2014, A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Thank you so much for checking in. You want to know how I am doing, don’t you? I am fine, looking forward to seeing you in Heaven (I’ll catch you there, Mr. Fishman. For now, you are free to save the world ☺).  Don’t worry about me. I can wait happily and patiently. But, it’s always a joy to hear from you, you know, imaginatively speaking. I can tell you have been flying. Is that what you are trying to tell me? Well, that’s great news. I am happy for you. That is what Flying Men are called to do.

Here is something that may make YOU happy. My sister came to stay with me for a few days, and we both went for a run the day before yesterday. I am not a big fan of running, though. I prefer dancing with myself in the kitchen. But my sister has started running, and she likes it, so I agreed to go with her. It was cold outside, but it went well. Plus, we danced a little when we came back home. (I thought you might like to know that I am following your advice). I won’t run 10 miles to cope with stress, but I may go for a short run with my sister every now and then. And I will keep dancing in the kitchen, which I enjoy very much. Dancing is a fantastic way to burn calories too!

I bet this brief selection of songs would make even the most tenacious runners burn unwanted calories by simply dancing in the kitchen.

Have fun and Happy 2014!

A SPIRITUAL ADJUSTMENT

Foto: Marangeli Franco

By Dinorah Pérez-Rementería

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,” the Bible says. Wouldn’t it be healthful and freeing if our words and thoughts were aligned with God’s spirit? I am sure we would not have any trouble articulating and living out His much needed “message” for us, no matter where we come from or with what languages we communicate. I believe we would also understand each other perfectly, if only at a spiritual level. Unfortunately, indecision, deception, misunderstanding, vagueness, cynicism, brokenness and other similar issues affect us every day. So, it should not surprise us that very often we tend to look at people through a “broken” lens, projecting in ways that can undermine our experience of ourselves and others, including those whom we love and who know us best.

In chapter 6 of the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul recommends that we put on the armor of God, “for we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world (…)”. Sometimes the worst of enemies hides within us in the form of deceptive, vague and broken thinking. I don’t hold the opinion that people necessarily wish to develop or become a means for spreading deception, but they are susceptible to fall into a deceptively mental domain in the same way they may suffer from a spinal misalignment. That is why we need endless God adjustments all throughout our lives. A God adjustment can serve to correct, strengthen and activate our spiritual backbone, a beautiful and indispensable part of us. And sure, we may feel a little uncomfortable and naturally ashamed as God works on the scoliosis of our souls, but knowing him as our most committed friend, the chiropractor of our hearts, so to speak, makes each adjustment session a looked-for opportunity.

I love being adjusted by God, and I definitely prefer God’s diagnosis on me above any other account. God’s view of people is not in itself subject to the mediation of brokenness, deception and misunderstanding, but it originates from a spirit of faith, truth, love, compassion and an immeasurable knowledge of us -our strengths and weaknesses. Human beings make mistakes. We are susceptible to deception and misinterpretation. What are we to do when we have been deceived by our own imaginations? Should we allow us to imagine nothing else anymore? Should we ask others, especially our students or the younger people around us, to stop dreaming, to quit envisaging hopeful things in their minds? We all have failed so many times in so many different contexts that the thought of letting God’s spirit adjust and build us up again seems insane. Well, it is not. God knows us better than anybody else. When I think of giving up my dreams, I am always reminded -whether by looking at my phone clock, or a car tag, or the gas prices at the pump, or the duration of a YouTube video- of my favorite Bible verse: “And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.”

I am not really sure what a “virtuous woman” is, but I have learned to take what God gives me simply because, as Billy Joel says, it is free. Needless to say, God may have health-giving, loving verses for you as well. Let him rehabilitate you. God’s adjustments allow us to keep pressing forward, no matter how many times we experience failure. As a friend of mine says, if we want to be happy, we must give up perfectionism and learn to accept our limitations so that we can go beyond them. We are not so proficient as to never commit a blunder in life. If we were, what would we need spiritual adjustments for? Plus, the more we acknowledge our own weaknesses, the more able we will be to look at others through a considerate, adjusted lens. We would also be more available to assimilate the unparalleled, restorative and assuring love of God: a love of unthinkable dimensions which, by its very nature, can transform our brokenness and failures into something marvelous.

           

A BRILLIANT TIP (I ALMOST MISSED IT)

Photograph by Isabel Pérez Lago

"It proves his humility is genuine, though. (…) It’s easy to be gracious when you’re adored. But when your class keeps missing the point, challenging you running down rabbit trails, changing the subject, misunderstanding, breaking out into a brawl –that’s when your character is exposed. (…) I think the shining brilliance of what Jesus is teaching has obscured the process involved here, all that this required of him. We’ve become so used to Jesus being gracious, kind, and patient, we miss the humility of it."

                                                                                                                                                John Eldredge, Beautiful Outlaw

 

(Article Borrowed from the In Good Hands Magazine Vol.12. Issue 7)

                                     http://www.ingoodhandsletter.com/

If you have a garden or plant flowers, then you know how much of a pain weeds can be. They pop up everywhere and pulling them is not only time consuming but it can be brutal on your hands and back. Most of the time, weed picking involves a slumped over (bad) posture. Spend an hour or an afternoon picking weeds and you might feel some serious back pain!

But, the alternative, spraying toxic weed killing chemicals, has a serious down side. These chemicals are not a joke. Not only are they toxic to weeds, they are bad news for humans and pets, too. Getting them on your skin and inhaling them can be bad for your health. Then, there are the environmental issues of putting those chemicals into the ground. Rainwater washes them everywhere…into gardens, the food supply, the water supply, etc.

There is another way! Most people do not know the power of vinegar to kill weeds! Vinegar will even do it without all the potential hazards of the powerful chemicals. All you have to do is spray the vinegar on the leaves of the weeds until they are wet. In a few days, the weeds will be dead!

There are two things you should know about using vinegar to kill weeds: 1) Vinegar is activated by sunlight. So, check your weather report and try to pick a day when it will be sunny and not raining. 2) Vinegar does not discriminate! It will kill ALL plants that it is sprayed on. So, only spray it on the weeds you want to kill. Do not get it on your flowers, tomato plants, etc.

Besides being safe and effective, vinegar is pretty cheap. All types of vinegar will work and white vinegar is usually the cheapest. If you spray it on and it rains and the weeds do not die, it is easy and inexpensive to simply do it again. FYI: Vinegar is great to use to kill the weeds that grow in sidewalk cracks!

ARE YOU WHO I THINK YOU ARE?!

Photograph by Isabel Pérez Lago

“I know that Messiah…is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

                                                                                  The Woman at the Well, John 4:25

(Article Borrowed from the In Good Hands Magazine Vol.12. Issue 7)
                           http://www.ingoodhandsletter.com/

Arthur Boorman was a paratrooper in the Gulf War. All the jumps took their toll on his back and knees. Unable to easily move from the pain, he gained weight, ballooning up the 297 pounds. He was no longer able to walk without the assistance of two crutches. Doctors told Arthur he would never walk unassisted again, and he believed them…for 15 long years. He was 47 years old and had given up hope.

He thought exercise was impossible. He wanted to try Yoga, but instructors wouldn’t give him a shot; that is, until he found an unlikely angel. As the story goes, one day Arthur stumbled across the website of former professional wrestler, Diamond Dallas Page (DDP). DDP’s Yoga seemed different and inspirational to Arthur. So, he sent DDP an email detailing his situation. DDP read his story and looked at his pictures. His immediate reaction was, “God, how am I gonna help that guy?” But, he was willing to try. Arthur said, “he didn’t know me…but he believed in me…when no one else did.”

Arthur began trying DDP’s yoga via DVDs in his living room. He fell. Over and over again…he fell. But every time, he kept getting back up. He kept trying because someone believed in him. He also started eating the way DDP advised him to. He started losing weight and gaining balance. He fell less and less.

Then, the most important thing took place... Arthur started to believe it could happen. He lost 100 pounds in 6 months. Then, he lost 40 more. He sent DDP videos documenting every step of his amazing transformation. But, there was one video that made even this big, bad ex-pro wrestler cry.

In the last video, DDP could see Arthur walking unassisted for the first time in 15 years. No wheelchair. No crutches. Then, all of a sudden... Arthur started running! He picked up speed and sprinted by the camera. The end of the video says, “They were wrong...it was possible. Never underestimate what you can accomplish when you believe in yourself. Almost anything is possible when you believe in yourself. Never give up. I lost 140 lbs. in 10 months. Thanks DDP for believing in me.”

Notice he thanked DDP for believing in him and not the Yoga? It's something to think about:

GOT BLOOD?

By Andrew Schmer, D. C.


(A Spanish translation is provided below)

          The pain of fibromyalgia (FM) can be debilitating, as anyone with the condition can tell you. What has perplexed researchers over the years is the source of this pain. Is it scarred muscle tissue? Nerve pain? Is it something in your head? Perhaps the adrenal glands are involved or maybe it's the stress hormone called cortisol?

          A recent article in the journal Medical Hypothesis brings forth some of the common features of FM pain. It is well known that exercise eases the pain in FM. But why is this? Shouldn't exercise cause more pain? We have often heard the slogan "no pain, no gain." Maybe this is true for the gym bodybuilder but in FM, exercise makes muscles hurt less, not more. One theory is that the pain in FM originates from poor circulation. Put simply, a lack of blood supply (and oxygen to muscle tissue) results in muscle aches.

          Exercise causes the blood vessels in your muscles to open up, bringing much needed blood, nutrients and oxygen to the muscle cells. The lack of blood supply is called ischemia and exercise seems to reduce it. This may be why exercise is so beneficial to FM patients. As your muscles ache with lack of movement and stress, perhaps it's time to take a new direction, and become more active with exercise. Walking is a good place to start, followed by resistance strength training, targeting specific muscle groups.

          Your doctor of chiropractic can outline a specific exercise routine that not only gets the blood moving to your muscles, but also does not move you so much or too fast, where potential joint injuries can occur. So start slow at first and gauge your progress conservatively. If you find that even simple exercises cause joint pain, then this is a different matter altogether and should be brought to the attention of your doctor.

          Once you begin exercising you may find that additional sleep and rest will be needed, so that you recover adequately from each day's activities. Exercise along with proper nutrition and a low-inflammatory type of diet are natural ways to combat the muscle pain of FM and get you back into the game. This natural approach is much preferred to medication, which can often have long-term side effects. Discuss any medications with your doctor before discontinuing them. Some patients will go through withdrawal symptoms, but there is hope for those who want to deal with FM by integrating a progressive exercise program into their daily routine.

¿SANGRE EN LAS VENAS?

El dolor causado por la fibromialgia puede debilitarnos mucho, como cualquier persona que tenga la enfermedad puede afirmar. La fuente del dolor ha dejado perplejos a los estudiosos a través de los años. Se cuestionan si se origina en los tejidos musculares que tienen cicatrices, o en el nervio, o en la cabeza del afectado, que si las glándulas suprarrenales, que si la hormona cortisol…

Un artículo reciente publicado en el diario Hipótesis Médica menciona muchas de las características asociadas a la fibromialgia. Se sabe que el ejercicio físico alivia el dolor causado por la fibromialgia, pero a qué se debe esto, ¿acaso el ejercicio no debería causar un malestar más profundo? Seguramente hemos escuchado alguna vez aquello de que “sin dolor no hay ganancia.” Es lo que el entrenador del gimnasio nos diría. Sin embargo, el ejercicio en un paciente que sufre de fibromialgia se convierte en mecanismo que alivia el dolor, ya que estimula la circulación de sangre. De hecho, hay una teoría que conecta el padecimiento a la escasez de sangre en las venas. Se dice que si no existe una buena circulación tanto de sangre como de oxígeno que estimule los tejidos pues se desatan más fácilmente los dolores musculares.

El ejercicio hace que los vasos sanguíneos se abran llevando la sangre, los nutrientes y el oxígeno necesarios a las células de los músculos. La escasez de sangre produce isquemia y el ejercicio puede ayudar a reducir sus riesgos. De ahí que el ejercicio sea tan beneficioso para los que padecen de fibromialgia. Si nuestros músculos se muestran afectados por el estrés, y la falta de ejercicios, quizás sea hora de buscar una nueva ruta que nos permita despertar y convertirnos en personas más activas. Caminar es una buena actividad para comenzar, y luego podemos añadir ejercicios de resistencia que focalicen músculos específicos del cuerpo.

Su quiropráctico le puede diseñar una rutina de ejercicios que estimule la circulación sanguínea y que al mismo tiempo no dañe las articulaciones. Así que comience despacio y evalúe sus progresos poco a poco. Si descubre, por casualidad, que los ejercicios, por simples que sean, le producen dolor en las coyunturas, consulte a su médico.

Una vez que comience a ejercitarse, se dará cuenta de que necesitará más tiempo de sueño y reposo para poder recuperar energía adecuadamente después de las actividades del día. El ejercicio físico y una buena dieta nutritiva antiinflamatoria pueden ayudarle a combatir el dolor en los músculos causado por la fibromialgia y ponerlo otra vez en el partido. Los métodos naturales son mejores que la ingestión de tabletas, las cuales pueden resultar en malestares peores a largo plazo. Hable con su médico sobre la idea de discontinuar la ingestión de pastillas antes de tomar ninguna decisión. A algunos se les aflojarán las piernas por el camino, pero siempre habrá esperanzas para aquellos que deseen enfrentar la fibromialgia, insertando un programa de ejercicios físicos en su rutina diaria.

A Doctor of Chiropractic, Andrew Schmer has his private practice in Hialeah, Florida. His research is dedicated, in part, to the study of issues like back pain, neck pain, headaches, whiplash, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel. More information about chiropractic care can be found on Dr. Schmer’s blog at  http://drandrewschmerblog.com/.

CAN THIS ECONOMY CAUSE BACK PAIN?

By Andrew Schmer, D. C.

(A Spanish translation is provided below)

What does the economy have to do with your back? According to the Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, the economy can affect your back quite a bit. The Health Alert entitled, "Back Pain and Osteoporosis Special Report: The Mind-Body Connection,"[1] reads "A growing number of studies affirm that the mind-body connection also plays a role in back pain, both in setting off an initial 'back pain attack' and in contributing to ongoing chronic pain." The Health Alert went on to say psychological distress increases the risk of developing back pain, followed by a slow recovery.

This is what's very interesting:  one study considered that "catastrophizing" increased the risk of getting back pain. This, the writer explained, is largely due to the 'fight or flight' mechanism.  During this stress response, your body produces chemicals to make you hyper-alert.  This causes muscles to tense up and can even go into spasm.

It is important to understand this today, because every time you turn on the television, someone is reminding you our economy is a catastrophe; the worst economic times since the great depression... and that we may be on the verge of total collapse. This is not to say the situation is not bad; but, "catastrophizing" may be giving you a life of aches and pains.

There are many things you can do to stop the cycle.  Breathing exercises, stretching, meditation and exercise will help. Chiropractic care can often be a great stress reducer and offer you a time to simply relax and get away from it all. There may be nothing YOU can personally do to change our economy, so it makes no sense to constantly stress over it and get sick.

¿PUEDE LA ECONOMÍA CAUSAR DOLORES DE ESPALDA? 

¿Tiene la economía de un país algo que ver con nuestra espalda? Pues sí. Las alertas de salud del hospital Johns Hopkins corroboran dicha afirmación. Una de ellas nos invita a conocer un reporte especial sobre el dolor de espalda y la osteoporosis así como sobre la conexión del cuerpo y la mente. El reporte refiere que “un creciente número de estudios sostiene que la conexión de la mente y el cuerpo puede estar asociada a los malestares de espalda, manifestándose en un ataque de dolor inicial y que luego se acentúa a medida que pasa el tiempo”. El estrés psicológico, según dice el reporte, aumenta el riesgo de sufrir malestares y puede dilatar la recuperación del paciente.

Y aquí viene lo más interesante: un estudio incluso considera que nuestra tendencia a “atormentarnos” también abre las puertas al dolor de espalda. El escritor plantea que la situación tiene que ver con lo que se conoce como “biopsicología de la emoción,”  la cual indica cómo nuestro cuerpo produce una serie de químicos que nos permiten estar súper-alertas en medio de circunstancias estresantes. Hay tensión severa y espasmo en los músculos. Hoy en día, es muy importante tener en cuenta estos planteamientos, pues cada vez que prendemos la televisión aparece alguien que se empeña en recordarnos el catastrófico estado de nuestra economía, comparando el momento que vivimos a la Gran Depresión, mientras sugiere que estamos a punto de derrumbarnos. No quiero decir que la situación sea fácil, pero atormentarse por gusto puede traernos serios dolores y molestias.

Hay varias cosas que uno puede hacer para salirse del círculo vicioso. Por ejemplo, se recomienda practicar ejercicios de respiración, estiramiento y meditación. El cuidado quiropráctico también puede convertirse en un medio para aliviar el estrés y nos ofrece una oportunidad para relajar y olvidar los problemas por un rato. Como no hay mucho que uno pueda hacer para cambiar la economía, no vale la pena enfermarse y estresarse demasiado.

References:

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[1] “Back Pain and Osteoporosis Special Report: The Mind-Body Connection”. http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/reports/back_pain_osteoporosis/878-1.html. Apr. 13, 2007.

A Doctor of Chiropractic, Andrew Schmer has his private practice in Hialeah, Florida. His research is dedicated, in part, to the study of issues like back pain, neck pain, headaches, whiplash, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel. More information about chiropractic care can be found on Dr. Schmer’s blog at http://drandrewschmerblog.com/.

FIBROMYALGIA: WHAT IS IT & HOW TO DEAL WITH IT?

By Andrew Schmer, D. C.

(A Spanish translation is provided below)

          At least 2% of the United States population or six million people, mostly women, have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. This is a chronic (long-term) disease, which is characterized by widespread pain of at least three months duration, and includes the legs or arms, and the spine. There have to be at least 11 tender spots at 18 predetermined sites on the body.

          For many years, some doctors thought it was all in a patient's head and referred their patients to psychologists. Although the cause is still unknown, there is much research that shows the pains are real and quality of life is dramatically affected. In addition to the widespread pain, there are often sleep disturbances, fatigue, headaches, morning stiffness, paresthesias (tingly creepy sensations) and anxiety. All ages are affected but most patients are middle-aged. Few have found good solutions to the problem and find themselves in a health care maze of treatments.

          Although there are no guidelines for treatment, there is evidence that a multidimensional approach can help. As far as medical doctors' approach to this difficult problem, they generally use patient education and pharmacologic (medication) therapy. Although 90% of patients will take the medication approach, some have concerns about long-term use and potential undesired side effects. In the case of anti-inflammatory drugs, potential complications such as stomach bleeding can occur in some patients.

          Most fibromyalgia patients use a combination of medical and alternative care because medication alone is seldom effective. Doctors of chiropractic avoid the use of medications and emphasize spinal adjustments to correct abnormal postural and motion problems. These adjustments are usually one important aspect of care often lacking for many patients. The doctor may also advise you on diet and weight-loss strategies. A low inflammation diet with lots of fruit and vegetables can help many patients. Supplements such as antioxidants and minerals are also used.

          Everyone, including fibromyalgia patients, will benefit from a structured exercise program, which has both aerobic and strength-resistance training components. Although muscle pains are prominent in this disorder, lack of exercise will generally make the problem more chronic and disabling.

 

QUÉ ES LA FIBROMIALGIA Y CÓMO LIDIAR CON ELLA

Al menos un 2% de la población estadounidense, seis millones de personas aproximadamente, padecen de fibromialgia. La fibromialgia es una enfermedad crónica que afecta generalmente a las mujeres. Se caracteriza por un marcado dolor en las piernas o los brazos y la columna vertebral. El dolor se extiende, como mínimo, tres meses y puede generar 11 puntos sensibles en 18 zonas predeterminadas del cuerpo.

Por mucho tiempo, los médicos pensaron que los síntomas descritos por sus pacientes tenían un origen ilusorio e inmediatamente los referían al psicólogo. Sin embargo, aunque la causa de la enfermedad no se conoce todavía, sí existen estudios que demuestran la veracidad de los agudos dolores y sus secuelas que afectan dramáticamente la calidad de vida. También se asocian a la fibromialgia la pérdida de sueño, la fatiga, los dolores de cabeza, parálisis, parestesias (hormigueo o entumecimiento) y la ansiedad. Puede afectar a cualquier persona, pero la mayoría de los pacientes son de mediana edad. Muy pocos han podido encontrar una buena solución a su problema y se descubren inmersos en un laberinto de tratamientos médicos.

A pesar de que no puede hablarse de pautas específicas para lidiar con la fibromialgia, hay evidencias de que la combinación de enfoques puede ayudar a las personas. Por ejemplo, los doctores en medicina general se concentran en educar a los pacientes, y usan terapia farmacológica (o medicación). Muchas personas eligen este camino, pero otros tienen en cuenta las severas consecuencias que puede traer la ingestión de antiinflamatorios no esteroideos a largo plazo, como el sangramiento del estómago, entre otros efectos colaterales. 

La mayor parte de los pacientes sigue una rutina que combina el tratamiento médico regular y el alternativo, pues la sola ingestión de medicamentos no es muy efectiva. Los doctores en quiropráctica evitan recetar pastillas y hacen énfasis en los ajustes de la columna vertebral para corregir problemas anormales de postura y movimiento. Una gran cantidad de personas desconoce los beneficios de los ajustes vertebrales que ofrecen los quiroprácticos, así como las ventajas que trae la elaboración de dietas efectivas, que prioricen el consumo de vegetales y frutas, el uso de antioxidantes y minerales, y otras estrategias saludables.

Un buen programa de ejercicios aeróbicos y de fortalecimiento de los músculos, puede ayudar a las personas, incluyendo a los que padecen de fibromialgia, a sentir alivio e impedirá que se acentúen sus problemas de salud.

A Doctor of Chiropractic, Andrew Schmer has his private practice in Hialeah, Florida. His research is dedicated, in part, to the study of issues like back pain, neck pain, headaches, whiplash, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel. More information about chiropractic care can be found on Dr. Schmer's blog at http://drandrewschmerblog.com/.