As doctors of chiropractic, we get the opportunity to see an assortment of patients walk through the door.  We have seen the typical pain patient, the patient with chronic headaches, the patient who recently had a car accident. We have also seen patients with vertigo or dizzy patient.  And even though it may be a crippling issue, many times it involves an easy diagnosis, with an even easier solution!

Over the past years, we have treated many different patients with chronic vertigo/dizziness.  These patients had the exact same story.  They have been to every doctor, they have had every test, yet they still can not find a solution to their dizziness.  When we hear this complaint from a patient the first question to them is always “Do you feel dizzy when you are laying in bed?  That question may be short but it gives HUGE insight to the cause of their suffering.  If someone is feeling dizzy while laying in bed or with changes in head position, that is a tell-tale sign that they are most likely suffering from what is called Benign Paroxymal Positional Vertigo or BPPV.  This may sound like a crazy disorder, but trust me there is an easy confirmation test and an even easier procedure to correct it!

The 101 on BPPV

BPPV is a disorder arising from an issue in the vestibular system, or inner ear.  Inside our ear we have small canals that allows our body to adapt to changes in head position. Inside these canals flows a  fluid called endolymph which helps the brain recognize changes in head position.  Also within these canals are small crystals called otoconia which are very sensitive to gravity and linear motion.  Sometimes these crystals can get lodged or “stuck” in an area of the canals it is  not supposed to be in.  When this occurs, an individual may complain of dizziness and vertigo in various head positions.  This is ultimately what causes BPPV.

Testing for BPPV

There is a very easy test to confirm whether someone is suffering from BPPV.  That test is called the Dix-Halpike test.  This is an extremely gentle, non-invasive test to confirm BPPV.  In short, the patient is seated on the table and the doctor turns their head at a 45 degree angle and then assists the patient as they lay down on their back with their head slightly extended off the table.  If the person experiences any dizziness or feels like they are falling, that is a confirmation that they are suffering from BPPV.

Once it’s diagnosed, chiropractors and physiotherapists at PRI at trained to apply specific therapy that helps resolve it.

If you’d like to be symptom free from dizziness and vertigo, please feel free to contact our office at (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com
Web:  www.priclinic.com

Researchers have found the first direct evidence that autoimmunity — in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues — plays a role in Parkinson’s disease, the neurodegenerative movement disorder. The findings raise the possibility that the death of neurons in Parkinson’s could be prevented by therapies that dampen the immune response.

The study, led by scientists at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, was published today in Nature.

“The idea that a malfunctioning immune system contributes to Parkinson’s dates back almost 100 years,” said study co-leader David Sulzer, PhD, professor of neurobiology (in psychiatry, neurology and pharmacology) at CUMC. “But until now, no one has been able to connect the dots. Our findings show that two fragments of alpha-synuclein, a protein that accumulates in the brain cells of people with Parkinson’s, can activate the T cells involved in autoimmune attacks.

“It remains to be seen whether the immune response to alpha-synuclein is an initial cause of Parkinson’s, or if it contributes to neuronal death and worsening symptoms after the onset of the disease,” said study co-leader Alessandro Sette, Dr. Biol. Sci., professor in the Center for Infectious Disease at La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology in La Jolla, Calif. “These findings, however, could provide a much-needed diagnostic test for Parkinson’s disease, and could help us to identify individuals at risk or in the early stages of the disease.”

While the medical community still tries to figure out which therapy works best to rehabilitate PD, a recent technological breakthrough has allowed patients with PD to achieve a remarkable improvement in their lifestyle. Without the Keego^TM device, patients walked slowly, had to stop when taking stairs from exhaustion, had a difficult time picking up objects from the floor, exerted strenuous effort, when getting up from a chair to walk down the hall. Patients with PD wearing a Keego^TM device were able to achieve healthy movement patterns during several clinical trials. The same patients were able to walk about quickly, had no trouble walking up or down the stairs, picked up objects from the floor with little effort, and were able to easily sit down, and get up from the seat without propping themselves up with their hands.

If you suffer from Parkinsons Disease, please see a specialist at the PRI clinic. They are specifically trained to properly introduce your body to the Keego^TM device, which will allow your body to achieve a remarkable improvement in your lifestyle. To book an appointment, please call or follow these links.

Tel: (416) 477-1101
E-mail: reception@priclinic.com
Web:  www.priclinic.com

Most of us still remember the comedic legend, Robin Williams, who passed after years of suffering with depression. Let talk about some preventative measures to take on which can help with depression.

Here is our top 10 tips (in no specific order) for preventing or helping to manage Depression….

1. Begin an Exercise program. Research has shown that regular exercise helps the brain release more serotonin (your “happy” hormone). Serotonin will help to prevent depressive thoughts.
2. Take Omega-3 Fish oil. Chronic inflammation is a common problem that many people deal with due to the normal stresses of life, from emotional stresses to dietary stresses. A high dose of Omega-3 Fish Oil will help decrease chronic inflammation in the brain, which can help decrease the risk of depression.
3. Open up and Talk about your Emotions. It is far too common that a person will hold onto their emotional stresses. This can cause more of a problem because it has the ability to create more of a “depression” or separation from others, exacerbating the underlying issues. Talking about these issues with someone you love or even a trained professional will help release that stress and take the “weight” off your shoulders.
4. Manage your Sugar intake. Diets that are high in sugars from things like table sugars, cookies and cakes to high carbohydrate foods, processed foods, breads and pastas can cause a fluctuation in your blood sugar levels and increase your risk for depression.
5. Optimize your Sleep. Research shows that changes in circadian rhythm (sleep pattern) may be linked to depression. Try to go to sleep the same time each night, limit the amount of white light coming from TVs, alarm clocks, night lights, etc and if needed, try a natural Melatonin supplement.
6. Optimize your Vitamin D levels. Research has shown that a large majority of the country is chronically deficient in Vitamin D.  This can be linked to many different health disorders, one of them being Depression.  In order to know if you are deficient, you must have a doctor check your Vitamin D levels via a blood panel.  The ideal level should be between 35-80g/ml.  Should you be deficient, a Vitamin D supplement is highly recommended.
7. Think Positively. Life can come at you in many different ways.  Sometimes a situation can be a good stress, sometimes it can be a bad stress.  Either way its all how you look at it!  Some people look at a stressful situation as a challenge and a chance to grow, while others may look at it as another challenge that will cause more stress to their life.  Try to start to looking at all of your stresses more positively and find where in the situation that can you learn and grow from it.
8. Minimize Drug and/or Alcohol use. Many people use drugs and alcohol as an “escape from reality.”  They are extremely unhappy with their life, so they use a recreational or prescription drug to retreat from that reality.  This will unfortunately cause more of a depression because drugs and alcohol will chemically your brain chemistry, causing more suffering and depressive thoughts.  Always remember that there is a side effect to any drug or alcohol you take.   Most of the time they cause “rebound” depression in your behavior!
9. Ask for help. Many people who deal with depression feel that they do not have anyone who “understands them” or who cares about helping them. This is a false sense of reality for that person.  If they just used the people in their lives as a support system and opened up to them, they would be surprised to see that most of the people in their life will be more than willing to help!
10. Find your passion. This may sound very cliche, but it is true.  We all have something inside of that we love!  Whether it is art, music, caring for others or teaching, we all love something so much that we can’t live without it!  Find that passion inside of you and put all of your energy into perfecting it and finding a way to make a living doing it!  If you take all that energy that is being put on the “negative” things in your life and put it towards something that you love, your life and thoughts will transform forever!

BONUS TIP:   Get Adjusted.  We tell all of our patients that the best kept secret to optimizing your health is through regular chiropractic adjustments!  Why, you may ask?!  Well to start all of our thoughts, actions, hormone and chemical levels are controlled by our nervous system.  Your spine is the protective covering over this very important nervous system.  Changes in posture or spinal position can and will cause dysfunction in this nervous system.  A Chiropractic adjustment will help correct these abnormal positions, thus changing your neurological function.  Adjustments are one of the strongest and most influential interventions a person can use to alter your thoughts in more of a positive way!

Don’t believe us?!  Take our challenge….We challenge you to begin a chiropractic program with your local chiropractor for one month (at minimum) to see how your body and health begins to transform after just 1 short month!

Ask our office how we can help you promote better sleep to aid you on your weight loss journey

Tel: (416) 477-1101
E-mail: reception@priclinic.com
Web:  www.priclinic.com

If you are reading this, have depression and have been having any suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the national suicide hotline 1-833-456-4566 for help.  It’s a phone call that can save your life!

Suffering from anxiety is like being held prisoner in a place where worry infuses every thought, your heart pounds, and the world seems jarring and disorienting. With anti-anxiety medications among the most commonly prescribed drugs in North America, we are clearly suffering. Though medications relieve the symptoms, they don’t address the cause.

Some causes of anxiety are obvious: stimulants such as caffeine, weight loss pills, energy drinks, or supplements that increase energy. Psychological or emotional stressors, such as having to speak in public or prepare for a major exam, can also bring on bouts of anxiety.

However, chronic anxiety can have lesser-known causes that, if managed, can relieve symptoms and negate the need for medication. Although the cause of anxiety can sometimes be neurologically complex, other times it can be as simple as making some changes to your diet and lifestyle. Below are a few lesser-known causes of anxiety.

GAD autoimmunity and anxiety

GAD stands for glutamic acid decarboxylase, an enzyme that triggers production of the brain’s primary calming chemical, called GABA. Some people develop an autoimmune reaction to GAD, which means their immune system erroneously attacks and destroys it. As a result, they can’t make enough GABA to calm the brain and anxiety goes up. GAD autoimmunity is also linked to obsessive compulsive disorder, motion sickness, vertigo, facial tics, and other symptoms. GAD autoimmunity is more common in those with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease and a gluten-free diet can alleviate symptoms.

Gluten and anxiety

Gluten has other links to anxiety. It’s hard to believe something as innocent as your morning toast or a bowl of spaghetti could cause anxiety, but recent research shows that is the case for many people. Gluten has been shown to trigger inflammation in the brain and autoimmune attacks against brain tissue, which can cause anxiety. Although a gluten-free diet is an important first step, many people find they also need to eliminate other foods such as dairy, eggs, or other grains to dampen immune flare-ups and anxiety. An anti-inflammatory autoimmune diet is a good beginning to address brain health.

Blood sugar imbalances and anxiety

It’s amazing how many chronic health issues stem from a blood sugar imbalance caused by eating a high-carbohydrate diet. Every time you eat too many carbs in the way of breads, pasta, rice, potatoes, desserts, pastries, soda or sweet coffee drinks you send blood sugar and insulin surging and crashing. When this happens daily it can create a multitude of neurological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability, and fatigue. Skipping meals and drinking too much coffee also feeds this cycle. A lower-carb, whole foods diet with enough healthy proteins and fats can keep energy on an even keel and tame anxiety

For more ideas, please see a nutritionist at PRI clinic. Ask our office how we can help you feel calmer and aid you on your route to good health and well-being.

Tel: (416) 477-1101
E-mail: reception@priclinic.com
Web:  www.priclinic.com

It seems the times when we most need to support ourselves with healthy habits is when we are most apt to fall off the wagon. It can happen during major life changes or stressors, such as a move, the end of a relationship, or change in job status. Although the desire to comfort ourselves with sweets, junk foods, and too many days off from the gym are powerful, in the long run slacking off just adds to the stress. Instead of beating yourself up (which just causes even more stress), honor the fact that you’re in a tough spot and take small measures to slowly work your way back into a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Once you see how even the smallest changes transform into more energy and peace of mind it will motivate you to increasingly expand what you include in your healthy habits routine.

With that in mind, here are some gentle and easy steps to keep you from getting sucked into the abyss of destructive habits during stressful times.

Go for a walk. Have you stopped working out? Then walking is a gentle, pleasurable way to reawaken your physical body while settling the mind. Exercise is a magic bullet when it comes to health, but too much exercise stresses the body and causes inflammation. If a major life stressor has you feeling weaker and more tired than normal, that may be your body’s way of telling you it needs extra rest to cope. Walking’s physical benefits are only part of the story; research shows walking, especially in a natural environment, lowers stress, anxiety, and depression while boosting energy.

Make veggie smoothies. When we’re beset by stress, healthy cooking can seem overwhelming. Frozen pizza or bowls of cereal may feel comforting at first, but their effects on your blood sugar stability and brain chemistry will soon spike stress levels. One way to outsmart comfort-food cravings is to make veggie smoothies. Simply combine a few different vegetables, such as carrots, celery, beet, some salad or leafy greens, cucumber, avocado, ginger, etc. with filtered water, a small bit of fruit for taste and, if desired, some lemon juice and salt. People with hypothyroidism should be careful not to overuse raw cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, kale, or broccoli as it can inhibit thyroid function. Also, avoid the temptation to rely on all fruit smoothies or the use of super-sweet additions such as pineapple or fruit juice. The high sugar content creates stress for the body, something you don’t need more of.

Eating lots of veggies also improves the balance of your gut bacteria, which play a profound role in mood, stress, weight, and immunity.

Don’t be a hermit. When stress is high it’s tempting to retreat under a rock, but isolation can compound your troubles. Ample research has shown the stress-lowering and health-boosting benefits of healthy socialization. Get together with friends, join meetup.com groups, take classes, go to temple…being around other people boosts feel-good brain chemicals and is a reminder you’re not the only one with big life struggles.

For more healthy tips on how to get back onto health wagon, please see a specialist at PRI.

To book an appointment, please call or follow these links.

Tel: (416) 477-1101
E-mail: reception@priclinic.com
Web: www.priclinic.com

After an incomplete spinal cord injury, the body can partially recover basic motor function. So-called muscle spindles and associated sensory circuits back to the spinal cord promote the establishment of novel neuronal connections after injury. This circuit-level mechanism behind the process of motor recovery was elucidated by Silvia Arber’s research group at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research and the Biozentrum, University of Basel. Their findings may contribute to designing novel strategies for treatment after spinal cord injuries and have been published in the journal “Cell”.

Spinal cord injuries often lead to chronically impaired motor function. However, patients with incomplete spinal cord injury can partially regain their basic motor ability under certain circumstances. It is believed that remaining uninjured spinal cord tissue provides a substrate to form new circuits bridging the injury. How this formation of new connections is triggered and promoted has remained unclear until now.

A recent technological breakthrough has allowed patients with incomplete spinal chord injury to achieve a remarkable improvement in their lifestyle and improve voluntary coordination of muscle movements, while continuing to improve their basic motor ability. Without the KeegoTM device, patients had a difficult time moving their legs, had to stop when taking stairs from exhaustion, had a difficult time picking up objects from the floor, exerted strenuous effort, when getting up from a chair to walk down the hall. Same patients wearing a KeegoTM device were able to achieve healthy movement patterns during several clinical trials. These same patients were able to walk about quicker, had no trouble walking up or down the stairs, picked up objects from the floor with little effort, and were able to easily sit down, and get up from the seat without propping themselves up with their hands.

If you have been affected by an incomplete spinal chord injury, please see a specialist at the PRI clinic. This multi-disciplinary team is specifically trained to properly introduce your body to the KeegoTM device, which will allow your body to achieve a remarkable improvement in your lifestyle. To book an appointment, please call or follow these links.

To book an appointment, please call or follow these links.

Tel: (416) 477-1101
E-mail: reception@priclinic.com
Web: www.priclinic.com