There are quick fixes and medications for pains and aches advertised just about everywhere. In our American culture, many people wait to seek out medical help after their symptoms begin. Wellness journeys begin with caring for your body before it breaks down and brings on a slew of unwanted health issues. Let’s take a look at proactive versus reactive chiropractic care.
What is the difference between proactive and reactive care?
There are many differences in approaching your healthcare from a proactive or reactive care approach. Here is how they are quite different from one another.
Reactive Care
Reactive care is exactly what it sounds like – reacting. Finding out that you have health problems and then seeking out a chiropractor or doctor is reactive care. People often choose to ignore their bodies in times of busyness or stress and find out too late that their bodies take a great toll.
Unfortunately, reactive care does not prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis. It only seeks to treat a condition that often began from bodily neglect. Many of these chronic diseases are preventable when you take care of your overall health. Reactive care cannot prevent or stop all unpleasant symptoms that are a result of a chronic condition.
Many find that reactive care treatments are more expensive than preventative measures. Treating a disease or bodily symptom after it has become a problem will cost you more time and money than caring for the body before it begins to break down.
Proactive Care
A proactive approach is just the opposite of reactive care. It seeks to do the following:
- Improve health
- Facilitate health
- Optimize health
These actions give you all the power to stay healthy by making responsible health choices. It focuses on the long term rather than a quick fix. Lifestyle changes give you the tools to be proactive in caring for your health. Proactive health care will serve you well in the long run.
In proactive care, you make your health a priority. The incredible benefit is that when your body becomes ill, your immune and nervous systems will be primed to deal with whatever is thrown at it.
Importance of Proactive Care
The great thing about proactive healthcare is that there are plenty of easy steps you can take to make the necessary changes to improve your health. Here are some great ways you can utilize proactive care:
- Drinking enough water
- Getting exercise each day
- Eating healthful foods that nourish
- Taking supplements and vitamins that support your immune system
- Blood tests to monitor your vitals
- Participating in stress-relieving activities
- Getting quality sleep
- Preventative chiropractic care
How does proactive chiropractic care benefit me?
Chiropractic care is often forgotten about until you get severe back pain. Many do not realize the power of preventive and proactive chiropractic care. Proper spine alignment is an excellent way to maintain your nervous system. This helps the messenger system from your brain to your body to function at its best.
Seeing your chiropractor is a step on a wellness journey. Even if you consider yourself healthy and fit, chiropractic adjustments will help your future health. It will also help you maintain your current state of health and allow you to function optimally. Many find that going for regular adjustments saves them time and money as they prevent or stop health conditions. Your chiropractor will assess your health and help you reach and maintain your wellness goals.
In conclusion, taking care of your health is a lot like taking care of a car. With regular maintenance, like oil changes and tire checks, your car can run smoothly and might not break down on you. That’s proactive health care—doing things now to keep your body running well, like eating fruits and veggies, playing sports, sleeping enough, and seeing the chiropractor before you feel pain. It’s a smart way to avoid big problems and keep feeling your best.
Sometimes, though, just like with cars, unexpected problems happen. You might get an ear infection or strain a muscle, and that’s when you need reactive health care. It’s like taking your car to the mechanic after you hear a strange noise. The mechanic fixes the problem so you can get back on the road. Reacting to health problems is really important, but it’s often easier, cheaper, and less stressful to just take good care of your health in the first place.
So, remember, whether you’re already feeling great or you’re dealing with a health hiccup, it’s important to think about your health both proactively and reactively. Use proactive care to keep on top of your game and reactive care when tackling health issues as they come. That way, you’re setting yourself up for a healthy life, now and in the future. Let’s keep our “cars” in tip-top shape and ready for any bumps on the road ahead!
Contact Us
At Better Day Chiropractic, we’re dedicated to serving you throughout your pregnancy and postpartum recovery. We also offer sports, family, and pediatric chiropractic care. If you are located in Charlotte or the surrounding areas, contact us today.
