Last week, I was in one of our local area gyms training, when I met gentleman in his late 50’s who was experiencing some lower back pain. Before I had the opportunity to speak with him, he proudly proclaimed, “I am as healthy as a horse for my age”. After taking a history, it turned out he was on 7 prescription medications! Two high blood pressure meds, 1 for high cholesterol, an anti-anxiety medication, a painkiller, muscle relaxer, and an anti-depressant. THIS IS NOT NORMAL, BUT VERY COMMON IN OUR COMMUNITY!!

Some time ago I was visiting a dying friend in a nursing home. He was 93 and lived a beautiful life. Some of you reading this may know him. I spent several hours at the “Assisted Living Facility”, during which time I began to converse with the staff. One of the first questions I had for them was how old the people there were? I was told, “We have people here sir that are as young as there early 60’s”. I was blown away! So much so that I really started to question what it was that these people did that got them here at such a young age?

Then I realized it wasn’t so much what they did, it was what they didn’t do!

If you are reading this and you are in your 20’s, 30’s, or 40’s, WAKE UP!!! It is the health choices you make during these decades that will determine the “state of health” you will be in when you reach your 60’s, 70’s and into your 90’s.

Right now in Washington, Republicans, Democrats and the President are grappling over the plight of the uninsured. However, did you know that you are five times more likely to die from visiting a hospital than from not having health insurance? (Forbes 3/08).

You can blame diet, lifestyle, genetics, the hospitals, doctors, and drug companies all we want, but the bottom line is that it’s worse than ever out there, and YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN! You and you alone are responsible for the health of your family, both now and in the future. In other words, 98% of whatever disease “suddenly” affects you years from now is a direct result of what you chose not to do today.

So….It does make a difference every time you choose to exercise, it does make a difference when you choose to drink enough water today, it does make a difference when you eat a carrot instead of a bag of chips, etc….

Please act today and build the house of health within!!

Yours in Health Always,

Dr. Craig Kaler

Ocean Chiropractic Center

www.oceanchiropractic.com

305-932-3773