steve smiley, dc

Being a new parent is stressful and overwhelming. Whether this is your first baby or your fifth it’s what we’ve jokingly called survival mode in those first few months.  Family demands, career demands, financial demands, relationship demands, it all can take its toll on your life and control it. Sympathetic dominance or “fight or flight” mode is when the sympathetic nervous system takes over for a period of time and can affect you emotional and many times spill over into other areas of your life.  

Stress is an inevitable part of life especially for new moms. When we assess the posture of most new moms, whether they are nursing or bottle feeding, we often see rounding forward of the shoulders, head and neck in the downward position either looking at baby or a cell phone. This posture plays a key role in sympathetic dominance and keeping you in fight or flight mode.  Many times, pain and dysfunction of the spine and muscles will ensue.  

Motherhood finds you running around getting things done and taking care of everyone else but yourself. Sympathetic overload can wreak havoc on your life.  The time is likely now to take action and prevent dysfunction from becoming a chronic concern.  

Chiropractic Insights:

In our practice we take care of pregnant moms with Webster technique and focus on balancing the pelvis, surrounding muscles and ligaments, and calming down the nervous system. Chiropractic care shouldn’t stop there. As we move into postpartum and now life without baby on board we focus more on posture, taking pressure off the upper back and neck from nursing posture, reduction in chronic sympathetic dominance, and healing from the birth itself.  

Chiropractic care becomes an essential part because it directly addresses the structural concerns and imbalances in question. Seeking a qualified chiropractor becomes priority.  Chiropractic adjustments innately regulate the sympathetic nervous system and promote more calming parasympathetic vagal nerve activity.  

There are steps to take at home:

Become consciously aware of your posture while nursing, sitting, sleeping, and using technology.

While nursing or feeding your child, sit tall, open your chest, limit looking down as much as you can, and pull your shoulder blades back and together for a few reps.  

Do stretches to open your chest muscles and extend your mid back to promote the opposite posture of sympathetic dominance.  

Practice Yoga.

Be Mindful and practice meditation to reduce stress.

Take 10 minutes and do diaphragmatic breathing to reboot your nervous system.

If you are feeling tight, are in pain, or want help with posture and sympathetic dominance call our office or visit http://www.your-indianapolis-chiropractor.com we are always happy to help you get back on track and reboot your nervous system.  

Wednesday, August 2nd, 2017

Courtesy of:

Drs. Chelsey and Steve Smiley

8870 Zionsville Rd #B

Indianapolis, IN 46268

(317) 228-9701

“Every problem is a gift—without problems we would not grow.”

~ Anthony Robbins

Mental Attitude:  Brain-Training Programs May Not Boost Thinking Skills. In this study, researchers found that participants aged 18 to 35 who used a popular brain-training program five times a week for ten weeks failed to show any improvement in their memory and reasoning skills compared with individuals who spent the same amount of time playing online games. Study author Dr. Caryn Lerman adds, “We found, contrary to our expectations, that there were no advantages for commercial cognitive training relative to the other groups in any of the outcomes we examined.”  Journal of Neuroscience, July 2017

Health Alert:  Medication Mistakes Have Increased in United States Since 2000. The rate of serious medication errors increased from 1.09 for every 100,000 Americans in 2000 to 2.28 per 100,000 by 2012. Investigators report that 40% of these mistakes involved heart medication, painkillers, hormone therapy prescriptions, and insulin, and approximately a third of these errors led to hospitalization.  Clinical Toxicology, July 2017

Diet:  Sugary Drinks During Pregnancy May Lead to Heavier Kids Later. A pregnant woman’s craving for sugar-sweetened beverages may put her child at risk for being overweight later in life. According to a new study, eight-year-old children who drank at least half of a sugar-sweetened drink weekly were about two pounds heavier if their mothers had consumed more than two sugar-sweetened beverages each day during the second trimester of her pregnancy. The finding suggests that a mother’s consumption of sugary beverages during pregnancy can affect a child’s weight as they become older. If this is the case, study author Dr. Sheryl Rifas-Shiman notes that avoiding a high intake of sugary beverages during pregnancy may help prevent childhood obesity.  Pediatrics, July 2017

Exercise:  Soccer Good for the Bones. Scientists at the University of Exeter recently compared the bone development of adolescent male soccer players with swimmers, cyclist, and boys not involved in sports. The results showed the soccer had significantly better bone quality than the participants in the other groups. The researchers conclude, “We already knew exercise was key for bone growth, but here we clarify what type of exercise… Although we didn't study other sports, it's reasonable to suppose that weight-bearing, high-impact, high-intensity exercise like tennis, badminton, basketball, and handball will have similar effects to soccer.”  Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. July 2017

Chiropractic:  More Benefits of Cervical Adjustments. Doctors of chiropractic commonly use high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) adjustments to treat patients with neck complaints. A review of data from eleven published studies indicates that cervical HVLA spinal manipulation increases cervical range of motion; improves handgrip strength for patients with tennis elbow; and improves blood pressure in patients with hypertension.  Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, July 2017

Wednesday, June 28th, 2017

Courtesy of:

Drs. Chelsey and Steve Smiley

8870 Zionsville Rd #B

Indianapolis, IN 46268

(317) 228-9701

“I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun.”

~ Thomas A. Edison

Mental Attitude:  Chronic Pain Common Among Those with Depression or Anxiety. In this study, investigators asked more than 5,000 adults with anxiety or mood disorders about their other health problems. Among those with a mood disorder, 50% reported chronic pain, 33% reported respiratory diseases, 10% reported heart disease, 9% reported arthritis, and 7% reported diabetes. For those suffering from anxiety, 45% reported chronic pain, 30% reported respiratory diseases, and 11% reported arthritis and heart disease. Senior author Dr. Silvia Martins writes, “Chronic disease coupled with a psychiatric disorder is a pressing issue that health providers should consider when designing preventive interventions and treatment services—especially the heavy mental health burden experienced by those with two or more chronic diseases.”   Journal of Affective Disorders, June 2017

Health Alert:  US Liver Cancer Deaths on the Rise. Since the mid-1980s, the death rate from liver cancer has doubled, making it the fastest growing cause of death from cancer in the United States (US). Currently, this cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in men and the eighth leading cause in women. According to the American Cancer Society, the main reason for the surge in liver cancer is a higher rate of hepatitis C infection among baby boomers. Other contributing factors include obesity, type 2 diabetes, alcohol, and tobacco use.  A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, June 2017

Diet:  Can’t Get Your Child to Eat Lunch? Do you pack a healthy lunch for your child only to see it come back uneaten? To help encourage your children to eat a healthy meal, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests the following: ask your child what they would like for lunch; grocery shop together to choose appealing, healthy foods; pack easy-to-eat, bite-sized lunches that your child can eat during a short lunch period; make sure not to pack too much food; and pay attention to how much your child eats at home.  Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, June 2017

Exercise:  High-Intensity Exercise Improves Insulin Production in Type 2 Diabetics. Short, functional-movement and resistance training—called functional high-intensity training (F-HIT)—may improve beta-cell function in adults with type 2 diabetes. In the study, twelve adults with type 2 diabetes performed F-HIT three times per week for six weeks. At the end of the study, the researchers found that the workouts resulted in significant increases in beta-cell and liver function, as well as improved exercise capacity. The participants also experienced both weight loss and a reduction in body fat. The researchers add that these factors improve insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels, which are vital for effectively managing type 2 diabetes.  American Journal of Physiology—Endocrinology and Metabolism, May 2017

Chiropractic:  Back and Neck Pain Prevalence Among Adolescents. Back pain can affect anyone at any age, even the young. In a study involving 1,011 randomly selected students, self-reported questionnaires revealed that 17.4% of participants reported cervical pain and 18.0% reported low back pain. Further analysis showed that the risk for neck and back pain increased with age and that those with less active lifestyles also had a greater risk for spinal pain.  European Spine Journal, May 2017

Daily Health Update

Monday, June 26th, 2017

Courtesy of:

Drs. Chelsey and Steve Smiley

8870 Zionsville Rd #B

Indianapolis, IN 46268

(317) 228-9701

“Life changes in the instant. The ordinary instant.”

~ Joan Didion

Mental Attitude:  Screen Time Tied to Speech Delay. An analysis of data concerning nearly 900 young children revealed that for each 30-minute increase in time a child spends on a smartphone, tablet, or electronic device at 18 months of age, they have a 49% elevated risk for expressive speech delay. According the American Academy of Pediatrics, expressive language is the ability to convey feelings and information. Of concern to the researchers is that 20% of the children in the study spent an average of 28 minutes per day in front of a screen.  Pediatric Academic Society, May 2017

Health Alert:  Sunscreen Use May Cause Vitamin D Deficiency. Sunscreen is key to protecting our skin from the damaging effects of the sun, but a new study suggests that using sunscreen could lead to vitamin D deficiency. In this study, researchers found that using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher could reduce the body's vitamin D-3 production by 99%. Based on the findings, the researchers suggest that individuals should avoid sunscreen use when exposed to midday sun for up to 30 minutes twice weekly in order to increase and maintain normal vitamin D levels. Co-author Dr. Kim Pfotenhauer adds, “People are spending less time outside and, when they do go out, they're typically wearing sunscreen, which essentially nullifies the body's ability to produce vitamin D. While we want people to protect themselves against skin cancer, there are healthy, moderate levels of unprotected sun exposure that can be very helpful in boosting vitamin D.”  Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, May 2017

Diet:  A Specific Antioxidant May Help the Arteries of Diabetics. The antioxidant called resveratrol—which is found in red wine, peanuts, and berries—may improve the health of blood vessels in people with type 2 diabetes. According to the results of a new study, researchers have found that resveratrol supplements lessened artery stiffness in some diabetic individuals. Among a group of patients who each had an exceptionally stiff aorta at the start of the study, researchers found that 100mg daily doses of resveratrol reduced stiffness nearly 5% in just two weeks. Increasing the dose to 300mg per day for the next two weeks reduced stiffness by 9%.  American Heart Association, May 2017

Exercise:  Avoid These Common Exercise Errors. To reach your exercise goals, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends avoiding these seven mistakes: failing to keep a journal to monitor your progress, losing track of your goals, strength-training the same muscles on consecutive days, breathing incorrectly during exercise, not eating enough protein, getting distracted during your workout, and ignoring flexibility and balance training.  American College of Sports Medicine, May 2017

Chiropractic:  Myofascial Release Protocol Reduces Chronic Low Back Pain. Myofascial release (MFR) is a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. A study recently investigated the effects of MFR on pain and disability in patients suffering from chronic low back pain (CLBP). The study included 54 participants with nonspecific CLBP who either received four sessions of myofascial treatment lasting 40 minutes or a sham treatment (similar to taking a placebo in a drug trial). The researchers found that participants in the myofascial group reported significant improvements in pain and disability compared with those in the sham group. Myofascial release is often utilized by chiropractors to manage many musculoskeletal conditions.  Spine, May 2017

Thursday, June 22nd, 2017

Courtesy of:

Drs. Chelsey and Steve Smiley

8870 Zionsville Rd #B

Indianapolis, IN 46268

(317) 228-9701

“Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength, move on.”

~ Henry Rollins

Mental Attitude:  Depression Linked to Falls Among Elderly People. About one-third of Americans 65 or older fall each year, and about 10% of all elderly people are injured during falls. In fact, experts report that up to 50% of nursing home admissions follow a fall. In a new study, investigators looked at falls involving more than 7,200 people aged 65 and older who were part of a national study and observed a relationship between a moderate rise in symptoms of depression among older people and a 30% increase in falling within two years.  Social Science & Medicine, May 2017

Health Alert:  Death Rates from Alzheimer's Disease Increasing in the US. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), death rates from Alzheimer’s disease increased 55% between 1999 and 2014. In a first-of-its-kind study, CDC researchers analyzed death certificate data from the National Vital Statistics System and identified these possible reasons for the increase in Alzheimer's related deaths: the growing population of seniors in the United States (US), improved diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease at earlier stages; increased reporting by doctors and others who record the cause of death; and fewer deaths from other causes of deaths for the elderly.  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 2017

Diet:  Eating Fruits and Vegetables Decreases Obesity Risk. Consuming lots of fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk of packing on extra weight by nearly 50%. Researchers followed more than 16,000 healthy, non-obese adults for an average of ten years and found that compared with individuals who ate the fewest servings of fruits and vegetables each day, those who ate the most had a 43% lower risk of obesity.  European Congress on Obesity, May 2017

Exercise:  Organized Sports Are Not Enough to Meet Activity Requirements. Health experts recommend that children get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. Some parents believe that enrolling their children in organized activities or structured sports can help meet this recommendation, but a recent study suggests it won’t. Researchers found that between sitting while listening to instructions, standing in line, and other aspects of practice that require idleness, only about 30% of an hour-long practice session is spent in moderate to vigorous exercise. Because of this, the authors of the study advise parents to make sure their children have at least 40 minutes outside of practice to play freely. Dr. Katie Heinrich, an associate professor at Kansas State University adds, “Organized sports are valuable, but free play activities are needed as well. It's important to provide children with opportunities for both.”  Journal of Sports Sciences, March 2017

Chiropractic:  Lifestyle Factors Contribute to Back Pain in Elderly. A recent study set out to investigate if comorbidities and lifestyle factors could predict the course of low back pain in older men. Among a sample of 1,685 older men living in suburban Sydney, Australia, researchers found that the odds of persistent back pain increased with each additional alcoholic drink per week a participant consumed and with each additional unit of their body mass index (BMI). They also found that those with one or more chronic conditions had an elevated risk for developing back pain over the following two years.  Pain, May 2017