About 16 or 17 years ago when I was studying chiropractic in school, a professor spoke of an important study. The research (which was done by the government) showed that people who were adjusted regularly had both a better quality of life and a longer life. Since then the question that has been on my mind is “Why?” I was able to easily understand the better quality of life part because day by day you are telling us how chiropractic has made life better, but the part about longer life made me wonder why. Since I started practice that “Why?” is year by year being answered through research.
The chiropractic adjustment has been shown to improve life (short term and long) by increasing the immune system (yes, those of you who are most understanding of what’s going on in your bodies get an extra adjustment when you are sick!). Many now understand that aging is related to how fast your DNA shorten – adjustments slow down DNA shortening. More research shows simple things like if your middle back rounds too much (even by small degrees) that your risk of diseases of the heart, digestive system, pancreas – diabetes, etc. (all controlled through the spinal nerves of the middle back) increases exponentially. Corrective chiropractic decreases that rounding! Again and again I see reasons in the research and right here in this office of “Why” the chiropractic adjustment increases life, and here’s another one, this time about the heart. Heart rate variability is your hearts ability to beat faster or slower depending on your circumstances (ie. going up a long set of steps should immediately cause your heart to beat much faster).
If you pay attention to what’s hot in the medical/health research world right now, you know that Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is becoming “the thing”! (I believe part of this has to do with the amount of people now wearing fitbits and iwatches.)
So listen to this…a 2010 study showed that healthy longevity correlated specifically with better (higher) HRV levels! NOW THINK ABOUT THAT…living longer and with more quality of life was linked to having higher HRV readings! It is well-known that quicker aging is directly associated with a progressive decrease in a person’s HRV. Don’t get me wrong…there are many things that can increase a person’s HRV and thus, increase healthy longevity.
But what’s unique to you is the ability to DIRECTLY and POSITIVELY INFLUENCE YOUR HRV with your ADJUSTMENT. A study in 2001 (and actually many up to this date) showed that A CERVICAL ADJUSTMENT IMPROVED HRV! This would make sense considering the science behind the brain and sympathetic tone changes that occur as a result of an adjustment! Simply put the brain becomes better connected to the body. (Research explained by Dr. Dan Sullivan)
GOOD NEWS – making the decision for you and your family to be adjusted for a life time takes effort (time and finances), but it sure is worth it!!!
God Bless,
Dr. Brad, Dr. Paul and the New Life Team
p.s. Be 1 of our brightest patients – if you are fighting a bug, for goodness sake get an extra adjustment!