
I’m Looking for a Chiropractor Near Me… Should I Come During Cold and Flu Season?

There are many families, not only in Laurel, but across the country, who are on the hunt for a true family chiropractor, meaning someone who can really take care of the whole family. The right chiropractor will not only be able to help parents with symptoms like neck pan, headaches and back pain, but they will be able to help keep the whole family healthy as well, including kids!
Here at McAuliffe Chiropractic, we have always said that chiropractic care is for the whole family and the research on chiropractic care for children, shows just how much regular chiropractic adjustments can help keep kids healthy.
Now more than ever, parents are constantly worried about keeping their kids healthy and preventing the coughs, fevers and stuffy noses that come with cold and flu season. And chiropractic care can help boost the immune system of kids and parents so that the everyone has what they need in order to fight off illnesses this time of year!
How Does the Immune System Work?
Before we can dive into the benefits of chiropractic care for your child’s immune system, it is important to understand how immunity in the body works.
Our bodies are created with amazing immune systems that work to fight off foreign viruses and bacteria that can threaten the body’s health. A set of hormones signal white blood cells to come in and eliminate these unwanted invaders before they infect the body and put people in a state of disease. One of the most amazing things about this process is that most of us don’t even realize this war is raging in our bodies as our immune system works to keep us protected from disease.
All immunity is directed and controlled by a specific part of the nervous system, known as the automatic nervous system. And, of course, chiropractic care treats the nervous system and works to improve the function of the automatic nervous system.
How Chiropractic Care Impacts the Immune System
When you or your children receive an adjustment, it increases movement in the spine and balances the communication between the brain and the nervous system. After the adjustment, the body responds by improving your hormonal balance and increasing your body’s immunity.
Doctors of Chiropractic focus on improving function, instead of treating a specific symptoms or conditions. The adjustment will remove interference from the nervous system and increase the function of your automatic nervous system, and ultimately your immune system.
And there is plenty of research to support this as well. In fact, one extensive study showed that patients who received chiropractic adjustments had an increase in a specific signaling molecule in the body known as Interleukin-2. This molecule regulates the activities of your white blood cells that ultimately support immunity.
Interleukin-2 plays an important role in the body’s natural response to microbial infections. Studies have found that this molecule maintains a higher presence in the bodies of those who received a chiropractic adjustment compared to those who don’t.
What Else Can You Do to Boost Your Immunity This Season?
One of the best things you can do in order to boost your immune system is to get regular chiropractic adjustments from your favorite family chiropractors. Here are a few more things you, and your kids can be doing now, and all year long to keep your immune system up and running at its best:
- Stay on track with your regular adjustment schedule
- Take vitamin C regularly, (we love Emergen-C packets first thing in the morning)
- Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day
- Get adequate amounts of vitamin D, either in capsule form or by getting some sunshine
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes every day
- Eat plenty of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables
- Reduce and replace sugary drinks and snacks (they can drain your immune system)
- Try to add 30-60 minutes of sleep to your routine (as a lack of sleep can destroy immunity)
So, next time you decide to Google “chiropractor near me” think about all that the right doctor can do for you and your family. In addition to helping you with all of those aches and pains, our doctors here at McAuliffe Chiropractic can help keep your immune system up and running with regular chiropractic adjustments.
If you have questions about what regular chiropractic care can do for you, schedule an appointment with us today or call our office directly at 301-776-0755.
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