Optimum Health Americans are bombarded from childhood with false images of what constitutes optimum health. To many, optimum health is merely the absence of the signs of disease, or "no symptoms." Over the years, advertisers have lead us to believe that if symptoms such as pain or discomfort do appear, merely "popping a pill" or "drinking a formula" will alleviate -"cure" - the problem. That's why most Americans don't think twice about taking medications, let alone understand the risky side effects of these medications. While pain pills and formulas may indeed mask the symptoms, in no way are they curing the underlying problem. To illustrate this point, ask yourself this question: Are headaches caused by an aspirin deficiency? Of course not! But this is what advertisers would like us to believe. Not only are headaches not caused by an aspirin deficiency, prolonged aspirin usage can have serious side effects, namely bleeding and ulceration of the lining of the stomach. It must be understood that headaches are the "byproduct" of a disease process not the disease itself. The bottom line is that we, as a nation, are only hiding our poor health with medications. Consider the following statistics. It is estimated that 50 percent of all hospital admissions are for three major conditions. (1) latrogenic - doctor induced or created, (2) Pharmacogenic - drug related, and (3) Nosocomial -hospital related. The terrifying truth is that in many instances, doctors, drugs and hospitals are creating nearly as many diseases as they are treating. If you consider that Americans live in one of the most highly developed countries in the world, it becomes alarmingly clear that our current state of health is a far cry from what our goal should be, which is optimum health. Optimum health is more than just the absence of the signs of disease, or "no symptoms." Optimum health is having every cell, tissue and organ of our body functioning at peak efficiency. The World Health Organization defines health as "a state of complete physical, mental, or social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." The science of chiropractic holds as its basic premise that a major factor in many health conditions is improper nerve impulse supply to the tissues of the body. Doctors of chiropractic emphasize that the maintenance of health cannot be purchased in a bottle. It can only be achieved by allowing the immune systems of the body to function unimpaired. We know the body has incredible recuperative and maintenance powers, provided it is given the proper essential ingredients such as food, water, sleep, clean air, nutrition and a properly functioning nervous system. Over the past decade or so, Americans have begun to understand this new concept of health maintenance. This is evidenced by the fact that people everywhere are exercising and changing their dietary habits. You can hardly take a drive in your car and not see a person bicycling or jogging. Smoking is on the decline. People are drinking less caffeinated coffee. Refined sugar is on the way out and healthier foods are on the way up. Salad bars have now become commonplace. Exercise clubs are on the rise, which promote swimming, aerobics, weightlifting, racquetball, etc. Anti-alcohol and anti-drug campaigns are making the headlines. There's no question that Americans are now joining the fitness trend in record numbers. People are beginning to understand that optimum health is more than just the absence of pain; it is the body working at peak efficiency, and it takes knowledge, discipline and hard work to achieve. Your doctor of chiropractic can help.