Pain, Pain Go Away!

By far, the number one reason patients seek out care from their health care provider is PAIN. What most people don't realize is that pain, whether it is neck, back, joint, head, menstrual, or digestive, pain has its roots in simple areas of our life that are commonly overlooked. As a healthcare provider for the last thirteen years I have had the chance to evaluate thousands of patients. Most pain issues can readily be eliminated by making a few changes in our everyday life.

The most common cause of pain in the body is due to inadequate water intake. Most patients are sub-clinically dehydrated. Look around you, most people spend their days loading their bodies up with soda, coffee and the so called energy drinks. These beverages actually promote dehydration due to their diuretic nature. From a nutritional standpoint, drinking 25 ounces of water for every 50 pounds of body weight will maintain optimal hydration levels in the body. Water is anti-inflammatory in nature. Pain is basically a symptom of unchecked inflammation in the body. When patients drink the prescribed amount of water, many times, their pain, arthritis, allergies and asthma will be greatly reduced, if not resolved.

Science and Medicine are finally acknowledging the link between inflammation and disease in the body.

Inflammation is kept in check by the ratio of a group of biochemicals in our body called prostaglandins. There has been in the news lately about the use of fish oil or commonly referred to as "Omega 3s". Omega 3s are a group of essential fatty acids that are involved with regulating the production of prostaglandins. When there is an abundant supply of Omega 3s in the body prostaglandins production promotes the suppression of inflammation. Conversely, Omega 6 fatty acids, promote inflammation in the body. A diet high in grains and processed sugar actually add to the increase in Omega 6s over the Omega 3s causing inflammation and pain in the body. I frequently recommend may patients that suffer from chronic pain to eliminate grains and processed sugars from their diet. The results are spectacular. Supplementing with fish oils, primarily, EPA and DHA (Omega 3s) in the amount of around 2500 to 3500 milligrams a day will restore proper Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratios leading to the suppression of pain and inflammation. Other benefits of Omega 3 supplementation is improved cholesterol and tryglyceride levels, decreased blood pressure, decreased platelet aggregation (blood thinning), mood elevation just to name a few.

The last item I address in the office is dairy consumption. I know, everywhere you look, you see those famous athletes with the white mustache, touting the benefits of milk. Well, guess what? In my experience, eliminating milk and ice cream from the diet, frequently does the trick for arthritis. Not to mention, allergies, asthma, sinusitis, ear infections and chronic upper respiratory infections. All of which are the result of unchecked inflammation within the body.