Anything that reflects the slightest thing wrong for a child will cause concern in a parent. A fever, for example, is one of the primary reasons that parents will call their child’s pediatrician. Yet, the truth is, what many of us have been told is a low grade fever is a natural body temperature for some children.
Simply put, our body?s first line of defense when invaded by any microbe, virus or bacteria is going to be cells called microphages; a strong, healthy immune system may be able to eliminate the problem with this first step alone. If these fail to contain the ?bug? then the body creates other pyrogens and proteins to try to assist. Once these have been created the hypothalamus in the brain recognizes that there is an invader and raises the body temperature to assist in killing it off. This raised temperature will generally be just a couple of degrees, but the hypothalamus determines, based on the number of pyrogens and proteins, what will be necessary to eliminate the bug. If the hypothalamus creates additional biochemicals to try to protect the body then the temperature raises accordingly.
The best response to a fever below 104.5°F for children over the age of 3 years is lots of rest and clear fluids. Since the fever will cause your child to sweat they will lose sodium and water which must be replaced with proper fluids. This does not include Gatorade or other sugary sports drinks.
DeMoss Chiropractic recognizes and supports the body?s natural ability to fight off infection. The immune system, like all other bodily systems, is controlled by the central nervous system via the spinal cord, which is housed in the spine. Your chiropractor helps keep the spine aligned allowing messages to travel without interruption from the brain to the rest of the body. A fever is, quite simply, a natural part of your child?s immune system. When it is functioning at it?s absolute best, your child?s body will fight off most foreign invaders so swiftly that they will have no outward effect at all. However, when necessary your child?s immune system will raise their temperature to create a hostile environment for that invader. It?s how a properly functioning body functions.
Three Reasons to Bring Your Loved One to the Chiropractor
It’s the month of love! Everyone knows love isn’t just a box of See’s candies and a dozen roses – it’s wanting the best for someone in all aspects of life! That’s why at DeMoss Chiropractic we encourage patients to invite their loved ones to see the chiropractor! Here are just a few reasons to bring your loved on to the chiropractor!
- Regular chiropractic users report improved physical and emotional health, less stress, less drug use, more energy, and life enjoyment. Chiropractic is proven to boost you and your loved one’s quality of life.
- The body?s wisdom sends energy and information to the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. This helps you adapt your internal environment and your external environment to maintain homeostasis. When this energy is flowing through someone without interference the body and mind are more sensitive to the body?s needs, thus allowing the best expression of the self.
- The true purpose of chiropractic is not a treatment of aches and pains but rid the body of subluxations as they occur so people are better able to adapt to life?s stresses. Successfully adapting to life?s stresses is what true health is all about.
Refer a friend or loved one to DeMoss Chiropractic today! Ask the front desk for details.
Thank You Dry Farm Wines
Dry Farm Wines was kind enough to provide the wine for our second annual Women, Wine, and Wellness event on Thursday, May 11th.
We were excited to have Dry Farm Wines at our event because they share our values and have the highest standards for their natural, organic, and delicious wines. 99% of the wine consumed in the US is a highly processed factory product. Dry Farm Wines is different because it is the only natural, lab-tested, health quantified wine club in the world. Not to mention, their wines are sugar free, low sulfites, organic, paleo-friendly, and gluten-free. They promise no hangovers, additives, and brain fog.
Visit their website and learn more about their organic wine club at https://www.dryfarmwines.com!
Childhood Concussions: The Basics
According to the Mayo clinic, ?a concussion is a traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions. Effects are usually temporary but can include headaches and problems with concentration, memory, balance, and coordination.?
Any blow to the head or upper body can result in a concussion including but not limited to: physical altercations or fights, playground injuries, car accidents, bicycle accidents, falling down the stairs, or other falls.
When considering sports for your child to participate in, remember that not all sports include physical contact, but all sports do have the potential to result in a concussion. It?s important to know the signs and potential damage.
It?s important to know the signs of a concussion. It?s common for a blow to the head to result in a concussion, while not always causing a loss of consciousness. Many will claim to feel ?fine? not being aware that they are dealing with a concussion so it?s important to know the typical signs:
– Loss of consciousness
– Memory problems
– Severe Headache
– Blurred vision
– Trouble walking
– Confusion and saying things that don?t make sense
– Slurred speech
– Drowsiness or feeling sluggish
– Unresponsiveness
– Sensitivity to light or sound.
These symptoms are a sign of a possible concussion and anyone displaying any of the above symptoms after a blow to the head or upper body should be taken immediately for examination by DeMoss Chiropractic or other healthcare professional.
We?re trained in how to gently and properly adjust a child?s spine. While a blow to the head or neck may not actually cause a concussion, it very well may have created a slight misalignment to the vertebra in the spine resulting a vertebral subluxation (nerve interference that can interrupt the signal from the brain that goes down the spinal cord and out to the muscles, organs and glads.)
Teething 101
Teething Symptoms and Home Remedies
Many pediatricians, scientists, researchers and parents have disagreed about the concept of teething, but any parent of a little one will tell you that whether or not it?s just a coincidence their babies are miserable when their teeth start coming in.
Teething 101
When newborns are born they have ?teeth buds? just under the gums, and while there is no set time that those teeth will begin to appear, typically their first tooth will begin to break through between five and seven months. Some infants can begin teething as early as 3 months and some as late as 9 months to even a year.?
Typically the incisors (top and bottom middle teeth) appear between the ages of six to seven months. Between the ages of 7 to 9 months the incisors will come in on each side of those first teeth that appeared. Around the age of 8 months, a baby may have 8 teeth. The first molars begin to break through at 10 to 14 months and the canines at 15 to 18 months. Finally, the second molars will come in typically between the ages of 2 to 3 years.
Teething Symptoms
Many experts actually disagree about whether or not teething even has symptoms, but most parents report unique
changes prior to the appearance of their infant?s teeth. For instance, when a baby is teething their saliva production increases. This has caused many symptoms including drooling, which can sometimes cause a rash on their chin, coughing or gagging on the excess saliva and loose bowels due to swallowing that excess saliva.
Additional teething symptoms can be irritability or a desire to gnaw on anything within grasp. The pressure of the tooth trying to break through the gums can cause discomfort leading to irritability. Many babies instinctively reach for something to gnaw on as pressure on the gums will sometimes counteract the pressure caused by the teeth.
Over-the-Counter?
?Recognizing that there really isn?t anything that can be done medically is little comfort to a parent who is dealing with a fussy, cranky, miserable little baby. The first thing to understand is that there are natural, holistic choices, and it is never going to be necessary to resort to pain relievers or gum-numbing agents. These items can actually do more harm than good, and aspirin should never be given to a baby even to rub on their gums, as it has been linked with the potentially deadly disease, Reye?s Syndrome.
??Acetaminophen should also never be used, as the long-term effects of the chemicals in pain relievers on infants have not been recorded. With regards to gum-numbing agents, while they have been found to be effective, it may be potentially dangerous. Popular pediatrician, Dr. Sears says on his website, ?We do not recommend commercial gum-numbing substances because it is difficult to learn their exact contents and find research that validates their safety.? ??
Alternative Relief
?The only over-the-counter teething treatment approved by homeopathic and holistic professionals are teething tablets. Designed specifically to help babies with their teething symptoms, these tables dissolve immediately in the mouth and naturally relieve swelling and pain. Additionally, there are many home remedies that can help to relieve pressure, pain and discomfort. The first thing to understand is that the baby?s gums are sore and aching. A sharp tooth is trying to push through the gums and this is what is causing the discomfort and resultant fussiness. Anything that will counter-balance that pressure is going to bring relief. Many parents have reported that a clean wet washcloth put in the freezer for a short time, then given to the baby to gnaw on brings welcome relief. The cloth can be dipped in water or strong chamomile tea. The choice of tea adds a calming agent and is soothing to an infant?s tummy. Similarly, a frozen banana given to the baby will give them something natural to gnaw on. Any item that might be used by the parent should be monitored to not be so small that the child could choke on. Ice in a sandwich bag, then wrapped in a cloth works well, and for the older child already eating solid foods, cold soft foods such as applesauce or diced papaya can bring relief.??
Other Home Remedies
?Although in Europe the use of an Amber necklace has been used, it has recently become more popular in North America. This fossilization of resin of ancient trees is touted to have natural calming, relaxing and analgesic properties. Dr. Feder, a holistic medical doctor, recommends several homeopathic remedies; belladonna for teething accompanied by sudden fever, calcarea carbonica for chubby and sweaty babies especially while nursing or during sleep, calcarea phosphorica for delayed teething and chamomilla for swollen, inflamed and tender gums. ??
The Chiropractic Factor
It?s important to not interfere with the natural routine of teething. Every child is different, but teething has been proven to be hereditary. If an infant?s parents? first tooth appeared when they were three months, then it?s safe to assume this will be generational. It?s not even unusual for a baby to be born with a tooth already in place. Recognizing the body?s innate ability to work as it was designed, DeMoss Chiropractic.