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What Is a Real Doctor?

August 9, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

If you were asked the question, “what is a real doctor?” how would you answer it? Would your answer include how they look? Where they work? Where they went to school? How they ranked in their graduating class? What their specialty is? It’s probably safe to say that our answers are based on our own experiences with doctors and what we have seen in the media. If we look beneath the surface, do we really know what makes not only a real doctor, but a good doctor?

History tells us that a doctor is about disease care. We see one when we are sick and suffering from symptoms. We also see a doctor when we discover something abnormal about our body, have suffered a broken bone, or have a chronic condition like juvenile diabetes or arthritis. Unfortunately, sometimes when we see that abnormality or have developed that chronic condition we are at a major disadvantage. It also costs us far more in the long run. So, what is the alternative? Being on the offense, or rather, practicing preventative care.

To a majority of Americans, preventative care means going to the dentist twice a year, getting a mammogram at the age of 40, or a yearly checkup at the pediatrician for our kids. But shouldn’t it go further than that? In an ideal world, wouldn’t it be better to prevent illnesses and chronic conditions, plus improve our quality of life in the process? The reality is that the ideal is possible and with a real doctor, too.

One of those real doctors that most Americans fail to consider are Doctors of Chiropractic. Yes, it’s true. Chiropractors actually specialize in preventative care. In other words, their treatment helps to keep us healthy and improve our quality of life. These specialists earn a Bachelors Degree just as physicians do, typically in biology, chemistry, physics or exercise science. Just as physicians do. Both chiropractors and physicians attend four years of graduate school with similar classes such as anatomy, biology, chemistry, and physiology. They both also perform clinical hours, lab hours, and are required to pass their Boards to become certified.

So perhaps it’s time to rethink what a real doctor is and which camp you have been in – disease care or preventative care.

French Fries and a Side of Phthalates

June 14, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

What you don’t know can potentially kill you. This statement is not referring to accidents that cannot be helped, such as the possibility of there being a drunk driver on the road or the acts of Mother Nature. Rather, it is referring to not having the knowledge of the dangers of something which unknowingly cause your harm. The most recent issue of Dynamic Chiropractic (June 15, 2016) had a great article titled “Drive-Through Disease” regarding the not so obvious harmful effects of fast food, effects far beyond the regular consumption of it.

Are you familiar with the word phthalates? You may have heard it in conjunction with plastics, as it is commonly called the “everywhere chemical.” Phthalates make plastics soft and pliable. However, just because a particular food item is not served in a plastic container does not necessary mean that it was not processed in one. But why does this really matter?

BPA, or bisphenol-A, is also found in plastics alongside the phthalates. It is used to make plastics such as water bottles, sippy cups, food storage containers, and inside many food and beverage cans. But where is the connection to the fast food industry? In addition to the poor quality of nutrition found in most fast food items, there is also another danger – phthalate and BPA exposure. Think about how the food is manufactured and packaged? In the article, a particular study was highlighted that was featured in The Washington Post that found higher levels of these two chemicals in individuals that had a higher consumption of fast food. So, not only are we increasing our risk of obesity and diabetes, but also an adverse effect on reproduction, behavior, and respiration in children, plus insulin resistance in adults. How do you feel about that big old double cheeseburger now?

Fast food is a silent killer. The only way to prevent its harmful effects is by limiting our exposure to it. The choice is ours.

No More Disease Care

May 20, 2016 By Pam Rezai Leave a Comment

What if Christopher Columbus never discovered the New World and we still believed the world was flat? What if we never had space exploration? How limited would our thinking be? What if we continued to believe people were witches when all along it was mental illness and it couldn’t be helped? Discoveries literally changed the way we viewed the world. They enriched our lives, lengthened our lives, and improved our quality of life. The naysayers were proved wrong. Countless myths were dispelled. People were vindicated. Those individuals who committed their lives to finding the truth faced a tough battle. But their perseverance paid off. They changed the course of history. What was once considered different or non-traditional became the norm or standard. This same philosophy can be said for the field of chiropractic. Doctors of Chiropractic were commonly referred to as “quacks”, “back crackers”, or even a “fake doctor.” The reality is that the truth about these pioneers in wellness care is changing the way people take care of themselves. Healthcare is changing from disease care to wellness care.

Wellness care means digging beyond the symptoms and searching for the cause of the symptoms. It does not mean relying on prescription medications or over the counter drugs to mask the symptoms. It means understanding the cause so the symptoms are resolved. It means searching for the truth in a sea of revenue generating pharmaceuticals. That’s not to say that there is not a place for pharmaceuticals, only that it should not be the first choice in care.

Education is key to this way of thinking, to this way of viewing the world. Look to first hand accounts of success people have had with chiropractic care. Seek out testimonials of those who count a chiropractor as a professional they see just like their dentist. A chiropractor is in the business of keeping you well. Consider it preventative maintenance. Change your perspective on life. Take the road less traveled and reap the rewards of living a higher quality of life with chiropractic care.

Skip the Flu Shot

October 2, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

The arrival of autumn brings with it the annual advertising campaign for flu shots. Walk into most pharmacies and grocery stores and the signage is everywhere. It seems incredibly easy to get the vaccine to protect yourself from the dreaded flu. With such a preponderance of ads, we believe it is a necessity in order to stay healthy during flu season. And that is the intention behind the campaign – we need it! However, the reality we find, if we dig a little, tells us that we may want to skip the flu shot.

So, what is this reality as it relates to the flu vaccine?

On average, approximately 5%-20% of the U.S. population get the flu each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statistics on those who receive the vaccine, but do not get the flu, are only high when the “match” between the vaccine and the circulating strains is close. This means if a statistic reads “70-90% of people 65 and younger who receive the vaccination don’t get the flu” that the vaccine actually matched the particular strain of flu that year. Every year researchers make a prediction as to what strain will arrive during the flue season. Yes, that’s right, a prediction. So what happens if the researchers are wrong? That 70-90% drops substantially. In fact, last year the CDC was wrong in predicting the flu strain. It was only 23% effective, at best.

The flu vaccinations still contain mercury, a preservative used to prevent contamination, which has been linked to autism, neuro-development disorders and heart disease.

There are better ways to protect yourself against the flu that does not require a vaccination.

Our goal in life is to remain healthy, so we can fully enjoy each stage of our life. If we are healthy, then our body is able to do its job and prevent illness. Protecting ourselves from getting the flu, without a vaccination, simply means doing the things that keep our body working as it should. Things like:

Getting plenty of sleep each night.
Staying fit with regular exercise.
Ensuring our body receives the proper nutrition each day.
Managing the stress in our lives.

This healthy approach keeps our foundation strong so our body can fight infection and disease. So the next time you see a sign or advertisement for the flu shot, continue on and instead provide your body with the resources it needs to keep you well.

Our Body the Fortress

August 25, 2015 By Damron Chiropractic

Back in medieval times, the castle served many purposes. Not only did it house the royal family, but it served as a focal point for the people. Healthy aging is similar to the effort required to protect the castle and its inhabitants. And treating our body as we would a fortress helps to make better choices every day.

So what role did the castle play for the people who lived during this time period? Besides providing a sanctuary for the king and queen, nobles resided there as well. The king held court with his trusted advisors and met with dignitaries from other countries. For the common people the exchange of goods took place inside its walls, people shopped for food and supplies, there was entertainment with music and acting, plus it offered protection from invaders. The castle was surrounded by high walls and a moat. Entering the castle meant going through the open drawbridge. The castle was a fortress but also the hub of daily life.

Our body is also that hub of life. It is also a fortress that is to be protected from invasion, but the enemy is disease and chronic conditions. If a castle is not properly maintained and protected, inevitably invaders will gain entry. It may not be through the drawbridge either. Holes in the walls of the fortress allow entry as do unprotected walls and passageways. Undesirables are merely biding their time, waiting for a lax in security to make their move and enter unnoticed.

Choosing to look at our body in the same way as a fortress is enlightening. Germs, bacteria and viruses are those undesirables biding their time, looking for an opportunity to invade. It is up to us to create those barriers, plus give our body the daily maintenance it needs to stay well. It allows us to be on the offense rather than the defense. One or two preventative measures can save us the trouble of recovering from illness which affects our family, work, and social life. But there is another side to this. One that doesn’t mean picking up a bug and recovering after a few days.

Subjecting our body to a daily barrage of arsenal, from:

eating a poor diet
lack of physical activity
insufficient sleep
smoking
excessive alcohol consumption
extra body fat

Over time, this lifestyle erodes the natural protection our body has. Similar to a castle in the midst of battle. With each round of attack, the walls surrounding the castle become damaged. How long can the castle defenses withstand the impact? How long can our body withstand the impact of a damaging lifestyle? Fortunately, there are signs of deterioration, alerting us to a potential of a larger problem. It could be weight gain, chronic exhaustion, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes. This is our body’s means of communicating that there is a war going on inside of us and the walls of protection are deteriorating.

Protect the only fortress you have. Take the extra steps of preventative care to ensure your quality of life, because healthy aging is not a guarantee for any of us. Chiropractic care is an effective way to remain on the offense to keep those invaders at bay. Stay vigilante and align yourself with those who will help to keep you well.

What Is a Real Doctor?

French Fries and a Side of Phthalates

No More Disease Care

Skip the Flu Shot

Our Body the Fortress

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