From a very young age, we are taught to take care of our teeth and visit the dentist to maintain good oral hygiene. Spinal health, on the other hand, is often overlooked, even though regularly visiting the chiropractor is a crucial to your overall health.

“Taking good care of the central nervous system and spine is critical to lifelong health” says Dr. Thomas Mercante with AlignLife of Summerville.

The central nervous system is composed of the brain, spinal cord and an extensive network of nerves that exit through the bones in your spine. The CNS serves as the control center for all bodily functions. It functions as the transmitter and receiver as well as the pathway for information flow and determines how the body responds to changes in its internal and external environment.

Beginning at birth, spinal cord interference caused by learning to crawl, walk, play and more can cause your CNS to underperform. Regular chiropractic visits can resolve these interferences and help your CNS to perform properly.

“Everybody needs a chiropractor,” says Dr. Mercante. “Everybody goes to the dentist because they don't want their teeth to fall out. But the CNS controls all parts of the body, and yet people are reluctant to take care of it.”

Failing to take care of your spine can lead to premature decay and degeneration in your spine and eventually lead to being less than vital in the golden years of your life.

While the concept of chiropractic care had been around for centuries, it was Daniel David Palmer who actually gave a name to the practice after his extensive study of anatomy and physiology. Palmer performed the first chiropractic adjustment in September 1895 when he examined a janitor who had become deaf 17 years earlier after he felt something “give” in his back. Palmer examined the area and performed a crude adjustment to what felt like a misplaced vertebra in the upper back. The janitor’s hearing improved.

Mr. Palmer’s story illustrates the way our CNS impacts so many of the body’s core functions and how chiropractic care restores its natural balance. The brain is constantly communicating through the spinal cord, nerves and the trillions of cells in the body.

“We make sure communication is at 100 percent,” Dr. Mercante says of chiropractors. “It’s like playing a guitar that’s beautifully tuned.”

Instead of turning to a chiropractor, most people turn to a medical doctor when their body isn’t functioning properly, Mercante says. Then, they often receive medication that simply masks their symptoms without getting to the root cause of their problem.

A chiropractor can help correct much more than back or neck pain. Chiropractic adjustments can assist with issues such as thyroid problems, irritable bowel syndrome and constipation, and fibromyalgia just to name a few.

Chiropractors often use a term called “subluxation.” Subluxation simply means that the spine gets out of alignment causing the muscles to spasm, the spinal bones to lock up and the adjacent nerves to become pinched. At this point, the communication between the brain and other parts of the body is out of sync. This can result in problems with any of the bodily functions.

“You owe it to your health, you owe it to your spine to have it checked for subluxations,” he says.

Dr. Thomas W. Mercante has been practicing chiropractic care for more than 25 years and he remains passionate about what he does. “I help my patients achieve optimal health through Chiropractic and nutrition every day, I truly love what I do”. Mercante is also a clinical nutritionist and a certified extremity doctor so he can focus on shoulders, knees, wrists and elbows in addition to the spine.

AlignLife of Summerville has been voted Best Chiropractic Office for six consecutive years by the Summerville Journal Scene. To learn more about chiropractic care, visit AlignLife of Summerville online or call (843) 376-5858. Mention this article for a complimentary exam to determine how chiropractic care can help you!