Sometimes, a lot of little things cause big issues
By Dr. Matthew Lapp, Columnist, The Times
Spring has finally sprung and after the winter we had, we deserve it! For many people, the change of season also marks an opportunity for spring cleaning inside and outside the home. If you’re like me, maybe you’ve noticed that the shrubs and grass are almost due for a trim or that the basement or garage have accumulated some extra “stuff” during the winter months.
As I’ve been “getting my house in order” I had the thought that perhaps our bodies and lives can also have the tendency to accumulate some extra “stuff” in the form of poor health and diet habits, a few extra pounds here and there, and a lack of regular exercise. With that in mind, it might be the perfect time of year to clean up our health as well.
It’s interesting to me that there are often people who come into my office as a last stop. They’ve tried everything else and now they are willing to do almost anything to improve a relentless symptom. Almost always, the symptom or pain is something that they’ve known about for quite a while and almost as often, they’ve tried a variety of quick fixes.
The way I see it, it’s my job to help the person come up with a long-term answer to the challenge that they’re experiencing, not just to help them eliminate the symptom. That means that we start by discussing any contributing factors like health habits, life stress, and past health challenges that could be complicating or making the situation worse.
The truth is that most symptoms are not caused by just one thing. Often it’s a multitude of life factors that finally give way to that nagging ache or pain. And, once we uncover the culprits, it can be hard work to create a new plan for improvement and continued health and well-being in the future. The good news is that once you get started on a health plan and consistently practice it, it becomes easier and more enjoyable to do it regularly-and the result is a healthier, happier, and more vibrant life.
Here are a few simple principles to consider and get you started.
Health comes from the inside out. It’s a journey, not a destination and that means that it’s only through regular diligence and practice that you’ll be able to live a healthy and happy life now and in the future.
No diet can do for you what eating a consistently healthy diet does. There is no such thing as a quick fix. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
There is a big difference between simple and easy. Just because something is straightforward, doesn’t mean that consistently applying the principle will be easy. (Case and point-healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate rest, and proper stress management.)
As my office manager and I were discussing various life and health habits recently, she said “I’d rather maintain my car than fix it” and I thought that was a perfect analogy for health. Isn’t it simpler to do our best to stay healthy and practice good habits regularly than to try to heal or fix something later on? How often do we try to ignore something small until it can no longer be pushed aside? It might not always be the easiest choice, but in the long run, creating sustainable strategies for living a healthy life are the best actions we can take.
Drs. Allison and Matthew Lapp are the owners of Salus Chiropractic Studio in Thorndale. For more tips on living a health, happy life, visit them on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/SalusChiropracticStudio
