Clinic News
Clinic News:
We have been busy here once again at Beeston Chiropractic Clinic
Jo completed the Equinox24 where she was raising money for Verus Arthritis. She smashed it running 61.21 miles in 24 hours and raising over £500 for the charity. We are all so proud of her!
Following on from completing her Autism Awareness diploma, Sophie is now completing her Neurodivergent Awareness diploma.
World Mental Health Day will be celebrated on October 10th with the theme for this year being mental health in the workplace.
The new Beeston Chiropractic Clinic Instagram account is now live, so make sure to follow, like and share to keep up to date with all that is going on! The link can be found below.
We are now going paperless! All files will now be scanned onto your files to limit the paper we are using so if you have something you wish for us to place onto your file please let reception know.
If you have the old style X-rays with us (prior to 2014) and wish to keep them please collect these from us within 30 days, after this time they will be destroyed.
We are continuing to implement our 'buddy system', which will allow you all to have an alternative chiropractor that you can see if your current one is off sick, on holiday or you can't get an appointment in an emergency. This means all the team will observe each other so they can meet you and be up to speed with your case.
World Osteoporosis Day
October 20th is World Osteoporosis Day, an annual awareness day dedicated to raising awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease.
Everyone wants to continue doing the things they enjoy for longer, without the worry of pain, suffering and broken bones. Which is why building strong bones throughout your lifetime is so important.
There are many ways to prevent and control osteoporosis and the five steps below will set you off to a good start:
5 ways to better bone health
- Regular exercise
Weight-bearing exercises, such as jogging, hiking, brisk walking and stair climbing, as well as muscle strengthening exercises, such as weight lifting, are beneficial at all ages and will help maintain strong bones and muscles.
- Bone-healthy nutrients
- Calcium: dairy foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese, certain fruits and vegetables such as kale, broccoli and apricots and canned fish with bones like sardines
- Vitamin D: most of the vitamin D in the body is produced from exposure of skin to sunlight; small amounts of vitamin D are found in foods such as egg yolk, salmon and tuna and foods fortified with vitamin D – essential for those who live in areas where there are low amounts of sunlight throughout the year
- Protein
- Avoid negative lifestyle habits
- Don’t smoke; smoking has been shown to raise fracture risk substantially
- Reduce alcohol intake; more than two units of alcohol a day can raise the risk of fractures
- Maintain a healthy weight; being underweight can increase your risk of fracture
- Identify your risk factors
Talk to your doctor and ensure you are aware of any risk factors that could make you susceptible to osteoporosis and fractures
- Take medicine
There are many different types of prescribed medications that can be taken to help improve your bone mass density and reduce your risk of fractures. The important thing to remember is to comply with your prescribed treatment. Continuing without stopping can protect your bones and help avoid damaging and potentially life-threatening fractures.
Fatigue – A Modern Epidemic?
Fatigue is one of two main ways the body warns you about a problem. The other warning is pain. Most of us pay attention to pain, and stop whatever is causing it. We don’t pay as much attention to fatigue. One reason might be that fatigue sneaks up on us.
What Is Fatigue?
Fatigue is tiredness that does not go away when you rest. It can be physical or psychological. With physical fatigue, your muscles cannot do things as easily as they normally do. You might notice this when you climb stairs or carry bags of groceries.
With psychological fatigue, it may be difficult to concentrate for as long as you did before. In severe cases, you might not feel like getting out of bed in the morning and doing your regular daily activities. Fatigue is twice as common in women as in men but is not strongly associated with age or occupation.
There are certain things that exacerbate fatigue, including a range of lifestyle, occupational and psychological factors.
Lifestyle-related factors
Common lifestyle choices that can cause fatigue include:
- Lack of sleep – adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night.
- Too much sleep – sleeping more than 11 hours per day can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness.
- Alcohol and drugs – alcohol is a depressant drug that slows the nervous system and disturbs normal sleep patterns. Other drugs, such as cigarettes, stimulate the nervous system and make insomnia more likely.
- Sleep disturbances – disturbed sleep may occur for a number of reasons, for example, young children who wake in the night, a snoring partner, or an uncomfortable bed.
- Lack of regular exercise and sedentary behaviour – physical activity is known to improve fitness, health and wellbeing, reduce stress, and boost energy levels. It also helps you sleep. Regular exercise is also an effective treatment for anxiety and depression, however any exercise regime should be supervised by a qualified health practitioner for those with depression or chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Too much exercise – Those who work hard and regularly exercise hard may be trying to do too much. Your body also needs time to recover.
- Poor diet – low calorie diets, or extreme diets that reduce intake of a particular macronutrient such as carbohydrates may mean that the body does not have enough fuel. Quick fix ‘pick me ups’, such as chocolate bars or caffeinated drinks, only offer a temporary energy boost that quickly wears off and worsens fatigue in the longer term.
Workplace-related factors
Common workplace issues that can cause fatigue include:
- Shift work – the human body is designed to sleep during the night. This pattern is set by a small part of the brain known as the circadian clock. A shift worker confuses their circadian clock by working when their body is programmed to be asleep.
- Workplace stress – can be caused by a wide range of factors including job dissatisfaction, heavy workload, conflicts with bosses or colleagues, bullying, constant change, or threats to job security.
Psychological factors
Studies suggest that at least 50 per cent of fatigue cases are caused by psychological factors. These may include:
- Depression – this illness is characterised by severe and prolonged feelings of sadness, dejection and hopelessness. People who are depressed commonly experience chronic tiredness.
- Anxiety and stress – a person who is chronically anxious or stressed keeps their body in overdrive. The constant flooding of adrenaline exhausts the body, and fatigue sets in.
- Grief – losing a loved one causes a wide range of emotions including shock, guilt, depression, despair and loneliness.
Always see a medical practitioner or GP to make sure that your fatigue isn’t caused by an underlying medical problem. Your chiropractor can often help by making sure that your muscles, joints and bones are all working together as they should; minor misalignments can cause your body to lock up trying to protect itself. Improving your diet, sleeping patterns and exercise regime will also provide real benefits in the long run.
Autumn Triggers Seasonal Affected Disorder
Autumn has arrived, bringing shorter days and less light. This change in the amount of light is a signal to animals, plants and, before the light bulb, people, that seasons are changing. While those most dramatically affected are those in the higher latitudes, many people in the UK are negatively affected by this shift.
Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD), also known as ‘winter depression’ is a type of a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern, with symptoms more severe between September and April. The NHS estimates that SAD affects approximately one in 15 people in the UK during the darker months.
Symptoms of SAD include:
- Lethargy, lack of energy, inability to carry out a normal routine
- Sleep problems, difficulty staying awake during the day, but having disturbed nights sleeps
- Loss of libido, disinterest in physical contact
- Anxiety, inability to cope
- Social problems, irritability, disinterest in seeing people
- Depression, feelings of gloom and despondency for no apparent reason
- Craving for carbohydrates and sweet foods, leading to weight gain
Many people in the UK suffer with SAD, so it’s important to remember that you are not alone.
While light therapy is a popular treatment for SAD, lifestyle factors play a large role too. Getting as much natural sunlight as possible is particularly important, as is managing your stress levels. Exercise is also integral to the treatment of SAD. It has long been known that regular exercise is good for our physical health, but studies also show exercise to be of benefit to our mental wellbeing. Exercise gives you control of your body and is a known mood booster. Your chiropractor can give you a general check to make sure that your bones, joints and muscles are functioning properly and advise on the best exercise solution for you.
We treat all conditions that affect any muscle or joint in your body, from your head to your little toe! One of the most common complaints that we treat is back pain and Chiropractic is recommended by the government authority, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) for acute and chronic back pain. Some of the other conditions that we treat are neck and headache, shoulder pain, leg and hip pain, knee and foot pain, sciatica and arthritis. Our registered Chiropractors all have at least five years of training. Treatment costs can be covered through most health insurers. If you are in any doubt, we are always very happy to talk with you on the phone to see if your condition will respond well to Chiropractic treatment. Call the clinic now to arrange an appointment time that works for you. 0115 9225085 If you would like to opt-out of receiving these newsletters please follow the unsubscribe link below, email alex@beestonchiropractic.co.uk or let us know at your next appointment.
