With health, there are only two options, and it is important to understand what they are, and what the consequences of choosing either are, in order to make the most informed decision.
The first option and its ramifications are summed up well in the phrase “ignore your health, and it will go away”. You can decide not to do the things that are necessary to maintain and benefit your health. However, if you do, you will eventually have symptoms to deal with, and unfortunately, the first symptom of disease can sometimes be a fatal event such as a heart attack or stroke.
The second option is to do everything necessary to be healthy. This includes eating nutritious food in the right quantity, getting proper rest, exercising regularly, maintaining a good mental attitude and practising good hygiene. Also, maintaining your spine free of subluxations so your body has a better nerve supply is vital, and this is where I, as a chiropractor, come in.
To have optimal health, you need to make an effort in all of the above areas. You cannot just choose “one from column A and two from column B.” For example, extra exercise does not make up for not eating healthily; getting a good amount of rest does not take the place of receiving chiropractic adjustments to correct subluxations. All should be done, and done consistently.
If we ignore any one area, or are inconsistent in that area, our health potential is decreased by that much. If we decrease our health potential sufficiently, disease is the inevitable result. Ignoring or being inconsistent in any area is like playing Russian Roulette, you may get away with it for a while, but…….
For a lot of people, the idea of having to actively pursue health by doing all those things necessary, and doing them regularly, is not appealing. They do not see it as a worthwhile or enjoyable expenditure of their time, energy or money. That many of us would feel this way is understandable given all of the competing demands on our time, energy and money in our busy contemporary lives. If you can relate to these feelings, I would encourage you to take a moment to consider the bigger picture. In the long-term, the consequences of ignoring your health or inconsistently taking care of your health are generally more expensive, tiring, and time-consuming than doing what is necessary to be healthy.
