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If You Had 24 Hours to Live

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What if you were told that you only had 24 hours left to live? Once the shock wore off you would urgently pursue, do and handle everything that was important to you in your life.

Would you prepare or acknowledge your most important relationships? Would you do something exciting like parachute from an airplane? Would you meditate or pray to make peace with your maker?

This is a common question that people ask themselves as they make decisions about how they want to live. Here’s another question that is equally important: What if the powers that be looked at you and said something like, “We made a mistake when we told you that you have 24 hours to live. You have 30 days.”?

You might approach this situation differently. You would still feel a sense of urgency but now you would make a longer list and start checking it off. You might take a trip, spend more time with your loved ones, or write your memoir.

What if you were given a decade or even better, an entire century? At some point you would realize that you need to find the balance between immediate gratification and planning for the long-haul. Your adventures would be enjoyed while at the same time you were preparing for the future by taking care of your mind, body and spine. If you didn’t, and you just went at life full speed ahead without a long-term vision in mind, then you might end up with some incredible stories while your body, bank and relationships become beaten and broken.

One of the most interesting things we hear people say when talking about the possibility of their extended lifespan is “they don’t want to live to 100”. But here’s an important point to consider: You may not have a choice. 100-year-old people are the world’s fastest growing group and none of these people planned to live this long. If you have relatives in their 80s, 90s or over 100 years old, then the odds are that you will live at least that long or longer. What will your quality of life be like along the way?

Immediate gratification may feel good in the moment but will compromise your health as time goes on. Medications, for example, can mask the pain and cause damage to your heart, liver or kidneys. Be aware and careful not to wear yourself out with quick fix addictions that can slow you down and cause chronic conditions.

People start to feel old when they can no longer do the things that they love or used to be able to do and their suffering becomes chronic. Be proactive.

Find the balance between immediate gratification and taking care of your body and mind for the long-haul. Adjust your lifestyle. Eat healthier, exercise, get plenty of rest and take care of your spine and nervous system with Lifestyle Care. You will enjoy the present more while you also enjoy a sensational century.

Mastering Personal Change

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Are there things in your life that you know you need to change? Is it your health, your priorities, your habits or the dynamics of your relationships?

How long have you known that you needed to make these changes? Has it been a day, a month, a decade or longer?

Here’s an important thought to consider: everything will stay the same until you make the changes you know you need to make.

There are two motivating factors that cause people to change: crisis or quality of life. Which will you choose? Too many people suffer at tolerable levels until a crisis forces them to take action. Don’t wait for your suffering to become so severe that it forces you to change.

Use this article to be the final push that gets you to commit to the change you know you need to make. If you want to master personal change, choose Quality of Life Motivation over Crisis Motivation.

These three Life-Changing Principles of The 100 Year Lifestyle will keep you on track…

1. Life-Changing Principle #1: Changes is easy. Thinking about change is hard.

2. Life-Changing Principle #2: Change comes one choice at a time. Think progress not perfection.

3. Life-Changing Principle #3: If you’re going to make a change, make it with your ideal 100 Year Lifestyle in mind.

If you feel like you have been on a roller coaster ride, stop living from crisis to crisis. There is no better time than the present to make the changes you know you need to make. You will eliminate unnecessary suffering and enjoy the quality of your life that comes with these changes for decades beyond today.

When you commit to mastering personal change, you are much more likely to attract good health, vitality and all your other goals like a magnet.

We are proud to be a part of your journey to help you and your loved ones make the critical transition to Chiropractic Lifestyle Care and optimize your health for a lifetime.

Summer Sports, Injuries and Prevention

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Summer is here. Many people are getting outdoors and upping the ante on their activity level, trying to get in shape, improve their performance or set a personal best. If this describes you, It’s time to optimize the function of your brain, spine and nervous system and not let injuries get in the way.

When it comes to your brain, the issues surrounding head injuries, including concussions, have never been a part of mainstream conversation more than right now. As we begin the Summer sports season, concussions and neck injuries are being reported in the pros and young athletes. Pee-wee and primary age athletic organizations have released new rules limiting contact during practices. Youth Soccer has changed their criteria for heading.

Every athlete and parent is concerned about head injuries. As our kids become faster, stronger and start sports earlier, their chances of sustaining chronic head and neck injuries, and the likely result of long-term brain injury, is dramatically rising. The hidden tragedy is that every head injury has the potential to also damage the neck. Since the primary focus at the time of a head injury is the head, the neck is often overlooked.

There are distinct signs of neck injury that can be found during an examination at the time of injury, as well as days, weeks, months and even years later. Due to the focus and pressure rising on concussions, the rapid forward-backward motion commonly known as whiplash has been swept under the rug, downplayed and often ignored. And yet, the vast majority of head injuries also have the mechanism to cause whiplash injuries. Whiplash and concussion have serious long-term effects, including depression, memory loss, fatigue, mood swings, headaches and chronic instability. Head and neck injuries also damage sensitive nerves in the region as they exit the spine. Damage to ligaments can mean continual nerve irritation and interference if proper care is not given. The effects from these injuries can last decades whether or not the person is experiencing pain. The potential for long-term effects has caused many to run away from activities they love and use to remain physically active.

Rather than leave athletics, the Lifestyle Care Continuum of The 100 Year Lifestyle can help you correct and protect spine and nervous system subluxations that can affect the health of muscles, ligaments and vital organs. Crisis Care provides relief and stability to injured areas of the spine. It is essential that these injuries are given appropriate time to stabilize, as head and neck injuries have a high rate of lingering symptoms. The Critical Transition phase of care is essential to help minimize the long-term effects of these injuries. Major research centers still only recommend care for a couple of months following an injury, one of the probable causes for continued nerve damage. For people who have sustained previous injuries and those looking to avoid them, the spine and nerve protection afforded by Chiropractic Lifestyle Care contributes to optimum function and support, which can minimize the risk of future injuries.

If you or a loved one has ever sustained even a mild head or neck injury, consider your long term health and get your spine and nervous system checked. A misjudged landing when jumping into a crowded pool, a kick to the side of the head in Soccer, or a missed catch resulting in a baseball to the face might land you on the blooper reel right away but damage done by the injury may not surface for years to come. Your ability to protect your long-term health and well-being begins now.

References:

1.http://nflconcussionlitigation.com/ 2.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/sports/pop-warner-football-limits-contact-in-practices.html 3.http://www.aans.org/Patientpercentsign20Information/Conditionspercentsign20andpercentsign20Treatments/Sports-Relatedpercentsign20Headpercentsign20Injury.aspx 4.http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2009/01/28/concussions-effects–may-linger-for-decades 5.http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=197667 6.http://windcitypt.com/files/2011/07/Sterling_predictors_of_outcomes_post_WAD.pdf 2016.

 

100 Percent for 100 Years

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Wouldn’t it be great for you and your loved ones to function at your highest level throughout your lifetime, 100 percent for 100 Years? What an exciting goal? This includes being healthy and performing at work, in your hobbies, your passion and activities that are most important and fun for you. For your children it includes growing healthy and strong, performing at their best in school and during extracurricular activities. For everyone, this is a great goal and the best way to get the most out of life.

All of us know people who compromise themselves. This may include you, allowing yourself to function much lower than 100 percent because of health habits or challenges, injury or illness, or due to a chronic condition causing deterioration over time. This compromise can create a limited belief you’re your health cannot improve or a lifelong dream cannot be achieved.

One thing we’ve learned through longevity statistics is that for many people, it is not too late to turn things around. We are the first generation in history to have advance notice that we are probably going to live longer than we ever thought. We are also learning more about the incredible healing and life potential of the human body and mind.

Healthy lifestyle choices combined with a healthy spine and nervous system can ensure that you function and live as close to 100 percent as possible throughout your lifetime. This is the best investment you can make for your health!

Why a healthy nervous system? Your nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions in your body, from movement to digestion and immunity.

Why a healthy spine? Your spine is the structure that holds you upright straight and strong, and it is necessary for you to enjoy the activity you probably want as you age.

Why healthy lifestyle choices? So you fuel your body and keep it fit and functioning well throughout your lifetime. Nobody wants to suffer during their last decades of life and become a burden to their family. Your choices today can make all the difference now as well as in your later years.

When you visit our office, you may notice 3, 4 and 5 generations of families coming into our office for chiropractic care. You may notice individuals in all stages of health and ability to function. Everyone is on their own personal journey towards 100 percent regardless of why they began receiving chiropractic care.

One thing is for sure. The sooner you start on your journey towards 100 percent and optimum function, the greater the likelihood that you will enjoy quality years for up to a century.

This is why millions of people enjoy chiropractic care as part of a lifestyle. Some people experience immediate results from an acute or chronic problem. For others the process of healing takes time. For others, 100 percent means setting a personal record in your chosen sport or field of endeavor. For newborns, it can begin on day one with your family’s commitment to living your ideal 100 Year Lifestyle.

Don’t wait for a crisis to force you to act. There’s no better time than the present to start your journey to 100 percent.

Treating Symptoms and Conditions

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Every day we turn on the television or read an article online to find out there is a new treatment for our condition. The list of treatments that temporarily alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms we are feeling such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, stomach aches, fever, skin rashes, etc. is endless.

While these treatments may help us feel better in the moment, all too often the symptoms return right after the treatment is stopped. Many people are told they must take a medication forever, yet over time their body adapts to the medication and the uncomfortable symptoms return with a list of serious and life changing side effects that can even be worse than the original problem.

What if you began to look at your symptoms and conditions in a different light and took a different approach? What if your body is trying to tell you that it’s time to resolve the underlying cause of your symptoms and empower your body to heal itself?

When you are ready to address the cause of your condition, it is wise and effective to look to the master control system of the body first, the central nerve system.

Your central nerve system controls and coordinates every function of the human body, including every organ, tissue, and cell. It is essential that your nerve system communicates properly with the body to promote healing, ensure health and adapt you to the environment. Whether it’s digesting your lunch, getting rid of a seasonal cold, or reaching your fitness goals, your central nerve system must be on the job and functioning at optimum levels.

Dr. Irvin Korr holds a PhD in Neurophysiology and dedicated five decades of his life to understanding the central nerve system. Dr. Korr found that areas of the spine not properly functioning create interference in the central nerve system. This interference caused decreased immunity and malfunctions in digestion, infertility, focus, attention, and energy.

Too many people, and healthcare providers for that matter, address symptoms without taking a deeper look at the cause of your problem. We understand and use a state of the art approach to address the function of your nerve system.

If you have a nagging symptom, chronic condition, or are looking to improve your health and reach peak performance levels, today is the day to make an appointment for a chiropractic evaluation. And when you do, don’t just take the symptom treatment approach. Make the Critical Transition to Lifestyle Care so you can begin living your best life every day instead of wondering how your symptoms will disrupt your life down the road.

If someone you know is struggling with unresolved symptoms and they are ready for a more permanent solution, refer them to us. We’d be happy to meet with them and discuss how chiropractic may help them heal and live their ideal 100 Year Lifestyle too!

Contributed by David Lutz, DC and Dr. Eric Plasker

Celebrating the Great Outdoors

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The National Park Service in the US is celebrating 100 Years. In nearly every country, people are enjoying the great outdoors through hiking, fishing, exploring, camping, photographing, climbing and many other activities. Full time work crews, Park Rangers and volunteers keep the National Parks accessible and useable. These people are exceptionally skilled at preserving the integrity, natural beauty and environment that make travelers want to visit the parks year after year.

Have you considered the natural resources available to you right where you are every day? Do you take advantage of the great outdoors?

The National Park Service made it to 100 years and your chances of living this long are increasing every day. If you want to be able to enjoy all of your remaining decades, including the beauty of our environment, your health must be your top priority. Here are two ways to help optimize your outdoor experiences:

First, heighten your senses. Your senses include your sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste and intuition. Barrett Hedges, award winning National Geographic Photographer who is also a photography tour guide and founder of Bearheadphoto.com recently said in a 100 Year Lifestyle interview that it’s important to “keep your senses sharp when you are in the wild and have an exit plan”.

You can keep your senses sharp by keeping your nervous system healthy. This will enable you to fully enjoy the elements, resources, environment and terrain while keeping you alert to potential hazards as well.

Second, make your FitNESS a priority. If you want to be able to get around better and be more active in the parks or the environment in general, your fitNESS is vital. In The 100 Year Lifestyle there is an acronym using the NESS in the word fitness that is important to remember. It is Neurology, Nutrition, Endurance, Strength and Structure.

In addition to keeping your senses sharp, a healthy nervous system will keep your muscles strong and your organs adapting to the challenges and stresses you may encounter in nature. Good nutrition, including good hydration, will fuel your explorations. Endurance and strength training will give you the confidence and stamina to do more. And a healthy structure, spine and skeletal system will help to prevent injuries and contribute to your longevity in being able to enjoy the outdoors.

Chiropractic Lifestyle Care is vital to keeping yourself neurologically healthy throughout your lifetime, starting today, regardless of your age or current fitness level. “I can’t afford to be sick, injured or slowed down. Chiropractic care makes a big difference for me,” says Hedges. Don’t wait for a crisis to force you to take action on your health. Don’t be put in a position to have to turn down an invitation to explore nature and optimize your enjoyment of the environment.

Taking care of the planet and our natural resources is important for quality of life today, and for future generations. The same is true for you and your health. Follow these suggestions and enjoy the environment for 100 years and beyond.

Copyright 2016. The Family Practice, Inc., Dr. Eric Plasker and The 100 Year Lifestyle. All Rights Reserved.