Vitality Clinic Blog

Fertility Acupuncture

crunch doc — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:42:56 +0000

Acupuncture is a very effective and cost friendly treatment to try when looking at becoming pregnant. For patients having troubles with fertility, this is an important option to consider for both the female and male. It may be used alongside other treatments such as IVF (in-vitro fertilization) and IUI, as well as artificial insemination, to help with the effectiveness of becoming pregnant.

Broken Heart: Women Can Have Heart Attacks Too

crunch doc — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:56:17 +0000

Ladies,

Would you know if you were having a heart attack? There are many different symptoms of a heart attack that you should be aware of. Females can exhibit different symptoms from males such as:

Unusual fatigue
Sleep disturbance
Shortness of breath

Why your colon loves winter

crunch doc — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:26:01 +0000

Winter ushers in visits from a family that brings color to your dinners and good tidings to your colon. The Brassica family -- a group of winter-fave veggies that includes broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. They're slightly bitter, but that's because you can actually taste their colon-cancer-fighting compounds called isothiocyanates.

Colon Cancer Blockers

Research shows that the isothiocyanates in Brassica veggies may actively block potential carcinogens, putting the kibosh on not only colorectal cancer but prostate cancer cells as well. Brassica vegetables are also a good source of folic acid, phenolics, carotenoids, selenium, and vitamin C.

Did you know? About 1 in 3 cancers may be related to what people eat!

Article by Real Age and submitted by Christine Boutrin, RHN

Creamy broccoli soup Recipe: http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/articles/creamy-broccoli-soup-non-dairy

The Teeter-totter of Inflammation

crunch doc — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:17:04 +0000

Life is a balancing act- from work, to play, to how much milk we put on our cereal. This is not some new revelation but it’s worth revisiting. I love the old adage that “it’s not strong enough until it’s too strong.”

Every second of every day, your body is tirelessly performing a balancing act. I suggest we help it out as much as we can. Just like tires or the clutch in your car wear out, things can wear out in your body. The difference is that your body is the only vehicle you will have for life so it needs to be serviced on a daily basis.

I can go into a biochemical spiel about prostaglandin pathways and homocysteine levels, and I would be more than happy to if you’re interested, but for simplicity, I thought a visual aid might go a lot further.

(Anti-Inflammatory) (Pro-Inflammatory)

EFA’s Red Meats/Fats

Fish Oils Dairy products and Eggs

Vitamin E Peanuts

Bioflavinoids Processed foods/Oils

Vitamin/Mineral Co-Factors Alcohol

Fresh Fruits/Vegetables Coffee

Seeds and Sprouts Black Tea

The body’s clean up crew

Lungs, lymph, and kidneys

Liver (antihistamines, C-P450, deconjugation)

Circulating digestive enzymes (proteases)

Anti-oxidant nutrients (Vit A,C,E, Zinc, Selenium, etc)

Here's a link to my anti-inflammatory diet: http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/articles/anti-inflammatory-diet

In good health,

Dr. Crysta Serné

Chiropractor and owner of Vitality Clinic

I love football, the Patriots, and now Tom Brady!!

crunch doc — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:15:08 +0000

I have been a sports junkie all my life. I love football, and have been a Patriots fan for years - yes- all the way back to when Drew Bledsoe was throwing the pig skin for them, and Tedy Bruschi was their amazing linebacker (FYI- Tom Brady didn't come on the scene until 2001!). Proudly wearing my Bruschi jersey, I watched today with baited breath as the Patriots secured their spot in Super Bowl XLVI. What made today even more amazing was as I was perusing through Facebook, I came across this amazing endorsement for my profession.

Who was it from? None other than Tom Brady! Ahhh, life is good.

Have a great week everyone,

Dr. Crysta Serné

Chiropractor and owner of Vitality Clinic

Are we selling health?.....

crunch doc — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:52:30 +0000

I have been pondering this thought now for a number of years. Actually, 11 to be exact… ever since the government chose to discontinue paramedical services (chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, etc) as part of the Medical Services Plan (MSP). Yes, some patients are eligible to receive MSP premium assistance and I am pleased to offer that option when possible. However, the majority of patients that walk through our doors pay private fees and are then reimbursed through their extended health plans. I often akin our profession to retail services- we are selling ourselves, our profession, and our belief system, and we have to market ourselves accordingly. We have to ensure that we provide exemplary service or the patient will take their money and go elsewhere.

Yay!!

I am not sad or disappointed by this revelation. In fact, I am delighted by it as it means that we have to work even harder to make sure we provide the best care we possibly can to our patients. And just like retail, you might like the feel of a sweater better in one store than in another - they both offer the same type of sweater, but one is just a little more to your liking.

So what sets me apart from any other Chiropractor? You will NEVER here me say I am better than any other individual is. Not only is that egotistical and unkind, but it’s also completely unethical. Instead, let me offer you some insight into what I do. Then you can make the decision for yourself.

I LOVE what I do. It’s what gets me up in the morning, well aside from my meowing cat… I have an unyielding passion for my craft that energizes me- it pushes me to want to expand my knowledge base, explore new ideas, and constantly do better. I love that I am able to bear witness to the evolution of so many life events- graduations, marriages, and births to name a few. Sure, I adjust almost any body part imaginable, and I rehabilitate almost any injury one can think. It is extremely rewarding to be able to offer this care, but all it takes is for one person in my day to say, “Wow, I feel better,” smile again, or say “What? I had no idea you adjusted ankles. Awesome!” to make me want to come back and do it all over again the next day.

I was taught the same information as any other Chiropractic graduate. Perhaps my brain processes the information differently and my hands feel things differently. Maybe that’s what sets me apart. All I know is that I never want to stop being a Chiropractor.

Dr. Crysta Serné

To learn more about myself and the treatments I offer, please visit the following links

http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/dr_serne_comment

http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/sports_therapy

http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/chiropractic_care

16cm of new snow on Whistler Blackcomb means.....

crunch doc — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:35:17 +0000

It's about that time to dust off the board and take to the slopes. More snow is expected to fall over the next few days and that means more fair weather skiiers and boarders, like me, are going to be up on the mountain! I predict that unless you like to get up at the crack of dawn to make first tracks, it's going to be a very busy time.

Here's my latest article. http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/articles/snowboarding-101-0

Don't forget to carry some healthy snacks, layers of clothing, hydrate, and make sure someone knows where you are at all times!! Oh, and know I will be here for you should you get a little banged up.

Enjoy,

Dr. Crysta Serné

Out with the old, in with the new!

crunch doc — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:47:36 +0000

This is often the time of year when most people become reflective and think more about what they have done, where they are going, and what they have yet to accomplish. It can result in you springing to action to create change, or a time where you pat yourself on the back and say, "job well done this year!"

All to often in our lives, we forget to evaluate our relationships (lovers, family, and friends) in that reflection. When discussing successes and failures, it is often based on the bottom line at our job, grades received, and bonuses earned. Talk of relationships are often left out or avoided. Whatever scenario you resonate with, now is the perfect time to establish what you want out of your relationships for the coming year. Transitioning into 2012 allows for the perfect time to make some changes, however subtle or grandiose they may be.

Kim Anami, our resident life coach, wrote an amazing piece on this very subject. You may feel as though life is fantastic and it is exactly as it should be. I applaud you and encourage you to read the article anyway. It will move you.

http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/articles/feng-shui-your-relationships

Happy Holidays,

Dr. Crysta Serné

Correct posture while at work!

Reception — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:03:37 +0000

While busy at work today, I took a second to notice how twisted my posture was, and how I was probably setting a very bad example for our patients! Feet tucked underneath me, holding the phone with my face and shoulder....

Here's an article by Dr. Serné that reminds us of proper posture while at the office, this helps prevent tension, and even injury!

http://www.vitalityclinic.ca/care_of_neck_head_and_upper_back_by_dr_crysta_serne_dc

Ainslie

Office Manager

Good Sleep Hygiene

crunch doc — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:02:30 +0000

… And no, I’m not referring to taking a shower before bed, unless that helps you get a better night’s rest!

I believe we can all agree that the way you feel during your waking hours hinges on how well you sleep at night. Previously, I spoke about WHY you need a good solid night’s sleep. By learning to avoid common enemies of sleep and trying out a variety of healthy sleep promoting techniques, you can discover your personal prescription to a good night’s rest.

Experiment! What works for some might not work as well for others so it’s important to find the sleep strategies that work best for you. The key is once you have strategies to help you achieve the R’s of sleep, keep as much consistency in your routine as possible. Now we are going into delve into HOW to achieve this.