Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Exercise Improves Your Immune System....Even After Cancer!"

This was an interesting study that came out recently that looked into the claims that exercise actually boosts the immune system. The researchers went one step further and used participants who had received treatments for cancer. (Cancer patients suffer from compromised immune systems as a result of the treatment itself. Radiation and chemotherapy attacks cancerous as well as healthy cells. As a result, patients recovering from cancer, are susceptible to secondary infections as their normal immune response isn't there)

The researchers found that exercise can greatly decrease the risk of these patients developing a secondary cancer. These findings could also explain how a patient who has never been diagnosed with cancer can use exercise to help reduce the chances of getting this diagnosis. 

A team of experts, led by Laura Bilek, from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, found that exercise actually changes the composition or 'make-up' of a person's immune system. T cells, a type of immune cell that protects against infectious agents and cancer cells, were the focal point in the investigation of the cancer survivors who had just finished chemotherapy. Previous studies had shown that chemotherapy actually changes these protective T cells. After chemotherapy, T cells were found to be in a less potent or less effective state. In this study, the researchers found that after a 12 week exercise program, these T cells were actually replaced with different T cells that were more potent and effective at fighting off infections and even cancer!

Bilek explained, "What we're suggesting is that with exercise, you might be getting rid of T cells that aren't helpful and making room for T cells that might be helpful." Since this dramatic change was observed in patients battling cancer, it would be reasonable to deduce that exercise could impose the same benefits for those never being diagnosed with cancer as well. 

As the laundry list of exercise benefits continues to grow, it is undeniable that everyone should make exercise a part of their daily lives. It still confuses me how many people will diligently take care of their teeth, brushing and cleaning often twice a day. However, these same people will forget about the rest of their bodies and ignore exercise all together. Please don't underestimate the value of movement and exercise!

If you're in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, drop by my office or visit my website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN!!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiroractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "BACK PAIN TIPS: Sleep Position"

Having back pain? Try sleeping on your side with a pillow

Patients who are suffering from moderate to severe back pain will often tell me that they have problems sleeping at night. Or more precisely, they find it difficult to find a 'comfortable position'. They tell me the pain and discomfort is so constant that they toss and turn all night, occasionally waking up then going back to sleep. Almost all of these patients tell me, that they wake up tired the next day and do not feel rested at all. Obviously, being fatigued often affects their work, activities, mood and even their relationships with others. 

Now the reason why these patients are having a hard time sleeping is that the muscles around the affected area are having a hard time relaxing. Either due to direct trauma or an indirect response to other damaged tissue like ligaments, tendons or discs, the muscles are left to 'guard' the area and remain tense. This poses a daunting scenario because as you sleep, your body is supposed to be recovering and repairing damage from the day's activities. Your body is supposed to be 'regenerating' and re-hydrating. For example,ever notice how you often feel like you're taller in the mornings? Well that's because your intervertebral discs, the soft tissue between the bones in your spine, are re-hydrating overnight. They are actually, re-filling their supply of water and growing slightly taller. Now, multiply this small effect within each disc by the number is discs in your spine and that's what makes you feel taller!

So the next question I try to help my patients with is the best sleep position to adopt when they are having back pain. Well first off I try to recommend sleeping on a medium to firm mattress. This support from the mattress will often help the muscles around your spine relax and keep them from working so hard, even at night. Next, I tell my patients to use another pillow! I suggest that these patients try sleeping on their sides. Use an extra pillow and place it between your knees as you sleep. If you definitely don't like sleeping on your side and prefer lying on your back. Then take the pillow and place it under your knees. This position keeps your legs slightly bent at night. 

The goal of either position is to take as much pressure off your lower back as possible. As this happens, your muscles are better able to relax and you can feel decreased pain. But just as important, your body is better able to sleep and help repair the injury! This is where Chiropractic treatment comes in. Many people see Chiropractic as a means to treat pain. However, I stress to my patients that the benefits of Chiropractic treatments extend far beyond pain relief. Many of my patients tell me treatment also helps them regain movement, increase flexibility, return to enjoyable activities, improves sleep/mood/energy and heal much faster!

In the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver? Drop by the clinic or visit the website here;COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!! 

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Usain Bolt is a Fan of Chiropractic"

Usain Bolt, the fastest man on earth receiving Chiropractic Treatment

Today is August 10, 2012 and what we have witnessed over the last 4 days is Usain Bolt, solidifying his claim to the title; 'fastest man on earth'. In addition, he is arguably now the best sprinter the world has ever seen. What you may not know, is that leading up to the Olympics in London, Bolt was rumored to be injured because of second place finishes to his countryman, Yohan Blake in both the 100m and 200m dash. 

The rumored injury in the weeks leading up to the Olympics was a 'bad back'. The exact details of the injury may never be known because a lot of high profile athletes do not want to surrender information that may help their competition. However, what has come to light is that Bolt has been receiving Chiropractic treatments. It's hard to say for how long the fastest man on earth has been seeking the help of a Chiropractor, but what's hard to argue is the benefit of this kind of care. 

Dr. Michael Douglas has been the official Chiropractor for the Jamaican Olympic team since 1996. He has worked with world class athletes to help them recover from injuries, improve their flexibility and function to help them perform at their best. Recently, team Jamaica swept the podium, winning gold, silver and bronze in the men's 200m race at London 2012. 

If the fastest man on earth and his teammates use Chiropractic to help them perform at their best, just think of what it can do for you! If you're in the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver, stop by the office or visit the website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - " What is Inflammation?"

I get this question a lot in practice and it is, " when do I apply ice? and when do I apply heat?". Well to answer that question, we need to better understand inflammation. Inflammation is actually the body's attempt to heal. Inflammation is a process where the body is attempting to rid itself of harmful materials including damaged cells, pathogens and toxins/irritants. This is a natural and very essential process to healing wounds and injuries. 

There are two basic types of inflammation that can occur; chronic and acute. Chronic inflammation often occurs when the body for some reason, is unable to rid itself of an irritant or pathogen, or an irritant is continuously present. This scenario keeps the inflammatory response engaged and is not allowed to end. These situations would include; asthma, tuberculosis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

The other scenario, and the one I commonly see in practice is acute inflammation. This will often involve some kind of trauma or injury. A fall, a slip, being hit by something or someone, intense exercise or sports etc. These are often situations when a patient can remember Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - " What is Inflammation?exactly what brought the pain on. In these scenarios, the onset of pain and discomfort is quite fast. The pain is likely reported immediately after or 1-3 days following the incident. In the acute phase, the patient will likely experience the hallmarks of inflammation; "PRISH". That would be; Pain, Redness, Inflammation, Swelling and Heat!.

But let me add that acute inflammation may also commonly be associated with bruising as well. In the immediate hours to days following acute inflammation, it would be better for patients to apply ice. (This would be immediately after the injury up to 3-4 days following). This process will address all the components of PRISH. Applying the ice will help to reduce the pain, redness, inflammation, swelling and heat. Ice can also allow the patient to heal from their injuries faster. 

Now conversely, 3-4 days after an injury or if there was no apparent trauma involved, I would recommend my patients apply heat instead. In these situations, patients will report discomfort often associated with stiff and sore muscles. Heat in these situations will help increase circulation so that the muscles can relax better and pain can be reduced. 

Hope this explanation clears things up a little! Remember, if you're in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, come stop by my office or visit me here;COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!! 

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan - "Women Suffering from Fatigue Could Benefit from Iron"

Although this isn't normally the primary complaint that I see in practice, it is one that many patients complain of. It's fatigue. The general sense of 'tiredness' or 'lack of energy' that affects a lot of people. Many of these patients will tell me it's not a lack of sleep. Many of these people claim they are getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night, however, they can' t get away from the feeling of tiredness.

A recent study from the University of Geneva and published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, is suggesting that women who complain of fatigue, but who are not anemic, could benefit from iron supplements. The study included 198 women from the ages of 18-53. 102 of the women were given daily iron supplements and the remaining 96 received a placebo pill.  The women were monitored for 12 weeks and the results were compared.

The biggest difference the research found was in fatigue. Interestingly enough, even the group taking placebo pills also reported improvements in fatigue. This group reported a 29% reduction in fatigue. However, the group given the actual iron pills reported a 48% reduction in fatigue. "Our key findings are that iron supplementation can improve the feeling of fatigue in nonanemic women," said study author Paul Vaucher, a neuroscience doctoral student at the University of Geneva.

Asked why iron may be effective for combating fatigue in women with low iron, but not anemic, levels, Vaucher said, "The benefits we observed might not be explained by the effects on blood stores alone."

"Recent neuroscience research suggests that fatigue could be due to the lack of iron in brain tissues, and might be completely independent of iron blood stores," he explained. This is a fascinating twist on the role of iron in human nutrition. To think that iron could actually affect and alter brain physiology means we need to better appreciate the affect of nutrition/supplements on health, mood and energy.

If you're in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, come visit Dr. Chan's office or stop the website; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Chiropractic Best for Work-Related Low Back Pain"

This is an interesting article that appeared in a recent edition of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. What the authors wanted to know was,..."what were the chances of repeated disability for low back pain patients seeking care from different health care providers?" A simple enough question it seems, so researchers sought out to compare the effects comparing three different health care options; physicians (MD), physical therapists (PT) and chiropractors (DC). 

The researchers looked at 894 patients who had suffered a work place injury and then followed their progress over the following year. The participants of the study were divided between the three different treatment providers. The year following tracked progress from their first episode of disability through their subsequent return to work.(This period was referred by researchers as the 'health maintenance care period')

To analyze the data the researchers collected, they had to account for the workers demographics and severity of pain. Once this was done, they could get a clearer pictures of the difference the three therapies actually made to the patients. What they found was very surprising!

This study found that the likelihood of recurrent disability due to low back pain was consistently higher for patients receiving care from a physician or a physical therapist compared to a chiropractor. In fact the difference was huge! According to the data, patients were 60% more likely to suffer recurring disability if they were treated by a physician compared to a chiropractor. What's even more astonishing was patients were TWICE as likely to suffer recurring disability if they were treated by a physical therapist compared to a chiropractor!

The main conclusion of the study was; 'In work-related nonspecific low back pain (LBP), the use of health maintenance care provided by physical therapist or physician services was associated with a higher disability recurrence than in chiropractic services or no treatment.' This is something that I have also personally noticed in practice. I have seen patients who were suffering from joint dysfunction and muscle imbalances who sought my care after being disappointed with physical therapy/physiotherapy. These patients often reported that the physical therapist had them performing exercises that they were clearly not ready for. Only leading to frustration for the patient and even in rare cases, re-injury!


This study shows that work related cases of low back pain should be treated by chiropractors. The size of this study was good. With nearly 900 participants in the study, I think the results are pretty clear and hard to refute.


In the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver? visit Dr. Chan's office or visit the website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!


References:JOEM or online: Cifuentes M, Willetts J, Wasiak R. Health maintenance care in work-related low back pain and its association with disability recurrence. JOEM, April 2011;53(4):396-404. 

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Want to Lose Weight?...Eat on a Schedule!"

Eating too many calories may not be the only reason people gain weight. A new study appearing in the journal; Cell Metabolism has found that mice given food on a schedule, gained less weight than mice who were allowed to eat whenever they liked. Eventhough, the diets for the two groups consisted of the same foods!

According to researchers, the study shows that restricting eating times is an under appreciated way to keep off the pounds.  "Every organ has a clock," said study researcher Satchidananda Panda, of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif. That means there are times that our livers, intestines, muscles and other organs work at peak efficiency, and other times when they are — more or less — sleeping, Panda said. The body has natural biological 'clocks' that determine when certain organs work at their best. When mice or even people eat frequently throughout the day and night, these 'clocks' can be thrown off.


The researchers suggest that there is evidence that our eating habits have changed over the years. For one thing, we in western culture have access to an abundance of food at our fingertips. We are able to eat whatever we want almost whenever we want. It's not hard to find fast food restaurants that now cater to late night eaters with '24 hour' access to junk food. But the other problem is also that we have a lot more stimulus that keep us up later at night. We have computers, the internet, TV, streaming video, Tivo, video games, cell phones etc. All these things that we traditional resort to to 'unwind' after a hard day, also helps to keep us up. 


It's no secret that when people are engaged in these activities, we tend to snack. So what's the take home message. Well if you are really committed to losing weight, you have to look at ALL the factors that help you pack on the pounds. Engaging in exercise and watching what you eat is a great start, but actually understanding how your body naturally processes calories is important as well.


In the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver? come drop by the office, or visit the website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Trying to Quit Smoking?......Try Some Veggies!"

This recent article came out extolling yet again the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. But not in the way that you might think. Researchers from the University at Buffalo found a link between eating lots of fruit and veggies and maintaining a tobacco-free lifestyle in smokers. This article published in the journal of Nicotine and Tobacco Research, included 1000 participants. The researchers had the participants answer surveys regarding their fruits and vegetables intake and smoking habits. 

What the researchers found was that there was a positive correlation between a participants fruits and vegetables intake and the likelihood that they had quit.......and stayed away, from tobacco. To go further, the researchers also noticed that those who ate the most produce, were about 3 times more likely to also have reported not smoking at all in the last month!

Now it's not possible to draw a direct correlation between consumption of produce and smoking cessation, but it does make you wonder about what the relationship is. Some possible explanations are; perhaps those who ate more fruits and vegetables have made a concerted effort to become healthier in all aspects of their lives? Thus motivating them more intensely to quit smoking. Perhaps, the consumption of more fruits and vegetables increases a person's intake of fiber. Making them feel more 'full' and more likely to ignore the craving to light up? Another interesting possibility posed by researchers is that eating more fruits and vegetables can actually alter the body and brain's biochemistry! Meaning, eating more produce actually made cigarettes taste WORSE and thus less enjoyable for the smoker!

 "With a few modifications to their diet -- consuming items that make cigarettes taste bad, such as a cold glass of milk, and avoiding items that make cigarettes taste good, like a pint of beer -- smokers can make quitting a bit easier," Joseph McClernon, Ph.D commented.


Wow, that idea is truly fascinating indeed. Now whatever mechanism is at work, the overall benefit of quitting smoking is undeniable. But to think that eating more fresh fruits and vegetables could aid in your attempts to quit, is fantastic on so many levels!


Please leave your questions or comments here if you like or if you're in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, stop by the office. Click the link to visit the website; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Long Commutes May Jeopardize Your Health"

This article seemed interesting to me not only because I commute to work but it made me wonder why some patients explain that they can't find the time to exercise. Being a doctor, I realize today's lifestyles are extremely busy but you must make time for your health, or suffer the consequences.

This article was written by  Dr. Christine M. Hoehner of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Hoehner and her team looked at the commuting habits of 4,297 people. She also measured key metabolic and health indicators and compared them among the participants. Body Mass index (BMI), Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF), blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, waist circumference were among some of the indicators monitored. In addition, Dr. Hoehner also had the participants complete a survey regarding individual assessments of their activity/ exercise levels.


The study found that those who had to travel the farthest to and from work were the ones who showed the poorest measurements in the health indicators mentioned. These people were also the ones who reported the lowest activity/exercise levels as well. Now that just might seem like common sense, those who spend more time commuting have less time to exercise, right? Yes, but lets look at the consequences for a moment. The longest commuters were measured to have the lowest cardiorespiratory fitness as well as the highest BMI's, waist circumference and blood pressures. 


Another interesting finding was that the 'tipping point' distance was somewhere around 15 miles (about 24 kms) At this distance and further, the likelihood participants would show poor health indicators measurements was significantly higher.


Moral of this story is that if your commute to work is long or especially long, you really must make an effort to exercise! Understandably, the time spent during your commute takes away from the time doing the things you 'want' to do, but your health and even your life, may depend on it!


Questions or comments? Leave them here. In the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver? visit Dr. Chan's office or check out the website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "How Much Does Chiropractic Treatment Cost?...(As little as $8 a treatment!*)

 At times I get calls to my office inquiring about how much it cost for Chiropractic Treatment. For some people, they may be eligible for treatments starting at just $8 per visit. Understandably, when patients hear this, they are ecstatic and can't believe it!

I thought I'd write a quick post today about the fee schedule at my clinic to help those of you

who would like more information about this. Now to start off, first time visits to my office carry a $60 charge. The first visit includes a thorough history, examinations, testing, report of findings, treatment and a follow up plan. Because of everything covered, I recommend patients set aside 40-45 minutes for this visit.  Many patients who visit my office enjoy the benefit of having their Chiropractic treatments covered by their insurance providers through work. Depending on your employer and/or health insurance company, the reimbursement levels may vary. (Please refer to your HR department and they can help explain the exact level of coverage your employer provides). All patients, provide payment for the services at the end of their appointments and a receipts is issued to them. Patients can then submit these receipts to their insurance companies so they can get their appropriate reimbursements. 

Subsequent visits are charged $45/visit. Again, the procedure as described above is followed in order for patients to get reimbursements from the insurance company. 

Now here's where things get interesting. Some patients are eligible to receive Chiropractic care that is subsidized by the government. These patients qualify under a billing program called; "Premium Assistance". Generally, patients qualify for this program based on their income. But people who suffer disabilities and people of first nations status also often qualify. (If you would like to confirm if you qualify for the "Premium Assistance" program, the process is done in about 2 minutes and can be completed over the phone. Please call my office manager, Susan at 604-876-4988 and she will gladly check for you.)

*Patients who qualify for the Premium Assistance program only pay a "User Fee" at my office. 
The User Fee for the first visit is $15. After the first visit, subsequent visits after that are only $8/ visit! (There is a limit of 10 visits/calender year that a qualifying patient may use for therapy including things as; Chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, physiotherapy etc.) Also important to note is that each individual office will handle Premium Assistance differently, however, this is just an explanation of how it is handled at my office. The $8 user fee for Chiropractic treatment has been very beneficial for patients who otherwise could not afford the regular fee. Many of my patients who first learn that they qualify for Premium Assistance are not only shocked but very happy indeed! (Please note that $8 is the current user fee and can change without notice)


Also, my office accepts Worksafe BC and ICBC claims as well. Often times, patients with these claims can receive Chiropractic care at NO cost to them! 


If you have any questions or are in the COMMERCIAL DRIVE neighborhood of EAST VANCOUVER, stop on by or visit my website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN!!!!

Commerical Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Sitting Too Much May Be Killing You"

This is a very interesting study that came out this week from the University of Sydney in Australia. Now what I find very impressive about this study is the number of participants involved; according to the study, over 220,000 people over the age of 45! That is a staggering amount of people involved in this study using self-reported data.

The findings included a sharp increase in the risk of death after more than 11 hours of daily sitting was reported. These numbers were compared to the risk of death for people who sat for less than 4 hours/day and those who sat between 8-11 hours/day. The researchers found that those who sat more than 11 hours/day had a 15% increased chance of death in the following 3 years compared to those who sat between 8-11hours. However, the shocking result was that compared to those who sat for less than 4 hours/day, the increased chance of death shot up to 40% for the 11 plus hours group. 

 "The evidence on the detrimental health effects of prolonged sitting has been building over the last few years," said study author Hidde van der Ploeg, a senior research fellow at the University of Sydney. "The study stands out because of its large number of participants and the fact that it was one of the first that was able to look at total sitting time. Most of the evidence to date had been on the health risks of prolonged television viewing."

This study appeared in the March 26 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Some background would also be helpful in relation to this article. Of the over 220,000 Australian participants in this study, about 62% considered themselves to be overweight or obese. This number is very close to North Americans as well. As mentioned before, the participants were also over the age of 45. With the huge global concern regarding chronic illnesses that only increase with time, the age of the participants is also important. 

After reviewing this article, a word of caution is warranted here. As the authors also noted, this study does not provide a 'smoking gun', cause and effect relationship between increased sitting time and death. However, other factors may also come into play. For instance, perhaps people who sit for more than 11 hours/day are simply less active and have increased cardiovascular risk factors than those who sit for less than 4 hours/day. Perhaps it's the other 'factors' that are contributing to their increased mortality? 

But I think it's fair to say that sitting for more than 11 hours/day is clearly unhealthy for your health. I would even venture to say that it's common sense. Having  a sedentary lifestyle is harmful to your health. Period. Now if the myriad of health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle weren't enough, isn't the increased chance of death enough to get you moving? Something to think about and take to heart. 

Come visit your COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR or visit the website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Family Doctors are Finally Catching Up"

A report published online last Thursday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US found that more and more doctors are recommending exercise to their patients. The report found that in 2010, about one in three people (32.4%) who had seen their doctor, had been advised to take up or continue regular physical activity. The report noted that this was a huge improvement from 2000 when just under one in four patients (22.6%) received the same advice.


The report also revealed some surprising information. For example, adults who were 85 or older were about twice as likely to be advised to exercise regularly than the same age group just 10 years ago. However, the age group that was still most likely to receive the recommendation of regular exercise were people between the ages of 45 -74. The report also found that other health issues increased the likelihood of being recommended daily exercise. Chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, increased the chances of a doctor advising you to take up exercise. 


The results in this report are not surprising at all. With increasing longevity and the rates of chronic diseases, like diabetes on the rise, doctors are recognizing the importance of exercise. Increasing a person's activity levels has numerous health benefits. Decreasing blood pressure, controlling weight, improving aerobic capacity, helping to control blood sugar, improving muscle tone and improving vitality are only some of the benefits. 

However, what's perplexing is when you scrutinize this report deeper, you realize that almost 70% of people who are in contact with their doctor, are not recommended exercise. That's right, with everything we know about the benefits of exercise, most people are never advised to take up regular activity!! As a Chiropractor practicing a health care option that does not rely on pharmaceuticals, we have to encourage our patients to adopt a different perspective. I can speak from my own experience that every patient of mine, in fact from the very first visit, is advised to stretch and exercise! I have only encountered a handful of patients where maybe exercise was not advised from the beginning. But instead, stretching and breathing exercise were encouraged until the patient was physically able to do more, for example going for walks.


The moral of the story is, exercise and regular physical is so beneficial and crucial to your overall health. Only a miniscule fraction of society may be unable to exercise but believe me, this group is very small indeed. Everyone else should be engaging in regular activity and the best thing is; it's Free! Knowing what doctors and other health professionals know about exercise and how it can improve health, I feel it is a disservice to our patients if we don't recommend regular exercise to everyone. So the question remains, "....what's taking so long???"


If you have a comment about this article, let me hear from you. Or if you're in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver visit my office or website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Running Can Be Harmful for Your Joints and Health"

Everyday in practice, I am reminding patients of the benefits of regular exercise. However, occasionally I get patients who ask me, "...but I heard that running can be bad for your joints and health?". So lets discuss some of the myths out there regarding running and potential harm to your joints and overall health. 

Let's start off by saying that if you are not physically active now but are interested in starting an exercise program, that may include running make sure you are screened first. Have your family physician or Chiropractor assess you to make sure you are physically able to endure moderate to intense exercise. (Make sure you inform your Chiropractor of all health conditions concerning your heart and medications  you may be on). If everything is ok here, regular physical exercise is one of the very best things you could do for your health. I often explain to my patients that you would normally eat everyday because your body needs the fuel and nutrients. But your dentist will tell you that you also need to brush and floss everyday to take good care of your teeth. The same logic applies to the rest of your body. Exercise and movement is vital to proper body and spinal 'hygiene'. 

"Running is bad for your joints". Wrong.  A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found no evidence of accelerated rates of osteoarthritis (joint degeneration) among long-distance runners. In fact, weight bearing exercises have been shown to be actually beneficial to the bones by encouraging increased bone density.


"What about heart attacks?". Another concern that some people have is that running and other strenuous forms of exercise can 'overload' your heart and cause a heart attack. Well, there is a chance that exercise may raise the odds of suffering a heart attack, mid-workout however, regular exercise can be beneficial. Regular cardiovascular activity can reduce your chances of heart attacks and can serve as 'protection' over the long haul.


The moral of the story is, don't let these concerns stop you from becoming physically active or running. However, if you're not convinced and want to be extra 'sure', go get assessed by your doctor or Chiropractor first. Remember, exercise is best done regularly, for the long term. So don't be in a rush to run a marathon tomorrow. Take it slow and steady! If you're in the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver, drop by the office or check out the website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - " Why Chiropractic??? - (Opinion)"

I wanted to write today to address a common question that many people who may not have ever tried Chriopractic ask themselves, " Why Chiropractic?".  In today's society, especially in the west, we are lucky to have lots of options for healthcare. But many of us who have experienced traditional medical care for pain, may have been left wondering if there were alternatives?  

There are over the counter drugs like; Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, Robaxacet and others. The benefits of drugs are that they are readily available and an 'easy' option. The downside is that many patients find that they have to take many pills, every day just to function in normal life. Along with potential side effects, many people quickly realize that taking drugs for relief does nothing to address the root cause of the original discomfort.

What about Acupuncture? Massage? or Physiotherapy then? All of these are also good options for people seeking relief from discomfort and pain. Admittedly, many people will indeed find the relief that they are looking for if they try these options. Ok then Doc, here comes the golden question, "....Why Chiropractic then?"

Chiropractic is a great option for people suffering from pain and who are looking for an effective, safe solution for their bodily aches and discomfort.  A spinal adjustment delivered by a Chiropractor can pinpoint the area or joint in question that is fixated and release the irritation quickly. I liken it to adding oil to a hinge that has become a little rusty. The addition of the oil immediately allows the hinge to once again move freely with less friction and squeaking. That restored movement alone goes a long way in not only reducing pain but to also speed healing. The body is an intricate and beautifully interconnected machine. That being said, the body needs to move in order to realize optimal health. Massage and Acupuncture as mentioned earlier, can be effective at reducing pain, however many instances of back, neck, shoulder pain and the like are a result of strained/sprained soft tissue that directly affects the normal motion and alignment of joints. 

I hope that helps to answer the question of "...why Chiropractic?" for some of you. For those of you who are still unsure, please leave a comment below. If you're in the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver, stop by my clinic or visit my website here; COMMERICAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - " Chiropractic Better than Medication for Neck Pain "

Neck pain is a very common complaint I see in clinical practice. The causes are varied but can range from a night of poor sleep to sports related trauma. More and more, I am also seeing the culprit being postural overload. That is to say, our society requires many of us to spend a lot of time working on computers. The position that many of us adopt in front of computers is actually harmful over long periods and forces undue strain on the joints of our necks. Many of us recognize the familiar tightness in the back of our necks, the stiffness and maybe even headaches that is a result of neck tension. If the situation isn't addressed, the next likely progression is pain.

Many patients see me for relief of pain in their necks. The relief is almost immediate in most cases but also function is improved. That is to say, a lot of neck pain sufferers report a lack of motion or stiffness in the neck. This can make everyday activities very difficult, even dangerous if you think about the inability to shoulder check when driving. I have seen first hand patients being able to move better and turn their heads after a Chiropractic treatment.

Today I'd like to discuss a common, alternative treatment for neck pain; Pain Killers. Many people resort to the good 'ol Tylenol or Advil for relief of neck pain. Admittedly, these medications will offer many people the relief they are looking for however, it's only temporary. 
If your neck pain lasts more than a couple of days, I'm sure you will start to be concerned about how many pills you need to take just to make it through your day. Well, the good news is there is an alternative! According to this recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine, it appears that Chiropractic adjustments for neck pain is a better option for neck pain than medication!

 This study included over 270 participants from a wide range of ages (18 -65) that had been suffering from neck pain lasting from at least 2 weeks to as much as 12 weeks. What the researchers did was assign different people different therapies including, Chiropractic (Spinal Manipulative Therapy) and medication. The participants were re-evaluated at regular intervals to see how they were doing throughout. 


The study concluded that participants who received Chiropractic treatments for their neck pain improved faster and were more satisfied with their improvements compared to those who took medication alone. Another finding from the study was that those who took only medication for relief, found their improvements were limited. To make matters worse, despite their limited relief, these sufferers continued to take HIGHER amounts of medication for longer. Thus posing other problems such dependency, liver toxicity, ulcers and overdose. 


As this study shows, there are very effective and natural treatments for neck pain like, Chiropractic. In fact, as more evidence is showing, Chiropractic is an even better option than medication alone for the treatment and relief of neck pain. If you have any questions, please leave them below. Remember if you're in the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver, stop by the office or visit my website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!!


References;
 
Spinal Manipulation, Medication, or Home Exercise With Advice for Acute and Subacute Neck Pain,A Randomized Trial,
Annals of Internal Medicine, Bronfort et al., January 3, 2012 vol. 156 no. 1 Part 1 1-10

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Hormone Linking Exercise and Health Benefits Found!.......Now to Make it a Drug"

The following story is a prime example of a ‘good news-bad news’ scenario. An international team of scientists believe they have isolated the natural hormone found in muscle cells responsible for some of the health benefits related to exercise. Senior author Dr Bruce Spiegelman, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues, write about their findings in the 11 January online issue of Nature.

 The authors of this study believe that finding this chemical messenger, named “Irisin” after a Greek goddess, will help them better understand the health benefits of exercise. With the ultimate goal of using the information to treat a myriad of other diseases including; diabetes, obesity and maybe even cancer. 

 For this study, researchers used lab cultures and mice to find that Irisin had a direct effect on white adipose tissue. This tissue also referred to as ‘white fat’ is the subcutaneous deposits that we commonly associate with obesity. In other words, those of us who have a ‘spare tire’ around our guts or ‘saddle bags’ on our hips, have a unhealthy accumulation of white fat in these areas. 

White fat is one way our bodies tend to store and collect excess, unburned calories. In this study, it was discovered that when humans and mice exercise, the levels of Irisin in muscle tissues go up. When this happens, the Irisin triggers a response that helps to convert white fat into a healthier form or ‘brown fat’.

Brown fat is considered healthier because it has the ability to burn off more excess calories than exercise alone. In addition, it was found that Irisin helps to improve our bodies glucose tolerance. Glucose tolerance is actually a good indicator of our overall metabolic health. The better our metabolic health, than the better we are at preventing ailments like cardiovascular disease and diabetes. (For instance, people who suffer from diabetes have poor glucose tolerance)

Now for the ‘bad news’ portion of this story. The potential effect of this discovery for the prevention and treatment of a whole slew of health problems is enormous. From patients who are obese, at risk of strokes or even developing cancers could all benefit from this exercise induced hormone. The researchers intend to develop this discovery into a drug. That’s right, the lead researcher has already expressed interest in beginning clinical trials of a potential drug based on Irisin in the next two years. Basically, researchers want to sell you the natural benefits of exercise in a prescription pill!

The irony should be blatantly obvious here. Science has discovered a possible link between exercise and better health. A natural hormone that may explain why exercise has so many health benefits on the human body and be paramount in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. But now instead of promoting exercise and a healthy lifestyle to the general public, they would instead like you to take yet another pill! I hope everyone can see the folly in this logic. Instead of taking a pill, why not produce the hormone yourself through exercise!

If you have questions about this article, please leave a comment. In the Commercial Drive area of East Vancouver? visit my office or my website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!!


References;
“A PGC1-[alpha]-dependent myokine that drives brown-fat-like development of white fat and thermogenesis”; Pontus Boström, Jun Wu, Mark P. Jedrychowski, Anisha Korde, Li Ye, James C. Lo, Kyle A. Rasbach, Elisabeth Almer Boström, Jang Hyun Choi, Jonathan Z. Long, Shingo Kajimura, Maria Cristina Zingaretti, Birgitte F. Vind, Hua Tu, Saverio Cinti, Kurt Højlund, Steven P. Gygi & Bruce M. Spiegelman; Nature, Published online 11 January 2012; DOI:10.1038/nature10777

 

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - " The Healing Power of Touch......From a Medical Perspective"

I came across this article today and it just underscores something I've seen in practice going on eight years now. Many patients, especially ones suffering from acute or chronic pain, are expressing their dissatisfaction to me regarding their medical care. Many patients are telling me that they felt very rushed, and didn't get a chance to raise their health concerns in depth. Many clinics have a standing policy of only one health concern/question per office visit. This is an obvious problem because most health issues don't occur in isolation. But the most distressing of these complaints is when a patient tells me that their doctor never even touched them! Especially for back complaints or musculoskeletal pain  many people, and rightly so, expect that a doctor will at least examine the area with their hands, if even for a moment. Unfortunately, I wish I could say this was a very rare occurrence, but the reality is different. 

This article written by Julie Chen, MD discusses the benefit of touch and how it can significantly improve a patient's health. She describes how massage and manual therapy, like Chiropractic, can help a patient's condition. Manual therapies have been shown to help reduce stress, improve circulation, relieve pain and speed recovery. All very important effects especially for a patient in pain. 

The following is a brief excerpt from her article; 

 "...Many of my patients express their frustration that massage therapy generally is not covered by their health insurance, yet the health benefits seem tremendous for them. I believe that the growing trend of discontent with lack of coverage for massage therapy is not just limited to patients, but from health practitioners as well. 

What is even more unfortunate is that sometimes health care practitioners rarely fully lay hands on patients even for office visits and evaluations anymore. As a part of most healing modalities in the past, the simple touch therapy of examining and treating the patient imparts a level of healing that is now becoming lost in modern day medicine. 

Many of my patients joke that doctors these days don't even put their hands on the patient anymore except for a cursory exam at the first visit or unless absolutely necessary. It is unfortunate that along with declining time allowed with each patient, even the simple but effective practice of laying of hands on patients is slowly becoming lost as well."

Dr. Chen later goes on to speak about the benefits of manual therapies for patient care.

"Even as recent as just a few decades ago, the laying of hands and massage therapy or manual therapy was considered a normal natural part of medicine. In more recent times, massage and manual therapy is seen as more of a luxury rather than a necessary part of healing and wellness."

"This is an unfortunate change in Western healing philosophy since studies show that massage and manual therapy are beneficial for many medical conditions and health concerns, which is likely the reason why manual therapy is still considered an important part of healing in most other parts of the world.

Based on numerous studies as listed below, massage and manual therapy is in my opinion an essential part of health and healing based on improvement of circulation, muscle function and stress reduction, just to name a few."

Now to be fair, I understand the pressures that many family doctors feel. In practice, it's required that a doctor see many patients in order to keep the practice afloat financially. With significant costs going towards overhead, staffing, and insurance, family doctors don't really have much choice but to spend only a few minutes with a patient before having to move on to the next one.

Many I'm sure would love to spend more time with each patient, if they could.

So the onus falls on the patient to try alternatives. As Dr. Chen states in her article, one the best options for patients to try is manual therapies like massage and Chiropractic! If you would like to read Dr. Chen's full article, just click HERE!!! 

If you're by the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, stop by my office or you can visit my website; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN !!!!

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Is Medical Care of Pain Safer than Chiropractic?......You Be the Judge"

Many of you out there that have never tried Chiropractic before may be concerned about safety. Perhaps you have heard 'horror stories' about someone feeling worse after a Chiropractic treatment? Maybe even worse, you have come across stories of Chiropractors causing a stroke in patients. I'd like today to put things into perspective and speak about the relative risks involved with Chiropractic and Medical interventions for pain or specifically back pain.

Estimates of a life threatening event like a stroke occurring due to a Chiropractic treatment vary. Most estimates are in the neighborhood of 1 in every 1-10 million Chiropractic adjustments of the neck. A very low incidence relatively speaking. However, I have come across some sources that claim the incidence can be as high as 1 in every 40,000 treatments. Being fair though, a lot of these studies go on to note that, " While our analysis is consistent with a positive association in young adults, potential sources of bias are also discussed. The rarity of VBAs makes this association difficult to study despite high volumes of chiropractic treatment. Because of the popularity of spinal manipulation, high-quality research on both its risks and benefits is recommended." 

In other words, researchers admit that the incidence of vertebrobasilar accidents (VBA's) or strokes is very rare compared to the number of treatments offered. In addition, many admit that there may be potential sources of bias in reporting, thus skewing the actual numbers reported. 

Now lets turn our attention to a common therapy offered by the medical profession for pain; Prescription pain relievers. This article I came across recently comes directly from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their own research found that currently, more Americans are more likely to die of a drug overdose than in a car accident! Just ponder that fact for a moment. Car accidents probably come to mind if you ask anyone to name a cause of accidental death. But according to the numbers, a drug overdose that leads to death is actually MORE likely! Now to put it another way, if you are not concerned about potentially dying the next time you're in a car, how concerned should you be about being harmed by a Chiropractor, let alone dying?

I know the comparison is stark but many seemingly innocent things in life carry a risk. Crossing the street carries a risk. But if you are taking prescription medication to relieve pain, please reconsider your options and try Chiropractic!

Here's more from the article; "In 2008, poisoning deaths became the number one cause of accidental deaths in the United States and the leading cause of injury death in 30 states, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ninety percent of these poisonings were linked to drugs, with a surge in deaths from prescription painkiller overdoses reported."

Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein, medical director of the Florida Poison Information Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said "we knew this was coming; it shouldn't shock anybody. It's disturbing though."

More attention needs to be devoted to this problem, Bernstein noted. "It needs to be attacked from multiple angles and multiple levels in the way we have made headway in trauma," he said.

"There are newer and better drugs and that's great for treating people's pain, but they come with a price," Bernstein pointed out. "There is addiction and interactions with other drugs, and potential for overdose and misuse."

The number of users and abusers of these drugs is much greater than those who die from them, Warner added. "This is the tip of the iceberg," she said.

By 2010, 12 million Americans said they were using opioid painkillers without a prescription. In 2009, almost 500,000 emergency room visits were for abuse of these painkillers. This costs health insurance companies as much as $72 billion a year in direct costs, the CDC said in a November report.

I hope this article sheds some light on the relative risks between Chiropractic care versus medical treatment of pain. If you're in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, stop by my office or visit my website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN!!!! 


Sources;
 Margaret Warner, Ph.D., injury epidemiologist, National Center for Health Statistics, Office of Analysis and Epidemiology, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Chris Jones, Pharm.D., M.P.H., health scientist, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Jeffrey Bernstein, M.D., medical director, Florida Poison Information Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Dec. 20, 2011, Drug Poisoning Deaths in the United States, 1980-2008

Commercial Drive - East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC - "Why Chiropractic Can Help Your Overall Health.....and Drugs Can't"

I have come across numerous patients during my years of practice who swear that Chiropractic adjustments leave them feeling light and euphoric. Some have even told me, Chiropractic has helped them with seemingly unrelated complaints, like asthma for instance. Now I know most people associate Chiropractic with just backs but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Chiropractic can actually help the entire body!...let me explain how.

Let's start with a brief anatomy lesson. Your spine and your skull is intimately connected, you can not discuss one without the other. The reason is because of your central nervous system or CNS. Your CNS is made of your brain and your spinal cord. They are connected and essential to life as we know it. The brain and spinal cord together is the main 'control' and 'communication' center for your body. Every process needed for everyday life occurs through the CNS whether you're aware of it or not. (Ever wondered how it is your body keeps breathing while you're asleep at night?....it's because of your nervous system). Now conversely, the CNS being so vital to life, it is apparent what can happen when you damage it. For example, various degrees of damage can occur to your central nervous system from many causes; concussion, strokes, paralysis, fibromyalgia, dementia, meningitis just to name a few. 

So if the tissue and cells that make up your brain and spinal cord are so important to life, ever wondered how they stay healthy? Well a big part of the picture is what's called; Cerebrospinal Fluid or CSF. CSF is the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. It serves several functions including; protection, chemical stability and nourishment. So let's talk about the last function in depth. 

Your central nervous system is made up of cells just like other tissue in your body. Take for instance, everyone knows your muscles get nutrition and important nutrients through your blood and circulatory system. However, your brain and spinal cord don't get the nutrients they need through your blood, it does so via the Cerebrospinal Fluid! So for your brain and spinal cord to remain healthy it must receive new nutrients and be able to get rid of waste products at the same time. Just like your blood nourishes your muscles by flowing through your vessels, the CSF must also move or 'circulate' to perform it's function. 

This fact may sound complicated but it's really not. For your brain and spinal cord to stay healthy, your body or more correctly, your spine MUST move!......there is no way around it. The movement of your spine is what helps to move or 'circulate' the CSF. This is essential to life and your overall health. 

But think about all the challenges of life nowadays. Stress, fatigue, jobs that chain you to a desk 8 hours per day, lack of exercise, poor nutrition are just some of the things that can lead to poor health and eventual pain. Now think about the overall picture and you can see how Chiropractors can help. Chiropractors are trained to find the cause of musculoskeletal pain in your body. We can restore motion to stiff joints, improve function, educate you on ways to improve overall health, guide you on a proper exercise and diet program and get rid of pain!

The old adage of "use it or lose it!" couldn't be more true. Pain is just one of the last ways your body and brain will tell you there's a problem. Unfortunately, as human beings we tend to ignore the warning signs until the pain becomes unbearable. Don't let this happen to you! Do something about your pain and something good for your body and overall health! Find out how Chiropractic could improve your health today!

Please feel free to leave a comment or visit my office. You can also visit my website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!