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Getting rid of those sniffles
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It is the proverbial cold and flu season. I have no statistics to back up this claim, other than the countless number of patients that have been into my office with the cold or flu, but this seems to be a particularly bad year. Today I would like to give you a few tips on how to shake those sniffles and get over that cold for good.
The very first thing you should do when you have a lingering infection is go to see your chiropractor. I know this sounds odd because we are all programmed to go see our GP. There is nothing wrong with that, but if you have had a cold that you just can't seem to git rid of, the chiropractor can help in a couple ways. First of all, the violent muscle contractions associated with sneezing and coughing can cause spasms in the neck and mid back that will prevent lymph in those areas from properly draining. The lymph system is the bodies sewer. It is how we get rid of the broken down bacteria and viruses as well as other wastes. However; since the lymph system does not have a pump like the heart, it has to rely on the muscles. If those muscles are spasmed, the lymph isn't going anywhere and the infection just stays put. Getting the lymph to properly drain can go a long way in getting over those persistent cough and colds.
The second thing you should do is go out and get a very large bottle of orange juice and some vitamin C tablets. Taking an excess amount of vitamin C has been shown to help not only fight infection, but also helps prevent it. There are many positive benefits to taking vitamin C, but whenever you sick, it can help get over the cold faster and better. I would recommend what is called saturating your system with vitamin C, which means taking about 2 and a half times the daily suggestion of vitamin C. It is a water soluble vitamin which means that your body can easily get rid of it, so taking a lot more than usual, helps keep it in the body and working towards fighting off the infection.
As well as drinking orange juice (or any other vitamin C rich beverage,) you should also drink plenty of water. Keeping yourself properly hydrated goes a long way in fighting off infection. As well as drinking water you need to be sure you are getting plenty of rest. While you are resting (sleeping) your body can focus its efforts on fighting off the infection rather than keeping you upright.
Now obviously, if you have a high fever related to your cold/flu, or if you have a productive cough that is an unusual color, then you should seek immediate help from either your PCP or your local ER, but if it is just a lingering cough and cold, then try these few tips to see if they can't help you finally get rid of those sniffles.
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