“Swine flu epidemic enters dangerous stage” (Fox News)”World battles swine flu as death toll rises” (CNN)”2009 swine flu: Experts warn swine flu could spark a global pandemic” (BBC)”The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” (Chicken Little)Do these headlines remind you of any other news stories?1960s, 70s, 80s – The Cold war. Nuclear destruction! Protect yourself by building bomb shelters in your backyard, or hide under your desk.1999 – Y2K2000 – Mad cow: Experts fear pandemic2001 – Anthrax in your mail?2002 – West Nile Virus: The first pandemic of the 21st century2003 – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS): countdown to pandemic2005 – Bird fluThe cause of fear changes each year, but the fear is constant. Each of the preceding diseases and threats may have been real (maybe not the whole Y2K thing!), but the media hype and fear surrounding the threats seem to be more dangerous than the threat itself. Even AIDS – which was supposed to wipe out our population – has been studied, and we have taken steps to control it and protect ourselves. Microbial infections have been part of the human experience since our beginning and will change and evolve as we do.In my years of taking care of patients, I’ve never met anyone who has been affected directly by any of these threats that have made headlines. I have never met anyone who told me that family or friends have been directly affected, either. What I have encountered are stress-related diseases: neck pain, back pain, constipation, diarrhea, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue and many other ailments. One of the best ways that I know of protecting yourself from stress-related diseases is to tune out the fear – including radio, TV and newspaper. It may seem like a bold move, but it can give you a more positive attitude and an increased ability to focus on the good in your life instead of the possible threats out there.Staying healthy and avoiding influenza and other diseases is quite simple. It’s what we teach people to do every day. Follow these simple guidelines and you can stay healthy and minimize your chances of getting sick:
- Eat whole foods, such as organic vegetables and fruits, whole grains and organic meats. The closer the food looks to the way it did in nature, the healthier it will be for you. If you cannot recognize the food, it is a good indication it won’t provide you with much nutrition. If you can’t read the ingredients on the label or do not know what the ingredients are, avoid the food.
- Stay hydrated. Nothing can be more simple or effective than getting an adequate supply of water in your body. As for the amount of water you need, the guideline is simple – urinate clear.
- Avoid sugar and processed foods. They suppress your immune response.
- Keep your nervous system healthy and free of interference with proper spinal alignment, attained with a combination of chiropractic adjustments and massage.
- Stay rested with a good night’s sleep, and take a nap during the day if needed. Seven to nine hours is an average amount of sleep, but judge how you feel in the morning. If you’ve had enough sleep, you should feel rested and ready to go.
- Take a moment each day to count the blessings in your life.
- Minimize the toxins in your life. These include toxic people, toxic thoughts and toxic chemicals.
- A mild to moderate amount of exercise will help maintain a healthy body and reduce stress levels.
- Take some time each day to reduce your mental stress. Go for a walk, read a book, listen to music – whatever helps you relax.
