Roads are slick, so please drive carefully!
Heavy autumn rains cause oils to rise to the surface of roads, meaning reducing traction. This is likely one reason that we (unfortunately) treat more people who have been in motor vehicle accidents during the fall than during any other time of year. Remember to remain aware and alert while driving, maintain a good stopping distance, and break early and slowly rather than suddenly. However, if you are in an accident, contact us and schedule an exam and treatment as soon as possible, even if you think your injuries are minor. People often leave the scene of an accident feeling okay, only to begin to experience pain later that day or within the next couple of days. Seeking treatment early will reduce the likelihood of scar tissue causing reduced mobility long term and will also reduce your level of pain following the accident.
For a list of what to do following a collision, take a look at my blog post, “What to do if you are in an accident” here.
Increase your immunity this fall by doing this one important thing
Research has shown that eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables improves your immunity and your ability to fight off infection. All of the tiny phytonutrients and micronutrients we get from a rainbow diet of plants, including greens, fruits, fall and winter squash, and sweet potato varieties will boost your natural resistance to sickness and give you the best chance at feeling good throughout the season.
Many supplement products can also help with immunity, including vitamin C, vitamin D, and Zinc. To boost your immunity year-round and increase the variety of nutrients in your diet, I both take and recommend Juice Plus, a very highly researched plant based product that is the next best thing to food. While it’s not a substitute for eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, it will expand your nutrient profile and provide many other benefits. Feel free and look at my Juice Plus page, https://drjaffer.juiceplus.com .
Clinical Corner
What you should consider before getting a corticosteroid injection
As a chiropractor, you can imagine that I frequently get asked about joint pain. Recently I have received questions asking what I think about corticosteroid injections as an answer to joint pain. Corticosteriod injections are a very common and sometimes over-prescribed method of treating pain. This linked article highlights a study in the journal Radiology that emphasizes caution before receiving this type of injection. It states that patients without arthritis who are referred for steroid injections “are at risk of developing rapid, progressive joint space loss or destructive osteoarthritis after injections.” Sounds scary, right? In other words, a corticosteroid injection into a joint that does not have unfavorable findings (meaning that the joint looks normal) on X-rays might actually lead to a person developing arthritis in that joint!
Steroid injections are the right solution for some people with certain conditions, but I urge caution, especially for younger people, before going forward with this type of injection. See the article here: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-10-evidence-steroid-hip-knee-joints.html
Of course, to schedule an appointment or with further questions contact Barlas Chiropractic at 206-954-7479, email us at drjafferbarlas@gmail.com, or message us through our website contact page.
Existing patients can also book an appointment directly on our scheduling site with this link: https://barlaschiroscheduling.as.me/
Thanks for reading and we hope to see you soon!
Yours in health,
Barlas Chiropractic
Seattle Chiropractic
(206) 954-7479