Did you know there’s an amazing link between your nervous system, immune system, and spine? In his research, Dr. Dan Murphy DC, DACBO, has shown that stress on the spine can actually inhibit your immune system.
The process happens when there are mechanical stresses on the spine such as stuck joints, muscle strains, and poor posture. These spinal triggers cause an increase in fight or flight response (often referred to as sympathetic nerve function), which suppresses the immune system. Additionally, there are many mechanical stresses that can cause this reaction in your body:
- Lack of Movement (Desk Work/Working From Home)
- Repetitive Stress/Movements
- Imbalances In The Body / Posture Asymmetries
- Stuck Joints
- Muscle Strains
- Inflammation
Chiropractic Adjustments to Boost Your Immune System
Regular chiropractic adjustments can reduce this stress response. This, therefore, allows the immune system to function at its fullest potential. Generally, based on my over 25 years working with patients, my recommendation for optimal health and wellness is that everyone should be checked for spinal imbalances every 2-4 weeks. Especially if you have a particularly stringent workout routine or work at a desk for long hours at a time. However, it’s best to consult with your chiropractor to determine the frequency which is best for you. Every person has different needs and lifestyles and these treatment plans should be tailored to your own needs. This will help keep your bones, muscles, nervous system, and immune system in balance.
In order to provide our patients with this immune system support and pain relief, we are open in the downtown San Francisco office and our open-air Burlingame location. We have been open for Chiropractic, Acupuncture, and Massage services, and have been following strict COVID safety protocols. In addition, we’ve even made it super easy to see live schedules online and book right through our website.
Support Your Immune System Function With Vitamins & Supplements
Dr. Murphy also has shown the well-known benefits of supplements such as Vitamins D, C, and Zinc along with Omega 3 fatty acids. These additions to your daily lifestyle are another great way to help your body deal with the inevitable stresses it encounters, and to keep your immune response healthy. Many studies show a healthy immune response can be the difference between having a quick recovery from such diseases as COVID-19, and a severe life-threatening reaction. Not all vitamins are built the same, so we have done the research for you to identify the most natural, effective, and affordable brands. We have created an Immune Supporting Protocol of our favorite supplements specifically for this purpose.
Your Everyday Lifestyle Can Affect your Immune System
Finally, stress from the fear of catching COVID-19 or any stresses and anxiety in your life can also increase your fight or flight response. Which can, in turn, suppress your immune system’s response. This can result in a higher likelihood of an unfavorable outcome if you are exposed. So don’t forget to take time to take good care of your mind and body. You can take control of your risk factors by doing everything you can to minimize them, and part of that is self care. Be sure to follow along with the CDC’s recommendations for COVID-19. In addition, consider getting enough sleep, exercise, proper nutrition, and hydration. Also, don’t forget to get adjusted regularly to optimize your nervous system and immune response. In doing so, you can take comfort knowing that you have lowered your risks and optimized your health.
Be well by staying healthy,
References
** Article/ book references and synopsis by Dr. Dan Murphy DC DACBO, summarizing the well-documented physiologic link between the spinal joint receptors (mechanoreceptors), the nervous system, and the immune system.
The mechanoreceptors of the spine communicate with the sympathetic nervous system (Jiang, SPINE, 1997).
The sympathetic nervous system controls the innate immune response (Elenkov, Pharmacological Reviews, 2000; Nance, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2007).
The innate immune response controls the adaptive immune response (Sompayrac, HOW THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS, 2008), i.e. “The Innate System Rules.”
The primary cell of the innate immune response is the MACROPHAGE (Sompayrac, HOW THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS, 2008).
The primary player of the innate immune response, the MACROPHAGE, activates the systemic immune response by using the sensory branches of the vagus nerve; these vagus afferents ascend to the nucleus tractus solitarius of the medulla (Tracey, Nature Reviews Immunology, 2009).
The nucleus tractus solitarius is disynaptically post-synaptic from the mechanical afferents of the upper cervical spine: (Edwards: Journal of Neuroscience, 2007; Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 2009; Brain Structure & Function, 2015).
The sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system (nucleus tractus solitarius) interface in the brain stem for a comprehensive immunological response: (Tracey, Nature Reviews Immunology, 2009).
