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March 2010 Newsletter Issue 3 |
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Greetings!
Natural Tips to Preventing a Cold
#1 Wash Your Hands
 Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact. Someone who has the flu sneezes onto their hand, and then touches the telephone, the keyboard, a kitchen glass. The germs can live for hours -- in some cases weeks -- only to be picked up by the next person who touches the same object. So wash your hands often. If no sink is available, rub your hands together very hard for a minute or so. That also helps break up most of the cold germs. Or rub an alcohol-based hand sanitizer onto your hands.
#2 Don't Cover Your Sneezes and Coughs With Your Hands
Because germs and viruses cling to your bare hands, muffling coughs and sneezes with your hands results in passing along your germs to others. When you feel a sneeze or cough coming, use a tissue, then throw it away immediately. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.
#3 Don't Touch Your Face
Cold and flu viruses enter your body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Touching their faces is the major way children catch colds, and a key way they pass colds on to their parents.
#4 Drink Plenty of Fluids
Water flushes your system, washing out the poisons as it rehydrates you. A typical, healthy adult needs eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids each day. How can you tell if you're getting enough liquid? If the color of your urine runs close to clear, you're getting enough. If it's deep yellow, you need more fluids.
#5 Take a Sauna
Researchers aren't clear about the exact role saunas play in prevention, but one 1989 German study found that people who steamed twice a week got half as many colds as those who didn't. One theory: When you take a sauna you inhale air hotter than 80 degrees, a temperature too hot for cold and flu viruses to survive.
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Fibromyalgia...
Revolutionary advances in treatment protocols
 Primary fibromyalgia syndrome (PFS) affects nearly 6 million people in the United States with a greater prevalence in women. The age groups typically affected are between 45 and 60 years of age. PFS was originally thought of as a by-product of clinical depression and was not deemed a valid diagnosis by the majority of physicians in the United States. Due to the lack of understanding and because it resembles other disorders such as hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue, arthritis, and infectious mononucleosis it was routinely misdiagnosed. Thanks to new, cutting edge research utilizing functional MRI and PET scans we now know that PFS is a true disorder taking on epidemic proportions in this country.
WHAT IS PFSAND HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
PFS is a disabling disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and stiffness described as aching, burning, throbbing, and shooting. The pain is typically greatest in the morning and in muscle groups that are used repetitively. Fatigue and sleep disturbances (stage 4) are also cardinal signs of this disorder. Associated symptoms may include irritable bowel and bladder, headaches and transformed migraines, restless leg syndrome, TMJ and face pain, numbness and tingling, impaired memory and concentration, dizziness, anxiety, and depression.
According to the American College of Rheumatology, the criteria for diagnosis of PFS includes finding tenderness or pain in at least 11 of 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied. Widespread pain must also be experienced in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum of three months.
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF PFS?
The human brain has inherent pain modulatory systems responsible for the suppression of pain transmission. Current research is pointing towards faulty brain processing as the causative agent of PFS. A study conducted by the National Institute of Health found that patients with PFS who were given relatively low levels of pressure seemed to experience the same amount of pain and subsequent brain activity as the control group which were given high levels of pressure. Due to this faulty brain processing the brain becomes very efficient at transmitting pain so that even a soft touch may produce a pounding sensation. Over time, an individual may experience pain even without a pain producing stimulus or injury.
BRAIN-BASED TREATMENT:
The human brain is highly plastic (changeable). Sixty percent of the brain is genetically predetermined while forty percent is constantly changing according to environmental influences (work, home, exercise, food, etc.). We also know that our brain cells require oxygen, proper nutrients, and stimulation for optimal function. Understanding these concepts, neurophysiologic rehabilitation utilizes oxygen acquiring techniques, nutrition, and specific forms of stimulation (light, sound, touch, oculomotor exercises, one-sided balance exercises, cognitive exercises, one- sided chiropractic adjustments) targeted to the under functioning brain regions. The goal is to restore proper function. Specifically pertaining to PFS, we have also found that graded aerobic exercise and supplementation of malic acid, magnesium, and melatonin are highly effective. |
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Question of the Month 
What is Chiropractic Neurology?
Chiropractic Neurology is a three year post-doctorate specialty that focuses on optimizing the function of the nervous system using conservative, non-pharmaceutical based methods.
Subtle changes in the function of the nervous system will affect things such as muscle tone, joint alignment in the spine and the extremities, flexibility, balance & coordination. This dysfunction may result in chronic pain (fibromyalgia), vertigo, headaches, neck-back pain, sciatica, scoliosis, carpal tunnel, and other symptoms. In some cases, these changes may lead to difficulty with focus and attention, decline in academic performance, and cognitive processing disorders. The chiropractic neurologist marries traditional chiropractic care with cutting-edge, functional neurological rehabilitation protocols to promote a faster transition from pain and neurological dysfunction to wellness.
Many people assume that if they don't have a classical nervous system disorder (Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's), then their nervous system is healthy. This is not always a correct assumption. Chiropractic neurology is a safe and effective way to evaluate and treat the functional state of your nervous system and the symptomatic manifestations that result from dysfunction. Neurological homeostasis is essential for the prevention of more serious degenerative disorders and for tapping the ultimate potential of your brain and body.
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Recipe of the Month 
Grilled Portobello
Mushroom Burgers
The meaty-textured portobello mushroom is the perfect stand-in for a hamburger. One portobello mushroom has about 30 calories and no fat or cholesterol. By comparison, a 3-ounce hamburger patty has 235 calories, 16 grams of fat and 76 milligrams of cholesterol.
Click on the picture above for recipe
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Brain Teaser of the Month 
Twins
Two girls were born to the same mother, on the same day, in the same month and year and yet they're not twins.
How can this be?
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The Conde Center
proudly carries
the full line of
Tempur-Pedic Sleep Systems
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Contact Us:
Dr. John Conde is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist. He holds diplomate status through the American Chiropractic Neurology Board. His office is located at the Atlantic Grove in Delray Beach, Florida. For more information, or to make an appointment, please contact 561-330-6096 or email us at info@thecondecenter.com .
I hope you've enjoyed the additions to this month's newsletter! If you have any questions, you can reach the clinic at the phone number above or at our website: www.thecondecenter.com.
John Conde
The Conde Center for Chiropractic Neurology |
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