Winter Wellness
How Chiropractic Care Can Help Support Your Immune System
Have you noticed how the bulk of people in society go the entirety of the summer and warmer months without getting sick, having colds, flu, Covid, etc.? There’s plenty of speculation as to why this phenomenon is commonly observed. Some of the theories (and I think they are sensible) include the fact that we are indoors a lot more in the wintertime and, as such, it’s easier for us to be exposed to airborne disease-causing viruses and bacteria. There is a certain social distancing that happens when you’re out on a softball field or on the golf course. Another idea that’s been floated is that when we are out in the sun our bodies produce vitamin D. Vitamin D is a potent ingredient in stimulating immune function. Of course, we also have fewer hours of sunlight during our winter days and this might also impact us.
Stress, the Nervous System, and Immune Function
There is not much that we can do as chiropractors to alter the fact that people live in caves all winter long, but what we can do is influence the stress on the nervous system. When a body is stressed, the stress response is activated. Another name for the stress response is the “fight/flight” response. Mental, physical, and chemical factors all contribute to the body’s experience of stress. We know that with chronic activation of the stress response that there is a decrease in cellular mediated immunity. What that means is that under stress little Pac-Man creatures in your bloodstream don’t do as good a job of attacking and cleaning up disease causing organisms. Therefore, anything that we can do to relieve or alleviate the impact of stress will impact immunity.
How Chiropractic Care Influences Nervous System Stress
What we know about chiropractic care, and what the research shows, is that misalignments of the spine (subluxations) are a physical stress on the body which causes an activation of the stress response. At the same time, these misalignments cause a decrease in positive body messaging (proprioception) flowing into the brain. The combined influence of having spinal misalignments is that we have an increase in the negative flow of messaging into the brain and a decrease of positive messaging into the brain. Both of these phenomena, when they coalesce, cause compromised immune function.
Supporting Immune Health During the Winter Months
Therefore, when a chiropractor adjusts misalignments, they are releasing the flow of positive messaging and squelching the flow of negative messaging to the brain and people stay healthier and resist disease causing bacteria and viruses more effectively. Certainly, chiropractic care is not the only thing one can do to avoid getting sick in the wintertime, but it’s an important component. In addition, getting outside every day and staying physically active are critically important. I never would’ve thought of it before COVID, but I’m not opposed to seeing people wearing masks when they are in close quarters, as might occur when you’re flying on an airplane. You have to realize that in an enclosed space such as that you are breathing in a lot of stale air and potentially diseas- causing organisms. As far as vitamin D goes, unless you travel to Florida or some other sunny climate during the wintertime, you may well be deficient in vitamin D. This is something that’s easy to test; it’s a simple blood test. If you are deficient in vitamin D3, then taking 5000 units a day will be very beneficial for you. The power of sleep and maintaining immune function cannot be overstated. It’s dark anyway, so you may as well go to bed a little earlier. Get another hour of sleep and allow the restorative powers of that sleep to support your immune function.
Chiropractic Health and Wellness Winter Care
The doctors at Chiropractic Health and Wellness are well schooled in what it takes to stay healthy during the wintertime. If you or a member of your family struggles with wintertime sickness, we encourage you to schedule an appointment now and speak with one of our doctors about how chiropractic care may support your overall wellness during the colder months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chiropractic care help support the immune system?
Chiropractic care focuses on reducing stress on the nervous system, which plays a role in how the body functions overall. Supporting nervous system balance may help the body respond more effectively to everyday stressors, including those common during the winter months.
Why do people get sick more often during the winter?
Many people spend more time indoors during winter, increasing exposure to airborne viruses and bacteria. Reduced sunlight and lower vitamin D levels may also contribute to seasonal changes in immune function.
How does stress affect immune function?
Chronic stress activates the body’s fight-or-flight response, which can interfere with normal immune processes. When the body remains under stress for extended periods, its ability to respond to illness may be reduced.
What is the connection between the spine and the nervous system?
The spine protects the spinal cord, which is a central part of the nervous system. Spinal misalignments may contribute to physical stress that affects how the nervous system communicates with the rest of the body.
What can I do to stay healthier during the winter months?
Staying active, getting adequate sleep, spending time outdoors when possible, and maintaining proper nutrition are all important for winter wellness. Chiropractic care may be used as part of a broader approach to supporting overall health during the colder months.
