With all the public concern being raised regarding the H1N1 virus (the ‘swine flu’), many chiropractic patients are asking what they can/should do to avoid the flu.

What is the ‘flu’?

Influenza, better known as the ‘flu’, is a collection of symptoms which is associated with a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Common symptoms include fever, body aches, coughing, sneezing and fatigue. Although symptoms of the flu are similar to those associated with a ‘cold’ (a bacterial infection) – cold symptoms are more likely to involve a runny or stuffy nose, and overall are usually much milder in intensity.1

How do we avoid catching the ‘flu’?

Since the flu is caused by inhaling a virus, then having it multiply and spread throughout the upper respiratory tract, there are two main ways to avoid experiencing the symptoms of the flu – one is to reduce your exposure to the virus itself, and the other is to improve your natural ability to eliminate the virus once it enters your body.

Reducing Exposure:

When someone has the flu, a sneeze or a cough will release millions of virus particles in the air for someone else to breathe in. Similarly, when someone with the flu wipes their nose or mouth with their hand, as they touch objects with that hand, they will leave virus particles behind for others to pick up.

Therefore, to avoid spreading or catching the flu, simple measures should be taken:

• wash your hands frequently, especially before/after eating, exchanging money with someone, or using public transportation
• cover your mouth with the inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands

If one is careful, but still gets sick with the flu, one should isolate themselves from others – stay home, get plenty of rest and drink fluids often (water is preferred). Most flu symptoms should subside over a few days.

Improving Elimination:

Viruses and other microbes generally do not create sickness in a person who is physically ‘well’. The immune system, when functioning properly, either prevents us from getting sick, or helps us recover quickly when we do fall ill with an infection. Those whose immune systems are not functioning properly are those who are most at risk to get sick, and are also those who are more susceptible to more serious complications during their illness (ie. pneumonia).

Boosting your immunity can be accomplished a number of ways.

1. Vaccination – Most doctors will recommend getting a ‘flu shot’ – which involves injecting inactivated virus particles into your body to ‘educate’ the immune system. Unfortunately, vaccinations are not 100% effective, and are sometimes associated with serious side-effects, like allergic reactions or Guillain-Barré Syndrome.²
2. Natural herbal supplements –Echinacea is one of the most popular herbal supplements shown to boost immunity and speed up your recovery from colds or the flu.³ Vitamin C, plus zinc are also commonly recommended.^4,5
3. Chiropractic – Chiropractic is aimed at improving the function of the spine, by locating and correcting areas of restriction and misalignment – called vertebral subluxations. These subluxations can create interference in nerve signal transmission. Since the nervous system plays a role in regulating the functions of all bodily systems – including the immune system – chiropractic care can significantly improve a person’s natural immunity.

Evidence Supporting Chiropractic For Flu Prevention and Treatment

A study performed by researcher Patricia Brennan Ph.D. revealed that people experiencing a chiropractic adjustment will typically show enhanced immune system activity immediately following spinal manipulation. The effects were observed in a specific category of white blood cells (polymorphonuclear neutrophils) when blood was taken from the patient 15 minutes following a mid-back adjustment. These cells are involved in the response to sickness caused by virus or bacteria, and this immune system boost was coined an “enhanced respiratory burst”.⁶

One large retrospective study in 1997 investigated the effects of regular chiropractic care and a person’s general health. Reviewing the health history of 2,818 individuals receiving chiropractic treatments, they found that the incidence of colds and flu was reduced by an average of 15% in this population.7

Flu Epidemic of 1917-1918: First Evidence That Chiropractic is an Effective Treatment

In the last big influenza epidemic of 1917-1918, millions of people around the world died from the flu. In one account of chiropractic’s role in saving lives, Walter Rhodes found statistics supporting the use of chiropractic care as an effective treatment for the flu.⁸

In New York City alone (1918):

· for every 10,000 patients that were treated medically for flu symptoms, 950 died (1 out of every 11 patients)

· for every 10,000 patients treated medically for pneumonia (a serious complication of the flu), 6,400 died (2 out of every 3 patients)

· when patients with the flu were treated with drugless options (including chiropractic), only 25 out of 10,000 patients died (1 out of every 400 patients)

· for every 10,000 patients with pneumonia treated with drugless options, only 100 out of 10,000 people died (1 out of every 10 patients)

At the same time, chiropractors in Davenport Iowa, including students and faculty of the Palmer School of Chiropractic, treated 1,635 cases of the flu with only one death. In the same city, 50 medical doctors treated 4,953 cases with 274 deaths.

Christian Guenette DC dr_guenette@back2health.ca

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/coldflu.htm
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
3. Shah SA, Sander S, White CM, Rinaldi M, Coleman CI. “Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysis.” Lancet Infect Dis. 2007 Jul;7(7):473-80.
4. Caruso TJ, Prober CG, Gwaltney JM Jr. “Treatment of naturally acquired common colds with zinc: a structured review.” Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Sep 1;45(5):569-74.
5. Takkouche B, Regueira-Mendez C, Garcia-Closas R, Figueiras A, Gestal-Otero JJ. Intake of vitamin C and zinc and risk of common cold: a cohort study. Epidemiology. 2002;13(1):38-44.
6. Brennan PC,Triano JJ,McGregor M, Kokjohn K, Hondras MA, Brennan PC. Enhanced neutrophil respiratory burst as a biological marker for manipulation forces: Duration of the effect and association with substance P and Tumor Necrosis Factor. J Manip Physiol Ther. 1992;15(2):83-9.
7. Blanks RH, Schuster TL & Dobson DM. A Retrospective Assessment of Network Care Using a Survey of Self-Rated Health, Wellness and Quality of Life. JVSR 1997; 1(3): 1.
8. Rhodes, WR. The Official History of Chiropractic in Texas. Published by the Texas Chiropractic Association, 1978.