“There’s a test for that.”  Actually, there is a test for just about everything health these days.  If we stacked up all the annual tests that you are supposed to have, oh my, you might as well get out your calendar for the next year.  Depending on how old you are, male/female, family history, etc; your annual battery of test can be a little overwhelming.

That is just the culture we live in.  We have a test for everything because health is a huge currency in the United States.  Did you know that we outspend every other country in the world when it comes to healthcare?  It’s true, annually we are spending 3.8 trillion1  as a country. WOW!  So we have got to be the healthiest place in the world, right?  Guess again.  Even with our health-centric culture and tests for everything from blood pressure to bone density to glucose and more; you would think we are the healthiest.  With all of these tests, we have all of the information but not the results.  We actually are at the bottom compared to other countries and in recent years have been trying to dig deeper as our numbers of obesity, diabetes, infant mortality, heart disease continue to climb out of proportion of our dollars invested.2  We are the sickest of all the developed nations, ouch!

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, we are over-testing and some of those tests actually cause more unwarranted healthcare costs and health problems3.  Dr. Mercola of Mercola.com suggests only 6 annual blood tests demonstrate the direction of your health4.  Both advocates being very wise and intentional about the tests you do have done to measure your health.  That is why you need to consider the test that most people forget.  Your spine and nerve system.

Seriously! And before you shout me down consider your middle school years when most people would get a scoliosis screening. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons still advocates for childhood scoliosis screenings and there are even several states that mandate it5. Why is that?  They understand something that a lot of people have not considered.  To be truly healthy your brain and nerve system have to be in constant connection to the body with ZERO interference.  When you have curves in your spine like scoliosis, or bones in a decay process (osteoarthritis) or just bones out of alignment; you run the risk of limiting how you move and interfering with the nerves coming out of your spine going to your muscles and organs.  This can cause some pain, but that pain is only there to get you to do something.  It is essentially your body shouting at you that you should have been taking better care of your back and to get it in working order.  That is where a spine analysis comes into play.

Sure, it is another test, but when it is done correctly and routinely you can be eliminating significant issues that will affect your ENTIRE body, not just the painful areas you may or may not have.  This is the same for kids, adults, athletes, the elderly and everyone else.  Get your blood pressure checked, your blood tests, height/weight and get your spine checked.  It is crucial for your health.

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Dr. Jeremy Overholt is a chiropractor in Fort Collins, Colorado. To learn more, click HERE.

To schedule a consultation and examination with Dr. Overholt click HERE.

 

RESOURCES

1Forbes.com February 2014

2Medical New Today January 2013

3American Academy of Family Physicians

4Mercola.com Annual Physicals May do More Harm than Good

5American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons