It’s cold and flu season. The cold and flu medications at the grocery store are almost entirely sold out and everywhere you go, people are coughing and sneezing and sniffling. Depending on the severity of your sickness or whether you have a cold or a flu, you could end up needing to stay home from school or work for days on end. As such, doing your best to stay healthy and avoid getting sick is essential – especially if you don’t want to end up spreading the sickness. 

While many people only associate chiropractors with back pain, the truth is that a chiropractor can actually help you prevent a cold or a flu, as well as recover from said sicknesses. Here’s what you need to know about colds and flus, the difference between a cold and flu, and how exactly a chiropractor can help you stay healthy. Let’s get into it!

What Is The Difference Between A Cold And A Flu?

Given that cold and flu are often strung together, it’s natural for there to be some confusion about what the difference between the two even is. Is a flu just a more serious version of a cold? Or are they two different beasts just joined together due to how they tend to be more common at the same time of year?

While a cold and flu may have some similarities, in truth, they are caused by different viruses. Here’s what you need to know about the common cold and the flu.

The Similarities Between A Cold And Flu

Both colds and flus are respiratory illnesses that are highly contagious. They share many symptoms. They also tend to appear at the same time of year. However, they are not varients of the same illness.

The Common Cold

The common cold is typically much milder than the flu. Symptoms tend to build up over 48 hours and can last anywhere from 3-10 days. Colds generally don’t result in serious health problems. 

Some common symptoms of colds include:

• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Cough
• Congestion
• Sore through
• Watery eyes
• Slight body aches/mild headaches

You generally don’t need to see a doctor if you’re sick with a cold. However, if your symptoms worsen or don’t improve, you’ll want to seek out medical attention. 

The Flu

The flu can range from mild to severe and can result in serious health complications and even death. While a cold takes time to build, flus usually come on suddenly. While the onset is abrupt, symptoms can last 1-2 weeks, and linger for up to 3. 

Some common symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Body aches and pains
• Weakness and fatigue
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Vomiting and diarrhea (more commonly seen in children than adults)

The flu can lead to complications, such as pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, and worsened chronic medical conditions. The best way to prevent the flu is to get your yearly flu vaccine.

How Can Chiropractic Care Help With Cold And Flu Symptoms?

The healthier your body is, the less likely you are to get sick. People who see a chiropractor on a regular basis generally tend to be healthier and get sick less often. This is because chiropractors improve your body functionality through improved blood circulation, reduced inflammation, and a stronger, more resilient body. 

This means that seeing a chiropractor can help you to stay healthier, as well as to recover from your illness. This is in large part because of the impact that chiropractic care has on your lymphatic system.

What Is The Lympathic System?

Your lymphatic system is your body’s drainage system. When you’re sick and congested, your lymph nodes can get blocked up. You know how when you go to the doctor and they check your neck? They’re checking your lymph nodes to see if they are swollen. 

How Chiropractors Help

Chiropractors put your body into alignment. This ensures that there’s no unnecessary pressure on anything throughout your body, so that it can function optimally. If you’re sick, this can help your body flush out the illness. If you’re healthy, it can help you prevent sickness. 

Chiropractors can also help to reduce overall stress levels. The more stressed you are, the more likely it is that you’ll get sick, and the harder it is for your body to recover. Chiropractors help with the cold and flu by reducing the impact of stress on your body so that it can better prevent and fight off illness. 

Ogden Chiropractic is here to help you this cold and flu season. Contact us today to learn more about how chiropractic care can improve your health or to schedule your appointment!

Have you ever slept in a hotel bed and woken up with back pain the next day? Or, alternatively, maybe back pain is just a part of your everyday life and when you slept in the guest bedroom at your friend’s house, it was so much better the next day. Your pillows and mattress affect your back a great deal. Different types of pillows and mattresses work better for different people, and you may wonder why this is. 

In truth, it goes beyond personal preference, and your body itself can play a significant role in the type of pillows and mattresses that impact your spine positively versus negatively. Here’s what you need to know about how your pillows and mattress affect your back so that you can deduce whether or not your bed is a culprit to your aches and pains. Let’s get into it!

4 Warning Signs That Your Pillows And Mattress Are Bad For Your Back

Bear in mind that there are many different factors that can cause and contribute to your back pain. Anything from your posture to herniated discs to pulled muscles and so many other factors could be a contributing factor to your back pain. With all that in mind, how do you know whether or not your pillows and mattress play a role in yours?

When Does Your Back Pain Occur?

If you wake up with back pain, but then some stretches and movement cause it to go away in half an hour or so, more likely than not, your mattress is to blame.

You Keep Tossing And Turning

If you find that you keep waking up throughout the night and that you just can’t seem to get comfortable, this can impact your spine.

Your Mattress Is Either Too Soft Or Too Firm

Your weight can play a role in whether or not you prefer a firmer or softer mattress. Generally, people who are bigger or overweight find firm mattresses and pillows more supportive, while people who are smaller or thinner may find softer mattresses more supportive. If your mattress and pillows aren’t supportive, this can cause joint issues. 

They Are Old

You need to replace your pillows and mattress every few years. This is because they can wear out over time, and also because our bodies change. This can cause your pillows and mattress to not be as supportive as they once were. 

How Good Pillows And Mattresses Can Alleviate Your Back Pain

Different people have different needs when it comes to their pillows and mattress. How you sleep plays a role in the type of pillows and mattress that will work best for you – especially your pillows. If you’re unsure of the right type of pillows and mattress for you, your chiropractor or a specialist at a store that sells pillows and mattresses will be able to help you.

Good pillows and mattresses support your body and provide you with comfort all night long. The right mattress won’t make you feel like you’re sinking nor will it feel hard under your body. When it comes to pillows, the general consensus is that your pillow should keep your spine in neutral alignment.

Some health conditions may affect the types of pillows and mattresses that work best for you. For instance, if you suffer from acid reflux, doctors recommend that you sleep with your head elevated 4 inches.

Your pillows and mattress can alleviate your back pain by supporting the natural alignment of your spine. Anything that throws your spine out of alignment could very well result in back pain.

If your pillows and mattress don’t support your spine, you may be hesitant to go shopping for something new. Mattresses especially are quite an investment. As such, it’s important to ensure that you consult with the right people in order to ensure that you obtain the right one. It’s an investment, yes, but it’s an investment into your health and wellness, which is always worth it. 

Do You Have Persistent Back Pain?

Ogden Chiropractic is here to help you with your chiropractic concerns. Whether you need advice on sleeping strategies to protect your back, you’re trying to determine whether or not your pillows and mattress are to blame for your back pain, or you simply need chiropractic care, our experienced professionals can provide you with the treatment you need in order to feel better. 

Contact us today to schedule your chiropractic consultation, and let us help you get back to a less painful life!