Women’s Health Issues

Problems with fertility, menstrual irregularity, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopausal symptoms have a variety of causes. Many times taking care of general health issues solves them. Mood swings during the menstrual cycle can be the result of poor thyroid function. Poor liver function or dysbiosis can cause imbalance between progesterone and estrogen. Menopausal hot flashes can be the result of poor adrenal function or essential fatty acid deficiency.

It is best to treat root causes of health problems, but sometimes symptom management is necessary. Chiropractic adjustments balance the nervous system, enabling the body to heal itself. Menstrual cramps, back aches and other PMS symptoms are especially responsive to chiropractic care.

Improving your diet is a good first step in improving health in relation to your cycle. The average American eats 150 pounds of sugar and ten pounds of chemical food additives every year. Most Americans get half of their calories from refined carbohydrates. We consume hydrogenated oils at an alarming rate. The resulting vitamin deficiencies and detrimental effects on all organs and systems of the body are the beginning of many health problems, including menstrual irregularities.Getting adequate exercise is also very important. Based on the results of this questionnaire, and other findings, your doctor will help you find the best way to fix the root causes of problems with your menstrual cycle and other women’s health issues.

PMS

  PMS is multifactorial; in other words, there is no single cause that will explain every case of PMS. Excess estrogen can cause problems by reducing the production of serotonin, decreasing the action of vitamin B₆, causing other hormone imbalances, reducing endorphin levels, creating breast tenderness, and adversely affecting liver function. Excess estrogen can be caused by a deficiency of B vitamins, lack of sulfur-containing amino acids, stasis of bile (due to thickening—commonly called “sluggish liver). By the same token, biliary stasis and poor liver function may cause excess estrogen through poor detoxification of estrogen. The thyroid or adrenal glands may be involved, or there may be problems with bowel flora (dysbiosis) or hidden allergies. It is very important to get blood sugar under control—avoid sweets and do not skip meals. Chiropractic is especially helpful for PMS patients.

Symptoms of PMS can include anxiety, depression, sugar craving, bloating, weight gain, breast tenderness, headaches, fatigue, cramping and mood swings. These symptoms can be caused by endocrine imbalance, nutrient deficiency, issues involving the liver or gallbladder, and, of course, musculoskeletal imbalances. Please call our office to schedule a consultation to discuss this or any other health issue.

Pregnancy

 One common question that patients have is whether or not a pregnant woman can be adjusted by a chiropractor. The answer is a resounding yes! Chiropractic care is safe and gentle, and it can help with backaches and other symptoms that pregnant women may have. Avoiding refined sugar, hydrogenated oils and chemicals is a good idea. You want to eat enough food—but eat whole, natural foods.

Osteoporosis

 There is a very good book written by Dr. Alan Gaby, called simply, Osteoporosis. It will teach you that more than vitamin D and calcium are important for the production of healthy bone. Vitamin K, magnesium, manganese, silicon, and other nutrients are vital for the production of healthy bone. Sugar, caffeine, and a highly refined diet undermine bone health. In other words, you need to eat natural foods in their natural state. Exercise—especially resistance exercise helps to strengthen bone.

Menopause

 Like many other health issues, symptoms of menopause are influenced by diet, lifestyle, attitude, genetics and the health of other organs and glands. Symptoms may include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, irregular periods, anxiety, depression, lack of concentration, night sweats and insomnia. Natural health approaches include a variety of things. Now that we realize the problems that exist with hormone replacement therapy, natural health care is looking pretty good as a way to get menopausal symptoms under control.

Increase consumption of soy (especially in patients who are blood type A). Foods that contain phytoestrogens should be included in the diet. These include flaxseed, nuts (raw), whole grains, apples, fennel, celery, parsley and alfalfa. These foods help reduce hot flashes, promote maturation of vaginal cells and reduce the instance of breast and colon cancers.  Avoiding hydrogenated oils and supplementing or consuming foods with essential fatty acids is especially valuable for women suffering with menopause. Actually the same dietary changes that help other health problems will help with  PMS, pregnancy, osteoporosis, and menopause.

Dietary Changes

• Avoid hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oil: These promote inflammation and interfere with normal fatty acid metabolism.
• Avoid refined sugar and refined carbohydrates.
• Avoid chemical additives: The liver plays a role in conjugating old hormones and removing them from the body. Burdening it with chemical additives makes it less effective at detoxifying.
• Drink eight 8- glasses of water each day.
• Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Chiropractic Care Can Improve Every Function of The Body

People often think of chiropractors as treating bones, but in reality they treat the nervous system. If you take a rubber band and put it around your arm, your hand will become numb, tingle and then ache. You have interfered with the nerve and blood supply. Similarly, subluxations and  fixations affect your body. Spinal nerves are affected, causing pain and weakness and the autonomic nervous system is affected causing dysfunction in various organs. When you place a rubber band around your arm, the effects are felt in a few minutes. Pressure from subluxations and fixations, when chronic, are usually more subtle and their effects are felt over time.

Relieving subluxations and fixations create a sense of well-being and improves health. Ask any person who has been going to a chiropractor for a long time. Chiropractic is effective for relieving pain, but its real strength lies in its ability to improve the health of the nervous system and the rest of the body. Chiropractic is a holistic profession which helps to ensure a lifetime of good health.