By Dr. Jon Thomas D.C PSc .
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Face it, everyone experiences stress from time to time. Stress
is a normal part of life. Whether it’s short-term stress induced by sitting in
a traffic jam on your way to an interview, or an earth shattering event like
the death of a loved one, it can wreak havoc on the body and mind. And while a
little bit of stress can be good for motivation and memory development, chronic
stress can both cause and exacerbate health issues. Today, approximately 70% to
80% of doctor’s visits are attributed to stress-related illnesses and health
issues.
The problem is there is no built-in stress meter in the
body. Your body doesn’t know if you‘re experiencing minor or major stress
because it reacts the same way. When you are in a stressful situation, the
hypothalamus in the brain sends chemical triggers to the adrenal glands,
located at the top of each kidney. The adrenal glands kick into action and
release hormones like cortisol, which raises blood pressure and blood sugar.
This gives you the ability to run faster and think more clearly, but it can be
harmful if sustained over time.
MORE
EFFECTS OF STRESS
For one thing, there’s a lot of evidence that points to a
relationship between stress and the propensity for a heart attack. That’s good
enough reason for most people to find a way to manage their stress.
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When the adrenal chemicals are released during a stressful
event, a headache is often the result. Muscle tension causes headaches and
migraines and if you stiffen your shoulders or grind your teeth under stress,
these headaches can worsen.
Stressful times can lead to sleepless nights and prolonged
insomnia that lead to a bevy of health issues with long-lasting effects.
Grogginess that lasts throughout the day is in and of itself stressful when the
pressure is on. It’s time to manage your stress when REM sleep is not part of
your daily routine.
MANAGE
YOUR STRESS- DON’T LET IT MANAGE YOU
It’s time to manage your stress before it begins to manage
you. Stress-related illnesses are preventable if you can keep stress at bay. Here
are some remedies to consider.
BREATHE
DEEPLY
One of the keys to effectively manage stress is to trigger
the body’s natural “relaxation response” coined by Dr. Herbert Benson of the
American Institute of Stress (AIS). “The relaxation response is a physical
state of deep rest that changes the physical and emotional responses to stress
(e.g., decreases in heart rate, blood pressure, rate of breathing and muscle
tension.)
When eliciting the relaxation response:
- Your metabolism decreases.
- Your heart beats slower and your muscles relax.
- Your breathing becomes slower.
- Your blood pressure decreases.
- Your levels of nitric oxide are increased.” (http://www.stress.org/take-a-deep-breath/)
Breathing deeply elicits the relaxation response if done
correctly. (This is one reason why meditation is so calming.) Sit in a comfortable
position and put one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. The key
is to try to breathe from your abdomen rather than your chest. The 4-7-8
technique is widely used. Inhale through your nose for four seconds. Hold your
breath for seven and exhale through your mouth slowly for eight seconds. You
should try this for about four to eight times, three times a day. The results
are astounding and if you adhere to this practice, you may notice a pervasive
sense of relaxation that you didn’t know was possible.
GET
MOVING
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Exercise in almost any form acts as a stress reliever.
Endorphins (the body’s happy chemicals) are released during physical activity
and produce what is known as a “runner’s high.” But you don’t have to run to
get this feeling; playing an enthusiastic game of volleyball or working up a
sweat in a Zumba class will produce the same effect.
The benefits of exercise on stress go much further than
just the release of endorphins. Regular physical activity helps to improve sleep,
which can be disrupted by the effects of stress on the body as well as give a
heightened sense of self-confidence. You’ll be ready to handle stressful
situations with a more calm and clear disposition than ever before.
MANAGE
YOUR TIME
Where did the time go? Lack of time tends to be one of the
biggest stressors for many people who need to balance work and family.
Americans spend more time at work than ever and have increasingly scheduled
lives that often don’t include rest and relaxation.
Try keeping track of your time with a spreadsheet Track
your time for a week with how much time you spend working, sleeping, cooking,
cleaning, playing, relaxing, etc. Once that is done, try to arrange your
schedule to include activities like exercise and things that you enjoy and find
better ways to reduce the time you spend on activities that cause stress. (You
might also consider investing in a FitBit.)
Check out the book authored by Laura Vanderkam entitled,
“168 Hours: You have more time than you think.”
MAKE A
REGULAR APPOINTMENT WITH A CHIROPRACTOR
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As I have pointed out before, the negative effects of
stress on the body include muscle tension and contraction. This can result in
misalignment of the spine and other joints of the body. These misalignments can
cause nerve irritation which leads to conditions such as neck and back pain,
jaw pain and headaches. Chiropractic adjustments help to release muscle tension
which in turn helps the body to return to a more balanced and natural relaxed
state.
Chiropractors are also trained in nutritional therapy in
order to approach illnesses holistically. Supplements that are known to help
the body cope with stress may also be administered to complete the entire
treatment. Many chiropractors offer yoga classes in their health centers to
complement the treatment. Taking a holistic approach to stress will not only
bring your body back to a balanced state, it can also give you the emotional
strength to handle irksome situations in a more calm and controlled manner.
Changing the way you manage your stress may make it a
non-issue in your life and return you to a state of optimum health and
well-being.
This article discusses the negative effects of stress on
your body and ways to manage your stress before it begins to manage you. From
deep breathing techniques to chiropractic care, it is key to discover what
works for you and incorporate it into your lifestyle to beat the damaging
effects of stress.
If you found this article useful, or are inspired to make a
change, please share it with your friends, family and co-workers. Take the time
to visit our testimonials page on our website and don’t forget we are a full
service chiropractic office that is here to help you deal with pain as well. If
you have a comment you would like to express about this article, please leave
it in the comment section of this blog.
Dr. Jon Thomas is a Board Certified Chiropractic Physician, his
interest in health started at an early age resulting from an athletic life,
including BMX racing, Professional Snow Skiing, Water Skiing, Baseball, Weight
Lifting, and Martial Arts. After learning from top health experts in the world,
Dr. Thomas’s life is dedicated to reaching people of all ages to begin their
life transformation. The goal is to start the body healing resulting in a body
that is functioning at its optimal. In addition to serving his community
in his Mandarin Based Practice, Dr. Thomas is seen regularly on TV’s First
Coast Living talking about his patient’s transformations, speaking at events
throughout the community, and writing articles to re-shape the health of the
Jacksonville Community.
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