"The only real education comes from what goes counter to you."

Andre Gide

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February 2002

News flash! Patient Appreciation Hay Ride/Wiener Roast this Sunday at 2 pm. If you are receiving this, you are invited! Contact the office for more details.

Contents

1. Change Our Thinking
2. Question of the Month
3. Health News
4. Recognition of the Month
5. Office Happenings

Change Our Thinking

"You cannot solve the problem with the same level of thinking that created it."
Albert Einstein

There is plenty of talk about reforming our "Health" Care System. The Mazankowski Report hit the papers earlier this month and made some good recommendations, most importantly promoting overall health. One of the problems I see with this process is the how this will happen. There is an expert panel being assembled that will determine how these changes will proceed. The panel is primarily made up of medical doctors and others who work within the current system. This goes back to my opening quote. The same thinking and approaches that we currently use treat disease and crises, not health. We need fresh ideas, it is time to think outside the box.

A place to start would be defining our terms. Disease care is the event in which an individual waits until their body is in a crisis (pain and symptoms) and then attempts to treat that condition by suppressing the symptoms. Medications, herbs or occasional trips to the chiropractor when you are in pain are examples of this. Health care is a process by which you create wellness from within by optimizing your body’s performance through use of appropriate lifestyle choices (regular chiropractic care, nutrition, exercise, positive mental attitude etc.). This allows you to enjoy a higher quality of life.

There needs to be fundamental change not just a fresh coat of paint on the same car we have been driving for years. We have a good disease and crisis care system. We do not have a health or wellness care system. More of the same approaches (medications, M.R.I.'s, etc.) will not give us different results. To paraphrase another quote; "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is a form of insanity". We have a profound opportunity to make a lasting change for generations to come. Don't let it pass us by.

Question of the Month

At what age should you begin to see a chiropractor?

The spine houses and protects the spinal cord and nervous system. The nervous system transmits messages from your brain to all your organs and helps regulate your body. Stress can injure the spine and the nervous system, a process called vertebral subluxation, even during infancy. In fact, the first stressful event for the spine and nervous system can be the birth process. 
The spine actually doubles in length in the first year of life. With that increase, it is important that it’s free of subluxations to ensure a sound future. Other milestones such as crawling, walking and riding a bike impact the spine and nervous system as well. A child should be checked regularly from birth, allowing the nervous system to do what it was meant to do – heal, guide and regulate. Today is a good day to start ensuring your child is on the road to a healthier future.

Recognition of the Month

As a new feature to our newsletter, we will be recognizing patients who have made substantial changes with their health and wellness. This month we honour Tracey Lacroix. After turning 40 last July, she went to her medical doctor for her checkup. She realized she was overweight and decided it was time to make a change. She joined Curves, a local gym, and has been going consistently 5 days a week. So consistently that she was recognized in December for being the most regular member. She also started chiropractic care in October for aches and pains and is still under regular care because it keeps her body "tuned up". As a result of her actions she has lost 11 lbs and 10.5 inches. She says she is more active than before, bowling now and even curled once. We want to salute Tracey for making the choice to change her health and sticking with it. Congratulations!!

Health News

Researchers find more evidence that the heart can repair itself.

This article follows an earlier study I reported on in the July 2001 Newsletter. This new study demonstrates that the heart muscles multiply after heart attacks, contradicting the long held belief that damage from a heart attack is irreversible. It also found that in heart transplant recipients, as much 1/5 of the donor heart is replaced by cells from the recipients. This is a great example of the body's ability to heal and repair itself, even when conventional medical wisdom said otherwise. Read more: http://www.planetc1.com/cgi-bin/n/v.cgi?c=1&id=1010765710 

Chiropractic in the Media

Here are two very positive mentions that have been in the media recently. Two chiropractors are part of the U.S. Bobsled team competing in the Salt Lake City Olympics. Doug Sharpe, D.C., a graduate from Palmer Chiropractic College in 1997, will be one of ten team members at the Olympics. Dave Juehring, D.C., a former classmate of mine, will serve as team leader after competing and coaching in the previous two Winter Olympics. You can read more about it here: http://www.planetc1.com/cgi-bin/n/v.cgi?c=1&id=1011207399. I will be cheering Dr. Sharpe and Juehring on, but hoping that the U.S. finishes second to Canada of course!

For all you Survivor fans out there, the winner of Survivor African Ethan Zohn was shown getting adjusted by his brother, Dr. Lee Zohn,shortly after returning to the U.S. It was broadcast in the follow up show the week after the final tribal council. It was great to see a positive light being shone on the importance and helpfulness that chiropractic care played in his life. It may have made the million dollar difference for him just like it has in countless others.

Office Happenings

1. Patient Appreciation Hay Ride!! There is still time to call our office and register for this don't-miss event. On this Sunday, February 3 at 2:00 p.m. we will be having a hay ride and wiener roast at the Sutherland's east of Blackfalds. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Bring along folding chairs. Contact the office for directions and more information.

2. Show Your Pride Day. In honour of the upcoming Winter Olympics, we will be showing all the events in the office during the day. To show our spirit, on Friday, February 15, we are encouraging everyone coming to the office that day to wear anything that shows their pride for their country. We will also be making a draw for a shirt that was graciously donated by Roots. Anyone having an adjustment or massage that day can enter the draw. Carol and I will be dressed accordingly so come join us and cheer on our Olympic hopefuls.

3. Hockey Ticket Draw. Congratulations to Cheryl Fletcher who correctly answered the question and is off to the February 2 Rebels game against the Calgary Hitmen. The answer to the question, name the city and state where chiropractic was started, was Davenport, Iowa. Thanks to all those who entered.