5 Daily Habits for Every Healthy Family #5

Everyone wants their family to be healthy.  Often that means making lifestyle changes and forming habits that promote overall health. Once you’ve decided to commit to a change, where do you start? The good news is that there are a handful of healthy habits that any family can adapt and grow with.

Here is Daily Habit #5: Trust in Your Healthy Design

Your Family is Designed to Be Healthy!

The healthiest families I know are ones that understand and trust that each of us was designed to heal and be healthy. What does that mean? When we cut our finger, the cut heals, without any outside intervention. Anything we can do to facilitate that healing potential will lead to increased health. Our instantly gratified society demands answers fast, but sometimes the simple answer is that time is required to heal and be healthy. 

What does a habit of trusting your healing potential look like? In one word: restraint. Often, we feel the need to “do” something in a situation when our health is being tested or in any situation when we are challenged. Letting go of control is possibly the most difficult thing to do in our success driven society. Even more than letting go of control, we need to wrap out heads around the fact that we never had it. Life is a gift and with that gift comes our ability to be healthy provided there is no interference to our innate potential. Our life and health are so intimately intertwined that we need to approach any health intervention with great delicacy. It is our human nature to want to help, to intervene. 

However, I would argue that many of the health care interventions that are considered commonplace today are actually going against our healthy design. One of the best examples I can give is using fever reducing medication. When our body becomes under attack from a virus, bacteria or other foreign toxin, the body intelligently raises our temperature to stimulate our immune system to fight off the invader. When we intervene with fever reducing medication, we are fighting our body’s own defenses, which will actually prolong the illness. Letting the fever run its course allows our body to defend itself and heal. It takes trust and patience, but it works. We’re designed that way.

My Son and I Enjoy A Healthy Meal Together

Just to use a personal example of trusting the healthy design of the body, I would like to use my son, who is approaching two and a half years. He has not been artificially immunized through vaccination. He has never taken an antibiotic or any medication. He regularly gets licked in the face by our two dogs. He crawled all over our UN-bleached floor. He regularly eats things off the floor and/or restaurant table. He still breastfeeds on a daily basis. We co-sleep.  He likes to have his spine checked on daddy’s adjusting table (but only occasionally gets more than a tickle adjustment).

He has had two fevers and one illness (rotavirus) to date. Both fevers were due to his teeth coming in, which makes perfect sense: open holes appearing in his mouth could very well lead to infection, so the body alerts the immune system with a fever so it’s prepared. His rotavirus experience, while not pretty (vomit and diarrhea never is), lasted only about 36 hours. How did we treat it? With lots of fluids and breast milk. He has never had an ear infection, doesn’t have allergies or digestive issues, and sleeps like a teenager. 

While trusting in the healthy design takes practice and patience, it is very rewarding when you see your family’s health thrive because of it. We are all designed to be healthy. We just have to believe that and act accordingly.

Choosing to have a healthy family is a great resolution. Making small changes into healthy habits is the best way to see lasting improvement in your family’s overall health. Check in next month for 5 Questions Healthy Parents are Asking.

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

5 Daily Habits for Every Healthy Family #4

Everyone wants their family to be healthy.  Often that means making lifestyle changes and forming habits that promote overall health. Once you’ve decided to commit to a change, where do you start? The good news is that there are a handful of healthy habits that any family can adapt and grow with.

Here is Daily Habit  #4: Show Appreciation

Forming a habit of appreciating your family will reap more rewards than could ever be counted in a lifetime. There are many people, myself included, that are constantly striving for self-improvement on a daily basis. This drive is often a wonderful too; however, many times I catch myself critiquing (even just in my head) how a situation or a person could have operated differently or more efficiently. 

Now, there is nothing wrong with striving for future improvement. But if you never stop to show your appreciation for the people in your life, especially your family, you will breed feelings of resentment and even depression.

Showing appreciation for family members may involve a hand written note, a bouquet of flowers, a long embrace, engaging in an activity that you know they love (even if it may not be your cup of tea), or even actively listening with your undivided attention (see #2 regarding technology). 

Once you decide to show appreciation for your family, they will show more reciprocated appreciation for you. Your household environment can transform from toxic and hostel to loving and gracious before your eyes.

Choosing to have a healthy family is a great resolution. Making small changes into healthy habits is the best way to see lasting improvement in your family’s overall health. Check back later this week for Healthy Habit #5!    

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

5 Daily Habits for Every Healthy Family #3

Everyone wants their family to be healthy.  Often that means making lifestyle changes and forming habits that promote overall health. Once you’ve decided to commit to a change, where do you start? The good news is that there are a handful of healthy habits that any family can adapt and grow with.  

Here is Daily Habit #3: Save and Invest

  

The families that build wealth together will also build health together. Financial inexperience is one
of the single greatest causes of distress in our lives. This stress leads to weight gain, digestive and sleep disorders, heart disease, cancers and many more modern day diseases. Without a basic understanding of finances, our families will experience a lot of unnecessary stress. 

The habit of saving and investing does not have to include an E-trade account and knowledge of the stock market (although it may). Simply setting a family goal to save a specific amount of money for a specific purpose will build unity and accomplishment within your household. The money may be used for any number of things – a family vacation, education, new appliance, or donation to a charity. 

Start the habit of saving and investing with your family early on for it is a skill your children need to see to learn. The purpose and passion it ignites will lead to an abundance of wealth and health.

Choosing to have a healthy family is a great resolution. Making small changes into healthy habits is the best way to see lasting improvement in your family’s overall health. Check back later this week for Healthy Habit #4!   

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

5 Daily Habits for Every Healthy Family #2

Everyone wants their family to be healthy.  Often that means making lifestyle changes and forming habits that promote overall health. Once you’ve decided to commit to a change, where do you start? The good news is that there are a handful of healthy habits that any family can adapt and grow with.

Here are Daily Habit #2: Actively Participate

This habit is simple. The more activities that engage our families physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually, the healthier we become. Technology is a wonderful thing and allows us to connect with friends all over the world. But it can also make us completely oblivious to the people sitting right next to us including our spouses and children. It is even scarier to see my two year old son glued to a piece of technology with absolutely no acknowledgment of my presence when I am calling his name. I hear teenagers and husbands are just as bad, if not worse.

I am guilty of this too. My wife can carry on an entire conversation with me giving blind acknowledgements, but if I am on my phone or computer, at the end of the conversation I have no recollection of what just transpired. 

I argue that families who step away from the technology (TV, internet, phones) for an hour or two each day and engage in a board game, puzzle, church event, or brisk walk will be much healthier than families who do not. Technology has changed our world for the better, but it has also become an addicting habit for many people. If you want a healthier family, then you need healthier habits. If this seems like a big step for your family, then start simple: tossing the technology aside for just an hour each evening and engage in an active activity that is agreed upon by all.  Make it a rule that phones are not checked during dinner (or until the dishes are washed!)

Choosing to have a healthy family is a great resolution. Making small changes into healthy habits is the best way to see lasting improvement in your family’s overall health. Check back later this week for Healthy Habit #3!  

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter. 

5 Daily Habits for Every Healthy Family #1

Everyone wants their family to be healthy.  Often that means making lifestyle changes and forming habits that promote overall health. Once you’ve decided to commit to a change, where do you start? The good news is that there are a handful of healthy habits that any family can adapt and grow with.

Here is Daily Habit #1:  Prepare and Share Meals 

A Meal Full of Veggies and Protein is Always a Winner

We are constantly pointing fingers as to the cause of the obesity crisis in our country. One link that I see is the loss of families sitting down to a prepared meal at least once per day. We are constantly on the go trying to get to the next item on our checklist. Eating has become just one more activity that needs to be completed as quickly as possible, rather than the sharing of a meal with good company. Meals that are prepared at home are not only much healthier, but also tend to be cheaper than grabbing fast food.

It's no surprise that a meal made at home will have better ingredients than one grabbed from the drive thru. Some benefits of a home cooked meal include promoting nutritional choices, limiting the amount of grain and dairy, knowing exactly what is in the meal (no extra ingredients like MSG, soy, preservatives, coloring, butane, or glycol that you may find in fast food favorites), and portion control. Not to mention enjoying a glass of water that you can super-size on your own, free of charge.

Meal preparation takes planning. We all have schedules that are pulling us in multiple directions. Coordinating schedules at the beginning of the week (maybe a Sunday afternoon or evening) will allow you to determine on which days and at what times meals can be shared. If there are days throughout the week that meal prep time is at a minimum, consider taking that Sunday afternoon to prepare a few meals that can easily be reheated come meal time. Or make the crock pot your new best friend. 

Avoid eating in front of the television regularly. It interferes with quality conversation and provides an environment for fast pace and mindless eating. If done often enough, eating while watching TV becomes a habit.  This will lead you to believe that you always need to have something to snack on while watching. If family TV time is a regular at your house, start the habit of eating meals at the table and set aside only one night a week for your “TV dinner” as a treat.

Choosing to have a healthy family is a great resolution. Making small changes into healthy habits is the best way to see lasting improvement in your family’s overall health. Check back later this week for Healthy Habit #2!

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

Fighting the C Word: 4 Questions You Should Be Asking About Breast Cancer Part 3

It is that time of year again. The pink banners are waving strong, the walks are planned, the football players are dressed. Yes, breast cancer awareness month is upon us.



Adding Toxins Does Not Make
A Person Healthy or Well

Cancer has the second highest mortality rate in the United States behind heart disease and breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women. Over the past decade, many organizations have done a fabulous job in raising hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer treatment, research, and awareness. I do applaud the millions of people who have taken the time and spent the energy towards these heart felt causes. However, over the next four weeks I am going to ask some brutally honest questions that may challenge many of your beliefs and current understanding in order to bring to light an increased understanding of breast cancer and the restoration of health.

Over this month, I invite you to follow me through four fundamental discussion points based on our current societal understanding of cancer. Ask yourself what rings true and what could be improved upon. Shall we…?

Discussion Point 3: Chemicals vs. Curing

Last week I talked about preventing cancer (and other disease), but this week I want to address your choices if you do face the difficulty of a cancer diagnosis. Let me say that again, your CHOICES. As an individual with autonomy, you have the right to choose your healthcare options and the more information you have, the better your choices will be.

Cutting It Out Doesn't Solve The Problem

 Remember that disease, like darkness, cannot be removed because it is merely the absence of health. However, the standard in cancer treatment at this point in time is chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery or some combination of the three. All three of which are aimed at killing cancer cells within the body. However, the reason you have cancer is because your body has lost its ability to express its natural state of health. Killing the cancer cells through chemotherapy and radiation or trying to remove them through surgery is NEVER the cure. Yes, this could buy you time in the short term, but adding toxic chemicals/radiation or surgically removing body parts will never restore balance to your body and return you to your natural state of health. However, most cancer treatment specialists are trained to measure the success of your treatment based on the presence or absence of cancer cells and do not address the environment that laid the foundation for the cancer to spread in the first place. If you do not change your lifestyle choices and feed your body the basic essentials for health, then you are very likely to end up in the high percentage of individuals who have a relapse of cancer.

Therefore, if I may put this as bluntly and boldly as possible, you and I have the cure for cancer! It is the awareness and respect that life is intelligent and life always favors and moves towards a state of health and balance. If we simply provide our body with all that it requires and remove from our body anything that is toxic, we will become masters of health restoration and promotion. We will have conquered this battle of cancer and many other diseases!

What do I do?

The good news is that your body is constantly striving towards health and the minute you decide to start placing your body in a healthy environment is the minute that you will begin to heal, whether you have a cancer diagnosis or just wish to prevent it.

Dr. Dan’s Do-It-Daily Tips:

Take a quality supplement. I take and recommend that my patients take 3000mg of omega 3 fish oil daily. These oils are essential in the diet and are not made by the body. They assist in cell membrane and nerve system integrity and are a foundational building block for health. Yes, it would be great to get it from fish, but our fish sources have been so toxified with heavy metals, that it is impossible to get the recommended omega 3’s without supplementing. I also recommend a quality multivitamin (stay tuned for future blogs on supplementation) that will cover all your B-vitamins, fat soluble vitamins (A,E,D, and K), and plenty of trace minerals (i.e. Calcium, selenium, iodine and zinc).

For the past 20 years, our answer to cancer has been to throw money at the problem with unwavering commitment to reducing cancer rates. We are often reminded that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. This unwillingness to change has only led to more cancer, decreased quality of life, and death. It is time for you and I to take full responsibility for our health as an individual. As a society, we must start asking better questions to get the answer we are looking for - better health.  It’s not an understatement to say lives depend on it.

Check back next week for our final discussion point - point title here - and another Dr. Dan's Do-It-Daily Tip.

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

Fighting the C Word: 4 Questions You Should Be Asking About Breast Cancer Part 2

It is that time of year again. The pink banners are waving strong, the walks are planned, the football players are dressed. Yes, breast cancer awareness month is upon us.


Mammograms Do Not Prevent Cancer

Cancer has the second highest mortality rate in the United States behind heart disease and breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women. Over the past decade, many organizations have done a fabulous job in raising hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer treatment, research, and awareness. I do applaud the millions of people who have taken the time and spent the energy towards these heart felt causes. However, over the next four weeks I am going to ask some brutally honest questions that may challenge many of your beliefs and current understanding in order to bring to light an increased understanding of breast cancer and the restoration of health. 

Over this month, I invite you to follow me through four fundamental discussion points based on our current societal understanding of cancer. Ask yourself what rings true and what could be improved upon. 

Shall we…?

Discussion Point 2: Prevention vs. Early Detection

In the last several months, I have been shopping around for “health” insurance because our government tells me that I must have it (different topic for another blog). Many of the insurance companies tried to sell me on the fact that they offer so many “preventive” screenings per year. If you are getting screened for anything, this falls under the category of early detection, not prevention. If you get screened for breast cancer and they find cancer, you did not prevent anything, and hopefully you detected it early enough that you can do something about it. Please be a wise health care consumer and advocate and know the drastic difference between these two categories.

The only way to prevent cancer (or any disease) is to promote health. Lucky for us, health, homeostasis, or balance is our body’s natural state. We will constantly move toward or away from our natural state of health in direct response to our daily life choices. How do you prevent darkness from occurring in a room? You leave the light on. You cannot remove the darkness because it does not exist; it is only the absence of light. Cancer (disease) is the same way. How do you prevent cancer? You leave your health on by making healthy choices every day in your life. You cannot remove disease from your body, you must promote health.

I do hear the arguments coming in now, “Sure Dr. Dan, you talk about preventing cancer, but what happens if I do get screened and find out that I have it? Is it not better to detect it early?” The answer depends on what you choose to do with the information once you have it.  That leads to next week's Curing vs. Chemicals discussion. 

How Do I Fight Cancer?

The good news is that your body is constantly striving towards health and the minute you decide to start placing your body in a healthy environment is the minute that you will begin to heal, whether you have a cancer diagnosis or just wish to prevent it.

Dr. Dan’s Do-It-Daily Tips:

Eat more veggies. I aim to eat a minimum of 5 servings of vegetables each day. If I miss my vegies, my body knows it due to my low energy.

For the past 20 years, our answer to cancer has been to throw money at the problem with unwavering commitment to reducing cancer rates. We are often reminded that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. This unwillingness to change has only led to more cancer, decreased quality of life, and death. It is time for you and I to take full responsibility for our health as an individual. As a society, we must start asking better questions to get the answer we are looking for - better health.  It’s not an understatement to say lives depend on it.

Check back next week for our third discussion point - Chemicals vs Curing - and another Dr. Dan's Do-It-Daily Tip.

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

Fighting the C Word: 4 Questions You Should Be Asking About Breast Cancer Part 1

It is that time of year again. The pink banners are waving strong, the walks are planned, the football players are dressed. Yes, breast cancer awareness month is upon us.

Ask the Tough Questions

Cancer has the second highest mortality rate in the United States behind heart disease and breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women. Over the past decade, many organizations have done a fabulous job in raising hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer treatment, research, and awareness. I do applaud the millions of people who have taken the time and spent the energy towards these heart felt causes. However, over the next four weeks I am going to ask some brutally honest questions that may challenge many of your beliefs and current understanding in order to bring to light an increased understanding of breast cancer and the restoration of health.

We start with a simple question: Have we seen cancer rates decrease in the past 10 or 20 years? The answer is a resounding no. Cancer rates continue to rise even with the millions of dollars that are spent on research and treatment.

This simple answer leads to more difficult questions: Where are we spending our money when it comes to cancer research and treatment? If we are spending more and more money on research, treatment, and awareness, why are the cancer rates not only not decreasing but INCREASING?

Over this month, I invite you to follow me through four fundamental discussion points based on our current societal understanding of cancer. Ask yourself what rings true and what could be improved upon. Shall we…?

Discussion Point 1: Genes vs. Environment

Every day in practice, I hear the argument that our health challenges are genetic. Recently there was a famous celebrity who had both breasts removed because she tested positive for one of the breast cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2). News flash:  EVERYONE has the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. It only increases the risk of breast cancer if the gene has an abnormal mutation and accounts for less than 10% of all breast cancer cases. (Straight from Breastcancer.org) Again, it only increases the RISK; it is not a death sentence. There are many women who inherit an abnormal breast cancer gene and never develop breast cancer. What is my point? Our society has placed way too high an emphasis on our genes, which we have no control over. This creates a victim mentality. I am here to dispel this myth and let you know that you have more control over your health than you may have every imagined. And you do NOT have to cut off your breasts for that control. 

Genes are a blueprint -
it's all in how your body reads them

Our genes are nothing but a blueprint, a plan to follow.  It would be ridiculous to believe that a building springs up out of a blueprint without a coordinated team of architects, contractors, and construction crews. This team also knows what type of building is optimal for different environments, can adjust the blueprint and construct appropriately. Your body works in much the same way. Your genes map the blueprint for many different environmental conditions (i.e. hot, cold, food surplus/deficiency, joy, and fear) Cancer is only correlated with stressful environmental conditions (i.e. toxic and excessive food, poor body movement, stinking thinking). It is not correlated with abnormal gene mutation. You may have the highest number of gene mutations out of anyone on earth, but if you are always providing your body with a healthy environment and quality building material, than it will never read the so called cancer genes and you will never develop cancer. What does this mean? You, more than anyone else, are responsible for your health or lack thereof.

What do I do?

The good news is that your body is constantly striving towards health and the minute you decide to start placing your body in a healthy environment is the minute that you will begin to heal, whether you have a cancer diagnosis or just wish to prevent it.

Dr. Dan’s Do-It-Daily Tips:

Move your body! You are designed to move. I get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. Even a brisk walk can make a huge impact. Small steps over time equals BIG results. Get a partner and get moving.

For the past 20 years, our answer to cancer has been to throw money at the problem with unwavering commitment to reducing cancer rates. We are often reminded that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. This unwillingness to change has only led to more cancer, decreased quality of life, and death. It is time for you and I to take full responsibility for our health as an individual. As a society, we must start asking better questions to get the answer we are looking for - better health.  It’s not an understatement to say lives depend on it.

Check back next week for our second discussion point - Prevention vs. Early Detection - and another Dr. Dan's Do-It-Daily Tip.

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

4 Quick Backpack Safety Tips Part 4

Parents are often surprised when their generally healthy child complains of neck, back, or shoulder pain. Even more so if they mention headaches, fatigue or tingling numbness in the arms.

Before you run to Web MD to see what the diagnosis could be, stop for a moment and think.  The culprit may be right in front of you...or in this case, behind them.  Backpacks that are the wrong size, wrong weight, poorly packed or poorly worn can lead to serious health challenges and later in life.  But that doesn't change the fact that things need to be carried.

What is a parent to do?

Here is the Last of Four Quick Tips for Backpack Safety (and what parents can do to help!

Backpacks should fit the wearer.  There are many sizes and shapes for a reason.  The backpack should fit the child’s size and age appropriately; not the number of books they think they need to carry!  When sized correctly, the bottom of the bag should rest in the curve of the lower back – no more than 4 inches below the waistline. 

What can parents do?

Make sure the backpack fits the wearer.  Checking once a week before your child walks out the door is a great habit to start.  Do this while asking “do you have your homework/lunch/umbrella” and you won’t even add an extra step to the out-the-door process.

Once you have the backpack under control your child may notice a difference in muscle tension, headaches, neck or back pain. If these types of issues persist, it is probably a good idea to talk to your chiropractor. Some postural issues are easily corrected and can make a world of difference to your child's health now and for years to come. The easiest thing to do is ask. 

 Check out Dr. Dan's Backpack Safety Video for a quick recap of our all our tips!

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

4 Quick Backpack Safety Tips Part 3

There are TWO for a Reason!

Parents are often surprised when their generally healthy child complains of neck, back, or shoulder pain. Even more so if they mention headaches, fatigue or tingling numbness in the arms.

Before you run to Web MD to see what the diagnosis could be, stop for a moment and think.  The culprit may be right in front of you...or in this case, behind them.  Backpacks that are the wrong size, wrong weight, poorly packed or poorly worn can lead to serious health challenges and later in life.  But that doesn't change the fact that things need to be carried.

What is a parent to do?

A bad choice for heavy loads

Here is the Third of Four Quick Tips for Backpack Safety (and what parents can do to help!)

Backpacks need two straps (and both must be used!) Using just one strap puts all the pressure on a   This causes the body to compensate to keep the head straight, leading to poor posture points at the low back and hip.  This also strains the neck and can lead to greater health challenges in growing spines.  If a bag is designed with a single strap, it might not be the best choice for heavy loads. This goes for purses, briefcases, and diaper bags too!

What can parents do?

Remind your child that wearing two straps is important.  Have them look in the mirror with one strap on and then two.  Look at the difference in their shoulders.  With one strap they will see that the “strapped” side is lower and their posture is poor.  Remind them that they will look taller if they stand straighter.  And lead by example! It’s good for your health too.

Once you have the backpack under control your child may notice a difference in muscle tension, headaches, neck or back pain. If these types of issues persist, it is probably a good idea to talk to your chiropractor. Some postural issues are easily corrected and can make a world of difference to your child's health now and for years to come. The easiest thing to do is ask. 

 Check back next week for Tip #4 (or if you can't wait, check out Dr. Dan's Backpack Safety Video)

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

4 Quick Backpack Safety Tips Part 2

Parents are often surprised when their generally healthy child complains of neck, back, or shoulder pain. Even more so if they mention headaches, fatigue or tingling numbness in the arms.

Before you run to Web MD to see what the diagnosis could be, stop for a moment and think.  The culprit may be right in front of you...or in this case, behind them.  Backpacks that are the wrong size, wrong weight, poorly packed or poorly worn can lead to serious health challenges and later in life.  But that doesn't change the fact that things need to be carried.

What is a parent to do?

1 1/2 to 2 inches in the Golden Rule

Here is the Second of Four Quick Tips for Backpack Safety (and what parents can do to help!)

Shoulder straps should be 1 1/2 to 2 inches across and padded.  Having worn a backpack before, you know where all the pressure falls – on the shoulders.  As gravity pulls the bag itself, the weight falls on the shoulders, where there are important blood vessels and nerves that can cause pain, tingling or numbness down the arms when constricted.  Padding cushions the areas of pressure.  A thicker strap spreads the pressure out over a larger area.  This can lead to less pinpoint pain spots and a decrease in overall pressure.

What can parents do?

Check the backpack to make sure that the straps are both wide enough and well padded.  Make sure that the shoulder straps are adjusted to fit your child snugly.  A pack that is worn loosely can pull the child backwards and cause unnecessary strain on their muscles. A well-fitting bag with the correct straps and reduce the immediate pressure felt on the shoulders and neck.  Replace bags that are worn (even if they are favorites).

Once you have the backpack under control your child may notice a difference in muscle tension, headaches, neck or back pain. If these types of issues persist, it is probably a good idea to talk to your chiropractor. Some postural issues are easily corrected and can make a world of difference to your child's health now and for years to come. The easiest thing to do is ask. 

 Check back next week for Tip #3 (or if you can't wait, check out Dr. Dan's Backpack Safety Video) 


Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

4 Quick Backpack Safety Tips Part 1

Tip #1: Watch the Weight

With a new school year comes exciting new classes and activities.  And with those classes and activities comes the need to haul books and assignment, equipment and instruments from point A to point B (and C and D and so on).  Parents are often surprised when their generally healthy child complains of neck, back, or shoulder pain. Even more so if they mention headaches, fatigue or tingling numbness in the arms.

Before you run to Web MD to see what the diagnosis could be, stop for a moment and think.  The culprit may be right in front of you...or in this case, behind them.

Backpacks that are the wrong size, wrong weight, poorly packed or poorly worn can lead to serious health challenges later in life.  But that doesn't change the fact that things need to be carried.

What is a parent to do?

Here is the First of Four Quick Tips for Backpack Safety (and what parents can do to help!)

Watch the Weight!

Backpack weight should not exceed 15% of your body weight (10% for younger children!).  As parents, we know how heavy those bags can get – when we do the math, how heavy should a child be that’s carrying a 25lb bag? At least 170 lbs! This means that a 100 lb child should not be carrying every book that they own on their back.

What can parents do?

Remind your children to only pack the essentials and pack them right.  The biggest, heaviest book stays closest to the body.  This helps keep their center of gravity without too much additional correction and pressure on their backs

Once you have the backpack under control, your child may notice a difference in muscle tension, headaches, neck or back pain. If issues persist, it is time to call your family chiropractor.  These types of issues are often easily corrected in children and teens and can make a world of difference to your child's health now and for years to come. The easiest thing to do is ask.

Check back next week for Tip #2 (or if you can't wait, check out Dr. Dan's Backpack Safety Video)

Dr. Dan Turo is the owner and chiropractor of Turo Family Chiropractic located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. Follow him on facebook and twitter.

Hello, H2O! Why I Choose Water

Water! You either love to drink it or you hate it. I hear too many people complain - "why do I need to drink more water instead of 'tasty' drinks like coffee, soda, and energy drinks?".  In honor of drink water month, here are the TWO simple and important reasons I choose water over any other drink on the market!

You Are Healthier!

I feel like a broken record saying this, but sometimes people need to hear something important five, six, or twenty times before they take action. (What number are you on?)

Coffee is grown in regions outside the US where there are less regulations of pesticide use. Creamers have artificial flavorings and preservatives. Energy drinks have artificial chemicals and excessive amounts of caffeine. Many flavored waters use artificial ingredients.  Sports drinks are highly concentrated with sugar and artificial coloring. Have I used the term artificial enough yet?

Distilled and reverse osmosis water are your best options for hydration. Every biochemical reaction in your body requires water. If you are drinking artificial chemicals, then that requires extra reactions for your body to detoxify, which depletes your water stores (this is why the drinks I mentioned above will actually DEhydrate you and not the other way around). Water is the only true source of hydration, so grab your glass, raise it high and toast to a healthier life through the consumption of more water.

You Are Wealthier!

Nothing in life is free, but it sure is way less expensive than coffee or an energy drink.

Let’s say the average 20oz drink costs about two dollars and the average person who does not like to drink water consumes 2-3 of those beverages per day. They are spending about FIVE (average of 4-6) dollars per day on beverages alone (and trust me, that is probably a low ball estimate for some). That is $35 per week or $140 per month on drinks alone! You can get a 5 gallon jug of reverse osmosis water for less than $5, that would last over a week for an individual consuming 80oz of water per day. Did you keep up with all the math?!?! When I can improve my health and wealth with one simple change, it doesn’t get much better than that!

Water is the third most important nutrient the body needs to function behind nerve supply and oxygen supply. Your spine protects nerve supply, so have your spine checked by your chiropractor. Your heart and lungs coordinate oxygen supply, so have those checked by your cardiologist. You and only you regulate how much water you are drinking, so please consume 60-100 oz of pure water daily for your new health habit. CHEERS and bottoms up!