HEALTHY BODY

CHIROPRACTIC CARE

NOT JUST FOR BACK PAIN

By Tiffany Towne

ARE YOU ONE OF THE 62 PERCENT OF ADULTS IN THE U.S. WHO HAVE VISITED A CHIROPRACTOR DUE TO NECK OR BACK PAIN? IT MAY SURPRISE YOU THAT REGULAR CHIROPRACTIC CARE, NOT JUST WHEN YOU HAVE PAIN, CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR BODY AND OVERALL HEALTH.

Chiropractic care may help avoid some visits to your primary care physician. Regular visits can provide preventative, natural care that heads off issues that would normally send you to your doctor’s office. Here are just a few examples of how chiropractic care can benefit you.

ß Heal heartburn

The nerves that run through the spine control digestive functions like acid production. When the spine is misaligned, the nerves don’t function as well, which can result in digestive issues. Routine adjustments can improve many digestive issues, including heartburn. or cause inflammation in the lungs. Correcting these subluxations with regular chiropractic care can reduce lung inflammation and result in easier breathing.

ß Lower your blood

pressure

The University of Chicago hypertension center recently conducted a study that found that in a group of subjects with early-stage high blood pressure, a specific type of adjustment to the C1 vertebrae resulted in a significant decrease in blood pressure with no negative side effects.

ß Get rid of

headaches

Using adjustments to the spine, a chiropractor can relieve muscle tension in the neck. In today’s world where most of us sit in the same position or posture every day (like at a computer), this tension can be a constant presence that results in frequent headaches and neck pain.

ß What to expect

when you visit the chiropractor

At your first chiropractic visit, you can expect to complete a medical history and receive a basic physical exam. The chiropractor will test your

While the spine is the most common area of adjustment, chiropractors can also adjust other joints like wrists, shoulders, elbows and knees.

ß Breathe Easy

Subluxations in the spine (misalignments) can add to muscle strength, reflexes and range of motion. In some cases, they may order X-rays or test your blood pressure. The main part of a chiropractic visit is usually the adjustments to the body. While the spine is the most common area of adjustment, chiropractors can also adjust other joints like wrists, shoulders, elbows and knees.

As with any doctor, do your research. Find a chiropractor that is recommended and credible, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about treatment. Then get ready to enjoy the health improvements that chiropractic care can provide.