Prevention is a widely used term, yet it is greatly misappropriated. Most people correlate prevention with lab testing, mammograms, colonoscopies, prostate exams, etc. However, upon further analysis, it is clear that these types of tests and screenings, while effective in early detection, should not be considered preventative. There is a vast difference between prevention and early detection.
Early Detection vs. Prevention
Early detection is better than late or no detection, but it should not give the pretense of true prevention. For example, a positive finding on a mammogram can detect a tumor, but it has most likely been developing for some time before it appears. Similarly, a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test may indicate a potential prostate tumor, but that tumor did not just develop overnight. It had been forming for months and years before being detected on a test.
Blood tests like insulin and glucose are only able to provide a snapshot in time and may not always reflect a person's true health status. For instance, a high fasting glucose reading could simply be due to a late-night meal, whereas a healthy meal could produce lower readings. To gain a comprehensive understanding of one's health, continuous glucose monitoring is recommended. However, relying solely on early detection tests and screenings may miss underlying health issues. A better approach would be to have a test that reveals any underlying issues before any symptoms or diagnosis occur. Luckily, such a test exists, and it may be surprising, as it's not commonly considered.
It Starts with the Nervous System
Prevention starts with evaluating your nervous system, which connects your brain to the rest of your body. Gray's Anatomy, known as the "bible of anatomy," states, the nervous system controls and coordinates all the other organs and structures, and relates the individual to his environment. The nervous system is so vital that it is encased in bone. The skull protects the brain, and freely movable vertebrae protect the spinal cord. Misalignments (called subluxation), even to the slightest degree and millimeter, affect neurology at that level. In other words, when signals from the brain to the body are not optimal, it causes dysfunction.
Depending on the level of the misalignment, different organs and tissues will be affected. The following nerve chart shows different spine levels and the innervated organs at that level. It also highlights the potential symptoms that can manifest when interference occurs at that level of the spine(1).
The "Silent Killer"
While most people don’t connect their symptoms or overall health with their nervous system, it is precisely what principled chiropractors specialize in. A chiropractor can use several techniques to detect subluxation, including non-invasive thermal scans, x-rays (if necessary), and palpation. These diagnostic tools can quickly and easily identify misalignments that can lead to dysfunction and, ultimately, disease if not addressed.
Let's use the heart as an example. If the nerves to your heart were severed, the heart would stop beating, leading to death. However, what if the nerves were not severed entirely, but the neurology controlling the heart was altered or compromised? Any degree of neurological compromise will affect the overall function of that organ and, ultimately, your health. The severity of the subluxation will determine the loss of function, which will only worsen over time unless addressed.
Subluxation is often called the "silent killer" because its effects are rarely felt. Dysfunctions that result from subluxation are not felt until some time afterward when symptoms or a diagnosis present themselves. In other words, there may be no outward sign of a problem in the form of pain, discomfort, or other symptoms. Yet, these subluxations' persistence is incredibly significant to overall health. Subluxations can predate symptoms and diagnoses by years and even decades. Therefore, chiropractic care as a preventive approach is prudent.
Chiropractors Evaluate How the Body is Functioning and Healing
Once someone presents in a chiropractic office with neck pain, back pain, or headaches, problems have been there long before the symptom appeared. An adage says, "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree." Issues that are left unaddressed result in improper alignment and posture moving forward.
Ideally, children are checked from birth to ensure a healthy spine and nervous system. Subluxated children turn into symptomatic adults. After all, subluxation is a progressive, degenerative disease. Therefore, it is essential to identify and correct them as early as possible. Structural issues resulting from trauma, overuse, poor posture, poor sleep habits, emotional trauma or stress, and exposure to toxins, etc. can have serious health consequences. Chiropractors refer to these issues as the 3 T's: trauma, thoughts, and toxins - which are at the root of subluxation.
Most people get their teeth cleaned and checked every six months as a routine practice. Although teeth are undoubtedly important, the nervous system is the master control of the body and, therefore, much more critical to overall health. Everyone should have the opportunity to have their nervous system evaluated for interference. By ensuring the integrity of the nervous system, you optimize how the body functions and heals, preventing sickness and disease.
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