Whether you are an athlete in tip-top shape, a stay-at-home mom, or just starting your college career, stress impacts everyone at some point.
Stress is often overlooked and ignored.
It’s mind-boggling since it is the root cause of many issues people carry with them every day. You know, that heavy weight. Stress can manifest in a variety of ways, including physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, and fatigue, as well as mental and emotional symptoms like anxiety and depression. If left unmanaged, stress can lead to serious health problems and negatively impact your overall wellness.
Certain times of the year may trigger more stress, which can make it difficult to achieve your goals in any capacity. You may be ready to start that new year workout regime or finally launch that new business venture.
When stress creeps into your life, it can make it difficult to do anything.
In this article, we are going to explore stress, the warning signs that should never be ignored, and what you can do to improve your quality of life.
How does stress affect the body?
Stress is a natural reaction triggered by the release of adrenaline and cortisol hormones.
These hormones are essentially preparing the body for a change. The difference in life-threatening stress is all in how your body responds.
Chronic stress can weaken the immune system, making us more susceptible to illnesses and chronic health conditions like heart disease, and even obesity.
Stress can also cause digestive problems and make it hard for your body to absorb nutrients. Pain. It’s quite obvious that stress can wreak havoc on your body, your mind, and your life.
What are the warning Signs of Stress on the body?
Sleep problems
Muscle aches and tension
Headaches
Fatigue
Difficulty Breathing
Blurred vision or sore eyes
Chest Pains
Lack of concentration
Any of these signs should not be ignored. Finding the right kind of chiropractor practitioner is the first step in naturally addressing these signs.
What is muscle tension?
Muscle tension is a telltale sign of stress in the body. At the most basic level, muscle tension is the reflex reaction to stress. The tension causes the muscle to remain in a contracted state for an extended period of time.
You may know exactly what this feels like to the touch. The little lumps or “knots” can show up most commonly in the neck, lower back, and legs.
Is this the same as a tension headache?
If you know, then you really know.
These headaches can stop you from doing anything. As mentioned above, the frequency of tension headaches is a warning sign that your body is functioning at a non-stop flight or fight level.
The main cause of tension headaches comes from the tension of contracted muscles in the neck and scalp muscles.
Can chiropractors help with stress and tension?
Our body is made up of complex, interconnected systems all working together to keep us healthy. A chiropractor is trained to make sure your physical body is aligned and functioning to support the other systems by making adjustments to your spinal cord. Stress does not play favorites and will come for everything – musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive systems.
So, in short, yes! A chiropractor can make an adjustment with just a “crack” and a “pop” that will positively affect your overall wellness, and ultimately reduce stress.
Let’s look at how.
Here are five ways that a chiropractor can help relieve stress:
Reducing muscle tension: Stress causes muscles to tense up, leading to pain and discomfort. Chiropractors use spinal manipulation and massage therapy to release tension and increase blood flow, which can alleviate pain and as a bonus, increase that range of motion. No more stiff limbs!
Improving posture: Poor posture can intensify stress-related muscle tension. Spinal adjustments can help increase movement in the joint, reduce tension in the surrounding muscles, and will promote good posture.
Stabilizing the nervous system: The nervous system plays a vital role in how the body reacts to stress and pretty much anything that happens in your body. An adjustment will help improve the function of the nervous system.
Improving sleep quality: Stress can often lead to poor sleep quality, which can accelerate the stress lifestyle changes or exercises that can improve sleep quality. Say goodbye to sleepless nights!
Enhancing mood: Chiropractic care lifts your mood and promotes and reduces feelings of stress and anxiety. This is believed to be due to the release of endorphins, which are natural chemicals in the body that promote feelings of well-being. Additionally, the improved physical function and reduced pain that result from chiropractic care can contribute to enhanced mood.
Are there other treatments that help with stress and tension?
It’s important that a chiropractor offers a holistic approach to relieve your stress and tension. Although you may feel better from an adjustment, chiropractic care is not a cure-all for stress. Find a chiropractor that offers aligned services for a more robust treatment.
At Geaux Chiro & Health, we focus on the individual needs of our patients instead of following 1 treatment that fits all. We offer additional services like massage therapy and nutrition education that are necessary parts of your wellness and journey to living a stress-free life.
Make a change and leave the stress behind.
If any of the physical symptoms resonate with you, then the only way to feel your best is to target the root of the issue - your stress. The warning signs are there for a reason. It’s like the refuel notification.
Chiropractic care is a solution that you may have overlooked. It can help prevent stress from fueling your life and causing you pain.
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