Healing vs Feeling – An Overlooked Aspect in Healthcare

“Healing doesn’t always feel well, but when you are healed, you live amazing.”

Dr. Fred DiDomenico / Elite Coaching

Today’s blog is focused on exploring an often-overlooked aspect of healthcare: the profound disparity between feeling and healing. In a world inundated with medical advancements and technological breakthroughs, it’s easy to lose sight of the fundamental essence of healing – the deeply human experience that transcends mere physical restoration. Join us on a journey through the labyrinth of emotions, experiences, and revelations that define the stark contrast between feeling and healing in the realm of healthcare. Together, let’s unravel the complexities, challenge the norms, and discover the transformative power of acknowledging, addressing, and embracing both the tangible and intangible aspects of health and wellness.

Is Feeling and Healing One in the Same?

This is one of the greatest conversations that we can have when discussing health and well-being. The continuous message about “health and wellness” in this country is focused more on feeling than it does healing. This mindset has unfortunately created an extremely unhealthy nation. As of January 2022, the United States spends significantly more on healthcare compared to other countries.

According to data from organizations like the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank, the per capita healthcare expenditure in the U.S. is the highest in the world. For context, in 2019, the U.S. spent over $11,000 per person on healthcare, which is considerably higher than the healthcare expenditures of other developed countries like Canada, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Despite this high expenditure, healthcare outcomes in the U.S. are not always proportional, leading to an ongoing discussion and debate about the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare spending in the country.  The reason for this discrepancy when comparing expenditure vs health care success is completely dependent on perspective. There is consistent education being shared about the habits and choices that are more focused on feeling good, rather than healing properly.

Lets put this in perspective with respect to the 3 most prevalent health care conditions in the United States – Heart Disease, Diabetes and Cancer.  It’s estimated that around 121.5 million adults in the United States (48% of all adults) have some form of Cardiovascular Disease. An estimated 34.2 million people in the United States (10.5% of the population) have Diabetes and there are approximately 2 million new Cancer diagnoses every year. These are staggering numbers!

So the question is … What is something that each of these conditions have in common?

Each of these three conditions have minimal symptoms during their development.

In fact, it is not uncommon that the first major symptom that is felt, with regards to heart disease, is the heart attack that either puts them in the hospital or unfortunately takes their life.

People with cancer, do they feeling cancer develop in their body? NO!

How about Diabetes? What are the common symptoms that develop? Weight loss or weight gain, increased thirst, increased urination are the commonly referenced symptoms for Diabetes. What’s the problem with that? How many people losing or gaining weight, or are thirsty first think, “I may have Diabetes.” This is usually brushed under the rug, until its at a point where its more aggressive or blood work reveals higher than normal values.

Again, a big reason these disease are developing at such high rates is a lack of understanding of the cause and a mindset that if they feel ok, they must be ok. This cannot be further from the truth!

Feeling Sick or Expressing Health?

Another common misunderstanding is when you believe that when you feel “sick” you are not healthy or well. This also cannot be further from the truth. In fact, if you think about that as expressing health rather than being sick, it provides more confidence in your bodies ability to heal.

Let’s take a moment to discuss examples of when the body feels “sick”, yet it is completely normal and healthy.

Fevers are a natural response of the body’s immune system to infection or illness, and while it can be uncomfortable, it actually serves several beneficial purposes:

• Enhanced Immune Response – Fevers triggers the body’s immune system to become more active. Elevated body temperature can help immune cells function more effectively, including increased production of white blood cells and antibodies, which are essential for fighting off infections.
• Inhibiting Pathogen Growth – Many bacteria and viruses that cause infections thrive best at normal body temperature. By raising the body’s temperature, fever creates an environment less conducive to the growth and reproduction of these pathogens, helping to limit their spread
• Improved Recovery – Fevers aid in speeding up the body’s healing process. It can enhance the rate of tissue repair and regeneration, helping the body recover more quickly from illness or injury.
• Activation of Heat Shock Proteins- Heat shock proteins play a role in protecting cells from stress and promoting cell survival. These proteins can help prevent damage to tissues and organs during times of illness.

Nausea and Vomiting, while uncomfortable at its expression, can serve beneficial purposes in many situations.

• Protection Against Toxins – Nausea and vomiting can act as protective mechanisms by expelling harmful substances from the body. When the body detects toxins or ingests spoiled or contaminated food, nausea signals the brain to induce vomiting, helping to rid the body of the potentially harmful substances.
• Prevention of Further Ingestion – Vomiting can prevent further ingestion of substances that may be causing harm or discomfort. For example, if someone consumes something toxic or spoiled, vomiting can help stop further absorption of the harmful substance into the bloodstream.
• Relief of Gastric Distress – Vomiting can provide relief from gastric distress. When the stomach is upset due to overeating, indigestion, or gastrointestinal infection, vomiting may help alleviate discomfort by emptying the stomach contents and reducing pressure on the digestive system.
• Symptom of Underlying Conditions – Nausea and vomiting can serve as important symptoms that alert individuals and healthcare providers to the presence of underlying medical conditions. For example, they can be early signs of infections, food poisoning, migraines, motion sickness, pregnancy-related conditions like morning sickness, or side effects of medications.
• Regulation of Body Systems – Nausea and vomiting are regulated by the brainstem, which coordinates various bodily functions. In some cases, the activation of these systems may help restore balance and regulate physiological processes.

Sweating allows the body to help regulate its temperature, in addition to other health benefits.

• Cooling the Body: Sweating helps regulate body temperature by dissipating heat through evaporation. When the body becomes overheated due to physical activity, hot weather, or fever, sweat glands release sweat onto the skin’s surface, where it evaporates and cools the body.
• Detoxification: Sweat contains small amounts of toxins, such as heavy metals and metabolic waste products. Through sweating, the body eliminates these toxins, promoting detoxification and cleansing of the skin and body.
• Skin Health: Sweating opens up the pores and flushes out impurities, dirt, and oil, which can help prevent acne and other skin conditions. It also increases blood flow to the skin, delivering oxygen and nutrients and promoting a healthy, radiant complexion.
• Improved Athletic Performance: Sweating during exercise helps prevent overheating, allowing individuals to exercise for longer durations and at higher intensities. It also helps maintain electrolyte balance by excreting sodium and potassium, which are essential for muscle function.
• Boosting Immune Function: Sweat contains antimicrobial peptides that can help protect against infections by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria on the skin’s surface.

Shivering is another mechanism in which the body regulates temperature, in addition to other health benefits:

• Generating Heat: Shivering is a great reflexive response that is triggered by the body when it needs to generate heat in order to maintain a stable core temperature. During shivering, the rapid contraction and relaxation of the muscles are producing heat, helping to raise the body temperature in response to cold exposure
• Calorie Burning: Shivering increases the metabolic rate and energy expenditure as the body works to generate heat. This can contribute to calorie burning and may aid in weight management when combined with other forms of physical activity and a balanced diet.
• Cardiovascular Health: Shivering can stimulate circulation and increase blood flow to vital organs, which may have cardiovascular benefits.
• Enhanced Thermoregulation: Shivering is an effective mechanism for maintaining core body temperature in cold environments. By increasing heat production, shivering helps prevent hypothermia and ensure the body remains within a safe temperature.

Healing is ENERGY!

As mentioned in one of our previous health blogs, Health is Energy, there is an energy in the body that is responsible for all health and healing of the body. That healing energy is within the Nervous System and allows each and every cell, tissue and organ in the body to function. It is one of the most overlooked systems in the body, yet when properly maintained has the greatest impact on all health and function.

As Doctors of Chiropractor, we understand the relationship between this amazing, yet delicate system and spinal structure. The Spine and Nervous System is the foundation of the life and health of the human body. The spinal column is intimately related to the function of the nervous system due to the fact that it is the protective armor of the spinal cord. Changes in spinal structure (ie body’s posture) changes the communication between the brain and the body. When the spinal cord and spinal nerves are under stress, due to abnormal posture, this causes dysfunction of the body, which eventually can cause disease.

For this reason, it is imperative to look at the spinal structure and the function of the nervous system, in order to live a long, healthy life. Many of the most debilitating conditions in the world have a structural issue at its core. We believe that correcting spinal posture is the best kept secret to optimal health and well-being. We suggest seeing a chiropractor that specializes in Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP). CBP-specialized Chiropractors understand this energy relationship and are the best trained at correcting spinal posture. They use a combination of postural corrective adjustments, exercises and traction to rehabilitate the spinal structure, ultimately improving overall health and function. To find a CBP chiropractor near you, CLICK HERE.

So this brings us to a very important conclusion that is commonly overlooked in health care.  If health is energy and that energy comes from the nervous system, wouldn’t it make sense that most health care conditions began as an ENERGY problem, rather than the symptomatic presentation the patient has? With that understanding, it would be smart to look to the spine and nervous system as a solution to most health conditions.