Understanding Stress: How Chiropractic Care Can Provide Relief

Acute stress is a good thing. If a lion were chasing you, the increase in your heart rate, muscle tension, and focus would hopefully help you escape unharmed. While thankfully, we don't need to worry about being chased by a lion today - if you’re not careful, someone cutting you off on the way to pick up holiday gifts can quickly put your body into the same fight or flight mode.

Your brain and body respond to this type of negative stress, whether real or imagined. Remember the last time you saw a car veering into your lane, and your heart rate went through the roof? That is an acute stress response in action! But if you consistently deal with negative stress each day, you may be on your way to developing a severe case of chronic stress with profound negative health implications.

In the short term, acute stress can be a good thing. It helps us react quickly. Your brain tells your adrenal glands to release hormones (chemicals) that help your body respond instantly. If the stress continues, you may slip into chronic stress mode. Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your brain and body. The symptoms of chronic pain and chronic stress overlap and often feed into each other.

Researchers continue to discover more about the impact of chronic stress on the human body, and emerging research has shown that spinal adjustments may be able to decrease your stress levels. While in short bouts, stress can be a good thing- keep an eye on your stress level this holiday season. Call us if you notice an increased stress level, and let’s address it before it becomes chronic.

Your stress level and spinal health are connected and linked through your nervous system. Just think about your posture when you get stressed out. Your muscles tense, and your breathing patterns change in response to the stress. Changes to your posture and movement patterns resulting from stress can lead to neck, back, shoulder, and more pain.

Stress often triggers a vicious cycle of pain and dysfunction. The process is coordinated through your nervous, immune, and musculoskeletal systems. Here's an example. If you're stressed out, you may notice yourself not exercising much, which leads to an increase in weight that brings your mental health down, which leads to more stress.

Movement is the best "medicine" to decrease stress and improve spinal function. Daily exercise

has been shown to lower stress levels, improve your mood, and provide you with better overall

health. Adjustments to your spine can help improve your range of motion and reduce pain so

you can get the daily exercise you need to stay well this holiday season. If you're struggling to

remain active due to aches and pains- let us know- we're here to help you.

Chronic stress can contribute to health issues like anxiety, depression, and back pain. In a constant state of stress, your body produces hormones that can disrupt almost all of your body's natural processes. This puts you at risk for a dizzying array of health problems. Discovering healthy ways to cope with stress is one of the best ways to manage your stress. And chiropractors may be the perfect healthcare partner to help you get started.

New research has proven that chronic stress affects your brain and body and can contribute to many chronic diseases. Identifying chronic stress early and managing it proactively is the best way to avoid long-term health challenges. Early signs of chronic stress include sleeplessness, headaches, muscle tension, and joint pain. Chiropractors can help you overcome stress in a few unique ways. Here are three ways we can help you reduce stress:

The holidays are one of the most stressful times of the year for most people. Even people who are never stressed out start to notice headaches, muscle tension, and difficulty sleeping this time of year. If you are stressed, relaxing and enjoying the holidays is almost impossible. Muscle tension, pain, and headaches are potential indications of stress overwhelming you. Call us when you are ready for help- our team is here for you.

We all know someone who gets sick around the holidays every year. Are they just unlucky? New research indicates that your daily choices may be the most crucial factor in your ability to stay well or get sick. Your body is designed to be healthy and resilient. Each day, you encounter millions of bacteria and potential pathogens that could get you sick. Your immune system and your body's ability to regulate and dissipate these invaders make all the difference between getting sick and staying well.

Daily choices are the most significant controllable factor in staying healthy as you enter the new year. What goes into your body (chemical stress), how you use your body (physical stress), and your thoughts (emotional stress) are all vitally important to your ability to stay well naturally. Here is your three-step process to manage stress and give yourself the gift of better health as we start 2021.

Next Steps:  

Staying healthy this holiday season is attainable if you take just a few minutes each day to be proactive with your healthy habits. Managing your physical, chemical, and emotional stress with daily physical movement, mental focus, and portion planning is a great way to improve your overall health and well-being. If you need help- give us a call today! We’re here for you.

Science Source:  

Psychological Stress and Susceptibility to the Common Cold. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1991

Stress Management. Mayo Clinic. 2020

Stress Management. Mayo Clinic 2019

Chronic Stress, Cortisol Dysfunction, and Pain: A Psychoneuroendocrine Rationale for Stress Management in Pain Rehabilitation. Physical Therapy 2014

REDUCTION OF CORTISOL LEVELS AND PERCEIVED ANXIETY IN A PATIENT UNDERGOING CHIROPRACTIC MANAGEMENT FOR NECK PAIN AND HEADACHE. Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. 2020

Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation. The Spine Journal 2002

The Interaction Effect of Posture and Psychological Stress on Neck-Shoulder Muscle Activity in Typing: A Pilot Study. EHAWC 2011

Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation. The Spine Journal 2002