Health and Exercise

I regularly find myself giving the advice "I think it would be beneficial if you increased the amount of exercise that you do!" Unfortuantely I have not been taking my own advice for several years now, so yesterday 1st October, the "International Day of the Older Person" I decided to do something about that, and went along for my first Pilates class with Deborah  Higgins. I went along to one of her classes in Prestwick, as I had done Pilates before, but would recommend that you have a one-to-one with her before joining in a class.

Why do I recommend Pilates? Well, my work as a McTimoney Chiropractor is all about aligning the spine, so that you can be the healthiest individual that you can be, as the "nerve highway", the spinal cord, is cleared of any blockages, traps or impingements that having a misaligned spine can bring, this results in the body becoming ill at ease with itself, or dis-ease. For the body to remain in alignment, the muscles need to be toned, especially in the region that we refer to as the "core". Core stabilty is important, and this is where Pilates comes in. But are there any other benefits to exercise?

A study published in the Lancet, (the peer reviewed publication of the medical profession) showed that just 15 minutes exercise a day had significant health benefits, and that it added 3 years to the average life. Researchers have studied the changes that occur in the body at the chemical level when you exercise, and noted that many metabolites change when you exercise. These changes alter the blood sugar level, helping to maintain a healthy weight and prevent  heart disease and diabetes, it can also lower oestrogen levels which has an effect on breast cancer. The MacMillan Cancer Support suggests that moderate exercise for two and a half hours a week,be part of the treatment plan for those diagnosed with cancer, but always one to preach prevention is better than cure (or at least it is better than the treament offered by the health care systems of today) I suggest you don't wait until you have the diagnosis, GET OUT THERE AND EXERCISE NOW!

So this morning "how do i feel?" Well a bit stiff and achy as I might have expected, but also positive about the step that I have taken to ward off the common complaints of being an Older Person (not that I consider to be one yet, but it is a label that has been applied to people of my age) "Wear and Tear consistent with age" is a common diagnosis that my clients have been given by the medical profession. I love it, because it means that I can truly demonstate the abilty of the McTimoney method of Chiropractic in returning them to better health!

If reading this has made you think that you would like to get out there and exercise more, then please discuss any health issues with the person that is providing the class. As you can see from the research that is being done, having a diagnosis of any kind should not be a reason not to exercise, but do so within your own limits. We should all take the responsibilty for our own health, get to know what our bodies can and cannot do, but you may be in for a surprise that yours can do more than you thought given some daily exercise.

As for me,I look forward to a long and happy working association with Deborah J Higgins Pilates. I shall be there again next Monday morning, and I am happy to say that there were no "Tena moments", (for me at least, I cannot speak for Deborah!: ))

How Safe is Your Child's Playroom?

As a McTimoney Chiropractor who sees Chiropractic care as a way of maximising your child's health, I am always on the lookout for worthy items that help me to provide "health tips" to the parents of these children.

It is widely known that a chemical known as "phtalates" can have health risks, and have been removed from bottles used for formula feeding as well as toys. Phtalates are used in a wide range of products, their aim is to make plastic more bendy. It is found widely in products used in hospitals from the bags that contain IV fluids to the tubing that it is given through, it is found it all manner of food coverings in your local supermarket.

However, Swedish researchers have found that just changing the type of bottle or examining the toys that your developing child plays with, is not enough if you have vinyl flooring that your child crawls across whilst playing and exploring his or her world. These toxic chemicals are then ingested as they pick them up whilst crawling over the flooring, then place them in their mouths.

Children with vinyl flooring in their bedroom have phtalates urinary levels 5 times greater than those with more conventional flooring and are more likley to develop a range of symptoms. They have been linked to a wide range of developmental and reproductive effects. For more information on this go to Dr Mercola 

So what advice can I give to the parents of the babies and children that come and see me for McTimoney treatment.

Whenever possible breastfeed your baby. 2 month old babies who have been exclsively breastfed have lower levels than those babies who were formula fed as chemicals can leach from the packaging.

Give your developing child toys made from natural materials such as wood. Different textures gives them a more varied experience and develops their sense of touch.

Store food in glass rather than plastic, and do not use food wrap.

Avoid processed food and food that comes wrapped in plastic.

Finally do your child's nervous system a favour, and get them checked regularly by a McTimoney Chiropractor.