Many of the children suffer from rampant decay and one out of 10 adults has no teeth at all. This was attributed to the "addiction" many of these people have to Mountain Dew.
Many of the people afflicted who claim to be addicted to Mountain Dew cite the caffeine and sugar content (both extremely high) as the thing they cannot live without. However, let it be known that Mountain Dew is not the only culprit in this type of dental destruction. All soda pop, sugary drinks, sports drinks and even fruit juices can cause the same type of rampant decay.
This is also not a regional problem specific to the Appalachian area. We are not immune to these issues here in West Michigan. Dentists here (and everywhere else in the U.S., for that matter) see the same type of rampant decay when people abuse drinks. We see the destruction of teeth every day due to the constant drinking of soda, sports drinks and other sugary drinks (Sunny D, Kool-aid, juice boxes, even chocolate milk, apple juice and orange juice cause decay when consumed in excess).
What should be done about this problem?
First of all, soda pop has no part in a healthy diet, contrary to what one soda company stated in their response to the 20/20 segment. It's okay to have once in a while but to use it every day, every meal, or to sip throughout the day, is asking for trouble.
Secondly, small children should never be given bottles or sippy cups of juice to drink all day long. Adults should never have soda or sugared coffee or tea sitting at their desk to sip all day long either.
Thirdly, children should be given water in between meals if they are thirsty. The constant exposure to sugar makes kids crave more sugar. Children do not understand how unhealthy sugar is to their bodies and teeth (and perhaps their moods?). Adults have to be the smart ones in the equation by modeling good habits themselves and by educating children. And contrary to popular belief, kids do not need a Gatorade every time they get sweaty playing sports - water is plentiful, cheap, and better for them.
For those seniors who are in good physical health and lead an active lifestyle, chiropractic can offer significant help in many cases. These patients are treated with pain relief and stabilization in mind so that they can return to the active lifestyle they enjoy.
Chiropractors also successfully treat seniors with significant additional health problems. These patients typically respond a little slower to treatment depending on the amount of degeneration and their physical activity levels, but they do see results.
A three-year study of senior citizens over 75 years of age revealed that seniors who receive chiropractic care spend 21% less time in hospitals and 15% less time in nursing homes than elderly, non-chiropractic patients. Senior citizens under chiropractic care typically report better overall health, have fewer chronic conditions, and are less likely to use prescription drugs than non-chiropractic patients. 87% of senior citizens under chiropractic care described their health status as good or excellent, compared to only 65% of non-chiropractic patients.
At Semlow Chiropractic we are finding that quality of life is a big issue for senior citizens. Our patients who come in with advanced arthritis are not going to be cured, but they can see improved mobility, keep their joints moving and decrease some of the pain. If it is hard for a senior to get dressed in the morning, that is a big deal.
We see many chiropractic miracles in our office and the one that will stick with me forever is an 88-year-old patient with severe osteoporosis and osteoarthitis. She had lost much of the ability to lift her head and look forward. After just two weeks of adjustments with the Pro-Adjuster, the patient commented, "I feel like I am standing straighter and I noticed I can see myself in the mirror now."
We should never forget our body's ability to heal itself. Chiropractic frees the nervous system, but it is each person's body that does the healing!
In our office we have equipment called the Pro-Adjuster (shown on WZZM 13), which gives a computerized adjustment, versus the usual hands-on adjustment. Many people are afraid of that hands-on adjustment. This equipment delivers a low force adjustment without the "pop and crack." The Pro-Adjuster has been effectively used on children as young as two months to our senior patients.
As our population grows, more people are consulting doctors of chiropractic, especially in their later years. As we live longer, there are growing concerns about over-medication and the side effects of combining various prescription drugs. Safe, natural chiropractic care is growing in popularity. Restoring proper nerve and spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality and endurance, and, therefore, quality of life.
Although it many seem impossible, the good news is that starting (and sticking) to a regular exercise program is not as difficult as one might think. However, it is going to require a plan. A plan which is determined by your readiness to start an exercise program, the reality of your life and your schedule, and how you are going to handle the obstacles that will inevitably challenge your path.
It takes years to plan and prepare for a climb to the top of the world, all you have to do to tackle your Mt. Everest is ask yourself three simple questions and be honest with your answers.
The first question is this. "How important is it to you that you do everything in your power to maintain your health and improve your fitness?" Be honest. If you answered that it is the highest priority, we look forward to meeting you as a new member. I say this because if you're not ready to invest time and effort into yourself right now, you're not ready to get started. Your physical well being takes time, energy, and an ongoing commitment. Are you ready to make a commitment to yourself? Do you believe that you (and your physical health) is important? (You are…and it is! If you don't believe it for yourself, ask your children, your spouse and your loved ones. I bet they think you're important!)
If you made it past the first question, here's the second. "What are you willing to commit to, or what concessions can you make to incorporate physical activity into your already busy schedule?" Can you get up earlier? Take a lunch break? Turn the TV off for 30 minutes? You must identify when and where you are going to fit this into your schedule. It's a tough one. (But we've already established that you're worth it and it's more important than anything else!)
Let me take some pressure off right now by reassuring readers that you don't have to jump into a four, five or six day per week exercise program or exercise for an hour or more…especially if you're not doing anything right now! Something is always better than nothing and if you start with one day per week, you start with one day per week. That's it! Do what you can do with the time you are willing to commit and feel good about it. Remember, it's just your first step, you're not tackling Everest.
The third question is this. "How are you going to handle the obstacles that are going to challenge your commitment, just when you start to get into the swing of things?" 100% guaranteed it will happen. And when it does, it's going to be a test. This is when you return to question one. How important is this to you? You are going to have things come up: a time constraint, family obligations, work, etc., the list is endless. Who doesn't have a list as long as Everest is high? What separates the individuals who do exercise, (despite the fact they also have a million other things to do) is a commitment to their physical health and fitness.
What will you do? Quit or commit?
If you're ready, come join us for our "Calling all Couch Potatoes" class on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. Turn your television off one night per week and come enjoy a little exercise. This class is open to non-members and is only $1.00! It's fun, it feels good and it's designed for beginner exercisers. Come join us! (Call Lana for more details at (231) 739-3391.)