Why Do I Always Get Sick During The Holidays, And Can Chiropractic Care Help?

It’s common to become sick during the holidays, so common, in fact, that we’ve come to expect it. After a two year long global pandemic, one thing still hasn’t changed: people still seem to have more colds, more fatigue, and more general “down time” during the holidays than they do in the middle of the summer, or during the spring. What’s going on? If you find yourself asking “why do I always get sick during the holidays, and can chiropractic care help?” read on to discover how you might benefit from chiropractic care.

Why do I always get sick between Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Whether or not you celebrate these holidays, you may have discovered that there is a period between the last week of November and the third week of December during which you get sick. If you’ve recognized that there’s a pattern of time during which you are constantly finding yourself falling ill with a cold or flu, or even just feeling “down,” you’re not alone.

A weakened immune system is very common during the holidays.

There are a multitude of reasons why you may experience illness during the holidays, but the most common reason comes down to one word: stress! Although the holidays are a time of family, food, communion, and often, celebration, they bring with them a terrific amount of stress. Stress can plague us all during the holidays, especially as we strive to entertain, attend events, cook, eat, and provide our families with an unforgettable season.

Unfortunately, stress wreaks havoc on our bodies and minds. One thing that the holiday season is great at doing is throwing us off of our routines and schedule. We eat foods that we might not normally eat. We travel to places we don’t typically visit. We keep odd and different hours, sometimes staying up much later. Many of us are affected by depleted daylight and lack of warm weather. We also have a significant amount of mental stress.

For most people, the holidays mean change, even in small ways. This could mean hosting events or seeing people we don’t usually see, buying gifts for loved ones, getting on airplanes, buses, or taking long car rides, and still trying to manage our usual responsibilities and duties. So, although the holidays may bring lots of fun and community into our lives, they can also bring lots of stress.

It’s important to note that the holidays may not bring fun and community into everyone’s life, and this can also be a cause of stress. For some people, the holidays have their own significance, not necessarily positive, negative, or neutral—it’s different for everyone. What we do know as wellness professionals is that the holiday season can certainly present some unusual challenges: so here’s how chiropractic care can help us to deal with them.

Stress can interfere with immunity—but chiropractic care can help.

We know that the holiday season brings stress, and that stress can seriously hamper our immunity. The body’s immune system is at its best when the body is well-rested, appropriately nourished with the right amount of food and plenty of vitamins and minerals, and enjoying occupations that don’t exceed or are less than it is skilled to handle. When these variables change—and they almost always do during the holiday season—things can get messy.

Our bodies and minds become stressed when unexpected variables are thrown our way. This means that you may find yourself off of your regular diet, off of your regular exercise routine, or off of your usual sleep schedule. You may not be receiving the same nourishment as usual, the same amount of rest, or engaging in the same activities. Or, it’s common for people to strive to maintain their routines during the holidays, only to find themselves cramming in events, birthdays, celebrations, and gift-giving/hunting during their free time.

Also stressful can be finding oneself without an occupation during the holidays, or without events to attend. This is a very common holiday phenomenon, and it can be incredibly stressful to the mind and body to feel left out of holiday cheer, or feeling bleak due to the weather and other circumstances.

However you find yourself during the holidays, know that it is not unusual to be stressed. In fact, it’s completely normal. Unfortunately, with stress comes depleted immunity. Depleted immunity means that the cells in your body that are typically ready and available to fight intruders like viruses and bacteria often become lower in numbers. Your body is busy trying to adapt to the changes in its environment, which can make it less responsive to these intruders. Additionally, certain holiday habits like drinking alcohol, staying up late, and enjoying sugary foods can actually impair the immune system, putting it “to sleep on the job.”

Fortunately, chiropractic care—particularly Chiropractic BioPhysics®—can help. Here’s how:

Chiropractic BioPhysics® & The Immune System

Chiropractic BioPhysics® is a powerful intervention for the entire body, and that includes just about every body system. While chiropractic works primarily on the neuro-musculoskeletal system, the ripple effect of chiropractic treatment carries on to other body functions, and therefore, other body systems.

The neuro-musculoskeletal system is made up of the nervous system, the muscular system, and the skeletal system. These are the parts of the body that chiropractic directly affects during treatment. Using Chiropractic BioPhysics® protocol, your certified chiropractor provides a mirror-image® adjustment or spinal traction. As a result, the bones and joints are shifted, the muscles are relaxed, and the nervous system is provided the opportunity to reset and regulate itself. So, the neuro-musculoskeletal system is the first and primary system that is affected. But this isn’t all!

When you receive Chiropractic BioPhysics® treatment, it isn’t just the neuro-musculoskeletal system that receives benefits. There are several other things taking place beneath the surface. Chiropractic care often improves the circulation of blood and oxygen within the body, which means that toxins are able to be more rapidly transported out of the body, and nutrients are more rapidly able to be taken in and absorbed.

Additionally, Chiropractic BioPhysics® often improves lymphatic flow and drainage. The lymphatic system is a major part of the immune system, and is largely responsible for getting rid of the toxins and invaders that make their way into the body every day. During the holiday season, lymphatic function can be stymied by dietary changes, lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, and sugar. This makes it more difficult for your body to attack invaders, and can lead to more colds, flus, headaches, sinus infections, exhaustion, and fatigue.

The good news is that chiropractic care can be a huge help!

Boosting Your Immune System with Chiropractic BioPhysics®

Not only can Chiropractic BioPhysics® help to improve the function of the lymphatic system, as well as improve circulation—it can also decrease stress. Since stress is the number one cause of immune dysfunction, this is a big deal! Whether you’re feeling mentally or physically stressed, chiropractic care can help to regulate your nervous system and tone down some of that stress.

Patients who receive Chiropractic BioPhysics® on a regular basis report sleeping better, getting sick far less often (some never get sick during the holidays anymore!), feeling less anxiety, more focus, and more clear-mindedness, and having more energy and vitality. We attribute this to chiropractic’s unique ability to help decrease stress.

Because of the many ways that chiropractic care helps to support the body’s nervous system, chiropractic is a powerhouse for decreasing stress. Chiropractic care works on the central nervous system, which is made up of the spine and brain. The central nervous system works hand in hand with the peripheral nervous system, and together, the two control just about all of your body’s ability to perceive and handle internal and external stress.

When you receive chiropractic care, whether that’s an adjustment, decompression, laser therapy, spinal traction, or another form of treatment, the central nervous system is affected. As the central nervous system is affected, it provides the nervous system with an opportunity to “reboot,” or regulate its own function. Patients often report this feeling immediately after treatment, feeling more relaxed and yet more energized. This feeling often persists long after a treatment session, sometimes for days or up to a week.

Frequently chiropractic treatment that is built into your schedule has a whole host of stress-defeating and immune-system supporting benefits. If you’re ready to experience the benefits for yourself and give your body a break from stress, then it’s time to book your appointment.

Chiropractic BioPhysics® Near You

Interested in experiencing the difference of Chiropractic BioPhysics®? Then you’ve come to the right place! Chiropractic BioPhysics® has been helping to realign the spine, improve immune function, and decrease stress since it was created in 1980. With a personalized care plan just waiting to be created for you, our certified doctors can help you support your body’s well-being over the holiday season, and into the new year to come. Visit our directory today and let’s get you feeling your best!