Today, more women are seeking out natural and alternative methods to treat symptoms from PMS and menopause, such as chiropractic care. Not all women experience premenstrual syndrome (about three out of four women report PMS symptoms), but all women will go through menopause in their lifetime.

There are over 150 identified and reported symptoms of PMS. Common symptoms include: bloating, irritability, headaches, migraines, breast tenderness, fatigue, stress, cramping, back pain, nausea and weight gain.

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There are physiological explanations for these symptoms. For example, lowered levels of serotonin during this time can cause mood changes, irritability and depression; high levels of excess estrogen can also cause irritability and nervousness. An imbalance of progesterone and estrogen can cause water retention, thus affecting weight gain. Abnormal thyroid function can contribute to breast tenderness, and blood sugar imbalance can lead to cravings, headache and fatigue.

Chiropractic adjustments are a safe, non-pharmaceutical alternative to treating the symptoms of PMS. Chiropractors perform adjustments in the lumbar spine and the sacrum, specifically L2 and L3. These vertebrae affect the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, which control hormonal regulation. In multiple studies, women report less bloating, headaches, cravings and cramping while under chiropractic care.

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On average, women begin to experience the symptoms of menopause at age 51. This transitional time starts with “perimenopause,” which can begin several years before the last menstrual period. The most common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause reported are hot flashes, night sweats and sleep issues, which can be attributed to a change in levels of estrogen and progesterone.

Like PMS, chiropractic can provide a drug-free alternative to treating symptoms of menopause. Research has shown that more women are choosing alternative therapies, like chiropractic, for treatment and women who use these therapies generally find them beneficial.

Make an appointment to talk to a chiropractic doctor about chiropractic and reproductive health.

At PRI clinic, we have a team of chiropractors, traction specialists, physiotherapists, massage therapists, aquatherapists, clinical psychologists and in a network of MDs, who work together in synchrony are also present, to ensure that you receive appropriate care for your PMS or menopause concerns. We evaluate your concerns and we ensure that your therapy reflects the most recent research that is most conducive for your health and well-being.

Do you wobble if you stand on one foot? How about with your eyes closed? If you walk in a straight heel-to-toe line do you stumble? How about with your eyes closed? If you stand with your feet together and close your eyes do you sway to one side? Do you walk with a wide gait, or feel like you’re going to fall if you don’t hold the handrail going down the stairs? If you answered yes to any of these questions you may have balance issues that could be a sign of compromised brain health and increased risk of dementia later in life.

Balance is governed largely by the cerebellum, the area at the base of the brain that also helps with precision, coordination, and timing of motor movements. The cerebellum is one of the most continually active areas of the brain because not only does it keep you from falling over, it also processes information from gravity.

A healthy cerebellum is important because it constantly feeds a steady stream of information to the entire brain, which is necessary for overall good brain health and function.

This is where problems can occur. When cerebellum function begins to break down, causing such symptoms as worsening balance, this impacts the stream of information going to the rest of the brain. When the cerebellum degenerates, it can overwhelm the brain with excess input.

This can cause problems in other areas of the brain with symptoms that may seem totally unrelated to balance, including restless leg syndrome, tinnitus, being hyper sensitive to stress, depression, fatigue, anxiety, and many more. These are signs the brain is functioning poorly and degenerating too quickly, increasing the risk of dementia later in life.

You’re never too young or too fit to work on improving your balance as it’s a great way to help protect and preserve brain health.

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How to improve your cerebellum health

There are several ways to protect the health of your cerebellum. One is to perform balance exercises, such as the ones listed in the first paragraph. Yoga and tai chi are also beneficial. As your balance improves or if you are already athletic, continually challenge yourself, such as by doing your balance exercises on a wobble board or Bosu ball. Just be safe!

Follow an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle. The brain is very sensitive to inflammation, including the cerebellum. Junk foods, sugars and processed carbohydrates, lack of sleep, too much stress, lack of exercise — these are all factors that can accelerate degeneration in the cerebellum and the rest of the brain.

At PRI clinic, we have a team of physiotherapists who help restore your balance through supervised wobble board exercises and other tools. Chiropractors, traction specialists, physiotherapists, massage therapists, aquatherapists, clinical psychologists and in a network of MDs, who work together in synchrony are also present, to ensure that you receive appropriate care for your balance issues. We evaluate your concerns and we ensure that your therapy reflects the most recent research that is most conducive for your health and well-being.

It’s important to watch your balance and make sure your brain health is well taken care of. Please check out the PRI clinic. To book an appointment, please call or follow these links.

Did you know that approximately two-thirds of all doctor’s office visits are for stress-related complaints? Stress is the body’s reaction to any situation that is demanding or dangerous. When we experience stress, the body responds by making adrenal hormones such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol that help your body cope. Commonly called the “fight or flight” response, this is where your blood pressure increases, your hands sweat, and your heart rate and breathing quicken. You’ve probably felt it during that big job interview, before a first date, during an argument, or being stuck in traffic when you’re running late.

Our bodies normalize quickly after responding to short-term stressors. But problems arise with chronic stress, such as financial worries, major life changes, job stress, or an ongoing illness. Other chronic stressors are not lifestyle related but instead metabolic: gut infections, leaky gut, food intolerances, blood sugar imbalances (low blood sugar, insulin resistance, or diabetes), anemia, autoimmune disease, inflammation, and environmental toxins are examples.

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How stress damages the body

In chronic stress, the adrenal glands continually produce the hormone cortisol. Known as the “aging hormone” (ever notice how you look older when you are stressed a lot?), chronic high cortisol is linked to:

•high blood pressure

•diabetes

•depression

•insomnia

•suppressed immunity

•insulin resistance

•increased belly fat

•reduced libido

•bone loss

•low energy

•heart problems

How do you know if you have adrenal stress? You may experience ongoing fatigue, energy crashes, difficulty recovering from long days or stressful events, headaches, difficulty falling and staying asleep, difficulty waking up, mood swings, sugar and caffeine cravings, irritability, lightheadedness between meals, eating to relieve fatigue, dizziness upon standing, and gastric ulcers.

Everyone is familiar with classic stress-relief methods such as meditation, exercise, enjoying hobbies, and socializing, but there is much more you can do to support the body’s stress response.

There are other tools to add to your stress-reduction program. For example, chiropractic care can help normalize cortisol levels and protect the brain from the damages of stress.

Of course, one should always consider lifestyle habits when addressing stress. Below are lifestyle suggestions to help support healthy adrenal function and stress response:

•Avoid or greatly minimize stimulants.

•Eat nutrient-dense foods.

•Avoid high carbs and sugars.

•Avoid dietary causes of inflammation such as food allergens, high fructose corn syrup, refined foods, and especially industrial seed oils such as canola oil.

•Have adequate intake of essential fatty acids (DHA and EPA).

•Have proper sleep habits.

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Though we may live in a world of unrelenting stress, it is possible to successfully manage the body’s response through a combination of healthy lifestyle habits, chiropractic care and nutritional support.

At PRI clinic, we have a team of chiropractors, traction specialists, physiotherapists, massage therapists, aquatherapists and clinical psychologists in a network of MDs, who work together in synchrony to ensure that you receive appropriate stress relief. We evaluate your concerns and we ensure that your therapy reflects the most recent research that is most conducive for your health and well-being.

For more information on how to identify and manage stress, please contact our office.