Did you know that women’s heart attack symptoms can be very different from men’s. It is for this reason that women often wait longer to get help and write the symptoms off as acid reflux, the flu, or normal aging. Heart Disease is the #1 killer of women and men. Heart disease runs in my family and I find this topic incredibly important. 

Men and women can both have symptoms such as pain or fullness in the chest that may last for a few minutes or go away and come back. There can be pain in your arm (one or both), back, neck, jaw, and stomach. Shortness of breath with or without chest pain. You might break out into a cold sweat, become nauseous, or lightheaded. 

Women often have symptoms that are atypical, such as anxiety, shortness of breath, upset stomach, pain in the shoulder, back, or arm, and unusual tiredness and weakness. Women often ignore these symptoms, blaming the food they've eaten or the stress they're under.

If you are having any of these symptoms you should call 911 or seek medical care immediately. Heart disease is genetic and if it runs in your family talk to your family doctor and explore your risk factors. (www.heart.org)

How to Protect Your Heart

• Stop Smoking! (You’ll decrease your risk of coronary heart disease by 50%)
• Exercise (30 minutes a day of moderate intensity exercises, such as brisk walking)
• Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.
• Limit processed foods, added sugar, salt, and alcohol.

Supplement of the Month - Arthoben

Arthroben from Designs for Health is probably one of my personal favorites. Due to doing body work for the last 25 years my hands started getting arthritis and hurting in the joints on a regular basis. This supplement has the collagen peptides Fortigel and Tendoforte along with other herbs. After taking this supplement for 2-3 weeks the pain in my hands dramatically decreased and they rarely hurt now. I have taken this supplement for 2 years. We carry this at the office on a regular basis. If you have arthritis pain or tendon/ligament pain it can be a huge help. Get yours from Alex or Ben at the front desk.

Employee Spotlight!

Dr. Ron Boggs has worked with us at Cummings Chiropractic for 10 years now, but he's been a practicing chiropractor for 38 years! After graduating from Michigan State University, he attended Sherman College of Chiropractic located in South Carolina. He joined Cummings Chiropractic after selling his successful practice in Southfield. Dr. Ron is a master clinician, well-versed in spinal biomechanics. He is gentle and effective in his approach to treating acute and chronic issues.

He is now taking Walk-Ins! on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday every week! Or call or text Ben or Alex to make an appointment. 810-664-4185.

He says, "I believe that most spine related issues such as pain resulting from imbalance can be resolved with conservative chiropractic treatment."

Did you know chiropractic can help?...

Headaches (tension headaches and migraine headaches) can often be helped by chiropractic care. Most of the nerves leave the spine through holes in the side of the vertebra and go out into the body stimulating muscles and organs. But the top two vertebrae, C1 and C2, go out the back side of the vertebra and wrap up your head. If there are fixations at these levels it can irritate the nerves going up into your head causing headaches. We can release the muscles in this area, and adjust the vertebra of the neck (manually or with an activator) to help decrease the intensity and frequency of your headaches. We can also recommend helpful stretches and exercises that will prevent them.

Ben's Billing Corner!

What Is a Deductible?

A deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket for covered healthcare services before your insurance begins to contribute. For example, if your deductible is $2,000, you are responsible for the first $2,000 of covered services each year. Once that amount is met, your insurance will begin paying its portion for the rest of the year (according to your plan’s rules and limits).

What Is a Co-Pay

A co-pay is a fixed dollar amount you may owe at the time of your visit. For chiropractic care, co-pays commonly range from $10–$40 per visit, depending on your plan.

Important to know: Some plans require you to meet your deductible before a co-pay applies
Some plans have no co-pay at all

Some plans include both a co-pay and co-insurance

For example, a plan may require a $15 co-pay plus 10% co-insurance, meaning the insurance company covers 90% of the remaining balance after the co-pay. Yes—it can be confusing. We agree.

We’re Here to Help!

Ben and Alex do their best to verify your benefits before your visit so you have a clear picture of what to expect. Still, insurance coverage is ultimately determined by your insurance company, not the provider. If you have questions or would like help understanding your benefits, please leave a voicemail for Ben at 810-728-1881, and he’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

We truly appreciate your understanding and trust—thank you for choosing Cummings Chiropractic for your care.