How Babies Get Colic + What You Can Do About It

Infantile colic is a condition that can be both frustrating and controversial for parents. Many conventional pediatricians mistakenly state that “some babies just get colic” and “don’t worry, they’ll grow out of it.” However, there is ongoing debate about the root causes of colic and how babies develop this condition. In this blog post, we’ll break down the science behind colic, keep it simple, and discuss safe and natural ways to help ease your little one’s constant crying and discomfort.

If your baby is struggling with colic and you’re desperate for answers and relief from the constant crying and sleepless nights, this is for you! If your gut is telling you that it’s not normal that your baby is constantly crying, uncomfortable, arching their back, and cranking their neck to try and find some relief – keep reading.  

We are going to reveal how overall neurological function can resolve many of your child’s health struggles! Learn gentle ways to stimulate the nervous system, plus specialized chiropractic care to detect and address vagus nerve dysfunction without drugs or surgery. 

The Most Overlooked Trigger of Colic

One of the most overlooked yet obvious initial triggers of colic is an overstressed and subluxated nervous system. At Highest Health Chiropractic, we often find that the vast majority of colic patients have at least one of the following stressors in their case history:

1. A high-stress or high-risk pregnancy
2. Birth interventions such as forceps, vacuum extraction, induction, epidural, or c-section that can physically injure and alter the function of the nerves and muscles of the upper neck

These interventions can impact various functions, including sleeping, latching, breastfeeding, swallowing, digestion, and gross motor development, like turning the head and tummy time. These common initial stressors can cause the infant’s nervous system to become highly sensitive and stuck in a sympathetic fight or flight mode.

Jackson’s Story of Hope

Consider the story of baby Jackson, who struggled with bad reflux, gas pains, and trouble sleeping at night as an infant. Jackson’s mom shared, “It was very difficult for us to try and navigate being first-time parents and having Jackson struggling with these issues! It was hard to see Jackson so upset and unhappy because he was always so uncomfortable.”

Fortunately, Jackson’s parents took action and brought him to their holistic pediatrician, who always looked for the root cause of a child’s struggles rather than just treating the symptoms. Recognizing that the stress of a very fast labor and delivery could be part of the root cause, the pediatrician referred Jackson to a pediatric chiropractor.

Jackson’s mom reported, “Jackson started getting adjusted when he was 9 weeks old, and within the first couple of weeks, we definitely started to see changes! We first noticed that he was no longer having constant gas pains and didn’t seem as uncomfortable anymore. Within the first month, his colic seemed to disappear, and we started to see Jackson’s happy and silly personality coming through.”

With continued care, Jackson transformed into “a completely different baby” compared to when he first started treatment. His colic and stomach pains were completely gone, his reflux had improved, and he was even sleeping through the night! Now, as a toddler, Jackson’s mom says, “He is truly the happiest and is always smiling and laughing. We could not be more thankful to have found our pediatric chiropractor – they’ve taught us so much about chiropractic care and the benefits it could provide to Jackson. Thank you for giving us our happy boy back!”

Sympathetic Dominance and Its Effects

When an infant’s nervous system is stuck in a sympathetic fight or flight mode, they may struggle with basic health functions such as sleeping, eating, pooping, and moving. Parents often innately know that something within their little one’s body is not working well, including both “internal” muscles that control digestion and “external” muscles of the neck and spine. This is why infants with colic often struggle more after eating and are constantly arching their neck and back.

Many parents of colicky infants have already tried removing dairy and other common foods that have a higher risk of allergies and intolerances. Some families have also had their children’s tongue or oral ties surgically revised and clipped. While tongue and oral ties can cause trouble with latching, nursing, and discomfort, it’s essential to look deeper at the root cause of these issues. If a child’s nervous system is stuck in a sympathetic fight or flight mode, it can leave all the muscles and ligaments of the body extra wound tight and tense. Even if the tongue and oral ties are surgically revised, the tension may remain in the nervous system and other important parts of the body.

Finding the Real Root Cause

While most people look to the stomach or digestive system for the root cause of colic, it’s often found even deeper within the nervous system and its control and coordination of digestive motility, absorption, and elimination. When tension and subluxation build up along the neurospinal system, a colicky baby will often arch their back and crane their neck, trying to release or dissipate that tension themselves. This is an almost sure sign that the root cause of their discomfort is neurospinal discomfort and tension, not merely digestive dysfunction.

Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care is a gentle, non-invasive approach that can help address the underlying neurological factors contributing to colic. Neurologically-Focused Pediatric Chiropractors are specifically trained to identify and correct subluxations (misalignments) in the spine that can interfere with proper nervous system function. By restoring balance to the nervous system, chiropractic care can help relieve symptoms of colic and promote overall health and well-being in infants.

At Highest Health Chiropractic, our doctors use a combination of thorough assessments and advanced technology called Neurological INSiGHT Scans to detect and measure the presence of subluxation and neurological dysfunction or sympathetic dominance in colicky infants. This targeted approach allows us to develop personalized care plans that address each child’s unique needs.

Benefits of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care for Colic 

In addition to helping alleviate the symptoms of colic, chiropractic care can offer a range of other benefits for infants and children. These may include:

1. Improved sleep quality and duration
2. Enhanced immune system function
3. Better digestion and reduced digestive discomfort
4. Increased range of motion and flexibility
5. Support for healthy brain and nervous system development

It’s important to note that chiropractic care is not a “one-size-fits-all” solution, and results may vary from child to child. However, many parents have reported significant improvements in their babies’ comfort, happiness, and overall well-being following chiropractic care.

So, if you’re ready to find real answers and drug-free solutions for your baby’s colic, consider scheduling an initial consultation with one of our docs at Highest Health Chiropractic. With the right approach, you can help your little one find the peace, comfort, and restful sleep you both desperately need. Don’t spend another exhausting night wondering if there’s hope – take action and seek the support your family deserves.

If you are not local to us, please check out the PX Docs directory to find a PX Doc near you. By addressing the root cause of colic through gentle, Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care, you can help your baby thrive and enjoy a happier, healthier childhood.

Tired of Endless Medications, Diet Changes and Supplements for Inflammation? There may be more going on

As parents, we always want the best for our children’s health. If your child struggles with chronic illnesses, you may have turned to traditional medical approaches or even explored biomedical interventions. However, there may be a hidden cause of inflammation that is often overlooked: vagus nerve dysfunction and nervous system dysregulation.

It’s a common saying that “inflammation is the root of all disease,” and while it does play a significant role in many chronic illnesses, including those affecting the gut, immune system, brain, and nervous system, it’s not the whole story. Conditions like autism, ADHD, anxiety, and epilepsy have been linked to chronic inflammation, but addressing inflammation alone may not be enough to resolve these issues.

According to recent research, approximately 27% of children in the United States have a chronic condition, and 1 in 15 have multiple chronic conditions. These numbers are on the rise, indicating that traditional medical approaches may not be effectively addressing the root causes of these health challenges. This is where the role of the nervous system and vagus nerve comes into play.

The Missing Piece: Stress and Nervous System Dysfunction 

While traditional and biomedical approaches often focus on diet changes, detoxes, and supplements to combat inflammation, they are missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. Chronic stress is a significant contributor to inflammation, even in children, and can lead to dysfunction in the vagus nerve and autonomic nervous system.

The vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve in the body, plays a vital role in regulating the parasympathetic “rest and digest” response. When this nerve becomes compromised due to subluxations or interference along its pathway, it can lead to gut and immune system dysfunction, allowing inflammation to run rampant.

The Vagus Nerve-Immune System Connection 

Recent scientific findings have revealed a significant connection between the vagus nerve and the immune system, specifically in the control and regulation of inflammation. When the vagus nerve is functioning properly, it helps to keep inflammation in check. However, when the nerve becomes dysfunctional, the body’s ability to manage inflammation is compromised, leading to a wide range of chronic health issues.

So, how can you determine if your child’s vagus nerve is stressed and dysfunctional? Neurological INSiGHT Scans, particularly NeuroThermal testing, can detect areas of subluxation, nervous system interference, inflammation, and temperature changes in the spine, indicating vagus nerve dysfunction and nervous system dysregulation.

Another valuable tool is Heart Rate Variability (HRV) testing, which measures the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. This test can reveal dysautonomia and the body’s ability to manage stress and inflammation.

The Path to Healing 

If your child is struggling with inflammation-related symptoms, such as immune or autoimmune disorders, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, seizures, or other neuroimmune-related health challenges, it’s time to look beyond just managing symptoms and addressing inflammation through diet changes and supplements.

Balancing the autonomic nervous system and optimizing vagus nerve function is essential for resolving persistent inflammation that does not respond to either traditional or biomedical interventions. By identifying and addressing the root cause of your child’s chronic inflammation and health struggles, you can set them on the path to true healing and wellness.

Once vagus nerve dysfunction has been identified, there are various safe, simple, and gentle ways to stimulate and activate this essential part of the nervous system. These methods can help to restore balance and reduce inflammation.

As parents, we want you to be informed about the various factors that contribute to your children’s health challenges. If you suspect that your child may be struggling with vagus nerve dysfunction, consider scheduling a consultation at Highest Health Chiropractic to identify the underlying issues and start your child’s journey to optimal health. If you are not local to us, check out the PX Docs directory to find a local PX Doc near you. Remember, addressing the root cause of your child’s health challenges is the key to a healthier and more vibrant life for your child!

Navigating Anxiety: The Drug-Free Approach in the Pharmaceutical Age

As a parent, watching your child struggle with anxiety can be an overwhelming and heartbreaking experience. You may feel helpless, especially when traditional medical approaches often resort to medication as the first line of treatment. However, at our practice, we want you to know that there is another way – a drug-free, holistic approach that focuses on the root cause of your child’s anxiety: the nervous system.

 

The Prevalence of Childhood Anxiety

4.4 million children face anxiety, which can lead to difficulties in school, social interactions, and family life. These struggles can manifest in various ways, such as your child feeling nervous or tense, sensing danger when it may not be there, experiencing increased heart rate and rapid breathing, sweating, trembling, having difficulty concentrating, and even dealing with gastrointestinal problems.

It’s important to understand that being nervous and sometimes anxious is a natural human response to perceived threats, triggering our nervous system’s “fight, flight, or freeze” response. However, when these feelings become stuck and turn into chronic anxiety, it can significantly change the way your child perceives their daily life, making even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming and unmanageable.

 

The Nervous System’s Role in Anxiety 

At the core of our approach to managing childhood anxiety is the understanding that the nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating emotions and stress responses. When the nervous system is out of balance, it can lead to a heightened stress response and an inability to access the “rest, digest, and regulate” state, which is essential for maintaining emotional well-being.

This imbalance is often caused by subluxation, which is the stress and tension that gets stuck within the nervous system. Subluxation buildup can start as early as stress during pregnancy, birth trauma, and early childhood experiences, setting the stage for anxiety later in life.

Another key player in the regulation of the nervous system is the vagus nerve, which is responsible for activating the “rest and relaxation” (parasympathetic) side of the nervous system. When the vagus nerve is not functioning properly, your child’s body may struggle to access the “brake pedal” that helps them calm down and regulate their emotions.

 

Our Approach: Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care 

At Highest Health Chiropractic, we specialize in Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care, which aims to address the root cause of your child’s anxiety by focusing on the nervous system. Our team of Neurologically-Focused Pediatric Chiropractors uses INSiGHT scans to detect and measure the presence and severity of subluxation and dysautonomia, allowing us to create personalized care plans tailored to your child’s unique needs.

Through precise chiropractic adjustments, we work to release stuck stress from the sympathetic nervous system, activate the vagus nerve, and restore balance to the nervous system as a whole. Our goal is to help your child’s body know when it is safe and when to activate the “fight or flight” response, enabling them to access both sides of their nervous system and preventing them from getting “stuck” in a state of chronic anxiety.

We understand that the decision to explore drug-free options for your child’s anxiety can be daunting, especially when medication is often presented as the only solution. 

However, we want you to know that there is hope and that a drug-free approach can be incredibly effective in helping your child manage their anxiety and reclaim their life.

By addressing the underlying neurological factors contributing to your child’s anxiety, we can help them build a more resilient and balanced nervous system, equipping them with the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and ease.

So, if your child is struggling with anxiety and you feel like you’ve exhausted all options, we would love for you to take the first step toward healing by exploring Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care. Our team is here to support you every step of the way. If you have questions about our approach or are ready to schedule a consultation, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today! If you are not local to us, check out the PX Docs directory to find a PX Docs office near you. Together, we can help your child navigate the challenges of anxiety and emerge stronger, more resilient, and ready to embrace all that life has to offer.

Chiropractic Care for Stressed Out + Worn Out Dads

The Dad Life… 

For so many dads, the busyness of work and family responsibilities has completely taken over their daily lives, and they long ago gave up on taking care of themselves. Their diet has switched to eating fast food at their desk or in the car during their commute, and they consume enough coffee to caffeinate a small village each and every day. 

All of the sugar and caffeine revs up an already hyped-up and stressed-out nervous system.  So over time, the average dad today is not just overweight and out of shape, but may be struggling with chronic health challenges like ADHD, anxiety, allergies, chronic headaches, sleep issues, and continual back and neck pain. 

After being wound up for so long, they then become worn out and exhausted, and while they often think about getting healthy and back in shape again… they’ve got no drive or energy left to actually get that done. Unfortunately, chiropractic care is the furthest thing from their minds.  

Honestly, even for those dads who do work out and try to eat healthy, the demands of the work and family life schedule can still stress their nervous systems to the max, leading to many of the same challenges. 

That was certainly the case for Chris, an incredible rockstar dad who was experiencing bad allergies, migraines, and constant sinus infections before seeking help in our office. He was always on antibiotics, and everything he tried just seemed like a temporary fix. 

He had watched as his wife and kids started chiropractic care and received amazing results, but just wasn’t sure it would work for him. Finally, the stress and tension reached a breaking point, and he made getting into the office for chiropractic care and neurologically-focused adjustments a priority. From there, everything changed in a matter of just a few weeks! 

With each and every adjustment, Chris could feel the pressure and fog lifting, he could move his neck and shoulders more, his allergies and sinuses finally cleared up, and he was finally feeling way more energy as the weeks went on, and chiropractic care became a regular part of his life! 

HOW DOES GETTING ADJUSTMENTS HELP BREAKTHROUGH THE STRESS? 

Unfortunately, far too many people have a limited view of what chiropractic care can do for their health, simply because most medical doctors and even many chiropractors keep their care focused on back and neck pain alone. They fail to understand the absolutely crucial and really quite simple connection between the spine and the nervous system. 

But just ask yourself this question – when you’ve got a nasty headache, tense neck and shoulders, and back pain, how well do you sleep? How’s your mental health and mood when you’re in constant pain? Do you feel like working out and playing with your kids when you’re chronically tense and exhausted? 

Everything in the body is intricately connected and controlled by one thing – the nervous system. The nervous system controls everything, from muscle tension and function to digestion, immune health, sleep, mood, mental + emotional health, focus, and so much more. 

And put simply, in today’s crazy world, the average dad’s nervous system is running on dial up internet while trying to keep up with a 5G fast-paced life. It’s just not sustainable. 

This is where Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care comes in, and serves as the greatest health hack of all time! We say health hack because when looking to help parents get healthy once again, we’ve got to remember one crucial element – they’re insanely busy and have limited time in their schedule. 

That’s the beauty of Neuro-Tonal Adjustments that our doctors use – they’re fast and easy. 

The majority of our patients get in and out of the office in under 10 minutes, yet get as much (or more) health benefit from one incredible adjustment as they would a workout, massage, and meditation session! It’s truly incredible how much change adjustments can make in a short amount of time, which in turn gives you more energy and better function so that you feel like working out, eating healthy, and getting a good night’s sleep! 

Dads that are under care will tell you – chiropractic care is the greatest health hack of all time. 

Once you start getting adjusted, the chart below shows the other kind of results you can expect with your mood, focus and concentration, emotional health, gut and immune, and so much more. 

Dads, if you’re absolutely exhausted and overwhelmed and don’t know where to start – start with Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care and build up from there! 

 

Perfect For Busy Parents 

Being a busy dad myself, I completely understand the need to figure out a health game plan that can fit in between all the demands of work and family life (aka driving your kids to 862 sports and activities per week). With our specialty in Pediatric + Family Care, we’ve worked especially hard to make sure your adjustments can fit within your busy schedule, and we get you real results in a short amount of time! 

Your first Consult and Exam appointment takes just 20-30 minutes and includes getting your INSiGHT Scans, which will show us exactly where all of your stress and tension is built up and stuck, and how truly worn out your nervous system is. 

Then from there, you’re off to the races! Each adjustment takes literally less than 5 minutes, and leaves you with decreased tension, more energy, improved gut and immune function, and so much more! 

Just Take the First Step

We always encourage our dads and every “wound up + worn out” parent to simply take things one step at a time. Start by getting adjusted, and don’t worry about anything else for the first month. Let your nervous system finally begin to relax, unwind, and recharge… and then take it from there. 

Once you start sleeping better and having more energy, now you can take that momentum and energy into the rest of your life and begin working out more, making better lifestyle choices, and rebuilding your health one step at a time! And guess what, we’ll be there to help guide you and provide support all along the way. 

There are countless benefits to Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care for stressed-out and worn-out dads and busy parents, and we can’t wait to walk you through them all and for you to experience them firsthand. 

If you’re not local to us, find your local PX Doc today to get your mojo back Dad, and be done with the constant stress, fatigue, and grumpiness. You can search our directory here, and get connected right through our site to your new future full of health, energy, and happiness once again! 

Dads, getting adjusted and taking charge of your health has benefits that go far beyond just you. All sorts of studies show that when dads are physically active, keep their BMI and weight under control, and prioritize their health and well-being… so do their kids! 

You can make such an incredible impact on your health and the health of your entire family with just this one step. Give Highest health Chiropractic a call, Dad!

Pediatric and Family Drug-Free Experts: Transforming Children’s Health with Neuro-Focused Care

Are you a parent who feels like you’ve exhausted all options when it comes to your child’s health? Have you tried conventional medicine only to be disappointed by its focus on symptoms alone rather than causes? Or perhaps you’ve tried numerous natural remedies yet still find something lacking? If any of this resonates with you, please know you’re not alone.   

Millions of families share your frustration, seeking answers while feeling trapped in a cycle of doctor visits, therapies, and medications. But what if we told you there’s a really important piece missing from the puzzle? A crucial system in your child’s body that most conventional providers often overlook, but one that holds the key to your child’s health and wellness?

So, if you are tired of bandaid solutions and are eager to learn about the underlying causes of your child’s health challenges, read on to learn about the most crucial system in the body – the brain and the central nervous system. 

Neurologically-Focused Pediatric Chiropractic Care is the key to getting your child’s health back on track. So keep reading to learn all about The Perfect Storm affecting our child’s health and how our drug-free approach aims to reverse it.

Understanding the Nervous System: The Foundation of Health

As Neurologically-Focused Pediatric and Family Chiropractors, we go way beyond surface symptoms and dig down to the root cause of each child’s unique challenges. At the center of our approach is the nervous system— a complex network of nerves and cells that serves as the body’s master controller. The nervous system is responsible for coordinating every function, from breathing and digestion to movement and emotional regulation. When this system experiences stress or imbalance, it can present in your child as a multitude of health challenges. 

Picture a car stuck in overdrive, revving at full throttle without pause – this is similar to what happens when a child’s nervous system gets stuck in a state of constant stress, known as sympathetic dominance. This prolonged activation of the fight-or-flight response can wreak havoc on your child’s body, affecting every other system in their body, including: 

• Digestive and gut health
• Immune health
• Gross and fine motor development
• Focus, cognition, behavior, and emotional regulation

This non-stop stress mode is what we call subluxation, dysautonomia, and nervous system dysregulation – all of which mean an overstressed and imbalanced nervous system. This overwhelming stress and neurological dysfunction can lead to a wide range of health challenges, such as colic, ear infections, asthma, allergies, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, and so much more.

Identifying the Triggers

Understanding the triggers that contribute to sympathetic overdrive is important for getting to the root causes of your child’s health challenges. The three most common “Perfect Storm” triggers are: 

• Prenatal Stress: high levels of stress, anxiety, and complications during pregnancy 
• Birth Trauma: interventions such as forceps, vacuum, induction, and c-section
•  Environmental Factors: early exposure to toxins, chemicals, and medications like antibiotics

While genetics, gut health, and nutrition are all essential to your child’s health, addressing the underlying neurological dysfunction is key when addressing chronic health challenges.  We need to assess and measure the health and function of the nervous system first and foremost, and that is exactly what we do as Neurologically-Focused Chiropractors. 

The Power of INSiGHT Scans and Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care

We use cutting-edge technology called INSiGHT Scans and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) to detect and measure the presence and level of subluxation and dysautonomia in every patient. These noninvasive scans help us not only find out if subluxation and nervous system dysregulation is present in your child, but they also help to measure it and determine its severity and where the tension and imbalance is within the NeuroSpinal System.

Once we have this information, we can create a personalized and individualized care plan for your child tailored to their unique needs. By addressing the root cause, restoring proper nervous system function, and improving regulation, your child can experience lasting improvements in their health and well-being. 

At Highest Health Chiropractic, we specialize in this drug-free, neurologically focused approach to healthcare for the entire family. To learn more about our practice and how we can support your family’s well-being, please reach out to us today!

We are here to help you take charge of your family’s health and prioritize neurological health, setting the stage for a lifetime of resilience in your children.