We have all heard the symptoms of a concussion in young athletes; loss of consciousness, confusion, dizziness, nausea, and so on. But did you know a Second Impact concussion could cause devastating and permanent injury?

Second Impact Syndrome is when a second concussion occurs before a first concussion has properly healed. This causes rapid and severe brain swelling and often catastrophic results. Second Impact Syndrome can result from even a very mild concussion that occurs days or weeks after the initial concussion.

Many young athletes are eager to return to their sport but it is imperative to allow their developing bodies adequate time to heal. Respiratory failure, permanent brain injury and even death are a reality if athletes don’t fully recover from a concussion before incurring another.

It is imperative following a concussion that you avoid all external stimulation from touchscreen phones, computers, ipads and televisions.  You must report to your doctor any changes in nausea...

VCD-EILO also know as Vocal Cord Dysfunction-Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction is often being misdiagnosed as asthma. VCD-EILO is a type of vocal cord dysfunction that is triggered by exercise. Rather than opening, the vocal cord and laryngeal tissue close, affecting the athlete’s breathing pattern, stress level and performance. The apparent symptom is shortness of breath which may relate to asthma.

The best way to diagnosis VCD-EILO is to have an endoscopic study to monitor the vocal cords when they are in the height if exercises. If this can not be done then the physician will make the diagnosis if the athlete meets the parameters of vocal cord dysfunction. Early recognition or early suspicion can be helpful to refer to the appropriate expert. 

VCD-EILO Symptoms                Asthma Symptoms

Breathing sounds high pitched, grating        Breathing sounds like wheezing

Struggle with inhalation                Struggle with exhalation

Tightness in the throat                   ...

The Difference Between a Strain and a Sprain

A strain is a slight stretching or complete rupture/tear of muscle fibers.  This injury usually occurs between the muscle belly and the tendon of the muscle.  This can occur within muscle fibers when the fibers become over stretched or when the muscle generates more forces than it can stand.  There are three degrees for muscles strains:

• First-degree: involves over stretching of some of the muscle fibers which can cause point tenderness in the involved area, mild swelling, and pain with muscle contraction.

• Second-degree: involves some of the muscle fibers actually tearing. Some of the symptoms include point tenderness to the involved muscle, swelling, bruising, and pain with muscle contraction.

• Third-degree: involves a complete rupture/tear to the muscle fibers and blood vessels. Symptoms for this include pain, loss of function, evident defect where the muscle ruptured, swelling, and bruising.

A sprain is a slight stretching ...

One of the main questions we are asked here at North Shore Pro-Active Health is; “Should I be using ice or heat?” It is a very good question to ask since many patients are unsure of the answer. The answer is; it all depends on the injury type.  Is the injury in the acute phase or the chronic phase?

There are two basic types of athletic injuries: acute and chronic. Acute pain is of rapid onset and short-lived, or chronic pain develops slowly and is persistent and long-lasting. Acute injuries are sudden, sharp, traumatic injuries that occur immediately (or within hours) and cause pain.  Acute injuries also cause common signs and symptoms of injury such as pain, tenderness, redness, skin that is warm to the touch, swelling and inflammation. If you have swelling, you have an acute injury.

Chronic injuries, on the other hand, can be subtle and slow to develop. They sometimes come and go, and may cause dull pain or soreness. They are often the result of overuse, but sometimes develop when ...

After deciding that Chiropractic care is right for you take a few minutes to research your options.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there are currently almost 30,000  Chiropractors in practice in the United States.  Not only will their chiropractic education vary slightly since there are 17 different schools to choose from; but their post graduate classes and even pre-chiropractic experience will differ greatly.  Do your due diligence in finding not only an office but physician that you synchronize with.   There are four areas that I recommend investigating prior to making an appointment or committing to care.

Social Media

• Do they have a facebook page?  How many likes, comments, interactions do they have?
• Do they have a website?  Is it current?  Are there client testimonials?  A virtual tour?
• How are their Yelp reviews?  Do they interact with clients?  Address problem or less than perfect reviews?

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The Office

Stop by the office before scheduling an appointment....

It's tough navigating through the challenging world of health insurance especially if you do not have the basic terminology down. Below are some common terms and definitions to help you understand health insurance. Feel free to save this blog for future reference!  

Premium

The premium is the amount you (or your employer) pay for your health insurance plan whether you use medical services or not. In most cases, it’s paid monthly, but can be paid every 3 months or yearly.

Deductible

A deductible is the amount you must pay before the health plan starts paying for your covered services. For example, if your deductible is $1,000, your plan won’t pay for some services until you’ve paid $1,000. In most cases, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. The lower the deductible, the higher premium.

Coinsurance

Coinsurance is the percentage of the cost that you must pay for a covered service. It applies after you meet your deductible.

For example, let’s say it costs $100 to see ...

Knowing the differences between medical insurance plans will help you choose the one that’s right for your health care needs.

 PPO stands for preferred provider organization

 EPO stands for exclusive provider organization.

Both plans use a network of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals. The difference between them is the way you interact with those networks.

PPO plans give you more flexibility. You don’t need a primary care physician and you can go to any health care professional you want without a referral—inside or outside of your network.

Staying inside your network means smaller copays and full coverage. If you choose to go outside your network, you’ll have higher out-of-pocket costs, and all services may not be covered.

EPO plans combine the flexibility of PPO plans with the cost-savings of HMO plans. While you do not need to choose a primary care physician with your EPO plan and you don’t need referrals to see a specialist, you will have a limited ne...

Have you ever wondered who are those people standing on the sidelines of a football or basketball game with the fanny pack and and always running out on the field or court for an injured athlete?  Well those people are Licensed Athletic Trainers and they do more work than most people realize. Athletic Trainers (ATs) are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians. The services provided by ATs comprise prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as a healthcare profession.

Athletic trainers can work in a variety of settings such as; professional and collegiate sports, secondary and intermediate schools, sports medicine clinics, hospital ER and rehab clinics, occupational settings, fitness centers, physician and chiropractic offices.

Students become eligible for BOC (Board of Certification) certification through an a...

By: Taunya Farr

Let’s be honest, having kids in school is a breeding ground for all kinds of germs.  It might seem as if you or someone you know always has a sick kid home with a cold, an ear infection, strep throat, etc.  I started bringing my kids in for Chiropractic care about a year ago.  Initially they were skeptical to have an adjustment but Dr. Jordan and Dr. Jade quickly made them feel comfortable and I’m certain they giggled through most of their adjustment and it was over before they even finished talking about their Christmas Wish List.

Since then, I’ve noticed that my kids (ages 6 and 8) seem much happier, healthier and more calm from getting adjusted regularly.  If they happen to be coming on with something, I’ll bring them in and it seems that the adjustments help “kick” the ailment much more quickly.  Ear infections seem to be a thing of the past and my two children will actually ASK for an adjustment if they aren’t feeling well.

Since we see a lot of children in the ...

October has arrived, and now you can go to Jewel and buy candy by the truck load without getting weird looks! “It’s fine! The candy is for the neighborhood kids!” The question is, what happens with the candy that is left over?? I always buy the candy I like so I can pack it in my lunch once Halloween is over… Whoops! When it comes to Halloween candy, I do not know where to draw the line!! When I have multiple mini Twix, Kit-Kat or Snickers in front of me, it’s hard not to go for it. This year, I will have some willpower and use the following tricks to avoid the sugary temptations that Halloween brings.

1. Buy Candy You Don’t Like

This was so hard for me to do. I walked past the bags filled with M&M’s, Twix, Three Musketeers and Snickers and went towards the Sweet Tarts, Whoppers, and Chewing Gum that I knew I wouldn’t eat. I’m pretty sure I could hear them calling my name! I thought to myself, why am I buying candy that I won’t eat?! In hindsight, I’m glad that I stuck to my pla...