Members of the Maryland General Assembly unanimously approved a new law making it a crime to use the Internet for electronic harassment, cyberbullying, and character assassination. Called “Grace’s Law” after a teenager who committed suicide in Howard County after being cyberbullied, this extends the harassment law already in effect in Maryland that applies only to harassment via email.

The new bill states, that “a person cannot use a social media site to intentionally inflict serious emotional distress on a minor or place a minor in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury.” A conviction of the misdemeanor would carry a penalty of up to a year imprisonment or a fine of up to $500.

Once the bill is signed into law, educators, teachers, and school staff’s, licensed health professionals, human service workers, and police officers, are court mandated to report incidents of electronic harassment in Maryland.

K.R. is a teenager recently attacked by a belligerent and aggressive cyberbully using an anonymous Twitter account. The cyberbully has initiated a terroristic offensive of character assassination against K.R.

The anonymous posts are written to coerce K.R. by threats or force as well as to garner support from other like-minded Twitter followers who would like to join the cyberbully’s terroristic offensive against K.R. The cyberbully openly sneered at K.R. in front of the entire Twitter community in a violent and intimidating way attempting to provoke a response or a fight.

There are distinctly opposing views on cyberbullying resulting in heated arguments.

One group of people including certain parents, educators, and health professionals say that victims of cyberbullying are soft and weak if they have an emotional or psychological reaction to cyberbullying. They say, victims should stop complaining, grow a tougher skin and just accept that anyone using the Internet should expect it and just learn to deal with it.

The other group expects teenagers and individuals to be protected from intentionally malicious targeting, electronic harassment, and menacing words and behavior no matter how they are delivered.

K.R. decided to bring her own case forward and be the face of strength of character and courageousness to help all teenagers who have faced similar cyberbullying attacks to restore their self-esteem and ability to fully function. K.R. and others will now have the law on their side to secure electronic records that can identify the anonymous perpetrators and bring them out of the darkness and into the light to explain their point of view to the courts.

If you’re like many other people, your feelings about springtime are mixed. You welcome with open arms the increased daylight, warm, fragrant air, and all the life and activity that come with this season of awakening from dormancy. But at the same time, you might dread the accompanying symptoms – nasal congestion, difficult breathing, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, headaches, and fatigue – as well as the drowsiness or jitteriness that comes with taking antihistamines, the primary conventional treatment.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are extremely effective at addressing the fundamental, underlying weaknesses and imbalances associated with allergic reactions, and without the unpleasant side effects of medications that only treat symptomatically. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, seasonal allergies are an indication of a deeper disharmony within the bodily ecosystem – and the goal of treatment is not to just temporarily alleviate these uncomfortable symptoms, but to bring the body back to its natural state of harmony and full potential, for lasting relief and greater overall health.

According to the principles of Chinese medicine, the cause and treatment of allergic reactions vary from person to person, but always involve the Wei Qi, the body’s defensive system. When functioning properly, our Wei Qi maintains a proper boundary between ourselves and outside invaders such as wind-born pollen. Often, allergy symptoms are indicative of a pattern that begins in childhood with a constitutional weakness, implicating both the lung and kidney systems. Some people develop allergies later in life as a result of dietary and lifestyle habits, environmental influences, exposure to toxicity, emotional and/or physical stress, and various other factors.

We can imagine signs and symptoms to be like the oil light on the dashboard of our car. If we were to simply turn off the light without changing the oil, we not only fail to address the real problem – we risk creating a bigger one. Conversely, if we perform proper maintenance of our vehicle – our body – we ensure it will be in the best possible condition to help move us forward in life. In this sense, we can see our suffering in a new light; that which points us toward more vibrant health and well-being.

Imagine being free of spring allergies, and enjoying the season in its full splendor as a breath of fresh air.

Have you been experiencing chronic back or neck pain? You may be suffering from arthritis of the spine. This condition is usually the result of normal wear and tear and is most often seen in adults over 50, but it can also occur at a much younger age from injury or overuse. Millions of Americans suffer from this painful condition, but it may not be necessary to live in pain. Effective, non-surgical treatment can provide significant long-term pain relief, enabling you to live a normal, active life.

Accurately Diagnosing

the Source Of Pain

Arthritis of the spine develops in the small joints located between each vertebra called facet joints. As we age, the cartilage lining the joint surface can shrink and wear thin causing bone spurs and enlargement of the joint, which often leads to the inflammation and pain of arthritis.

Arthritis can occur anywhere in the spine from the neck to the lower back. Arthritis pain is often worse in the morning, when the weather changes, after overexertion or even after long periods of sitting.  The sound of bone rubbing on bone, abnormal curvature of the spine, loss of flexibility and difficulty bending or walking may also occur. However, because these symptoms are not unique to arthritis, it is important to identify the correct source of pain to successfully treat your problem.

Thorough diagnostic testing may include a technique called facet joint injection. Both therapeutic and diagnostic, this procedure enables physicians to precisely identify the exact origin of your pain. Using x-ray guidance, the physician is able to see and accurately target the affected joints with anti-inflammatory medication. Performed under local anesthesia, it offers the advantage of providing immediate feedback in confirming the source of your pain.

Achieving Long-Term

Pain Relief Without Surgery

The facet joint injection is not only a precise diagnostic tool; it is also an effective therapy, providing substantial pain relief for several weeks to months. Another proven method of treatment is radiofrequency denervation (RF). This technique desensitizes the nerve endings using heat therapy and can provide up to two years of pain relief.

Approved by Medicare and most insurance plans, these procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and generally take only 30 to 90 minutes. Proven to be safe and effective, this therapeutic approach offers the benefit of alleviating your pain without surgery, without general anesthesia, and without hospital stays or long recovery periods.

You do not need to live with pain from arthritis in your neck or back. Talk to a board certified pain specialist about how you can return to a healthy, pain-free life.

At least 70% of America’s 30 million elementary school students use computers. As a result of this increased usage, doctors of chiropractic are treating more young patients suffering from the effects of working at computer stations that are either designed for adults or poorly designed for children. Many children are already suffering from repetitive motion injuries (RMI) such as carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic pain in the hands, back, neck and shoulders.

A recently published study found that 40% of the elementary school children studied used computer workstations that put them at postural risk. The remaining 60% scored in a range indicating “some concern.”

Emphasis needs to be placed on teaching children how to properly use computer workstations. Poor work habits and computer workstations that don’t fit a child’s body during the developing years can have harmful physical effects that can last a lifetime. Parents need to be just as concerned about their children’s interaction with their computer workstations as they are with any activities that may affect their children’s long-term health.

What Can You Do?

To reduce the possibility of your child suffering painful and possibly disabling injuries, the American Chiropractic Association offers the following tips:

If children and adults in your home share the same computer workstation, make certain that the workstation can be modified for each child’s use.

Position the computer monitor so the top of the screen is at or below the child’s eye level. This can be accomplished by taking the computer off its base or stand, or having the child sit on firm pillows or phone books to reach the desired height.

Make sure the chair at the workstation fits the child correctly. An ergonomic back cushion, pillow or a rolled-up towel can be placed in the small of the child’s back for added back support. There should be two inches between the front edge of the seat and the back of the knees. The chair should have arm supports so that elbows are resting within a 70- to 135-degree angle to the computer keyboard.

Wrists should be held in a neutral position while typing – not angled up or down. The mousing surface should be close to the keyboard so your child doesn’t have to reach or hold the arm away from the body.

The child’s knees should be positioned at an approximate 90- to 120-degree angle. To accomplish this angle, feet can be placed on a foot rest, box, stool or similar object.

Reduce eyestrain by making sure there is adequate lighting and that there is no glare on the monitor screen. Use an antiglare screen if necessary.

Limit your child’s time at the computer and make sure he or she takes periodic stretch breaks during computing time. Stretches can include: clenching hands into fists and moving them in 10 circles inward and 10 circles outward; placing hands in a praying position and squeezing them together for 10 seconds and then pointing them downward and squeezing them together for 10 seconds; spreading fingers apart and then closing them one by one; standing and wrapping arms around the body and turning all the way to the left and then all the way to the right.

Your child’s muscles need adequate hydration to work properly and avoid injury. Encourage your child to drink four 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Carbonated beverages, juices and other sweet drinks are not a substitute.

Urge your child’s school or PTA officials to provide education on correct computer ergonomics and to install ergonomically correct workstations.

If your child continues to complain of pain and strain from sitting at a computer, see a doctor of chiropractic. A chiropractor can help alleviate your child’s pain and help prevent further injury.