Chiropractic Can Help Relieve Stress

Increasingly it seems as though our generation is constantly bombarded with stressful input.  Unfortunately this leads to long term chronic stress that can have devastating effects on our overall health and wellbeing.

Our ancestors did not have to deal with this type of stress. Their stress came in short bursts in times of famine and or under attack.  With the rise of technology and interconnectedness, it is almost impossible to check out.  All this leads to constant stimulation of the stress hormone cortisol in our bodies.  Our Autonomic Nervous System is broken down into the sympathetic and the parasympathetic systems. Sympathetic is the “fight or flight” system, high stress. This is meant for short term bursts of stress. The Parasympathetic System is the “rest and digest” system. In today’s society most of us are in Sympathetic mode all the time. Running from one appointment to the next.  Responding to social media, news and commitments all day.

In practice as a chiropractor, I see first hand each and every day how this stress manifests in the body. Most people can relate to the physical stresses in their life. But mental and emotional stress, a high Sympathetic driven system can lead to spinal misalignment just as much as physical stress. The third type of stress, chemical stress plays a role in spinal misalignment as well.  What we eat, drink, medications and environmental toxins can lead to spinal misalignment.  

The primary focus for me as a chiropractor is to detect and correct Subluxation of the spine.  Physical, mental/emotional and chemical stresses are the causes of subluxation.  When the spine is Subluxated it further perpetuates the chronic stress by forcing the body in a further Sympathetic state.

When the body is over producing cortisol due to chronic stress and subluxation this will initiate a cascade of physiological responses or adaptive physiology such as:

• Increase in Blood pressure
• Increase in Heart Rate
• Increase in Muscle Tone
• Upset digestion
• Decrease in Reproduction and Sex Drive
• Decrease in Serotonin Levels
• Increase in Sensory Systems  
• Increase Fear and Anxiety
• Decrease in Immune Response
• Insulin Sensitivity Down Regulated
• Blood sugar goes up
• Decrease in HDL
• Increase in LDL Cholesterol - (Produced for coping with stress hormones and repair)
• Clotting Factors Increase

These responses are appropriate short term when necessary, but long term can cause serious health problems.

By detecting and correcting Subluxations, chiropractic can help return the body to a balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.  Chiropractors help to dissipate life stress. There are many ways to release stress. Chiropractic an extremely valuable tool to consider when looking to minimize the negative effects of chronic long term stress.  

In our office we actually use a Core score technology to measure this stress. We can objectively measure the stress and mark our patients progress.

Most likely you or someone you know is suffering from the effects of long term chronic stress. We can measure it and help dissipate it.  Contact our office for a complimentary consultation.