We are continuing from last week's article and want to help you evaluate your overall health score. Another way we do this is by checking blood pressure and the spine for any nervous system blockages. Is your blood pressure at a healthy level or do you need to take some steps to improve your numbers? When taking blood pressure we look at two numbers: Systolic - the top number and diastolic - the bottom number. The systolic should be around 120 and the diastolic should be around 80. If your score is above these numbers, then you are heading in the direction of hypertension which can lead to many life-threating health conditions. The good news is that you can make simple lifestyle changes that can not only improve your blood pressure but the outcome of your overall health. Lifestyle changes can consist of eating a healthy diet full of whole fruits and vegetables, exercising each week, chiropractic care and a positive mental attitude.

According to a placebo-controlled study in the March 2007 article on Web MD and also in the Journal of Human Hypertension, a specific chiropractic adjustment to the atlas (the top cervical spinal bone) can significantly lower high blood pressure. Eight weeks after undergoing the procedure, 25 patients with early-stage high blood pressure had significantly lower blood pressure than 25 similar patients who underwent a sham chiropractic adjustment. Compared to the sham-treated patients, those who got the real procedure saw an average 14 mm Hg greater drop in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure count), and an average 8 mm Hg greater drop in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom blood pressure number). None of the patients took blood pressure medicine during this study.

In our office, one way we monitor the health of your body is by checking the function of your nervous system. This is done through paraspinal thermal imaging - a safe, painless and reliable diagnostic test that measures heat emitted from the body's surface. Differences in temperature from side to side are compared to normal values and can indicate the presence of abnormal nervous system function. This along with checking posture, motion of the spine, and X-rays, allows us to continually monitor your health and improvement along the journey to better well-being.

Join us at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2, at the Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn for our Health Screening Workshop, and learn what your health score is. We will be providing an informative lecture along with various screenings including blood pressure and spinal thermal scans. Space is limited; call our office today to reserve your spot, (208) 667-7434.