Health Plan of Action

Developing A Health Plan of Action:

Deciding on improving one’s health is probably the most important action you can take in your life since much of your existence revolves around the level of your health and vitality.

If we are living on a “Health Survival level” then our major goal is just to stay alive rather than improve the level we are on. There are certain criteria that can be evaluated to assess where you are on a health scale and in my opinion they are as follows.
1)Wt.:Are you at the optimum BMI for your height, body frame and age.?
(to determine BMI go to the link below)
2)Energy:Do you have the energy to not only get thru your day but
fulfill all of your needs?
3)Endurance:Are you able to exercise moderately without getting short of breath or exhausted following?
4)Meds:Are you on multiple meds for Blood Pressure, Cholesterol,
Anxiety, Insomnia, Reflux etc.etc.
5)Pain Level:Are you pain free or suffering from chronic or intermittent discomfort.
6)Digestion:Does your Gi system work in a regular normal manner or are you suffering from constipation, reflux, gas, heartburn etc.

7)Mental State:Are you in a positive optimistic mode most of the time or do you find yourself fighting depression, anxiety, negativity etc…

Chiropractic Quick Facts

Chiropractic Quick Facts

Chiropractic is the fastest-growing and second-largest primary health care profession.
There are approximately 60,000 doctors of chiropractic (DCs) in active practice in the United States spread from rural areas to inner cities. More than 10,000 students are currently enrolled in chiropractic educational programs accredited by a federally-recognized body (CCE).

Chiropractic services are in high demand.
Tens of millions of Americans routinely opt for chiropractic services and this number is rapidly growing. In 1993, more than 30 million consumers made chiropractic a regular part of their health care program.

Doctors of Chiropractic receive extensive, demanding professional education on par with medical doctors (MDs) and osteopaths (DOs).
To receive the doctor of chiropractic degree, candidates must complete extensive undergraduate prerequisites and four years of graduate-level instruction and internship at an accredited chiropractic institution. Comprehensive knowledge of all systems of the body and diagnostic procedures enable the DC to thoroughly evaluate a patient, address disorders relating to the spine and determine the need for referral to another health care provider.

Doctors of Chiropractic are primary health care providers.
According to the Center for Studies in Health Policy, “The DC can provide all three levels of primary care interventions and therefore is a primary care provider, as are MDs and DOs. The doctor of chiropractic is a gatekeeper to the health care system and an independent practitioner who provides primary care services. The DC’s office is a direct access portal of entry to the full scope of service.”

Doctors of Chiropractic are licensed in all 50 states in the US.
DCs have been licensed and recognized for many decades in all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Chiropractic is recognized by governmental health care programs.
Chiropractic is included in Medicare, Medicaid, Federal Employees Health Care Benefits Programs, Federal Workers’ Compensation and all state workers’ compensation programs. Chiropractic students are qualified to receive federal student loan assistance and DCs are authorized to be commissioned as health care officers in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The practice of chiropractic is based on sound scientific principles.
The existence of the nervous system as the primary control mechanism of the body is an undisputed scientific fact. Its relationship with the spine is the focus of the practice of chiropractic. The spine develops in utero to provide two primary functions: (1) allow for freedom of movement and (2) house and protect the spinal cord. When the vertebrae of the spine become misaligned through trauma or repetitive injury, two major consequences will result: (1) the range of motion becomes limited and (2) spinal nerves emerging from the spinal cord are compromised. DCs use the term “subluxation” to describe such disruptions. Interruption of nerve flow can eventually lead to pain, disability, and an overall decrease in the quality of life. Conversely, the removal of that interference has been shown to have significant, lasting health benefits. Through the adjustment of the subluxation, the doctor of chiropractic endeavors to restore normal nerve expression. The body is then able to respond appropriately to any imbalance in the system, thus relieving symptoms and restoring health.

Doctors of chiropractic provide effective, low-cost health care for a wide range of conditions.
Studies conducted according to the highest scientific standards and published by organizations not affiliated in any way with chiropractic institutions or associations continue to show the clinical appropriateness and effectiveness of chiropractic care. One of the most recent, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health, stated emphatically that:

“On the evidence, particularly the most scientifically valid clinical studies, spinal manipulation applied by chiropractors is shown to be more effective than alternative treatments for low back pain…There would be highly significant cost savings if more management of low back pain was transferred from physician to chiropractors.”

The doctor of chiropractic is an effective source of preventative and wellness care.
The anatomical focus of the DC on the human spine has created the perception of the DC as just a “back doctor.” Although this perception is not entirely incorrect, it is very much incomplete. Doctors of chiropractic are a highly appropriate resource in matters of work-place safety, stress management, injury prevention, postural correction and nutritional counseling.”

The process of chiropractic adjustment is a safe, efficient procedure which is performed nearly one million times every working day in the United States.
There is a singular lack of actuarial data that would justify concluding that chiropractic care is in any way harmful or dangerous. Chiropractic care is non-invasive, therefore, the body’s response to chiropractic care is far more predictable than its reactions to drug treatments or surgical procedures. Of the nearly one million adjustments given every day in this country, complications are exceedingly rare. Perhaps the best summary statement on the subject of safety was published in 1979 by the Government of New Zealand which established a special commission to study chiropractic. They found:

“The conspicuous lack of evidence that chiropractors cause harm or allow harm to occur through neglect of medical referral can be taken to mean only one thing: that chiropractors have on the whole an impressive safety record.”

Goals and Helping Others

Goals and Success/The Ingredients and ratio’s/
_______________________________________________

We all want success whether it be in our financial status, health, or our relationships. There are certain laws that i have found helpful in moving in a positive direction and they can be applied to your business, health or any other area in our life. They are as follows.

1)Your success is directly proportionate to your number and quality of communications.

So to improve your success ratio increase the quantity and quality of your communications. These can be via. email, phone, person to person etc. The more communications, the more success. The communication needs to have a purpose and be positive because whatever is focused on will increase. So focus on what you would like to accentuate in the positive direction. These are in direct proportion so as one goes up the others will as well.

2)Goals/Set specific and measurable goals for yourself. Place them where you can see them and have a picture of them if possible. Set a timeline and if you do not hit them in that timeline move it ahead rather than defining it as failure. Without trying the answer is always no.

3)A thought +an action +a feeling=a result. It is far better to take an action and not get the desired result than do nothing. At least with an action you can change course and try something else and then view the result. Adding a feeling boosts the energy so think about your goal while listening to inspiring music or watching an inspirational video.

4)Service above all:Rewards are always a result of services performed. Money by itself or for that matter material rewards do not compare, in my opinion to the satisfaction of helping another person. What goes around will eventually come around so if you are putting out helping energy it will come back in many forms.

5)Above all give thanx when you recieve and share your knowledge with others. We are all connected and have the ability to further each others growth with our own.
In peace and love->Dr.Michael Housman DC

Loss of a Pet

In my practice every now and then I have a patient come in that has lost a pet. Having gone thru this myself a couple of years ago I can understand the profound sense of sadness that one can experience with this. For many their pets are not just animals but their friends, company, and a part of their family. Whereby one might think that this is something that can be easily transitioned, for many it can be a loss of major proportion and should be handled so. Our pets offer us the unconditional love and support that we do not always find from our human counterparts. They are glad to see us, do not judge us and respond to our love and affection. Having them gone can create a huge void in one’s life. First of all I think that this relationship needs to honored by others and supported.

Not everyone understands this and often dismisses the parting as something unsubstantial. The mourning may last and is not always passed thru easily. I know for me when I lost my scottish terrier Frankie a couple of years ago it took me a long time to get over it and when I still think of her I get all teared up. Why. It is because she was a fundamental part of my life on my walks with her, spending time with her etc. Her parting was a profound change though it was eased since I was with her when she died and I honored her passing with rituals and careful attention. I understand how, for many, the loss of a pet is equal too if not greater than the loss of a person. I think the best way to deal with it is encourage the person to talk about the pet to release some some of the sadness and to plan some rituals to honor the memory as well.

With time the profound sense of loss will pass though the memory will remain. After Frankie died a few nites following I had a dream with her young and radiant again and I do feel that there is a special place in heaven for our pets and they are ready to greet us when we pass the great divide ourselves.

Setting Goals

Basic principles of setting Goals
__________________________

Discussion:

Goal setting is a concept that most people believe in but do not always take to time to actually set up.

Little do we realize that we engage in the process of goal setting on a regular basis whether we like it or not. When we get in our car and drive we most often set out with a particular destination in mind. The destination is our goal and if we have not made the journey before we often will use a road map to guide us there. Yet when it comes to the direction of our lives we are often swept to and fro by the circumstances that we encounter not knowing exactly what direction we are headed in.

Often we achieve goals that are set on an unconscious level. These goals have often been set by the people we were around as children and continue to function to this day. They involve our body image, how much we eat, the way we dress and the myriad of behaviors that make up who we are.

Part of the process of taking control of one’s life comes in setting down a path or direction we would like to see ourselves moving in. This direction can and does change at times though having a goal in mind increases our potential to achieve the direction we want in life.

Whether we like it or not we set goals. Making them a conscious choice involves a little
more work but the rewards are much greater. This first exercise involves writing down
some of your goals in life. We will develop and elaborate on them in future exercises.

The best way to approach this is think big rather than thinking of reasons why you
may not be able to achieve the goal. Anything is possible.

Goals do not have to be lofty or complicated. Planting a Garden, raising a child, planning a vacation are all goals that are achievable given a plan a vision and actions steps.

Develop the thought that anything is possible with the right attitude. All great accomplishments in the world have started out with a thought which nutured and developed grew into something great whether it be a large company or a family.

Often times when we arrive at a certain goal we actually find out that the result is not really what we wanted in the first place. This is OK. It is not failure. Re-define failure as more learning. Now we have learned what we don’t want. This is good.

And remember “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”

The first exercise goes thru the process of writing down some goals with some thought
put into what the result may be and whether you are willing to do what it takes to accomplish the goal.

PLAYSHEET NUMBER #1
____________________
NAME:

DATE: / /

1)Name three projects,goals,or aspirations that you have always
wanted to do but have not accomplished yet.

2)Name 3 major goals/accomplishments that you have already
achieved in your life.

Describe what it felt like to accomplish these goals/:

3)For Each of the three goals not achieved yet write down what the benefits will be for achieving these goals:
i.e. more free time, sense of accomplishment etc..

4)Pick one goal from list #1 that you have not accomlished yet.
List three action steps that you could take to bring you closer
to that goal.(given unlimited resources i.e. time, money , knowledge etc…)

4)Name three qualities that you admire in yourself that will help you to achieve the above goal.

5)Describe how you would feel if you achieved the above goal right now.

For those who are interested you may submit your goals exercise to my
email address at cbase@roadrunner.com All exercises submitted will be held confidential.

For the sake of interaction also , please submit comments, additions questions etc. which
will be published to the group class for dialogue.

Next class will be on how to use imagery to enhance your goal’s as well as your life./Until next time
Dr.H.

Dr.Mikes note:

This is a submission for the last year project . An essay project that is designed to stimulate your thinking about how you would live if you knew you only had a year left. If you would like to participate please email me at cbase@roadrunner.com

1/19/2012

Inner Light Studio Website:http://Innergardenoflightstudios.com

Name: Lee Ann Beaulieu
Health level: I feel that my health is excellent
Stage of Life: Working toward a full expression of Self

I wanted to participate in Dr. Mike’s blog about how I would spend my time if this were my last year of life because I admire and respect his full embrace of life. His clarity and energy are inspirational!

The focus of my input is not about where I would go or what amends I would want to make. All those types of thoughts and questions have been addressed and resolved at this midpoint of my life.

The important questions for me to continue to ask myself on my personal journey are:
Who am I as a Soul?
What is my mission/what have I come here to learn and experience?
How can I express the highest part of myself to serve, learn and grow?

Each of us has a unique life path to follow. I find it exciting to be the archeologist of my life to this point and to unearth the emotional patterns that make up who I am as a personality and how that has led to choices that I’ve made. What has been created and what has never been that could have. It’s so interesting to discover what lessons these patterns have brought to me and to have an opportunity to bring them forward for healing, if needed. Just when I think I have mastered or let go of an important issue, just one more thing pops up as a trigger to see if I am truly done with that. Every moment and interaction serves me and challenges me to use the difficulties that arise as a mirror for growth and healing on many levels.

At this point I am continually challenged to be clear and honest with what my intentions are each day and what I can yet accomplish. Am I a human Be-ing or a human Do-ing? Often, I get caught up in the rush of doing. There’s so much that would be wonderful to complete, another renovation on the house, a new garden, a trip to somewhere inspiring or another interesting concept to put forward in my work. Sometimes it is just staying in the balance of living an ordinary life with the daily tasks of cleaning the house, the yard, keeping up with the animals and my jobs. The days rush by and responsibilities can take up more than their share of time and weigh heavily on the heart and mind.

At these times, I try to remember what I learned from my Native American friends years ago when I would spend time on the reservation. We often call this “being present” but words lose their meaning when overused and become cliché. To live it takes practice and perhaps a bit of guidance. This is how it feels to me:

Be still.
Enjoy each ray of sunshine as it falls upon your face and skin.
Enjoy each drop of rain, even if the cold, fat drops drench you.
Notice each blade of grass in the field. Each one is different and has a purpose.
Appreciate each rock and observe all the colors, the shapes and their solid, dependable structure.
Feel the wisdom each tree has to offer. They have lived perhaps several hundred years. What have they been witness to?
‘Be’ the sparkling shimmer on the blue ocean waters, light and dancing.
Dive down into the depths of the sea and discover new worlds you could never dream of.
Beauty, magic and wisdom then appear in the simple and mundane moments.

Each being is, at it’s most basic, a pattern of energy. Each inanimate object is also a pattern of energy. All particles of energy emanate from the original Source. In the overwhelming awe of this how can we not pause to appreciate and feel grateful for all the magnificence that surrounds us? In fact, we are literally All Related.

There are many ways I live my life that stem from the teachings that have been shared with me. We are part of the web of life. Every part is sacred and humans are no more important than the animals, rocks, plants, etc. Mother Earth is our home and we must treat her with respect and care. In each moment there is a message and a deeper meaning, if we choose to listen.

When we live with clarity and deep intent our lives become enriched in ways that expand. It is important to take time to meditate, pray or start a practice that puts you in alignment with your higher self/God or whatever suits your religious affiliation. Usually, our life passions lead us to this place. For my mother it is a morning prayer of “let me be of service to someone today.”

It is important for us to understand that every thought, word and action has power in the now and will affect future generations. This is such a delicious thought! Instead of feeling overwhelmed by what outside forces appear to be doing in the world we can make a difference!

What is your purpose? What did you come here to learn and experience? Perhaps it’s traveling to the south of France, perhaps it’s sailing all the oceans, or visiting with loved ones to tell them you love them one more time. Perhaps you need to ask for forgiveness or give someone the gift of your forgiveness. Perhaps living deeply in each moment will stretch time so you can achieve your dreams and aspirations.

At the end of my life, I believe I will be thrilled to say that I discovered and took steps to live my life mission. I embraced it even through the fear. I took the gifts I was given and developed them into something to serve others. I took the Inner Journey.

Lee Ann Beaulieu
Inner Garden of Light Studios

Using Body Mass Index

Assessing Your Weight and Health Risk Using Body Mass Index

Assessment of weight and health risk involves using three key measures:
1)Body mass index (BMI)
2)Waist circumference
3)Risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity
4)Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is a useful measure of overweight and obesity. It is calculated from your height and weight. BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.
Although BMI can be used for most men and women, it does have some limits:
It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle.

Use the BMI Calculator or BMI Tables to estimate your body fat. The BMI score means the following:

BMI
Underweight
Below 18.5

Normal
18.5–24.9

Overweight
25.0–29.9

Obesity
30.0 and Above

Waist Circumference
____________________
Measuring waist circumference helps screen for possible health risks that come with overweight and obesity. If most of your fat is around your waist rather than at your hips, you’re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. This risk goes up with a waist size that is greater than 35 inches for women or greater than 40 inches for men. To correctly measure your waist, stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hipbones. Measure your waist just after you breathe out.

The table Risks of Obesity-Associated Diseases by BMI and Waist Circumference provides you with an idea of whether your BMI combined with your waist circumference increases your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases or conditions.

Risk Factors for Health Topics Associated With Obesity

Along with being overweight or obese, the following conditions will put you at greater risk for heart disease and other conditions:
Risk Factors
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol)
Low HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol)
High triglycerides
High blood glucose (sugar)
Family history of premature heart disease
Physical inactivity
Cigarette smoking

For people who are considered obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30) or those who are overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9) and have two or more risk factors, it is recommended that you lose weight. Even a small weight loss (between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight) will help lower your risk of developing diseases associated with obesity. People who are overweight, do not have a high waist measurement, and have fewer than two risk factors may need to prevent further weight gain rather than lose weight.
Talk to Dr.Housman to see whether you are at an increased risk and whether you should lose weight. Your doctor will evaluate your BMI, waist measurement, and other risk factors for heart disease.

The good news is even a small weight loss (between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight) will help lower your risk of developing those diseases.

note from Dr.Housman:
This BMI page is not designed to make you feel “bad” or “ashamed” of yourself but to give you a standardized objective measure on where you are right now so you can plan on developing a strategy to improve your health and wellbeing.