Health 101 - by Dr. Greg

A recently published report has once again ranked the United States dead last among the industrialized nations in terms of overall health, but first in healthcare spending (again). If more money, more tests, and more medicine could create health then the U.S. would be the healthiest nation on earth by far. But it can't, and we aren't. Statistically speaking, our healthcare system is one of the top 3 leading causes of death in this country. Is it really a surprise that a healthcare system that is a leading cause of death is not creating positive health outcomes? It shouldn't be. It's obvious that throwing more money at healthcare won't help anything. So what would help? How do we get healthier?

Well, surprisingly enough (and contrary to how healthcare is currently delivered in this country) getting and staying healthy is not complicated! In fact, it is SIMPLE! What it requires is for you, the individual, to take responsibility for your health and to make your health a PRIORITY. Realize that every decision you make on a daily basis will move you either closer to health (proper function in the body) or closer to disease (dysfunction in the body). These are the things to pay attention to:

1. Spinal health - if your master control system (nervous system) isn't working right, nothing will, so see your chiropractor regularly.

2. Exercise - get up and move! You don't have to run marathons or be an ironman. Getting off the couch and walking around the block, getting your heart rate up, will do wonders.

3. Nutrition - Americans tend to be overfed and undernourished. Avoid processed food as much as possible, and eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies! There's not much more to it than that.

4. Reduce stress - this is a big one, and tough sometimes in our society. If stress can't be avoided, the best way to cope with it is (surprise) exercise.

5. Reduce toxic load - avoid as many chemicals as possible, especially in your food supply (don't eat processed food and eat organic when possible), avoid chemical cleaners in your house, and ditch the air fresheners (Glade and Febreeze are horrible for you).

These are simple lifestyle changes to begin incoporating today. Your habits won't change overnight, but keep working at it knowing that you are only getting healthier. If America as a whole would make these changes instead of looking for health in a pill, we'd rank number one in health and last in cost in no time.

A seven year study comparing patients whose primary care physicians were doctors of chiropractic
versus conventional medicine resulted in the following statistics:

60.2% less hospital admissions

59.0% less days in the hospital

62.0% less outpatient surgeries and procedures

85% less pharmaceutical costs

Reference: Clinical Utilization and Cost Outcomes from an Integrative Medicine Independent Physician Association: An Additional 3-year Update
Frank M. Painter, D.C.
http://www.chiro.org/ChiroZine/ABSTRACTS/Clinical_Utilization_and_Cost_Outcomes.shtml