Our health is one of the most important parts of our lives. When we aren’t feeling well, it’s difficult to work, take care of our families or enjoy anything that may come our way. Many of us take our health for granted, especially if we have never experienced any real health issues in the past. Unfortunately, when we take our health for granted, we often wait until we get sick or injured before we take action, and then we are trying to undo the damage that has already been done. The best thing you can do is take preventative measures to keep yourself healthy and avoid drastic measures you may need to take to heal or return to health. Here are a few things to consider:
Exercise
“There is no question that exercise is essential for all people, regardless of age or physical condition,” states Dave Kentopp with Anytime Fitness. “It’s even more important now that our society has become more sedentary and our lives more fast-paced and stressed. With all the unhealthy diversions we have like TV, video games, computers and fast food, it becomes even more important to make it a point to get up and move. Exercise helps prevent or lessens the chance of heart disease, cancers, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoarthritis, anxiety, and depression. Exercise promotes sharper brain function, relieves stress, helps you sleep better, gives you self-esteem, and makes you happier. There is no downside to exercise.”
The specific types of exercises you do depend on your current level of health, but there are some general guidelines that apply to nearly everyone. “Obviously, if you have physical limitations or medical problems, your workout routine should be built carefully around those concerns,” explains Dave. “A combination of strength and cardio is the most sensible and effective program, no matter what age, physical condition, or goal you have. Remember to not over-exert when you start your routine. Find out what you can handle without too much exhaustion. When you’re comfortable with what you’re doing and know where you are (weight, speed, duration, etc.), then you can push yourself to improve your performance. If you don’t know where to start, the best thing to do is contact a good personal trainer. Make sure the trainer is certified and insured. You need guidance. Paying a little more for a trainer will greatly improve your chances of reaching that fitness goal and pay for itself many times over. At Anytime Fitness, we have experienced and knowledgeable trainers at all Lincoln locations. We offer free orientations with a trainer to new members and free access to Anytimehealth.com, where you can track your workout progress and diet online, and learn a great deal there about diet and exercise.”
If you are experiencing an illness or injury, you may need to make special considerations before undertaking an exercise program. “If your illness or injury is severe enough to be of concern, you should consult a doctor before resuming a rigorous exercise routine,” says Dave. “A physical therapist or certified personal trainer may also be of help. In any case, you should start again slowly and listen to your body. If you feel like you should stop during an exercise, do so.”
Getting motivated to exercise can be a problem. Mike Bevard with Capital City Boot Camps says, “Let’s face it, most people dislike exercise. Or at least they think they do. They say it takes up too much time, they don’t like to get sweaty, or maybe they’re so out of shape that it hurts. I think that anyone who says they don’t like exercise is really saying that they don’t have any motivation. Motivation is what gets you to stick with an exercise routine, even when it feels like the last thing you feel like doing. There isn’t a one size fits all answer for motivation since different things motivate different people. The important thing is to find out what motivates you and uses it to stick to your program.”
Chiropractic and Acupuncture
Chiropractic can be a wonderful ally in staying healthy. “Chiropractors use a very specific adjustment to the spine to remove subluxations,” explains Dr. Corey Dousharm with Mosier/Timperley Chiropractic. “These subluxations create interference throughout the nervous system of the body, which in turn may cause many common issues, such as: headaches, neck and back pain, sciatica, tingling in the arms/legs, and in young kids: colic, “failure to thrive”, inability to latch for breast feeding, and so much more. By removing these interferences, the body is able to properly function, allowing all systems to work together to create optimal health. Regular adjustments, along with diet and exercise help a person maintain great health!”
“Chiropractic care aims to relieve tension off nerves in your spine to increase nerve flow to your organs,” adds Dr. Kristin Morgan with Morgan Chiropractic. “This in turn helps to increase nourishment to your tissues and immune system allowing for full body function. As with chiropractic, acupuncture can help with a multitude of conditions and issues commonly treated are infertility, headaches, chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia, 
gastrointestinal disorders and stress relief. Most commonly, we visit the medical doctor when we are in pain or sick. We often are given a prescription to help alleviate the symptoms. This is masking the problem not helping our body to remove the problem. Our bodies and immune system are amazing parts of our health. Chiropractic and acupuncture are used to relieve your symptoms, such as pain, and increase your own body’s potential to heal itself. There are no side effects and no long term side effects except increased health!”
“Interference in the nervous system does not just create pain, it can also be seen as decreased immune function,” Dr. Corey Dousharm points out. “The immune system works to fight off all of the “bugs” in the environment, from the flu, to strep throat, to allergies, and even the common cold. My making sure that the immune system is fully functioning, it will have a greater chance at fighting off whatever is presented to the body.”
There are many choices when it comes to chiropractic and acupuncture, and it’s important to choose the best suited to you and your needs. “Do your research on the chiropractor/acupuncturist you are considering,” suggests Dr. Kristin Morgan. “Consider making an appointment for a consultation to interview the doctor. The most important part is making sure you and the doctor have a good relationship. Your healing will only progress if you are comfortable and feel as the doctor and you are a team reaching your wellness goals.”
Physical Therapy
If you have pain or weakness, physical therapy can often be the answer to get you back to feeling healthy again. “Physical therapy can help with a wide variety of conditions,” states Mike Zalman with Husker Rehabilitation and Wellness Centers. “This includes post-surgical rehabilitation, back and joint pain, weakness, balance problems, vertigo (BPPV), incontinence, sports injuries, postural imbalances, and several other conditions.
Physical therapy is a good alternative to medicine because it focuses on the root cause of your pain or weakness. With the appropriate examination, your problem can be accurately identified and effectively treated. Medicine may help only to temporarily reduce the pain or inflammation associated with your condition, but not fix the problem. That being said, medications such as NSAIDS can be very beneficial in reducing symptoms, making it easier for you to perform the exercises necessary for your improvement.”
As with any professional, it’s important to find the best one to fit your condition. “In order to find the best physical therapist for you, ask around,” suggests Mike. “Ask friends, family, or associates where they might have had a good experience! Good physical therapists come with good reputations! Researching a therapist or a facility may also provide you with information on what types of treatments they have to offer. You should have a good comfort level with your therapist as they guide you through your rehabilitation as well.
At Husker Rehab we offer a wide variety of treatment techniques, including Postural Restoration, Graston technique, women’s health therapy, Reflax/Reflexercise for chronic pain, and much more!”
Hypnosis
Many people don’t associate hypnosis with health. Some may think of it as a stage show where people under hypnosis are made to do funny things to make the audience laugh. Other associate it with memory regression for the case of therapy or law enforcement. While both of these may be true, hypnosis is much more than that and can help you become healthier.
“Hypnosis helps with many health issues,” points out Devan Martin with Lincoln Hypnosis. “It can help with pain management, weight loss and all the issues that are related to being overweight such as diabetes, joint pain, cardiovascular disease and many more. It can also help people stop smoking and the related health problems that are connected to smoking such as upper respiratory problems and even issues in the mouth like periodontal disease. In addition, hypnosis can help with sleep, stress, childbirth, pre and post surgery situations and, in general, can help the body heal and restore itself.”
You may be wondering how hypnosis works and Devan explains it this way: “Albert Einstein said “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” This is an important statement when looking at the hypnosis process. What we imagine is what we make real. Hypnosis helps entrain the brain to step into the imagination and bypass the critical mind in a way that allows change to happen. Hypnosis works for all people equally well. We do testing here at Lincoln Hypnosis to find if hypnosis works for you. If you can listen, pay attention and follow instructions, hypnosis can work for you.”
She sums up by saying, “Whose responsibility is it to change? Hypnosis is 100% about you. Nobody can make another person change. Hypnosis is a powerful tool to help you create the change you would like to create in your life. Hypnosis has helped thousands of people make positive improvements in their lives and you can too!”
Feeling good and staying healthy should be a top priority for all of us. It’s vitally important to every aspect of our lives and for our futures. If you are a parent, it’s also important to set a good example for your children to help them make their own healthy choices. Make sure you work with the health professionals who can help you prevent disease and injury and, if you do start suffering from a health condition, work with those who can help you recover as quickly as possible.