World Health Day, celebrated on 7 April every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO), provides us with a unique opportunity to mobilize action around a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. Every year there is a theme of World Health Day, this year the theme is depression.
Depression does not target any certain group of people but rather, it can affect people of any age, gender, or race. It causes mental anguish and impacts a person’s ability to perform even the simplest of daily tasks and can sometimes cause devastating consequences for relationships with loved ones. Depression not only affects a person’s mood, but can also affect their professional and home life. At worst, depression can lead to suicide which is now the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year old individuals. Depression can be prevented and treated with different holistic therapies including talk therapy nutrition, supplementation, and can even be helped with chiropractic care.
Chiropractic care can help depression by focusing on the first vertebra in the neck known as the atlas bone. The first cervical vertebra is known as the Atlas because it bears the weight of the whole head. When there is a misalignment of the Atlas, the interactive communication between the brain and the rest of the body is disturbed which can lead to a neurological deficit. The anatomy of the spinal column is comparable to a precision mechanism: the slightest shift of the Atlas from its correct anatomical and physiological location can have negative repercussions on the entire musculoskeletal, postural, circulatory and parasympathetic nervous system as well as the body in general. Subluxation of the atlas bone also causes symptoms of ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and depression.
Since World Health Day is focusing on depression this year, why not let Impact Chiropractic focus on the atlas bone? If you or someone you love is having difficulty with depression don’t hesitate to call and make an appointment today, we would love to help make our world a healthier place!
