What is the meaning of health?

We talk about our health a lot, but what does it really mean?

We are extremely lucky to have the NHS to look after us when we get sick, but if there’s anything COVID has taught us, it’s that we need to be as healthy as possible so that we can leave the healthcare professionals free to treat those who need them the most. Most people wait until after they’re sick or injured to take action. Whereas, with chiropractic care, we believe our bodies are born and designed to be healthy.

We can all have different health goals that we want to reach because we would all place ourselves at different points on a spectrum from wellness to sickness. But, when we talk about our overall health, we are talking about our state of physical, social and mental well-being. To truly understand health, we have to realise that we have to be able to move well, eat well and think well to live the life we deserve. 

Chiropractic is a key ingredient in achieving these three things and in the healing process. We usually get our patients out of pain reasonably quickly, but we then help and guide them through something called preventative care. 

Imagine we are trying to save fish from falling down a waterfall. In our current model of healthcare, we wait until the fish has fallen down the waterfall to send a helicopter, airlift the fish back to the top, give it care and then release the fish back into the river where it could potentially fall back down the waterfall again. A better option might be putting a net upstream of the waterfall to stop the fish from ever going over – this is what chiropractic is, and what we prefer to call healthcare.

Adopting a few healthy habits can help to prevent any problems and attain that healthier lifestyle; attending chiropractic care could be one of them. Taking steps to build both physical and mental resilience can combat health problems now and into the future. Your health is priceless; it helps you to live a life with meaning and purpose. 

But, balance is vital. It’s not to say you can’t enjoy a takeaway or should beat yourself up for missing a gym session, but making sure these choices don’t become a habit is where the balance lies. When you’re proactive in pursuing activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to holistic health, you will be on the wellness side of the spectrum. 

Chiropractic addresses the mind and body connection to focus on whole body health. It’s more than just treating pain, it’s an invaluable tool to help you now and in the future. But, to maintain and improve your health it takes life-long commitment. Would you eat healthily for a week and expect this to maintain your health for the rest of your life? No. 

Wellness is about being aware, and taking steps, to preserve your health. Taking preventative steps will always be better than trying to cure the problem afterwards. You prevent damage to your teeth by brushing them and attending regular dental check-ups. So, why should your spine be any different?

Your spine is central to your health. Taking care of your spine throughout your life helps to stop issues later in life. Waiting until the damage becomes too much means that you will never be able to truly go back to when your health was at its best.

Without our health, we are nothing. Having our health means we can enjoy the moments that matter, we can live freely without being limited by pain, and we can truly be ourselves. Investing in your health should be something you start today, not tomorrow, or next week, or next month. Take that first step, the rest will follow.