 Is Your Heart Trying To Tell You Something?
Dr. Diane Meyer, BSc, DC, FICPA, DAACP
www.drdianemeyer.com
Our hearts beat a daily life-giving rhythm, without interruption, without us asking it to, and evenly…or does it?
When a person is in good health, there is a natural rise and fall of the heart rate. Normally there is a very small but detectable beat to beat variation of time between each heartbeat. When we stop functioning optimally, this variability narrows and becomes rigid; that is, the beats become more even. Things like stress, lack of sleep, toxic foods, medications and imbalances within the nervous system negatively impact this variability. Over long term this can be disastrous to our health.
The heart works by the control of two aspects of your nervous system; the sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PSN) nervous systems.
The Sympathetic Nervous System is like the “gas pedal” in your car. The Parasympathetic Nervous System is like the “brake pedal” in your car.
The Sympathetic Nervous System is our “arousal system.” It activates the “fight-or-flight” mechanism when the body detects danger. The sympathetic nervous system is also like the daytime nervous system. It gives us the energy we need to live daily. It also regulates how well our cells get oxygenated and absorb nutrients.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System controls “calming responses” such as sleep, relaxation and digestion. The parasympathetic nervous system works more at night, when the body needs to regenerate our cells and tissues for the next day. Many people’s parasympathetic systems have been weakened resulting in a deterioration of the body’s regeneration and growth functions. If you have a depressed PSNS it doesn’t matter how hard you diet, or how many supplements you take, or how much exercise you do. A depressed PNS will get in the way of these things working optimally. A weak PSN can also be a sign of hidden prolonged emotional stress.
When we are not able to deal with the various stresses that life throws our way constructively the SNS is often too high, and the PSNS is too low. This is analogous to driving through town without stopping at the lights or stop signs. While this might keep you moving, the chances of “crashing” and sustaining damage are tremendously high. Within our bodies it means our heart, breathing, digestion, sleep, brain, and immune systems – to name a few – are also in danger of crashing. It is imperative for the health our bodies that these two systems are in balance at all times. It is in this state that we learn to find peace in life and enter a flow where all dimensions of life move together in synchrony and harmony.
Sample of HRV Results…
The interesting thing is that individuals most in danger are often completely unaware (not conscious) of the danger they are in as the PNS or “driver” is on autopilot and everything can falsely seem normal.
To test individuals for this we can utilize a “crystal ball” called the Heart Rate Variability Test (HRV). The HRV test takes approximately 6 minutes and is completely painless. Chiropractors use HRV to get a window into how balanced the SNS and ANS are. Published research has demonstrated that chiropractic adjustments have favorable effects on HRV scores
Heart Rate Variability testing is a proven measure of cardiovascular risk as well as predictor for a myriad of chronic degenerative disorders including hypertension, diabetes, anxiety and immune disease. It offers us a realistic glimpse of their current health status and an opportunity to pursue a healthy tract into their future.
To help us with our mission of a healthy community we are offering for the month of February free HRV testing to anyone who mentions “BALANCE MY LIFE” when booking. Within a few minutes of this test, we will know whether your life is balanced, harmonious and adaptable or whether your life is creating imbalance and dis-ease in your body and well-being.
If you have not had this test taken recently, we urge you to take this opportunity to book an appointment today at 905-845-2335 for your nervous system scans. We would also encourage you to invite everyone you know to get a baseline measure of where they are in terms of their health. All too often we do not realize the state of dis-array our health is in, until it is too late.
In 1994 Dr. Meyer graduated from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and has been proudly serving the Oakville community since. Passionate about the sanctity of birth and the evolution of children’s health, Dr. Meyer continued her studies and achieved Diplomat status with The Academy of Chiropractic Family Practice in 2005 (three year post graduate program).
A mother of four, Dr. Meyer has been able to witness firsthand how living the Chiropractic lifestyle leads to an incredibly optimal and vibrant state of health for the whole family. Dr. Meyer constantly explores different chiropractic techniques and skills that she believes will provide the most benefit to her patients. Patients are offered ongoing information and guidance to stretch the possibility of what wellness can be and how to achieve it.
Dr. Meyer, a published author and researcher in pediatrics, continues to teach pediatrics, pre and post natal care, and technique to chiropractic students. Dr. Meyer has been a guest lecturer for the Midwifery program at McMaster University and continually lectures health and wellness topics to the community. www.drdianemeyer.com
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