Chiropractic and Your Immune System
By Paul Rothbart
Nobody wants to be sick, but it will happen from time to time. Bacteria, viruses, and germs are out there lurking, creating a risk of getting sick. A strong immune system fights these microbes and helps you get better quickly as well as reducing the risk of getting sick in the first place. It makes sense that keeping the immune system strong and functioning well is a key to good health. This is primarily done through diet. But there is something else that you may not think of. A side benefit to seeing a chiropractic is that treatment may help strengthen the immune system.
What Cause Illness
Microscopic organisms share our environment, including the body. Many are harmless and some beneficial, but others can make us sick. Pathogens such as bacteria and viruses enter the body and sometimes start to multiply. They give off toxins that can attack cells and damage them, sometimes destroying them. This process can cause a number of illnesses. The immune system fights the pathogens with white blood cells. Many of the symptoms of illness such as fever, headaches, and rashes, occur as a result of the immune system's battle with the pathogens.
Fighting Illness
White blood cells surround harmful microbes, cutting them off from food and oxygen and killing them. When the pathogens are gone, the sickness is cured. Sometimes, when fighting aggressive bacteria, the immune system needs help and a doctor will prescribe an antibiotic that will aid the white blood cells in killing the bacteria. A good way to avoid illness is to take steps to avoid having these pathogens enter the body in the first place. Careful and frequent hand washing, disinfecting surfaces, and avoiding touching the face are all excellent preventative measures. But sickness is always a possibility, so a strong immune system is essential.
How Chiropractic May Help
Regular chiropractic care is treatment for the entire body. The adjustments a chiropractor makes align the spine and joints and this can restore overall balance to the body. Chiropractic treatment may improve blood flow and strengthen the immune system, allowing the body to wage a more effective fight against pathogens. Seeing a chiropractor is not a replacement for a good diet and taking medication, but it may be an additional way to keep the immune system strong and the body healthy.
Regular chiropractic treatment has a number of potential benefits beyond reducing back and joint pain. Some patients experience a strengthened immune system that helps them avoid illness and recover more quickly when sickness does occur. Consider stopping by The Joint Chiropractic to see what treatment may be able to do for you.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Las Vegas, Nev.