Part 2 of 5 Wellness

SPOTLIGHT
Medicine has a huge and innovative approach to increase your dependency on them and to increase their profits. A May, 2010 report in Social Science and Medicine documents the growing trend toward the "Medicalization of the Human Condition." The report documents many common problems, many of which are simply due to being human, that now are defined as medical disorders that supposedly need prescription drugs and other costly treatments.

WAYS TO WELLNESS

While regular chiropractic care is certainly a given when it comes to health development, here are more lifestyle approaches that will contribute to your long term health:

#2 Drink Plenty of Clean Water

Your body is 80% water and without it we could not live more than a few days. The human brain is made up of 95% water, lungs 90%, and blood is 82% water. A 2% drop in our body's water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, difficulty focusing on small print, and daytime fatigue. An estimated 75% of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration. Water also plays a key role in the prevention of disease. Drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water a day (minimum) helps to
regulate the digestive system, clean out and detoxify the internal organs, and can decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45% and bladder cancer by 50%. Amazing water!

#3 Get Enough Rest

Proper and sufficient rest is essential to keep the immune system healthy and regulating hormone levels. Proper rest also contributes to mental clarity and having enough energy to meet the physical, mental, and emotional demands of daily life. Limit your intake to water or decaffeinated tea within 3 hours of bedtime. Do your best to get a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Also, try to fall asleep on your back, as this is the healthiest position for your spine and nervous system.

THE BOTTOM LINE...THE BOTTOM LINE...THE BOTTOM LINE...

The SPOTLIGHT story also said medicalization of human problems may be caused by increased consumer demands for medical solutions and the DRUG maker's expanding drug markets. The author stated, "By estimating the amount spent on medicalized human problems...the question is whether this spending is 'appropriate'...and consider policies that curb the growth or even shrink the amount of spending..." Or, the public may just awaken to the idea of growing their health.



This issue of the Health Tip of the Week is brought to you as a public service by Dr. Stacy Chilton at Synergy Spine Center.

360-423-3482