Greetings and salutations, Erie!
It has been a historic week. Last Tuesday was a wonderful day for our country. I don't know about you, but I am inspired and very optimistic. I think good things are on the horizon.
Where in Erie is Creating Wellness this week? This one may surprise you, but this week it is in in your medicine cabinet! I want to discuss the dangers of NSAIDs. This stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Some examples include Aspirin, Tylenol, Celebrex, Advil (Ibuprofen) and Aleve. The general public and physicians alike regard these drugs as safe and relatively harmless. Most would believe their side effects to be relatively mild.
It has been estimated, conservatively, that there are 16,500 NSAID related deaths every year among arthritis patients! This ranks up there with the number of annual AIDS deaths and more deaths related to multiple myeloma, cervical cancer, Hodgkin's, or asthma. If gastrointenstinal toxic effects from NSAIDs were calculated separately, those effects would constitute the 15th most common cause of death in the United States!
(At the time I write this, there are now seven (7) confirmed deaths nationally related to salmonella tainted peanut butter. The FDA and public are in a panic over seven deaths from peanut butter, but not 16,500 deaths related to a common over the counter drug.)
Pain is a good thing. We were designed to experience pain in order to tell our brains that we need to make changes within our immediate surroundings. Pain is essential to our survival. Quieting our pain senses without addressing the source/cause of pain is idiotic and detrimental to our existence.
When we are in pain we need to ask ourselves, "What does this mean?" "Do I need to take my hand of this hot stove?" "Why did I drink eleven beers last night?" NSAIDs were designed for short term, temporary relief. They are reasonable to use for acute conditions while you address the actual cause of discomfort. Unfortunately, too many people take NSAIDs as if they were candy. Most are unaware of the damages occurring to their stomach lining, liver, and kidneys.
Living a lifestyle rich in wellness choices dramatically decreases the need to use NSAIDs. This doesn't mean people who live a wellness lifestyle don't experience pain. A wellness lifestyle greatly diminishes or eliminates chronic pain.
We were born to be healthy. It is imperative we listen to and honor our body's warning system. In today's day and age with multi-billion dollar marketing campaigns from drug companies, it is often easier and quicker to listen to their ads than it is to listen to our body. This is why it is important now, more than ever, to be consciously aware of all of our thoughts and actions. Don't be afraid to ask, "Why?" or "Does this really make sense?"
It is time we reclaim our lives from drug companies! It is time we reclaim our lives from fast food restaurants! It is time we reclaim our lives from irresponsible living! Our lifestyle choices do have consequences, whether it is tomorrow morning or 25 years later. Reclaim your life today! Start living healthier one day at a time for a lifetime!
Until next week, Be Fit, Eat Right, Think Well.
- Dr. Steve
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Where in Erie is Creating Wellness? Week 3
What a week it has been since I last wrote! It seems like winter flexed its muscles this week. The coldest I saw was minus 4 degrees. That's not including windchil, either! I lost track of how much snow fell, but I think the Erie region is up to 104.9 inches this year.This leads me to this week's Creating Wellness topic.
Remember, Creating Wellness focuses on all three dimensions of wellness, not just one. When most of us think of wellness, we think of it in the physical realm. "If I'm physically fit or if I eat properly, then I am well" is a common mistake we all make.
This week, Creating Wellness is located in: conscious awareness.
This concept might be a bit foreign at first, but if you truly begin to be consciously aware of your thoughts and emotions as well as the meanings behind them you'll begin to live well. How many of us reacted to the cold temps and snowfall with a feeling of discontent, irritation, or depression? How many of us actually thought about WHY we were upset with the weather? Was our response instant? Rationalized? Justified? This is an example of not being consciously aware. It is okay to not like the snow and cold weather. Snow is neither good or bad. Warm, sunny summer days is neither good or bad. The two are seemingly the same when it comes down to it. The problem arises when we let something, such as the weather, completely ruin our attitudes, thoughts, and ultimately our actions. Nothing in this world has any meaning only the meaning we apply to it. Attitude influences thoughts and it is our thoughts that influence our actions. Think back to this past week.
Think of one of the days when it was completely snowy and cold. What was your attitude toward the weather on that day? What kind of thoughts developed as a result of your attitude towards the weather? Lastly, think about how you acted those days. Were you short with a loved one? How was your interactions with co-workers? How was your energy levels those days? If you had a negative attitude towards the weather, it is likely you didn't have a great week last week. Were you a victim of circumstance or did you have a role in how the week was perceived? If you had a positive attitude towards the weather, then it is likely you had a pretty good week.
Weather is just one example. An upcoming deadline at work, heavy traffic, sick child at home, or a sagging economy are things or events that have zero meaning. In and of themselves they do not have meaning. You will apply a different meaning than your spouse, co-worker, or neighbor. The great thing is that you CAN CHOOSE your attitude by first being aware of it. If you aren't aware of it, you can't choose. Being consciously aware takes time, takes effort, but ultimately leads to a happier, healthier life.
Start today by being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions to every situation throughout your day. You may not be able to control unexpected events or accidents, but you can control how you react or perceive them. Your life is what you make it. Make it a good one.Erie, we need wellness now more than ever. We need to be physically and mentally well if we are going to be able to withstand the turbulent times ahead. Are you with me in this wellness revolution? The world is counting on you and me.
Until next week,
BE FIT. EAT RIGHT. THINK WELL.
Reclaiming lives,
Dr. Steve
Remember, Creating Wellness focuses on all three dimensions of wellness, not just one. When most of us think of wellness, we think of it in the physical realm. "If I'm physically fit or if I eat properly, then I am well" is a common mistake we all make.
This week, Creating Wellness is located in: conscious awareness.
This concept might be a bit foreign at first, but if you truly begin to be consciously aware of your thoughts and emotions as well as the meanings behind them you'll begin to live well. How many of us reacted to the cold temps and snowfall with a feeling of discontent, irritation, or depression? How many of us actually thought about WHY we were upset with the weather? Was our response instant? Rationalized? Justified? This is an example of not being consciously aware. It is okay to not like the snow and cold weather. Snow is neither good or bad. Warm, sunny summer days is neither good or bad. The two are seemingly the same when it comes down to it. The problem arises when we let something, such as the weather, completely ruin our attitudes, thoughts, and ultimately our actions. Nothing in this world has any meaning only the meaning we apply to it. Attitude influences thoughts and it is our thoughts that influence our actions. Think back to this past week.
Think of one of the days when it was completely snowy and cold. What was your attitude toward the weather on that day? What kind of thoughts developed as a result of your attitude towards the weather? Lastly, think about how you acted those days. Were you short with a loved one? How was your interactions with co-workers? How was your energy levels those days? If you had a negative attitude towards the weather, it is likely you didn't have a great week last week. Were you a victim of circumstance or did you have a role in how the week was perceived? If you had a positive attitude towards the weather, then it is likely you had a pretty good week.
Weather is just one example. An upcoming deadline at work, heavy traffic, sick child at home, or a sagging economy are things or events that have zero meaning. In and of themselves they do not have meaning. You will apply a different meaning than your spouse, co-worker, or neighbor. The great thing is that you CAN CHOOSE your attitude by first being aware of it. If you aren't aware of it, you can't choose. Being consciously aware takes time, takes effort, but ultimately leads to a happier, healthier life.
Start today by being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions to every situation throughout your day. You may not be able to control unexpected events or accidents, but you can control how you react or perceive them. Your life is what you make it. Make it a good one.Erie, we need wellness now more than ever. We need to be physically and mentally well if we are going to be able to withstand the turbulent times ahead. Are you with me in this wellness revolution? The world is counting on you and me.
Until next week,
BE FIT. EAT RIGHT. THINK WELL.
Reclaiming lives,
Dr. Steve
Where in Erie is Creating Wellness? Week 2
Greetings and salutations! I wrote last week about introducing the Creating Wellness concept to the Erie community. With Creating Wellness, we like to say, "BE FIT. EAT RIGHT. THINK WELL." Creating Wellness is a system that brings together all three dimensions of true wellness under one roof through the chiropractic vision.
We live in a culture that is growing increasingly obese. A recent report indicates that there are more obese people in our country right now than people who are "just overweight." These trends cannot continue if we want our country to survive. Our economy will crash if these trends continue. The US currently spends $2.4 trillion on health care. You haven't seen anything yet in terms of a financial mess until you see our healthcare industry collapse.
Each week, I will post entries on where you can find wellness in your day to day lives. It isn't hard, we just need to open our eyes and see the opportunities in front of us.
Where in Erie is Creating Wellness this week? Work.
It doesn't matter if you work in retail, manufacturing, social services, etc, you can find wellness where you work. Is the culture of your workplace one of health/wellness or is it nonchalant towards healthy habits? You can lead the wellness revolution at your workplace. You can be the source of change that is desperately needed. You will face resistance initially, but persistence will pay off! Your workplace needs a wellness revolution, our world needs a wellness revolution.
1. During breaks, lunch, etc. go for walks. Walk around the perimeter of your workplace. Walk the hallways. Walk laps around different floors. Just get moving when you can. This will increase blood flow, wake you up, burn calories.
2. Use the stairs. Rule of thumb: If you work on the first through fifth floor of a building, you should always use the stairs. It may take time to be strong enough to walk five flights of stairs, but ultimately there should be no excuses (unless you are in a wheelchair).
3. Skip all the candy, brownies, cookies, etc that coworkers bring in. The only reason they bring it in is so they don't eat it at home. If you find yourself reaching for one of these treats, ask yourself, "What am I trying to achieve by eating this?" If the answer is because you are hungry, then find something better to eat. If it is because you are bored, then maybe you need to find more challenging work.
4. Pack a lunch. You can control what you bring and how much of it you bring. Yes, this requires additional planning and work at home, but the extra work will be worth it. Bring nutritious foods that won't cause you to have a sugar crash or feel ill 10 min after eating. Foods high in B vitamins will provide you with a nice energy boost for the afternoon.Krauza Family Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center wants you to reclaim your life. Stop surviving and start thriving. Subtle lifestyle changes will lead to tremendous benefits tomorrow, next week, next year, and for your entire lifetime.
Until next week,
BE FIT. EAT RIGHT. THINK WELL.
-Dr. Steve
We live in a culture that is growing increasingly obese. A recent report indicates that there are more obese people in our country right now than people who are "just overweight." These trends cannot continue if we want our country to survive. Our economy will crash if these trends continue. The US currently spends $2.4 trillion on health care. You haven't seen anything yet in terms of a financial mess until you see our healthcare industry collapse.
Each week, I will post entries on where you can find wellness in your day to day lives. It isn't hard, we just need to open our eyes and see the opportunities in front of us.
Where in Erie is Creating Wellness this week? Work.
It doesn't matter if you work in retail, manufacturing, social services, etc, you can find wellness where you work. Is the culture of your workplace one of health/wellness or is it nonchalant towards healthy habits? You can lead the wellness revolution at your workplace. You can be the source of change that is desperately needed. You will face resistance initially, but persistence will pay off! Your workplace needs a wellness revolution, our world needs a wellness revolution.
1. During breaks, lunch, etc. go for walks. Walk around the perimeter of your workplace. Walk the hallways. Walk laps around different floors. Just get moving when you can. This will increase blood flow, wake you up, burn calories.
2. Use the stairs. Rule of thumb: If you work on the first through fifth floor of a building, you should always use the stairs. It may take time to be strong enough to walk five flights of stairs, but ultimately there should be no excuses (unless you are in a wheelchair).
3. Skip all the candy, brownies, cookies, etc that coworkers bring in. The only reason they bring it in is so they don't eat it at home. If you find yourself reaching for one of these treats, ask yourself, "What am I trying to achieve by eating this?" If the answer is because you are hungry, then find something better to eat. If it is because you are bored, then maybe you need to find more challenging work.
4. Pack a lunch. You can control what you bring and how much of it you bring. Yes, this requires additional planning and work at home, but the extra work will be worth it. Bring nutritious foods that won't cause you to have a sugar crash or feel ill 10 min after eating. Foods high in B vitamins will provide you with a nice energy boost for the afternoon.Krauza Family Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center wants you to reclaim your life. Stop surviving and start thriving. Subtle lifestyle changes will lead to tremendous benefits tomorrow, next week, next year, and for your entire lifetime.
Until next week,
BE FIT. EAT RIGHT. THINK WELL.
-Dr. Steve
Where in Erie is Creating Wellness? An introduction
Where in Erie, PA is Creating Wellness?In October 2008, Krauza Family Chiropractic introduced a new model of chiropractic and wellness to the Erie community. Krauza Family Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center believes, in order to achieve true wellness, one must address the physical, biochemical, and psychological dimensions of life. We like to say: BE FIT. EAT RIGHT. THINK WELL. This blog will discover places in our region that focus on these dimensions to help Erie residents create wellness in their lives one day at a time, for a lifetime.
The concept of wellness is not new, rather it is something humans have all considered and sought since the dawn of time. The problem is that the majority of us have looked in the wrong place. We have looked to outside sources, rather than looking inwards to ourselves. Our country currently spends over $2 trillion in health care, unfortunately we continue to grow unhealthier as a society every year.
It is obvious our current approach is not only not working, but also failing. Why? It comes down to several factors that can be summed up with one word: LIFESTYLE. 1. Humans like to symptom treat vs. address the underlying cause of a symptom. This is evident in health care, but also in almost every other aspect of human life. 2. We humans do not like to take responsibility for our lives. We want someone else to be responsible for what happens or for our misfortunes. 3. Most of us no longer actively participate in our lives, rather just go through the daily motions and just exist. We accept things as the status quo or fail to ask, "Why?"I'm not claiming to have all the answers, nor am I suggesting it will be easy or quick to solve what ails us as a culture. I do believe the solution is simple, though.
Wellness is not something you either have or you don't. It is a continuum. Every decision we make in life moves us towards or way from wellness. Krauza Family Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center believes we have the tools, resources, and support to allow you to reclaim your life. Each week, I will introduce places, concepts, themes across the Erie region that will provide you with opportunities to achieve a state of wellness you may have once thought was impossible to achieve.If you feel that something in your life is holding you back, please, join with Krauza Family Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center to grow a new mindset of health and wellness within the Erie community. How will you create wellness in your life?
Until next week,
BE FIT. EAT RIGHT. THINK WELL.
The concept of wellness is not new, rather it is something humans have all considered and sought since the dawn of time. The problem is that the majority of us have looked in the wrong place. We have looked to outside sources, rather than looking inwards to ourselves. Our country currently spends over $2 trillion in health care, unfortunately we continue to grow unhealthier as a society every year.
It is obvious our current approach is not only not working, but also failing. Why? It comes down to several factors that can be summed up with one word: LIFESTYLE. 1. Humans like to symptom treat vs. address the underlying cause of a symptom. This is evident in health care, but also in almost every other aspect of human life. 2. We humans do not like to take responsibility for our lives. We want someone else to be responsible for what happens or for our misfortunes. 3. Most of us no longer actively participate in our lives, rather just go through the daily motions and just exist. We accept things as the status quo or fail to ask, "Why?"I'm not claiming to have all the answers, nor am I suggesting it will be easy or quick to solve what ails us as a culture. I do believe the solution is simple, though.
Wellness is not something you either have or you don't. It is a continuum. Every decision we make in life moves us towards or way from wellness. Krauza Family Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center believes we have the tools, resources, and support to allow you to reclaim your life. Each week, I will introduce places, concepts, themes across the Erie region that will provide you with opportunities to achieve a state of wellness you may have once thought was impossible to achieve.If you feel that something in your life is holding you back, please, join with Krauza Family Chiropractic: A Creating Wellness Center to grow a new mindset of health and wellness within the Erie community. How will you create wellness in your life?
Until next week,
BE FIT. EAT RIGHT. THINK WELL.
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