One way the word “stress” is defined is this: “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.”
What are some things that cause a person to be “stressed out?” It can be pressure on the job from the boss or co-workers or customers. It can be financial difficulties, such as “How am I going to pay my rent this month? Will I be homeless?” Stress can come from relationship troubles. Watching TV, listening to the radio, and seeing/hearing constant “bad news” from the media can cause stress. And, of course, health crises are stressful. Meanwhile, stress is exacerbated by poor nutrition (such as pizza and soda pop for most meals everyday) and sleep deprivation (getting four hours of sleep a night versus a more normal eight)…
Chiropractors regularly see people who are experiencing stressful situations in their lives. Oftentimes patients’ minds are exhausted and their bodies feel bad.
Did you know stress activates the body’s “fight-or-flight” response? Your brain rouses your sympathetic nervous system. When that happens, heart rate, blood volume and blood pressure increase. Blood is diverted away from your digestive system and limbs. Meanwhile, your adrenal glands send out adrenaline, epinephrine and norepinephrine– too much of which over time messes with one’s health!
When a person gets stressed they often contract their muscles– they get “tight.” The spine becomes locked in an abnormal position. Then the body’s nervous system doesn’t function properly. When that happens, expect slower healing and an impaired immune response.
Stress is bad for a person in so many ways. It often leads to weight gain. Stressed out people typically don’t sleep well, they don’t exercise, and they turn to junk food and sugary drinks or cigarettes to deal with the tension.
Can a chiropractor help someone deal with stress in their life? Definitely. First they’ll put the spine into proper alignment which will help the nervous system do its job sending messages throughout the body. Then they’ll make chiropractic adjustments on the body to help relieve muscle tension. In addition, irritated spinal nerves will be soothed and blood circulation will improve. This, in turn, tells the brain to turn off the “fight-or-flight” response. Even simple things like postural changes, deep-tissue massage and nutritional supplementation can be part of a chiropractor’s tool box to help people de-stress.
Want to reduce your blood pressure and more? Need help combating stress? Make an appointment at Lakewoods Chiropractic of Forest Lake, MN, today; call us at 651-464-0800.
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