By Dr. Dave Edenfield
Tis the season to be jolly. What could be jollier than giving yourself or
someone you love the gift of better health?
We as a nation spend more on healthcare than just about any other
country on the planet. And like it or
not, this amount goes up every year.
This is due in part to the fact that Americans are paying more out of
pocket for healthcare than ever before.
In fact, the latest New York
Times poll reported that just 5 percent of all Americans stated that their cost
for health care has moderated. Half of
the respondents claimed that their costs have been rising at a faster rate than
ever before.
“The
percentage of Americans enrolled in a health plan with a deductible of at least
$1,000 has climbed to 38 percent in 2013 from 18 percent in 2008, according to
a recent survey by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. And over the same
period, the average deductible has increased to $1,097 from $735.” http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/us/growth-in-us-health-care-spending-slows-but-out-of-pocket-costs-rise.html?_r=0
This is one reason that so many in
this country are shifting the way they think about health care. Instead of going to the doctor only when they
are sick, more Americans are spending both time and money in health
maintenance. Indeed, everything from
structured diets and workout classes are for the taking. The problem is that too many Americans are
still overweight and out of shape. How
can this be?
Quote from the Huffington Post, “If you added up the cost of your gym membership,
equipment and the additional cost of classes, you may be losing a lot more
money than pounds.”
That is not to say that exercise and
workout routines are not important in the effort to lose weight and stay fit.
It’s just that all the enthusiasm in the world won’t work unless you continue
to use the memberships and attend the classes.
One of the reasons that many people drop out of most workout regimens is
due to either routine aches and pains or injuries. The mantra of “No pain, no gain,” is all well
and good for athletes and young people who bounce back quickly from stress to
the system. It’s another matter
altogether when you are beyond your fortieth birthday. Due to the fact that most people well into
middle age or beyond lead less active lifestyles and are more prone to injury,
it isn’t at all unusual for them to take a once bitten, twice shy attitude
toward resuming regimented workouts after an injury.
Instead of throwing in the towel, what
I recommend to many baby boomers is that the best thing they can do before they
sign up for a membership is to consult their chiropractor. After all, chiropractors are trained in
everything from exercise to nutrition.
They also realize that there is no on-size-fits-all when it comes to
working out. What may work for one
person could be dangerous for another.
Plus, if you haven’t worked out in a while, then you would be wise to
get familiar with stretching routines and simple isometric exercises before you
jump into a gym and start pumping iron.
If you are looking to lose weight
and/or become more serious about exercise or sports, your chiropractor can also
provide guidance into the foods and supplements that can help you accomplish
your goals without overtaxing your body.
They can also recommend treatments that can make your workouts less
likely to overstress your joints, muscles and soft tissue. (There’s nothing better than a massage after
you finish a workout.)
Best of all, by availing yourself of
chiropractic care you will also achieve a number of other benefits, such as improved
immune response, increased vitality, better sleep cycles, lower blood pressure
and reduced stress. Add to this the fact
that if you do sustain an injury, your chiropractor offers a number of
treatments that can reduce discomfort, speed recovery and get you back on track
to maintaining peak performance.
So if you are looking give yourself a
way to better control the high cost of healthcare while improving your
lifestyle, give chiropractic care a try.
It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Dr. Dave Edenfield is part of the
team of doctors and therapists at http://lakewoodchiropracticjax.com who are dedicated to helping you and your family lead a healthier,
happier and pain-free life.
