top of page
strong woman with daughter

Immunity & Disease

Understanding Infectious Disease and Immunity

Chiropractors do not claim to treat infectious diseases. Instead, chiropractic allows your body to function free of nerve system interference and closer to your full potential. Understanding the spread of infectious diseases and how best to defend yourself can lessen the fear and your chances of being impacted by infectious pathogens.

​

Understanding Infectious Diseases and Immunity

​

Infectious diseases result from the invasion of our bodies by harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Our immune system is the primary defense against these invaders, working tirelessly to protect us from illness and infection. Chiropractic care can help optimize the immune system's function, keeping it in top shape to combat infectious diseases.

group of health adults

Two Types of Defenses: External and Internal

Our immune system has two main lines of defense against harmful invaders: external defenses and internal defenses. External defenses, also known as innate immunity, are our body's first line of defense, while internal defenses, or adaptive immunity, come into play if external defenses are breached.

man at a sanitizer dispenser

External Defenses

Our external defenses consist of various physical and chemical barriers that help prevent harmful microorganisms from entering the body. These include:

 

  • Skin: Acts as a physical barrier to prevent the entry of pathogens

  • Mucus: Traps pathogens and removes them from the body

  • Tears, sweat, and saliva: Contain enzymes that break down and neutralize pathogens

  • Stomach acid: Destroys pathogens that enter the body through ingestion

 

Chiropractic care supports the function of external defenses by optimizing the nervous system, which plays a crucial role in coordinating and maintaining these barriers.

couple cooking

Internal Defenses

If pathogens bypass our external defenses, our internal defenses, or adaptive immunity, come into play. This sophisticated system involves specialized cells and molecules identifying, neutralizing, and eliminating pathogens. Critical components of internal defenses include:

 

  • White blood cells: Identify and destroy pathogens

  • Antibodies: Neutralize pathogens and mark them for destruction

  • Cytokines: Regulate immune responses and inflammation

 

Chiropractic care can help optimize the function of internal defenses by maintaining proper nervous system function, which is essential for coordinating the various components of the immune system.

​

Do Not Lower Your Innate Immunity

 

There are two ways to ensure that your defense systems are functioning correctly. The first way is to not do things to yourself that can lower your internal immune system. For example, avoiding smoking and alcohol are significant factors in strengthening your immune system. Avoiding stress as best you can also is essential. We should also minimize unnecessary medications and over-the-counter remedies that may weaken the body's ability to defend itself.

 

A big area that we have control over is what we eat. Processed food, refined sugar, bleached flour, and foods with additives can harm your immune system. A large volume of information is available on what foods negatively impact your immune system.

 

Lack of exercise or sleep can have a negative impact on your immune system. It has been shown that people who exercise properly and get the correct amount of sleep are less likely to get sick. Daily good habits in this area can help you against the threat of infectious diseases.

two couples running

Maximizing Your Innate Immunity

Dr. Brian Ferris is dedicated to helping you maximize your innate immunity through chiropractic care. By addressing spinal misalignments and optimizing nervous system function, Dr. Ferris can help support and enhance your immune system's ability to protect your body from harmful invaders. Benefits of chiropractic care for immune system function include:

 

  • Improved nervous system function, leading to better coordination of immune responses

  • Enhanced overall immune system function, helping to prevent illness and infection

  • Reduced inflammation, which can impair immune function

  • Support for overall health and well-being

  • Promotion of a healthy lifestyle, which further supports immune system function

mother with older daughter

Correcting subluxations through specific scientific chiropractic adjustments helps ensure that your nervous system and, therefore, all systems in your body function as close to their maximum innate potential. This increases your potential to stay healthy.

​

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Brian Ferris today to discover how chiropractic care can help you maintain a robust immune system and stay healthy year-round.

bottom of page