Chiropractic Mission to Haiti a Success...More Help Needed

From one of Dr. Sharman's peers:

Recent donations made possible the first post earthquake chiropractic mission trip to Haiti. 

Because of what we experienced, we are planning a succession of trips for continued relief aid, support, and care. We were instrumental in saving many lives and offering relief to those in dire distress. No matter what you see on CNN or any other news outlet, the devastation, suffering, despair and death is far worse than portrayed.

Reaching Haiti was challenging as the infrastructure of the country has been destroyed and with the help of Stepping Stone Ministries, we were able to arrive and render help.

We brought food and five water filtration systems in five different locations to people hadn't had 1 drop of water or food in 6 days. We also brought medical supplies that were critical, yet grossly inadequate.
We brought chiropractic tables and adjusted thousands in ´Tent City" refugee camps around the corner from the Capitol building and in the outlying areas. The next day we ventured into the fields behind the US Embassy where we offered low tech bandaging and wound care in Civil War conditions.

2 of our team worked in the hospitals assisting in amputations and delivering babies. As a result of the lack of accessibility to doctors and medicine, Haiti is becoming a country of amputees and that has to stop.
 
The people we worked with begged us to not forget them and we will not; we are going back and this time, staying.
We need volunteers serving a few days at a time, so we can staff the effort continually and we need your money to continue to save lives.

We have teamed with Stepping Stone Ministries, an organization recognized by the Haitian Consulate, who are accepting donations on our behalf. Please click below and be very generous, lives depend upon it. Make sure to indicate CHIROPRACTIC when donating, so the money gets to the chiropractic relief mission.

If you have already donated, another $100 will not change your life, it will however, save others

…Thank you …Peter Morgan DC
Donation Web site: www.steppingstonesminstries.com

Shovel Snow Safely

from the Weather Channel:

By Brendan Farrington

Every winter people hurt themselves shoveling snow, ranging from minor aches and pulled muscles to fatal heart attacks.

What people often fail to realize is that shoveling is more than just a chore. It puts a lot of stress on the body in a short period of time.

Winter Weights

"People don't understand when you start shoveling snow, it's like picking up weights," says Denis Isrow, a North Dakota State University professor of health, physical education and recreation.

So if you're older or out of shape, there's much more of a chance of hurting yourself by shoveling. Even people who regularly exercise can find shoveling to be strenuous if they try to tackle the job quickly without taking breaks.

"One of the biggest problems we have is people saying 'I'm not going to quit until I get this done,'" Isrow says.

Some signs you should stop shoveling are shortness of breath, heavy sweating or any kind of pain.

"Anything that's not normal is a warning sign," he says.

Most at Risk

Julie Garden-Robinson prepared a report for the university's extension service warning that shoveling causes a quick increase in the heart rate and blood pressure.

According to her report, those most at risk during shoveling are people who have had a heart attack, people with a history of heart disease, those with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, smokers and people who lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Garden-Robinson and Isrow give several tips for safe shoveling:

Use a smaller shovel

Make sure your shovel isn't bent, tilting or otherwise damaged

Take frequent breaks, even if only for a couple of minutes

Stop and go inside if you become overheated

Drink fluids

Don't try to fling snow long distances

Stop any time you feel pain
If you fear you're unable to tackle this tiring task, look into spending a few bucks and having a neighborhood kid shovel after a storm; or having a contractor plow it when heavy snow falls. It's probably money well spent.

STROKE: Signs, symptoms, what to do

6.5 million non-hospitalized Americans suffer a stroke every year. That's nearly 3 per cent of our population. The chances of you being present when someone suffers an attack are pretty good. Do you know the signs of a stroke? Do you know what you can do to help?
RECOGNIZE the signs: Sudden numbness/weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially if only on one side; Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding; Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Sudden loss of balance, coordination or trouble walking; Sudden severe headache with no obvious known cause.
Remember STR: Ask them to Smile; Talk: Ask them to repeat a simple sentence; ask them to Raise both arms. Trouble with -Any- of these is strong indication they've had a stroke.
CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY: They may balk at that, but let the EMT deal with that. Getting a stroke victim proper medical care quickly is the single most important thing you can do. Neurological evidence shows that getting proper medical care within a few hours of the stroke is vital.

National Hand Washing Week!

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

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!

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

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.