Cold and flu season is far from over. Keeping your immune system strong is beneficial for countless reasons, and it’s never too late to start making improvements even if you have already been sick this year. Not only does getting sick make you miss work, school and other activities, it can also throw off your other healthy routines such as exercising and eating well. After battling a cold or the flu, it can be much more difficult to get back on track with your schedule and health goals. When you are feeling well, there are a variety of actions you can take to keep your immune system stronger all year long. If you are under the weather, you can still do a few things to improve your immune system and feel better more quickly. Here are a few different ways to stay healthy during cold and flu season.
Get Plenty of Sleep
When you sleep, your body has a chance to repair and rejuvenate itself. Not getting enough sleep is linked to a weaker immune system because you are not allowing your body enough time to heal after each day. When you are fatigued, your chance of getting sick is even higher. If you rarely get enough sleep, you are also more likely to stay sick longer once you do become ill. Additionally, being chronically fatigued can increase your stress levels, which adds more strain on your immune system.
Exercise
Getting regular exercise is proven to boost your immune system and physical health. Going for a walk, doing yoga or starting body-weight exercises on a regular basis will help you stay fit and healthy. However, if you are already feeling worn down, sick or stressed out, exercising too much can put a strain on your immune system. Avoid working yourself too hard if you are already feeling unwell. While regular exercise is beneficial, you also want to allow yourself enough time to rest. If you do not get enough rest between workouts, your body will have to work harder on repairing your muscles, which can weaken your immune system.
Take Vitamins
Getting enough vitamin D and vitamin C is good any time of year, but it is especially helpful during the winter. Vitamin D can increase your immune system’s power while also increasing your ability to fight off new infections. Because sunlight activates vitamin D production in your body, it makes sense that people living in northern climates, like Minnesota, often have low vitamin D levels in the winter. In many cases, it is necessary to take supplements to get enough vitamin D. Vitamin C, on the other hand, is found naturally in a large variety of fruits and vegetables and cannot be created by the body.
Have a Chiropractic Appointment
Many people only associate chiropractic care with relieving neck and back pain, but it can have a multitude of benefits. The immune system has a direct link to spinal health because your spinal cord is part of your central nervous system, which in turn helps regulate the immune system. When there is compression, pain or a misalignment in the spine, the immune system can become suppressed. By having chiropractic adjustments, you can help restore balance in your central nervous system, and therefore, improve your immune system. Schedule a chiropractic appointment with Premier Health today to give your health a boost!