How the Fall Season Impacts Overall Health
By Brandi Swieter
Autumn seems like fun for so many people, with events going on throughout October, trick or treating on Halloween, and more haunted mazes and festivals than one could count. Just because the season brings a lot of joy doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its negative side. The fall season can impact a person’s overall health if people aren’t taking the right precautions.
Energy Drainer
Autumn seems to be when people sleep the most. The cold weather has started to set in, nights turn darker sooner, and the school year has gotten under way. People are more likely to sleep an extra couple of hours during the days of fall than any other time of year. It may seem beneficial to get this extra sleep, but not when individuals are waking up feeling groggy and tired still due to rainy days and no sunlight. Sunlight provides Vitamin D to the skin. Those levels become depleted when autumn dawns.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Known by its acronym, SAD starts to set in when the cool weather hits. Once fall arrives, Season Affective Disorder starts to take over many individuals, leaving them feeling melancholy and blue. These feelings are partially due to the lack of sunlight and lower amounts of Vitamin D. It also stems from a lack of proper sleep. Although people are sleeping more, they’re not getting as much REM sleep as needed. Poor sleep can lead to bad mood swings.
The Start of Flu Season
Many people believe flu season to be the winter months, but it actually sets in sooner. Fall is when most people begin to get sick. The cold air has already set in, and the change in weather makes many people suffer from allergies, at the very least. Most come down with a cold or get a version of influenza that has them in bed with a fever and muscle aches. Getting the flu vaccine as soon as it’s offered in the beginning of fall is the best idea for those who want to combat this problem.
When autumn weather has people down and their health is seeming to decline, it may be a good time to visit the chiropractor. At The Joint Chiropractic, doctors can help individuals alleviate their symptoms of headaches, back pain, neck pain, and more. With quality care from licensed professionals, the fall season won’t be able to do its damage to people’s overall health like it normally would.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in San Diego, Calif.