4 Reasons to Make a Chiropractor Your Primary Care Doctor

Many people will read that headline, scratch their heads and say "Huh?" That is an expected reaction for many, because the only things that come to mind are back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches OR "Scary, I will NEVER get my neck cracked!"

Both reactions are too bad because it shows just what a horrible job we have done (chiropractors, I mean) explaining to the public our philosophy, our science, our safety, and they myriad of things we can help with other than pain.

There is something of a health care crisis going on in the U.S. right now, have you noticed? Insurance premiums are through the roof, people cannot afford insurance or they cannot afford to get sick (before the downtu
in the economy, illness costs in insured individuals accounted for 50% of all personal bankruptcies), medical doctors are leaving the profession in droves and there are not enough students in med school to replace them. So as a chiropractor, I am standing up and saying "We can help! We can handle the "lifestyle" diseases. We can help ease the burden on the health care system by letting people know what we do!"

So in no particular order, here are the reasons you should consider making a chiropractor your primary care physician.

The Nervous System controls and coordinates ALL functions of your body - This is basic anatomy, and it always amazes me how many "health care providers" forget this most simple tenet. We all know it is true. We have seen what happens when someone breaks their neck and nothing works below it. The brain is the source of all energy transmissions to every cell of your body. It sends those messages down the spinal cord and out nerves that pass between each vertebrae of the spine. If the vertebrae are misaligned, and the electrical impulses of the brain can't reach the cells, the cells are sick. Lots of sick cells make a sick person. Chiropractors adjust the spine to restore the flow of energy from the brain to the cells. That is often all someone needs for miraculous changes in their health.

Chiropractors do not prescribe medications - This is important in a primary care physician as a first level of defense. If someone comes into my office with high blood pressure, I do not want to immediately put them on high blood pressure medications because then I would be compromising their kidney function. Because chiropractors do not prescribe medications, we are extremely educated in nutrition and lifestyle changes that can help. If your blood pressure is high but does not require hospitalization, there are some simple changes you can make that would lower it over a 30 day period. That is the true meaning of "health care" in my opinion. Give a chiropractor one to three months to manage a condition. If there has not been a significant change at that point, then go see a medical doctor.

Chiropractors are able to order most standard blood tests - And we know how to interpret the results as well. Combine that with the above point, that we do not prescribe medications, and you have a health expert who can work with you to determine your health conce
s and give you workable, real life solution.

Chiropractic Adjustments have been proven to boost the immune system - This is tied to the first point, that the nervous system controls and coordinates all your functions, but it's worth its own paragraph. If your immune system is strong, you will not need doctors as often. That is just the way it is. You will also be able to handle any viruses or bacteria you are exposed to quickly and easily. Ask any chiropractor or chiropractor's family how often they get sick. They will tell you not very, and when they do, they beat it quickly. It is true in my home and in those of the other chiropractors I know. It is true for our patients, too.

In terms of adjustments, there are many different techniques, some of which include manual manipulation, but many of which do not. For patients who fall into the "adjustments are scary" category, there are practitioners out there who use instruments or other low force techniques to help you get relief while respecting your wishes. As with any health care provider, the doctor is there to serve you and help you get better. If you have conce
s, talk with your chiropractor about them so you can receive the most effective, safe treatment for your condition.

I hope these four points will have you look at your health a little differently, and inspire you to think about our "health care system" in a new light. A chiropractor is truly a health care provider, in contrast to the many illness care providers that bog down our system. If we can get more people to chiropractors for health care, we can free up the illness providers to handle those sick people who really need them.

So please, go see a chiropractor. You'll be glad you did.