Chronic Diseases

In November of 2015, Prevention magazine had an article titled “6 Things Chiropractors Can Help With – And What They Can’t.” The overall message of the article gave very compelling reasons to see a chiropractor beyond neck and back pain. However, it missed the mark on what they cannot treat. With all the misinformation out there regarding the field of chiropractic, it’s time to set the record straight. A Chiropractor can help treat chronic diseases.

First, let’s address the 6 things are that Doctors of Chiropractic can help with:

1. Lower Back Pain
2. Neck Pain
3. Pregnancy Pain
4. Digestive Issues
5. Headaches
6. Blood Pressure

The first two are the most obvious reasons people choose to see a chiropractor. But what about the other four?

A pregnant woman is told to avoid anything that would harm her developing baby. However, the pain that accompanies most pregnancies, especially the further along a mother is, can make her think twice about how to alleviate it. A Chiropractor can use the Webster technique to realign the pelvis. This can successfully address the pain associated with the lower back and sciatica without the use of potentially harmful medications.

Now what about digestive issues? The nerves in the thoracic spine are connected to the digestive system. A misalignment in this region can cause symptoms from indigestion, heartburn, ulcers, bloating and gas. Spinal adjustments can keep a person’s digestive systems functioning as it should. No more digestive issues.

Next on the list are headaches, which is a common problem experienced by many individuals. The cervical spine contains the nerves responsible for this type of pain if there is an irritation.  A chiropractor can restore proper alignment to offset this interference, many times eliminating the headaches and migraines all together.

Lastly, let’s talk blood pressure. There is a University of Chicago study that took 50 people who had both high blood pressure and neck misalignment. With only one chiropractic adjustment, their blood pressure dropped the same as if they took two blood pressure medications at the same time? That is truly an amazing outcome!

Now for the areas that a chiropractor cannot help with, according to the article. It’s true that a medical doctor is better trained at treating acute emergencies, infections, fractures, tumors and injuries that require surgery. But, just like a medical doctor, a chiropractor can and does help with chronic diseases. The difference is in their approaches. Many times a chronic disease like diabetes, heart disease, or high cholesterol is treated with prescription medications by a medical doctor. A chiropractor, on the other hand, will take a more holistic approach and work with the patient to make lifestyle changes to address the chronic disease. This is addressing the root of the problem rather than the symptoms. Which in the end, resolves the symptoms and the problem as well.