04 Jan Chiropractic Care: A Boost to Your Immune System
In today’s world, a strong immune system is more important than ever to help us fight off disease. A big part of staying healthy is keeping immunity up through eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise and sleep.
Another vital way to boost your immunity is with chiropractic treatments that keep your nervous system functioning at its most optimal level. The nervous system works in concert with the immune system to protect your body against infections. Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic provides care that enables the parts of your nervous system to work together in protecting your health.
How the Immune System Protects You
With the help of your nervous system, your immune system protects your body against foreign substances, known as antigens, that can harm you. Antigens may be viruses, bacteria, chemicals, or allergy-triggering substances such as pollen. Many of your organs, including the spleen, tonsils, bone marrow, and lymphatic system, also aid your immune response, with help from signals sent through the nervous system.
Your Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems Affect Immunity
Your autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the part of your nervous system that handles basic tasks that you don’t even think about, like breathing, digestion, heart rate, and body temperature.
The ANS is made up of two parts that play vital roles in orchestrating your body’s immune responses:
The sympathetic nervous system (SANS) handles what’s known as the fight or flight response. If you’re in a dangerous or stressful situation, the SANS ramps up your energy to be on high alert, to fight or to run. It changes functions in your body, such as stimulating adrenaline production and increasing heart rate. The SANS can also inhibit the immune response.
The parasympathetic nervous system (PANS) brings the body back to a calmer state when the SANS response is no longer needed. It keeps your body’s basic functions, such as the production of saliva and tears, running smoothly. The PANS prevents your body from overworking and suffering a high level of stress that can increase harmful inflammation and make you more susceptible to getting sick.
How Chiropractic Adjustments Improve Immunity
Your nervous system and immune system work together to mount your immune response to invaders. Stress can trigger the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This is good when your body faces a true threat, but chronic stress and elevation of the SANS can cause inflammation and lowered immunity.
Spinal adjustments help activate the parasympathetic system and fully play their role in balancing the stress and inflammation that often result when the sympathetic nervous system is overactive.
Overall, chiropractic treatments also strengthen immunity by reducing pain that causes chronic stress.
When you optimize your immune system with good lifestyle habits and safe, natural chiropractic care, you can look forward to living your healthiest life for years to come.
Call Eastern Oklahoma Chiropractic for Your Complimentary Consultation
To begin maximizing your health potential, contact our office in Broken Arrow at (918) 940-4630 today.