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Let the Flu Go Around You

Since mid-Fall TV commercials have been trumpeting the horrors of the "flu season". "It's never too soon to begin fighting this year's bug" they blare. Public health announcements urge us to get our "yearly flu shot", as if this is something we've got permanently scheduled in our Blackberries. All the leading over-the-counter pain medications offer special seasonal "flu" mixtures, and their ads deluge daytime and prime-time broadcasting.

For the health consumer, namely us, it seems as if this annual "war on the flu" is received wisdom. We're just defenseless human beings at the mercy of the all-powerful flu virus.

What's wrong with this picture?

What's never mentioned in the "flu warning" marketing is the versatility and adaptability of our remarkable immune system. We're the lucky owners of a built-in state-of-the-art biowarfare system, on-the-job 24/7 to combat microscopic foreign invaders of our health and well-being. Once our immune system has detected a foreign protein it mounts an immediate defense, attacking and destroying the alien molecules. And, the memory of that particular invader is permanent, enabling a future immune response to be swift and effective.1

The big issue with influenza is that new strains appear each year. We've never encountered these germs before. But, the whole basis and strength of our immune system is flexibility. It is specially designed to respond quickly to new attackers. And, for the most part, it does this very, very well.

Of course, no one wants their dinner companion to sneeze in their plate of pasta, as Elaine did on an infamous episode of "Seinfeld". Through a typical cascade of unfortunate events, Jerry's and George's comedy pilot was almost scuttled because the network executive was Elaine's date, and he got violently ill by being on the receiving end of her blast of micro-bugs.

In the real world, our immune systems can be weakened due to life habits, circumstances, and stress. Stress is a notorious compromiser of immune defenses.2 And, of course, being human, there's plenty of stress from dawn to dusk. If worry and anxiety pile on top of not-enough-sleep or sub-optimal nutrition, getting sick is a pretty likely outcome. So, developing and maintaining healthy habits of living and successful strategies for managing stress is really the key.3

If you do the simple things that keep you healthy and well, in the winter months you can pretty much "let the flu go around you". You can be confident, knowing you've done the work to fight off the latest flu threat. Someone else's germs are their germs, not yours. If your immune system is on the job, you're far less likely to "catch" something.

And, even if you do succumb, you've got a much better chance of getting well again quickly.

1Sompayrac L: How the Immune System Works, 2nd ed. Blackwell, 2002.
2Wein H:Stress and disease - new perspectives. NIH Word on Health, October 2000.
3The Truth About Your Immune System - What You Need To Know. Harvard Health Publications, 2007.

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Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:00 am-11:30 am

1:30 pm-4:30 pm

Tuesday:

10:00 am-1:30 pm

3:30 pm-6:30 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

3:00 pm-6:00 pm

Thursday:

12:30 am-6:30 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-1:30 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonials

Reviews By Our Satisfied Patients

  • "If I could give 10 stars I would! I found this place through reviews a year ago on a whim. I have not been disappointed. Amazing staff and Dr Peters is seriously on another level professionalism, mannerism and charm.
    Dr Peters works with my 16 yr old daughter often and she is at total ease with him. He has helped her through many injuries as an athlete and with myself and my old creaky bones.
    If you need a chiropractor I highly recommend!!"
    -Kelly C.
  • "Did a ton of research before finding Dr. Peters. I'm very picky when it comes to Chiropractics. The Doc is legit and the staff Kourtney & Jeff are the best."
    -Joe M.
  • "He takes time to assess and evaluate every patient and is not about crack 'um and go. He has healing hands and truly cares for his patients. Additional info you may find helpful: I never have to wait. He sticks to his schedule so I am in and out in 30 minutes. He usually spends about 20 minutes with me. Jeff at the front desk always greets me with a smile and by name. The business is bright, fresh and clean."
    - Bridget Harris
  • "The doctors explain things so well and make sure each visit is filled with QUALITY time. Their explanations allow me to better understand the maintenance I need for my own body to function the very best in my daily routine."
    - K.C. Mercer
  • "I have been coming here for over a year now and am happy to say the doctors there are great! I have seen numerous improvements with continued chiro and acupuncture in the way my body feels."
    - Cyndee
  • "The doctors explain things so well and make sure each visit is filled with QUALITY time. Their explanations allow me to better understand the maintenance I need for my own body to function the very best in my daily routine."
    - K.C. Mercer