Deep Vein Thrombosis

This past week the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States issued a press release as a call to action regarding Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). I would like to spread the word about this via this medium. Deep Vein Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot, usually in the deep and large veins of the legs. If this clot becomes dislodged and moves it can become a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs) or it can get stuck in any of the other major organs of the body. It can be fatal.
First some facts: DVT kills more people in the United States than AIDS and breast cancer combined. According to the Surgeon General, “Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism affect an estimated 350,000 to 600,000 Americans each year and incidence is expected to increase as the U.S. population ages. Together, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are estimated to contribute to at least 100,000 deaths each year.”
While DVT can occur without any symptoms there are definitive signs and symptoms and certain populations of people with higher risk. Know what the symptoms are and whether you are in a higher risk category.
According to the Mayo Clinic symptoms include (not an exhaustive list and check with your doctor):
Swelling in the affected leg(s), usually it occurs in one leg, but can occur in both; this can include swelling in your ankles and feet.
Pain in your legs; this can include pain in your ankles and feet. This pain often starts in your calf and can feel like cramping or a “charley horse.”
Redness and warmth over the affected area.
Pain or swelling in your arms or neck. This can occur if a blood clot forms in your arms or neck.
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism warning signs
Sometimes the first sign of deep vein thrombosis can be the chest pain associated with a pulmonary embolism. If this is the case, seek medical help immediately. The warning signs and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include:
Chest pain or discomfort. This pain or discomfort usually gets worse when you take a deep breath or when you cough.
Unexplained sudden onset of shortness of breath. This is the most common symptom.
Feeling lightheaded or dizzy, or fainting.
Coughing up blood.
A sense of anxiety or nervousness.
Now of course these symptoms look like a lot of things but better safe than sorry.
Listed on ehealthMD deep vein thrombosis is the result of three principal factors:
1. Reduced or stagnant blood flow in deep veins (venous stasis).
2. Injury to the blood vessel wall.
3. An increase in the activity of those substances in the blood that are part of the normal clotting mechanism, a condition called hypercoagulability (which means a more active clotting state).
A number of factors can bring about these conditions, thus increasing the possibility of developing DVT. These include:
•    Immobilization, such as lying in bed following surgery
•    Having undergone a surgical procedure
•    Having been subjected to major trauma
•    Increasing age
•    Malignancy (cancerous tumor)
•    Heart failure
•    A previous bout with deep vein thrombosis
•    Pregnancy
•    The use of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy
Need To Know:
Surgical procedures that are most often associated with deep vein thrombosis are:
•    Major pelvic or abdominal surgery, especially for malignancy (cancer)
•    Orthopedic operations involving the hip and knee
•    Neurosurgical procedures
The following factors also put people at greater risk of developing a blood clot:
•    Prolonged immobilization (such as on a long car or airplane trip) - sitting for long periods (4 hours or more) reduces circulation in legs by 50 percent.
•    Diabetes (a disorder in which the body can not make use of sugars and starches in a normal way), which damages blood vessels.
•    Obesity - weight puts pressure on veins, causing them to weaken.
•    Childbirth - physical strain of childbirth puts pressure on deep veins, causing them to weaken.
•    Tobacco smoking - damages blood vessels and doubles the risk of thrombosis.
People over the age of 50 are at a higher risk, but DVT can affect anyone at any age.   And according to the Surgeon General “African-Americans and Whites are more likely than other ethnic groups to develop a DVT or a pulmonary embolism. African-Americans are estimated to be at 30 percent greater risk compared to Whites.”
DVT and pulmonary embolism can be prevented and treated.  If you have any concerns after reading this please talk to your doctor.
At my clinic located in downtown Silver Spring,  MD I offer acupuncture, massage therapy and many other holistic health modalities.  We are near Washington, DC, a few blocks from the Red Line Silver Spring station.

Healthcare the Way it Oughta’ Be

If you are like many people I know, you kind of monitor your health from afar. You say to yourself “ I feel fine, why should I see a doctor?” If you don’t have any symptoms, must be there is nothing to be concerned about – right? Wrong!

There are many times when patients come in for the one complaint they want addressed and through my examination other issues are found or revealed that they would really like treatment for. Often I hear “…I did not know that was a problem until you examined me, can you help me with that?” Often I can and if I can’t I refer them to someone who can, be that a physician or a chiropractor or whomever I think will be of help.

In my practice my focus is on you, your issues, your problems, what makes you hurt. I take the time to listen to you. In today’s two minute doctor’s appointments, and that’s after you have been waiting in the reception room for 30 minutes, we feel abused and frustrated. No wonder we avoid going to the doctor.

I run my practice on time because I value your time as much as I value my own. I return your calls and you speak directly to me.

If you are interested in quality healthcare, a personal touch and a warm caring office give me a call and I will treat you right! My number is 301-495-0303.

My office is conveniently located in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland just blocks from the Red Line Silver Spring station and with plenty of parking around the office. I offer morning, afternoon and evening appointments for your convenience.

I hope to see you soon!

Simeon Pollock Present at Bill Signing

Simeon Pollock was present on Thursday April 24, 2008, as Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law an act creating the Maryland State Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners.

Holistic Massage in Washington, DC

I’ve been performing holistic massage in the Washington, DC area for the past five years. Over that time, I’ve noticed that patients who are seeking holistic massage are usually suffering from stress.

Here is a Holistic Health Minute I recorded about the benefits of holistic massage:

Holistic massage is an integral part of Chinese medicine. Human beings have suffered from stress since they were tossed out of the Garden of Eden and holistic massage has been there for thousands of years, helping to relieve the stress and provide health benefits.

If you’re in the Washington, DC area, Wholistic Family Healthcare is located in downtown Silver Spring, steps from the Metro’s Red Line. Call for an appointment 301-495-0303

Investing in your health – your #1 Asset!

Lately I have been reading a book entitled RICH DAD POOR DAD by Robert T Kiyosaki, and in his book he stresses the importance of investing in assets – things that produce income. I thought to myself what is a person’s #1 asset? Well of course the answer is oneself and one’s health. Without these two “things” one cannot produce anything let alone an income.

I speak to groups all the time about protecting their health, being proactive in maintaining their wellbeing – mind, body and spirit. The one example I use is that of one’s car. Who does not make sure to change the oil and other vital fluids in their vehicle to make sure it runs well. Ask any mechanic what the #1 maintenance item is for any vehicle and they will tell you – “change the oil every three thousand miles or every three months whichever comes first” – right?

Let me ask you a question – why don’t we do the same for ourselves? Now I don’t mean we should change our oil, but we should be taking care of our bodies, minds and spirits.
Massage is a great way to enhance your health. A massage can loosen and invigorate tired muscles. It can also relax the body and calm the mind and thereby relax the spirit. This can lower blood pressure, increase range of motion, calm, lower stress, reduce pain and so much more.

Acupuncture is another great way to enhance your health. An acupuncture treatment
can also relax the body , calm the mind and relax the spirit. Acupuncture can reduce pain, improve digestion, help with conception, reduce reaction to seasonal allergies, reduce or eliminate PMS or menopausal hot flashes and sweats. Acupuncture can also make changes in the qi the body’s energy, which if functioning properly maintains your health.
Combining these two modalities along with others that I know can have Powerful benefits for you mind, body and spirit. These benefits are dividends that your body will pay. Some of these dividends are – clearer and sharper thinking, being more productive, having a better attitude and disposition with friends and loved ones, a calmer home and office, more or increased flexibility, decreased sickness, decreased lost work days and the list can go on.

So get to it, invest in yourself! Pick up the phone and call me right now to schedule your appointments to get started on the road to riches!  My clinic is located in Silver Spring, MD which is close to Washington DC.

Want To Have A Great Day? Here’s How!

I was driving home from a meeting today and a song was playing on the radio that made me think. The song was “SO YOU HAD A BAD DAY” BY DANIEL POWTER. My thoughts went in the direction of how could a person who had a bad day be helped. How could he/she turn it around and have a great night? How could he/she turn it around so that tomorrow (another great song by the way) would be a better day? [Read more]

Stress in Your Workplace?

In an article published in the Business section of the Washington Post on February 19, 2008, author Vickie Elmer discussed the effects of stress in the workplace.

In her article, Ms. Elmer that if you are “angry and overloaded because your hours keep growing as the staff gradually shrinks, don’t expect much help from management.” [Read more]

Stress and You II

A colleague of mine just told me about a wonderful thing she did for herself. She went on a spiritual retreat. It was not with a revival group or anything like that. It was just her and some things she does to revive her spirit.

What she did was so simple, yet so powerful. [Read more]

Stress and You

Let me ask you something; what is the one thing in your life you could have less of and be a much happier person? If you said stress, you were right. I’ll have you know, stress in and of itself is not a bad thing. It is our body’s natural early warning system. It is the system that makes your hair stand on end when your gut tells you something is wrong. It initiates what is called the fight or flight response in your body.The problem with stress is when we have too much of it, when we have it all the time. It is like I tell my patients; you can’t always have the army out looking for a perceived enemy. The soldiers get burned out and tired. It is the same thing with stress. Having constant stress is like always having your army on high alert. The system that governs it the autonomic nervous system - gets burned out, so to speak.

So what to do? what to do? Well let me suggest a few ideas. First, take a walk and think about something pleasant. Second, pick up the phone and schedule a massage for yourself. Massage of any type is very calming. According to the Touch Research Institute in Florida, touch has unique ability to reduce stress hormones and improve immune system function. According to one study they did, it was found that massage therapy reduced anxiety, depressed mood, salivary cortisol (stress hormone) levels and body dissatisfaction.

Massage increases endorphin levels in the body. Endorphins are the body’s natural feel good hormone that helps with pain relief. Endorphins (or more correctly Endomorphines) are inherent opioid biochemical compounds. They are peptides produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in animals with spines, and they resemble opiates in their abilities to produce pain relief and a sense of well-being. In other words, they might work as “natural pain killers”. In fact the receptors in the brain that endorphins attach to are the same receptors that morphine would attach to.

In1999 clinical researchers reported that inserting acupuncture needles into specific body points triggers the production of endorphins [1]. In another study, higher levels of endorphins were found in cerebrospinal fluid after patients underwent acupuncture.

In my clinic I use a combination of massage, acupuncture and aroma therapy to induce a state of relaxation. This powerful treatment which I have used on many patients in combination with required “homework” has been a boon for my patients. Many have related being a “different person” at home and not being so quick to anger at other times. Don’t you owe it to yourself as well as your loved ones to be the best person that you can be? Wouldn’t you love to be more relaxed and calmer? It is possible, you can do it! Calm happy people are productive people. Who today would not want to be more productive? So take some time each week to focus for an hour on yourself. Invest in yourself, the dividends could be enormous.