Thursday, March 28, 2024

4-H speakers focus on chiropractic care, water

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Two Gatesville High School students who are also participants in the Coryell County AgriLife Extension Office 4-H program, junior Thiele Alvarado and seventh-grader Anna McPherson, both gave presentations to the Gatesville Exchange Club on May 12.

Alvarado’s presentation was on why it is good to pursue a career as a chiropractor, and McPherson focused on the importance of water.

Chiropractors focus on spine and joint health, and how they also impact other body systems, Alvarado said. He talked about how the work chiropractors do can have a positive impact on the central nervous system, on one’s ability to relax and even on dietary matters. While chiropractors who specialize in treating people are well-known, Alvarado said one can also specialize in chiropractic care for animals.

“Chiropractors work on the spine and joints of the human body and can make adjustments,” he said. “They emphasize health, mobility and nutrition, stress management and good posture.

About 4,200 hours of class and lab work are required for one to become a chiropractor, Alvarado said. He noted that while it can take five to seven years to become a doctor, one can become a chiropractor in just over three years.

“Chiropractors can earn up to $144,000 annually, and if you work with college or professional athletes, your income can increase tremendously,” Alvarado said.

Those who are chiropractors for animals help relieve pain and improve performance, he said.

“They see a variety of different animals – pets, zoo animals, livestock and racehorses,” Alvarado said. Those focusing on animal chiropractic care must have earned either a doctorate of chiropractic medicine or doctor of veterinary medicine, he added.

The cost of animal chiropractic treatment ranges from $50 to $200, depending on the type of animal and the treatment needed.

Alvarado said he intends to become a chiropractor for both people and animals. He plans to attend Texas Tech.

He learned of animal chiropractors when he was showing a goat that would not lower one of its legs, and received treatment to fix the problem.

“I’m trying to get a job getting more experience in a chiropractor’s office as a desk clerk,” Alvarado said.

McPherson’s focus was on the importance of water. She said the human body consists of about 60% water, which is composed of hydrogen and oxygen molecules.

In addition to being a vital component of all living creatures, water is also used extensively for agriculture, industry, cooling and even energy production, McPherson said.

Staying hydrated also has many health benefits, she said, including "regulating body temperatures, keeping tissue moist, helping flush toxins from cells and lubrication."

McPherson provided the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's recommended daily intake of water for each age group: 7 cups for ages 4-8 (boys and girls), 9 cups for girls and 10 cups for boys ages 9-13, 10 cups for girls and 14 cups for boys age 14-18, and 11.5 cups for girls and 15.5 cups for men. 

To underscore the importance of drinking enough water, McPherson said there was a chant at a camp that she attended: "Water, water, H20, dehydration, no, no, no."

"A person can't survive more than a week without water, and you know your needs – choose water," she said.

Asked about other liquids, such as tea, coffee or soft drinks, although they are liquid, they are not as good for the body as water, McPherson said.