When dealing with back pain, it's not just the pain that has to be dealt with. It is stress , anxiety, and depression that can make coping even harder. Learn how to manage pain and mental health. Dealing with chronic back pain is difficult for anyone. A ll-around mental distress can exacerbate pain and worsen the stress you are already experiencing creating a vicious cycle . There are treatments available for mental health and chronic back pain that can help get a handle on both at the same time. What you should know about the connection, along with the therapies that can help.   Dealing with Chronic Back Pain and Mental Health Back pain is very common and it is estimated that about 90% of Americans will experience back pain. A small portion will develop chronic back pain or pain that continues more than 12 weeks. Chronic back pain can be caused by a variety of medical problems. Injuries to illness are all are pathways to chronic pain. Pain is different for everyo

Podcast: Dr. Alex Jimenez, chiropractor in El Paso, TX, and Daniel (Danny) Alvarado, owner of the PUSH Fitness Center, continue to discuss the importance of weight loss and how people and athletes can continue the effort to stay healthy. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by 5 risk factors, including excess waist fat, high blood pressure, high blood glucor or sugar, high triglycerides, and low HDL or good cholesterol levels. Diet and lifestyle modifications, such as participating and engaging in exercise and physical activity, can ultimately help improve the 5 risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome and a variety of health issues, including diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Dr. Alex Jimenez and Daniel (Danny) Alvarado discuss how motivation is one of the most fundamental elements in the continued effort to stay healthy. Following a diet and lifestyle modifications that are unique to each individual can also help promote overall well-being. - Podcast Insight [

Kinesio taping method is a therapeutic technique that offers an approach of supporting the individual and rehabilitating the condition or affected area. Kinesio tape can stimulate or relax muscles , depending on the technique and type of tension that is put on the body. It raises the skin in microscopic increments that aid in lymphatic drainage . It decreases inflammation and swelling reducing pressure in the area, allowing the blood and lymphatic fluid to flow naturally and more effectively in and out of the affected area. Kinesio Tape: Reduces inflammation Promotes better circulation Prevents injury Facilitates healing Re-educates the neuromuscular system . This helps the body return to homeostasis. It can be applied in a variety of different configurations , but usually, applications are single: I Y X     Kinesio Taping There are unique taping shapes specialized to address certain areas of the body and conditions.  Providing stability and support for t

Smart supplementation along with proper nutrition is one of the biggest factors and plays a large role in an individual's health. You are what you eat is true. Feeding the body with vital vitamins and minerals promotes growth and healing. Filling up on processed, fatty foods does the opposite. The bones in the spine and throughout the body need nutrients to continue to rebuild and maintain strength throughout life. A balanced diet r ich in :  Calcium Vitamin D Magnesium This is the best way to nourish the body's bones and ward off spinal problems, like spinal fractures, and osteoporosis. Inadequate diets or medical issues can create nutritional gaps. This is where vitamins or mineral supplements come in. Supplements are not a cure-all , but they can create a safety health net when taken properly . Supplement Smart These supplements for bone health, fill in nutritional gaps. They are not necessary if the key nutrients the body needs from a proper diet are

Exercise is defined as a physical activity that is structured, planned and done at a   certain intensity level, frequency, and duration  carried out to   maintain or improve health and fitness. Physical activity is defined as any movement of the body produced by skeletal muscles and resulting in the  expenditure of energy.   Physical activity can be doing something fun that involves moving. Exercise is thought of as something people don't like because it's good for you. Therefore i f you hate exercise, think of physical activity instead.   Exercise, Health, and Fitness Question : Dr. Jimenez, I've heard that we should get 30 minutes of exercise a day, but can it be broken up, and does this have the same effect? Answer : Absolutely. A recent study found that nine weekly 10-minute exercise sessions offer the same health benefits as three weekly 30-minute sessions. This is great for beginners, who may find it easier to stick to short workouts. Q : What about

Reduce stress, reduce pain. Life creates stress, and while some stress can be good, too much causes health problems. Everyone experiences stress. However, now it is becoming a new normal in today’s hectic, fast-paced, high-pressure society. Most individuals equate stress with high blood pressure, heart attacks, or stroke. However, neck and back pain, insomnia, and weight gain can be stress-related , as well. And a lot of stress can make already-existing back/neck pain worse. 73% of individuals report experiencing stress-related psychological symptoms including anxiety and depression. These are not accurate numbers because most do not seek help for their stress issues. Stress symptoms should not be taken lightly. It is important to address the symptoms and find ways to reduce stress. Chiropractic is an effective stress reliever.   Stress Financial pressures, kids, long work weeks, and medical problems are common anxieties . Prolonged stress can become chronic, which r

Facet joint syndrome also called facet joint sprain is a common cause of back pain. The joint/s in our bodies connect two or more bones and their primary function is to promote motion. In the spine, the joints connecting each vertebra are known as facet joints. Like any other joint, each facet joints’ job is to generate healthy movement and provide stability for each motion segment. The disc/s function as spacers that support motion between the vertebral bodies. This creates a tri-relationship between the intervertebral disc and the facet joints. Degeneration or damage/injury to one affects the other. The effects of aging and/or traumatic injury can damage the facet joints and is the leading cause of back pain known as facet joint syndrome. There are a variety of treatments that are used, but the most mainstream involve pain medication which can have undesirable side effects and can lead to addiction. Chiropractic is a proven, reliable treatment for pain relief and dis

Chiropractic is more than spinal manipulation . More people are choosing chiropractic for their pain symptoms, conditions, and injuries. Many are exchanging pills and surgery for all-natural non-invasive medicine known as chiropractic. Chiropractors do not prescribe medications and do not perform surgery. But they are trained to recognize when an injury is outside the scope of their practice and will refer an individual to the appropriate medical specialist. Here are a few reasons why individuals are trying out chiropractic: Doctors recommend chiropractic The American College of Physicians recommends chiropractic and other non-drug treatments, as a first-line treatment for chronic and acute low back pain. Spinal manipulation is strongly recommended as a natural remedy. It is highly effective when combined with gentle exercises like Pilates, yoga, and tai chi.   Studies show spinal manipulation highly effective The Journal of the American Medical Association cited

Do you feel: Dizziness when standing up quickly? A slow start in the morning? Edema and swelling in ankles and wrist? Muscle cramping? Tired or sluggish? If you are experiencing any of these situations, then there might be some dysfunction in your body’s system, including the immune system. Why not try the Chinese herb, astragalus to help alleviate the symptoms. Astragalus In traditional Chinese medicine, the herb astragalus has been used for thousands of years and has been known to strengthen chi or qi life force in the body. This herb has been known to be typically employed in conditions that are related to general weakness in the body like fatigue, anemia, a poor appetite, cardiovascular diseases, and other conditions that can weaken the body. Surprisingly though, astragalus can be used to optimize kidney health and, with the combination of ginseng and echinacea, can boost up the body's immune system. There is a variety of astragalus that are native to Northeast