Today's Topic:
Your Brain and Chronic Illness
When in Doubt, Look to Your Brain
Neuropsychiatric/Brain Disorders are #1
Other Chronic Illnesses
Your Brain controls All Functions
What Happens As We Age
Western Medicine -> Symptom Suppression
Heartburn
High Blood Pressure
Depression
Ritalin
Fibromyalgia
Pain and Your Brain
Brain-Hemisphericity
What Your Brain Needs - The Three Pillars of Brain Health
I. Adequate Oxygen - How to Get It
II. Balanced Blood Sugar - Proper Diet and Digestion -> How to Start
III. Upright Movement under Gravity - Only YOU Can Do It
Sitting Kills Your Brain
"Sitting Kills - Moving Heals" - A Great Little Book
Neuropsychiatric/Brain
Disorders are the #1 disorders among all human dysfunctions on our
planet today.
Among those are
- Depression
- Bipolar Disorders
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Dementias
- ADD/ADHD
- Learning Disabilities
- Autism
- Asperger's Syndrome
- Anxiety
- Dyslexia
- etc......
There are
many other chronic illnesses that plague human kind today.
Among those
are
- Digestive Problems
- Diabetes
- Chronic Fatigue
- Hypoglycemia
- Heartburn
- High Blood Pressure
- Movement Disorders
- Cardiovascular Problems
- Chronic Pain
- Cancer
- etc.....
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Your Brain Controls ALL Functions - The Neurological Connection
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Your Brain controls your
- thoughts
- moods
- memory
- movement
- speech/language
- emotions
- attention
- perceptions such as vision, taste, hearing, smell, touch, etc
- balance
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Your Brainstem controls your
- posture
- digestion
- heart rate
- blood pressure
- breathing
- bladder function
- sexual function
- hormone production and balance
- immune response
- we could add many more
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In other words, any abnormality in any of the above could be - and often is - due to an imbalance or improper functioning brain function.
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What We Tend to Have a Common As We Get Older
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- loss of memory, hearing, taste, vision, smell, taste
- increased blood pressure
- decreased balance
- decreased muscle tone
- loss of digestive function, sexual function, bladder control
- decreased immune function
- increased incidence of illness such as cancer
- balance disorders and increased tendency to fall
- we could find many more examples
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All these are signs of decreased brain function.
My question to You:
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How Much Do YOU contribute to premature brain aging through the life style choices you have made in the past and continue to make. |
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Western Medicine - Symptom
Suppression
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Contemporary
Western Medicine is pretty much symptom oriented and relies heavily on
pharmacology to suppress symptoms.
There seems to be a pharmaceutical
substance to "cure" just about anything. The problem lies in
the fine print, the many side effects, some of them quite dangerous.
Your
typical medical health care practitioner will hardly ever relate your
illness and your symptoms to your lifestyle choices.
Your illness is most ALWAYS due to a lack of medications.
Lack of movement or exercise,
sitting for hours in front of the TV set or computer, coupled with copious amounts
of junk food, sugar and carbohydrates, lack of adequate dietary protein
and essential fatty acids, all this could not possibly contribute to your
illness. |
"The true reason" for your ill health is most always a lack of
pharmaceutical medications.
Look at the insanity of current television
advertising: (I hope you notice my bitter sarcasm)
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Heartburn
is simply due to lack of the "purple pill".
It could not possibly
have anything to do with the foods you eat, your weight, the health of
your digestive tract, your health history, your history of antibiotic
use, or the state of your brain health.
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Good Brain - Good Digestion |
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High blood
pressure is simply due to the fact that you are old, getting old, or better
yet, due to the fact that you do not consume enough blood pressure medication.
It could not possibly be related to lack of physical movement under gravity, exercise, the kinds of foods
you eat, and to an imbalance or decrease in brain function.
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Happy Brain - Good Blood Pressure |
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Depression,
anxiety, manic-depressive disorders, ADD, ADHD ... we do not really know
why they occur. The drug companies seem to have the right idea: It must
have something to do with the brain.
Oh, yes! God made a mistake: He failed
to put enough Prozac into your breakfast cereal. But we can correct this
easily!
Have you ever read the potential side effects of the currently so popular anti-depressants?
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Happy Brain - Good Life Experience |
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And then
there is Ritalin - a chemical relative to amphetamines. Cautious people
call this "brain stimulant". Others call this "Speed".
I was under the impression that we decided that amphetamines were not
such a good idea for grown-ups. We actually put those in jail who make
it or consume it.
But amphetamines in the form of Ritalin are probably
OK for our children and teenagers. Their developing brains can handle "Speed" better; it is actually good for them.
Again, please note that some of my above comments are meant to be sarcastic.
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Good Brain - Good Behavior, Good Attention |
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Fibromyalgia
means that your muscles hurt. Muscles in Fibromyalgia patients tend to
be tender to touch. They often feel tight. Current research indicates
clearly that in most cases there is nothing wrong with the muscle tissues.
There is no evidence of chronic inflammation of the muscles. The question
becomes: why do the muscles hurt?
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Fibromyalgia Is a Brain Problem |
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The perception
and processing of pain information happens in your brain. Without your
brain you could not have the opportunity to experience pain. Phantom pain
is an interesting example of how the brain works. People who have lost
a leg, for example, will complain of toe pain on that side, even though
they have no toes. How is that possible? All we can say: the area of the
brain that represents the pain perception of the toes is activated. Why,
we cannot state, at least not in this context. This leads to the subjective
experience of pain, even though there are no pain fibers from the toes
to the brain.
All sensory
information from the periphery, including pain, is channeled through the
Thalamus to the cortex. The Thalamus is the main relay for all incoming
sensory information.
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Good Brain - Less Pain |
- Pain
fibers are always "on"
Our brain
has two functions with respect to pain perception. One area of the brain
receives the incoming pain fibers from the periphery via the Thalamus
in order to facilitate the experience of pain. Another area of the brain
fires down to the Thalamus to inhibit and dampen that transmission of
pain. Here is an important thing to remember: pain fibers, similar to
other neurons, fire at all times. This is essential to their survival.
If they did not fire, they would degenerate and eventually die.
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Good Brain - Less Pain |
- Good Brain
inhibits Pain Perception
If it were
not for the pain inhibition of the cortex, we would experience pain at
all times. The problem arises when normal brain function declines in one
or both brain hemispheres. The brain's capacity to inhibit pain perception
would decline. This could lead to what we call intractable pain syndromes.
The most difficult and frustrating cases for many of us in the health
care field are those patients who present with these pain syndromes, with
no history of trauma to explain them. These people simply hurt. Medication
of varying strength has been used extensively, with less and less effectiveness.
The biggest
mistake we all tend to make is to look only at the area of pain. There
has to be an explanation for this person's suffering right there. When
we cannot find a physical reason, we either give up, or we declare that
it must be "psychological", that "it is all in your head".
We give it fancy names such as "psychosomatic", etc.
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Good Brain - Less Pain |
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Most of these
names only cover up our helplessness and ignorance as to the true cause
of their suffering. Actually, it may well be all "in their head".
Besides looking at the area of pain, it is of vital importance to also
investigate brain function. Once we understand that normal brain function
is designed to inhibit pain perception, we must look for a way to evaluate
the person's brain state. A neurological examination by a skilled chiropractic
neurologist will easily reveal brain hemisphericity, the relative under-functioning
of one brain hemisphere compared with the other.
Once we have
determined that there is no pathology in the area of pain, or anywhere
else for that matter, we then have to decide how to best increase the
function of the under stimulated brain hemisphere. The strongest sensory
feedback from the periphery to the brain is via large diameter myelinated
nerve fibers (Ia fibers), especially those from joint mechanoreceptors
and muscle spindles. Brain hemisphere specific chiropractic adjustments
on the side of the body opposite to the brain hemisphericity are exquisite
ways to activate the brain function where it is needed. The brain can
also be stimulated with light, sound, smell, taste, movement, etc.
For a successful
outcome it is vital that all therapies are brain based. Their application
must have a sound neurological basis. If you stimulate the "wrong"
side, you may end up making the brain hemisphericity worse. This may lead
to increased pain perception.
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What Your Brain Needs - What YOU Can Do Today
The Three Pillars of Brain Health
I. Adequate Oxygen
II. Balanced Blood Sugar - Proper Nutrition and Digestion
III. Input/Activation - Primarily from Upright Movement under Gravity
I. Adequate Oxygen
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Practice breathing deeply - most people are shallow breathers |
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II. Balanced Blood Sugar - Proper Nutrition and Digestion
- Decrease
carbohydrate intake
Sugar
at high levels is toxic to nerve cells. Diabetes is the primary example what happens
to the nervous system when blood sugar levels are too high. The nerves
actually die. You end up with diabetic neuropathies. Amputation of limbs
may follow.
Reactive
hypoglycemia - low blood sugar - is equally dangerous. Many people
on high carbohydrate diets suffer from dramatic blood sugar swings. The
brain and the peripheral nervous system require an even and constant supply
of glucose. When blood sugar levels drop too low, too fast, neurons are
unable to function properly. They get stressed and may actually die.
In order
to improve brain and nervous system function it is thus vital to reduce
carbohydrate intake, especially sugar.
We have forgotten
that fat is not what makes us fat. For years, we have been told to eat
low protein and low fat diets. We are so concerned with our weight! We
failed to realize that it is the carbohydrates that make us fat. So we
drink soda pop laden with sugar, eat pasta and bread, cookies and cakes.
And we wonder why we keep expanding.
Nobody reminded
us that a big part of our brain is fat, that fat surrounds the nerves
of the spinal cord and the periphery. Fat is the protective sheath, the
insulation. Fat is essential. Without proper amount of fat, our nervous
system is subject to malfunction, injury and damage. With our low fat
craze we have done plenty of damage to our nervous systems over the years.
With our low fat craze we are damaging the nervous systems of our children.
- Increase
protein consumption
Proteins
are the building blocks for living matter. Proteins consist of amino acids.
Essential amino acids must be eaten; they have to be derived from food
sources. They cannot be made in the body or by the body. Proteins are
vital for the electrical properties of the neurons. Proteins are vital
for all cells. A lack of protein leads to inadequate neurological functioning.
- Good Digestive function is vital
The "best" diet is useless if you cannot digest what you eat and absorb what you digest. Inadequate digestive functions leads to malnutrition. Ultimately your brain cannot function properly. Your brain governs ALL human functions. Consequently ALL aspects of your life can be negatively affected.
In order to improve brain and nervous system function, adequate digestion and dietary modifications are of utmost importance.
A reduction of carbohydrate intake, adequate consumption of essential fatty acids and protein combined with a healthy digestive tract will create the biochemical basis for optimal brain function.
Order the Four-Week Health Express to start balancing your Blood Sugar and improve your Diet and Digestive Function
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III. Upright Movement
under Gravity and Exercise
Sitting Kills Your Brain - Get up and Move throughout the Day
We sit, many of us for long hours at a time.
Increased
sedentary lifestyle, long TV viewing hours, and endless computer sessions
at home and at work, long automobile commuting hours,.... all this has impacted our brain health.
The
dramatic upswing in ADD/ADHD, autism, learning disabilities and behavioral
problems over the past 20 years can be directly linked to the appearance
of TV and VCR. Many kids don't move anymore. Obesity and the consumption
of junk foods among American children are escalating. The same holds true
for our adult population.
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Adequate
upright movement under gravity, such as play and sports, is probably the
largest contributor to proper brain development in our children. |
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Adequate
upright movement under gravity, such as ordinary every day physical activities throughout the day, is probably the largest
contributor to brain/neurological and general health among our grown-up population. |
Our bodies are designed to move.
Find out Why Sitting Kills!
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Get this great little book - easy to read
"Sitting Kills - Moving Heals"
- Move!
- Move throughout the day!
- Make your children move!
Your/their brains will be most grateful.
You'll never sit the same again.
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What some of Dr. Z's clients say .
I wish you well.
Thank you again for your interest and support.
Peter Zeischegg, MS, DC, DACNB
Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist
Order Desk: |
(866) 453-2021, ext. 1 |
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Consultations: |
(866) 453-2021, ext. 2 |
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Fax: |
(866) 333-7536 |
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E-mail: |
inquiry@drz.org |
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Visit our website.
ODDHC - Oxygen Enriched Air, Diet, Digestion, Hypoglycemia/Blood Sugar, Candida
© Copyright Dr. Peter Zeischegg MS, DC, DACNB, 2013. All Rights Reserved.
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