Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
healthy living
DRSladic.com
July 2023
THE TRUTH ABOUT HEADACHES Common Head Pain Symptoms and Triggers
Every year, half of the world’s population suffers from at least one headache, according to the World Health Organization. But understanding the condition can be challenging for those suffering from headaches, especially with so many names for headaches out there. At the end of the day, I’ve found that patients don’t particularly care to know the exact name or type of headache they have — they’re more often wondering, “Is my head pain serious?” And the answer is: It can be. So before I get into the details of what’s happening in your body during a headache and the common triggers for the condition, I want to clearly outline the symptoms to look out for in a medically serious headache. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s best to have a doctor check you immediately:
they’re also not particularly common. So unless you experience these symptoms suddenly and in tandem with each other, your headache is probably not a cause for serious concern. But that doesn’t mean it’s not still painful. So, what’s going on inside your body when you have a headache? Typically, the head pain you feel during a headache indicates pressure in your head or something irritating the nerve sensors around the blood vessels in your head or neck. Now, what causes this pressure or irritation can vary from person to person. These are typically the most common triggers of headaches that we see: • Dental/jaw issues. For many people who say, “I’ve got this headache, and I just don’t know where it’s coming from,” a frequent cause is a “TMJ disorder,” which results in pain in the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint at the “hinge” of your jaw, where it connects to your skull. When this joint is out of alignment, it is commonly accompanied by a clicking noise when you open or close your mouth. The condition can cause pain to radiate from the joint and right into the head, causing a headache.
• Eye problems. If you struggle with vision, either seeing things up close or far away, if you have astigmatism, cataracts, or glaucoma, those eye conditions can result in headaches due to the constant straining of your eyes. Imagine having to stretch your neck or arm as far as you possibly could all day. Eventually, those muscles will become irritated or sore. Your eyes are no different, except the effect of the constant strain is a headache. • Hormonal imbalances. While both male and female hormone imbalances “Typically, the head pain you feel during a headache indicates pressure in your head or something irritating the nerve sensors around the blood vessels in your head or neck.”
•
Head pain that comes out of nowhere. It hasn’t been growing over time or lingering for a few days but suddenly starts within seconds. Head pain that is unlike any headache you’ve ever experienced before. A headache accompanied by a fever A headache accompanied by a stiff neck A headache accompanied by confusion, blurry vision, numbness, weakness, and slurred speech
play a role in headaches, a drop in estrogen triggers head pain most
•
often. This is because estrogen controls the chemicals in the brain that are in charge of pain sensations, and it’s why headaches likely occur right before or right after a woman’s menstrual cycle. • Food sensitivities. Believe it or not, the foods you eat can play a big role in
• • •
It’s also worth mentioning that while these symptoms indicate something more serious,
Continued on Page 3 ...
THOUGHT OF THE MONTH
“Don’t let a bad yesterday ruin a good today”
DRSLADIC.COM
1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
WHAT’S THAT SMELL?
COMBAT BAD BREATH THE NATURAL WAY
Persistent bad breath, also known as halitosis, is caused by the interaction of oral bacteria with processed sugars and starches. This chemical process results in an unpleasant odor. Mouthwash, gum, mints, and sprays always have your back when it comes to freshening your breath, but there are many holistic and natural ways to cure chronic bad breath. Drink your water. Did you know that the most common cause of dry mouth is dehydration? Bacteria can accumulate when there is insufficient saliva to wash food particles and debris from your mouth. Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep halitosis under control! Give green tea a try. Green tea contains many beneficial antioxidants, such as epigallocatechin-3- gallate (EGCG). EGCG is known to have
a microbial effect on our gum tissues, which targets Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.gingivalis), a bacteria that can lead to infection and bad breath. Snack on yogurt. The probiotics within many yogurts can aid in reducing the harmful bacteria within your mouth, combating foul breath. While all types of yogurt contain probiotics, yogurt with active probiotic cultures will be the most effective for achieving the best results. Boost your vitamin C levels. Oranges aren’t just a healthy snack! The high levels of vitamin C found in oranges are believed to increase saliva production, which can help prevent dry mouth, bacteria, and halitosis. As another perk, bacteria do not like acidic environments, and oranges are highly acidic!
Rinse with baking soda and water. Swishing water and readily available baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, in your mouth can effectively reduce and/or kill the bacteria contributing to bad breath. Bad breath is never welcome! If you are ever worried about the freshness of your breath, give one or two of these natural at-home remedies a try — what do you have to lose?
DO YOU SUFFER FROM HEADACHES? Try These Natural Techniques for Relief!
Finding natural ways to treat the pain can feel impossible if you suffer from headaches, and more often than not, people believe painkillers are their only option for relief. However, these medications only provide temporary comfort and can lead to harmful side effects. If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from headaches, you’ll be relieved to learn that there are completely natural ways to find relief from your headaches using your own body! You can quickly relieve headaches without the dangers of pain medication by using your body’s acupoints, or specific areas of your body that promote muscle relaxation and blood flow.
of your head. These are the small dips where your bony skull connects with the muscles in your neck. There is one on the left and one on the right. • Apply light to moderate pressure to these “ditches” and rub your thumbs in small circles. You may feel some tenderness or tension in this spot, which is completely normal. • Continue rubbing and applying pressure until you feel relief! Acupoints in the Space Between Your Thumb and Index Finger Commonly known as “the pain killer button,” this acupoint is an excellent way to relieve any pain in the body, including headaches, body aches, facial pain, neck pain, and abdominal pain.
Here are step-by-step directions to help you utilize those points and kick headaches to the curb.
Directions: •
Acupoints at the Base of Your Skull and Neck There are two acupoints at the bony base of your skull, on the right and left sides, where the head meets the neck. Applying pressure to these points will help relieve headaches, neck pain, and sinus congestion too. Directions: • Lace your fingers together behind your head so your thumbs point down towards the floor. • Move your clasped hands down with your thumbs running along your skull until they feel the slight dips or “ditches” at the base
Turn your hand so the palm is facing down
• Find the “web” of skin between your thumb and index finger, particularly the thicker part near the conjunction of your thumb and index finger. • Press down on this point with the thumb of your opposite hand. You can also pinch it using the index finger of your other hand as if grabbing a card. • Hold with mild to moderate pressure for 60 seconds, and repeat two or three times on each hand.
2
DRSLADIC.COM
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
GRILLED STEAK SALAD WITH PEACHES
As we discussed on page 1, many things can trigger head pain. However, if you suffer from headaches and don’t necessarily know why, preventing them in the first place can be a tricky endeavor. Luckily, many common triggers fall under “lifestyle management,” meaning they connect to some aspect of your life. We say “luckily” because if some other part of your life is directly triggering your head pain, then you can likely make some changes to prevent headaches from ever occurring! In our experience, three lifestyle factors commonly trigger headaches: sleep, hydration, and diet. Here’s what you need to know about each to stop headaches from happening. Sleep We’ve mentioned in many of our letters how important sleep is to your overall health and well-being, and preventing head pain is no exception. This is because the pineal gland in the brain regulates melatonin production, and researchers have linked low melatonin levels with the start of headaches. Meaning, the less sleep you get, and the more irregular your melatonin levels, the more likely you’ll trigger a headache. If possible, always aim for at least 8 hours of sleep a night. If you struggle with falling asleep, taking magnesium before bed can help relax your muscles and prepare your body for slumber. Hydration Another reason you may inadvertently trigger headaches is not staying hydrated. When you don’t drink enough water, the tissues in your body shrink — including your brain. This causes your brain to pull away from your skull and apply more pressure on the nerves there, creating a headache. Studies show that even mild dehydration can have this effect and result in head pain. STOP HEADACHES BEFORE THEY EVER HAPPEN 3 Lifestyle Changes You Can Make Today
Ingredients
• 1 lb skirt steak, fat trimmed • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar • 1 clove garlic, minced • 1 tbsp light brown sugar • 1 tbsp vegetable oil • Kosher salt • Black pepper
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 1 large lemon, juiced • 6 cups baby arugula • 2 ripe peaches, thinly sliced • 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese or feta
Directions
1. In a large resealable plastic bag or baking dish, combine steak, vinegar, garlic, and brown sugar. Marinate 20 minutes at room temperature. 2. Remove steak from marinade, coat with vegetable oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. 3. On a grill or pan set to high heat, cook steak until desired doneness. Rest 5–10 minutes, then thinly slice against the grain. 4. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil and lemon juice to make dressing. Season with salt and pepper. 5. In a large serving bowl, add arugula, peaches, blue cheese or feta, and steak. Drizzle with dressing and gently toss.
... continued from Cover
triggering headaches. Common culprits are nitrates in processed meats and sugar. • Stress. We’ve talked before about how stress can cause pretty dramatic and detrimental changes in your body. It can lead to muscle tension, inflammation, and hormone imbalances that can trigger the onset of head pain. • Head trauma. This is the most obvious trigger for headaches, as concussions result when your brain hits the inside of your skull. Like with any other part of your body, getting hit hurts! If you suffer from any of the issues above and have headaches as a result, you’ll be relieved to know that there are simple things you can do at home to alleviate the pain and prevent the occurrence of future headaches on pages 2 and 3 of this newsletter. Give them a try, and let me know what you think! To order supplements, bloodwork or need advice call 248-912-2962 . –Dr. Tom Sladic
As a general rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to drink between an ounce of water for each pound you weigh every day.
Diet If you want to point fingers at something in your diet that may trigger headaches, look no further than sugar. Among many other things, sugar affects your blood sugar levels and brain chemistry, specifically norepinephrine. Norepinephrine plays a vital role in regulating your body’s blood sugar levels and the contraction or expansion of blood vessels. A rapid increase in sugar consumption (think a Gatorade, cookie, or soda) causes a shift in the blood vessels in your brain and head pain as a result.
Cut out excess sugar as much as possible, and avoid exceeding 12 teaspoons of added sugar daily.
DRSLADIC.COM
3
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
2071 E. WEST MAPLE RD., SUITE E-502 COMMERCE TWP, MI 48390 DRSLADIC.COM
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. Is Your Head Pain Serious?
2. Bad Breath Be Gone — Naturally!
Acupoints: Your Secret Weapon Against Headaches
3. Grilled Steak Salad With Peaches
Headache Prevention Strategies That Work
4. Short on Time? Try a Micro Workout!
GET FIT IN 5 MINUTES! The Celebrity Fitness Trend That Works
For many, the biggest hurdle to exercise is how much time you spend doing it. Finding an hour to hit the gym can be impossible between work, family, and other endless daily obligations. While this is true for all of us, it’s even more so for celebrities, but somehow, they manage to stay in shape despite their busy schedules. According to celebrity trainer Luke Worthington, their secret is the “micro workout.” A micro workout is just how it sounds — an exercise completed in a very short time, possibly within five minutes.
minutes total for the entire week. The results? Participants all showed improved cardio and anaerobic power, meaning they could output more physical energy while using less oxygen. Another study by Nature Medicine found that for people over the age of 60 (who did not exercise regularly), small bursts of energy for even two minutes showed a 50% decrease in death from cardiovascular complications and a 40% decrease in risk of dying from cancer
compared to those who did not incorporate a micro workout. These bursts of movement even included climbing stairs or walking fast.
Are micro workouts effective? If you’re wondering if working out for only five minutes makes a difference, a 2021 study found that even four seconds of intense exercise can improve your health. In this study by the University of Texas at Austin, a group of individuals cycled at maximum effort for four seconds on a stationary bike, then rested for 15–30 seconds. Participants repeated these four-second intervals 30 times three days a week. This totaled to about two minutes of exercise each day, or six
How can you integrate micro workouts into your schedule? Just find 2–5 minutes in your day for a micro workout and perform any exercise you feel comfortable with — even just walking at a fast pace will do the trick!
So, next time you have a few extra minutes in your day, get moving! Your health will thank you.
4
DRSLADIC.COM
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator