Chiropractic care is important all year round, but I think it is especially important during the holiday season since the holidays can be a very stressful time for so many. While there is so much to be grateful for, it is also easy to forget to take care of your own health. Skipping your Chiropractic adjustments when your body needs it most is never the right thing to do.

I hear that ALL the time: “It’s the busiest time of the year, I don’t have the time to make it in for an appointment!”  Don’t get me wrong, I know the holidays are busy.   Between holiday parties, decorating, travel plans, and last-minute holiday shopping, who has the time to do anything extra?  Well, think about this…who has time to be sick, work through headaches or nurse a painful back?

By taking the time to receive chiropractic care during the holidays, you’ll be able to manage stress and the effects of stress better.

 How Stress Affects Our Lives

This time of year people equate getting sick with the colder weather, but the truth is, increased sugar, alcohol consumption (also sugar) and Holiday STRESS is what greatly decreases your immunity and leaves you vulnerable to illness.  Our bodies deal with stress by tensing up and slowing or speeding up important bodily functions.  The end result can be headaches, migraines, neck pain, low back pain, jaw pain, stomach aches, digestive issues, increased blood pressure, catching more colds, getting a sinus infection, or just feeling run down.

Chiropractic to the Rescue!

Chiropractic is my go-to for managing stress.  It is a powerful tool to help deal with the negative effects of stress on the body because Chiropractic Adjustments positively influence the nervous system…which controls every function of our bodies. Here are just a few reminders why it is so important to stay up-to-date with your chiropractic check-ups this time of year:

• Pain relief

Muscle tension in the neck and shoulder area and headaches take top billing when it comes to how stress affects us physically. Chiropractic care is a real gift to those who are suffering.  Chiropractic adjustments offer relief of discomfort and can have you back to your holiday plans in no time!

Unless you’re staying at home for the holidays, odds are you’ll be feeling some type of travel pain come January. Whether you’re flying, driving, or stuck on a pullout sofa – the holiday travel can leave you in some pretty uncomfortable positions.  These positions can put a lot of stress on your spine creating pain and discomfort. Seeking chiropractic care before and after holiday travel will go a long way to help you through this busy season!  (Check my holiday travel tips to prevent pain!)

• Fend off the Infections

‘Tis the season for the sniffles and chills. Being stuck indoors or on an airplane, weaker immune systems due to sugar consumption and stress, and decreased vitamin D levels, create the perfect storm for opportunistic infections like a nasty cold. Getting additional spinal adjustments can help stimulate your nervous system, boost your immune system, promote lymph drainage and help to get over illness faster, minimize the severity of illnesses or help to prevent them altogether. If you suffer from colds, upper respiratory infections and sinus infections around the holidays, this year take the opportunity to utilize your Chiropractic care to get well faster and stay well.

• Improved Digestion

During the holidays, we tend to change our eating habits. We eat more.   We tend to consume fewer fruits and vegetables.  We eat more sugary foods and treats.  Our meals contain more starches and less fiber. These changes in diet can affect our digestion in many ways, (not to mention our waistlines). We can become constipated, bloated, gassy, or have heartburn. Chiropractic has a big impact on our digestion because it affects the nervous system, which in turn controls the nerves that go to our stomach and intestines. If this communication is not running smoothly, our digestion can slow down.  Adjustments can get your bowels running smoothly again and help keep you regular throughout the Holiday season.

• Get a Jump Start on your New Year’s Resolutions.

This time each year, millions of Americans put working out and healthier eating at the very top of their New Year’s resolution list! If you’re looking to start a new workout plan this year, chances are you’ll be putting your body under a great deal of stress.

Visiting a chiropractor before embarking on such a journey is a fantastic idea. Not only will you get a great adjustment to start off the New Year right, but you can also get some trusted advice on what your body can handle.  An undiagnosed back, knee, or foot injury could sideline you early on in your New Year’s resolution journey – which is why we recommend having an evaluation before starting!

Did you know the average American gains 12 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day?  If weight loss is also on your resolutions list, I have a great weight loss program that can help you lose the holiday pounds in 30 days!!!  There’s no need for you to carry that excess baggage with you into spring.  If you join our weight loss program in January, you can be 15-30 pounds leaner by Valentine’s Day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you need help managing stress, call my office for a consultation.  I have 27 years of experience helping patients get well and stay well.

 

Dr. Hoch (pronounced Hoke), is a 1988 Graduate of Peotone High School and a 1990 Graduate of Joliet Junior College. She received both her B.S. in Human Biology (1991) and her Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) (1993) from The National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, IL. She also received her graduate and post-graduate certifications in Acupuncture from NCC. This article is copyrighted and may not be copied or duplicated in any manner including printed or electronic media, regardless of whether for a fee or gratis without the prior written permission of Dr. Hoch.