Wellness is Not a Joke, Your Life Depends on It

by Dr. Andrew T. Brady, Chiropractic Physician

It is quite surreal to see our local grocery stores’ shelves being emptied out, schools being closed, restaurants being shut down, and few cars on the road when driving to my office. To be honest with you, I didn’t really think that government-mandated closings would happen as a result of the Coronavirus but, here we are. I can’t help but write about this because you need to hear it. You need to get empowered, and you need to make decisions based on facts and not fear.

There is SO much emphasis that has been put on the bug or in this case, the coronavirus, and no one wants to discuss how important the host is – YOU in this instance. The Coronavirus, much like the flu virus, is opportunistic; meaning it will succeed in infecting and spreading IF the host is weak enough to let that happen. This is one of the many reasons why I cannot stress enough the importance of investing in your health so that you can be the most resistant to not just the coronavirus, but all infectious diseases and chronic illnesses. I want to spell this out for you:

If you do not exercise most days a week, you are more prone to infection and death. If you do not eat fruits and vegetables and consume a healthy diet, you are more prone to infection and death. If you have vitamin or mineral deficiencies, you are more prone to infection and death. If you don’t get enough sleep, you are more prone to infection and death. If you have a deficiency in healthy gut bacteria, you are more prone to infection and death. You get the point. Wellness is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Now let’s put this bug into perspective so that hopefully you can make decisions based on facts and not fear. According to CNN as I write this (03/16/20), there have been 3,700 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the U.S. with 71 deaths. Now, this number will grow, and anytime a human life is lost, it is a tragedy and my heart truly goes out to the loved ones of everyone who experiences that type of loss. But, back to perspective:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease kills approximately 647,000 Americans every year. Obesity kills approximately 300,000 Americans every year. Diabetes complications kill approximately 83,864 Americans every year. Alcohol related deaths kill 88,000 Americans every year (which is actually ironic considering people are drinking more due to fears of contracting the virus). If you add all these deaths up, you get 1.1 MILLION deaths every year here in the U.S. from people not investing in their health on a day in and day out basis. This means that you have a much greater statistical risk of dying from poor lifestyle choices than contracting and dying from the Coronavirus.

Medicine has no pill for you this time. The only answer is to eat well, move well, and think well so that you can make yourself as strong as possible. Can you still get the Coronavirus while doing all of this? Sure, but it might not affect you any differently than a common cold. Wellness is not a joke. Your life depends on it!

Spine Integrative Wellness Article – Wellness | (234) 284-8002