What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of winter? We think of hot chocolate, fire places, and maybe even a chance of snow. But with winter also comes cold and flu season. We hear it just about everywhere we go - the sniffling and sneezing just seems more prevalent in winter time! It is particularly important to pay close attention to your health and wellness. Instead of hiding out on the couch this winter, learn how chiropractic can help you stay healthy.
AVOID JOINT PAIN
Do you remember your great-uncle predicting a snowstorm based on his knee pain? Well, he wasn’t making it up! Cold weather can negatively impact your joints and cause severe pain.
Along with dropping temperatures, the barometric pressure can cause your joint fluid to move less freely. That fluid is what lubricates your joints and helps them function properly, and cold weather can cause joints to become stiff and painful. That’s right, your frozen shoulder might actually be from freezing temperatures!
When you receive regular chiropractic treatments, you can restore your joint’s range of motion and reduce pain so you can keep moving as you should. Here at Healthy Life Chiropractic, our team performs gentle and effective joint manipulations to keep joint fluid moving freely, no matter how cold it gets.
GET MOVING!
When it comes to staying healthy in the winter, you have to continue to take care of yourself and that means staying active. We don’t blame you, it is a lot easier to stay snuggled up in bed than it is to get up and go to the gym. Freezing temperatures make it hard to want to leave the house, let alone go workout. The lack of movement and activity can cause weight gain and added stress to the joints and body, which isn’t doing your immune system any favors.
When you regularly visit the chiropractor, you give yourself a reason to get up and out of the house and keep your body performing at its best. This helps to prevent injuries and health conditions from slowing you down. Many of our patients report feeling immediate relief after a chiropractic adjustment. It’s a lot easier to get out of the house when you are doing something that provides relief!
KEEP ACTIVE
To keep yourself feeling great, you’ve got to stay active (even if it is just walking in place during commercial breaks). We want to help you achieve the best health possible, and we have a few to get you started:
Eat well - A diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein not only helps your overall health and wellness, but also helps you to reach and maintain any weight loss goals you might have. When you lose extra weight you might be carrying, you reduce stress that is put on your joints and you provide your body with the opportunity to function optimally.
Dress warm - This one might seem obvious, but how many times have you forgotten your hat or scarf? When you make it a priority to keep your joints and body warm, you protect yourself from the negative effects of cold weather. Be sure to lace up your boots, as you want to do everything possible to reduce the risk of a slip and fall accident on ice.
Stay active - We said it once and we’ll say it again: you’ve got to stay active! That doesn’t mean you have to hit the gym like a professional weight lifter everyday, but try to get at least 30 minutes of activity 5 times/week. Trust us - your body will thank you if you get moving!
You wouldn’t walk outside in freezing temperatures without a coat, so don’t head into the coldest days of winter without chiropractic care. Make health a priority this year, and you will benefit for years to come!