Habits that Hurt or Help Healing

Over the past 13 years that I have worked as a chiropractor, I have seen a wide variety of patients.  However, I have treated the same conditions over and over.  You might think that would make it very easy to do my job, maybe even boring.  Not true!  The reason?  No two people have the same body make-up, habits or health profiles, which means that the same condition will heal differently in each person.  There are patterns that emerge in the variety.  I will list some common factors that positively and adversely affect healing.

The GOOD habits:
1.  Exercise.  This is the single best indicator that someone will get well quickly.  Someone who is fit and exercises regularly will heal considerably faster than someone who does not.
2.  Healthy diet.  A diet high in fruits, vegetables and lean protein gives the body the building blocks it needs to repair injuries.  It also in an "anti-inflammatory" diet.  
3.  Sleep.  The body completes a lot of its repairs while you sleep.  Someone who is well rested is in a better position to heal.
4.  Relaxation.  Stress increases inflammation, muscle tension and the production of pain causing chemicals in the body.  Relaxation can greatly aid healing.

The BAD habits:
1.  Smoking.  Smoking delays healing by as much as 50%!  It is actually considered a factor of its own in the risk of low back pain.  It delays healing, increases inflammation and affects pain producing chemical production.
2.  Weight.  Being overweight increases stress on the body and its regulatory systems.  This will slow healing from many different directions.
3.  Sedentary work.  A sitting job will slow healing due to the stress placed on the body in a sitting position and the decrease in muscle blood circulation that results from staying in the same position for extended periods of time each day.
4.  Running yourself ragged.  Lack of sleep, high stress and lack of relaxation time will prevent the body from healing by the increase of prostaglandins, lack of time for cell repair and many other factors.
5.  Improper diet.  A diet high in red meat and sugar is a "pro-inflammatory" diet.  These foods actually increase inflammation, thereby slowing healing and increasing pain.  Denying your body a balanced diet will slow healing by making the necessary vitamins and minerals for proper repair unavailable when they are needed.
6.  Poor health, multiple health conditions and medication.  Diabetes, hypertension and many other health conditions will slow healing.  Diabetes is probably the most well known for slowing healing, but high blood pressure, thyroid problems, poor circulation and many other conditions will slow healing.  Medications can interfere, as well.

This may lead you to ask if there are ways to "fake it."  There are some things that can help short term.  I will address those in two weeks with my next post.