Why everyone with a spine needs a chiropractor!

image of chiropractors at the beach
Dr. Shawn Sailer with his son, Cole, nephew, Kai, and brother-in-law, Alex Brost.

Just like anyone with teeth needs a dentist, to examine for cavities before they develop into a bad toothache, anyone with a spine needs a chiropractor to examine and treat spinal decay or misalignments before it develops into severe problems that can lead to pain, decreased mobility and possible need for surgeries.

If you stop and think about it, your teeth can be replaced and we can live without them, but you can not live without your spine and it can not be replaced! Your spine is what holds up your body, allows you to move and bend and twist and it houses and protects your spinal cord, which is the lifeline and communication highway between the brain and all your different body parts and systems.

Spinal misalignments can be caused by repetitive stress, injuries, bad ergonomics and mini traumas throughout life.

Misalignments cause decreased mobility and leads to degenerative changes (osteoarthritis) in the small joints between the vertebrae. It also gradually leads to disc degeneration and weakening of the discs, which sets the stage for disc herniations. Much suffering from stiffness, pain and decreased function as people age can be prevented by regular chiropractic checkups and care.

If you have never experienced chiropractic healthcare – now is the time! Taking pain pills to cover up pain and discomfort does nothing to correct the underlying problem and allows the situation to gradually worsen. Side effects of long-term medication use is also a problem.

Chiropractors have the same amount of education as a medical physician but the focus is on helping the body to heal naturally, without pharmaceuticals and surgeries. The human body is a self-healing mechanism if in a harmonious state with a freely operating nervous system, without interference by misalignments. A well-adjusted body is a happy and healthy body!

-Dr. Barbro Brost D.C.

Goodbye Covid

chiropractic springOver two years of disruptions to our lives are finally coming to an end. Most people are vaccinated or have acquired natural immunity by catching the virus. Herd immunity has been reached and we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Restrictions are gradually being dropped, masks are disappearing and life can start to return to normal. Many lessons have been learned and studies are continuing to be released.

One of the main lessons is that people, that take good care of themselves and their health, were much less at risk than people that are overweight and suffer from chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure etc.

It is important that we remember and learn from these lessons and continue to take responsibility for our personal health, since new viruses will always develop in the future. The healthier your body is and the more resilient your immune system, the better you can survive any future diseases.

Eating healthy: lots of vegetables, fruit, berries, and lean protein is a good foundation. Taking nutritional supplements to promote good immune function and general health is more important than ever.

Regular exercise at least 3 times a week, should be part of everyone’s schedule, especially since sitting in front of the computer is often unavoidable in our daily lives. As spring gets here, go out for walks and breathe fresh air!

Water is an important component of a health regimen. About 3 quarts a day is a good guideline. Remember that your body’s composition is 70% water!

And last, but not least, regular chiropractic checkups and adjustments ensure that your brain which controls everything in your body, can communicate freely with all your organs, glands, and tissues, through your spinal cord without interference. Subluxations (misalignments) in your spine disrupts this important communication pathway and leads to less optimal functions. Removing subluxations restores optimal function.

A well-adjusted body is a healthy, happy body!

Dr. Barbo Brost, Chiropractor

Staying Healthy Through the Winter

Image 1 fall chiropractorThe summer is over and the days are getting shorter and darker. In Minnesota, we don’t get the benefit of natural Vitamin D from the sunshine this time of the year. Our immune system is dependent on adequate Vitamin D levels to function optimally, so supplementing Vitamin D through the darker time of the year is crucial. Other nutrients that are helpful, to enhance our natural immune defense is Vitamin C, Zinc and Quercetin, garlic and Echinacea are also good immune enhancers. Aside from COVID-19, there are always the usual cold and flu viruses circulating. It is impossible to totally avoid exposure while living everyday life, so the name of the game is to stay as strong and as resilient as possible to be able to fight off and recover as quickly as possible if you get attacked by a virus. Think of your immune system as your internal army that conquer and fight off invaders. The bigger and stronger your defense army is, the better you can handle an attack!
A healthy diet, low in sugar, regular exercise and chiropractic adjustments, to keep your body healthy and strong, decreases your risk of sickness significantly. Taking immune enhancing vitamins and supplements assure your immune “soldiers” can do their best work possible to keep you healthy.
A trip south to get some rest and natural sunshine Vitamin D is also a great idea in the winter when you live in Minnesota!

By Dr. Barbro Brost D.C.

2021 chiropractor

7 Steps to a Great 2021

We are all happy to put 2020 behind us and look forward to a much better 2021! Some things are outside of our control, but there is much we can do to ensure health and happiness in the new year. Last year taught us that healthy people, with well functioning immune systems, were able to bounce off the Covid-19 virus and not get sick or had fairly mild symptoms. Many of the underlying problems, that worsened the outcome and lead to serve illness, hospitalization or worse, are lifestyle related. Obviously we can’t change our age, since being older is one risk factors, but we can greatly affect our general health and strengthen our health and immune systems with some daily lifestyle changes. They are all simple, but require daily attention!

  1. Eat right! Healthy, preferably organic foods nourish us, supports healthy body composition and ensures optimal function of all our body systems. Weight loss is usually the most common new years resolution. This year, setting a healthy weight goal and reaching it, is more important than ever. Being overweight is one of the major risk factors for disease and immune compromise, if attacked by Covid-19 or any future virus.
  2. Take vitamins and supplements that are known to increase health and boost immune function! Vitamin D3, Vitamin C and Zinc are important. A good multivitamin, Omega 3 fish oils and calcium are basics that everyone need in todays world.
  3. Exercise daily! Even a half hour walk or why not enjoy the Minnesota snow and ice and go skiing, snowshoeing, or skating! These are great ways to both get exercise and fresh air!
  4. Sleep 7-8 hours a night! Sleep is important for our bodies to rest and rejuvenate. Melatonin, that is naturally produced in our bodies during sleep, is an important factor in immune function. Melatonin is also the precursor to Serotonin. If you tend to suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) during the darker time of the year, sleep is even more important to help manufacture the building block to the “Happiness hormone”!
  5. Water intake! A simple role of thumb is 8 glasses a day. Even slight dehydration makes your organs function less efficiently, makes you less focus and increases depression.
  6. Regular elimination! If you follow the above outlined lifestyle this will take care of itself! Constipation or other bowel issue are almost always the result of an unhealthy lifestyle.
  7. Get regular chiropractic care to eliminate any painful or restricted joint problems promote healthy body mobility and a body free from nerve interference. A well adjusted body is a healthy, happy body!
sciatica treatment

Chiropractic – A healthy choice

Chiropractic is the second largest healing art in the United States and is also a growing profession in the rest of the world.  Chiropractors go through the same rigorous education as a medical doctor but with an emphasis on natural healing instead of pharmaceuticals.  Chiropractors are licensed primary health care physicians in all 50 states and have the same level of responsibilities as a primary medical physician (M.D.) or osteopath (D.O.)

Chiropractic was founded in Davenport Iowa by Dr. D.D. Palmer in 1895.  Over the past 100 some years it has developed and changed, like medicine, but the main premise of chiropractic remains the same: If we have a fully functioning nervous system, the body is able to coordinate all its functions, self-correct and adapt to the environment.

The nervous system: the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves is the master control and coordination system that regulates all other systems in the body: your digestive system, respiratory system circulation system, immune system etc.

If your brain, which is an amazing “computer”, can properly detect and coordinate all body functions, the body will be healthy and all is well.

So why do chiropractors focus on the spine?  Your spinal cord in the “Super highway” of constant communication between the brain and the peripheral nerves, that has exits between all your 24 vertebrae and branches out to every cell of your body.

If there are misalignments of the vertebrae (Chiropractors call these subluxations) pressure or irritation can occur to the nerves, where they exit the spine.  This can, of course, at times cause pain, but it can also block the nerve flow information to and from the brain, kind of like a kink in a water hose, the water can’t get through or is limited to a trickle.

Just as a water hose with a kink can’t do a good job watering a lawn, and the grass will dry out, a “kinked” nerve will not be able to feed information from the brain to the organs or tissues it supplies.  Consequently, that part of the body will function less well and disease can develop.

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The Brost Chiropractic Clinic