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Stress has become a common part of our daily lives. Whether it’s work, family, or other obligations, stress affects us all. It impacts both our mental and physical health, leading to a range of issues like headaches, muscle tension, and even insomnia. Chiropractic care offers a holistic approach to managing stress. By focusing on spinal health, chiropractic treatments can help reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.
Understanding Stress
Short-term stress is good. In fact, human beings are designed for acute periods of stress (fight or flight) for the purpose of surviving. For example, if you were walking down an alley and you were attacked by a person trying to hurt you, you would have two choices: fight or run. So your brain becomes reactive and instinctive when you are under attack. This results in your nerves and muscles tensing up, drawing your posture forward ready to fight or run. Further, your heart beats faster, your blood pressure goes up, and you breathe faster. As well, your stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) are released into your blood. All of these responses are necessary to survive.
On the other hand, long-term stress is unhealthy. When you have prolonged stress, the same physical and psychological reactions happen as above, but just at a less intense level. So you become reactive, anxious, and your stress tolerance goes down. Your muscles and nerves in your spine get tense and your shoulders, head, and ribcage are drawn forward. When your body holds this stress and tension for long periods of time you can start to get headaches, neck and shoulder pain, low back pain, and numbness and tingling down your arms. Your rib expansion decreases, you find it harder to breathe, and your blood pressure increases over time. When your stress exceeds what you are capable of handling, you reach a state of exhaustion and flat out chronic fatigue.
Managing stress is crucial for maintaining good health. By addressing the root causes and symptoms of stress, we can improve your quality of life. Chiropractic care provides an effective way to tackle stress and its related issues.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help with Stress
Chiropractic care focuses on the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. When the spine is misaligned, it causes tension in the nervous system and muscles. Chiropractic adjustments correct these misalignments, relieving nerve and muscle tension. This, in turn, alleviates the physical symptoms of stress. By improving spinal and nerve function, chiropractic care enhances the body’s natural ability to manage stress. Additionally, regular adjustments reduce nerve and muscle tension and promote relaxation.
Does chiropractic care help everyone’s stress levels? To some degree, it does. While many people notice significant improvements in their stress levels, not everyone perceives this change. Some people are so overloaded with stress that they need multiple types of treatments to transition from a state of “dis-ease” to a state of “ease” or calmness. However, chiropractic care can be an integral part of that treatment.
Chiropractic Care and Lifestyle Strategies for Stress
While regular spinal adjustments can help ease your stress by reducing nerve and muscle tension, your chiropractor is well equipped to advise you on managing stress with lifestyle changes. For example, your chiropractor may encourage you to get more exercise to strengthen your back. However, the added benefits go far beyond improving your back strength and physical fitness. Regular exercise can also help you become more resilient mentally and emotionally. (1) Additionally, chiropractors are well trained in nutrition. As part of your treatment, your chiropractor may recommend healthier eating habits and suggest supplements such as a vitamin B-complex to manage your pain levels. The food you eat and supplements you take can significantly impact your ability to manage stress. Your physical and emotional health are intertwined.
While regular spinal adjustments can help ease your stress by reducing nerve and muscle tension, your chiropractor is well equipped to give you advice on how to manage stress with lifestyle advice.
As a primary health practitioner, chiropractors will often have other health professionals they work with to help you. So your chiropractor can also refer you to a clinical psychologist to help you manage stress.
Conclusion
Chiropractic care offers a natural and effective way to manage stress. By focusing on spinal and nerve health, chiropractic adjustments can alleviate physical symptoms of stress and improve overall well-being. Incorporating chiropractic care into your stress management plan can lead to lasting relief and a better quality of life. Furthermore, chiropractors are experts in providing lifestyle strategies to help you get healthier. If you’re struggling with stress, consider scheduling a consultation to explore how chiropractic care can help. By taking a holistic approach to stress management, you can achieve a healthier, more balanced life.
For a healthy spine and nervous system, contact Edmonton chiropractor Dr. Dean Collins. Or book a consult and exam with him today.
To learn more about how chiropractor care can help you and your family, read Dr. Collins’ comprehensive guide to chiropractic care: Chiropractic Care for Everyone.
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