Category: Health

Questions to Ask Before Finding a New Veterinarian

Getting a new pet, or your first pet, is an exciting time. Getting to know your pet is one of the most enjoyable stages of the process of raising a pet. Especially with cats, as their natural curiosity and sudden feats of athleticism and energy are constant entertainment. Whether you’re adopting an adult cat or bringing home a kitten, you’re going to want to establish a relationship with a veterinarian.

Before you start to canvas your area for available pet hospitals and start asking questions to determine if they’re a fit, you first need to decide whether you want to choose a small practice or a large practice. The answer to this question will help you qualify the pet hospitals into a smaller groups. If you want your new kitten to see the same vet each-and-every visit, you’re going to want to select a smaller practice. With a big practice, you’re most likely going to see a handful of different vets during your various visits as your your kitten grows into a cat.

Never had a pet and don’t know which to pick? Think about your personal preference when you see your doctor. Do you like to see the same doctor every time that knows your personally or do you enjoy the technology and speed of a large clinic? You’ll likely want the same for your pet.

Once you’ve decided, you’ll be able to glean from the different pet hospitals websites whether or not they qualify as a small practices or a large one. Also, quickly factor in location. Decide how far you’re willing to travel in order to see the vet. Make a list of three or four that are the right size and distance for you and prepare to ask them the following questions.

What is the average wait time for appointments?

If earlier you decided to go with a smaller practice, you should expect the wait time to be a bit longer than if you went with a larger practice. It’s always advisable to take your cat into the vet for regular visits, which in those cases you’re be able to comfortably set those appointments well in advance.  But, unfortunately, more than likely your cat will have something come up that requires your vet’s attention. In those cases, it’s nice to have the peace of mind that your pet will get in front of an experienced vet within a couple days of calling for an appointment.

If your job makes it difficult to get away during standard hours, a related question you might want to ask is how difficult is it to obtain a weekend appointment. Some cat appointments will take you no longer than 15 minutes, in which a quick lunch-hour appointment will be doable. Others, however, can take close to an hour, which puts a strain on a cat owner with a strict working schedule.

How far is the office from your Home?

How far are you willing to go?  Many people will drive an hour or more to see a specific vet, but the majority of people want a veterinarian to be nearby, especially in the case of an emergency.

Did you know that the majority of dog owners will find a vet within 5 miles of their home? In fact, many people choose a vet solely on the basis of proximity to their home.

How much do they charge?

This is tricky and often a delicate topic, but it is important to you if finances are a priority.

You should also feel comfortable with the fee schedule.  Is it reasonable or do you feel the veterinarian is more interested in money than your dog.

When your dog will need a surgery or other procedure, it is worthwhile to ask for an itemized quote of charges so you can be prepared.  If you are given a set fee, be sure that it covers everything.

What is your AAHA accreditation?

The American Animal Hospital Association has standards of excellence, such as separate areas for quarantine, that offer an additional level of trust. Learn about a potential vet’s level of accreditation to decide if it meets your standards.

What about emergency and referral services?

If the worst happens, you need access to life-saving care. Practices often partner with other veterinary clinics to offer rotating 24-hour emergency services.

Do you have separate waiting areas for dogs and cats (or other critters)?

That can ease the stress level of your pet, and it might be a very important consideration for some owners.

Are they familiar with your particular breed?

It doesn’t mean that you won’t let them take care of your dog if they aren’t familiar with the breed; however, it does help to know if they’ve worked with other dogs of the same breed. Many pet owners actually look for this in a veterinarian. It’ll give you a lot of comfort in a way that your vet may have already encountered problems with the breed and may be able to anticipate issues or handle issues swiftly if they do come about. You can ask this question, but don’t hold it against your potential vet if they say no. It might be an opportunity for them to get to know your dog better, and in return, be able to provide better care for your pet.

How long have they been in practice?

The length of a veterinarian’s practice doesn’t necessarily reflect expertise, but in majority of cases, it just might. New practices will have many other things to get around to in order to get established, and in some ways, it might compromise the quality of care provided to your dog. Practices that have already been established for a long time are used to the back work required in running a clinic, and can therefore focus more on the animals themselves. Finding a practice that has been around for at least a couple of years should be fine, unless you’re confident and willing to work with a completely new veterinarian. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with supporting a new clinic, as long as you check credentials and make sure everything else is legit.

Do they specialize in large or small animals?

Specialization is quite important. You might not want to take your dog to a clinic that only specializes in smaller reptiles or the like. A good veterinarian will refer you to another vet that can handle your dog’s issues if they can’t, but that’s not always a guarantee. Most of the time, you’re better off finding a vet on your own that typically works with the type of animal you have. This will eliminate issues later on when your dog gets sick and you can’t figure out what’s wrong with him or her. Time is always sensitive matter when dealing with any type of dog sickness, so it’s imperative to have a veterinarian that’s used to the type of animal you may have.

How many doctors are in the practice?

It is important to not only know how many Veterinarians are in the practice, but also who they are. There may be times when your Veterinarian is out of the office and you will need to see another Veterinarian within the practice.

In addition to knowing who the other staff Veterinarians in the practice are, it is a good idea to inquire about any services they may or may not perform and if they see emergency cases when your Veterinarian is out of the office.

What are your payment options/package deals?

It’s good to know if your Veterinarian’s office offers any type of payment plans or if payment is due up front. This can help you to prepare for unexpected Vet bills.

And while most practices require payment at the time of service, many practices offer puppy and/or senior packages. Puppies require frequent veterinary care, which leads to higher than normal veterinary bills. To offset this expense, many practices offer puppy packages, which give you discounts on exams during your puppies vaccination series and/or bundled vaccine pricing.

As for our “young at heart” senior dogs, many practices will offer discounts on certain days for senior dogs or offer a senior package that mimics the puppy discount package with discounts on annual exams and testing. It’s just as important for your senior dog to have routine blood work tests as it is for a young dog.

What conditions can chiropractors treat?

Sure chiropractors are well known for effectively treating patients with neck and back pain, headaches, joint pain, but what about other condions like allergies, asthma, menstrual pain, etc. Chiropractors do not treat patients for any condition, but they care for people who have those condions. The primary goal of chiropractic is to permit the patient’s body to function better therefore decreasing their symptoms naturally. It all has to do with subluxation.

Chiropractors have the ability to do something no other primary health care provider does. They locate distortions in the body that can affect your health. These distortions are commonly caused by misplaces spinal vertebrae (spinal bones) and are called subluxations. Subluxations happen from many types of injuries and traumas, poor posture, stress, etc. Subluxations are commonly referred to as a pinch nerve. To make it simple, subluxation is caused when a spinal vertebrae comes out of place putting pressure on a nerve. Most people think that a subluxation (pinched nerve) causes pain, however, most subluxations do not. Subluxations are dangerous because they impinge and interfere with your nerves that connect your brain and spinal cord to your muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, discs, glands, and other internal organs. This can effect how your body functions. If your body has subluxations and is not able to function optimally, you are more likely to become ill or have symptoms. For example, you may have a vertebrae out of position causing nerve pressure that affects nerves going to your stomach. Your digestion may be impaired, your stomach may be “nervous,” you may have ulcers or other conditions, but feel no back or spinal pain even though there nerve pressure from a displaced spinal vertebrae.

Conditions Chiropractors Typically Treat

Chiropractors treat conditions related to your body’s structure. Their goal is to relieve pain and improve function. They don’t prescribe drugs or do surgery. Rather, they adjust or manipulate your spine and other body parts to get them in the right position, or proper alignment. Chiropractic care is based on the idea that when your body is in proper alignment, you have a better chance of healing yourself. Get an overview of some of the more common ailments—not all of which are related to the spine.

Low Back Pain

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek treatment from a chiropractor. Research on spinal manipulation often focuses on low back pain. Some people with low back pain benefit from going to a chiropractor, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Some research suggested people with low back pain got better relief from going to a chiropractor than from going to their family doctor.

Neck Pain

Chiropractors often treat neck pain with neck manipulations. These are also called adjustments. In some cases, these neck adjustments—along with exercises—may work better for neck pain than pain medications. You may want to try a chiropractor if you have had neck pain for a long time that is not due to an injury. This type of neck pain may respond to chiropractic care.

Tension Headaches

Chiropractic adjustment for your neck may help if you have tension headaches. These are a common type of headache that causes pain in the back of your head and neck. Stress and bad posture can cause tension headaches. A chiropractor might adjust your neck and give you some stretching exercises. The chiropractor might also suggest healthy ways to reduce stress and relieve your headaches, including proper posture and body mechanics.

Migraine Headaches

Research has shown that chiropractic spinal manipulations can decrease migraine frequency, decrease pain, and reduce the need for migraine medication. How this occurs is not known. The authors of the study suggest that chiropractic care reduces overall stress, which may, in turn reduce the effect of migraines. Triggers for migraine headaches may include certain foods. Your chiropractor can also give you advice on nutrition and some changes in your diet to help treat migraines and other types of headaches.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a type of neck sprain that often results from a car accident. Whiplash causes pain and stiffness in your neck. Pain may be worse when you try to turn your head. You may even feel dizzy or sick to your stomach. Chiropractic adjustment may help. A chiropractor may have you do exercising and stretching at home, too, and show you how to use heat or ice to reduce muscle spasms and swelling.

Sacroiliac Pain

Your sacroiliac (SI) joint is a big joint at the bottom of your spine. SI joint problems cause a different type of low back pain. You may feel this pain in your buttock or the back of your thigh. Chiropractors treat this type of pain with chiropractic adjustment. The chiropractor might also teach you how to avoid straining your SI joint. And, he or she might give you some exercises to strengthen your core muscles, which are the muscles that support this joint.

Shoulder Pain

You probably think about back and neck pain when you think about chiropractic care. However, a chiropractor might also be able to help you if you have a stiff and painful shoulder. This condition is called frozen shoulder syndrome. People with frozen shoulder may have less pain and more movement after chiropractic care. Your chiropractor will stretch the muscles surrounding your shoulder and show you how to perform more stretches at home.

Knee Pain

Most often, wear and tear on the knee joint causes knee osteoarthritis. This is a very common condition. Chiropractic care might help. Chiropractors sometimes do back adjustments along with knee adjustments. This type of treatment may work better than knee exercises alone. Some people treated with chiropractic adjustment have less pain and better movement after a few weeks of treatment.

Stress and anxiety

Environmental stress includes noise, weather, physical threats, time pressures and performance standards. Body stress includes disease processes, organ malfunction, poor nutrition, poor sleep and physical injury. And emotional stress is more difficult to define, but it encompasses our reactions, in both thought and emotion, to environmental and physical stressors.

Jobs today are increasingly complex as the business world becomes more and more competitive. Physical stresses such as sound, air and water pollution have also grown worse over the last century – especially in the United States – and so have emotional and psychological stresses caused by an increasing awareness of troubles and tragedies around the globe, brought to our attention every hour by the Internet and its 24/7 news cycle.

Many illnesses are caused or worsened by stress, which activates our “fight or flight” reaction. This systemic reaction affects almost every part of the body, as the hypothalamus in the brain stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which causes an increase in heart rate, blood volume and blood pressure, redirecting blood away from our digestive system and extremities.

When prolonged, the long-term effects of this state can be disastrous to good health and cause high blood pressure, muscle tissue damage, diabetes, infertility, damage to the immune system and slowed healing from disease and injury.

Chiropractors work primarily with the spine – the root of the nervous system through which nerve impulses travel between the brain and the rest of the body – and can help the body manage and process this stress in a healthier way.

What Can a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?

• Chiropractors can release muscle tension, one effect of chronic stress that leads to nerve irritation and creates uneven pressures on the body’s bony structures, which can cause the spinal column to become misaligned. This, in turn, helps the body return to a more balanced, relaxed state.
• Chiropractic adjustments can reduce spinal nerve irritation and improve blood circulation, which can help signal the brain to turn off the “fight or flight” response and begin the healing process.
• A doctor of chiropractic can suggest nutritional supplements, like B complex vitamins, to help the body cope with stress.
• A chiropractor can also recommend relaxation techniques and discuss posture and environmental changes to help you recover from chronic stress.

Factors To Look For When Choosing The Right Optometrist

Generally, one would think that with aging, eyesight will begin to deteriorate. But with the advent of smartphones, people are becoming victims of poor vision no matter what their age is. The stress on the eyes and nerves has made it difficult to keep perfect eyesight. There is no point in ignoring any eye problem. Sooner or later, you would have to visit an optometrist. Then why delay the much-needed appointment? The important thing is choosing the right optometrist.

Unwavering Reputation Throughout

What do you do when you look for a new service or product? Read its reviews online, right? This helps you know what is best for you based on other’s opinions. Same goes for choosing the right optometrist for you. Search for optometrist near you and go through the Google reviews

Go The Referral Route

Before knowing how to choose an optometrist, one should know the difference between an optometrist and ophthalmologists. An optometrist would conduct an eye exam and prescribe you glasses and detect eye issues if any. An ophthalmologist, on the other hand, would treat your diseases. Before going for an eye exam, you should be clear on their differences.

Qualifications Matter A Ton

If you have looked through a list of optometrists and are confused as to which one to choose, check for credentials of the optometrists. The qualifications ensure that the optometrist is the right doctor to consult. The doctor should have an eye specialty degree to start with

Affordability That Adds Convenience

Eye checkups are an important eye exam you should not skip. One needs to check in advance as to what an optometrist charges. It is better than paying through the nose later on

How to choose an eye doctor

Choosing an eye care provider is an important health care decision. After all, you will be trusting your eye doctor to safeguard your precious sense of sight and help you maintain a lifetime of good vision.

What is an optometrist?

An optometrist is an eye doctor who has earned the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree. Optometrists examine eyes for both vision and health problems, and correct refractive errors by prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses. Some optometrists also provide low vision care and vision therapy.

Optometrists also may participate in your pre- and post-operative care if you have eye surgery performed by an ophthalmologist. With a few exceptions, optometrists in the U.S. are not trained or licensed to perform eye surgery.

An optometrist generally must complete a four-year college degree program in the sciences, plus four years of post-graduate professional training in optometry school. In this regard, the educational requirements of an optometrist are similar to those of a dentist.

What is an ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) who specializes in eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are trained to perform eye exams, diagnose and treat disease, prescribe medications and perform eye surgery. They also write prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Tips for Choosing an Optometrist

Get Referrals

Optometrists give eye exams, prescribe vision-correcting eyeglasses and contact lenses, and diagnose and treat eye diseases and conditions. For more complex conditions or when surgery is necessary, optometrists refer patients to ophthalmologists (medical doctors who treat eyes). If you need a new optometrist, ask your family, friends, and perhaps your primary care doctor for recommendations. Take the time to research the doctors’ credentials and experience on Healthgrades.com. You can also search the American Board of Optometry’s website.

Research the Optometrist’s Credentials

Education tells you an optometrist has the necessary training and skills to treat a variety of vision and eye problems. Optometrists must complete four-year Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degrees, in addition to four years of undergraduate college. Also confirm the optometrist has no history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. You can find the eye doctor’s optometry school, training, certifications, and malpractice and disciplinary history on Healthgrades.com and state websites.

Consider the Optometrist’s Experience

Experience matters when you’re facing eye problems or conditions that could affect your vision. The more experience an optometrist has with a condition or procedure, the better your results are likely to be. Ask how many patients with your specific condition, such as glaucoma, the optometrist has treated. A few states allow optometrists to perform certain types of eye surgery, such as LASIK. If you need a specific procedure, ask how many of the procedures the optometrist has performed. Ask the eye doctor about complication rates—complications the optometrist has encountered, as well as your own risk of complications.

Evaluate Communication Style

Choose an optometrist with whom you are comfortable talking and who supports your information needs. When you first meet the optometrist, ask a question and notice how he or she responds. Does he or she welcome your questions and answer them in ways you understand? Find an optometrist who shows an interest in getting to know you, who will consider your treatment preferences, and who will respect your decision-making process

Review Patient Satisfaction Surveys

Reading what other people have to say about an optometrist can provide insight into how a provider practices eye healthcare, as well as how his or her optometry practice is operated. Patient satisfaction surveys typically ask people about their experience with scheduling appointments, wait times, office environment, and office staff friendliness. You can learn about how well patients trust the eye doctor, how much time he or she spends with their patients, and how well he or she answers questions.

Tips for Choosing an Ophthalmologist

A Personal Decision

Seeing an ophthalmologist for early treatment or preventive eye care is the best way to reduce the risk of permanent eye damage and vision loss. Your ophthalmologist will guide you through many decisions about protecting your vision or treating an eye condition. How do you find the best ophthalmologist who is right for you? Here are some important factors to keep in mind.

Get Referrals

Start with a referral list from your optometrist or primary care doctor. You can also ask family, friends and other healthcare providers for recommendations. Take the time to research the doctors’ credentials and experience on Healthgrades.com. Keep in mind there are many different ophthalmology subspecialties including those who specialize in treating glaucoma, or diseases of the cornea or retina. As you narrow down your list, call each ophthalmologist’s office and ask for a consult appointment to meet and interview the doctor.

Research the Ophthalmologist’s Credentials

Board certification is one of the most important factors to consider when you are choosing an ophthalmologist. It tells you that the doctor has the necessary training, skills and experience to provide the best ophthalmic care.  Subspecialty fellowship training is especially valuable. Also confirm that the ophthalmologist has no history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. You can find the ophthalmologist’s medical school, training hospital, certifications, and malpractice and disciplinary history on Healthgrades.com and state websites.

Consider the Ophthalmologist’s Experience

Experience matters when you’re facing eye problems or conditions that could affect your vision. The more experience an ophthalmologist has with a condition or procedure, the better your results are likely to be. Ask how many patients with your specific condition the ophthalmologist has treated. If you need a specific procedure, ask how many of the procedures the doctor has performed and find out about complication rates—complications the doctor has encountered as well as your own risk of complications

Consider Gender

It’s important to feel comfortable with your ophthalmologist’s gender because you will need to openly discuss personal information. When it comes to eye diseases and conditions, your own gender is also an important consideration. Ophthalmologists are becoming more skilled in caring for women and men differently. Ask the ophthalmologist about his or her recent training and experience specifically related to your condition and your gender.

How to choose an eye doctor

It may be human nature to surround ourselves with people who see things the way we do. But we should also include a few who see things a little differently. This applies especially to your eye doctor.

The person you choose to provide your annual eye exam should be as much an ally as an expert. Above all, he or she should be able to tell you what you need to know about your vision health — even when you don’t see it coming

Eye care experts generally recommend a comprehensive eye exam every year or 2, depending on age or vision needs. And with roughly 60,000 optometrists and ophthalmologists operating in the U.S., there are plenty of choices. Here are 6 considerations we recommend when deciding on the best eye doctor for you.

Get a read on your network

More than 87% of Americans with vision benefits intend to get eye exams within 12 months.3 Many carriers, including EyeMed, offer online portals that enable you to search by proximity, and get a feel for the mix of in-network independent and retail providers. Remember: Staying in-network translates to lower out-of-pocket costs — that means more money in your pocket.

Know the O’s

Eye care professionals fall into three categories.4 Be sure to see the right one.

Optometrists are primary healthcare professionals for the eye. Doctors of Optometry examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases, injuries and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye.

Ophthalmologists are medical doctors, licensed to diagnose and treat all eye diseases, as well as perform surgery. Think about optometrists and ophthalmologists like your family doctor and a surgeon — except within the vision world, ophthalmology is a specialty within a specialty.

Opticians are technicians who fit frames and lenses that have been prescribed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist to correct the patient’s vision

What to Look For When Choosing a Chiropractor

Chiropractic is a profession with a wide range of practice philosophies and techniques, which can make it difficult to select the top chiropractor. Because the treatment process involved in chiropractic is a physical process, you should seek a doctor you feel is competent and trustworthy.

What to Look For Before Choosing Your Chiropractor

There are a variety of techniques and joint manipulation styles in chiropractic practice, with no two being exactly alike.

Potential Red Flags and Chiropractic Techniques

While on your search for your ideal doctor, it’s also important to look out for unsafe or risky techniques that you may come across while seeking potential candidates.

Examples of techniques you should steer clear from:

The chiropractor claims to be the only one with a “special new technique” that no other chiropractor can use.

The chiropractor claims to be able to cure multiple conditions such as asthma, heartburn, infections, diabetes, or some other chronic condition. While using corrective chiropractic treatments to help “better,” these conditions is normal and commonly practiced; however, for a chiropractor to claim he can cure these conditions is not likely. 

The chiropractor recommends a long-term treatment plan, for example, 4 times per week for 6 to 12 months, then 3 times per week for another 6 to 12 months, then 2 times a week for 6 more months and so on.

The chiropractor requires a significant prepayment for unlimited treatment for 6 months to a year.

The chiropractor recommends the same type of therapy for almost every patient, regardless of the patient’s condition.

The chiropractor continually recommends ongoing, “never ending” care. There should ultimately be an end point to your treatment when goals are achieved or a change in treatment if improvement remains stationary.

Seeking Medical Treatment at the Chiropractor’s Office

Now that you have criteria to evaluate potential chiropractors and the best corrective chiropractic care, the best thing to do is narrow down your choices

How to Choose a Chiropractor

Because chiropractors can vary so greatly in their personalities, treatment options and techniques as well as philosophies, it is important to know what to look for when choosing one. How to choose a chiropractor has much more to do with simply receiving a flyer from a community practitioner and going over there. There are several things to take into consideration, after all, your experience and family’s wellness depends on it.

Who do you know who uses a chiropractor or has? Would they recommend that person? What is the chiropractor’s online reputation?

Remember that people’s opinion is subjective and their idea of a “good” chiropractor may not be the same as yours. Ask why they feel they are good and see if that matches your ideas. These are the answers that will get to the heart of the experience. Were they treated well? Is the chiropractor knowledgeable? Does the chiropractor listen?

now what your needs are

You may only know that you have pain and that you want it to stop. You may have had previous experience with a chiropractor and know already what you like and don’t.

Learn their philosophy of care

As many chiropractors as there are, there are almost as many philosophies. Read their Mission and/or Vision Statement. Ask why they got into this business. Discover what makes them different. If that matches your goals and makes sense to you, then schedule an initial visit and meet the staff.

Visit and learn more

Plan on an initial consultation visit to see what you think of the office and chiropractic experience they offer. Look for credentials and testimonials. Ask about additional services they may offer both in and outside the clinic.

How Can I Find a Qualified Chiropractor?

The best way to find a qualified chiropractor is through another provider’s referral or through a personal referral from a friend. The advice of someone with first hand experience is always valuable when choosing a healthcare provider.

What are some of the differences among chiropractors that I should be aware of?

It should be noted that the care recommendations you receive from one office may be quite different from those you receive from another office. In contrast to medicine, there is a much wider range of acceptable approaches and types of treatments given across chiropractic.

How much does it cost?

The cost of chiropractic care will vary in part upon where you live and the type of coverage you carry. If you have health insurance, check your insurance policies, since many insurers cover chiropractic care. Auto accidents and on-the-job injuries are also usually covered. Your policy may require you use chiropractors only within your provider network, stipulate that care must be approved in advance, require a copay, or have limits on the number of visits covered.

The cost of an initial visit normally includes an examination and often a set of X-rays. The cost of a moderate intake exam and X-rays might be about $160. The charges for more extensive examinations and X-rays will of course be higher. Subsequent visits for care might be in the approximate range of $50 to $90 per visit, again related to the number of services needed for your care

Other questions you might ask when selecting a chiropractor:

How they feel about working collaboratively with your primary care doctor

How willing they are to refer you to specialists

What services they provide in their office, such as physiotherapy

Their preferred goals of care. Ask what is typically done on a first visit (you should expect to be treated, not just assessed). Continued care to sustain wellness is good practice, but this decision will need to come through thoughtful discussions between you and your chiropractor.

How to Pick the Right Chiropractor

How do you pick the right chiropractor without spending weeks or months doing a search? It is important to find a doctor who understands your needs and can help. Consider the following ideas to make the search process for a chiropractor easier

Ask for Advice

The easiest way to find the right chiropractor is to ask other people for advice. They may have experience with good chiropractors and know someone that they can recommend. They may be friends with a chiropractor or live next to one. Consider asking friends, family and coworkers for suggestions to find a good chiropractor.

Ask Doctors for Recommendations

Ask your current doctor for chiropractic recommendations. General practitioners are often familiar with other doctors in the area and may know the best chiropractors in the city. Sometimes nurses, receptionists and other people who work in a general doctor’s office can also make recommendations. They may even be located near a good chiropractor.

Look Online

There are many review websites and other sites that offer information about chiropractors in a specific area. Consider using them to look for patient reviews and recommendations. Do some background research on local chiropractors by checking their licenses and websites. Each state has a Chiropractic Licensing Board that can provide more information

Listen to Your Intuition

Sometimes listening to your intuition can help narrow down the search. Pay attention to how each interaction with an office feels. As you ask questions and make phone calls, listen to your intuition and let it guide some of the process. Trusting the gut can take practice, but it is worth it.

Things To Consider When Choosing A Chiropractor

Wellness or maintenance care.

Too many Chiropractors put their financial wealth before their patients health.  Although regular chiropractic care is a great way to prevent future problems and improve performance it is not mandatory to do so.  Just like going to the dentist regularly is a good idea to prevent cavities it is not mandatory to do so.  Wellness or maintenance care is a good way for a Chiropractor to make extra money, and a common reason many medical doctors don’t refer to chiropractors. If you feel good and your chiropractor insists that you still need to come in, get a second opinion before continuing care.

Questionable diagnostics.

If your chiropractor tests your muscles and because they are weak diagnoses an internal problem, he or she should refer you to an internist.  On the other hand, if you have weak muscles because you are out of shape, a good Chiropractor will refer you to a therapist, a gym, or design a strengthening program for you. If your muscles are weak due to a serious disease, nerve problem, or serious structural problem your DC should refer you for a second opinion with a neurologist or orthopedist.  Muscle testing alone should not be the reason your chiropractor wants to continue to treat you if there is no pain

Silly marketing gimmicks.

Health fairs, swap meets, and shopping malls often have chiropractors giving free spinal examinations. There are a variety of gimmicks designed to procure you as a patient. The most common one is a postural analysis. If you have poor posture and no pain, a chiropractor should not just want to manipulate you, but instead should design a workout or exercise program for you, or refer you to a therapist or trainer as well.

Treating areas that don’t hurt.

When you receive treatment, three things happen. You get better, you get worse, or you stay the same. If you feel good, only two things can occur.  You either stay the same or you get worse. If you go to a chiropractor with lower back pain, he or she should not manipulate your neck unless you also have a neck problem.  There is no evidence that performing manipulation on a neck can help your lower back or vice versa. If your chiropractor insists on manipulating areas that don’t hurt without explaining the significance of doing so, get a second opinion before continuing care.

Excessive supplementation.

Chiropractors take many nutrition classes in school. Beware of any chiropractor who says his or her vitamins are the only ones that work. Beware of any chiropractor who wants to sell you large amounts of supplements without referring you to a retailer or health-food store for comparable products at a considerably lower cost.

Why users of computers should take  care?

A job involving looking at a computer screen for long periods of time can cause eyestrain and can worsen existing vision problems or reveal previously undiagnosed problems. Using your eyes intensely for close vision can lead to the discomfort of headaches, blurred or double vision, flickering feelings or itching eyes. Productivity may well be affected.

How can a change of spectacles help?

Previously adequate spectacles or contact lenses may be inadequate for the demands of computer screen use.  The loss of near focusing ability caused by the eyes’ natural ageing may necessitate special spectacles for the distance of the screen.  Far-sighted people may suddenly find their eyes straining to maintain clear focus at screen distance.  The common problem of astigmatism may be aggravated, resulting in blurred vision.

Eye Care Essentials for Computer Users

If you spend hours each day working at a computer screen, you may experience eyestrain, blurred vision, itchy eyes, and occasional double vision.

However, studies have found no indication that working on a computer screen causes permanent vision problems. Short-term problems, such as tired, irritated, or watery eyes, do bother the majority of people who work at computers, but these problems can usually be corrected by wearing a special pair of glasses for computer work, adjusting lighting in the workplace, and altering the position of the computer screen.

Correct vision problems

One of the easiest ways to prevent eye fatigue and discomfort is to see a vision specialist.

Minor visual problems, such as astigmatism or imbalances between the eyes, can be corrected by wearing corrective lenses, and you’ll greatly increase your comfort. If you don’t have to see distant objects clearly while at the computer, wearing bifocal lenses with the top adjusted for the computer screen and the bottom adjusted for reading is ideal

If your distance vision must be clear while working at the computer, bifocal lenses with the upper part adjusted for distance and a large bottom part adjusted for the computer is recommended. As an alternative, a progressive lens with a large middle section for computer work could be used.

Some people can comfortably use bifocal contact lenses when working at a computer, but in most cases, glasses will provide greater comfort and clearer vision.

Increase your comfort

If you spend hours each day working at a computer screen, you may suffer from eyestrain, blurred vision, itchy eyes, and occasional double vision.

The following steps can help to reduce your eye discomfort and fatigue:

• Place the computer straight in front of you, not off to the side.
• Place the screen at right angles to any windows to reduce glare.
• Fix the screen angle to reduce reflections from overhead lights or desk lamps.
• Use drapes, shades, or blinds to control window lighting and glare. Vertical or horizontal blinds will direct light away from you and the computer.
• Keep the screen brightness the same or brighter than the brightness of other objects in the room.
• Set your computer to show black characters on a white background.
• Use a flexible copyholder to keep reference material at the same height and distance away from you as the computer screen. This does away with the need to change eye focus when looking from one to the other.
• Use a filter that reduces glare to enhance screen contrast and increase character legibility. Use a computer hood that has 3 sides if glare continues to be a problem.
• Wipe the screen often with an anti-static cloth.
• Take rest breaks. Every 15 minutes or so, look up and focus on a distant object for about 2 minutes. Blinking frequently and using artificial tear eye drops to relieve dryness and irritation can also help.

Posture and screen position

The posture is very important while using the computer as if it is even slightly uncomfortable, then you can get neck and back pains and even numbness in the hands making your work and lifestyle suffer. This even applies to the level of the screen with the eyes that have an impact on the clear vision from the screen. These elements if not taken care of, tend to make the person suffer for which there must be awareness generated from the moment a person starts learning computers. A major concern is for the eye sight that must not get damaged or altered with the use of the computer.
In jobs these days, one cannot avoid the use of computers for which you must know the most efficient way of doing it. The correct level of the screen from the eyes is a little below the eyes. The screen should be easily an arm length away which gives the optimum distance for reading and viewing from it. The ideal angle should be about twenty degrees below the level of the eyes. All of this ensures that the rays are not directly coming in contact to your eyes in a way in which it may prove to be harmful. There are other aspects such as the background lighting that also affects the vision when using computers. If any one of these aspects are neglected it will lead to the disability in viewing the screen well which will put strain on your eyes. The background light must not fall on the screen and also not be on the back for it to be reflected from the screen to your eyes.

Careful parameters
Other than the screen and the lights there are spectacles that need to be made with anti-glare coating that will prevent the eyes from taking the light that is reflected and received. These glares can be very damaging and hence you must insist on an anti-reflective coating that prevents the eyes from taking in the sheen and gives proper vision. If you keep wearing the anti-glare coated lenses while using the computers then you are surely more protect than using it without them.

Not avoiding the use of computers, exercises, cold tea bags, viewing far to change focal length after twenty minutes, and other such dietary aspects help preventing the eye sight from constant use of the computer.