I was at the gym the other day and heard someone say their head was stuffy and they were tired.  They said they were sick. Did you know that a "cold" is in your system for 3 days before you have a symptom?  So, this means that you were "sick" for 3 days before you even had a symptom appear.  Some of the ways our body's react to an antigen in our system fights it off by sinus drainage, fever, vomiting, diarrhea.  So when we are feeling "sick" our body is actually working the way it should and is very healthy doing exactly what it needs to get this virus, bacteria etc. out of our body so it can function as it should.  A big problem occurs when people want to stifle this and take decongestants, anti-diarrhea medication.  What this does is allow this ailment to stay in the body longer leading to a decreased immune system.  I get it, we all have jobs but taking a sick day to take care of yourself is really necessary to regenerate or it can lead to being sick longer or having your symptoms increase making you unable to go to work at all.

So what is it to really being healthy, is it how we feel or how we function?

Health is really when all of our systems (reproductive, digestive, circulatory, respiratory, skeletal, muscular, urinary, skin) are running optimally.  Not just when we are in pain or discomfort.  The symptoms come up after one of the systems has finally broken down from lifestyle stress. Here are some examples of problems people have that they don't think are health problems: 1. Insomnia – The brain doesn't relax so the body doesn't relax. 2. Fatigue: -  You get home from work and are exhausted, wake up but are still really "sleepy".  You need coffee throughout the day to stay awake. 3. Frequent Aches and pains - Neck, back pain, headaches...everyone gets them right?  Not really, this is a sign of something not working right. 4. Digestive issues - Heartburn, acid reflux, constipation.  Your body needs the right foods, exercise and relaxation.  This is a sign that your organs are stressed. 5. Mood changes - Anger, negativity, worrying...this is a sign that you are under too much stress and you need to find a way to get rid of stress. 6. Skin issues - Hives, discolorations, bumps...this can be an allergy or stress related. Doesn't everyone have those things?  Well, no and even if it is common, it doesn't mean it is normal or healthy.  We live in a society that eats out frequently, or if not eating out, eat foods with pesticides and additives.  We also sit for long hours at a time at a desk or in front of a television.  So, if there are a lot of people with the above mentioned, it is only because of our lifestyle.  These problems were not common to our grandparents. Symptoms are our body’s alarm system telling us that something is wrong and letting us know that we need to lay off of something for a while. Ignoring symptoms can lead to more serious problems.  You will probably notice your body giving you slight discomfort long before a full blown problem arises. Ignoring it won't make it go away, it will only wait until it can't take anymore and give you discomfort that you can not tolerate any longer. So what is it like to DREAM with health?  Dream stands for D: diet, digestion R: Rest/good sleep E: exercise A: Alignment and Function M: Mental health/relationships These are all necessary for optimal health.  If any one of these areas are abused, the body will eventually respond. I like to take the full-body approach to health and give guidance anywhere I can to help every one of my patients understand how every action they take in life will correlate with their health.  Once you know what to do to keep your body healthy, you will take the steps necessary to be able to work, spend time with family and enjoy life the way you should! The only thing you are in control of is your health.  It is the most precious asset in your life.  Without it, you life will not be as full-filled as you would like and you may have to settle for a life that you did not envision.  The decisions and actions you decide on in life will either "make you" or "break you".  Most people when I ask them what there goals are tell me excellent health.  Getting to excellent health takes hard work, dedication and time.  You are worth it!