Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Chiropractic a Safer Alternative to Pain Killers”

Many of the patients I see in practice understandably see me for relief of pain. Also, not surprisingly,  I uncover through the course of a history that many of the patients have also tried over the counter or prescription pain killers. For example, Acetaminophen, or more commonly known by it’s brand name, Tylenol. Now I always warn my patients that all pain killers have possible serious side effects, even the ones you don’t need a prescription for. In addition, it is always advised to closely follow the recommended daily dose and never go beyond it. 

Now, working as a Chiropractor, I know that there are too many people out there who are taking too much Tylenol for their pain and it is a major concern. Now within the last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US, is also recognizing and addressing this growing problem. The FDA has actually taken a bold move and introduced a public information campaign warning the public of the dangers of acetaminophen! According to the FDA, taking Tylenol more than directed, even by just a little bit, can cause serious liver damage!

Did you know that every year, over 30,000 hospital visits can be attributed to the misuse of acetaminophen (Tylenol)? Of those, a significant number are due to unintentional overdoses. Now the alarming piece of the story is many people do not even realize that liver damage is a possible side effect of Tylenol. Many people just assume that since you can go into any store and buy Tylenol yourself, that it must somehow be ‘safe’. Well as directed, Tylenol often is safe. 

But are there other options out there? The good news is YES there is! and Chiropractic happens to be one of the best options out there. Tylenol and similar drugs will at best, only ‘mask’ the pain temporarily. As the effects wear off, the need to ingest more every few hours will often become necessary. So why don’t we get to the source of the pain instead? It would be like going to another room of your house because the bedroom door squeeks. Instead of avoiding the problem, wouldn’t it be better to just fix the bedroom door???

This is where Chiropractic excels. We can find the source of your pain and dysfunction and help devise a plan to actually address the cause and not just the symptom.  If you are in pain and are tired of popping pills, contact me and let me help!

If you’re interested in seeing the FDA warnings regarding acetaminophen abuse, follow the link  here.

If you’re in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, come by the office or visit my website here; COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!

 

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “When Your Hip is Not the Cause of Hip Pain – Ask a Chiropractor”

I came across this article that discusses a common cause of hip pain; Bursitis. Bursitis is the inflammation of a fluid filled sack called a Bursa. There is a Bursa at the top of your Femur, which is the long leg bone in your thigh. Where the Femur connects to your hip bone, the bursa is supposed to help cushion the impact of the two bones when you put weight on it ie. standing, walking, running.

Here are the most common symptoms that indicate you might be dealing with Bursitis of the hip;

* Pain that occurs right at the point of the hip.
* Pain that radiates from the hip to the thigh.
* Pain that starts as severe and sharp, and becomes more aching and widespread.
* Pain that gets worse at night or when you lie on the bad hip.
* Pain that gets worse when standing after sitting for a long period.
* Pain that gets worse after prolonged periods of climbing stairs, squatting or walking.

But here’s where the problem lies. These symptoms overlap with a few other causes of hip/ low back pain. So now what do you do? I have had many patients visit my office after they have visited their family doctor or clinic doctor only to leave with a prescription for pain relievers or referral for X-Rays.

After I’ve taken a complete history as well as a physical and specific Orthopaedic exam, many patients comment on how “thorough” my examinations are. I explain that a good history and exam can not only help doctors find out what a problem is, but also, what it isn’t. Hip pain can be a case of Bursitis. But it can also be caused by; ligament sprain, muscle tear/strain, joint dysfunction, muscle imbalance etc. And as you may have guessed, treatment and home care can vary drastically depending on what is causing your hip/low back pain.

So the next time you are suffering from hip/low back pain, check with a Chiropractor first. Doing this can often save you time and needless suffering.

For a Chiropractor in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver contact COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN HERE!!!!!

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – “Women Often Underestimate Strokes”

Just a few days after Mother’s day, I got to thinking about women’s health and I was reminded about how little women know about Strokes and how it relates to Cadiovascular health.

I know there is a lot of attention paid to Cancer in the media and especially Breast Cancer. Now I’m not saying that isn’t a worthy cause and an important investment in time and resources but let’s review the facts.

A survey found that nearly 40% of women aren’t even concerned of strokes. However, the sobering fact is that a stroke is twice as likely to prove fatal to a woman than breast cancer is. Another interesting survey finding is that women believe that Breast Cancer is Five times more common than a stroke, but that is grossly exaggerated. Other health professionals also reported that women often miss the signs of a stroke and even worse, are less likely than men to have it treated when they do have one!

What’s going on here?? If Strokes are 1)more common than Breast cancer and 2)more likely to be fatal to a woman, then why is there still the lack of understanding in the general public?

Well, the key lies in education and exposure. We are regularly bombarded with public service announcements about Breast Cancer and it’s related charities. However, seldom are women reminded to review their cardiovascular health. Here, I’ve listed a few of the symptoms of a stroke. If a woman, or anybody for that matter, suffers these symptoms, make sure they get the appropriate medical attention ASAP!!

* Sudden difficulty speaking, understanding speech, or confusion
* Sudden numbness or weakness in the limbs, particularly on one side
* Sudden facial drooping or numbness and weakness on one side of the face
* Sudden balance problems, dizziness or trouble walking
* Sudden difficulty seeing with one or both eyes
* Sudden severe headache

Please don’t wait. Tell a woman, you love that they need to be wary of their heart health as well!

Visit East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Chan’s website here at COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC

Commercial Drive – East Vancouver Chiropractor; Dr. Dominic Chan DC – FYI: Calcium and Vitamin D

Did you know that Calcium and Vitamin D share a very close relationship in your body?

Calcium, as many people know, plays an important role to the strength of your bones. Especially as people get older and the concern over Osteoporosis increases, Calcium in your body is crucial to your health.

However, you may not know that for Calcium to be properly absorbed and utilized in your body, it needs Vitamin D. Luckily, Vitamin D is readily available by getting a moderate exposure to sunshine. Nevertheless, living in Vancouver, sometimes the amount of sunshine we receive is not ideal. So, as you may have noticed, milk in the grocery store is often ‘fortified’ with Vitamin D.

Remember, if you’re looking for a Chiropractor in the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver, check out the website of your COMMERCIAL DRIVE – EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR