Pain is an important signal that the body is having trouble and needs to be taken seriously—like a dashboard warning light, says Dr. George Gertner, owner of Upper Cervical Chiropractic of New York. 

“When a dashboard light comes on, most people immediately take their car in to be repaired. They know that if the problem isn’t corrected, their car will break down,” he says. “But when the body’s warning light comes on, people tend to ignore it or cover it up with medication. Taking a pain reliever doesn’t fix the problem; it just covers it up. It’s like putting a piece of black tape over the warning light in your car so you don’t have to look at it. You may not feel any pain, but your body will continue to break down.” 

The far wiser option is to relieve the pain and fix the problem, Gertner says, and one of the most effective ways to do that is through Upper Cervical Chiropractic, which can treat a wide variety of conditions, from back pain and headaches, to allergies and dizziness, to high blood pressure and digestive problems. 

“There is a very small subgroup of doctors—they’re called NUCCA doctors—who specialize in correcting only the atlas, the topmost vertebra in the spine,” he says. “The atlas protects the brain stem, where the brain connects to the spinal cord. When this very important area of the spine is corrected, many patients suffering from severe and chronic health issues are able to restore their health, often permanently.” 

To learn more, visit nuccadoctor.com or read Gift of Hope, by Dr. George Gertner.