SEARCH

According to the American Chiropractic Association, 80% of the population will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain can stop people from doing certain activities they love, like hiking. How can you avoid back pain and get out and enjoy the great outdoors? 

When our prehistoric ancestors faced terrifying situations like a hungry wooly mammoth, their endocrine system would flood their bodies with the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. This "fight-or-flight" stress response provided a burst of energy so they could respond to the dangerous predator. 

Picture this: Someone enters a room full of people. He is social butterfly who is smiling, laughing, striking up conversations with anyone and everyone he makes eye contact with. 

Safe to assume everything is good with him, right? 

But what if someone told you that person was fighting a never-ending battle with depression. Would you believe it? 

That's been my life for more than a decade, but for the longest time no one knew it, even my wife, friends and family. 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That old saying certainly applies when it comes to staving off the visible signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and sunspots. Dermatologists even have a term for it: prejuvenation. Is it true that Father Time's impact on our skin can be slowed down? 

Did you know that water makes up approximately 60% of your body weight? Your body depends on it for survival as every cell, tissue and organ needs it to properly function. But are you really getting enough? Are there ways to make hydrating more fun? 

Before we dive into how to hydrate, you should understand why it's important. Hydration is key in helping your body:

Finding ways to get exercise as you get older is a smart and easy way to stay fit and improve your health. Exercise is just as important in your older years as when you were younger. 

It's also well known that regular exercise can help to boost heart health, maintain a healthy body weight, keep joints flexible and healthy, and improve balance to reduce falls. 

The sun is out, the weather is great, the pools and beaches are open, and the ice cream trucks are out in full force. But while air conditioners crank on all across the country, most people aren't thinking about the importance of blood donation; a simple action with huge benefits. 

With summer in full effect, it should be easier to get some sun exposure to help boost your intake of vitamin D, aka the "Sunshine Vitamin." But have you ever wondered if you're getting too little? And what's the best way to get it? 

While you are enjoying fresh air and sunshine this summer, keep in mind:

One of the things many of us take for granted is a pain-free neck. It's only when we have a stiff or painful neck that we wish we had taken preventive measures. The exercises discussed below are to strengthen and stretch a normal neck. If you have preexisting neck pain or a spine condition, check with your health care provider before doing these exercises.