Flu? viruses? pandemic? epidemic? we hear too much about this every year than we want to. And then, we worry about whether we, our young children or aging parents will be struck.Recently, we have been hearing a lot - A LOT - about the Swine flu virus - again!We hear how the virus may be worse than prior years, how the vaccine stores may not be enough, how countless people could be infected, etc, etc.So what can one do?First - wash your hands. Your mother was right, and so is your employer - wash your hands - frequently.Second - stay away from people who are coughing and sneezing all over the place. And, if you cough or sneeze - do so into a tissue or the inside corner of your elbow.Third - avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes with your hands unless you have just washed them.There is not much more you can do on your own in addition to these three steps.The next steps - and these are REALLY GOOD ONES - are to get vaccinated (which I do not suggest) or to boost your own immune system with some basic chiropractic care.So what does chiropractic care have to do with your immune system? Read on and find out?Lets step back and look at the facts. And the last major flu epidemic provides an ideal case study. In fact, the Texas Chiropractic Association has issued a wonderful review of the LAST major flu epidemic (1918-1919) by Dr. Walter R. Rhodes. This review is based on facts and shows without a doubt the chiropractic advantage? MEDICAL TREATMENT = 950 dead per 10,000CHIROPRACTIC CARE = 25 deaths per 10,000These numbers are backed by facts collected in New York City. In the 1918-1919 flu pandemic, 950 people died out of every 10,000 cases medically treated - and when the illness progressed to pneumonia, then 6,400 died out of every 10,000 cases. In the same epidemic, under drugless methods - which includes chiropractic care - only 25 patients died of influenza out of every 10,000 cases; and only 100 patients died of pneumonia out of every 10,000 cases.Or how about this case?CHIROPRACTORS SAVE 208 LOST MEDICAL CASESIn Oklahoma, chiropractors treated 3,490 cases of influenza with only 7 deaths. Even better, the record shows that in 233 cases where medical doctors had given up all hope, chiropractic care was able to save all but 25 of these people. All but 25 - and this in cases where the doctor had already given up - amazing!MEDICAL DOCTORS: 1 death per 15 patientsCHIROPRACTORS: 1 death in just 789 patientsIn the same flu pandemic, medical doctors treated 93,590 patients, with 6,116 deaths - a loss of one patient out of every 15. In the same state, excluding Davenport, 4,735 patients were treated by chiropractors with a loss of only 6 cases - a loss of one patient out of every 789. THE RECOMMENDATION FOR YOUThe above flu epidemic results are just a simple example of how chiropractic car helped people get well by relying their own immune system. The medical community may often talk down about chiropractic care, but mostly that is because they do not understand it.The results from the last flu epidemic is obvious.The testimonies that I receive from my patients are resoundingly positive - people with regular chiropractic care GET ILL LESS OFTEN than those without.So what are you waiting for?Find yourself a chiropractor and make sure your spine and nervous system are working as it should. Like waiting for a toothache to go get a dental checkup, waiting for a sore back or a sore neck is too late.See you soon - Dr. Steve VanLaecken at SpinalWorks