Flu Season is Coming! Reduce your Risk with Chiropractic

As the weather gets cooler and the days get shorter, it’s a great time to take stock of your wellness habits. Are you doing everything you can to stay healthy and safe through the cold weather months? 

One of the biggest health risks this time of year is the flu (or “influenza”), a contagious viral infection of the respiratory system which can cause severe fever, aching, and bodily infection. Flu risk is at its height between December and March, but the Center for Disease Control has noted a trend of longer flu seasons with many more reported cases. 

There are no two ways about it: having the flu is no fun and can even be fatal for those with compromised immune systems. In fact, during the 2017-2018 season, an estimated 900,000 individuals were hospitalized with the flu. 

So how can you reduce your risk? You may be surprised to learn that it’s as simple as making an appointment with your chiropractor. 

How can chiropractic help reduce your risk of flu?

The benefits of having regular chiropractic adjustments are numerous, including reduced pain and improved mobility. What many people don’t realize, however, is that chiropractic can help strengthen your immune system, your body’s contagion-fighting powerhouse. 

When your immune system is working well, your body is primed to fight off nasty infections like the flu. But there are a lot of ways the immune system can be weakened. Elderly individuals and very young children have naturally weaker immune systems, but things like stress, poor diet, chronic illness, sedentary lifestyle, and a compromised central nervous system can weaken anyone’s immunity to infection. 

When you get a chiropractic adjustment, the focus is on optimizing your musculoskeletal system, particularly your spine. A trained and licensed chiropractor can help ensure that your spine is correctly aligned, facilitating better functioning of the spinal cord, a crucial element of your central nervous system. The central nervous system communicates constantly with your immune system, so when it is out of whack, that communication breaks down and your immune system is weakened. 

The stress-relief benefits of chiropractic care can also help support a healthy immune system. In ensuring the proper functioning of your central nervous system, chiropractic can help prime your body to handle everyday stressors. When the central nervous system is compromised, like when your spine is misaligned or you experience joint pain, your body has a harder time dealing with stress and you become more susceptible to infections like the flu. 

Other ways to avoid the flu this season

Your first step should always be to talk to your doctor about the best methods to reduce your flu risk this season. 

In general, the flu shot is a great way to protect yourself against this nasty infection. You can get this shot at your doctor’s office, or even at convenient locations like Costco or CVS. While the flu shot does not guarantee protection against the flu, it will help prepare your body to fight off the latest strains. 

We may sound like a broken record, but the same elements of a healthy lifestyle we talk about all the time — a nutritious diet, regular exercise, meditation and stress relief, and getting quality sleep — will all help bolster your immune system and reduce your risk of contracting the flu. 

Chiropractic care has many health benefits. When paired with the other elements of a healthy lifestyle, it can help you feel your very best. At Kennedy Chiropractic, we proudly serve clients in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, and surrounding communities with expert, individualized chiropractic services. Are you looking for a chiropractor in Wauwatosa? Give Kennedy Chiropractic a call today.