Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Weight Loss Drug Pulled Off the Market”

This news item that came out just last week revolves around a weight loss drug called, Meridia.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US approved Meridia in November 1997 for weight loss and maintenance of weight loss in obese people, and in overweight people with other risks for heart disease. At the time, the FDA had concerns about the potential harmful effects of Meridia because it was known to increase both heart rate and blood pressure in some patients. However, the beneficial effects of weight loss, especially for the obese, was considered to be more important.

Unfortunately, after years of continuing trials and monitoring in the general population, the FDA has now ruled the potential harm to people is too dangerous for continued approval. It was revealed that patients taking Meridia were 16% more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or death compared to people taking a placebo.

Late last week, Health Canada reported that Abbott Laboratories, makers of Meridia, would voluntary take it off the market in this country as well.

“Physicians are advised to stop prescribing Meridia to their patients, pharmacists are advised to stop dispensing Meridia, and patients are advised to stop taking this drug and dispose of any remaining product,” said Dr. John Jenkins, director of the office of new drugs in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at a news conference.

I thought this story was particularly poignant because it underscores the need for people to become educated and informed about their own health. Let me say that through my years of experience and countless patients I see, I have always promoted a healthy lifestyle including, proper diet, exercise and healthy habits.

But I believe it is common sense that when it comes to health and wellness, it will never come in the form of a pill. I think it is natural to look for an ‘easy’ option. With society the way it is, who wouldn’t want more for less? But with anything worth having, health and achieving a healthy weight takes time and a lot of effort.

I promise you it’s not that hard. Chances are, you are already practicing healthy habits. Brushing your teeth everyday and covering your mouth when coughing are just two common examples of things people do regularly to maintain health. This is naturally where Chiropractic comes in.

I am not completely opposed to resorting to over the counter pain relievers like Advil or Tylenol from time to time. But I would like people to know that there are natural options out there to help with symptom relief and achieve health.

If you’re wondering how Chiropractic could benefit you and you’re by the Commercial Drive neighborhood in East Vancouver, come drop by or contact Dr. Chan here;COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “What Conditions Do Chiropractors Treat?”

In my practice the majority of my patients will see me because of some pain/discomfort or loss of function. By this I mean, the patient definitely notices things they used to do, they are now unable to do or has become really difficult. The majority of times the area in question is centered around the spine. However, it’s not just the lower back that can be treated with a Chiropractic adjustment, but anywhere there’s a joint.

I have successfully treated, mid-back, upper-back, neck, and shoulder pain as well. Now to be up front, not all areas I have found will respond the same to Chiropractic adjustments. It depends on various factors such as stress, working environment, underlying health issues, previous injuries, and even weight. For instance I have seen several patients that have revealed to me during an initial history/interview that they have knee issues, but that’s usually followed by the statement, “….but you probably can’t do anything about that.” Then to their surprise, I will treat and adjust their knee. Many times they will leave a treatment session feeling relief in their knees, and a look of surprise!

Another issue I see a lot is mid-back pain that is often associated with discomfort breathing. This is often accompanied with the comment, “…every time I take a deep breath or cough/sneeze, I feel the pain come back really intensely”. After an examination, the cause is actually a displaced or mis-aligned rib. These types of cases respond really well to a Chiropractic adjustment and patients generally report immediate relief.

Other conditions that I have treated in my office are; Headaches, Shoulder pain/ Rotator cuff injuries, Ankle problems, Wrist pain/Carpal tunnel, Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow and more. As an aside, I have also seen patients who were seeking relief from symptoms associated with Asthma or Digestive problems. Now I tell these patients that research supporting Chiropractic’s effectiveness in treating these kinds of ailments is weak or even non-existent at this point. But I do explain the role that the body’s nervous system has to play in regards to one’s health. I also have informed these patients that we can try a few sessions and see if Chiropractic benefits them in any way, but if they don’t see improvements, we can re-evaluate their case and possibly refer them to other health care providers. These cases even to my surprise, have usually resulted in relief for the patient.

I suppose these cases are a testament to the body’s ability to heal if given some assistance. I think that modern day medicine is amazing in it’s complexity and helps countless people everyday. However, I also feel that there are those people who do not find the relief they are looking for using traditional medicine. For those people I would encourage them to explore different options like, Chiropractic.

If you live by the Commercial Drive area in East Vancouver, stop by and say, hi!.If you want more information, contact YOUR COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC HERE!!!

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “A Little about Dr. Dominic Chan DC”

I thought I’d take this opportunity on a beautiful afternoon in Vancouver to write a little bit about myself. Now, I understand that choosing a health care provider can be a daunting task and one might feel like they just have to take a “leap of faith”. However, I thought if I introduced myself a bit, it would make things a bit easier, so here goes.

I was raised in the lower mainland after immigrating from Burma, a country now called Myanmar. I went to Richmond High School and grew up participating in many sports, but Swimming and Karate in particular. I was an avid swimmer and even competed internationally when I was growing up.

After high school, I attended the University of British Columbia and received a Bachelor’s degree in Science. All through university I remained interested in sports, physiology and health. During my later years in University I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare and I decided on Chiropractic.

I then decided to travel to the great city of Portland, Oregon to attend Western States University. There, I completed an intensive four year doctorate program in three years. I graduated with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 2004.

After many long years of consecutive schooling, I decided to take a break and traveled of nearly two months. After satisfying my travel bug, I started working in the East Vancouver neighborhood by Commercial Drive where I have been since. My office is in the EastVan Medical Building on East 10th Ave, just across from the Safeway at Broadway and Commercial Drive.

My practice is focused on acute and rehabilitative care. Meaning, I focus on the fundamentals of orthopaedics and physiology to help diagnose and treat a patient’s ailment. From day one, I encourage a healthy and active lifestyle with all my patients. I stress that exercise and proper stretching must be a part of the healing process as well a fundamental to a healthy life. My practice is not focused on “corrective care”. Meaning some offices will often require patients undergo x-rays, and follow up x-rays to monitor changes over a period of time.

My philosophy is after a thorough history and diagnosis, to adopt a personalized treatment plan. For instance, many acute patients understandably want relief of pain and to regain function. I explain, that in the first couple of weeks it is very important to reduce pain and discomfort. Once this is achieved, it is far easier for the patient to participate in more rehab stretches and exercises on their own time.
As this is achieved, I re-evaluate the patient’s progress and response to care and gradually decrease the number of treatments needed.

In my spare time, I continue to remain active and compete in various events. I have competed in triathlons, half-marathons and am currently training for my very first marathon!! Wish me luck!

As always, I love to hear feedback from you guys. You can reach YOUR COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN HERE!!!>

Chiropractic Therapy in Vancouver – Foot Pain

Did you know that your feet are the foundation of your entire body? Many people suffer from foot pain on a daily basis. A hallmark of a common condition called Plantar Fasciitis is morning foot pain. In other words, the first few steps in the morning are very painful.

If this sounds like you, chances are, you are suffering from Plantar Fasciitis. This condition is caused by contraction of the connective tissue under the bottoms of your feet called the Plantar Fascia. In the morning, as you start to walk, you stretch this tissue and cause micro tears that results in pain.

A very effective form of therapy is Orthotic Therapy. These Therapeutic inserts you wear in your shoes can help to stabilize your feet and take pressure off the Plantar Fascia, thus reducing the pain.

As always, for more information you can visit www.drchanchiro.com or call Dr. Chan’s office.