Good Health-A Multi-System Approach At this point in time there are so many ideas and opinions on how to stay healthy and combat the effects of aging.  Everywhere you turn there are commercials, advertisements, testimonials, professional opinions and more talking about that next “quick fix” for your health care needs.  A growing number of health care professionals, along with organizations like the National Institutes of Health, are educating patients on the importance of therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC).  TLC is a multi-system approach to health care addressing multiple body systems and how they influence one another.  This is a necessary approach toward good health as no body system is entirely isolated in its function.   The following are the primary areas to be addressed when considering TLC. Exercise- Exercise in the form of cardiovascular and resistance training should be a part of every health care protocol.  A tremendous amount of research has been conducted over the past twenty years showing the correlation between decreased human function with aging and sedentary lifestyle.  Conditions associated with sedentary lifestyle include obesity, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, cancer, stroke, depression and much more.  Increasing physical activity at any point in one’s life can help to prevent future illness as well as improve pre-existing conditions.  It has been shown that people beginning exercise in their 70’s and above can regain some of the health and vitality experienced as younger men and women! Exercise not only has a profound impact on the physical body, but impacts brain function in many different ways.  The brain, and the body systems it controls are driven by environmental stimulation – sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, etc.  Research has shown that the greatest stimulator of brain function, by far, is from activity of muscles and joints.  Anyone who has been sedentary, or knows someone who is bed ridden, can attest to the fact that there was a definite change in their emotional and mental states.  Exercise helps to promote new connections between nerve cells in the brain as well as strengthen existing ones.  It also aids in release of certain chemicals that decrease the effects of aging on the brain. As far as which exercise is right for you - that will be determined by your interests, abilities, and your doctor’s guidance.  Choose activities that suit your lifestyle and that will be self- motivating, so as not to lose interest. When you get to this point, get out there and “just do it”! Stress Management- Hormones released in stress responses can save one’s life when faced with danger.  Unfortunately most people suffer from the long-term stressors of life such as work, traffic, busy schedules and so on.  These chronic stress responses cause continuous release of hormones that can be detrimental to one’s health.  Chronic stress has been linked to numerous health care problems, some of which are listed previously.  There are other types of “stressors” including noise, chemicals, allergens, accidents, pain and more that cause the same types of responses.  It is extremely important to eliminate these stressors, if possible, or cope with them through various techniques.   Examples of stress management techniques include - regular sleep patterns, exercise, meditation, progressive relaxation, bio-feedback, hypnosis, tai chi, massage, counseling, laughter and many others.  As stated above, the primary way to combat these stress responses is to eliminate the stressful situation altogether.  This is often difficult for most people because the perceived pain of changing is much greater than the potential long-term harm that the stressor will cause!!! Recent research has shown that the ability of the brain to cope with stressors can be dramatically altered through relaxation techniques, the most studied area being meditation.   Quieting the mind on a consistent basis can have profound effects on your health and well- being.  Our brains can reach deep sleep-like states through meditation when conditioned as such, which can be accessed when in non-meditative states.  This allows for more controlled responses to stressors and increased conservation of energy within the brain with less damage. Proper Nutrition- Foods that we eat should be viewed as fuel for our bodies.  Without the proper fuel we cannot function at an optimal level.  Our diets in general are deficient in nutrients (vitamins, minerals, enzymes, etc.) that are essential for all body functions.  We truly “are what we eat”, which is why balanced diets high in nutrients are so important.  Even people who feel they are eating balanced diets may be deficient in certain nutrients due to the high level of processing which takes place in food production today.   This is where nutritional supplementation comes into play, and you must have proper assessments before blindly adding supplements to your diet.  This is extremely important as many people are taking supplements that may potentially be causing them harm, or taking nutrients they are not deficient in.  Simple blood tests and other diagnostic tests, as well as proper dietary evaluation are needed to determine what types of deficiencies may exist. Awareness is always the most important aspect of any therapeutic lifestyle program, and this awareness is gained only through perseverance and diligence.  It is important to find reliable sources of information - as there is an overwhelming amount at this point in time.  It is also important to continuously improve your lifestyle habits.  It takes years to break bad habits for most people, so we need to constantly improve as opposed to making too many changes at one time.  This will ensure the greatest chance of success for obtaining a truly healthy lifestyle. These therapeutic lifestyle changes should be implemented along with routine health examinations and monitored for safety.  There is a large responsibility placed upon the individual with this proactive approach to health care, allowing individuals to take charge of their health as opposed to their health care providers doing it for them. Look for articles in the coming months describing the individual topics of TLC in greater detail.  Michael S. Trayford, DC, DACNB is the proprietor of Hampton Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Asheville, NC.  Questions or concerns may be directed to him at 828.296.0000, or visit www.hamptonwellness.com.  Call for lectures about TLC and other health care concerns.