The Whole Family

The Aging Population

The aging process is inevitable. But getting on in years does not have to mean the loss in our quality of life. Good health is essential to enjoying our later years. Having good health at an older age is not a matter of chance. There are many things that contribute to good health and an enjoyable life. Chiropractic is one of those things.  Whether you are old or young, your nervous system controls all the functions and systems of your body. The signals that emanate from your brain must be clear and exact when they reach the intended body part. Any interference along the pathways between the brain and the body will result in that body part not being able to function correctly. Chiropractors know that the most common cause of interference to the nerve system is from subluxations. A subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation) is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves. This pressure or irritation on the nerves then causes those nerves to malfunction and interfere with the signals traveling over those nerves. Subluxations are the main focus of what Doctors of Chiropractic work to correct. 

Mobility

One of the biggest concerns that seniors express is the desire to remain mobile. Mobility means independence and allows us to participate in our daily activities.  Mobility is not only dependent on the ability of your joints and muscles to move properly. Mobility is also a function of the nerves that control those muscles and joints. It is, therefore, essential that your nervous system be functioning at its maximum potential and free of interference from subluxations. People under chiropractic care report that they not only have better mobility, they also experience a better quality of life and more freedom that comes from increased mobility. 

Function Better

Proper function is a key factor for experiencing good health. You cannot be truly healthy if parts of your body are not functioning at their highest potential.  Most people know that the nervous system controls the function of muscles. Also important is that the nerve system controls the functions of all your internal organs and systems. It is, therefore, vital that the nerve system messages leaving the brain arrive clearly to all the organs and systems of your body. Any interference from subluxations with the signal between your brain and your internal organs will result in those organs not functioning properly. The end result is ill health. 

Too Many Medications

The amount and number of medications that the senior population is taking has been called an ongoing health crisis. The elderly population consumes more medications than any other age group. Most seniors want to reduce or eliminate the amount of medications they take, but many believe that they have no choice.  Chiropractic is not an alternative for medication. The goal of chiropractic is to get your body to function properly so that medications are no longer necessary. Similarly, Doctors of Chiropractic do not prescribe medications, and do not take patients off their medications. Chiropractors work to bring about a condition of health in which medications may no longer be needed. It is then up to the prescribing health professional to reduce or eliminate the drugs.

Even if you are not a professional level athlete, your quality of life and enjoyment of activities depends on a properly functioning nervous system. This is why millions of people see a chiropractor on a regular basis. Movement depends both on proper structure and proper function. Chiropractic allows for better structure and function by correcting subluxations that can negatively affect both your physical structure and your nervous system function. Good health is important to everyone. Being physically fit is only one part of being truly healthy. Proper diet, proper physical activity, a good mental attitude, proper rest, and a properly functioning nervous system free of interference from subluxation are all essential for being totally healthy. No matter what your chosen sport or activity is, chiropractic can help you perform better, while increasing your enjoyment and quality of life. Simply put, chiropractic can help you - be a better you. Chiropractors do not claim to treat infectious diseases. What chiropractic does is allow your body to function free of nerve system interference and closer to your full potential. Understanding the spread of infectious disease and how best to defend yourself can lessen the fear as well as your chances of being impacted by infectious pathogens. 

Two Types of Defenses

There are generally two types of defenses to viruses and pathogens. One is external and the other is internal. An external defense is something you can do to lessen your chances of being infected, or if infected, decrease the severity of the event. An internal defence is working with your body's own immune system to heighten your natural immunity and decrease the chances of catching the disease or the impact from it should you catch it.

External Defences

External defences include measures having to do with reducing the risk of exposure. These include general cleanliness and disinfectants. Precautions such as avoiding sneezing on someone, or being sneezed on by someone is obvious. Hand washing after using public facilities, as well as the correct usage of hand sanitizer can also help. It should be noted that overuse of hand sanitizer is detrimental and can actually weaken your defenses.  Masks and protective clothing are recommended for use by health professionals who are most at risk to exposure to infectious pathogens as well as for those who are already infected. Authorities in the U.S.are not recommending masks for general usage in lesser risk situations. Our clinic staff takes every precaution, and is extremely diligent to ensure that our facility and equipment are sanitized to eliminate the threat of infectious disease spread. 

Internal Defences

Internal defenses are those that your body innately has. These defenses are an important line of defense against any sort of pathogen. Functioning at the highest possible level, your immune system should be nearly impenetrable to the normal exposure to pathogens that can make you sick. The key here is having your immune system functioning as close to 100% of its innate ability as possible.

Do Not Lower Your Innate Immunity

There are two ways to ensure that your defense systems are functioning properly. The first way is to not do things to yourself that can lower your internal immune system. Avoiding things such as smoking and alcohol are big factors. Avoiding stress as best you can is also important. We should also minimize unnecessary medications and over-the-counter remedies that may weaken the body's ability to defend itself. A big area that we have control over is what we eat. Processed food, refined sugar, bleached flour, and foods with additives can have a negative impact on your immune system. There is a large volume of information available on what foods negatively impact your immune system. Lack of exercise or sleep can have a negative impact on your immune system. It has been shown that people who exercise properly and get the correct amount of sleep are less likely to get sick. Daily good habits in this area can help you against the threat of infectious diseases. 

Maximizing Your Innate Immunity 

Your nervous system controls and coordinates all the systems in your body. Anything that interferes with proper nerve system function will have a negative impact on all your body systems including your immune system. Chiropractic is based on restoring proper nerve system function. The purpose of chiropractic care is to correct interference in your nerve system by correcting vertebral subluxations. Subluxations can cause your nerve system to function at less than optimum and therefore have a negative effect on your overall function and health.

Correcting subluxations through specific scientific chiropractic adjustments help to ensure that your nerve system and, therefore, all systems in your body are functioning as close to their maximum innate potential as possible. This increases your potential to stay healthy.