Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Breast Awareness Month

Breast Awareness Month 2011


Every year in Ireland nearly 2,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Over the course of a lifetime, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer

In 2007, there were 2,463 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in Ireland making it the most common invasive cancer in Irish women.

Advances in diagnosis and in treatment have seen an increase in survival from breast cancer for Irish women in recent years. In spite of this, breast cancer remains the biggest cause of death from cancer in women in Ireland.

Some of the known risk factors for breast cancer include:


• Older age


• Menstruating at an early age


• Older age at first birth or never having given birth


• A personal history of breast cancer or benign (noncancer) breast disease


• Treatment with radiation therapy to the breast/chest


• Breast tissue that is dense on a mammogram


• Taking hormones such as estrogen and progesterone


• Drinking alcoholic beverages


• A mother or sister with breast cancer


Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any new breast changes to a family doctor as soon as they are found.


These are the changes to look for and if you are in any doubt, visit your doctor:


• A lump or thickening which is different to the rest of the breast tissue


• Continuous pain in one part of the breast or armpit


• One breast becomes larger or lower


• A nipple becomes inverted or changes shape or position


• Skin changes including puckering or dimpling


• Swelling under the armpit or around the collarbone


• A rash on or around the nipple


• Discharge from one or both nipples


http://www.breastcancerireland.com/iopen24/the-facts-t-41.html

You should check your breasts once a month. Try and do this at the same time each month so you are aware of what is normal for you. If you notice any changes in the appearance of your breasts see your GP ASAP. Please see the link below to help you out.

http://vimeo.com/breakthroughbc/breastcheck

If you are aged 50-64 please partake in “Breast Check”. This is Government-funded programme providing free mammograms on an area-by-area basis every two years. Freephone 1800 45 45 55

Dr Gemma Bailey Bsc Hons Chiro

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Spinal Manipulation

Spinal Manipulation evidence


The first day of the WFC’s 2011 Congress saw the legendary chiropractor and neurologist, Scott Haldeman, speak of the physiological mechanisms and effects of spinal manipulation. Dr Haldeman, a professor of neurology at the University of California and head of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010, first qualified as a chiropractor in 1964 and has led the field in researching chiropractic and its effects since this time.

He said that there is now a large body of clinical research which demonstrates spinal manipulation to be effective in the management of back and neck pain and headaches.During his lecture, Dr Haldeman ran through a range of effects for which evidence now exists:

1. Relaxation of muscles and relief of muscular pain.

There have been a number of different research approaches to this question, but it’s been demonstrated that cortical evoked potentials are abnormal on the side of spinal pain when compared to the normal side and it’s been noted that these return to normal folowing spinal manipulation.

2. Changes in Pain Sensitivity

At least one study has shown that skin pain sensitivity to electrica

l stimulation was diminished after spinal manipulation. A more recent RCT showed a change in thermal pain sensitivity.

3. Impact on Dorsal Horn neurons in the spinal cord.

Mechanical movement of the spine has been shown to stimulate Group I and Group II neurons and that the responses in these neurons can be sensitised by maintained changes in muscle length. Group III and IV Neurons can also be stimulated by vertebral movement. This has been hypothesized as a possible mechanism that may impact on the pain-spasm-pain cycle in paraspinal muscles.

4. Impact on Tissue Inflammatory Responses

Recent studies have raised the possibility that spinal manipualtion may have an impact on the inflammatory response of certain tissues.

5. Impact on Somato-Autonomic Responses

Research has repeatedly demonstrated that stimulation of somatic structures including peripheral somatic nerves, skin and muscles and can result in responses in autonomic nerves and can result in measureable changes in the function of a number of internal organs. It’s unknown whether or not these responses have any clinical significance.

Reference:

WFC 11th Biennial Conference Proceedings pp46-49

Dr Patrick Ryder (MChiro)

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Acupuncture gets green light - Latest News, Health - Independent.ie

Acupuncture gets green light - Latest News, Health - Independent.ie

This is a very positive step for the recognition of Acupuncture as an alternative to pain relief.

Straighten Up Ireland - 10th - 14th October 2011

STRAIGHTEN UP IRELAND:


SUI is a posture care programme that sets out to improve the nation’s posture, thus aiming to help prevent back pain & subsequently improve your overall health & well being by promoting balance, strength and flexibility within the spine.

The Chiropractic Association of Ireland is delighted to incorporate this fantastic programme and to be utilising it here in Ireland.

The message at the heart of this campaign is the importance of having good posture and its’ related health benefits, as well as educating the public on the potential short and long term implications of poor posture.

Approximately 80% of the population of Ireland will experience at least one episode of back pain in their life time. That means that a large number of people are suffering with back pain right now. Poor posture is one of the common causes of back pain. As a result, millions of Euro’s are wasted in Ireland every year due to a decreased ability to work efficiently and often subsequent absenteeism.

The CAI wants to encourage everyone who is old enough & able to start using this simple, three minute, daily exercise routine that is designed to improve posture and increase spinal strength & flexibility. This routine is most effective when it is incorporated daily.

Straighten up Ireland will be running from the 10-16th October 2011. During this week we are offering FREE Spinal Assessment at our clinic. This will give you an opportunity to talk to one of our CAI chiropractors to discuss any health issues concerning you back. You will also be given a free SUI exercises leaflet to help get you started!

Call the Clinic today to book your appointment. This opportunity is open to everyone, so please tell your friends and family all about it. Children are welcome to attend too.

Whole Ginger Extract Has Promising Anti-Prostate Cancer Potential

Whole Ginger Extract Has Promising Anti-Prostate Cancer Potential

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Chiropractic Kids

Chiropractic Kids!


http://www.chirotips.com/children_chirorpactic.htm

How early should children be adjusted?, Is it safe?, Aren’t their bones still soft?, Why do they need adjustments?, What if they cry?, How can we afford it?

All of these questions and more go through the minds of parents who are considering chiropractic care for their kids. Some parents are hesitant about getting their children adjusted even though they are under care themselves.

Our kids are so special to us that sometimes, in an effort to protect them, we become overprotective and deprive them of necessary and valuable experiences.

If chiropractic care is necessary to your good health, then it logically follows that it is even more necessary for a child!

After all, they have nerve systems that control and coordinate all of their body functions just as you do. And, just like you, they can get spinal dysfunction.

The only difference is that they still have an entire lifetime ahead of them in which to manifest the results of what they do today.


It’s Never Too Soon

Spinal Dysfunction can occur at any time. The first one may very well have occurred at your baby’s birth. That is why parents who understand the importance of having a healthy spine have their newborns examined by their chiropractor as soon after birth as possible

Many people who come into a chiropractor’s office for the first time as adults would have had far greater potential for regaining their health if they had received regular chiropractic care as children.


Kids Make Great Patients!

Adjusting a child is not a difficult procedure. In fact, in most cases, a child’s spine is much easier to adjust than an adult’s. They have not had the long-standing areas of dysfunction, their muscles are usually not as tense and they are usually more relaxed in general than adults.

Not only are kids easier to adjust, but also in most cases, they hold their adjustments for longer periods of time and their corrective adjustment plans are almost always significantly shorter than the average adult. However, with the falls, accidents and the generally active lives most kids experience, regular check-ups are vital.


It’s Worth The Effort

Chiropractic adjustments are generally painless. Children may, on the first visit or two, be somewhat reluctant. However, they rarely hesitate to get on the table to be adjusted, especially when they see that visiting the chiropractor is a family affair. When they see Mum, Dad and their brothers and sisters getting adjusted, they are usually more than willing to be checked too.

We will work with you so that your children will become accustomed to their adjustments. In fact, in a very short period of time, most kids really look forward to their regular chiropractic visits.

Obviously, children who are adjusted regularly from infancy think of their visits to the chiropractor as a regular part of their lives and are not the least bit hesitant to climb onto the adjusting table.

We have a Family Plan that makes it affordable for most families to receive the care they need. The money saved on treatments for illness is often enough to convince most parents of the benefits of family care. But, the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you have provided your children with the best possible chance to perform at their best is the greatest benefit of all!


Free Child Chiropractic Assessment at the Fitzwilliam Health Clinic – Till October 2011



Dr Gemma Bailey

Doctor of Chiropractic

Bsc (Hons) Chiro

Monday, August 15, 2011

Essential Fatty Acid's

There are about 44 nutrients we must have to fuel our bodies to live; 20 minerals, 13 vitamins, 8 amino acids, and 2 Essential Fatty Acids, EFA’s.


These fats are called “Essential” because we absolutely need them for life and the body cannot produce them – we have to take EFA’s in through our food.

Every cell in the body must have the correct balance of EFA’s daily to function properly.

The two EFA’s our body needs are called:

1. Alpha-Linolenic Acid, ALA, popularly known as Omega 3.

2. Linoleic Acid, LA, popularly known as Omega 6.

http://www.udoschoice.ie/what-udos-oil

Omega-3. ALA is found in vegetable sources such as…

• flax seed oil

• soybean oil

• canola oil

• walnuts

• dairy products

• beans

• broccoli


Omega-3 is also found in two marine forms. They are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). They are found primarily in cold-water fatty fish such as...

• salmon

• mackerel

• lake trout

• herring

• sardines

• albacore tuna

Omega- LA is found in…

• corn oil

• safflower oil

• soybean oil

• sunflower oil

• cottonseed oil

http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/newsletter.html Two other forms of omega-6 are GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid). GLA is also found in plant based oils. ARA is found in many animal based foods.

http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/omega_3.html

So why do we need to have these fats in our diet?

EFA are classed as good fats. More often than not we see fat as a bad thing that we shouldn’t have in our diet – the fact is that we need fat in our diet.

Good fats are essential for making cell walls. The human body is made up of trillions of cells. Cells are the basic functional unit of the body. Having good fats in our diet means that we can build very healthy new cells – this is essential for a healthy you.

Also, good fats raise your HDL or "good cholesterol". One of the jobs of this High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or "good cholesterol" is to grab your bad cholesterol, LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein), and escort it to the liver where it is broken down and excreted. In other words, these good fats attack some of the damage already done by the bad fats.

Dr Gemma Bailey - Bsc (Hons) Chiro