Healthy Breast

Barton Chiropractic, your Chiropractor in Concord, prides itself on providing the best total health care that we can. With over 26 years of experience Dr. Barton has seen first hand the importance of breast health. We understand that for women that have firm dense breast, mammograms can be inaccurate 60% of the time. Not only are they not very accurate but they can be painful as well as expose you to significant amounts of radiation.

As a husband of a beautiful wife as well as the father of a beautiful daughter, I knew that there had to be a better way to screen for problems in ladies breast. After a bit of research I found out that there really is a much better option available. It is called Breast Thermography. So Barton Chiropractic in Concord has invited Nancy Gardner-Heaven a Pioneer in the field of Medical Thermography, she has been instrumental in changing the paradigm of breast health. Her research has proven that many surgeries for pre-cancerous conditions are unnecessary and these conditions can be reversed by lifestyle and dietary improvements.

Thermography

What is Thermography? Thermography is a non-contact technique for early detection of breast cancer without the hazard of carcinogenic radiation. (1) The infrared camera takes thermal images (pictures) that can detect subtle changes in breast physiology up to ten years before a cancerous tumor can be detected by other sources such as mammography or skilled palpation. This is the most reliable form of early detection though not often used by the medical field, it is becoming more readily available. Thermography has a 9% for both false positive and false negative readings. (2) Thermography is painless and offers a view of the entire chest and underarm area.

The infrared images show subtle temperature changes in the breast tissue. Blood supply or vascularity shows up hyperthermic (hot) and looks white in color. Hypothermic (cold) shows up dark in color. Normal breast tissue shows up in varying shades in-between.

 Normal Breast

TH-2 Benign Thermography Report: This Infrared Image shows symmetric vascular-like features as “hot” appearing like lightening bolts. There is the same amount of these features bi-laterally (both sides), which is normal. Also these features responded normally to the autonomic challenge, which means that when she put her hands on ice these features contracted down (get colder) as they should. There is no risk of malignancy with this reading so it is considered benign.

 Abnormal Breast

TH-3 Atypical Thermography Report: This Infrared Image shows an asymmetric vascular-like feature in the right breast, which appears on the left side of the picture (a mirror image). This hyperthermic feature (hot) did respond normally to the autonomic challenge putting this thermography reading at a

 Abnormal Breast

TH-5F Abnormal Thermography Report: This Infrared Image shows vascular-like hyperthermic feature in the lateral (outside portion) of the right breast (point 1). This feature is abnormally complex and is >1.4ºC above the base emission levels (temperature) of the contra-lateral breast (point 2), which is considered and anarch sign (indicating pathology). This reading is at a 96% risk of confirming malignancy. When we add ‘F’ to the TH-5F it indicates that we are also seeing “cold” or hypothermic features in the caudal (lower portion) of the breasts indicating benign fiber-adenoma cysts.

 Abnormal Breast

This Infrared Image; Demonstrates diffuse hyperthermic features through out the entire upper body. These features show up like the spots on a leopard. This indicates hyper-metabolic lymphatic system typical of common viral infections, toxic exposure, seasonal or food allergies. The twenty-one day detoxification program offered at Optimum Health Clinic is instrumental in ridding the body of these toxins and supporting immune function.






 Abnormal Breast

Thermal Image Showing Yellow Banding:
This image would be rated TH2. The symmetric (in both breasts) hyperthermic features indicates a metabolic imbalance. This type of vascularity is seen in pregnant women and considered normal but when found in a menopausal woman it indicates an abundance of estrogen or an imbalance in the estrogen to progesterone ratio. This is also known as estrogen dominance and could lead to unhealthy breasts, if not addressed. Further testing of the hormones is recommend with natural supplementation as needed as a preventative measure.

Nancy Gardner-Heaven - Pioneer in the field of Medical Thermology, has been instrumental in changing the paradigm of breast health. Her research has proven that many surgeries for pre-cancerous conditions are unnecessary and these conditions can be reversed by lifestyle and dietary improvements.

Monitoring the breast with Thermography is safe and accurate as there is no harmful radiation or painful compression. Nancy is board certified by the American Board of Thermology at Auburn University and continues to offer Comprehensive Breast Screenings as well as Full Body Thermography Scans in numerous mobile locations around the Bay Area and in Hawaii.

Dr. Nancy Gardner is the author of a research on Reversing Ductal Carcinoma in Situ and preventing other diseases.

Upcoming Events Timeline

• Kauai
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Women Helping Women

10% of all profit goes to support women with breast cancer so they are empowered with knowledge to make intelligent decisions about their breast health. If you know of someone who needs support tell them to call for a free consultation: (925) 685-2002

 

Thermography Breast and Full Body Scans

Comprehensive Breast Thermography includes: The initial visit where the patient filling out a complete history related to breast, health and fertility. The patient will uncloth herself from the waste up for five minutes to cool off before five thermal images are taken with a high resolution medical grade infrared camera before and after she holds ice for one minute*. After the images are taken a complete breast exam is preformed by a female technician and notes 'mapping' the specific feature found in that exam are 'mapped' on a chart for the patient to use for their monthly 'self breast exams'. A comprehensive two page report with colored thermal images noting the emission levels (temperature) of all pertenent features is provided within a week. Every annual breast thermography report will have the previous images and current images side by side to compair the various features of concernes so as to offer a comprehensive comparative analysis in order to determine if the patient is improving. After receiving the report the patient then calls to schedule their complimentary phone consultation to go over this report in detail so that all their questions and concerns can be addressed. We also offer a complimentary consultation for any patient or any women with breast cancer to answer any questions about the best possible way to address their individual breast health issues. This is why our Comprehensive Breast Thermography Screening is superior to any others that are available to date.

*This autonomic challenge (holding ice) distinguishes nitric oxide dilated neo-angiogenic blood vessels associated with malignant neoplasm, from normal blood vessels. Using the Marseilles Classification Study from the Pasteur Institute in Marseilles, France, Breast Thermography is rated at a 9% error rate for both false negative and false positive. Compared to Mammography at a 40% false negative and 80% false positive, Thermography is far more accurate. There is also no radiation that can cause breast cancer or painful compression with thermography.

Ratings of Thermography from the Marseilles Classification are as such: TH-1 and TH-2 = Benign, TH-3 = Atypical (10 to 35% risk for malignancy), TH-4 and TH-5 = Abnormal (65 to 96% risk for malignancy). 

 

For information about upcoming screenings at Barton Chiropractic in Concord, call 925 685-2002.

14 Natural Pain Relievers

Barton Chiropractic in Concord has been helping both children and adults suffering from back pain since back pain would really love to be less dependent on painkillers to manage their pain. But how? Natural pain relievers really can help. Here’s a list that might help – each of these won’t be for everyone, but any number of these natural pain relievers might help you be able to rely less on pain medications and feel more in control of your life.

1986. We have found that many who live with chronic

1. Release your inner endorphins. These natural chemicals block pain signals from reaching your brain. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain relievers, and they can be as strong as many of the strongest pain relievers. Endorphins also help alleviate anxiety, stress and depression — conditions that often accompany and exacerbate chronic pain. The body produces endorphins during aerobic exercise. A “runner’s high” is not just for those running long distances — any activity that gets your blood pumping for a sustained period will release pain relieving endorphins into your system.

2. Find good company. Those who have regular contact with others dealing with similar forms of chronic pain find that their pain becomes more manageable. An online group that is both active and supportive is best. Members of the Spine-health.com Back Pain and Chronic Pain discussion forums say that it is quite simply “free therapy”.

3. Eat cookies. Research shows that eating sweet foods like cookies, chocolate or ice cream, helps reduce the sensation of pain.

4. Or just bake the cookies. Enjoying a smell that is both sweet and pleasant has been shown to reduce the perception of pain.

5. Feel the heat. Applying some form of heat — a hot water bottle, gel-filled pad heated in the microwave, electric heating pad, or hot bath — can go a long way in easing your pain. Benefits of heat are twofold: it increases the flow of healing oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area, and it suppresses pain signals being sent to your brain. Some find that wearing a heat wrap, such as Thermacare heat wrap, is best because it releases a low level heat for several hours and can be worn under clothes so you remain mobile.

6. Cool it with ice. Ahh, how this cools down inflamed and sore tissues. Back pain almost always comes with some level of inflammation, and ice is the best natural way to reduce it. Ice also helps by acting as a local anesthetic, and by slowing the nerve impulses, which in turn interrupts the pain-spasm reactions between the nerves in the affected area.

7. Loosen up. Almost everyone can benefit from stretching the soft tissues - the muscles, ligaments and tendons - in and around the spine. Your back is designed for movement, and if your motion is limited it can make your back pain worse. If you suffer from chronic back pain, you may find it takes weeks or months of stretching to loosen up your spine and soft tissues, but you will find that meaningful and sustained pain relief will follow the increase in motion.

8. Enjoy the outdoors. People who got the recommended daily 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D experienced less pain than those who didn’t, according to a Boston University study of 221 men and women with knee osteoarthritis. Researchers surmised that Vitamin D helps relieve pain by aiding in the absorption of calcium, which is needed for bone growth and repair. Other research shows vitamin D may directly help soothe pain. 93% of 150 people with unexplained sources of pain were recently found to be deficient in Vitamin D levels, according to recent research at the University of Minnesota. About 15 minutes of sun exposure on your face and hands a day is enough to get your daily dose of D, or a 200-IU supplement of Vitamin D and as much calcium as is found in two glasses of milk.

9. Imagine yourself to a better place. Guided imagery allows you to hear and internalize therapeutic suggestions that help you feel better. In one study of 28 women with osteoarthritis pain, half of the women listened to a 10- to 15-minute recorded script twice daily that guided them through muscle relaxation techniques. On average, women in the guided imagery group reported that their pain eased by 18% and that their mobility improved by 13%; vs. those in the control group who experienced a 16% worsening of pain and a 2% decrease in mobility. Guided imagery can be learned with a practitioner or on your own using audiotapes or CDs.

10. Change your inner thinking. Hypnosis involves influencing the subconscious mind in order to change your inner thinking, thereby enabling you to change the way you view pain and assisting in the your body’s healing process. The human body has an infinite capacity for healing, and this is just one technique that many find helpful.

11. Meditate twice daily. Easy to learn and immediate results make this one of my favorite paths to natural pain relief. Meditation comes in a huge variety of forms –some complex, some simple. My personal favorite is just to find a sound that is pleasing to you but has no particular meaning (my sound is “som”), close your eyes, sit (or lie) still and comfortably, and repeat the sound in your mind. When your thoughts wander, notice that they have wandered and return to your sound. If you feel your pain, notice the pain and return to your sound. Start with a few minutes, and gradually lengthen to thirty minutes. You will find yourself refreshed and reinvigorated, with less pain overall. Meditation can also help reduce the depression, anxiety, stress and sleeping problems that often accompany chronic pain.

12. Realign your energy flow. The mechanism of action for the ancient Chinese healing technique of acupucture is still not completely understood, but it has been proven in medical trials to reduce certain types of chronic pain, including back pain. The American Association of Oriental Medicine has a list of trained acupuncturists. P.S. the needles are super-thin and not painful.

13. Get enough restorative sleep. Getting enough sleep is critical to managing the pain and healing, so it’s important to employ a variety of sleep aids to help you get a healthy amount of sleep. Regular exercise that physically exhausts the body is the best way to promote deep sleep. Visualization, meditation, and other psychological techniques can also help you get to sleep and stay asleep. And don’t forget the power of naps.

14. Enjoy a massage. In my book, nothing beats a good therapeutic massage. It gets the blood flowing, which helps nourish and heal the body, and releases endorphins, which release powerful pain relieving substances in the body (see first point on the list).

If we can help you in any way contact our office at 925 685-2002 for a free consultation with the doctor or visit our websites at www.BartonChiro.com or www.ChiropractorinConcord.com .

Herniated Disc and Back Pain

Herniated Disc and Back Pain

For 26 years Barton Chiropractic has consistently been one of the top chiropractic offices in Concord. We have helped hundreds of patients suffering from bulging disc and back pain. Our gentle chiropractic care is designed to get you out of pain and keep you out of pain as fast as possible and as gently as possible.
Chiropractic can have great sucsess in removing back pain if done correctly. We start with a thorough consultation then an examination utilizing chiropractic, orthopedic and neurological testing. If at that point we believe that your back pain or neck pain is caused by a chiropractic problem, we will take x-rays.

X-Rays
I realize that there are chiropractors that do not take x-rays. In believe that they are absolutely necessary. Last month we found two fractures and one case of cancer. Adjusting a spine with a fracture could have devastating results, and we would not have known without x-rays. Secondly, when vertebrea misalign, they do not just go “out.”  The first move toward the back of the spine then rotate right or left then they can wedge on the right or left side. In order correct this with the utmost accuracy you must know exactly how that vertebrea is misaligned. Without all the information, one can only hope for so so results. You get what you pay for.

Disc Herniation
Herniation describes an abnormality of the intervertebral disc that is also known as a "slipped disc," "ruptured disc," or "torn disc. This process occurs when the inner core (nucleus pulposus) of the intervertebral disc bulges out through the outer layer of ligaments that surround the disc (annulus fibrosis). This tear in the annulus fibrosis causes pain in the back at the point of herniation. If the protruding disc presses on a spinal nerve, the pain may spread to the area of the body that is served by that nerve. Between each vertebra in the spine are a pair of spinal nerves, which branch off from the spinal cord to a specific area in the body. Any part of the skin that can experience hot and cold, pain or touch refers that sensation to the brain through one of these nerves. In turn, pressure on a spinal nerve from a herniated disc will cause pain in the part of the body that is served by that nerve.

 

Four Degrees of Disc Herniation:
Nuclear Herniation, Disc Protrusion, Nuclear Extrusion, and Sequestered Nucleus

Most disc ruptures will occur when a person is in their thirties or forties when the nucleus pulposus is still a gelatin-like substance. Oddly enough, most disc herniations will occur in the morning. The causes of this phenomenon are not entirely known, but are probably due to the physiology of the spine and the changes in the water content of the disc that occur throughout the day. The two most common locations for a herniated disc in the lower back are at the disc between fourth and fifth lumbar vertebra (L4-5) and at disc between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the first sacral vertebra (L5-S1). These two discs account for 98 percent of all painful disc herniations. A herniated disc can occur elsewhere along the spine, but low lumbar herniations are by far the most common.

Symptoms
Usually a patient's main complaint is a sharp, cutting pain. In some cases there may be a previous history of episodes of localized low back pain, which is present in the back and continues down the leg that is served by the affected nerve. This pain is usually described as a deep and sharp pain, which gets worse as it moves down the affected leg. The onset of pain with a herniated disc may occur out of the blue or it may be announced by a tearing or snapping sensation in the spine that is thought to be the result of a sudden tear of part of the annulus fibrosis.

Diagnosis
A patient with a herniated disc will usually complain of low back pain that may or may not radiate into different parts of the body. They will often demonstrate a limitation in range of motion when asked to bend forward or lean backwards, and they may lean to one side as they try to bend forward. Patients will sometimes walk with an "antalgic" or painful gait, flexing the affected leg so as not to put too much weight on the side of the body that hurts. Straight leg raising may be positive indicating tension on the nerve root.
Abnormalities in the strength and sensation of particular parts of the body that are found with a neurological examination performed by a chiropractic doctor provide the most objective evidence of nerve root compression. There are no laboratory tests that can detect the presence or absence of a herniated disc, but they may be helpful in the diagnosis of unusual causes of nerve root pain and irritation. An MRI is the test of choice for diagnosis of a herniated disc, but a CT scan (CAT scan) may often be helpful because it provides better visualization of the bony anatomy of the spinal column, indicating where the source of pressure on the nerve root is located.

Treatment
The treatment for vast majority of patients with a herniated disc rarely requires surgery. Eighty percent of patients will respond to conservative Chiropractic care. The primary elements of conservative treatment are Specific Chiropractic adjustments and controlled physical activity. Usually treatment will begin with very short period of bed rest followed by a gradual return to normal activities. Sitting is bad for this condition because the sitting posture puts a large amount of stress and pressure on the lumbar spine, which may increase the pressure on the affected nerve root.

Hugging For Health

 Barton Chiropractic in Concord is constantly reviewing the latest healthcare research so that     we can provide you with the best possible health care. Recently I ran across this article so I thought I would share it.

A hug is a universal medicine, it is how we handshake from the heart.  -Anonymous

For decades we’ve known that babies won’t thrive without physical holding and affection. There is little that will comfort and settle small children as the warm embrace of their family. Yet it is still not uncommon for parents to stop hugging their kids as they reach puberty. And for many adults, the amount of physical nurturing we receive declines as we age, even as medical studies confirm that the health benefits of physical touch extend throughout our lives.

We lose touch with each other early in our adult lives as our needs for physical affection are confused with our emerging sexuality. Our discomfort and lack of understanding about our sexuality inadvertently colors our capacity to connect even in something as benign as a hug.

Virgina Satir, who was often referred to as the mother of family therapy, determined that “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.” Her presumption is backed by research, which consistently demonstrates that our emotional well being is deeply impacted by the physical love we experience and that touch and hugging are primary vehicles in the brain’s development of basic positive emotions.  According to Linda Blair, a clinical psychologist at Bath University, “Touch affects the cerebellar brain system, an area of the brain where basic positive emotions such as trust and affection probably come from.”

As in the mind, so in the body as recent medical research at University of North Carolina found that both blood pressure and levels of Cortisol, the hormone produced when we’re under stress, were significantly lowered (particularly in women) when subjects hugged their partners for at least twenty seconds. Another study that took place in 2000 showed that hugging babies while they were given blood tests made them cry less and kept their heart rates steadier. Other studies suggest a strong link between increased hugs and lower risk of heart disease.

In addition to the clear health benefits, hugging also provides a window into the health of your relationship and offers an easy way to improve it. Hugging Until Relaxed is a therapeutic technique that encourages partners to hold each other while in a standing hug. Ultimately, both partners find stability and comfort in the embrace by achieving equilibrium of balance and closeness while holding each other. This technique, introduced by David Schnarch in Passionate Marriage, allows both partners to open up to a deeply intimate space where both are held and fully relaxed. This technique generally translates into better overall communication and more passionate intimacy. Opening up to being held is a powerful metaphor. A relaxed and full embrace allows us to feel and connect bodies in a way that literally couples us.

Barton Chiropractic in Concord utilizes gentle adjusting techniques that have been proven to restore motion to the individual joints.

 

It makes sense to me that if you are suffering from arthritis, and Barton Chiropractic can remove the joint fixation, nerve interference and restore normal joint function, we can help you! We are not just A Chiropractor in Concord, we are "Your Chiropractor in Concord".

 

One of the great things about our office is that we never charge anyone to sit down and talk to one of our doctors. If you would like to find out how Chiropractic can help with your pain, contact our office at 925 685-2002 to schedule a free consultation, or click Concord Chiropractic to visit one of our websites.

Mammograms; Good or Evil?

Back pain relief is but a small part of our job as a Chiropractor. At Barton Chiropractic in Concord we are committed to your health. that is why we constantly provide you with the latest research that we believe will help you to lead the healthy lifestyle you desire. 

Today we are going to start with breast health. I am not saying not to get mammograms. I am just letting you know that there are safer and better options available.

 

  Mammograms aren't always accurate. The accuracy of the procedure depends in part on the technique used and the experience and skill of the radiologist. Other factors — such as your age and breast density — may result in false-negative or false-positive mammograms. Tell your doctor if you've noticed a change in one of your breasts, especially if your mammogram is interpreted as normal. If you've had a change in your breast, your doctor may order a diagnostic mammogram so that the suspicious area is looked at more closely than can be done with a screening mammogram.

·  Mammograms in younger women can be difficult to interpret. The breasts of younger women contain more glands and ligaments than do those of older women, resulting in dense breast tissue that can obscure signs of cancer. With age, breast tissue becomes fattier and has fewer glands, making it easier to interpret and detect changes on mammograms.

·  Having a mammogram may lead to additional testing. Among women of all ages, about 10 percent of mammograms require additional testing, including additional imaging tests such as ultrasound, and a procedure (biopsy) to remove a sample of breast tissue for laboratory testing. However, most abnormal findings detected on mammograms aren't cancer. If you're told that your mammogram is abnormal, make sure that the radiologist has compared your current mammogram with any previous mammograms.

·  Screening mammography can't detect all cancers. Some cancers detected by physical examination may not be seen on the mammogram. A cancer may be too small or may be in an area that is difficult to view by mammography, such as your armpit. Mammograms can miss 1 in 5 cancers in women.

·  Not all of the tumors found by mammography can be cured. Certain types of cancers are aggressive, grow rapidly and spread early to other parts of your body.

I believe that Breast thermography is a much better option. I will be posting more info on breast thermography  in up coming post.

If you would like more information contact Concord Chiropractor the back pain relief specialist at 925 685-2002

Coffee linked to delay in Alzheimer's disease

Concord Chiropractic does more than back pain relief. Our main focus is always on providing the best health care possible. I found this research on Coffee to be great.

Researchers from the University of South Florida and University of Miami have found that higher caffeine consumption -- a big source being coffee -- is linked with a delayed onset of Alzheimer's disease, even in older adults who already have mild cognitive impairment (thought to be an early sign of Alzheimer's and/or dementia).

"These intriguing results suggest that older adults with mild memory impairment who drink moderate levels of coffee -- about 3 cups a day -- will not convert to Alzheimer's disease -- or at least will experience a substantial delay before converting to Alzheimer's," study researcher Dr. Chuanhai Cao, a neuroscientist at USF said.

For more information contact Concord Chiropractor at 925 685-2002.

Tens of millions of girls dead

Share this with everyone. We can make a difference.

China's One Child Policy has led to the deaths of tens of millions of girls, simply because of their gender. Due to existing cultural preferences for sons rather than daughters, many Chinese families are abandoning, aborting, or hiding their female children. As a result, there are now 37 million more men than women living in China. This gender imbalance has in turn led to an increase in sex trafficking, child brides, and prostitution in the country.



The following three cases from 2012 are examples of the tragic effects of this policy and the cultural preference for sons:
• Feng Jianmei, Ankang City, Shaanxi Province. Feng's pregnancy was forcibly aborted at seven months, igniting a firestorm of criticism internationally. Indeed, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning forced abortion in China, specifically citing Feng.
• Cao Ruyi, Changsha City, Hunan Province. Family Planning Officials attempted to force Cao to have an abortion at five months, which she refused and was then detained. Because of international pressure she was released from detention, but she remains at risk of forced abortion. As of August 2012, she is in hiding.
• Hu Jia, Jianli County, Hubei Province. China's Southern Metropolis Daily reported that Hu Jia's pregnancy was forcibly aborted at nearly eight months. That this case was reported by a major Chinese newspaper indicates the growing discontent with the policy inside China and the courage of the Chinese news media to report it.
• In 2009 the British Medical Journal published that the overall gender ratio for China is 120 boys for every 100 girls. Eight provinces had ratios of over 160 boys for every 100 girls, for second children. The article stated, "Sex selective abortion accounts for almost all the excess males."
This war against women must end. Please sign this petition to world leaders asking for them to publicly speak out against China's family planning programs, and to commit to helping end this policy and practice.
This petition is supported by It's a Girl, Women's Rights Without Frontiers, and Women's Rights in China.
http://www.itsagirlmovie.com/
http://www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/
http://wrchina.org/

Barton Chiropractic in Concord CA