With this recent winter storm, we are reminded that even, though the days are starting to get longer, the winter season is heavy upon us and so is the cold and flu season.
You may have noticed many of your colleagues sick, maybe your friends and family were sick at your holiday gatherings, or perhaps you have been sick yourself. The CDC has confirmed a major jump in flu cases over the holidays. And their predictions show that it is about to get even worse.
According to Danuta Skowronski, epidemiology lead for influenza and emerging respiratory pathogens at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, flu cases are still spiking and we have not yet reached the peak of this spike.
The last two flu seasons were challenging, with a poor flu vaccine effectiveness in the 2014-2015 season due to genetic mismatch, and a late February spike in the 2015-2016 flu season which caught people off guard. This 2016-2017 season has already been rough and will likely get worse over the next few weeks.
As Naturopathic Doctors, we are always educating our patients about the importance of maintaining a strong immune system throughout the cold and flu season. A robust immune system is your prime defence mechanism to protect you against all strains of the flu virus and the over 300 types of viruses that can cause the common cold. As the 2014-2015 flu season showed us, getting the flu shot doesn’t mean you can rest on your laurels. Immune boosting is vital even if you choose to get the flu shot.
There are many ways to strengthen your immune system, from herbal medicines to hydrotherapy techniques you can do at home. Immune boosting treatments are effective for people of all ages, from the young to the elderly and are customized by your Naturopath to suit your needs. Aside from therapies that you may already be familiar with, like vitamin C, vitamin D and Echinacea, I often find that a comprehensive, individualized, immune-focused treatment plan includes addressing factors that can negatively affect immunity such as stress, sleep, nutrition, and fitness.
Personally, as someone who is constantly in contact with sick people, I have an immune boosting plan that works wonderfully for me as long as I stick to it. Inevitably, at some point during the flu season, I get off track, either forgetting to take a supplement or slacking on my contrast showers, and I catch something going around. However, getting back on track with my plan allows me to stay well despite my high exposure to various viral infections. Getting sick is a humbling reminder of how powerful and effective Naturopathic therapies can be at preventing illness.
