The immune system is what gets you well and keeps you well.  This God-given defense mechanism is made up of organs that create white blood cells.  These white blood cells are used in the body to destroy anything that does not belong inside of you.  When the organs of the immune system are healthy and functioning maximally, you can be exposed to high levels of disease causing organisms without getting sick.  This is why you can be around someone who is sick and not get ill.  "If the immune system is strong, cancer cells are destroyed before any damage is done.  However, new cancer cells develop in our bodies every day.  If your immune system weakens too much, that's when cancer can establish itself."  -Dr. Michael Williams

Sniffles, sneezes and fever are good for you!  They clear the airways of harmful irritants and allergy causing substances.  Fevers actually fight viruses and bacteria.  If a fever isn't over 104 degrees, diseases are shortened by letting the fever run its course.  Coughing rids the body of bacteria by way of the lungs.  If you take fever reducing drugs or cough suppressants you can be weakening the immune system from running its course therefore getting sick more often and for longer periods of time.

How to keep your immune system strong to get well and stay well:

#1. Get adjusted- The first step to healing is to get your spine and nervous system checked for interference (subluxation).  When you are experiencing symptoms, your first tendency is to stay home and skip your adjustment.  You should actually get your spine checked more often when you're sick!  "Nerve fibers go to virtually every organ of the immune system.  We found that if you took the nerves away from the spleen or lymph nodes (organs of the immune system), you virtually stopped immune responses in their tracks." -Dr. David Feltoen, MD, PhD, University of Rochester. 

2. Good Nutrition- Proper nutrition consisting of lots of fruits and vegetables, leans meats, fish and supplementation all support the body in the healing process.  Poor food choices like sugar, caffeine, refined carbohydrates and too much red meat all rob the body of energy that your immune system needs.

3. Exercise- has been proven to increase your immune system function to the point where male and female cancers can be reduced by 50-80%.

4. Enough Rest- Stress and lack of sleep drain strength from your immune system and are often responsible for the reason you get sick.  Getting a good 6-8 hours of sleep a night is essential.

5. Positive Mental Attitude- We see that the patients that have positive attitudes about their treatments and life in general get the best results.  Negative attitudes cause stress which depletes your immune system and prevents proper healing.  The next time you feel stressed...read a good book, meditate or be around someone who makes you laugh to turn that frown upside down!