CHRONIC or RECURRENT ILLNESS

As the seasons change, especially summer to fall with kids going back to school, patients often come to see us with full blown sinus infections, coughs, sore throats, asthma flair-ups, and all sorts of health concerns.   The most common question we hear at these visits is “Why am I always getting sick?” 

The truth is, that is a very hard question to address WHILE you are sick because that visit needs to be focused on treating the current illness.  If you tend towards recurrent illness, seasonal afflictions, or a “low immune system,” the best thing you can do is see your Prescott naturopathic doctor for an office visit while you are WELL.

Without an acute illness that must be addressed, you and your doctor will be able to discuss your health concerns in more detail, order necessary testing, address possible nutritional deficiencies and food sensitivities, etc., and finally discover and treat the underlying cause of your recurrent illnesses.  That is the best time to work together to establish an individualized plan to optimize your health and prevent illnesses as much as possible. 

After establishing your individual wellness plan, it is important to pay attention to your body and schedule a visit with your naturopathic doctor AS SOON AS you start to feel ill.  Occasional illnesses are both inevitable and necessary, but there are many nutritional and herbal supplements, acupuncture protocols, intramuscular and intravenous therapies, and hydrotherapies that function to increase your vitality and decrease both the severity and the duration of an illness.  It is important to start these therapies early to avoid the need for harsh antibiotics and missed time at work/school. 

Important signs to look out for include:

• Flu symptoms
• Recurrent UTI or recurrent infections
• Fatigue symptoms
• Neck pain and headache
• Chronic tension headaches
• Gut problems and recurrent discomfort 

Naturopathic medicine respects that everyone is different and need to be treated as individuals, but here are a few general recommendations to help your body defend itself against illness:

• Sleep — There is no replacement for sleep, it is absolutely vital to the function of the immune system
• Avoid sugar – Consuming even a small amount of sugar stunts the immune system for up to 4 hours
• Avoid touching your face – most germs enter our bodies through our eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Drink plenty of water and other non-caffeinated beverages
• Eat a healthy diet with a lot of variety – vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins
• Supplement with a “whole food-based” multi-vitamin, they cost a little more but provide more nutritional value than any product from a super value store.