Component 1 of Health Span is Physical Health - Weekly Q&A

 

In medicine so much focus is on lab results.  While important, lab test of having low cholesterol (for example) is highly unlikely to contribute to Health Span. Keeping cholesterol in check with a healthful diet is simply a baseline for avoiding disease.  When we speak of Health Span and enjoying life in your later years we are referring to those elements of Physical Health, Emotional Health and Cognitive Health.  These are the three components of heath from the World Health Organization.  

 

Lets break these down:

 

 Physical Health has three main components. 

 

1. Balance. This is critical to maintain as we age by challenging our balance with specific exercises and staying balanced in the spine with regular adjustments to correct imbalances. 

 

2. Strength. Keeping muscle mass so we can do things late in life as our muscle inevitably fades.  Starting at a higher set point now will help slow that decline.  Staying well adjusted can help you strength train without injuring yourself.  

 

3. Aerobic Capacity.  Do you want to go on that hike with your grandchildren? Wouldn’t it be great to go up those Spanish Steps of Rome?  Well, you better start now if you want to do it later!  Building up aerobic capacity now is the key to having it later.  80% of the population has a pelvic imbalance that will effect there back, knee or foot if left uncorrected.  Doing aerobic activity depends on these structures working well.

 

Next week we’ll talk about the second of the three Components of Health Span ~ Emotional Health

 

Yours in Health,  Dr. Darrell Morin