Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor

October is National Chiropractic Health Month

By Business Wire   

News

Oct. 3, 2014 – October marks the U.S. National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM) and Arlington, Va.-based American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is working with more than 130,000 doctors of chiropractic (DCs), chiropractic assistants (CAs) and chiropractic doctoral students nationwide to help educate the public and policymakers about the value of a “conservative care first” approach to health care.

During National Chiropractic Health Month, DCs are encouraging patients
to ask questions and learn about safe, effective conservative approaches
that may help them avoid riskier and more costly treatments.

This
health-care model encourages emphasis on more cost-effective and safer
approaches over potentially addictive medications for pain management
and health enhancement. Conservative management of painful conditions
may include chiropractic manipulation combined with exercise and
stretching prior to moving on to procedures involving higher risk.

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During
NCHM, chiropractors will share information with patients and their
communities to empower them to become their own advocates by insisting
on information about conservative treatment options.

“Chiropractors
are the highest-rated health-care practitioners for low-back pain
treatments with their patient-centered, whole-person approach that
provides greater interaction and communication for appropriate diagnosis
and developing more cost-effective treatment planning,” the ACA said.

Numerous
recent studies have shown the dangerous overreliance in the U.S. on
prescription painkillers that simply mask pain. This has tremendously
increased Americans’ risk for overuse, and abuse, of these drugs if
taken for long periods, leading to more than 17,000 related deaths in
2010 (more than heroin and cocaine combined). The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention has called the abuse of prescription pain
medications an “epidemic.”

Recent evidence questions the overuse –
and in some cases the effectiveness – of more invasive treatments such
as spinal fusion surgery and spinal steroid injections for back pain. It
is reasonable for patients to exhaust more conservative options before
undergoing these costly procedures.

“People need complete
information about their treatment options,” said ACA president Dr.
Anthony Hamm. “During National Chiropractic Health Month, DCs are
encouraging patients to ask questions and learn about safe, effective,
conservative approaches that may help them avoid riskier and more costly
treatments.”

For more tips on healthy, pain-free living, and
references visit www.ChiroHealthy.com. Join the conversation via social
media using the hashtag #NCHM.

Hosted by the ACA, the National
Chiropractic Health Month is a nationwide observance held each October.
The event helps raise public awareness of the benefits of chiropractic
care and its natural, whole-person, patient-centered approach to health
and wellness.


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