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

Andre Gide

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March 2002

Congratulations Team Canada! I hope everyone enjoyed and got caught up in the spirit of the Olympics. Light the fire within!

Contents

1. Chiropractic: Feeling Better or Better Feeling?
2. Question of the Month
3. Health News
4. Office Happenings

Chiropractic: Feeling Better or Better Feeling?

When it comes to our health, we usually think about it in terms of feeling good or at least better than we did before. The phrase “I don’t care, just make the pain go away!” is frequently heard. We’ve been programmed to think this way by advertisers, and even the “Health” Care system is designed to treat symptoms. If there are no symptoms, I must be healthy. If I am feeling pain and discomfort, then I must be sick and I need something or someone to relieve the symptoms.

Current thinking is that health means experiencing life pain-free. This can be a dangerous approach to health and an unfulfilling way to live. Studies and statistics appear frequently showing how controlling pain as a definition of health is harmful and is making us less and less healthy. Taking a pill to numb the pain does not improve your health.

Unfortunately, chiropractic care can also be and frequently is used in this manner. When your neck hurts, you get headaches or your back is sore you go to the chiropractor because you must be “out”. That may be the case but approaching your health and chiropractic in this manner is no different than reaching into the medicine cabinet for two extra strength Tylenols.

Treating symptoms with medications or with natural approaches (i.e. herbs, vitamins, chiropractic, massage etc.) as your primary way of being healthy is no different. You wait until symptoms appear and then treat them. This is reactive thinking. These symptoms are distress signals because your health and wellness have been diminished and your body is telling you something important. 

Let’s look at how the body is designed and how symptoms are perceived. The nervous system runs, controls and organizes what is going on in the body. The sensory part of our nervous system is responsible for transmitting messages about what we are feeling including pain and symptoms. The sensory system only makes up 11% of the total nervous system. The other 89% is dedicated to running organs and muscles in the body, things you are totally unaware of. For example, how is the nerve supply to your spleen today? Waiting for symptoms to appear totally disregards how the rest of your body is functioning.

What about taking a proactive stance and promoting your health and wellness? Why not make healthy choices when you are well to increase your overall potential? Take the vitamins and herbs and see your massage therapist as a way of being healthier. Use chiropractic care to ensure that your nervous system is free from interference from your spine so that your body can better sense itself and respond accordingly. Make sure your entire nervous system is at its best. This provides you with the opportunity to reach your full potential and have a full life experience that recognizes symptoms in their context. It’s about better feeling not feeling better. 

Question of the Month

Someone told me that having a cold is a healthy response. Is that true?

Most people automatically think that you are sick when you have cold symptoms. But let’s consider the aspects of a cold and the purpose of them. The three main parts of a cold are a fever, runny nose and coughing. The purpose of the fever is to raise body temperature so the immune system can kill off the offending viruses and bacteria. The runny nose and cough is a way the body gets rid of viruses and bacteria. If our bodies did not perform these functions, what would happen? A simple cold could develop into pneumonia or something more serious. Should we try and suppress the fever, runny nose and coughing or let the body exercise its immune system? Things to think about the next time you get “sick”. 

Health News

Most Over-the-Counter Cough Medicines Useless

The study is an interesting follow up to our question this month. Researchers reported in the British Medical Journal that after reviewing 15 drug trials involving more than 2,000 patients, in nine of the trials treatment was no better than placebo (sugar pills) and the other six studies were of questionable clinical relevance. Read more: http://www.wcanews.com/archives/2002/feb13c.htm. Based on their review the researchers concluded that "Over the counter cough medicines for acute cough cannot be recommended because there is no good evidence for their effectiveness".

When we have normal immune responses in our bodies, such as colds, there are times we need comfort from medicines. It is good to remember that those responses are healthy ones and that things we use to suppress the symptoms are sometimes not effective. Again, think about how you can best support your body as it responds to what is going on around it.

Chiropractor Takes Home Bronze at 2002 Olympics

As reported in last month's newsletter, there was a chiropractor on the U.S. bobsled team and a chiropractor as the team leader. Doug Sharpe, D.C. was member of U.S.A. 2 sled that took the bronze in the four man competition. You can read more about the event at: http://www.planetc1.com/cgi-bin/n/v.cgi?c=1&id=1014594978. 

It is important to note that the victories by the two U.S. bobsleds ended a 46 year drought for the U.S. in the men's category, not unlike what our tremendous men's hockey team accomplished in Salt Lake City.
The wins by the U.S. team adds to the growing list of world class athletes and teams that use chiropractic to improve their performance and give them the winning edge. Tiger Woods, Donovan Bailey and Emmitt Smith are just some individual athletes who have acknowledged the role chiropractic care plays in their success. A healthy spine that supports the nervous system allows athletes and human beings like you to be at their best. Get your spine checked today!

Office Happenings

1. Luck of the Irish Day. On Friday, March 15 we will be holding a special day in our office. If you are in the office for an adjustment that day, you will draw a number from a hat. Whatever the number says is the portion of your adjustment that will go to charity. The money will go to the breakfast program at Fairview Elementary School. So please come, support a great cause and remember, you don't need the Luck of the Irish with your health when you are under chiropractic care. 

2. Thanks to everyone who came out to the Patient Appreciation Hay Ride and Wiener Roast. The weather was great, there was lots of snow and tons of fun. Look for it again next year.

3. Congratulations to Jim Fowler for winning the Team Canada Roots shirt on Show Your Pride Day. We had a great time cheering on our athletes in Salt Lake City and thanks to all those who joined in our fun day.

4. Wellness Orientation Workshops (W.O.W.'s). The dates for upcoming classes are Wednesday March 6, Monday March 11, Wednesday March 20 and Monday March 25. Good place to start for those considering chiropractic care and as a refresher. They all begin at 5:30 pm in the office and are presented by myself. See you there!