Tag Archives: Brain

In Love and Health: If you have a brain, you’re at risk for Alzheimer’s

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There are lots of purple ribbons as June is Alzheimer’s and Brian Awareness Month. (Alzheimer’s Association)

Dr. Erik Johnson DC
Love and Health Chiropractic

Are you seeing purple? If yes, that’s because June is designated as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Those purple ribbons remind us of the fight against Alzheimer’s dementia. Everyone is at risk for Alzheimer’s. However, you can take action to reduce that risk.

While there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, physicians can prescribe medications that can address its symptoms. And, as a chiropractor, I can’t help but point out the value of chiropractic adjustments. The brain and the spine work together to message and manage the entire body. An aligned spine can better relay the messages that the brain sends to the various organs and body parts. Many of my colleagues have reported success in supporting the journeys of their patients with Alzheimer’s.

What else can you do? Diet has been shown to be a big factor in brain health. Some experts are even calling Alzheimer’s disease Type 3 diabetes. Studies have found that some cases of Alzheimer’s disease were triggered by a form of diabetes in the brain. An Alzheimer’s gene variant, APOE4, seems to interfere with brain cells’ ability to use insulin. As a result, those brain cells seem to eventually starve and die. Mayo Clinic researchers have even tested an insulin nasal spray that has been developed to improve Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Alzheimer’s Association’s Longest Day will be June 21. (Alzheimer’s Association)

While treatments like this are wonderful, wouldn’t it be even better to reduce risks for the disease? That’s where choosing foods that do not lead to insulin resistance, prediabetes, and diabetes come in to play. In addition to avoiding sweets and carbs that wreak havoc on blood sugar levels, choose fatty fish, leafy greens, eggs, and legumes. When you make your stop at the farmers market this summer, stock up on strawberries, broccoli, squash, and avocados. In between meals, snack on trail mixes that include chia and flax seeds. Cook with extra virgin olive oil and don’t be shy about using lots of fresh garlic.

When you eat healthier, you’ll not only reduce your risks for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, but you’ll also improve your overall health. These other suggestions for reducing risk of Alzheimer’s from the Alzheimer’s Association do the same: Physical and mental exercise, smoking cessation, getting plenty of sleep, enjoying the company of friends and family, and avoiding head injuries.

Back to the color purple. If you see an extra flourish of purple ribbons this month, they may also be promoting the Alzheimer’s Association’s Fight Alzheimer’s on The Longest Day® campaign, taking place on June 20, the summer solstice. “The day with the most light is the day we fight®.” For information, visit ALZ.org.

Dr. Erik Johnson DC is a chiropractor at Love and Health Chiropractic in Wyoming at 1586 44th Street SW.

Pandemic provides reminder of importance of recognizing signs of stroke

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Because of limited contact with family due to COVID, more people fell victim to strokes, a leading cause of death and disability. (Pxhere.com)

By Jamie Allen
Metro Health – University of Michigan Health

When COVID-19 kept families apart, it meant fewer opportunities for loved ones to notice the signs of stroke. And so, more people fell victim to one of the leading causes of death and disability.

The pandemic contributed in several ways to an increase in fatal strokes in the United States last year, said Dr. Jeffrey Fletcher, who specializes in neurocritical care, neurology and vascular neurology for Metro Health – University of Michigan Health.

Despite the complications of COVID-19, the most important aspect of stroke treatment has never changed, he said: Every second counts to limit the risk of brain damage and death.

“It is essential to recognize the signs of stroke and call 911 to get to the hospital as soon as possible,” he said, “because time is still brain.”

May is Stroke Awareness Month, an appropriate time to emphasize the importance of recognizing the signs, which can be memorized by the acronym B.E. F.A.S.T.:

  • B-Balance (Is the person having trouble with balance?)
  • E-Eyes (Does the person have blurred or double vision?)
  • F-Face (Does the face look uneven?)
  • A-Arm (Is one arm or leg suddenly weak?)
  • S-Speech (Does speech sound strange?)
  • T-Time (It’s time to call 911)With early data showing a significant increase in stroke deaths in 2020, stroke remains a leading cause of death in the United States, bumped down to No. 4 only because of COVID- 19. But Fletcher noted that, even among survivors, stroke takes a huge toll as the leading cause of disability.The devastating effects of stroke are another argument to be vaccinated for COVID-19, he said. There is moderate evidence that contracting COVID-19 increases the risk of stroke – and strong evidence it can contribute to more severe stroke outcomes.“In terms of stroke prevention, there’s a lot you can do by limiting risk factors and leading a healthy life,” Fletcher said. “That would include things that mitigate the chance of getting COVID, such as following public health measures, including immunization.”Acknowledging recent concerns about very rare blood clots among people who received vaccines, Fletcher said, “the risk of stroke with COVID is 1,000 times greater.”

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Fletcher remains optimistic about the future of stroke care. Technological advances mean doctors are able to treat more strokes than ever. But for that to be possible, patients must arrive as soon as possible at a comprehensive stroke center like the one at Metro Health – University of Michigan Health.

“It gets back to recognizing what B.E. F.A.S.T. means,” he said. “Calling 911 can be the difference between death, severe disability and recovery.”

To learn more about recognizing the signs of stroke, plus the resources for stroke survivors and their caregivers, visit the Metro Health – University of Michigan Health website.

In Love and Health: Be smart about brain safety #ChangeYourMind

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Dr. Erik Johnson
Love and Health Chiropractic

Did you know that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month? According to the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, 58,500 Michiganders will experience a brain injury during 2021. Ranging from mild to fatal, brain injuries happen to people of all ages. Those due to congenital abnormalities or from degenerative disease like Alzheimer’s are called acquired brain injuries. The kind of brain injuries that you can help prevent are traumatic brain injuries—TBIs.

 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services found that 30% of TBIs in Michigan are caused by car crashes. TBIs can happen if you are in an automobile accident, you fall and hit your head, you dive into shallow water, or you’re hit by a hard ball during sports activities. One type of TBI you’ve probably heard of, a concussion happens when you bump or receive a hit to your head that moves your head rapidly back and forth.

The CDC has put together this list of ways you can prevent traumatic brain injuries:

On the road

  • Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
  • Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Wear a helmet when you ride a bike, motorcycle, snowmobile, scooter, or use an all-terrain vehicle.



Tots and tykes

  • Install window guards to keep young children from falling out.
  • Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
  • Go to playgrounds with soft material like mulch or sand under swings and slides.
  • Never shake a baby or child.



Playing sports

  • Wear a helmet when you play sports—contact sports, skating or skateboarding, running bases, riding horses, skiing or snowboarding.
  • Jump in first to check water depth in rivers and lakes. Obey “no diving” warnings at pools.



As you age

  • Review your prescription and over-the-counter medicines—can they make you dizzy or sleepy? 
  • Ask your healthcare provider about vitamin D.
  • Do exercise, like tai chi, to strengthen your legs and improve your balance. 
  • Get a vision check-up at least once a year. 
  • In your home, remove trip-and-fall hazards like small rugs; install grab bars by the tub or shower and next to the toilet; put railings on both sides of stairs; and keep your home well-lit, including nightlights. 



If you or a loved one experience a hit to the head followed by nausea, unsteadiness, headache, or difficulty concentrating, go to your primary care doctor, urgent care, or emergency room right away. Prompt treatment can mean the difference between life and death—or a life lived with severe impairments.



Depending on how serious a TBI is, recovery can be a slow and painful process. Those with serious brain injuries may survive, but never completely recover. A report on the National Institute for Health website states that traumatic brain injuries provide “a unique target of opportunity for complementary and alternative medicine.” The report explored modalities like acupuncture, meditation, and mindfulness.

When one of my patient’s sons was seven years old, his brother accidentally threw a screwdriver at his head. After emergency surgery and nine days in a Grand Rapids hospital, doctors said he might never be able to read or walk very well. During each of those nine days, his chiropractor visited and gave him gentle adjustments. After discharge, the little fellow began music therapy. Throughout high school, he was first-string quarterback—and graduated as valedictorian. Today, he is a successful architect.

That said, the best course of action is to take care of your noggin. Buckle up! Wear a helmet! Avoid falls! In other words, use your brain!

 

Dr. Erik Johnson DC is a chiropractor at Love and Health Chiropractic in Wyoming at 1586 44th Street SW.