(StatePoint)

Feeling a little off? Regardless of your age or fitness level, there are steps you can take every day to feel and perform your best. “Many Americans ignore their pain and fatigue,” says Dr. Keith Overland, president of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). “But just like world-class athletes who constantly search for ways to optimize their game, we can do better. Start with simple changes that promote greater health and wellness. You’ll feel better now and avoid bigger problems down the line.” With this in mind, ACA encourages Americans to “Find Your Game” by taking simple steps to promote optimal functioning:

• Get moving: Americans are more sedentary today than in the past. Lack of exercise can atrophy muscles and contribute to obesity, arthritis and other problems. You don’t have to train like an Olympian, just aim for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes of exercise three to four days a week.

• Stretch daily: Improving flexibility is crucial to avoiding injury. Make a habit of stretching your major muscle groups each morning.

• Don’t work through pain: The earlier an injury is treated, the sooner healing can begin. Masking injuries with painkillers to get back into action before you’re healed could worsen your original injury and lead to a chronic condition. Treat the cause of pain, not the symptom. Chiropractic physicians can treat many injuries and enable healing to occur -- without drugs or surgery.

• Outfit your feet: Think function when shopping for shoes used for exercise and walking long distances. The wrong shoes or worn-out shoes can cause pain throughout the body. A doctor of chiropractic can help you determine your arch type, match it to your gait and advise you on the best footwear.

• Eat right:  Even a few simple changes in diet can have a positive impact on your health. Limit red meat and excessive quantities of sugar and salt. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. Consider consulting a health care professional to determine what supplements are right for you. 

• Recharge: If you feel fatigued often, get more sleep. Instead of revitalizing with soft drinks or coffee, try a glass of pomegranate juice and a brisk walk. Have your B12 and iron levels checked at least once a year for deficiencies. Lean meats, nuts, legumes and green leafy vegetables can help put some pep in your step.

• Get the right stuff: From baby slings to telephones, small consumer choices can have a big impact on your well-being. Shop for products designed with the comfort of your neck and back in mind. If your job is causing you pain, talk to your employer about replacing your equipment with ergonomic models. For more health tips, or to find a chiropractic physician near you, visit www.ChiroHealthy.com. There’s no need to live on life’s sidelines. With a few key changes, you can feel and perform your best.

AUSTIN, Texas

About half of Texas voters believe faith is a better guide than scientific evidence on most important questions, according to a recent University of Texas at Austin/Texas Tribune poll. According to the poll, which surveyed Texans on a wide range of attitudes related to science and public policy, a similar proportion of voters said that “instinct and gut reactions” are just as good as the advice of scientists in most cases. However, 66 percent of voters said politicians, when faced with a difficult decision, should follow the advice of relevant experts, even if it means going against their ideology. “We were interested in ascertaining how Texas voters view the role of science and scientists in the public policy process,” said Daron Shaw, professor of Government at The University of Texas at Austin, who oversees the survey. “What we found is that the polarization of contemporary politics is manifest in attitudes toward scientific expertise. Many people see biases in the scientific project, especially in contentious public policy areas. I’d be somewhat surprised if people had similar thoughts in the 1940s after the Manhattan Project or in the 1960s after the moon landing.” The statewide poll conducted Oct. 15-20 surveyed 800 registered Texas voters and has a margin of error of +/- 3.46 percentage points Voters were split on views regarding scientists and academics. Fifty-five percent agreed with the statement that “scientists and academics are not concerned about the moral implications of their research,” and 58 percent agreed with the statement “most university professors are liberals who are trying to push an ideological agenda with their research.” Voters were also asked, on a scale of one to 10, how much politicians and public officials should defer to scientists on various issues. Respondents tended to defer more to scientists on issues such as natural disaster preparedness, space exploration and nuclear power and less on issues such as gun control, abortion and birth control. “These results suggest that in policy areas in which there are sharp and public political divisions, many Texans’ reliance on science for guidance appears conditioned by other factors,” said James Henson, who also oversees the poll and is director of the Texas Politics Project and a lecturer in the Department of Government. “These results point us toward further research into what factors influence people’s willingness to rely on science to make judgments about policy. “As a preliminary observation, it certainly seemed that those who identified with the Republican Party were, on average, more skeptical than those who identified with the Democratic Party, which, given the pattern of party identification in Texas, helps explain some of the results,” said Henson. “But it will take more survey work to unpack what drives this apparent partisan difference.” This is the latest in a series of online polls conducted by the Texas Politics Project and The Texas Tribune. Comprehensive poll results, information about methodology and the survey dataset will be available at the Texas Politics Project website.

Maverick County Precinct 3 Commissioner Jose Luis RosalesRosales like always continuing his ongoing efforts in the fight againsts rabies. A Vaccine Clinic hosted by local veterinarian Dr. Claudia Torres will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 9 am - 12 pm noon. This clinic will take place at the Quemado Community House. We invite all residents who live in the Quemado and Normandy areas to come take advantage of this clinic that will help keep your pets healthy. Reduced rates are being offered to Precint 3 residents. Cash only is accepted. If you like more information please call the Maverick County Precinct 3 Administration Office at 830-773-1716 or visit us online at www.joseluisrosales.net