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Want to Fend Off Those Pesky Cold Bugs this Winter? Here are 5 Things I’m Doing to Boost My Immune System.

1/4/2023

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The winter season is upon us and along with the cold weather comes the “sick season”. The cold and flu bugs pop up at the most inconvenient times (anyone with young children knows this especially well). But there are several ways to be proactive about your family’s health to help strengthen your immune systems so you’re ready to fight off those nasty bugs when they come. Here are five ways that my family and I support our immune health during the winter season:
Dr. Kevin Clark
1. Get Daily Movement
Movement is key to overall health! Our favorite ways to incorporate movement are to take a walk outside (even in the dead of winter), regular strength and cardio workouts, yoga, and finding ways in everyday activities to get more movement (like parking further away from a store, taking the stairs, etc.)

2. Get Plenty of Quality Sleep
Quality sleep is high on our priority list in the winter. We try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day and avoid screentime (computer, phone, and TV) ~30 minutes before bed to regulate our sleep cycles. This allows our brains to rest, bodies to heal, and our nervous systems to reset.

3. Hydrate Daily
This is something that quickly goes out the window with busier schedules and social gatherings. I love having a daily glass of my favorite electrolyte drink (LMNT) to help hydrate my body. And, our family always increases our fruit intake during the winter with fruits that are naturally packed with H2O (like berries, oranges, and apples).

4. Boost the Vitamins
Vitamin D with K2, vitamin C, and zinc are a regular part of our family’s morning routines to help keep our immune systems in top shape. You can’t supplement yourself out of bad health, but several studies show that these supplements can lower the severity of the cold and flu.

5. Get Adjusted
A weekly adjustment is a must for my family. Getting adjusted positively impacts the function of the nervous system (this includes the spinal cord which is protected by the spine). An adjustment helps reduce the pressure along the spine, allowing the nervous system to detect and respond to external threats more quickly. The quicker our bodies can respond, the better equipped our immune systems are to fight off those cold and flu bugs!
 
Have questions or would like more tips? Reach out to me at info@chiroclark.com or follow @chiroclarkdoc on Instagram or Facebook.

By Dr. Kevin Clark
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Sound the Alarm: Muscle Soreness or Injury?

12/28/2022

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As we approach the beginning of a new year, gyms will soon be jam-packed with people starting their New Year's resolutions. Many are gym "newbies" or people restarting their workout regimen. New movement or exercise program for anyone (no matter their fitness level) can often create soreness or discomfort, It may be difficult to decipher whether that source of discomfort is the usual soreness post-workout or if an injury has occurred and professional help is needed.
New Year's resolution, muscle soreness, chiropractor, injury

​Below are three tips to help spot the difference between the two:

1. Timing
Normally, muscle soreness shows up following a workout and lasts ~ 24-48 hours. If you feel intense pain or soreness instantly, that usually means an injury has occurred. Additionally, if the soreness or discomfort following a workout does not subside after ~4 days, this also may indicate an injury has occurred. 

2. Location
The location of your pain or discomfort can provide a lot of information. As a whole, muscle pain is felt broadly. If you have pain that you are able to pinpoint (i.e. a specific area in your low back), this typically is a sign of an injury.
 
3. 1-Sided vs. 2-Sided
General muscle soreness usually shows up on both sides of the body because we engage both sides of our body when exercising. If intense discomfort or pain is felt on only one side of the body, it’s a greater indicator that an injury has taken place.
 
So, what can you do?
Listen to your body. If your house is on fire, the fire alarm hopefully sounds off right away to tell you that help is needed ASAP. Our bodies function similarly and have their own alarm system to warn us when something is wrong with our health. That alarm system is pain. While pain never feels good, it does mean that our bodies are functioning properly and alerting us that our body needs attention. The longer we let the alarm sound off, the more damage that is done to our house (or bodies). It is important to seek professional help, like a chiropractor, to help heal the injury as soon as possible.

​
By Dr. Kevin Clark
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    About the Doc

    Dr. Clark is the owner and head chiropractor of Clark Chiropractic in Darien, IL. He is a 4th-generation chiropractor with a deep passion for wellness. He enjoys researching the latest ways to increase longevity, cooking with his family, spending time outside, and helping patients live an active lifestyle.

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Phone/Text: 331-777-5301
Email: info@chiroclark.com
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Location: 2815 83rd Street | Darien, IL 60561
Hours: 
​Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday: 7:45 AM - 11:00 AM + 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday: 
3:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Saturday: 
8:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Clark Chiropractic Darien Chiropractor
Serving the Darien, Downers Grove, & Woodridge Communities
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