Life Span vs Health Span

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The Next Revolution of Health Care is here!

Health Care 1.0 or Medical care 1.0, if you prefer, was back in the time of ethers and spirits causing disease.  There was no germ theory from Pasteur and care consisted of blood letting and other untested concoctions.  
Along came Francis Bacon and the scientific method of testing hypotheses.  Antibiotics for infections and other advancements occurred early in the 20th century.  While these developments increased life spans, it was sanitization and doctors simply washing their hands between patients that accounted for a dramatic decrease in infant and new-mother deaths!  Imagine the increase in average life expectancy if you stop infecting young mothers and infants!!  Sanitization and drugs for infections is the current Medicine 2.0 that we are in now.  
The lifespan increases have recently stalled and have even gone down a little in some cases.  Why?

Medicine 2.0 has an emphasis on screening for and treating disease.  Of course we need this kind of care but it has failed us in many ways.  Treating chronic disease is not a great way to enjoy life and, as the statistics show, its ability to increase life span has reached a plateau.

Enter HEALTH CARE 3.0.  This is where medical care leaves the building!  The emphasis is not on extending life span but instead is on extending HEALTH SPAN.  Health span is that length of time where you are actually able to fully enjoy life.  It focuses on physical, cognitive and emotional well being.  The goal is to maximize these three areas of health NOW so that as they inevitably decline they do so from a higher state and the decline in these abilities is thereby extended.  Put another way, would you like to have the ability to function as well as a healthy 65 year old when you are 85?  This is the goal of Health Care 3.0 and this where Wellness focussed chiropractors come in.  We can help you by focussing on the weak links in your health.  A weak link may be a spinal problem that seems minor now but will inhibit your function in the future.  It may be a dietary problem that intersects with a genetic predisposition.  For example, processed meat and a family history of colon cancer.  Do think your MD is going to ask you about that?  Likely not.  Emotionally, do you have a habit of focussing on the good in life?  Do you have an attitude of gratitude?  

Our necessary Medicine 2.0 focusses on finding disease and treating it after you have it.  Focussing on improving your health span is much more positive way of thinking about health.  It makes the job of being a Health Care 3.0 practitioner pretty fun too!  If it makes sense to you, welcome aboard the wellness train and learn on!

Yours in Health,  Dr. Darrell

Posted In: Dr. Darrell's Blog