Can you define wellness for me?
The best definition I have seen so far comes from The National Wellness Institute. It states “Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a more successful existence.” The key words in this definition are process, aware, choices and success. Process means that you never arrive at a finish line where there is no possibility of improving. Aware means that you are continuously seeking more information about how you can improve. Choices mean that you have sought out and considered a variety of options and selected those that seem to be in your best interest. Success is determined by each individual, according to their personal standards, not by an outside source. Chiropractic care plays a vital role in wellness. Consult a chiropractor to find out how.
Why would I want to keep going to a chiropractor even after I feel better?
Continuing to be under chiropractic care has many benefits whether you have symptoms or not. Your spine is the main support for your nervous system. Messages that run and manage your health originate and travel over the nervous system. Low-grade misalignments of your spine don’t cause pain but can disrupt those messages, causing a downward spiral in your health. Regular chiropractic adjustments remove the low-grade misalignments. You body can better manage your health and wellness when the messages get through clearly. You can enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Skiing a full day, completing the round of golf and picking up your grandkids can be performed with greater ease. Stick with your care even after you “feel” better.
With health threats like the West Nile Virus and the flu season coming, can chiropractic care help?
Chiropractors work with the spine which improves the how well your nervous system works. This is important because the immune and nervous systems are closely related. In fact, the two are often referred to as the neuroimmune system. A strong spine is an integral part of maximizing how well your body can mount its defenses. This gives you a better “fighting chance” when you encounter viruses and other challenges that may come your way. Consult a chiropractor today to give your immune system a boost.
My chiropractor says that he checks my spine for subluxations. What is a subluxation?
A subluxation is a misalignment of your spine that interferes with your nervous system. It doesn't sound like a big deal but it is. Your nervous system, which consists of your brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves, is the controlling system for the body. Your spinal cord and peripheral nerves act as your body's phone system connecting your brain to your body, relaying messages back and forth. The spine houses this phone line but it can also disturb or interfere with it when it misaligns or subluxates. This puts static on line and the communication within your body is muffled. Subluxations disrupt the mind-body connection. Get your spine and nervous system checked for subluxations by a chiropractor today.
I'm feeling really stressed right now trying to balance a busy life and it seems to be affecting my health. How is that possible?
Stress does have an impact on your health. Harmful stresses fall under three categories: physical, emotional and chemical. When any of these stresses become too great for the body to adapt to, it starts to break down. One of the first areas affected is the spine and nervous system. This leads to poor communication between your brain and body, called a vertebral subluxation, and your body becomes weaker. If stress is allowed to accumulate, unchecked over time, it can lead to sickness. By getting your spine and nervous system checked regularly, you can offset the negative impact that stress has on your body allowing you to be healthier.
Why is it when there is a "flu bug" going around not everyone gets sick?
Viruses and bacteria are opportunists. What that means is they don't stand a chance unless your body is rundown. In fact, a lot of the viruses and bacteria that are said to cause sickness and disease are present in your body every day. They can only be harmful when the system weakens. So how can we keep our bodies running well? The obvious answers are good nutrition, adequate rest, moderate exercise, and a positive outlook on life. An often overlooked aspect is a healthy spine and nervous system. If our brain and body cannot communicate properly, we can't mount the proper defenses, we may not get the complete nutritional value from our food and we're not reaching our potential. Get your spine and nervous system checked by a chiropractor today to ensure you are as healthy as you can be.
What can I do to keep myself healthy around the Holiday Season?
The Holiday Season can be very stressful. With all the shopping, Christmas parties, and friends and family to see, it takes a toll on your health and well-being. Although it may seem like you don't have any opportunities to take care of yourself during such a busy time, it's the best gift you can give yourself. Take time out of your hectic schedule and make sure you're doing things to improve your health. That includes getting your spine and nervous system checked for interference or subluxations so you can fully enjoy your holidays. Have a very Merry Christmas and a healthier New Year!
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".
Can chiropractic care improve my athletic performance?
A healthy spine and nervous system go hand-in-hand with performing at your best athletically. Dan O'Brien, the 1996 Olympic Gold Medallist in the Decathlon, said that if it hadn't been for chiropractic care, he wouldn't have won the gold medal. Other athletes, including Donovan Bailey, use chiropractic care to maximize their performance. These athletes do not use chiropractic care just when they have neck or back pain but when they compete. They understand what it takes to be the world's best, and a healthy spine and nervous system are an integral part of that. As you go through life and work towards being the world's greatest you, use chiropractic care to do everything you do - better!
Everyone talks about wellness these days. Can you define that for me?
Most people think of wellness as feeling good or having no symptoms. It's the quiet time between bouts of sickness. Sometimes prevention and early detection of disease is thought of as wellness. These definitions focus on avoiding symptoms and disease rather than taking direct steps to wellness. Wellness is the process of being more alive in each day. Having a full life experience, being fully aware of your surroundings and being able to respond appropriately to them is the essence of wellness. It does not mean covering up symptoms or numbing yourself down. Since you live your life through your nervous system, a healthy spine and nervous system gives you the foundation to build from to explore wellness. Start your journey today.
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. The spine actually doubles in length in the first year of life. 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. Crawling, walking and riding a bike are other milestones of a child's life that impact the spine and nervous system.
As the spine increases its length, it is important that it's free of subluxations to ensure a sound future. 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 the best he or she can be.
I recently found out I am pregnant. What role can chiropractic play during pregnancy?
Chiropractic is very beneficial during pregnancy as your body undergoes major changes as the new life grows. Your nervous system coordinates the baby growing inside you and prepares your body for its birth. It is important that your nervous system is free of interference to ensure that you are at your optimum health throughout all the baby's developmental stages during your pregnancy. This allows your body the best opportunity to develop and delivery a healthy baby. A sound spine and nervous system is the healthy foundation not only for you but also the new life inside of you. Consult a chiropractor today.
What determines how often I should see a chiropractor?
The main factors are your stress levels and how well your body deals with stress. When you encounter more stress than you can handle, the first areas of the body that are injured are the spine and nervous system. This process, called a vertebral subluxation, reduces your level of performance and creativity, affecting all areas of your life.
The human body is designed to thrive under moderate levels of stress when healthy. By improving the function of the spine and the nervous system, the body can handle increasing levels of stress in a positive way. Stress is recognized by the body and is responded to appropriately.
By seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis, past effects of stress can be repaired, current stress can be dealt with in a healthier way and the body can be strengthen to deal with future stress.
My kids are going back to school. How much should their backpacks weigh and how should they use them?
A good guideline to follow for how heavy the backpack should be is 10% of the body weight of the child carrying it. For example, if your child weighs 80 pounds there should be no more than 8 pounds of books and supplies in the backpack. More than that can increases the risk of damaging the developing spine of the child. Also remember to have your child use both straps of the pack at all times. This distributes the weight evenly over the body. Using only one strap puts unbalanced stress on the body and can injure the spine and surrounding structures. A sound spine and nervous system are the foundation for building healthy futures for our children. Proper use of backpacks and getting their spine and nervous systems checked by a chiropractor can ensure that future.
Once I start seeing a chiropractor, how long do I have to go?
It depends on how you want to use chiropractic care. It can be used a treatment of a certain ailment or you can choose to use it as way maintaining and improving your health and wellness. Using the first approach limits the time but also the benefits you receive. Approaching chiropractic care with overall wellness in mind allows you the opportunity to explore increasing levels of performance. With a healthier spine and nervous system, you can experience a higher quality of life. If you choose chiropractic for the health benefits, then ask yourself the following question. When do you stop brushing your teeth, eating well or exercising? It is the same time you stop seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis. Make chiropractic care a part of your healthy lifestyle.
I am trying to strengthen my immune system with the cold and flu season approaching. Can chiropractic care help?
Chiropractic care can strengthen your immunity by improving the function of your nervous system. The latest research shows that the two systems are closely related. A recent study revealed that bone marrow is directly supplied by your sympathetic nervous system. This information joins a growing list of evidence that all parts of your immune system are linked to the nervous system. By removing spinal misalignments or subluxations that interfere with your nervous system, chiropractic care can strengthen your body's defenses. Consult a chiropractor today.
What do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractic is not a cure or treatment of any particular disease or condition but improves the body's ability to heal, guide and direct itself. The purpose of chiropractic care is to improve the function of your spine, which reduces the interference on the nervous system. When that interference is removed, the body operates more efficiently. The inner wisdom or intelligence of the body is then better expressed. This impacts all areas of health and improves your quality of life. Although a number of specific conditions respond well to chiropractic care, the body simply works better with a healthy spine and nervous system. Consult a chiropractor today.
What are some things I can do over the holidays to stay healthy?
As we approach the Holidays, take some time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the future. Building a healthier you is a great place to start. Regular chiropractic care is a solid foundation from which to build. A strong spine that doesn't interfere with your nervous system maximizes the benefits of all the other healthy things you do. I wish you the best of the Holiday Season and a healthier year ahead.
I have trouble describing chiropractic to my family. Can you help?
Chiropractic can be described in two words: balance and tension. When the spine is balanced and the nervous system is under little tension, the entire body functions better. A subluxation or misalignment of your spine throws this relationship off. This puts tension on and interferes with your nervous system. The intelligent messages between the brain and the body do not pass clearly. This disrupts the ease at which your body works and you aren't at your best. The purpose of chiropractic care is to look for and correct subluxations or misalignments of your spine to restore balance. This reduces the tension on the nervous system, improving the connection between your brain and body. The balance within you returns and you enjoy a higher quality of life.
Can chiropractic care help me deal better with stress?
Every physical and emotional experience of your life is integrated within your nervous system. When you encounter stress, it's your nervous system that picks it up and relays the information to your brain where a response is made. With a sound nervous system, you interpret your stress clearer and your response is healthier. Your spine can support your nervous system and enhance your response to stress or it can interfere with it. By being under regular chiropractic care, the balance is maintained within your spine and nervous system works better. This helps you deal more effectively with stress. You experience a higher quality of life and you can do the things you enjoy. Consult a chiropractor today.
Can being under regular chiropractic care help my golf game?
A healthy spine and nervous system go hand in hand to keep you at your best athletically. In a game such as golf, there are many skills and actions that have to be coordinated at precise times. From the fluidness of your swing to the touch on your putter, the part of your body that has the greatest influence on these is your nervous system. It is the relay system that keeps the mind and body connected. The spine can support the nervous system and you can perform these skills better or it can interfere with it and throw off your timing and touch. In fact, professional golfers such as Tiger Woods use regular chiropractic care to maximize their performance. Consult a chiropractor today to start this season on the right foot.
I am busy over the summer and I don't see my chiropractor as regularly. How will that affect my health?
The quality of your health today is a result of the habits you have established up to this point. Missing a few adjustments may not affect your health today but it has an impact in the long run. Regular chiropractic care is the same as healthy eating, exercise and adequate sleep in terms of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Make a point of keeping up your health habits even though your kids are out of school and your routines have changed. You may have to adapt them somewhat but don't forget about them completely. What you do about your health today affects your health tomorrow. Have a great and healthy summer.
How did chiropractic care get started?
The profession of chiropractic care was founded over 105 years ago. This may be surprising to some but the very first chiropractic patient did not have back pain. The originator of chiropractic care, D. D. Palmer, restored the hearing in a deaf man after examining and adjusting his spine. He realized the importance of a healthy spine and nervous system on the overall performance of the human body. It was from those beginnings that the art, science and philosophy of chiropractic were developed and are developing today. Although many people associate chiropractic care with back pain, there is a whole lot more to it than symptom relief. Consult a chiropractor today to find out how you can maximize your potential.
Should I get my child's spine checked before they go back to school?
Most parents appreciate the importance of regular checkups for their child's teeth, hearing, eyes and ears but aren't sure when it comes to a spinal checkup. In fact, a spinal check up could be one of the most important checkups your child will ever have. Your child's spine is her lifeline. Encased within the spine is the spinal cord, containing billions of nerve fibers that send messages and energy from the brain to every part of her body. If the spine is out of balance, it puts tension on her nervous system. This disrupts the messages between her mind and body, not allowing your child to be at her best physically, intellectually and emotionally. Get your children's spines checked by a chiropractor so they can be at their best as they start the school year.
I have a hard time believing in chiropractic. Can you help clear this up?
To respond, I will ask another question. What system runs, controls and organizes all other body systems? The nervous system. Every part of the body, the organs, muscles, blood vessels, and cells is directly affected by the nervous system. Consider it your lifeline for your body. What structure contains and protects the most important parts of the nervous system? The spine. When the spine is misaligned, it puts tension on the nervous system, which throws the function of the body off. The goal of chiropractic is to restore the balance of the spine to release the tension on the nervous system, improving how well you run. To help your understanding of chiropractic care, think nerves.
Why can some people go through life never needing chiropractic care?
Some people think of chiropractic care as being just about neck and back pain. If they never experience symptoms concerning their spine, they don't see the benefit in going. Chiropractic care helps neck and back complaints but more importantly impacts your quality of life. The lifeline for the body is the nervous system. The most important parts of the nervous system are within the spine. When the spine misaligns, it puts tension on the nervous system, not allowing the body to work to its full potential. This may not cause symptoms related to the neck or back. It does affect the health and performance of the individual. The spine needs regular maintenance just like your car. You can choose not to tune-up your car while you own it. It may still run but not at its best. Think of your spine and overall health in the same way.
How safe is chiropractic care?
In recent weeks there have been media reports again suggesting that chiropractic care may not be safe. There are some risks associated with chiropractic care, as with all healthcare treatments. However, the media reports have greatly exaggerated these risks. By any standards, chiropractic care is very safe with an extremely low risk rate. The reports have focused on chiropractic care on the neck and strokes. The (conservative) research shows the risk is very remote, about 1 stroke per million treatments. To put this in perspective, the occurrence of a stroke from a having your neck "manipulated" is no greater than from natural movements of the neck. Some research shows the risk more in the range of 1 in 6 to 10 million. When compared to other healthcare approaches and other risks in everyday life, chiropractic care is extremely safe (has an enviable safety record). Contact a chiropractor for further information.
Would I benefit from regular chiropractic care even if my back doesn't hurt?
Absolutely! Taking care of your spine on a regular basis whether you have symptoms or not offers tremendous benefits. The spine contains your lifeline, the nervous system. The nervous system connects the brain to the body and over it travels the intelligent information that makes you alive. By maintaining a healthy spine through chiropractic care you minimize how much nerve interference exists throughout the nervous system. Nerve interference, which is not always painful, disrupts the communication between the brain and body. It doesn't allow you to be as healthy as you could be. With a strong spine and nervous system, you heal faster, work better and enjoy a higher quality of life. Consult a chiropractor today!
I am middle age and want to live a long and healthy life. Can chiropractic care help?
Regular chiropractic care is an important part of being healthy over a lifetime. Your spine needs care just like your teeth, eyes and other systems in your body. By keeping your spine healthy, you also improve the function of your nervous system. Your nervous system controls and runs your body. When the nervous system is functioning at its best, the body runs smoother. It enhances all the other healthy habits you have in place to ensure longevity. Get your spine checked by a chiropractor on regular basis to make certain your quality of life improves. It's an important aspect of long-term health and wellness.
What is your opinion of baby saucers or walkers?
Placing an infant in an upright position for long periods of time before they are able to support themselves places too much stress on the spine. This has the potential to lead to spinal and health problems down the road. A recent study in the British Medical Journal supports this view. It demonstrated that the use of baby walkers delayed standing and walking milestones after as little as 24 hours of use. While these devices are convenient for parents, it's important to allow the child's body a chance to grow and develop along their own timeframes. It will lead to a healthier future.
