The flu season begins in November and is at its height between December and March. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of every 5 Americans will get the flu this year. Chiropractic care may be your answer for a clean bill of health this flu season.
What exactly is the ‘flu’?
Influenza, also known commonly as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lung. It is an airborne disease and can be prevented by any normal face mask (such as the one available at www.accumed.com/n95-mask-for-sale-respirator-safety-face-mask-z1.html). It can cause mild to severe illness and at times, can lead to death. Some of the most common flu symptoms are:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)
The flu is very contagious. You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you even know you are sick. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others 1 day prior before any symptoms and up to 7 days after becoming sick. Those with a weaker immune system and young children might be able to infect others for an even longer period of time.
Is the flu the same thing as a cold?
No. The flu is often mistaken for symptoms of the common cold. Colds are usually due to a bacterial infection that overwhelms the body. While the symptoms can be similar, colds are much milder than the flu.
Chiropractic treatment can help?
Yes. Chiropractic treatment has been shown in hundreds of research articles to improve the function of the body’s immune system. Chiropractic can give your immune system a boost with adjustments. Chiropractic care can help raise your body’s natural resistance to disease and infection by removing interference to your proper body function, vertebral subluxations. Vertebral subluxations are when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves. Aside from chiropractic, you can also take doctor-prescribed medicines from pharmacies, such as the Canadian Pharmacy.
A study shown in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research in 1997 showed chiropractic care to be effective in treating the cold and flu. Over 2,800 individuals received regular chiropractic care and the result was an average 15% decrease in the incidence of colds and the flu. According to the World Chiropractic Alliance, an international organization representing doctors of chiropractic, spinal adjustments can help your immune system function better. If you don't have the time nor budget to get chiropractic treatment, you can still use FDA-approved antiviral drugs to treat flu. Some of these medicines can be found on pharmacies like the Canadian Pharmacy.
Regular chiropractic treatments are beneficial to the body and preventing a cold or the flu is just one of the many positive side effects. Northeast Spine and Sports Medicine knows how important it is to stay healthy this season. Contact us for an appointment.
