Doylestown Chiropractor Reveals Surprising Back Pain Statistics

Back pain relief is just one component of chiropractic care, but it is often a patient’s first introduction. Back pain is horribly debilitating affecting all aspects of work and personal life. If you are suffering from back pain, you are not alone. Here are a few facts about back pain that may (or may not) surprise you.

• Back pain is the number one disability for those under age 45.
• In the United States of America alone, there is an expected 31 million people with lower back pain at any given time.
• Back pain runs second, after only the common cold, as the top reason for visiting a healthcare provider in the United States.
• Experts place the likelihood of any person to experience some type of back problem in their lifetime at about 80%. That’s four out of every five people!
• Over 50 billion dollars are spent per year in the pursuit of clearing up cases of back pain.
• Around 30 to 40 percent of all workplace absences are due to back pain.
• Approximately one quarter of U.S. adults reported having low back pain lasting at least one whole day in the past three months, and 7.6 percent reported at least one episode of severe acute low back pain within a one-year period.
• One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year.
• Approximately 2 percent of the U.S. work force is compensated for back injuries each year
• Lower back pain accounts for two thirds of all back pain-related cases.
• More than two-thirds of back strains are caused by lifting and other exertions like pulling and pushing.
• Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic—meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.

The key to proper treatment of back pain is to understand the cause. Remember, pain is always a sign that something else is wrong and if continually ignored may lead to more serious harm. Dr. Jeff McQuaite and his team are experts in assessing the root cause of your back pain and putting you on the right course to recovery.

Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown

295 Logan Street

Doylestown, PA 18901

267-247-7000

www.azzatorichiropractic.com

Doylestown Chiropractor's Tips To Avoiding The Flu Naturally

“Flu Season” is upon us again and a lot of people are worried, confused, and wondering what they can do to limit their own (and perhaps their family’s) susceptibility to any type of flu. Immunization for the seasonal flu is in full swing, which I am sure you could tell with all the flu shot “deals” out there. I really like the one offering a percentage discount at their store if you get your shot there. 

With the recent study from the University of Minnesota showing that the flu vaccine is only effective 59% of the time, I have been constantly asked by patients on how they could help prevent the flu naturally. 

I tell my patients that we have been fending off the ever-changing influenza virus for over 2000 years. So our best course of action when faced with a flu pandemic is not to panic! Our immune system can be very effective at fighting off infection, when fully supported. 

There are many ways to boost your immune system naturally, to limit your chance of contracting a flu virus. Some of these are common-sense precautions, but others are newly understood methods.  I’d like to share with you some natural methods everyone can use to keep the flu at bay. 

1.      Washing Your Hands    Regular hand-washing is probably the single most underutilized preventive measure there is. Of all the possible non-pharmaceutical, public health interventions for limiting pandemics, clean hands top the list! But don’t waste your time and money on antimicrobial soaps or hand sanitizers — they simply don’t work on viruses like colds and flu, and provide no added value over plain soap and water.

2.      Watch What You Eat    A healthy diet, including a few proven immune-boosting foods, is one of the best ways to avoid catching the flu. 

·         Increase your Vitamin C & D. 

·         Eat garlic. Garlic has strong natural antiviral properties that can help to fight off a flu virus and provides a strong boost to your immune system.

·         Drink plenty of water

·         Avoid sugar, tobacco & alcohol as they will suppress your immune system

3.       Exercise, But Not Too Much   A moderate amount of exercise, 30-60 minutes a day, boosts immunity, while high-intensity exercise (90 minutes a day or more) actually suppresses it.

4.       SLEEP!  Getting a good night’s sleep, at least 8 hours,  is essential for the immune system to recharge itself. An overly fatigued body doesn’t have the necessary strength to fight off infections.

5.       Get Adjusted!  Research has shown that within 30 minutes of your chiropractic adjustment, your white blood cells increase, which in turn boosts your immune system. In fact, Dr. Ronald Pero of NYU did a study that showed chiropractic patients were shown to have a 200% greater immune competence than people who had not received chiropractic care,

6.       Listen To Your Body   Today’s busy world places so many demands on us.  It’s important to listen to the little clues our bodies may give us, telling us that things aren’t quite right and that we may need some support. Those clues are different for different people — some get a tickle in the throat, others get a mild stomachache, while still others get a shot of fatigue. But if we take the time to recognize these signs, then take a nap, gargle with salt water, say no to a planned activity, or have some chicken soup, we may prevent a cold or flu, or at least diminish the length and intensity of our illness. 

A final note, if you do decide to get vaccinated, please due your own research and make an educated decision.   No vaccine is fool-proof, and plenty of people have gotten vaccinated without realizing they had already been exposed — and they came down with the flu anyway! Taking precautions against transmission and supporting your immune health just makes sense. If nothing else, doing so will ensure that any flu (or cold) you might catch puts you out of commission for a shorter time.

Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown

Dr. Jeff McQuaite

295 Logan Street

Doylestown, PA 18901

267-247-7000

Doylestown PA Chiropractor Helps Celebrate National Chiropractic Health Month

Is Staying Connected a Pain in the Neck? Get TechnoHealthy!

Dr. Jeff McQuaite to Participate in Public Health Awareness Campaign

The world is getting smaller thanks to modern technology; but unfortunately, aches and pains are growing as a result. This fall, Dr. Jeff McQuaite of Doylestown and other doctors of chiropractic (DCs) across the country will highlight ways to stay connected without pain during National Chiropractic Health Month in October. This year’s theme—“Get TechnoHealthy!”—focuses on how the public can remain healthy while toting the gadgets they love or working long hours in front of a computer.

The excessive use of mobile devices and incorrect posture while sitting in front of a computer can lead to neck, back, wrist and even thumb pain, in addition to other musculoskeletal issues. The problem is becoming so widespread that earlier this year a spokesperson for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said that musculoskeletal injuries remain one of the biggest workplace health and safety problems in American industry.

“People will be delighted to learn that they can enjoy technology without experiencing pain,” says Dr. McQuaite “Our bodies are made to move—not to maintain the same stooped-over posture for long periods of time or to repeat the same motions endlessly. The good news is that there are things we can do to prevent pain and injury. There are also natural approaches to treating aches and pain, such as chiropractic care, that don’t involve drugs or surgery.”

To commemorate National Chiropractic Health Month, Dr. McQuaite offers these tips to help lessen the physical toll of technology:

·         When using devices such as smart phones and BlackBerries that have small keyboards, avoid typing for more than three minutes without a break.

·         Keep messages short and simple; abbreviate.

·         Practice using other fingers for typing, especially when thumbs hurt.

            ·         Don’t slouch when texting.

·         Keep wrists upright, straight and close to the body when holding a device.

·         Don’t bend your neck excessively when texting; tuck your chin in instead and look down.

·         Turn your devices off on the weekends (or at least Sunday)!

·         Get outside, exercise and enjoy nature, too! Balance is key to staying healthy.

Sponsored by ACA, National Chiropractic Health Month is a nationwide observance held each October. The event helps raise public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care and its natural, whole-person, patient-centered approach to health and wellness.  

Dr. Jeff McQuaite has been helping the residents of Doylestown, Jamison, Warrington, Buckingham, Chalfont and the entire Central Bucks area rediscover a life without pain for over 15 years. 

Dr. Jeff McQuaite

Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown

295 Logan Street

Doylestown, PA. 18901

267-247-7000

www.azzatorichiropractic.com

www.mcquaitechiropractic.com

Doylestown Chiropractor Offers Tips For A Safe 4th of July

Dr. Jeff McQuaite, a Doylestown Chiropractor from Azzatori Chiropractic offers 10, common sense tips for you to have a safe and healthy 4th of July!

1. Be a safe swimmer. Water sports and fireworks are two of the biggest pastimes for Fourth of July celebrations, and these are both linked to numerous deaths and injuries each year. Never swim alone, and make sure that kids’ water play is adequately supervised at all times. Many drownings occur when parents and other adults are nearby, so always have a designated chaperone for water play and don’t assume that others are watching the kids. Statistics show that most young children who drown in pools have been out of sight for less than five minutes.
2. If fireworks are legal in your community and are a part of your celebration, be sure to store and use them safely. Keep the kids away from the fireworks at all times, and keep spectators at a safe distance. Attending fireworks displays organized by professionals is always safer than trying to put on your own show.
3. Use alcohol responsibly. Alcohol and fireworks can be a hazardous and dangerous combination. Also, have a designated driver to bring partygoers home from the festivities. Remember also that alcohol and swimming can be as dangerous as drinking and driving.
4. Lakes, waterways, and seas will be crowded with boats. Review safe boating practices, and don’t drink and drive your boat. Alcohol consumption while operating boats or other motorized water vessels is illegal, and you can be arrested for a BWI (boating under the influence!). Be sure that you have an adequate number of life preservers on hand for extra guests. Become familiar with the boating laws in your area.
5. Cover food and beverages outdoors to discourage bees and wasps from attending your party. If someone is allergic to insect stings, you should have an emergency anaphylaxis kit on hand. Wearing shoes, long sleeves, and long pants outdoors and avoiding fragranced body products, bright colors, and sugary drinks can also help prevent bee stings.
6. Apply sunscreen both before and during an outdoor party. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause both premature aging and skin cancer in the long term, and a painful burn the next day. Even those with darker skin should use a sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15, according to recommendations from the American Academy of Dermatology.
7. If you’ll be hiking or camping in an area where ticks are abundant, wear long-sleeved, light-colored shirts and long pants tucked into socks or boots to protect yourself from tick-borne diseases. For your skin, you can use a tick repellent with no more than 30% DEET according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Products containing DEET should not be used on children less than 2 months of age and should not be applied to the hands or face of young children. Check yourself (and your pets) for ticks at the end of the day.
8. Spend adequate time indoors or in the shade and drink plenty of fluids to avoid heat illness in extremely hot climates. The risk of heat illness is increased when participating in strenuous activity or sports, and those with chronic medical conditions and the elderly are also at an increased risk of heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke. Alcohol consumption can also promote dehydration and increase the risk.
9. Keep children away from campfires and grills. Gas leaks, blocked tubes, and overfilled propane tanks can be a cause of grill fires and explosions.
10. Don’t leave the picnic spread out all day. Allowing food to sit in outdoor temperatures can invite foodborne illness. The U.S. FDA suggests never leaving food out for more than one hour when the temperature is above 90 F and not more than two hours at other times. Foods that need to be kept cold should be placed in a cooler with plenty of ice or freezing packs and held at a maximum temperature of 40 F. While mayonnaise and other egg dishes are often associated with food poisoning, any food can potentially become contaminated. Adequate hand washing and food preparation can also help prevent food poisoning.



Doylestown Chiropractor Named Chiropractic Director

HealthLink Medical Center is proud to announce that Dr. Jeff McQuaite of Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown has recently joined the practice as chiropractic director. With over 15 years of experience in helping the local community, Dr. McQuaite brings a wealth of knowledge and skill in treating patients with musculoskeletal problems.

"I am excited about being given a great opportunity with this new position," Dr. McQuaite said. "With all the blessings I have been given over the past year, I feel privileged to be able to help those in need at this time." "I have always loved living in Bucks County and I can't wait to give back to my community and offer a high quality of care to anyone who walks into the office."
 "I am enjoying getting to know and providing treatment for the patients at HealthLink. It's a practice where the patients are more than patients, which is the type of environment I have at my private practice."

About HealthLink Medical Center:
 HealthLink Medical Center's mission is to address the primary medical and dental healthcare needs of working, uninsured adults who meet our eligibility requirements. It is dedicated to providing all patient services in a thorough, cost-effective, and respectful manner, and is committed to continual re-evaluation and improvement of its care-delivery practice.

HealthLink Medical Center is a nonprofit organization in which patients, as well as all other members of the healthcare team, including medical professionals, visitors, volunteers, staff, and all other contributors, are valued and respected; in which cultural and individual differences are celebrated and enjoyed; and where all individuals are encouraged to learn and participate as partners in healthcare delivery. Primarily a volunteer organization, it maintains the highest standards of quality services to its patients.

For More Information:
Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown
 295 Logan Street
 Doylestown, Pa. 18901
 267-247-7000
 www.mcquaitechiropractic.com

HealthLink Medical Center
 1775 Street Road
 Southampton, PA 18966
 215- 364-4247
 www.healthlinkmedical.org

Doylestown Pa Chiropractor Celebrates National Correct Posture Month

Ok, so it's not flashy like National BBQ  Month or Grapefruit & Kiwi Month.  Or life-threatening like ALS Awareness Month, but your posture is important and can definitely keep you from having back or spinal problems later in life.

With May being National Correct Posture Month, it seems only right to think about ways to improve the posture.  “We all heard it when we were growing up – ‘stand up straight’, ‘you're slouching’. Your mom probably wanted you to look confident and proud but the bottom line is, good posture is good for your health.

The average American sits for 56 hours a week, often leading to poor posture. Spending all day tapping away on a keyboard, straining over paperwork, and then spending hours at home watching TV can have dramatic affects on posture. The muscles tire and the body shifts position, causing some muscle groups to become tight, stretched, and weak.

Furthermore, sitting for extended periods of time year after year can have a negative effect on our overall health. It can add to decreased circulation, slower metabolism, challenge blood sugar balance, and create increased stress on postural muscle balance.  When the back is not properly aligned, the body's center of gravity shifts, putting more stress and load on your muscles, joints, and ligaments. Poor posture is a major cause of lower back pain. Also when you slouch, your internal organs may be slightly compressed.  

The effects of poor posture are not just reflected in your mirror.  Major medical journals have published studies showing posture to be strong indicator of overall health: 

•         “All measures of health status showed significantly poorer scores as C7 plumb line deviation increased.”  SPINE, 2005

•         “Older men and women with hyperkyphotic postures have higher mortality rates.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2004

•         “Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture.” American Journal of Pain Management, 1994

•         “Bad posture could raise your blood pressure.  Study finds neurolink between position of neck muscles and high blood pressure.” The Journal of Neuroscience, 2007 

For Correct Posture Month Doylestown Chiropractor; Dr. Jeff McQuaite offers the following tips for sitting healthy. 

•         Lumbar Support: Sit in a chair with back/lumbar support or put small pillow behind lower back; resting buttock, mid back on chair

•         Sitting Posture: Have both feet flat on the floor with knees slightly higher than your hips or place step stool under your feet.  

Elbows should be comfortable at your side or resting on an arm-rest. This allows your shoulders to be relaxed. Your shoulders should also be relaxed, down, and shoulder blades gently engaged (not rounded forward). Your head should be looking straight ahead and chin should be gently tilted down and in. 

•         Evaluate your workstation: A workstation is anywhere that an individual spends a notable amount of time daily and for many of us, our primary workstation is standing or sitting at a desk. “If you’re sitting, don’t drop a ton of money on an ergonomic chair. Instead, position the chair to provide lumbar, shoulder, and if needed, head support.” 

•         Breathing: Focus on abdominal/belly breathing through the day to increase oxygen to body and stay relaxed. 

•         Sleep better: Make sure to have a mattress that offers support and one that can be “rotated” every few months to prevent body indentations. 

•         Hydrate: Drink water regularly. 

•         Move regularly: Get up every 15 minutes to 30 minutes to stretch, move, and breathe! 

The relentless pull of gravity, combined with work and play habits, means poor posture is NOT self correcting.  However, in many cases the effects of poor posture can be stopped and even reversed.  Additional stress on muscles and joints can be reduced.  Your body can spend less energy on balance and more energy on the things you like to do. 

Along with important lifestyle changes to improve and support healthy posture, visit your doctor of chiropractic periodically for spinal checkups and care. “Good posture is a day-by-day activity with a lifetime of rewards” states Dr. Jeff McQuaite of Azzatori Chiropractic. 

National Correct Posture Month offers important opportunities to educate individuals and their families on the importance of healthy posture and chiropractic’s role in maintaining a healthy spine and nervous system.

Dr. Jeff McQuaite

Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown

295 Logan Street

Doylestown, Pa. 18901

267-247-7000

www.azzatorichiropractic.com

www.mcquaitechiropractic.com

Chiropractor Serving Doylestown and Central Bucks Helps Patients To Recover from Auto Accident Injuries

Long time Doylestown Chiropractor, Dr. Jeff McQuaite of Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown is focusing his services on car accident injuries due to the sharp increase in automobile accidents in Pennsylvania and Central Bucks over the past year. The doctor offers innovative and advanced procedures for injury victims at his Doylestown chiropractic office.
Did you know that statistically, every American can expect to be in a motor vehicle collision once every ten years!  Last year, there were 121,242 reported accidents in Pennsylvania, an increase of almost 5.5 percent from the previous year. Every day in Pennsylvania there was 332 reportable traffic crashes, or about 14 every hour. This increase has led to many new car accident injuries that have caused a lot of pain and dysfunction in the victims affected. Dr. Jeff McQuaite of Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown has seen many patients come in with auto accident injuries that threatened their lives and their health; however, he has watched them all leave as healthier and more carefree individuals. All of this was possible thanks to the advanced technology, attentive application and innovative techniques utilized by his staff at Azzatori Chiropractic.

Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown is run by a doctor who applies his knowledge and skill to treat each car accident injury with precision and care. A car accident injury can affect essentially any part of the body; however, the most commonly reported injuries occur in the back and neck area. These injuries can often be very painful and reduce the patient's ability to function normally. According to medical studies:
• It is estimated that 15-40% of those who are injured in a motor vehicle collision will suffer from ongoing chronic pain.(Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 2007)
 •Whiplash injuries not only increase the incidence of chronic neck and shoulder pain; it also significantly increases the incidence of other systemic ill health effects. In other words, whiplash injuries cause more than neck pain and headache; it hurts the health of the entire body.(Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2001)
 •That essentially 100% of those who are suffering from chronic pain caused by a whiplash injury will have an abnormal psychological profile with standard assessments, and the only way to resolve the abnormal psychological profile was to successfully treat the chronic spinal pain. Psychotherapy was not able to improve the abnormal psychological profile, nor was it able to improve the patient’s chronic pain complaint.(Pain, 1997)
 • In the longest study ever performed on whiplash-injured patients (a study looking at the health status 17 years after injury), 55% of the patients still suffered from pain caused by the original trauma.(Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2002)
 • 90% of those who are initially given a cervical collar for their whiplash injuries will be suffering from chronic neck pain 6 months later.(Spine, 2000)
 •2% of whiplash-injured patients will have severe pain and problems that require ongoing medical investigations and drugs 7.5 years after being injured.(Injury, 2005)
 •1 in every 100 (1%) people on our planet suffer from chronic neck pain caused by whiplash injury.(Pain, 1994)

Dr. McQuaite has extensive experience providing care and assistance to patients with auto accident injuries. “An auto accident is a traumatic time for anyone and we want to help ease that pain here at Azzatori Chiropractic Center with fast and effective chiropractic care,” says Dr. Jeff McQuaite. Auto accident injuries can include a variety of patient issues, such as whiplash, back pain, neck pain, knee and shoulder trauma, as well as spinal cord damage. Azzatori Chiropractic Center of Doylestown treats these patient conditions and injuries with chiropractic care and spinal manipulations, physiotherapy, massage therapy, and rehabilitative exercises. 
Dr. McQuaite stated, “By offering both massage and chiropractic care in our office, we provide comprehensive care for patients to help them recover quicker and prevent future injuries.”  “Chiropractic care is helpful in preventing long term injury for patients that have been involved in auto accidents. We rehabilitate the injury and target any associated pain or stiffness relating to the injury for long term relief. In addition, there are no out of pocket charges for any patient whom receives Chiropractic care as a result of injuries from their car accident, in 99% of cases”
Along with providing rehabilitation for auto accident patients, the Doylestown chiropractor maintains a professional relationship with several personal injury attorneys. Dr. McQuaite and the attorneys work together to assist auto accident and work-related injury patients with navigating the legal and medical claims process.

For more information on car accident injuries, call:
Azzatori Chiropractic-Doylestown
295 Logan Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
267-247-7000
www.azzatorichiropractic.com
www.mcquaitechiropractic.com