IV. Active Living

Engaging in regular physical activity is one of the most important things that people of all ages can do to improve their health. Even people who do not lose weight get substantial benefits from regular physical activity, including lower rates of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. Healthy physical activity includes aerobic activity, muscle strengthening activities, and activities to increase balance and flexibility. As described by the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week, and children and teenagers should engage in at least one hour of activity each day. Recommendations include:

1. Encourage community design and development that supports physical activity.
2. Promote and strengthen school and early learning policies and programs that increase physical activity.
3. Facilitate access to safe, accessible, and affordable places for physical activity.
4. Support workplace policies and programs that increase physical activity.
5. Assess physical activity levels and provide education, counseling, and referrals.

V. Injury and Violence-Free Living

Reducing injury and violence improves physical and emotional health. The leading causes of death from unintentional injury include motor vehicle-related injuries, unintended poisoning (addressed in the "preventing drug abuse and excessive alcohol use" chapter), and falls. Witnessing or being a victim of violence (e.g., child maltreatment, youth violence, intimate partner and sexual violence, bullying, elder abuse) are linked to lifelong negative physical, emotional, and social consequences. Recommendations include:

1. Implement and strengthen policies and programs to enhance transportation safety.
2. Support community and streetscape design that promotes safety and prevents injuries.
3. Promote and strengthen policies and programs to prevent falls, especially among older adults.
4. Promote and enhance policies and programs to increase safety and prevent injury in the workplace.
5. Strengthen policies and programs to prevent violence.
6. Provide individuals and families with the knowledge, skills, and tools to make safe choices that prevent violence and injuries.

VI. Reproductive and Sexual Health

Planning and having a healthy pregnancy is vital to the health of women, infants, and families and is especially important in preventing teen pregnancy and childbearing, which will help raise educational attainment, increase employment opportunities, and enhance financial stability. Access to quality health services and support for safe practices can improve physical and emotional well-being and reduce teen and unintended pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Recommendations include:

1. Increase use of preconception and prenatal care.
2. Support reproductive and sexual health services and support services for pregnant and parenting women.
3. Provide effective sexual health education, especially for adolescents.
4. Enhance early detection of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other STIs and improve linkage to care.

VII. Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

Positive mental health allows people to realize their full potential, cope with the stresses of life, work productively, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Early childhood experiences have lasting, measurable consequences later in life; therefore, fostering emotional well-being from the earliest stages of life helps build a foundation for overall health and well-being. Anxiety, mood (e.g., depression) and impulse control disorders are associated with a higher probability of risk behaviors (e.g., tobacco, alcohol and other drug use, risky sexual behavior), intimate partner and family violence, many other chronic and acute conditions. Recommendations include:

1. Promote positive early childhood development, including positive parenting and violence-free homes.
2. Facilitate social connectedness and community engagement across the lifespan.
3. Provide individuals and families with the support necessary to maintain positive mental well-being.
4. Promote early identification of mental health needs and access to quality services.

The American Chiropractic Association states that chiropractors provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling and the Council on Chiropractic Education asserts that accredited Doctor of Chiropractic Programs train their graduates to promote health, wellness and disease prevention. It has been my experience that progressive chiropractic clinicians promote health and wellness by educating their patients of salubrious lifestyle changes. Finally, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has collaborated with the National Wellness Institute (NWI) to offer a wellness certification program for doctors of chiropractic.

Hence, chiropractors are capable of improving the health of the public by offering wellness education and promoting disease prevention. The affordable care act promulgates an integrative health care system that offers holistic and patient-centered care. I recommend that chiropractors participate in the Affordable Care Act health care reform and improve the health of our nation.

Suggestions:

1. Read the National Prevention Strategy.
2. Seek additional training and become a Certified Chiropractic Wellness Specialist.
3. Promote wellness and prevent disease.
4. Collaborate with other health care providers to move us from a system of sick care to one based on wellness and prevention.

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Click here for previous articles by James Lehman, DC, MBA, DIANM.