Ultimate Guide on Whiplash and Chiropractic Care

While whiplash is associated with multiple incidents such as amusement park rides, sports injuries, slips or falls or work injuries, car accident remains on the top. Millions of people across the globe suffer from minor or major injuries in unfortunate car accidents, whiplash is the most occurring condition that may appear sooner or later. It’s a mild condition, though if not treated on time can result in long-term health problems including constant discomfort and intense pain. Have you ever experienced any symptoms of whiplash or can be referred to as cervical acceleration-deceleration injury?

Whiplash commonly occurs when your neck moves back and forth or sideways abruptly damaging the vertebrae of the neck along with surrounded ligaments, tissues, tendons, and muscles. In case you are suffering from whiplash, do not panic. The good news is seeking whiplash care in Marietta can help in easing the problem and prevent the condition to get worse. It’s a smart approach to learn some of the basics of whiplash and chiropractic treatment to better understand the entire procedure. 

Injuries Unrelenting in a Whiplash Accident

Whiplash injuries differ from one individual to another primarily depending on the intensity of your injury and physical health. At times, the whiplash symptoms and injuries appear immediately while in other cases it may take several days or weeks before they become severe. This is particularly accurate in low-impact whiplash when the accident seems to be minor. Some of the common injuries include:

  • Muscle injuries 

  • Sprained tendons and ligaments 

  • Tense or injured nerves 

  • Spinal misalignment or moderate brain injury 

  • Soft tissues inflammation 

  • Spinal and joints damage 

  • Herniated or bulging disc 

  • Concussions 

Neck Mobility 

You are more likely to use a cervical collar for some time after the car accident particularly if your injuries are severe. On the other hand, it’s a good idea to keep yourself as active as possible without losing the required range of mobility. Here chiropractic care and treatment can help in recovering and improving mobility using multiple techniques. If your vertebrae are misaligned, remember it can considerably affect the range of mobility. Whiplash is a traumatic injury that can restrict the movement of bones and muscles, especially around your neck. Chiropractic manipulation can help in realigning the vertebrae to make sure there is no reason why you are unable to move your neck. 

Reduce Inflammation and Swelling 

The range of motion can be improved with reduced inflammation and swelling. When the spinal adjustment is combined with rehabilitation therapy, it can help in the complete restoring of neck mobility. Your chiropractor will target the affected areas to ease pain and comfort as a result of whiplash injury through muscle relaxation. The mild muscle stretches obstruct the tightening of the affected muscles. To ease tight muscles, a chiropractic doctor will apply multiple stretching techniques. They employ a moderate finger pressure technique to different trigger points in the cervical area.

Spinal Manipulation and Muscle Relaxation 

Undoubtedly, spinal manipulation is one of the most commonly used and popular forms of chiropractic treatment. The technique uses controlled stretches that can be conveniently applied to the injured or damaged muscles. Primarily depending on the tightness or restriction of the muscles, a chiropractor uses one or more stretches to get the job done. They use various pressure techniques and gentle massaging to ease pain and improve alignment. When the joints in the backbone lose their shock absorption ability and flexibility, it is referred to as joint dysfunction. As soon as the joint develops dysfunction, not only does it limit mobility but can be extremely painful. 

Chiropractic Care and Treatment 

Once you consult a chiropractor, they will evaluate the range of mobility using a common chiropractic technique known as motion palpation. In case you are experiencing the unfortunate joint dysfunction, it can result in intense pain and muscle imbalance. The loss of joint mobility can cause unusual signals to the nervous system that makes them tense and underactive. This leads to further muscle imbalance increasing the stress over the joint and eventually making them dysfunctional.

Chiropractors usually evaluate and treat patients who are categorized under WAD I, II, and III. Once the patient examination is complete, they recommend the required procedure accordingly that may include manual therapies, rehabilitation therapies, and lifestyle recommendations. This entire chiropractic care treatment plan is personalized according to the findings and needs of the patient. Some of the treatment options available include:

  • Chiropractic manipulation, mobilization, and stimulation use controlled and gentle thrusts to bring back joints into place and relax the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

  • Muscle stimulation is another essential tool to treat and relax muscles that have been stressed by whiplash. When muscles in the neck experience repetitive tightening, this makes the neck feel tight and here muscle stimulation eases tension.

  • Use of rehabilitation and corrective exercises such as McKenzie exercises. Chiropractic doctors address disc uncertainty concerns followed by the whiplash. They help in correcting movement patterns and bring life back to normal.

  • Ergonomic advice and lifestyle changes can significantly contribute to wellbeing. They guide you on the most relevant and practical exercises and advise to speed up the recovery process and make you feel better than ever before.

  • Chiropractors educate the patients, carry out soft tissue therapy, and use different modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, and others.

What to Expect in Non-Invasive Spinal Treatment

During a non-invasive spinal treatment session, you will be asked to lie face up on the table which is connected to an automatic system. Throughout the session, you will hardly notice any movements while your spine is being moderately stretched. This allows the decompression of the spine. The entire procedure is pain-free and you will gradually feel more relaxed. Some patients may also fall asleep during the manipulation session. The therapy is performed for about 15-30 minutes mainly depending on the treatment plan that has been designed according to your needs. In general, 10-12 treatment sessions have proved to provide long-lasting pain relief.

Wrapping Up

A chiropractic doctor will carefully evaluate your spine through a detailed physical examination particularly if you are experiencing any symptoms of whiplash. When we talk about whiplash, one of the best treatment options available is seeking chiropractic care. If you are experiencing any pain or tightness in the body especially around the neck and spine, performing chiropractic manipulations can help. Using a holistic approach, they make sure to reduce discomfort and inflammation.

If you have read this, you are more likely to better understand that chiropractic care for whiplash can considerably contribute to proper alignment of the spine, increased blood flow, and quick restoring functionality. In addition, they provide other therapies to strengthen the neck muscles and relieve whiplash pain. The ultimate goal of chiropractic care is to treat whiplash and spinal injuries, ease discomforting symptoms and naturally restore and heal the body’s functions.

If you have been involved in an unfortunate car accident, do not hesitate to consult a Marietta car accident chiropractor. You will have peace of mind that you are properly taking good care of your health and preventing the condition to worsen sooner instead of later.


Cashew Nuts: Nutritional and Health Value

Delicately sweet and crispy, the delicious cashew nuts are overflowed with antioxidants, vitamins, energy, and minerals important to good health. Cashews are predominantly used in wide-ranging savory dishes across the world. Unlike their name, they are a popular kind of seed packed with high nutritional value and numerous health benefits. Most of these health benefits are associated with fatty acids in combination with healthy antioxidants. They are rich in selenium, copper, phosphorus, and iron.

However, remember unprocessed or raw cashews can be life-threatening. Make sure not to eat them without processing and cleaning. The intake of cashew nuts in the right amount is connected to multiple improving health conditions such as reduced cholesterol, improved cardiovascular health, and weight loss. Let’s walk through their contribution when it comes to health and explore the nutritional value.

Cashew Nuts Nutritional Value

As we have mentioned above, cashews come with high nutritional value that can benefit you in the long run. It is found that cashews comprise 8.5 grams of carbs and 157 calories which makes them stand out among other nuts. At the same time, they make a light option for digestion since they contain just 4% of your RDI which is less than a gram in dietary fiber. What makes these cashews incredibly healthy is the presence of monounsaturated fatty acid content. These fatty acids provide several health benefits comprising palmitoleic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid. Want to know more about the health benefits of cashew nuts? Read on for more information!

Health Benefits of Cashew Nuts

While cashew nuts come with a minimal percentage of fatty content, about 82% of the fat makes for unsaturated fatty acids. On the other hand, 66% of the unsaturated fatty acid is heart-healthy monounsaturated fat which is commonly found in olive oil. Studies have found that when monounsaturated fat is added to a low-fat diet can help diabetic patients with reduced triglyceride levels. A high level of triglyceride means an increased probability of heart disease. Having a certain percentage of monounsaturated fats in your diet improve your heart condition and minimize any associated risks.

Also, it is found that cashew nuts reduce the total cholesterol and bad cholesterol with the intake of high-carb snacks. Incorporating the appropriate amount of zinc and protein, you are assured with a strong immune system while the micronutrients such as magnesium and phosphorus contribute to improved growth and bone health. What’s more? Women consuming a minimum of 1 ounce of nuts have reduced risk of developing gallstones by approximately 25%. You can enjoy cashew butter with a jelly sandwich – tempting enough!

Though make sure to use wheat bread considering its rich percentage of minerals, fiber, and vitamins. You may want to use some cashew nuts in the salad or oatmeal. For people who are fitness enthusiasts and have set some fitness goals over the years, diet is something that significantly contributes to attaining these goals. It is no exaggeration to say that consuming cashew nuts as a part of your diet routine can kill your hunger and at the same time provide the much-needed nutrients. When talking about fitness goals, weight loss is common among many people. You might be thinking about whether cashews can help in weight loss. Yes, these nuts contribute to a healthy diet and prevent weight gain. In general, they might be high in calories yet the nutrient and vitamins rich dry fruit ensure a balance when it comes to weight loss.

Further, if you are consuming nuts on a routine basis as an alternative to refined carbs or red meat, it can help in preventing conditions like obesity and diabetes. The high amount of fiber content and protein will keep your stomach full for longer periods. As we have mentioned above, cashews are a great source of magnesium which is important to healthy muscles, tissues, and bones. Magnesium helps in balancing and maintaining blood pressure and nerve functionality. Also, it improves the bones' strength and boosts immunity. It contributes to multiple metabolic operations and helps in regulating the insulin activity in the body.

That being said, lack of magnesium can affect the entire metabolism procedure and efficiency of the hormones. Likewise, cashew nuts assist in the metabolism of iron which further helps in producing red blood cells (RBC). It is no surprise to say that this in turn is important to the skeletal and nervous system of the body. On the contrary, deficiency of copper means many adverse health conditions such as anemia and osteoporosis that are primarily caused due to weakening bones and muscles.

How to Select and Store

Many cashew nuts are available in bulk bins and prepackaged containers. Similar to other food items that can be bought in bulk, you must ensure that the bins are covered properly. This will keep them fresh for a relatively longer duration. Whether you are looking forward to packages containers or bulk cashews there should not be any moisture or insect damage involved. With the high content of oleic acid, these nuts are comparatively more stable than others, still, it is important to store them in airtight containers and keep them in the refrigerator. In this way, you can use them even for six months or even a year.

How to Enjoy Cashews

If you are thinking about how to enjoy the cashew nuts in the best way possible, here we have listed a few ideas to help you. After all, you need something to make them more delicious.

  • You can use dried fruits and other nuts with cashews and come up with a healthy and tempting snack.

  • Combine cashew nuts with a small amount of maple syrup which makes a lip-smacking topping for hot cereals all set to start a day.

  • Use cashew butter on the bread – a simple and delicious breakfast that can be ready in no time. Don’t forget to create a creamy nutting taste.  

  • Here’s another luscious sauce that can be served with rice, vegetables, or fish – use cashew butter with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper, and water on low to moderate heat.

  • If you are looking forward to roasted cashews at home while preserving the healthy oils, the best-suited temperature is 160-170°F (about 75°C) for approximately 15-20 minutes.

Conclusion

Finally, it’s time to wrap up the article. Many of us are aware of the fact that nuts are present everywhere and in almost everything. We often use them in breakfast bowls, snack mixes, and smoothies – it makes for a tempting dried fruit that you cannot simply resist having. When it comes to healthy foods, cashew nuts make for an important item. Among many nuts, you would love to consume cashews as one of the top priorities. These are absolutely the sweetest and creamiest nuts available on the market. The processed form can be used in wide-ranging recipes to make it more delicious than ever before. If you have read this far, you are more likely to be familiar with their numerous health benefits. Though remember to consume the right amount of these nuts and make sure you are not allergic. Stay Healthy!



Rainy Day Ideas For Adults

It’s not just children who get bored when it’s rainy and you can’t go outside; many adults start to feel restless too, especially if they had planned to spend the day outdoors. Although adults might be able to hide their boredom better than children can, it still happens, and despite the fact that scientists say a little boredom is actually good for you, it’s still useful to have an arsenal of rainy day ideas that you, and perhaps a partner, can enjoy when need be. Read on for some great examples.

joshua-hoehne-c-jTL24e50c-unsplash.jpg

Movie Marathon 

When was the last time you spent an entire day snuggled up on the couch with plenty of snacks (including popcorn, of course) and drinks and finally watched all of those movies that have been on your ‘to watch list’ for months, or even years? You might not have time to watch everything you would like to – it’s just one day, after all – so you could split your list down into genres, actors, decades when the film was made, or anything else to help you choose. Just remember that, if you’re not enjoying the movie within the first 15 minutes or so, skip it and go onto the next; what is the point in watching something you don’t like? 

Although this might feel like a lazy kind of day, that’s exactly what is needed sometimes to recharge the batteries and slow you down a little. If rain is the catalyst to make this happen, so be it. 

Plan A Vacation 

There’s nothing quite like being stuck at home to make you realize how much you want to go on vacation, and a great rainy day idea for adults – or even the entire family if everyone wants to get involved – is to plan a vacation in minute detail. Don’t worry about the budget; you’re not going to be booking anything (unless you want to); this is purely an enjoyable exercise that will give you the chance to plan out the perfect vacation to anywhere in the entire world. 

Start with the destination in mind, then research the flights, the hotels, the activities you can do when you get there, and anything else. It will feel as though you could be sipping a blue lagoon cocktail by the side of a stunning landscaped pool in no time. 

Play Board Games 

We’re all so focused on our screens these days that the traditional board game can easily be forgotten, and yet it is such an ideal way to while away the hours that it really needs to be mentioned on this list, and brought back to be a reminder to everyone who needs to know. 

Make it really fun by designing a championship competition that can include a variety of different games from Scrabble to Monopoly to Pictionary to Clue and much more. Perhaps the winner can have dinner cooked for them (or that cocktail we mentioned made for them!) because there ought to be a worthwhile prize involved.