ÿþ<html> <title>Nutter's Bulk & Natural Foods - Article on The Nervous System</title> <meta name="description" content="The nerve impulses in our body travel a super-highway of nerve cells, called neurons..."> <meta name="keywords" content="nervous, system, nervous system, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, autonomic, somatic, involuntary, voluntary, sympathetic, parasympathetic, nerves, neurons, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, sensory, sensory input"> <STYLE> A:visited {text-decoration:none} A:active {text-decoration:none} </head> <center> <table width=800 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <td width=800 valign=top> </td></tr> <tr> <font face="Arial" size=4 color="#E0E0E0"> <a href="index.php"><font color=white>Home</a> | <a href="stores.html"><font color=white>Locate A Store</a> | <a href="wellbeing.html"><font color=white>Wellbeing Information</a> | <a href="recipes.html"><font color=white>Recipes</a> </table> <table width=800 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <td width=800 valign=top> <a href="artsindex.html"><font face="Times New Roman" size=4" color=red> <br> <br> <br> Subject to most of the mechanical stress of lifting, twisting and supporting, your lower back supports most of the weight of your body and is the most common site of back pain. Even while sitting, our lower back muscles are in play, stopping us from tipping over sideways, falling forward and/or backward. Upper back pain can be related to your kidneys or your neck. <br> However, the good news is, most common back pain is the result of factors that we can control (overweight, weak muscles, poor posture) and will resolve itself. And for most common back pain, the old joke absolutely applies; "Doctor, it hurts when I do this&then stop doing that!" <br> Let's look at the some of the causes of back pain and what we can do about it today. <br> <center><b><font size=5>Anatomy of your Spine and Spinal Nerves</font></b><br> <tr> <img src="nerves1.jpg"> <img src="transpacer.gif" align=left width=15 height=450><br> <br> <br> <br> <img src="arrowright.jpg" align=right><br> Beginning at your neck, these are the regions of your spinal column: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral & coccyx.<br> </td> <td> width=216 valign=top> </td></tr> </center> <b>Types of Back Pain and Possible Causes</b><br> <br> Pain can manifest from many different sources, including lifestyle habits (bad footwear, carrying the wrong way, sitting for long periods of time, etc.), job requirements, and/or trauma, injury and illness. <br> <UL> <LI>Sharp, localized pain in one or more areas <LI>Pain that radiates into the buttocks, down the back of the thigh and into the calf and toes </UL> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <table width=550 cellpadding=10 cellspacing=0 border=2> <td width=550 valign=top bgcolor="#1B85DF"> Never try to diagnose or treat back pain yourself. You wouldn't want to cause more harm than good. Always seek the advice of your primary health care provider before deciding on a course of action to alleviate back pain. When you go to see your health care provider, try and bring along a history of when the pain started, what you were doing, whether stress was a major factor in your life at the time, if you were ill at all when the pain started, etc. The more information your health care provider has about your pain, the easier it will be to arrive at an informed diagnosis.</b></i></font> </table> <br> <br> <UL> <LI>Heat or cold applied to the affected area (whichever feels better for you) <LI>Visiting a chiropractor for assessment and adjustments <LI>Trying holistic therapies such as acupuncture <LI>Changing your footwear or visiting an orthopedic specialist for an analysis </UL> <br> <br> <OL type=1> <LI>Warm baths that include Epsom salts can help your back feel better and help you sleep at night. For kids, make sure their backpacks have wide straps on the shoulders and optional tummy straps to evenly distribute the weight. Try not to let them carry too heavy of a backpack. <LI>Quit smoking. What? What's that got to do with my back? It is thought that smoking reduces the blood supply to the discs between the vertebrae and this may lead to degeneration of the discs. <UL> <LI>Am I slouching? <LI>Does my chair need to be replaced with something more ergonomic? <LI>Is my footwear appropriate for supporting my back? <LI>Could I lose a few pounds to take the pressure off my back? <LI>Is my driving time affecting my back? (lumbar support in the car is important) <br> <UL> <LI>You should push your upper body off the bed using your elbows and hands to bear the weight and swing both legs to the floor. </UL> <UL> <LI>Bend at the knees and hips and try not to twist at the waist. Avoid twisting and turning to reach for objects in the back seat and be aware of proper body mechanics. </UL> <br> <br> <br><br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <font face="Times New Roman" size=3><i><b>Carol Roy is a Natural Health Practitioner, registered with Natural Health Practitioners Canada, who received her diploma from the Alternative Medicine College of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. With 10 years experience in her area of expertise, naturopathic medicine, Carol has also trained to become a fully qualified Reiki Master, Quantum Touch ® Practitioner and Reflexologist.</b></font></i> <center>The suggestions by Nutters Bulk & Natural Foods and the contents of this article<br>are recommendations only and not a substitute for any medical advice or a <br>replacement for any prescriptions. Seek medical advice for any health concerns.<br>Consult your health care provider before using any recommendations herein.</center><br> </table> <table width=800> <td width=800> </td></tr> <tr> <center><font face="Arial" size=2 color="#E0E0E0"> <a href="stores.html"><b><font color="#E0E0E0">Locate A Store</b></a><font size=2> </table> </body>