Soon it will be that time of year again! You will see it and hear it everywhere you go. Maybe you are thinking we are a little late with our holiday edition but holly, garland and Christmas lights are not what I am talking about. In fact, just after the last bits of holiday paraphernalia are put away, another thing is sure to be seen and heard. You say you still do not know what I am talking about!!! Well, just think about it. After all the shopping and worrying-- about what to get who, will it fit, do they have one already, can we afford it; and all the visiting--your friends, your family, your in-laws, your kids; and all the partying--cookies and milk, nuts and beer, chips and pretzels, dips, vegetables, wine, cheese and crackers (all, of course, before you sit down to a big meal). And after all the last minute rushing around, lost sleep, and I got a million things to do... What on earth could possibly (and only naturally) follow all this? That’s right--the fever, chills, ache-all-over feeling, coughing, sneezing and complaining of the flu season!
Maybe you have never put these two together before but it seems to me to be more than just coincidence that “flu season” happens to occur just after we’ve basically stuffed ourselves for weeks (probably since Thanksgiving), totally stressed ourselves out, probably destroyed any semblance of what might have been regular sleeping and exercise routines and, in general, completely abused our bodies. After all, we are too busy seeing people, going places (mostly Christmas parties... more eat, drink and be merry) and getting things done to consider our health! At least we are still contributing to our health by thinking positively. During the holiday season that should be easy, unless of course you are looking for a parking space at the mall, or it begins to blizzard on your way to a Christmas party. Oh well, so much for positive mental attitude. Unfortunately, in the holiday rush, people also neglect their spines even more. Year after year in offices all over the number of patient visits drops beginning in mid-December and continues to drop until the New Year.
Now I am not suggesting that we all forego the preparation, partying or even the panic of the holiday season, but it bothers me a bit that the world would like to con us into thinking that a flu season really exists. They say it just makes sense that at this time of year with its cold weather, and what is in nature a time of lean nutrition, that an overabundance of germs would exist and cause many people to become ill. In fact, the opposite is true. The cold weather kills many germs. The flu season is more a function of a society that on the whole has let its resistance be significantly lowered and consequently, is vulnerable to disease--not just the flu but also every disease. If you want to be well, you simply must make your health a priority. Do as many of the things that contribute to attaining and maintaining your health as you can--namely make good food choices in moderate amounts, exercise regularly, get the rest you need, keep a positive outlook, and of course, have your upper cervical spine checked periodically!!!
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