Disease VS Dis-Ease

We commonly think of the absence of disease as the presence of health. While someone might be healthy according to this definition, that person may experience a lot of “dis-ease” during life, i.e. discomfort, aches and pains. When there’s no disease present, we often just think this “dis-ease” is part of life we can’t do anything about.

Waking up with a cramped neck, a leg that often goes numb when sitting at a desk, hips and knees that get sore after walking…many of us experience this “dis-ease” in daily life. While not caused by disease per se, these issues are often related to an accident or old injury, work stress, over or under-use…and they can be remedied. Just because there’s not a pill to cure it, doesn’t mean there isn’t a solution. Often, there’s a simple fix for these problems of “dis-ease”.

Additionally, it is not uncommon for Shanghai expats to leave such pains and discomforts untreated because they don’t feel comfortable with the healthcare system here or they are waiting to visit their practitioner back home. The reality is that there are great healthcare options here for the international community, with highly experienced specialists trained in the same systems as your practitioners back home.

There’s no reason to live with pain or discomfort when you could get treated here. Normally, it is better to come in for help instead of waiting several weeks (or months) for a visit home, so intervention can be started. Waiting may cause your problem to worsen and make treatment harder. The added advantage is that if you get to know practitioners in Shanghai, you won’t be so dependent on your trips home (and can enjoy them more!). Your Shanghai practitioner can provide notes about the treatment you’ve undergone to provide continuity when you return home.

Preventative Health Tip: If you travel a lot, do you best to maintain your routine. Bring your pillow with you when possible. Try not to overindulge; eat as consistently as possible with how you would normally eat. Treats are okay, but when you travel often you can’t indulge as if it’s an occasional vacation. Maintain your exercise routine, whether with a simple walk around the neighborhood or using the hotel gym. The constant state of flux of a heavy travel schedule can cause a lot of dis-ease. While you may not be able to control the schedule, try to control what you can.

A little bit of preventative maintenance and early intervention can help you live a life that’s not only free of disease, but also dis-ease! These little issues become more serious when untreated. They begin to affect other parts of the body and cause an array of symptoms that keep you from feeling your best.

Through extensive education and 15 years of experience, Herman Szeto offers a variety of chiropractic treatments such as soft tissue manipulation, joint manipulation and postural restructuring to relieve pain and improve the posture. Contact us to schedule an appointment with him.