Cardiovascular issues are the nation number one killer. February is heart health month, and Christopher Gouse, DC, owner of Gouse Chiropractic, has introduced the heart sound recorder, a computer-based, low-risk general wellness monitor which uses the principles of auscultation to observe heart sounds.

During this non-invasive procedure, a specialized microphone is placed over each of the four valve areas of the heart while graphing the sound and movement. The heart's reaction to chemical, nutritional and emotional stressors can be observed and certain types of heart stress can be monitored by observing the rate, rhythm, and tone of the heart cycle on the graph.

Gouse says, “One side of your nervous system (sympathetic) manages your ‘fight-or-flight’ response, and can accelerate your heart rate. The other side (parasympathetic) manages your ‘rest-and-digest’ response, and can slow your heart rate. You need a healthy balance between the two.”

Location: West Shore Tennis Club, 2nd Fl., 150 Silver Springs Rd., Mechanicsburg. For more information, call 717-856-0932, email [email protected] or visit HeartSoundsNutrition.com.