the worst of allergy seasons.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Breathing
What would you think if I told you that you already have at your disposal a ready-to-use, guaranteed-to-work, and free toolset for helping yourself heal, be happier, and live more comfortably?
Moreover, I could say that you already use this tool, but likely may not be using it the best you could. Well, I could say all that because I will now. Each and every one of us already has a powerful tool for moving ourselves towards health and comfort, but few use it wisely. That tool is the breath.
“Oh come on, Dr. Sharman!” I hear you say. “I breath all day long, I’m here aren’t I?”
Well of course that’s true. But consider this: the autonomic breath (that’s the breath your body ‘just does’) is only going to be enough to keep you alive, or respond to the immediate demands of your body (that flight of stairs at church, carrying the laundry, unloading the groceries, etc). When you’re injured, and are trying to get better, you can improve your own healing by breathing more deliberately, or rather, paying more attention to how you are breathing.
One of the first things you might notice is Where you are breathing. No really, watch a very young child or even a toddler breath and you’ll see their belly happily rise with the inhale, and lower with the exhale. This is a pure example of what is often called abdominal breathing. Watch most adults, however, and you’ll see their shoulders lift up as they puff up their chests with each inhale. That’s for those that breath deeply at all, many adults barely draw a breath, or tend to have a very shallow breath.
Try this: place the palms of your hands on your belly. It’s ok, we’re doing this for science. Now, when you inhale, try to stick your belly out into your hands. Then, when you exhale, try to draw the belly in away from your hands a little bit. It’s ok if you don’t get it at first, but keep trying. Do this several times, and then let your hands down and take a break.
What have we done here? A lot, actually. By taking a deep breath, we’ve moved more air deeper into the lungs, where most of the blood flow is (it’s called capillary density, and there’s more of it in the lower lobes of your lungs). This is important as we’re trying to get as much air into the body as possible, so the blood can get as much of the oxygen it needs from the inhaled air. Over time, this can also make it easier to get a big breath in, and the lungs are like thick balloons. It’s very hard to blow up a new balloon completely first try, isn’t it?
Deep breathing also entails a larger movement of the diaphragm, the muscular dome that is up under our lungs and above our abdominal organs. As it moves, it gently massages both our abdominal organs, and our heart! The heart rests under your left lung, and on top of the diaphragm. So taking a deep breath massages your heart, isn’t that a wonderful image?
Suggested reading:
http://www.innerself.com/Parenting/breathing.htm
http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/2002/aug/aug2002morter.htm
Moreover, I could say that you already use this tool, but likely may not be using it the best you could. Well, I could say all that because I will now. Each and every one of us already has a powerful tool for moving ourselves towards health and comfort, but few use it wisely. That tool is the breath.
“Oh come on, Dr. Sharman!” I hear you say. “I breath all day long, I’m here aren’t I?”
Well of course that’s true. But consider this: the autonomic breath (that’s the breath your body ‘just does’) is only going to be enough to keep you alive, or respond to the immediate demands of your body (that flight of stairs at church, carrying the laundry, unloading the groceries, etc). When you’re injured, and are trying to get better, you can improve your own healing by breathing more deliberately, or rather, paying more attention to how you are breathing.
One of the first things you might notice is Where you are breathing. No really, watch a very young child or even a toddler breath and you’ll see their belly happily rise with the inhale, and lower with the exhale. This is a pure example of what is often called abdominal breathing. Watch most adults, however, and you’ll see their shoulders lift up as they puff up their chests with each inhale. That’s for those that breath deeply at all, many adults barely draw a breath, or tend to have a very shallow breath.
Try this: place the palms of your hands on your belly. It’s ok, we’re doing this for science. Now, when you inhale, try to stick your belly out into your hands. Then, when you exhale, try to draw the belly in away from your hands a little bit. It’s ok if you don’t get it at first, but keep trying. Do this several times, and then let your hands down and take a break.
What have we done here? A lot, actually. By taking a deep breath, we’ve moved more air deeper into the lungs, where most of the blood flow is (it’s called capillary density, and there’s more of it in the lower lobes of your lungs). This is important as we’re trying to get as much air into the body as possible, so the blood can get as much of the oxygen it needs from the inhaled air. Over time, this can also make it easier to get a big breath in, and the lungs are like thick balloons. It’s very hard to blow up a new balloon completely first try, isn’t it?
Deep breathing also entails a larger movement of the diaphragm, the muscular dome that is up under our lungs and above our abdominal organs. As it moves, it gently massages both our abdominal organs, and our heart! The heart rests under your left lung, and on top of the diaphragm. So taking a deep breath massages your heart, isn’t that a wonderful image?
Suggested reading:
http://www.innerself.com/Parenting/breathing.htm
http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/2002/aug/aug2002morter.htm
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