By Drs. Drew and Kanema Clark
February is American Heart Month, therefore it is only fitting that our focus be on the state of our hearts. As important as it is to discuss how how our hearts should be filled with compassion, empathy, love and goodwill toward our neighbors, a more pressing conversation rests with the health of our beating lifeline. According to the World Health Organization, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, accounting for about 25% of all deaths. These numbers are staggering, however heart disease is still perceived as being someone else’s problem; that is, until it becomes ours. Fundamentally, the problem rests with the fact that in many circumstances the first sign of heart disease is a heart attack itself and if we consider the data about a third of those are fatal. I think we can all agree that being proactive could be the difference between actively participating as our children or grandchildren grow & mature or leaving them with a memory of our lessons in wisdom. Therefore, there is no better time than NOW, to talk about your Heart Health!
We all know a lot of the controllable risk factors for Heart Disease:
. Smoking
. Obesity or being overweight
. Diabetes
. Inactivity
. Smoking
. Unhealthy Diet
. High Blood pressure
. High Cholesterol
. Stress
Instead of feeding you information that you’ve probably heard over and over again, we want to single out one or two things and share something that you may not be aware of.
Cholesterol is NOT the problem!
Contrary to popular belief, cholesterol is not the problem and actually serves many important roles in the body
To name a few, it is used:
. by the liver to form enzymes that are essential to digestive health
. by the ovaries in women to form progesterone and estrogen
. by the testicles in men to form testosterone
. by the skin to help repel dangerous chemical substances from being absorbed and prevent the body from losing too much water.
Cholesterol is the good guy, the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries is what causes the problem. Artificially lowering cholesterol, which is vitally important for so many bodily functions and subjecting ourselves to chemicals with potentially dangerous side effects (medications) may not be the best approach to decreasing our risk of Heart Disease. We should give a lot more thought to addressing what is actually causing the accumulation of cholesterol in our arteries and therefore leading to heart disease.
Chronic inflammation is the bad guy and this causes damage to the artery walls which in turn favors the buildup of cholesterol. If we consistently ingest foods that the body was never designed to process, or foods that have been handled and sprayed with dangerous chemicals, the end result is chronic inflammation. The accumulation of cholesterol is merely the body attempting to repair our mess. So yes, diet is important but not just for the purpose of weight management. We have to think of food as fuel for our bodies. We would never put diesel fuel in an unleaded fuel driven car and expect it to work properly. Therefore, we cannot repeatedly eat highly processed carbohydrates or foods (sugar, breads, flour, pasta) and expect our bodies to continue functioning properly throughout our lifetime.
For your reference:
. If it comes in a bag, box or can it is processed.
. Adding fresh unprocessed foods can greatly enhance the health of your heart and all supporting arteries.
Natural Help with Blood Pressure
Most of you are aware that diet and exercise are key factors in maintaining a healthy heart. However, did you know that Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care may also be used in your fight against Heart Disease? High Blood pressure is another risk factor associated with the likelihood that someone develops a problem with their Heart. According to a study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension, correcting misalignments at the top of the neck can actually lower blood pressure, without the potentially harmful side effects of medication. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that a correction of the top bone (atlas) was just as effective as 2 of the leading blood pressure medications combined.
Fundamentally, when we consider how a misalignment at the top of the neck disrupts nerve communication from brain to body, we begin to understand how this interferes with the body’s capacity to control or regulate normal body functions. (ie Blood Pressure) Couple this information with the concept that the sole purpose of Upper Cervical Care is to restore proper nerve communication; one could begin understanding how Upper Cervical Chiropractic can help in many cases. This is accomplished by evaluating the delicate relationship between the first bone (Atlas) and the brainstem, which is a vital component of the neural communicating pathway. If a problem with this atlas bone is detected, we gently and specifically reposition the bone, freeing nerve communication thus maximizing your body’s natural recuperative power. Our job is not to treat or cure Heart Disease, we simply, yet effectively ensure proper Brain to Body communication, allowing your body to function as intended.
So this February, show a loved one that you really care, trade in the heart-shaped greeting card, for a visit to your Upper Cervical Chiropractor!
Drs. Drew and Kanema Clark
26731 Dublin Woods Circle Ste 2
Bonita Springs, FL 34135