It's that time of the year again! The flu is working it's way through schools and workplaces, and if you've ever had the displeasure of getting it, you know that it can force just about anyone into bedrest!
As we near the peak of this season, many people are wondering whether they're doing everything they can to prevent or mitigate the effects of the flu for themselves or their loved ones. In particular, our practice members will often observe that many of their family members or friends are getting sick, but they themselves remain healthy or feel minimal symptoms when they are sick. Seeing this, they ask whether chiropractic has a role in supporting a healthy immune system and this is exactly what we'll be discussing today!
The immune system has direct innervation from the nervous system
No system in our body works in isolation. At all times, the nervous system is actively transmitting messages to and from all of the organs and tissues in our body with the goal of maintaining balance in our constantly-changing internal environment. For example, the goal of respiration is to balance the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in our blood, and we're able to do this because our nervous system has chemical receptors that detect and respond to changes in these two substances. Our nervous system also has stretch receptors that detect and respond when certain organs are overly distended, such as a bladder that needs voiding. The bottom line is that the only reason we're able to maintain balance in our body is because our nervous system is able to quickly and effectively communicate messages from different organs so that an appropriate bodily response can be executed.
When it comes to having constant vigilance and regulation by the nervous system, the immune system is no exception! There are many channels of communication between the nervous system and the immune system. In fact, studies have found that the tissues that make up the immune system (i.e. immune cells, thymus gland, tonsils, spleen, bone marrow, appendix, lymphatic system) have direct innervation from the nervous system. Because these immune tissues receive direct innervation, the nervous system could have a role in supporting immune function, such as the development of immune cells, the migration of immune cells to targeted regions, the activation of the immune response, antibody production, and attraction of immune cells. This functions are huge towards strengthening our immune health, monitoring our health, and recovering from illnesses like the flu!
How can the nervous system affect the immune system?
The nervous system helps the immune response be quick and effective. Because of this, when the nervous system isn't functioning at an optimized level, one of the things that can happen is that the immune response can be slowed and inhibited. This can make it so that someone gets sick more readily or it can make it so that it takes longer for someone to recover from an illness. Trying to fight of the cold and flu season with a dysfunctional nervous system is like trying to go through life with one hand tied behind your back.
On the other hand, a suboptimal nervous system can also make it so that your immune response is exaggerated or hypersensitive. This can come up as different things, such as autoimmune diseases, allergies, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
How can chiropractic support immune health?
Chiropractic care seeks to remove any interruption along nerve communication. It does this by correcting spinal misalignments and stimulating proper speed and communication flow between the brain to the rest of the body, including the immune system. Because the nervous system directly innervates the tissues that make up the immune system, removing pressure placed on the nerves that supply these tissues can help stimulate a quick and effective immune response while also supporting the functioning of the different immune tissues.
Our primary focus in practice is to help families and individuals stay healthy by avoiding colds, the flu, ear infections, and allergies. This is especially important during the holiday season because people can experience higher levels of stress and they often indulge more frequently on sugary and inflammatory foods and drinks, which contribute to inhibiting the immune response.
If you want to learn more on how the nervous system innervates the immune system or how regular chiropractic adjustments can have an impact in the immune system, check out our references below!
References:
Nance DM, Sanders VM. Autonomic innervation and regulation of the immune system (1987-2007). Brain Behav Immun. 2007 Aug;21(6):736-45. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2007.03.008. Epub 2007 Apr 27. PMID: 17467231; PMCID: PMC1986730.
Vertebral subluxation research. (2019). The circulating nervous system: the role of chiropractic in immunity. Coherence through Chiropractic, 2019(3), 5–10.
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