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PREVENT DEHYDRATION THIS SUMMER

Dehydration—the loss of vital water and electrolytes needed to function—can strike without warning, leaving you sick with symptoms that include dizziness, headache, pale skin, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and a general flu-like feeling. Extreme cases may also include a racing heartbeat and trouble concentrating. If left untreated, it can end in kidney failure, coma, or even death. Young children, older adults, and people on medication are especially vulnerable.

Here are several tips for avoiding dehydration this summer:

· Drink water even when you’re not thirsty. When going out in the heat or exercising, drink 16 oz. of water a few hours before and an additional 16 oz. 15-20 minutes before. Drink 8-10 oz. every 15-20 minutes while you exercise and even more when you’re finished. It’s better to drink beforehand, since it can take several hours to restore lost fluid.

· Remember electrolytes. Electrolytes, such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride, are necessary to maintain your body’s functioning and must be replaced. Sports drinks are an okay choice for restoring electrolytes like potassium and magnesium after sweating. But research shows that losses in electrolytes only become significant after endurance exercise (i.e. >
1 hr) to warrant drinking sports drinks instead of plain water.

· Avoid caffeine and alcohol. These act as diuretics, causing you to lose more fluid in your urine. Tea, soft drinks, cocoa, chocolate, and some over-the-counter and prescription drugs can have caffeine in them.

· Dress right to prevent overheating. Wear a hat, since the blood vessels in your head and neck are nearer to the skin’s surface and can gain and lose heat quickly. Keep your shirt on as well, since your skin receives more radiant heat when it is exposed.

· Take it easy! Slow down when it is hot. Exertion could raise our internal body temperature too high. If you must do something outside, wait until late evening or early morning to do so.

· Concoct a rehydration drink. Try mixing 1 tsp. sugar with a pinch of salt into 1 quart of water. Or try combing 1/2 tsp. honey and a pinch of salt into 16 oz. fruit juice.

· Treat heat exhaustion immediately! Your body temperature can rise too high even when drinking water. Get out of the sun, and splash yourself with cool water or apply cool cloths. Drink water slowly (take small sips). If there is no relief within 30 minutes, see a doctor.

THEY SAID IT

“I came here because of a localized stabbing back pain which my medical doctors dismissed as simple soreness. Dr. Theobald’s X-ray showed a compression fracture. When the pressure was lessened through adjustment, all pain was gone. Regular adjustments keep it gone.”

-Fran Johnson

· According to U.S. Dept. of Agriculture cinnamon reduced total cholesterol, bad cholesterol, and triglycerides anywhere from 13-30 percent in a study of 60 participants with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon also cut blood sugar levels by 20 - 30 percent, which can help prevent the damage diabetes can inflict on nerves and blood vessels.

· The USDA also found that beans are full of more than just protein, vitamins, calcium and fiber. Black beans contain cancer and heart disease-fighting phytochemicals. Researchers say eating a 1/2 cup serving 2-3 times per week is as beneficial as drinking red wine each day.

· Every year, more than 53,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma. An extensive Duke University study found that small melanoma tumors have a 15% chance of coming back or spreading. They recommend yearly follow-up exams, including a chest X-ray, for at least two decades after the original diagnosis.

· According to Annals of Internal Medicine, people who use antibacterial soaps are just as likely to get sick as those who use regular soap.

· Cigarette smokers die an average of 10 years sooner than nonsmokers. -Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York

We are proud to spotlight Gene Harris this month. Gene and his wife Juli are the owners of the Green Heron Grocery on Sullivan's Island. They opened the store six years ago and have grown into a local favorite. When people walk in the store, they get a sense that there are no boundaries on what they are trying to do. They are most known for their sub sandwiches, but they also carry a selection of gourmet groceries, various drinks, novelty ice cream,
t-shirts and have the only wine cellar where you can also buy live bait.

Check it out!—Located at 2019 Middle Street, Sullivans Island. (843) 883-9474

In recent years, safe driving campaigns and state safety laws have educated parents about the importance of using car seats for their small children whenever and wherever they are driving. Most states require the use of car seats for children under the age of 4 and weighing less than 40 pounds. However, despite these safety rules, many child car seats are still used incorrectly—resulting in serious neck and spinal injuries or even death.

While car accidents can be dangerous for all passengers, small children are especially at risk. Chiropractors have found that the weight of the head of a child makes the cervical spine much more vulnerable to injury. The infant has little control in the muscles of the neck, and the head can bounce from side to side and fall forward, which can cause serious spine and neck injuries. Children have more flexible upper bodies and shoulders. Make sure the harness comes up, way up, over the shoulders.

Underscoring the importance of proper car seat use, a recent article in Nation’s Health reported the findings of a study conducted in Kentucky by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study found a 36 percent drop in infant fatalities since the 1982 enactment of the state law mandating the use of child car seats.

Chiropractors along with Occupational Health Specialists/Trauma Epidemiologists at the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine, have developed the following general guidelines and safety tips to ensure proper car seat safety:

· Make sure the child seat is appropriate for the age and size of the child. A newborn infant requires a different seat than a 3 year old toddler.

· Car seats for infants should always be rear facing as the forces and impact of a crash will be spread more evenly along the back and shoulders, providing more protection for the neck.

· Car seats should always be placed in the back seat of the car—ideally in the center. This is especially important in cars equipped with air bags. If an air bag becomes deployed, the force could seriously injure or kill a child or infant placed in the front seat.

· Make sure the car seat is properly secured to the seat of the vehicle and is placed at a 45-degree angle to support the head of the infant or child.

· The lap harness should be fastened low, as close to the hips as possible; the harness should never be fastened around the waist.

· Make certain the shoulder harness is fastened securely and the straps lay flat against the body. Twisted straps can cause additional injury and might prevent the seat from working properly.

· Use a retention clip (if provided by the manufacturer) when securing a child safety seat with the shoulder harness. The retention or shoulder harness clip is an added safety feature and must be fastened close to the armpit of the infant or child.

· Borrowing or purchasing a used car seat can be dangerous; there is the possibility of unknown or undetected damage. Car seats that have been in a serious accident should never be used again.

· Be sure the seat meets federal motor vehicle safety seat standards. Consult the owner’s manual and instruction booklet.

If you or one of your children have been involved in a serious automobile accident and have experienced neck and back discomfort, you should consider a visit to a chiropractor.

Existing Patients: Donate $10-$15 of school supplies
at our office and receive a complimentary adjustment.

New Patients: Donate $20 + of school supplies at our
office and receive a complimentary consultation, exam,
computerized spinal imaging, and x-rays if needed.

Here is an idea of items children will need:
crayons, pencils, colored pencils, black & white composition notebooks,
loose leaf paper, book bags, hand soap, zip-lock bags, etc.