Ready! Set! Splash! Six Bright Tips to Help Stay Safe At the Pool this Summer

Ready! Set! Splash! Six Bright Tips to Help Stay Safe At the Pool this Summer

By: Dr Greg Millar DC CCEP and Dr Justin Walbom DC
Millar Chiropractic - Madison AL

School is out, and the cool, fresh water of the local swimming pool awaits beckoning. Long, sunny days, the smell of sunscreen, and the laughter of the playing children will fill the next few months.

However, there are elements of this delightful picture that can end up causing harm to children and adults alike. It's important to take a few key precautions when enjoying a day at the pool this summer. Doing so will minimize the risk of the summer laughter turning to tears.

Here are 6 bright ways for adults and children to stay safe at the pool this summer.

#1: Enroll in swimming lessons

Playing in the water is a fun, refreshing activity, but can turn dangerous quickly. According to the Red Cross, the single biggest precaution to take to ensure summer safety is to make sure your children are able to swim. Book age appropriate swimming lessons for your children as young as possible.

#2: Avoid spills with water shoes or rough bottom sandals

Nothing brings a playful pool day to a screeching halt like a slip and fall on the side of the pool. This goes for you, too, Mom and Dad!

Bare feet offer no traction on wet and slick concrete, and falling can cause serious accidents that require stitches, casts, and, well, chiropractic visits! Make it a rule to wear water shoes or sandals around the pool at all times.

#3: Take measures to fight off swimmer's ear

Swimmer's ear is a common condition that is brought on by water remaining in the ear canal, allowing germs to grow. Yuk!

The CDC reports that this condition results in an astonishing 2.4 million doctor visits every year. Guard against this by teaching your children to tilt each side of their heads toward the ground to drain their ears, and to dry their ears thoroughly with a towel every time they get out of the pool.

If you or one of your little swimmers experience ear pain after a pool day, take them to the doctor as soon as possible to begin treatment.

#4: Beware of little critters

Hot days and bare skin are too much temptation for bees, mosquitoes, and ticks. Bites from these creatures range from itchy to extremely serious. Ward them off with bug spray, or sunscreen with insect repellent.

Ticks in particular are dangerous. If you or your child gets bitten by a tick, remove it promptly and clean the area thoroughly.

#5: Be cautious of overdoing it

A day at the pool can be a blast for the young ones, but wagging the cooler and lawn chairs back and forth to the pool can exhaust an adult, causing injury. Remember to lift heavy items with your legs, and don't overload yourself. An extra trip to the car is worth it to avoid a neck or back strain.

#6: Prepare for disaster

Okay, that is a little melodramatic, but it pays to be prepared in the event of an emergency. Pack a small kit with alcohol, tweezers, bug bite cream, and bandages. Keep the kit in your car or pool bag. Better safe than sorry.

Pool days are a big part of the hot summer months, and are usually lazy and enjoyable. Keep them that way by taking these six tips to heart and talking to your children about the pool rules. With a little preparation up front, the chance of fun-dampening or dangerous instances happening to your family will be greatly minimized. Talk to your Millar Chiropractor about your health questions.

Millar Chiropractic - Madison AL
1908 Slaughter Rd
Madison, Alabama 35758
(256) 430-2700

How Asthma Sufferers Can Breathe Easier With Chiropractic Care

How Asthma Sufferers Can Breathe Easier With Chiropractic Care
By: Justin Walbom, DC and Greg Millar, DC CCEP
Millar Chiropractic - Madison AL

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that has afflicted more people in the last 20 years than ever. Some doctors attribute the increase to the pollutants in the air, the changes in the modern diet, and lack of adequate ventilation in homes.

According to the Mayo Clinic, asthma symptoms vary by individuals and may be mild, severe, or somewhere in between. Shortness of breath and tightness in the chest, along with a wheezing sound when exhaling are common asthma symptoms. Common treatments include inhalers and other medications.

With the millions of asthma sufferers seeking relief, non-traditional treatments have emerged in addition to the everyday remedies. One of the alternatives that has shown positive results is chiropractic care.

A person who suffers from asthma can enjoy multiple benefits from chiropractic. Four of the top benefits chiropractic care can bring to asthma patients are the following:

Reducing the frequency of attacks

Over time, spinal adjustments can help some asthma sufferers decrease the number of attacks. When a spine is in alignment, energy flows through the nerves to the person's organs. A nonaligned spine can cause the energy to fail to flow through the nerve endings as effectively, and a host of issues can arise.

The lungs can suffer when the spine is not aligned. Chiropractors are able to treat the spine so that, over time, it aligns. In some cases, this helps lung function and decreases the number of asthma attacks.

Stimulating air flow

The lungs are obviously vital for breathing, but the airway and diaphragm also play a part. Both of these can be hindered by a spine that is not aligned.

When a chiropractor works with a patient to align the spine, the airways and diaphragm can move more freely, allowing better airflow. While this is not a cure for asthma, in many cases stimulating a body's airflow can help decrease the suffering the chronic condition causes.

Boosting the immune system

A significant number of asthma attacks are brought on and exacerbated by an individual's low immune system. Chiropractic care helps increase the effectiveness of the immune system.

Think of it this way: The autonomic nervous system is connected to the body's immune system by way of the endocrine system. When the spine is out of line, it can affect the immune system.


If a person suffers from chronic asthma attacks, this could be the time when he or she has an episode. A chiropractor who can align the spine can create a positive domino effect. The nervous system improves, the immune system improves, and the asthma attacks decrease.

Working in conjunction with traditional asthma medication

People with asthma commonly use inhalers and steroids to manage their symptoms. Chiropractic care is non-invasive and works with these treatments to lessen the instances and severity of attacks.

A study by Michigan Chiropractic Council showed that asthma sufferers who went through 30 days of chiropractic treatments reported a 70% reduction in medication.

Patients who commit to chiropractic can sometimes manage the symptoms of asthma more naturally, and lessen their dependence on medications. (It's important to note that patients should never go off medications on their own. Always speak to a doctor before changing medications).

Asthma patients fortunately have a variety of treatment options. For those who don't respond to traditional medication, or who wish to decrease their dosage, non-traditional choices like chiropractic may be the answer.

It's advisable to speak to both your medical doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic about your asthma symptoms. By having both disciplines co-manage your case, you’ll work toward a healthier outcome, possibly even without the use of drugs. Give us a call to learn more.

Millar Chiropractic - Madison
(256) 430-2700
http://millarchiro.com/MillarChiropractic-MadisonAL-Chiropractor.html

3 Nutritional Tips That Will Help Chiropractic Patients Boost Their Immune System

3 Nutritional Tips That Will Help Chiropractic Patients Boost Their Immune System

By: Dr. Greg Millar, DC CCEP and Dr Justin Walbom, DC
Millar Chiropractic - Madison AL

In today’s fast-paced society, we’re bombarded with various forms of stress that can wreck havoc on our immune systems. Chiropractors are particularly interested in helping their chiropractic patients overcome these stressors in order to maintain a healthy and balanced life. Outside of the chiropractic adjustment, let’s take a look at three nutritional tips that will help chiropractic patients boost their immune system.

Chiropractic patients’ immune systems run their best when subluxations, also know as vertebral misalignments, are corrected. However, a proper diet can’t be ignored. By combining both forces, your immune system is better equipped to ward off many contaminants that try to invade the body through normal day-to-day activity.

Nutritional Tip #1 — Get Your Vitamin D

Vitamin D is known for strengthening bones and teeth by helping the body absorb calcium. People who get too little vitamin D may develop soft, thin, and brittle bones, a condition known as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

But did you know that it is also known to offer sufficient protection against a wide range of illnesses and chronic diseases like cancer? In addition, it improve's the body's natural response to bacterial infections like tuberculosis and helps to increase the production of antimicrobial peptides which are very important in boosting the immunity.

Since each patient’s health situation is different, ask your chiropractor how much vitamin D you need for optimal health.

Nutritional Tip #2 — Get Your Veggies

In culinary terms, vegetables are edible plants or their parts, intended for cooking or eating raw. You can quickly find what foods are in the vegetable group by visiting ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli and Brussels (all from the brassica family) produce chemicals that are know to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and boost the body's immune system. One great way to make sure you’re getting all of your vegetables for the day is through juicing. If you’re new to juicing, check out this great resource on juicing vegetables.

Nutritional Tip #3 — Avoid Alcohol

Most chiropractic patients are health-conscious. However, new chiropractic patients may be oblivious to the entire concept since our society is geared more toward sickness care instead of true healthcare. Regardless, maintaining a healthy diet is absolutely essential to maintaining a strong immune system. One way to do this is by avoiding or reducing alcohol consumption.

Why? Because research has proven that alcohol can cause immunodeficiencies that, in return, can make you more susceptible to tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia and many other communicable diseases.

In addition, the use of alcohol is linked to cancer. Although many people in our society consume it for recreational purposes, it is important to note that alcohol is a drug that can poison your body and deplete you of essentials vitamins and minerals. Therefore, zero alcohol consumption translates into a super strong immune system.

If you need even more convincing, simply visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s website to learn more about alcohol facts and statistics.

To discover more nutritional tips that will help you build a stronger immune system, make sure you talk to your chiropractor. If you’ve never been to one, give us a call. We’d love to help guide you toward a more healthy lifestyle through safe and effective chiropractic care!

Dr Greg Millar DC CCEP
Dr Justin Walbom DC
Millar Chiropractic - Madison AL
1908 Slaughter Rd
Madison AL 35758
(256) 430-2700