Let’s do a test together… Don’t worry you won’t be graded on it J When you get into your car tomorrow morning; you most likely have to adjust your rearview mirror. Check it again at the end of the day and see if you have to re-adjust it again (tilting downwards). Have you ever thought why you would have to re-adjust it at the end of your day? Short answer is - you actually shrunk during the day!! Possible reason why = Dehydration!

So how many of you drink 8 glasses of water a day?

This tasteless, odorless fluid is actually the most vital bodily component to ensure proper functioning of all our organs and cells. Our body is composed of 60-70% water….our brain is 95% water… …kidneys 82%…lungs 90%… blood 82%… muscles 75%….bones 22%.

How does this tasteless fluid help us to live a more healthy and vital life?

Ø Circulates nutrients and oxygen throughout the brain and body via your bloodstream

Ø Helps to regulate temperature via perspiration

Ø Cushions joints and helps to absorb shock

Ø Helps to eliminate toxins and wastes

Ø Decrease the chances of kidney stones

Ø Keeps our skin glowing and supple

I am positive your Chiropractor always asks you about your water intake… do you know why? Of course I want you to feel and look healthy but I also know how important this fluid is for your joints and muscles. Let me explain.

Water acts as a cushion along with the synovial fluid between all our joints. Between each vertebrae (bone) in the spine, we have a disc. The role of this disc is to help absorb shock and distribute heavy loads from every day activities such as bending, lifting and twisting. The disc is made of two parts: an outer fibrous part and an inner gelatinous substance. If we are well hydrated, that inner gel like substance helps to carry 75% of the load of this disc. When dehydrated or injured, more pressure is placed on the outer aspect of the disc causing a tear. This tear leads to leakage of the gel like substance, which is better known as a “Disc Herniation” Or “Slipped disc” or “bulged disc.”

The following are some signs of dehydration. When our total water volume reduces by even 5%, we may start to exhibit some of the following symptoms:

Ø Fatigue

Ø Headache

Ø Muscle tension

Ø Joint pain

Ø Constipation

Ø Difficulty focusing

Ø Nausea

Ø Heartburn

Ø Fuzzy memory

Ø Dark, strong odor urine

How much is enough?

Experts say that we should drink 8 -8 ounce glasses of water a day. Now if you lead a more active lifestyle and exercise on regular basis, that amount should increase to help offset the amount of water you will loose as perspiration. Individuals living in warmer climate should also increase their daily intake.

To calculate how much water you should drink daily:

1. Weight yourself in pounds

2. Multiply your weight by 2/3

3. This is the number of ounces you should drink daily

I.e. if you weight 120 pounds, 2/3 of that is 80 ounces. The average glass is 8 ounces; hence you should drink 10 glasses of water per day

What type of water really counts?

Whenever I ask patients how much water they take in daily, I usually get asked if coffee or juice counts. My answer is No. Alcohol, coffee and soda are known as diuretics which mean they actually promote urination hence defeating the purpose of keeping hydrated.

Some fruit juices and green tea are a good source of water but nothing beats the clean thirst quenching of H₂0. Try squeezing a lime or lemon in it to add some flavor…your body and mind will be happy you did.

]]> http://www.vancouverchiropractic.com/index.php/the-fluid-of-your-life-2/feed/ http://www.vancouverchiropractic.com/index.php/the-fluid-of-your-life/ http://www.vancouverchiropractic.com/index.php/the-fluid-of-your-life/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:47:04 +0000 Dr. Jabeen Jussa http://www.vancouverchiropractic.com/?p=42 The Fluid of YOUR Life

Let’s do a test together… Don’t worry you won’t be graded on it J  When you get into your car tomorrow morning; you most likely have to adjust your rearview mirror.  Check it again at the end of the day and see if you have to re-adjust it again (tilting downwards). Have you ever thought why you would have to re-adjust it at the end of your day?  Short answer is - you actually shrunk during the day!! Possible reason why = Dehydration!

So how many of you drink 8 glasses of water a day?   

This tasteless, odorless fluid is actually the most vital bodily component to ensure proper functioning of all our organs and cells.   Our body is composed of 60-70% water….our brain is 95% water… …kidneys 82%…lungs 90%… blood 82%… muscles 75%….bones 22%.

 How does this tasteless fluid help us to live a more healthy and vital life? 

Ø  Circulates nutrients and oxygen throughout the brain and body via your bloodstream

Ø  Helps to regulate temperature via perspiration

Ø  Cushions joints and helps to absorb shock

Ø  Helps to eliminate toxins and wastes

Ø  Decrease the chances of kidney stones

Ø  Keeps our skin glowing and supple

I am positive your Chiropractor always asks you about your water intake… do you know why?  Of course I want you to feel and look healthy but I also know how important this fluid is for your joints and muscles.   Let me explain.

Water acts as a cushion along with the synovial fluid between all our joints.  Between each vertebrae (bone) in the spine, we have a disc. The role of this disc is to help absorb shock and distribute heavy loads from every day activities such as bending, lifting and twisting.  The disc is made of two parts: an outer fibrous part and an inner gelatinous substance.  If we are well hydrated, that inner gel like substance helps to carry 75% of the load of this disc.  When dehydrated or injured, more pressure is placed on the outer aspect of the disc causing a tear. This tear leads to leakage of the gel like substance, which is better known as a “Disc Herniation” Or “Slipped disc” or “bulged disc.”

The following are some signs of dehydration.  When our total water volume reduces by even 5%, we may start to exhibit some of the following symptoms:

Ø  Fatigue

Ø  Headache

Ø  Muscle tension

Ø  Joint pain

Ø  Constipation

Ø  Difficulty focusing

Ø  Nausea

Ø  Heartburn

Ø  Fuzzy memory

Ø  Dark, strong odor urine

 How much is enough?

Experts say that we should drink 8 -8 ounce glasses of water a day.  Now if you lead a more active lifestyle and exercise on regular basis, that amount should increase to help offset the amount of water you will loose as perspiration.  Individuals living in warmer climate should also increase their daily intake. 

To calculate how much water you should drink daily:

1. Weight yourself in pounds

2. Multiply your weight by 2/3

3. This is the number of ounces you should drink daily

I.e. if you weight 120 pounds, 2/3 of that is 80 ounces.  The average glass is 8 ounces; hence you should drink 10 glasses of water per day

What type of water really counts?

Whenever I ask patients how much water they take in daily, I usually get asked if coffee or juice counts.  My answer is No.  Alcohol, coffee and soda are known as diuretics which mean they actually promote urination hence defeating the purpose of keeping hydrated.

Some fruit juices and green tea are a good source of water but nothing beats the clean thirst quenching of H₂0. Try squeezing a lime or lemon in it to add some flavor…your body and mind will be happy you did.

]]> http://www.vancouverchiropractic.com/index.php/the-fluid-of-your-life/feed/ http://www.vancouverchiropractic.com/index.php/a-good-nights-sleepchoosing-the-right-pillow-for-you/ http://www.vancouverchiropractic.com/index.php/a-good-nights-sleepchoosing-the-right-pillow-for-you/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:39:06 +0000 Dr. Jabeen Jussa http://www.vancouverchiropractic.com/?p=41 A Good Nights Sleep

Did you wake up this morning with neck stiffness?

How many pillows have you purchased over the last 2 yrs?

Did you know that an unsupportive neck pillow may be the cause of your headaches?

A goods night rest is essential for our daily functioning, vitality and overall productivity. Many of us struggle with either falling asleep or staying asleep. Your quality of sleep may be compromised to many factors, one of which may be the wrong pillow!

Keep the following tips in mind when choosing the RIGHT pillow for YOU:

• Your pillow must feel comfortable so that you feel rested upon waking
• The RIGHT pillow should support the natural curvature of your neck without adding undue pressure or stress to your upper back or shoulders
• Your pillow should mold to your necks shape
• A poor or too flat of a pillow will not support the natural curve of the neck which will add extra stress to your muscles and cause bad sleep
• Whilst sleeping on your side, if your pillow is too high or too low, this will cause your neck to move incorrectly hence causing muscle strains

Back Sleepers:

Pillow should support the neck and feel comfortable for the head and shoulders. Placing 1-2 pillows under your knees can also help to reduce back strain

Side Sleepers:

Pillow should firmly fit between your ears and your shoulders supporting both the neck and head. If the pillow is too high, this will cause the neck to bend incorrectly and add more strain. A pillow or cushion placed between the knees can also help to reduce low back strain.

Keep in mind that it may take several nights of sleep to adjust to a new pillow

We are committed to helping individuals maximize their health potential. We strive to provide a caring and patient-centered environment within our clinic. We are here to educate and empower every person who enters our clinic. We look forward to working with you and assisting you to achieve your goals.

We look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve an optimum level of health.

Prior to your first Chiropractic visit/Consultation, please download the following Intake Form, complete it and bring with you to your first visit. If you have any medical or x- ray reports, please bring with you to the first visit.

If you do not have the opportunity to complete these forms prior to your first visit, please arrive at the Clinic 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. This will allow you time to complete the forms so we can then do a complete and thorough history and examination.

Please call our Clinic today (604-980-4223) to book your appointment.

Do you have any of the following Symptoms?

- Foot pain with standing or walking
- Foot or ankle pain with running
- Knee pain
- Bunions/calluses/corns
- Uneven shoe wear out
- Chronic hip and low back pain
- Tingling or numbness in the arches of your feet
- Feet fatigue
- Pain in foot arches
- Achilles Tendonitis

Our feet are our foundation. The average person walks approximately 4 miles per day which is equivalent to approximately 8,000 -10,000 steps per day! Your feet support the weight of everything above them. Research shows that approximately 75% of the population will experience foot pain during their life time. Dependant on the cause of foot pain (plantar fasciitis, pronation syndrome, arthritis, in-correct joint mechanics), various forms of treatment are available: stretching, strengthening, ice/heat therapy, anti-inflammatory and custom made orthotics.

Ideally, our feet should not roll in or outward when walking/running. When our feet move in way it was not designed to, the wrong muscles work too hard and the right muscles are not working enough. For example, some feet roll too far inside, a condition called Pronation. When this occurs, the arch collapses the foot/knee and hip roll in. Thus causing possible knee, hip and low back pain. Unless we correct this, cumulative years of stress on these joints can lead to chronic pain, arthritis and compromised quality of life.

Custom Made Orthotics are designed to prevent incorrect foot motion (ie prevent foot from rolling in wards or outwards) and support foot arches.

Assessment and Evaluation
You can visit your local Chiropractor or Podiatrist to have your feet evaluated to determine the need for a custom made orthotic. It is highly recommended to have a full evaluation of the feet and spine as they one effects the other, positively and negatively. Orthotics come in various sizes/styles/shapes all designed to help correct misalignments. This allows you to still enjoy all the activities you love without constant foot pain.

A typical assessment would include:

- History
- Gait analysis (possibly a gait scan)
- Weight bearing (standing) and non weight bearing (seated)examination
- Foam casting
- Discussion on best suited orthotic for your condition (each orthotic is custom made to that individual)

Next Steps

If you answered “yes” to any of the symptoms above, call our clinic TODAY and book yourself in for an Orthotic Assessment.

Please note that most extended health care benefit plans do cover costs associated with Custom Made Orthotics. Please ensure to read the fine print and check if they require a referral from a Medical Doctor. Insurance forms/information is provided at time of orthotic pick up for your extended health care provider. Please call the Clinic today for more information.

Happy Feet = Active Living

Apryl Leaf

newsroom@nsnews.com

ON the legendary island of Zanzibar, a North Shore chiropractor found both a tropical paradise and a need among locals for preventative care.

Jabeen Jussa was born in Dar Es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, and moved with her parents to North Vancouver when she was only nine months old. She did not realize, however, that some day she would return to the East African coast to volunteer in doing chiropractic medicine and a whole lot more.

Jussa, who practises on the North Shore, got a letter telling her about a clinic run by a Victoria chiropractor and his wife who had built a house in the village of Jambiani, and while living there, came to realize the need for even simple remedies for the ravaged spines of local people.

This is her story:

Jambo! Habari? (Welcome! How are you?) are the first words you will hear as soon as you set foot on the soil of East Africa. Subsequently I learned that you respond by saying Salama (I am at peace).

In early January 2004, I ventured into a thrilling experience to a distant land, three continents away to Zanzibar, the famed land of spices, cashew nuts and coconuts.

It was my childhood desire to assist underprivileged people of Third World countries in any way I could. With that in view, I volunteered my services as a chiropractor to the Jambiani Wellness Centre on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania, East Africa. I packed my bags, said goodbye to my family and friends and embarked on a three-month, life-changing adventure.

I landed in Zanzibar after two days of travelling. It was quite a change from the cold winters of Canada to the hot, sultry weather of Zanzibar. From Zanzibar airport, I travelled by car along a gravel bumpy road for 11/2 hours to Jambiani on the east coast of the island.

Visualize a cool gentle breeze from the warm aqua- blue Indian Ocean with the sounds of swaying coconut and banana trees, adorable African children playing soccer and the sound of ocean waves breaking as they crash onto the shore. These are the pleasant and soothing sounds I experienced every day at the Jambiani Wellness Centre where I spent nine weeks volunteering as a chiropractor.

The centre was established in 2001 by Victoria-based chiropractor, Alastair Pirie and his wife, Patricia Elias, a teacher.

The clinic is affiliated with Hands Across the Border Society (HABS) which renders a greatly needed service in this region of the world, treating and educating the local population on preventative health care. Many Canadian health-care practitioners such as chiropractors, massage therapists and nurses have volunteered their time and skills in achieving HABS’ goals.

My typical day in Jambiani would start at 6:30 a.m. with a one-hour walk along the powder-like sandy beaches. This was followed by a breakfast of deliciously sweet and locally grown fruits such as mangoes and papayas, and then off to the clinic to treat the hard-working residents of Zanzibar.

Many of the villagers do strenuous physical work, even past the age of 80, resulting in chronic low back and neck pain. Most of the local women harvest seaweed for which they bend at the waist for long hours with poor body posture, and the men also strain their backs working as fishermen or in construction.

On a regular day, we would treat 25 to 30 patients from Jambiani, the surrounding villages and from as far away as the mainland of Tanzania. Some of the patients would commute two

to three hours, either by foot or local bus to receive the health-care treatments provided by the centre.

At any one time there might be up to 15 patients in line, quietly waiting for their treatment.

People at the clinic treat such common ailments as arthritis, low back and leg pain as well as neck and upper back complaints. Many of these symptoms are a consequence of heavy repetitive work and neck compression caused by carrying heavy loads of water pails or wood on their head and shoulders for miles. Many of the local patients were and are still being prescribed anti-inflammatory medications and analgesics to treat conditions.

But in addition to rendering chiropractic treatment, we also educated the patients on basic exercises for both their joints and muscles, encouraged them to drink more water and to include more fruits and vegetables into their carbohydrate-rich diet.

We were so happy to see that the patients followed our advice. Not only did they respond enthusiastically to our chiropractic treatments, they also tried to adhere to advice on body postures and nutrition.

Interestingly for me, many cases that we treated are not typically presented in a chiropractor’s office here. For example, I treated many children with neurological complications due to uncontrolled fevers, post malaria complications, congenital spine and knee deformities, children with cerebral palsy and respiratory conditions - all with amazing results. Before being seen by us they had little or no medical help available to them.

Ironically, the locals face similar health concerns as we do in the West. Diabetes, hypertension and obesity are quite prevalent in Zanzibar due mainly to a high carbohydrate diet. The local meals are mostly prepared from rice, cassava root, potatoes and tasty coconut curries, which are delicious but fattening.

Unfortunately, they do not have the knowledge or the resources with which we are privileged. HABS is endeavouring to fill this gap to alleviate health concerns and improve the lifestyle of the local population.

For me, these experiences were eye opening and humbling, both professionally and personally. It was really gratifying to see improvements in the patients’ general health conditions and day-to-day lifestyles. Even though I volunteered my skills to provide the much-needed health care, the real rewards I have received from this journey are invaluable.

The nine weeks I spent in Jambiani has forever changed my perspective on humanity and the need for such voluntary services to the underprivileged people of the world. You can never walk away from such an experience without your heart and soul being touched forever. It is my ardent desire that I will be able to render similar voluntary services in the future.

Place your fingers in your ears so that you are unable to hear. Then slowly open and close your jaw. If you hear a clicking, popping, and/or grinding noise, the jaw joints may be out of alignment. An assessment, diagnosis and treatment by your Doctor of Chiropractic or Medical Professional are advisable.

WHAT IS IT?

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) or more commonly known, as the Jaw is one of the most frequently used joints in the body for talking, chewing, yawning, biting or any action of the jaw. If you place your fingers right in front of your ears, you will feel a boney prominence. At the same time, open and close your jaw and you will feel two bones separate. That is your Temporomandibular Joint

Temporomandibular dysfunction occurs when the joint is misaligned or not functioning correctly. Studies report that this condition afflicts 10 million Americans annually.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The TMJ is a structure consisting of muscles, ligaments, bones, disc and a joint. A disc that acts as a cushion or shock absorber to everyday joint impact such as biting, chewing, clenching and grinding, surrounds each TMJ. The TMJ functions to open and close the mouth and assists in chewing, speaking, swallowing and yawning, to name a few.

In a healthy jaw, the joints slide over the disc smoothly and allow the opening and closing of the jaw. If there has been any trauma, direct or indirect, to the TMJ, this will cause a misalignment of the jaw and hence will have a negative impact on the function of this joint.

CAUSES OF TMJ DYSFUNCTION

Research has shown that trauma seems to be the leading cause of TMJ Dysfunction.

If you think you may have TMJ Dysfunction, here is a test. Place a check mark beside each activity you engage in. Bring this in with you for your next Chiropractic visit and we can assess your TMJ.

q Direct blow to the jaw

q Whiplash injury

q Cradling the phone between your ear and shoulder

q Improper fitted braces

q Grinding or clenching your teeth

q Physical stress

q Emotional stress

q Poor bite

q Excessive gum chewing

q Chewing on one side of mouth

q Thumb-sucking

q Nail biting

Bruxism, defined as grinding or clenching of the teeth especially at night, also cause increased stress to the TMJ. Most individuals who grind their teeth do so at night or when they are stressed. Has your Dentist said to you that you must be grinding your teeth? Not only does that cause increased stress to your TMJ but it also wears out the enamel on your teeth. One approach to correct the grinding is a prescription mouth guard.

The force or pressure exerted onto the TMJ during the above activities causes excess wear and tear of the joint. The disc, which cushions the joint and acts as a shock absorber, will wear out or get displaced causing misalignment and/or incorrect functioning of the joint.

Sitting at your dentists chair with your jaw wide open and your neck and back in an awkward posture for a prolonged length of time can cause stress to both your spine and TMJ. It is recommended that you always follow up a dental visit with a visit to your Chiropractor.

Poor or incorrect posture may also contribute to TMJ Dysfunction. Most individuals, especially those who work at a computer tend to have incorrect work station ergonomics i.e. Head turned to left because monitor is to their left, key board too high