Our bodies are constantly under attack from foreign invaders such as environmental toxins, pollutants, bacteria, germs, and viruses. The immune system is our body’s natural defense against these attackers.
The immune system is made up of organs, structures and white blood cells whose job it is to identify and destroy disease-causing organisms such as:
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Fungi
- Parasites
- and even the body’s own cells that have malfunctioned.
How Stress Weakens The Immune System
The nervous system affects the immune system both directly and indirectly. The direct effect is via the synapsing of neurons with white blood cells in lymphoid tissues. The indirect effect is through blood-borne neurotransmitters and hormones, which activate receptors on the white blood cells surface.
Substantial research has clearly demonstrated that a wide range of stress can deplete immune system resources and adversely affect neurological and biological communication resulting in abnormal levels of B and T cells, decreased responsiveness of natural killer cells, and fewer IgA antibodies to be secreted in the saliva.
What does that mean to you?
It means that you are more likely to get “sick” because your body has a lower ability to fight off infection, and your weakened immune system is overwhelmed.
The 3 primary causes of stress
1) Physical Stress
Physical stress is the primary cause of communication breakdown because it causes nerve interference in the spine. These spinal misalignments (SUBLUXATION) cause abnormal reflexes, loss of normal mechanoreceptor function, and nerve interference, which reduces the overall effectiveness of the communication of the body. Therefore, these subluxations weaken the immune response, and you are more likely to become ill.
Correction of subluxation with the proper adjustment removes nerve interference and also gives a boost to your immune system to better fight off infection. That is why if you feel like you may be experiencing symptoms or getting “sick” an adjustment is the best thing you can do to help stay healthy and avoid getting illness or infection!
2) Chemical Stress
There are more drugs designed to treat and suppress components of the inflammatory response than any other single category in the world. Drugs may result in a temporary reduction of symptoms, but they do little to improve and optimize the actual healing process and often lead to dangerous side effects and immune system disorders.
Antibiotics have become a favorite weapon in the medical arsenal against disease. However, there is a tremendous volume of research, which clearly demonstrates that antibiotics have been grossly overused resulting in weakened immune systems and stronger bacteria and foreign microbes.
3) Emotional Stress
There is an abundant body of scientific research to support the concept that emotional stress has a negative impact on the immune system. Thoughts and emotions can trigger complex chemical reactions that affect multiple body systems and particularly the immune system.
Periods of intense emotional stress can result in decreased levels of natural killer cells, sluggish killer T cells, and diminished macrophage activity. The result? You get infection easier, and you are “sick” more often.
Reduce Stress and Improve Your Immunity
The foundation of health begins with a properly functioning nervous system. To a large extent, we can equate levels of function and healing capability with the ability of the nervous system to send and receive information through the spine. The trend in immunological research clearly demonstrates that restoring, balancing, facilitating and maximizing the communication systems of the body is the key to optimal health and immune function.
So, what is being “sick”? It is when your immune system is overwhelmed by infection or disease, and your body expresses symptoms to slow you down and allow your body to heal. If you get stressed because you are sick it is making you weaker, if you cover up the symptoms with drugs you are creating more stress, and if you are subluxated your body is not adapting.
If you notice any signs and symptoms that you may be getting sick research proves that the best thing you can do is remove interference and stress by getting adjusted and living the 5 Essentials. We are here to help you so come in for an extra adjustment if you need to!!
Learn How to Remove Stress & Maximize Immune Health
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