Health & Safety Tips

Aging Issues

As we age, we lose a significant amount of muscle mass and strength, making us more susceptible to injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, joint degeneration and more. While the effects of aging are inevitable, there are certain steps patients can take to reduce their risk of problems and to enjoy an active, healthy lifestyle throughout older age.

Some of the steps patients can take include:

Avoid stress
Eat a balanced diet
Get regular exercise
Do not smoke
Wear supportive footwear
See your doctor regularly

Airbags and Auto Safety

Airbags are a relatively new type of technology which, along with seat belts and safety restraints, have had a major impact in reducing the frequency and severity of spinal cord injuries during motor vehicle accidents. Accidents account for more than one-third of all spinal cord injuries, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Database.

Drivers and passengers should always wear their seat belt when riding in the car, and should leave at least 10 inches between your breastbone and the steering wheel in order to prevent any potential injuries.

Backpacks

There has been much discussion recently over the serious health risks that heavy backpacks can cause for children. Although practical, heavy backpacks can lead to muscles strains, back pain, poor posture and other conditions of the spine that can significantly affect your child’s life.

It is important to be aware of any negative effects that your child’s backpack may be having on him/her as soon as possible in order to prevent serious damage from occurring. Parents should note if their children have marks on theirs shoulders from the backpack, walk differently or lean forward while wearing their backpack.

Beds

Since we spend at least a third of our lives laying down, it is important to have a strong, supportive mattress to ensure that we get a good night’s sleep and to help prevent problems within the spine and muscles as a result of improper sleeping habits.

To ensure proper support and comfort, patients should choose a mattress with:

Durability
Firmness
Strong foundation (box spring)

In addition to choosing a comfortable mattress, our doctors recommend sleeping on your side with your knees slightly bent and a pillow between the knees.

Colds and Flu

The common cold and flu affect millions of people each year, causing symptoms such as runny nose, headache, fever, chills and sweats, fatigue, nasal congestion and more. While there is no cure currently available for a cold or flu, patients can reduce the duration and severity of their symptoms through early intervention.

Certain supplements have been proven effective in relieving some symptoms entirely, and greatly reducing the severity of others. These supplements include:

Echinacea
Vitamin C
Zinc Lozenges
Garlic
Pseudoephedrine HCL
Mullein Leaf

Daily Nutrition

Proper nutrition is one of the most important components in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping patients safe from diseases and injuries. There are certain dietary guidelines recommended by the USDA to ensure a balanced diet.

Some of these guidelines include:

Plenty of water
Calcium (milk, broccoli, salmon)
Fiber (whole-grain breads, beans, nuts)
Vitamin C (strawberries, citrus fruits, cauliflower, spinach)
Organically grown foods
Fortified dairy products

These basic guidelines can help keep patients healthy and protect them from disease and injury.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the practice of choosing healthy and comfortable devices to use while performing our daily work. People who work in an office often develop spinal conditions from poor sitting posture, operating a computer mouse or typing in an awkward position.

There are several steps you can take to help prevent long-term conditions from developing, including:

Practicing good posture while sitting
Standing up frequently
Taking regular breaks to rest your eyes
Keeping your monitor and keyboard at an appropriate length
Avoid twisting or turning your head while working at the computer

Exercise

Exercise is an essential part of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Regular exercise helps your body stay strong and healthy so it can fight off diseases and other conditions, and also recover faster when it is affected.

Patients should engage in three different types of exercise in order to stay healthy:

Strengthening Exercises – Target the muscles of the abdomen and back so they can properly support the spine
Stretching Exercises – Improve flexibility within the legs and spine for easy movement
Aerobic Exercises – Improve overall heart and lung function while targeting large muscle groups

Home Chores

While taking care of the home, people are often at risk for injury from the heavy lifting and physical labor involved in gardening, raking, shoveling snow and mowing the lawn. It is important to practice proper techniques while performing these chores in order to reduce the risk of injury.

Before beginning any chores, be sure to stretch and properly warm up to prevent muscle strain. While performing chores, you should:

Take frequent breaks
Switch hands often
Bend at the knees when lifting
Drink fluids to stay hydrated
Switch weight between both feet

Lifting Techniques

Many people injury themselves from improper lifting techniques that cause significant damage to the spine, neck and legs. In addition to improper techniques, damage can also occur when lifting after periods of inactivity.

To avoid injury while lifting, patients are encouraged to adhere to the following lifting guidelines:

Avoid twisting while lifting
Keep objects close to the body
Lift with your legs, not your back
Avoid lifting from the floor, if possible
Always bend at the knees when lifting
Lift with another person for very heavy objects

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