It’s true you can prevent disease and illness before they strike. How? By following the chiropractic lifestyle, a way of life that focuses on health – boosting activities and strategies.
I enthusiastically support the chiropractic lifestyle because extensive research shows that optimal nutrition, exercise and regular chiropractic care keep disease at bay.
The chiropractic lifestyle begins with regularly scheduled chiropractic visits. I can detect spinal dysfunction early. If left unaddressed, these subluxations may spark a number of illnesses and diseases especially arthritis.
When spinal movement is restricted or spinal bones (vertebrae) become misaligned, the result is a common condition known as vertebral subluxation. My job is to correct vertebral subluxations with safe and gentle maneuvers called chiropractic adjustments.
Chiropractic Boosts Immunity
Studies show that patients who visit the chiropractor regularly for adjustments have up to a 200% more efficient immune system! For children, that means fewer ailments such as the flu and ear infections. Pregnant women can also find relief of prenatal discomfort, migraines, and tension headaches. General relief is found in the back and neck through Chiropractic. A wealth of research reveals that regularly scheduled chiropractic care may boost the body’s immune response. And a powerful immune system is a key component of chiropractic’s all natural preventative strategy.
One study involved 11 patients over a nine-month period. The pilot study provided preliminary information regarding chiropractic care and possible links to improved immune status. Chiropractic care also boosted other aspects of health and quality of life. (JVSR 2006: 1-6.)
Chiropractic Lowers Blood Pressure
Studies show that adjusting the first spinal bone (vertebrae) below the skull, known as the “atlas”, reduces blood pressure (BP): consequently lowering patients’ risk of developing cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Unlike the rest of the spine’s vertebrae, the atlas is ring shaped. Its job is to balance and support the head. Abnormalities are associated with reduced blood circulation to the brain stem and increased BP (J Hum Hypertens 2007; Epub).
In an eight week study conducted by researchers from Rush University Hypertension Center in Chicago, 50 patients with Stage 1 hypertension received either chiropractic adjustments or “sham” procedures. None of the participants received high blood pressure medications.
At the end of eight weeks, the chiropractic group had a significant drop in BP: with no adverse side effects. “We conclude that restoration of the atlas alignment is associated with marked and sustained reductions in BP similar to the use of two-drug combination therapy.” (J Hum Hypertens 2007; Epub ahead of print).
Consequently it is vital to tell Dr. Hoch if you are taking drugs to lower your blood pressure. According to scholars, “a medicated hypertensive patient’s blood pressure may fall below normal while he or she is undergoing chiropractic care.
Chiropractic Ousts Osteoarthritis
When a joints range of motion (ROM) is restricted, healthy cartilage – the “cushion” that keeps bones from rubbing on one another – becomes dry and brittle. The resulting surface stress on the bones subsequently sparks a condition known as osteoarthritis. Spinal manipulation increases active ROM and helps keep osteoarthritis at bay. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001; 24: 552-5).
Chiropractic Prevents TMJ
When the jaw’s temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is misaligned, it sparks teeth grinding and pain that may radiate from the jaw to the ear, neck and entire head.
Misaligned spinal vertebrae in the neck instigate this condition. Regular chiropractic care, however, realigns both the TMJ and spinal vertebrae.
Chiropractic & Acupuncture Defeat Foot Pain
Misaligned spinal vertebrae can spark posture problems that, in turn, can lead to foot pain. In addition to correcting these misalignments, doctors of chiropractic routinely suggest stretches that increase the flexibility of the Achilles’ tendon and calf muscles.
Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are particularly disabling foot disorders involving the plantar fascia muscle (located on the underside of the foot near the heel), can often be relieved with chiropractic care and acupuncture. Along with proper stretching prior to physical activity like running and exercise-related walking, chiropractic and acupuncture treatments could resolve your foot pain and prevent it from coming back.
Sometimes the foot pain looks like plantar fasciitis, but really it’s a problem with a leg muscle called the peroneus longus which attaches on the bottom of the foot. In these cases, only the attachment site of this muscle is painful and not the entire plantar fascia. In these cases deep soft tissue massage or muscle stripping is used to free up the tendon and promote flexibility.
Chiropractic & Nutritional Support Correct Digestive Problems
Did you know that over $80 billion are spent each year purchasing drugs to help relieve heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, gas, irritable bowel, constipation, diarrhea and other digestive disorders? This modern day epidemic is becoming much more prevalent in our society. The good news is that science and research has shown that Chiropractic Care offers a prevailing solution to these digestive ailments.
The reason Chiropractic Care can help is simple- everything is connected. The nervous system regulates the way your body digests things. The Vagus Nerve innervates all the major organs of digestion and also functions to stimulate the digestive process. Subluxations within certain areas of the spine can prevent the bowel from functioning properly. Studies have shown that Chiropractic Care and adjustments can help almost immediately relieve constipation. Regular adjustments are proven to help patients establish a more natural amount of comfortable, effortless elimination, without all the laxatives or risky procedures recommended by most medical staff.
Lifestyle Changes
The following lifestyle changes in conjunction with regularly scheduled chiropractic care, may also help prevent illness and disease.
Lose The Excess Weight: The excess fat that you carry around your mid-section is very detrimental to your overall health. This fat is metabolically active with stored hormones and toxins and can actually (and aggressively) sabotage your weight loss efforts. If you can not achieve fat loss through proper diet and exercise, if you gain weight when you just look at a cupcake, perhaps you have metabolic syndrome and need more help than simply saying no to junk foods. If this is you, don’t worry, I have a solution for patients with metabolic syndrome that corrects the metabolic syndrome while you drop the weight and excess fat. Click here for more information.
Eat Healthy: Changing dietary behaviors – such as lowering fat intake and increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables to prevent chronic disease – has been an important research focus for the last several years.
“Persons who consume large amounts of fruits and vegetables have lower incidences of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and tumors,” note researchers in Italy. “Possible explanations include increased consumption of dietary cholesterol and other lipids and increased intake of the antioxidant vitamins (A, C, and E).” (Ann Clin Lab Sci 2007: 37: 89-95.)
A healthy diet can also help protect against colorectal cancer, “potentially one of the most preventable malignancies. Nutritional awareness (low fat, low red meat, high fruits and vegetables) and regular physical activity have major potential for primary prevention of this malignancy.”
(Recent Results Cancer Res 2007; 174: 179-87.)
Exercise:Exercise is an integral part of the chiropractic lifestyle. And, regular chiropractic checkups help keep the body in optimal shape for exercise.
Stop Stress…Stress raises levels of the “fight or flight” hormone cortisol, which packs on the pounds: specifically around the abdomen. Stress can also ignite high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke.
And Smoking… You already know that smoking is a primary instigator of lung cancer. But did you know it can also cause periodontal disease and tooth loss?
In a study of 1,332 Japanese males between the ages of 30 and 59, cigarette smoking was found to be an independent risk factor for periodontal disease and tooth loss (J Periodontal Res 2006; 41: 560-6.)
Don’t wait until illness or disease strikes to reevaluate your health habits and make changes!! Together we can map out a health-boosting strategy, which includes regularly scheduled chiropractic care, bushels of fresh fruits and vegetables and plenty of exhilarating exercise.