Dallas Wins Again as a Top City for Seasonal Allergy Symptoms!

Dallas is a top city for seasonal allergies. No surprise there! The beautiful weather has arrived, in Dallas anyway! However, the rest of the country seems conflicted on whether to officially let Spring come to the party. The result locally is, along with Dallas’ blue skies and gentle breeze, comes sneezing, watery eyes, and a nose that looks more like a drippy faucet. Consequently, Dallas wins again as a Top City for Seasonal Allergy Symptoms.  

Allergy

“A direct barometer for allergy season is the tissue box in the reception area. When it’s close to empty at the end of the day, I know my adult and pediatric patients are suffering with seasonal allergy symptoms, says chiropractor Dr. Jeff Manning of Manning Wellness Clinic in Dallas. “In the 20+ years I’ve been in practice, it seems like the  allergy season–and my patients’ suffering–begins earlier every year.”

A new study show Dallas tops list for allergy symptoms

In its annual Allergy Capitals report, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America identified the top 100 most allergy-inducing metropolitan areas in the country for 2021, with Dallas landing at No. 19 and earning a worse-than-average overall score. Therefore, Dallas is a top city for seasonal allergies cities are ranked based on pollen levels, use of allergy medications and the number of board-certified allergists in the area.

“Two notable parts of our 2021 report include the effect of COVID-19 and climate change on seasonal allergies,” says Kenneth Mendez, CEO and president of the AAFA. “In 2020, fewer people felt the impact of pollen allergies. This is likely due to COVID-19 restrictions with more people staying indoors. In addition, climate change also plays a part and continues to cause longer and more severe allergy seasons. If we don’t slow down the cycle, pollen production will only intensify. This means symptoms could worsen as climate change continues to evolve.”

Chiropractic can help ease allergy symptoms

However, there is help! If you think popping a pill is the only way to find relief for seasonal allergy symptoms, you are in for a treat: First and foremost, Chiropractic can help to improve seasonal allergy symptoms and help you to avoid allergy-related illnesses like sinus infections.  Second, in the throes of an allergy attack, antihistamines definitely have their place, but with side effects like sleepiness, dry mouth and an overall clouded feeling, they’re not an ideal match for everyone. Third, Chiropractic can help ease your seasonal allergies without downtime or side effects!

Chiropractic works by helping the body to help itself. First, by removing interference within the body, nerves can function and perform the way they are meant to. Seasonal allergy symptoms can feel less severe. For example, congestion can ease as drainage can sometimes begin immediately after an adjustment; pathways are opened and allowed to drain. Tightness in the chest is also often relieved with a directed rib adjustment, one of Dr. Manninng’s specialties. 

In conclusion, “As long as Dallas tops list as worst city for allergy sufferers and seasonal allergy symptoms, my door will be open, and my waiting room tissue box full, says Dr. Manning.

Manning Wellness can help ease your allergy symptoms!

Contact us today and find out how and why chiropractic can help you combat seasonal allergy symptoms, allergies, and asthma.

Manning Wellness Clinic

2702 McKinney Ave, suite 202

Dallas, Texas 75204 214-720-2225

www.manningwellness.com

Tech-Neck expert Dr. Jeff Manning on WFAA-TV

Watch Tech-neck expert Dr. Jeff Manning on WFAA
Tech-neck expert Dr. Jeff Manning on WFAA!

Tech-neck expert Dr. Jeff Manning was interviewed on WFAA-TV. And the timing couldn’t be better. Is your bed your new office? The kitchen table your new desk? If so, you are not alone! More than 41% of all working Americans are now working from home–and will continue to do so through 2021–and a majority are experiencing neck, back, and shoulder pain as a result. Tech-neck rates are on the rise! Feeling the effects? Click here to request an appointment.

Don’t get us wrong, working from home definitely has advantages like comfortable clothing (the “athleisure” clothing industry is booming!), constant access to coffee, tea or snacks, time with pets, the ability to open a window….But those perks are coming with the downside of new aches and pains.

At-home exercises to alleviate tech-neck in between adjustments

In between adjustments, there are also several key exercises you can do to try to undo the damage from working from home (looking down at your computer or phone all day is taking a toll!). Click here to see some of the Dr. Manning’s best exercises to help with tech-neck.

In case you missed tech-neck expert Dr. Jeff Manning on WFAA/Channel 8, click here to see his segment on Good Morning Texas

Work from Home Pain Relief Tips

Is your bed your new office? The kitchen table your new conference table? A coffee table your new desk? If so, you are not alone! More than 41% of all working Americans are now working from home–and will continue to do so through 2021–and a majority are experiencing neck, back, and shoulder pain as a result. Continue reading to learn the top work from home pain relief tips from Dr. Jeff Manning, owner of Manning Wellness Clinic.

Don’t get us wrong, working from home definitely has advantages like comfortable clothing (the “athleisure” clothing industry is booming!), constant access to coffee, tea or snacks, time with pets, the ability to open a window….But those perks are coming with the downside of new aches and pains.

“We’ve been fortunate to consistently treat patients once stay-at-home orders were lifted, and we have definitely been seeing an increase in work-from-home pain: lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and wrist and hand pain. When we talk with patients, the common thread is working from home, and not always under ideal conditions,” says chiropractor, Dr. Jeff Manning.

Dr. Jeff Manning, founder of Manning Wellness Clinic, a top-rated Chiropractic clinic in Dallas, Texas, offers the following tips to help combat work from home (and school from home) pain:

The Best Work from Home Pain Relief Tips from Manning Wellness Clinic

1. Support your low back to relieve work from home pain

You can purchase lots of low back support pillows online, but there’s a free option too: Simply roll up a bath towel or sweatshirt into a tube form. Place this horizontally in the small of your low back while you are sitting on a chair. You’ll need to sit straighter to keep the roll in place, which will keep you from slouching. Better posture means less lower back pain.

2. Pay attention to your work from home set-up

  • The middle of your computer screen should be at eye level. Use books to raise your computer to a height that works. Since many of us use laptops, that means you may need to get a wireless keyboard and mouse. The cost has come way down on these (many are available in the $20 range) but it’s so well worth the small investment to protect your spine. Also, try to keep the screen about an arm’s length away.
  • Pay attention to the height of your desk or work surface (kitchen counters included); check yourself and make sure that you’re not shrugging your shoulders to reach the keyboard. The key really is to be aware of what your body is doing.

3. Don’t forget to move!

  • Try to move at least once per hour. Set an alert on your phone (since we tend to go down the rabbit hole and spend hours sitting at the computer). Stand up, walk around, grab a snack, do a few jumping jacks…anything to move a little.

4. Do posture-specific exercises

  • Wall angels: Use a flat wall in your house. Stand with your heels against the wall–barefoot is best. Press your entire body gently against the wall. With arms by your side (the back of your hands and forearms should be facing and pressing against the wall; palms facing away) slowly raise your arms snow-angel style while keeping the backs of your forearms and hands grazing the wall. Raise so that your arms form a V from your shoulders, then lower to starting. If you can’t raise all the way up, go as far as you can while maintaining the correct form. It’s ok to have a small arch in your back, but don’t let your lower back get too far away from the wall. Raise and lower 10-15 times. Repeat 2-3 times per day.
  • Double Chin tucks: Slide your chin straight back toward your face. Your chin should not move down toward your chest and your head should not move up or down. The motion is as if you are making a “double chin.” Hold for three seconds and return your chin to a neutral position. Perform 7-15 repetitions. Aim to do this exercise 1-2 times a day.
  • Shoulder blade squeezes: While standing or sitting at your desk, squeeze your shoulder blades together gently without raising your shoulders. You should feel this in the mid to low shoulder blades. Hold the squeeze for 3-5 seconds and repeat 7-15 times. This can be done 1-2 times a day.

Get adjusted!

Regular chiropractic care, “maintenance care”, is also one of the best defenses to combat work from home pain. Even if you’ve never been to a chiropractor before, now is a perfect time to start. Give us a call at 214-720-2225 or click here to request an appointment.

Manning Wellness Clinic Holiday Drive to Benefit the Birthday Party Project

Every child deserves to be celebrated on their birthday
Paige Chenault, Founder, the Birthday Party Project
CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO SEE A STORY ABOUT PAIGE AND THE BIRTHDAY PARTY PROJECT!
2702 McKinney Ave, suite 202 Dallas, TX 75204 214-720-2225 info@manningwellness.com

The Dirty Dozen of 2018

The Dirty Dozen of 2018 is out! The top 12 foods most infiltrated with pesticide residue. Strawberries top this year’s list, as they have in past years.

Dr. Jeff Manning of Manning Wellness Clinic in Dallas says, “I encourage my patients to eat diets rich in fresh produce, but I don’t necessarily want them ingesting large amounts of pesticide. I understand the cost of organic produce is typically more than conventional so I always refer to–and encouraage my patients to do the same–the annual Dirty Dozen list.”

For the third year in a row, strawberries top the “Dirty Dozen” list put out by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). The list, published each year since 2004, ranks popular fruits and vegetables based on pesticide contamination.

The group found that one third of all conventional, or non-organic, strawberry samples contained 10 or more pesticides. One sample of strawberries was found to have an “astounding” 22 pesticide residues, EWG said.

Spinach, the second produce item on the list, contained pesticide residues in 97 percent of conventional, or non-organic, samples. Additionally, more than 98 percent of samples of strawberries, peaches, potatoes, nectarines, cherries and apples tested positive for residue of at least one pesticide, according to the activist group.

EWG emphasizes studies that show pesticides in high concentration can lead to health problems, especially in young children.

However, the list has generated some controversy in recent years. Outside researchers point out that overall pesticide chemical residues found on these fruits and vegetables are far below what has been scientifically deemed tolerable for human consumption,  and according to federal safety standards they do not pose a health risk.

The report is based on tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration on more than 38,800 non-organic fruit and vegetable samples.

The full list of the EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” includes:

  1. Strawberries
  2. Spinach
  3. Nectarines
  4. Apples
  5. Grapes
  6. Peaches
  7. Cherries
  8. Pears
  9. Tomatoes
  10. Celery
  11. Potatoes
  12. Sweet Bell Peppers

“It is vitally important that everyone eats plenty of produce, but it is also wise to avoid dietary exposure to toxic pesticides, from conception through childhood,” Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst with EWG, said in a statement.

But some food industry and farming groups express concern that the list may be doing more harm than good if it makes consumers wary of eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

“EWG’s recommended substitution of organic produce for conventional forms does not result in any decrease in risk because levels on conventional are so very low, if present at all,” says the Alliance for Food and Farming, a nonprofit group comprised of both organic and conventional farmers.

“Read, learn, choose but eat more organic and conventional fruits and veggies for better health and a longer life. Both are very safe and can be eaten with confidence,” the organization says.

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation, a nonprofit that gets funding from major food and beverage companies and says it aims to provide science-based information on health, nutrition and food safety, points out that organic produce sometimes contains low levels of pesticides, too.

“Potential residues on either type of produce are in minute amounts that are not linked to any adverse health effects,” said Tamika Smith, PhD, the group’s director of food technology communications.

“On average, Americans don’t come close to meeting these recommendations in the first place, and adding an additional barrier brings us further away from the target: eating a healthful, balanced diet,” Smith writes. “…Whether fruits and vegetables are organic or conventional, it’s a good idea to incorporate more of them into our diets.”

The Environmental Working Group also released a companion list of 15 foods with the lowest levels of pesticide residues detected in federal testing.

The full list of the EWG’s “Clean Fifteen”:

  1. Avocados
  2. Sweet corn
  3. Pineapples
  4. Cabbages
  5. Onions
  6. Sweet peas (frozen)
  7. Papayas
  8. Asparagus
  9. Mangoes
  10. Eggplants
  11. Honeydew melons
  12. Kiwis
  13. Cantaloupes
  14. Cauliflower
  15. Broccoli

(credit CBS News)

2702 McKinney Ave, suite 202
                           Dallas, TX 75204
                            214-720-2225
                  info@manningwellness.com

Elderberry: Nature’s Flu Fighter?

Is Elderberry nature’s flu fighter? It just might be.

Her love affair with elderberry began innocently enough. 3 years ago, my wife was hit with the flu, followed by a nasty cold, followed, again, by the flu. She is normally full of energy, but this non-stop onslaught truly took the wind out of her sails.

On the advice of someone at a local health food store, she finally tried a bottle of elderberry extract. In her mind, it couldn’t hurt, right? And frankly, she was tiring of chicken soup and tea. Within 3 days, she was completely better. No fever. No runny nose, sore throat, cough…not one sign of ill health remained. Her energy restored, she was sold.

 

Nowadays, at the very first sneeze or drippy nose, the elderberry is immediately put to use. My children even request it if they’re not feeling 100%. I, too, have jumped on the elderberry bandwagon, especially with the number of people I come into close contact with on a daily basis, and with the flu rates in the Dallas area on the rise.

 

What is Elderberry?

Elderberry, or elder, has been used for centuries to treat wounds when applied to the skin. It is also taken by mouth to treat respiratory illnesses such as cold and flu. In many countries, including Germany, elder flower is used to treat colds and flu. Some evidence suggests that chemicals in elder flower and berries may help reduce swelling in mucous membranes, such as the sinuses, and help relieve nasal congestion. Elder may have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer properties.

Elderberry also contains flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties and may help prevent damage to the body’s cells. However, very few studies have been done in humans, so researchers don’t know how effective elder may be.

There are several species of elder, but Sambucus nigra, or European elder (also called black elder), is the one used most often for medicinal purposes. It can be purchased as a liquid form, syrup (with or without sweetener), tincture, as well as powdered, capsule and lozenge form. My wife and children prefer the syrup added to a glass of water. Since hydration is especially important when you’re ill, it’s an ideal way to not only get your dose of elderberry, but added liquids as well. Though the lozenges are portable, thus making it easy to pop one as needed.

 

Research:

One study suggested that using a standardized elderberry extract, Sambucol, could shorten the duration of flu by about 3 days. Sambucol also contains other herbs plus vitamin C, so no one knows whether elderberry by itself would have the same effect. Another preliminary study found that a lozenge with elderberry extract (ViraBLOC) helped reduce flu symptoms when taken within 24 hours of symptoms starting. In the lab, one study suggested that elderberry could kill the H1N1 virus (“swine flu”) in test tubes, but researchers don’t know whether it would be effective against H1N1 in people.

 

Bacterial Sinusitis (Sinus Infection)

One study examined the use of a proprietary product, Sinupret, to treat bacterial sinusitis along with an antibiotic (doxycycline or Vibramycin) and a decongestant. People who took the combination did better compared to those who did not take Sinupret. However, Sinupret contains other herbs along with elderberry, so no one knows whether taking elderberry alone would work as well.

 

Recommended Dosages:

 

Pediatric

Normal dosage is 1 teaspoon per day of the elderberry syrup per day for maintenance; 1 teaspoons up to four times per day for intensive care.  But always a good idea to talk to your pediatrician before giving anything new to our child.

 

Adult

  • Sinupret: 2 tablets taken three times a day for bacterial sinusitis
  • Sambucol: 4 tbsp. a day for three days for colds and flu
  • Tea: Steep 3 – 5 g dried elder flower in 1 cup boiling water for 10 – 15 minutes. Strain and drink three times per day.

Precautions

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should use herbs only under the supervision of a health care provider.

Do not use unripe or uncooked elderberries. They may be poisonous.

Elderberry appears to have few side effects when used properly for short periods of time (up to 5 days).

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take elderberry.

If you have an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, you should ask your doctor before taking elderberry, as it may stimulate the immune system.

Possible Interactions

If you are being treated with any of the following medications, you should talk to your health care provider before taking elderberry:

Diuretics (water pills) — Diuretics help the body get rid of excess fluid and increase the amount of urine your body makes. Elderberry may also act as a diuretic, so taking it along with a diuretic could make that drug stronger and raise your risk of dehydration. Diuretics include:

  • Hydrochlorothiazide
  • Bumetanide (Burinex)
  • Furosemide (Lasix)
  • Amiloride (Midamor)
  • Metolazone (Zaroxolyn)

 

Source: Elderberry | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/elderberry#ixzz2n1WAAuLu
University of Maryland Medical Center
 

School Supply Drive Hurricane Harvey

School-supply-flyer

Thousands of students (and more to come) will be attending classes at Dallas ISD schools. These children need basic school supplies and new school uniforms by the end of this week. We can help!!

2702 McKinney Ave, suite 202
Dallas, TX 75204
214-720-2225
info@manningwellness.com

Acetaminophen reduces not only pain, but pleasure

A new study says acetaminophen reduces not only pain, but pleasure. This new research definitely gives new reason to pause before causally popping your daily dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol).

(CNN)Feeling so happy you just can’t stand it? You might want to pop some acetaminophen.

A new study has found that acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, most forms of Midol and more than 600 other medicines, reduces not only pain but pleasure, as well.

The authors of the study, which was published this week in Psychological Science, say that it was already known that acetaminophen blunted psychological pain. But their new research led them to the conclusion that it also blunted joy — in other words, that it narrowed the range of feelings experienced.

“This means that using Tylenol or similar products might have broader consequences than previously thought,” said Geoffrey Durso, a doctoral student in social psychology at Ohio State University and the lead author of the study. “Rather than just being a pain reliever, acetaminophen can be seen as an all-purpose emotion reliever.”

The researchers tested their thesis by showing 82 college students 40 photographs — some of highly pleasant images, such as children with kittens, and some of highly unpleasant images, such as children who were malnourished.

Half of the participants in the study were given “an acute dose” of acetaminophen — 1,000 milligrams — and the other half were given a placebo with the same appearance. The subjects were then asked to rate the photos according to how unpleasant or pleasant they were.

Those who took the acetaminophen rated all the photos less extremely than those who took the placebo.

“In other words, positive photos were not seen as positively under the influence of acetaminophen and negative photos were not seen as negatively,” the authors reported.

Drug did not alter sense of magnitude in general

The researchers followed up by testing a group of 85 people to see whether this change in judgment applied just to emotions or whether the drug blunted people’s evaluation of magnitude in general.

This group showed the same blunting of emotional reactions. But acetaminophen did not affect how much blue they saw in each photo.

But people who participated in the study did not appear to know they were acting differently, said Baldwin Way, an assistant professor of psychology who was another of the study’s authors.

“Most people probably aren’t aware of how their emotions may be impacted when they take acetaminophen,” Way said.

Each week, about 23% of American adults — or 52 million people — use a medicine containing acetaminophen, according to the nonprofit Consumer Healthcare Products Association.

The authors said it was not known whether other pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, have the same effect. But have no fear — they plan to study that question, as well.

 

Top 10 Foods you Should Buy Organic

Consumer Reports recently published a report detailing the top foods you should always try to buy organic. Since organic foods can typically cost close to 50% more, we decided we’d list the Top 10 Foods you Should Buy Organic.

Here you go…..short and simple.

For fruits, there are five: peaches, tangerines, nectarines, strawberries, and cranberries. And for vegetables: green beans, bell and hot peppers, sweet potatoes, and carrots.

According to Consumer Reports, “The good news is we did find some fruits and vegetables where conventional versions were about as safe as the organic versions when it comes to pesticide residues.”

These include broccoli grown in the U.S. and Mexico; U.S. cherries; grapes from the U.S., Chile, Mexico, and Peru; and lettuce from the U.S. and Mexico.

 

 

How Chiropractic Care Can Help Runners

Chiropractic care can help runners, plain and simple. For those who are regular runners and in overall good shape, it may seem odd to consider chiropractic care, but taking care of yourself when you’re healthy can be the best way to avoid future injuries. Gone are the days when chiropractic care was needed just for aches, injuries or pain. Many athletes are turning to chiropractic care on a regular basis to maintain optimal health and fitness.

If your body is perfectly and absolutely aligned, then you might be the most unique person on the planet. Almost no one has perfect alignment. Getting aligned and staying aligned allows your body to handle the hard pounding it takes when you run. The high impact of running can lead to long-term pain and injury if you continue to run without a properly aligned core.

Myriad issues are likely to occur for most people after years of running with poor alignment: pain in the feet, shoulders, lower back or even pinched nerves. In most instances, people don’t seek chiropractic care until injuries begin, and by that time they require rehabilitation instead of injury prevention.

Dr. Christopher Lauer, LifeClinic chiropractor at Life Time – The Healthy Way of Life Company, has seen many runners come in for both injury prevention and injury care. “The first thing we do with a patient is a thorough chiropractic examination, postural evaluation and functional examination,” Lauer says. “Through these exams, we often find deficiencies or problems with biomechanics.”

Runners are particularly prone to posterior chain weakness or lower crossed syndrome, both of which require adjustments for long-term correction. “Some of the most common injuries from running I see are overuse injuries including plantar fasciitis, shin splints, ankle sprains, knee pain and hip pain,” Lauer says. “By being focused on function, and not necessarily pain, we can catch injuries before they happen and get an athlete back on track faster than if they have sustained one.”

Preventive chiropractic care offers runners many advantages. Joints can’t flow through the full range of motion when misaligned and since runners rely heavily on their joints, preventive care can improve running experiences indefinitely.

Ways chiropractic care helps runners:
* Improved coordination
* Better reaction time
* Increased balance
* Heightened accuracy
* Amplified precision
* Stronger muscles

Chiropractors can perform a full evaluation on your current alignment, offer personalized adjustments and set you on a course of optimal athleticism. “Depending on the condition of the individual, we also do rehabilitative therapy or posture correction to ensure a longer-lasting result from the care that we give.” Lauer says. “We find people are much happier with this approach, which leads to stronger athletes and families.”

The running gear you choose (shoes, caps, tanks, socks, sunglasses, etc.) are meant for comfort and power – why not choose to comfort your body with regular visits to the chiropractor, too?

(Chicago Tribune )

Image 3

Dr. Jeff Manning was voted Best Chiropractor in Dallas.  

Request an appointment today and learn how Dr. Manning can help you avoid pain and injury while running; improve your time; and run without interference. Because Dr. Manning creates an individualized treatment plan for each and every patient, he uses a wide  array of adjustment techniques and therapies including, muscle work, kinesiotaping, heat and ice therapy, cold laser therapy,  and electric stimulation.  Scores of  Dallas runners count on Dr. Manning’s chiropractic care to help them be the very best they can be! Now it’s your turn.

Manning Wellness Clinic   2702 McKinney Ave, s.202   Dallas, TX 75204  214-720-2225  info@manningwellness.com   www.manningwellness.com