It’s getting to be that time of year again. Cold and flu season. What do you do when you get sick? Pop some pills and try to function?

Here are 6 essentials to conquering colds, sinus congestion and the flu season.

1. Warm Liquids

Drinking cold liquids lowers your immune system. Your body has to warm up cold liquids, which will cause an imbalance and lower your core temperature. When fighting a fever, the last thing you want to do is cause problems with your temperature. Drinking hot tea, room temperature water or warm broth is your best bet on fighting a cold.

2. Vitamin C and Zinc

Both vitamin C and zinc play an important role in nutrition and immune defense. When coming down with a cold higher doses are needed, as most of the population are already deficient in both. A study that was conducted in 2011 on the effect of vitamin C and zinc can be read here. If you are a smoker, you are more likely to come down with a cold more often than a non-smoker. Smoking interferes with absorption of vital vitamins and minerals (just one of the many reasons to quit!)

Head over to our store to buy doctors grade vitamin c and zinc!

3. Echinacea

Echinacea cuts the chances of catching a common cold by 58 percent. It also reduces the duration of the common cold by almost one-and-a-half days. *Published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases. The best way to take echinacea is to start taking it when you first notice cold symptoms and continue it for a week. Check out our Echinacea.

4. Chiropractic Adjustment

The spine encases your nervous system. Your immune system is a direct reflection of how well your nervous system is functioning. A chiropractic adjustment actually speeds up the recovery time of a cold, flu, or sinus infection by removing nerve interference. When your body is functioning at an optimal level you can heal quicker.

5. Diathermy

Coughing, sinus congestion and lung issues can be treated with diathermy. (Along with other conditions such as: otitis media, bursitis, diverticulitis and traumatic injurties.) Diathermy decongests the lungs or sinus by shortwave heat. *I will warn you, after getting the diathermy, be prepared to cough up a lot of phlegm! Perks of breaking up the congestion. 😉

6. Rest

This one is a no-brainer. As my dad has always said “You’re burning the candle at both ends.” So when you get wore out and over worked, your immune system isn’t functioning at 100%. So when you start to notice you are getting sick, REST!

Side note:

Make sure you buy quality vitamins. We sell high quality vitamins and supplements at our office. You get what you pay for. Cheap vitamins at your box store = cheap quality and potency. To learn more about quality brands check out this article on the best brands. (Some of which we carry in our office!) With all that being said. The best way to be healthy and stay healthy is to EAT HEALTHY!

Those are my top 6 things to do when you are noticing you are getting sick or are sick. Don’t you DARE call in sick to a chiropractic appointment. That’s when you REALLY need to be in the office. Let us help you not only get better but feel better!

~Dr. Lacey~
Carder Chiropractic Clinic, Inc.
El Reno, OK 73036