Hi everyone,
Baby, it's cold AND DARK outside! The days are getting shorter and the temperatures continue to drop to record low levels this month. Are you feeling a little down, blah, and tired? You are likely vitamin D3 deficient. Over 85% of Americans, especially those of us living in the northern tier of states, are deficient and most are severely deficient. Our bodies manufacture their own vitamin D by exposure to sunlight. But this can't happen in the winter months since our UVB exposure is essentially nonexistent. We Minnesotans are unable to get enough exposure to produce any useful amounts for 8 months each year. And, even from May through September, our ability is only half that of people living in the south. Add sunscreen during the summer and you are guaranteed to have ineffective levels of vitamin D for your immune function. Your body needs vitamin D to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, chronic inflammation, age-related macular degeneration, and Alzheimer's disease in addition to helping fight cancer, colds, flu, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. You are likely considering a flu shot if you haven't already succumbed to the pressure. Taking a healthy dose of vitamin D3 each day will be a great defense against our cold and flu season. The recommended levels for vitamin D in your blood are 50-70 ng/ml yet many people are running on E with levels in the teens. Most supplements provide about 400-800 IU per dose which is about one tenth the amount required to maintain proper levels in our bodies. Please call us to purchase a bottle of our pharmaceutical grade vitamin D3. It costs less than 50 cents a day and is one of the easiest and most important ways to get and stay healthy.
Have you ever been in a car accident? I have. I was leaving work recently and saw some cars pulled to the side of the road while emergency vehicles attended to the victims. It brought back memories of what I had experienced. It also made me sad because I knew that the likelihood of seeing these injured individuals in my office was next to nothing, even though the accident was just down the street. More often than not, people are able to walk away from a motor vehicle accident with some shock, tension, and pain/stiffness. They are more concerned about their babies (cars) than about their health and future. There will be some neck pain, maybe some headaches, tight muscles, and back pain. Aleve, Advil, and Tylenol become a part of the day. The body has the miraculous ability to heal itself so it will help with the pain levels and will allow the torn muscles and ligaments to begin to heal - with scar tissue, not healthy new muscles and ligaments. Why? Because without chiropractic intervention, the tissues will only heal with scar tissue. The months go by and people are too busy so they rely more and more on their pain medications. Before too long, the head doesn't turn as far as it used to and headaches are occurring multiple times each week, worsened by working on our computers and using our technology. Fast forward ten years and now the hands are going numb, the neck doesn't move like it used to, and there is a gravelly sound that is heard when the head is turned. Life isn't as fun anymore because we can't do what we used to be able to do so we start the process of seeing "specialists" like neurologists, orthopedists, and surgeons. X-rays and MRIs are performed and the sad reality appears. The body decided to do its thing and now there is arthritis and degeneration of the discs. Instead of Aleve, Advil, and Tylenol, we are taking narcotics and other toxic medications with side effects that will slowly lead to death. When those don't work, then the epidurals are tried. The relief is temporary if it helps at all and eventually we can have surgery and the doctors can put wire cages into our necks so we have less pain but absolutely no motion, poor function, and definitely no fun. No thank you. That's a scenario I see far too often.
Luckily, there is another scenario that can occur after being in a car accident. Call for an appointment. Get evaluated by a doctor of chiropractic, preferably one who has experience rather than someone who advertises for $19 new patient visits or freebies. An experienced doctor of chiropractic will evaluate you, order x-rays (MRIs if neccessary), establish a treatment plan unique to your needs, and begin to assist your body in healing its injured joints and tissues with healthy tissue rather than scar tissue. I followed scenario number two after my car accident and am able to continue to work and enjoy being active. I take no medication, but 28 years after my car accident, I continue to get chiropractic care regularly, sometimes even multiple times each week. Without it I would likely be on disability and unable to take care of you. I am truly grateful that I had the knowledge to choose scenario number 2. When you or a loved one are involved in a car accident, please don't assume you are ok because your pain is tolerable or because you don't have time. Make the time. I did. It's not about how you are feeling at the moment, but how the trauma manifests itself later, with scar tissue, arthritis, thinning discs, decreased range of motion, and chronic daily pain. Dr. Tollefson and I have been taking care of patients who were injured in car accidents for over 60 years. We are experienced, qualified, and eager to help keep you from the slippery slope of scenario number 1. The good news is that even if you chose scenario 1, we can still help. Please let us.
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Susan, Dr. Tollefson, and I wish you a happy Thanksgiving.
Dr. Tracy
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