car accident | Health And Wellness Tips

Understanding Panic Attacks

What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a sudden attack of exaggerated anxiety and fear. Often, attacks happen without warning and without any apparent reason. Some people may experience just one episode of panic attack, while others can have recurring episodes. Recurring episodes usually happen after a person is exposed to various events or situations that may “trigger” panic. While it is generally harmless, panic attacks can severely disable a person physically, emotionally and psychologically. In extreme cases, panic attacks can lead to panic disorder.

Who gets panic attacks?

The condition affects many people. It is believed that 10% of the total population is suffering from panic attacks, yet many are still undiagnosed or under-diagnosed. They tend to occur more on young adults. Female are twice as prone to have an attack as male. It is also said that the condition is genetically inherited so panic attacks may run in the family.

How do I know if I am having an attack?

A panic attack can be identified with different signs and symptoms. They include increased heartbeat or palpitation, chest pain, hyperventilation or shortness of breath, stomach churning, upset stomach, trembling and shaking, muscle tension, sweating, dizziness and light-headedness, hot or cold flashes, tingling sensation or numbness, fear of dying, going crazy or losing control and feeling detached from the surroundings.

The signs and symptoms of panic attacks are similar to a heart attack. The former is not dangerous, the latter can be deadly. It is best therefore to seek for emergency medical help, especially if the patient experiences it for the first time.

What cause an attack?

Many panic attacks happen without any apparent reason; they just come out of the blue. However, attacks may be caused by past traumatic experiences such as death of a loved one, family conflicts, bad relationships, divorce of parents, car accident, public humiliation, etc. An attack may occur when a person is exposed to various events or situations almost similar to the past that may “trigger” panic.

Stress is closely linked to panic attacks. Triggers include stressful life event as well as stressful working and living environment. Genetics is also believed to cause an attack.

What should I do during an attack?

Panic attacks peak from 5 to 10 minutes; it rarely lasts for more than half an hour. But during this time, you can experience discomfort such as those signs and symptoms mentioned above. Since the increased in heart rate is the main reason for experiencing other symptoms, it is important to take control of your breathing during an attack. Breathe slowly and deeply as you can. Breathe in slowly for 3 counts then hold your breath for the next 3 slow counts. Then, exhale for 3 slow counts.

Do this until you are calm. If you are able to stand, get up slowly and walk around. It is also helpful to breathe into a plastic or a paper bag. This allows you to re-breathe your carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide helps correct the blood acid level that had been disturbed by excessive breathing.

While practicing deep breathing, try to focus your attention away from the cause of panic. Replace your anxious thoughts with happy ones. If available, do something that will occupy your mind such as solving puzzles and playing word games.

Acupuncture and Extreme Cases

What are some extreme cases where acupuncture is useful? Let us talk about a few particularly interesting ones. The first is using acupuncture on a person in a coma. Many times people in comas only receive minimal care. When my father was in a long term care hospital, I often walked by two rooms where the occupants were in comas, one I knew had been that way for at least several months. After treating any conditions that the doctors were aware of, there was little else to do for these patients. The one that was there for months never had any visitors as far as I could see, and the hospital was maintaining him until at some time he might come out of his coma. The practice of acupuncture can help a person in a coma in the following ways: clear the physical senses, calm the spirit, clear the brain, strengthen the heart, and eliminate phlegm. Without getting too specific, these areas are regulated by different organs of the body and the energy from those organs, and insertion of needles at correct points will redirect that energy.

Depending on the patient, sometimes the needles might be twirled gently. Western medicine distinguishes comatose patients based on their originating symptom (brain tumor, car accident, etc), but the practice of acupuncture groups the patients by their set of common symptoms. The use of acupuncture for these patients will improve their overall well being, and in some cases the patients revive after a time, though it is not possible medically to determine why they revive.

A second use of acupuncture is for someone that is prone to simple fainting. As a caution, a physician should determine if the cause is serious heart trouble. If not, there are standard acupuncture regimes which will regulate energy to allow the blood to freely recirculate through the entire body, including the head. It is also interesting to note that a number of times this physical symptom can be accompanied by a social problem such as overwork, or an emotional problem such as internally rebelling from a situation that the patient wanted to be released from. Acupuncture can restore harmony to both the physical and emotional components of the patient.

Another application of acupuncture is for patients in emergency situations. It would be best to have an actual acupuncture practitioner at the scene, but anyone can use these simple techniques. If someone has lost consciousness, apply a strong pressure with your fingernail in the groove between the nose and mouth, about one third of the way down from the nose. This is a simple acupuncture point that may well awaken the patient. Chest-related emergencies can be helped with the acupuncture point on the underside of the forearm, between the two tendons, and about two thumb widths back from the last wrist crease. This may help for people experiencing palpitations, hiccups, stomach pain, and lung problems. Press firmly.

These just list a few unusual applications where acupuncture would be useful. There are also acupuncture regimens for people that have gone into shock, a drowning victim that is now breathing but still unconscious, acupuncture support for patients with broken limbs, etc. I hope this has expanded your view on many additional uses for acupuncture.

5 Reasons to Visit a Chiropractor After a Car Accident

Were you in a car accident? You feel fine, but are you? You may not know. That is why you should see a chiropractor. Do you need more reasons?

1 You May Have an Injury and Not Know It

Most individuals mistakenly believe that they will be in pain if they have an injury. This is not always true. Damage to the body, muscles, joints, and spine typically hurts, but there are no guarantees. Some damage is just minor enough that there is no pain. However, a smaller injury or just time can lead to aggravation and then pain. Why not prevent this from happening? You can with chiropractic care.

After a car accident, a chiropractor will meet with you. They will gather your medical history, perform a quick physical exam, and ask questions about your car accident. They will diagnose any problems and decide on a course of treatment. This treatment can include joint adjustments or therapeutic massages to relieve pain that will go away on its own overtime.

2 It Is Less Invasive

With chiropractic care, surgery is a last resort. Even then, you are referred to a specialty surgeon. No surgical tools or invasive medical procedures are needed for treatment. Chiropractors rely on manual therapy, which is therapy of the hands. As previously stated, a joint adjustment may be necessarily to properly realign a joint. This is done with precision force of the hands. There is no cutting of the skin or drawing of blood.

After a car accident, many accident victims fear seeking medical treatment. They worry about surgery or being loaded up on prescription medications that have many side effects. Although you may fear the hospital or your primary care physician, you have no reason to fear a chiropractor. Although you are seeking medical care, a trip to the chiropractor may actually feel more like a trip the spa than a doctors visit.

3 No Medications

As previously stated, chiropractic care involves the use of manual therapy. This is 100% all natural. If a chiropractor cannot see a patient right away, they may suggest the use of over-the-counter pain medications. After treatment, they are no longer needed. Pain relievers do provide relief, but that relief is short-lived and it only masks the problem. Chiropractors want to eliminate your pain, but they do so by going directly to the source.

Whiplash victims may receive ongoing massages to treat the pain and discomfort. Whiplash corrects itself overtime, but not all corrections are proper. A patient who does not wear a neck brace or does not limit their activities can experience complications. In these instances, neck adjustments or vertebrae realignment are preformed. Once again, this is done with the hands and not with medications or surgical tools.

4 It Is Safe

Although chiropractic care is 100% natural, is there is some concern about the force used in adjustments. What if a chiropractor slips? Will more damage occur? These are legitimate questions, but you do not need to worry. Chiropractors are medical professionals. They are educated and trained as such. Not anyone can be a chiropractor. It requires training, education, the passing of many tests, and a state license. If your chiropractor is a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.), you can rest assure knowing you are safe in their hands.

Not only is chiropractor a safe form of healthcare, but it is ideal for individuals of all ages. In fact, some parents bring their newborns in for examination following birth! Yes, they really do and it is perfectly safe. If your child is in the car with you during an accident, their primary care physician may prescribe pain medication. It is very dangerous, especially for small children. The 100% natural relief of chiropractic care is safe for individuals of all ages and even pregnant women.

5 It Is Sometimes Covered by Insurance

Following a car accident, your focus may be on costs. After all, your car is damaged. You may have to pay for a new method of transportation, but now healthcare too. As previously stated, some injuries are hard to spot immediately following an automobile accident. Dont wait to get diagnosed until after the incident and after all insurance claims have been filed. Know now.

Luckily, many insurance providers extend coverage for chiropractic care. Many realize that it can lower their operating costs. The onetime cost of neck realignment is much cheaper than 10 years of prescribed pain medications or surgery.

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Neck Pain and Chiropractic Care: The Benefits

Do you suffer from mild to severe neck pain? Whether that pain is due to an injury or it is just a kink in the neck that you cant explain, you may start preparing for long-term pain. Please wait and stop! Dont assume you will have to live with your pain. A solution to your problem and pain relief may be a lot easier and quicker than you thought. So, how do you seek relief? By getting chiropractic care.

If you werent already aware, chiropractic care relies on the use of manual therapy. With this type of therapy, surgical tools and instruments are not used. In fact, many practicing chiropractors rarely suggest surgery, unless in extreme cases they cannot treat. Manual therapy involves hand-on treatment. The hands are literally used to massage and thrust joints and bones back into place.

You know what both chiropractic care and chiropractors are, but you may be worried about the costs and the results. Not all insurance providers cover chiropractic care, so you may be responsible for the cost out-of-pocket. Is it worth it? In most cases, yes. The benefits neck pain patients receive from chiropractic care far outweigh the affordable costs. Speaking of those benefits, what are they?

If you opt to seek neck pain treatment through chiropractic care, your chiropractor will do more than just massage the neck or adjust the joints in your neck. More than one session is needed. First, he or she will diagnose the problem. Then, a treatment plan will be decided. This may include regular therapeutic massages or a neck realignment. Treatment may wait until the next appointment. In cases of neck realignment, aftercare is very important. Your chiropractor may continue to massage the area or teach you exercises.

Decreased pain. Not only do some patients experience a decrease in pain, but some see a complete elimination. It all depends on the cause of the problem. Were you in a car accident and suffered whiplash? It will be painful, but the pain should go away on its own. However, for the time being, it will be painful. Ongoing therapeutic massages can speed up the progression of natural healing and reduce pain.

Improved mobility. In terms of mobility, many automatically think of the feet. Decreased mobility and movement can also result from neck pain. A stiff neck can make it difficult and painful to move. With chiropractic care, you will not have this problem anymore. Full movement should be resorted.

Less reliance on pain medications. As previously stated, one of the many benefits of chiropractic care is reduced pain. Chiropractic pain relief eliminates the need for over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers. This is enough benefit alone to seek treatment for your stiff or painful neck. Medications have many risks and side effects. Keep your body pain-free and healthy by opting for natural medical care.

Most neck pain patients refer to chiropractors as miracle workers. There is a good chance that your doctor will be able to alleviate or eliminate your pain, but there are no guarantees. A wide range of complications causes neck pain. A car accident can create a painful whiplash, but it can also lead to a fracture. Most chiropractors are unable treat neck fractures. In and when that time comes, you will be referred to another qualified physician.

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