Back Clinic Stress And Anxiety Chiropractic Functional Medicine Team. People experience stress and anxiety from time to time. Stress is any demand placed on our brain or physical body. People can report feeling stressed with multiple demands placed on them. It can be triggered by an event that makes one feel frustrated or nervous. Anxiety is a feeling of fear, worry, or unease. This can be a reaction, and it can also happen in people who cannot identify significant stressors and are not sure of what to do.
Stress and anxiety are not always bad. They help overcome challenges or dangerous situations. Examples of everyday anxiety include worrying about finding a job, feeling nervous before a big test, or being embarrassed in certain social situations. If there were no anxiety, there would be no motivation to do certain things that need to be done ( i.e., studying for a big test).
However, if stress and anxiety start to interfere with one’s daily life, it may indicate a much more serious issue. For example, if avoiding situations due to irrational fears, constantly worrying, or experiencing severe anxiety about traumatic event/s weeks after it happened, it may be time to seek help.
Inflammation is the body’s response to infection, injury, or irritation. It causes swelling, redness, pain and sometimes causes the affected area to be unable to function. Acute inflammation happens after spraining the ankle or getting a mosquito bite and is the body’s method of preserving itself. This type of inflammation helps remove harmful irritants and pathogens, so healing ensues, along with healthy beneficial swelling that disappears with time. Chronic inflammation is when the body generates a stronger-than-necessary inflammatory response from an imbalanced immune system or a condition that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue. Certain foods, lack of sleep, and constant stress increase the risk of developing chronic inflammation. Chiropractors are known for their expertise in stretching the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and adjusting/realigning joints and bones. Chiropractic treatment can also affect inflammation positively.
Inflammation Affects Health
When inflammation presents, there is significant potential that disease is also present in the body. Inflammation is a natural response to restore the body to homeostasis or balance. White blood cells and other immune cells are sent to the area to ward off invading bacteria, viruses, debris, etc., and reduce or defeat the infection. For some individuals, inflammation occurs within their body regularly and reappears repeatedly. This can be caused by injuries that never completely healed, frequent strains, and injuries from a weakened musculoskeletal system. Inflammation can also come from infection, irritation, the production of diseased cells, or allergies. Organs and tissues can be inflamed for a long time and can cause damage to the cells that comprise those regions of the body. This can lead to:
Thinning and weakening of organ walls and tissues.
Decreased organ function.
The overall deterioration of the body’s systems and wellness.
Causes
Some common diseases and conditions that create chronic inflammation are:
Asthma
Chronic peptic ulcers
Tuberculosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Periodontitis
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
Sinusitis
Active hepatitis
Risk Factors
Certain risk factors that can increase the likelihood of inflammation are:
Stress is one of the leading causes of illness and disease in the body and contributes significantly to inflammation. Organs and tissues can also become inflamed under pressure. When stress kicks in, chemical reactions occur, causing the release of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is initially an anti-inflammatory hormone, but a prolonged release can eventually create a dysfunctional cycle of widespread inflammation. Chronic stress can cause inflammation throughout the body. Usually, the body’s weakest or most strained region will suffer the most effects of overall inflammation. Even after the stress reduces or is resolved, the inflammation effects can continue to linger. Inflammation can:
Decrease organ function
Strain tissues
Strain ligaments
Force bones and joints out of alignment and subluxation.
Cause decreased efficiency and performance of the body’s systems and organs.
Chiropractic Affects On Inflammation
When the body is out of alignment, it can compress tissues, muscles, and ligaments. Chiropractic works primarily on the skeletal structure and the nervous system. The nervous system plays an essential role in regulating immune response, which creates or decreases inflammation in the body. When the bones and joints are out of alignment, they cause strain on the nervous system and the immune system, often triggering an immune response. Chiropractic adjustments of the bones and joints reset and rejuvenate nervous system function. Realignment of the spine, including neck, shoulders, arms, pelvis, hips, knees, and feet, enhances nerve circulation and alleviates abnormal immune system function. To begin relieving inflammation from injury, misalignment, stress, and strain on the body, consult and see how chiropractic affects inflammation.
Body Composition
Dietary Fats
There are four main types of dietary fats listed on food labels:
These are not to be confused with adipose tissue/stored fat in the body. These four fats have different physiological effects once they are digested. Some are beneficial, and some can negatively impact health and are recommended to be taken in moderation.
Saturated vs. Unsaturated fats
Fats are made up of chains of carbon atoms with a carboxyl group COOH at one end and methyl groups CH3 at the other end. Carbons are attached to each other and to hydrogen atoms. The way the carbons are chained differentiates saturated and unsaturated fats and impacts how the body processes them. Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds between the carbon atoms, and foods rich in unsaturated fats are usually liquid at room temperature, like olive oil. Saturated fats contain no double bonds and are generally solid at room temperatures, like butter and cheese.
References
Arulselvan, Palanisamy et al. “Role of Antioxidants and Natural Products in Inflammation.” Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity vol. 2016 (2016): 5276130. doi:10.1155/2016/5276130
Hannibal, Kara E, and Mark D Bishop. “Chronic stress, cortisol dysfunction, and pain: a psychoneuroendocrine rationale for stress management in pain rehabilitation.” Physical therapy vol. 94,12 (2014): 1816-25. doi:10.2522/ptj.20130597
Pahwa R, Goyal A, Bansal P, et al. Chronic Inflammation. [Updated 2021 Sep 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/
Chiropractic Reset: Traveling is not an easy adjustment as it disrupts the body’s internal clock. When flying even just 3 hours, the body can start to experience symptoms like:
Fatigue
Confusion
Insomnia
Joint and muscle pain
Stiffness
Stomach problems
Nausea
Hunger
Bad mood
Not only is the flight a physical challenge, but so are the long lines, backed-up traffic, lost luggage, etc. All take a toll on the mind and body; a chiropractic reset can help restore the body’s balance and energy levels.
Jet Lag
Jet lag happens when the brain region known as the hypothalamus or center that controls sleep cycles, appetite, and temperature conflicts with travel changes. A survey from international flight attendants found that despite being used to long air travel:
90% had fatigue over the first five days.
94% had a lack of energy/motivation.
93% had broken sleep.
70% had ear, nose, or throat issues.
Scientists have estimated that it takes a full day to recover for every hour of time difference. The direction traveled can affect how intense the symptoms are since it’s easier for the body to delay its internal clock than speed it up. Traveling east is more difficult on the body compared to traveling west.
Ways To Limit The Effects
Workout
Get a thorough physical workout the day before you fly.
It doesn’t matter; it can be an hour on an elliptical machine, a mile jog, or a vigorous swim.
The objective is to get the lymph system moving to help prevent edema in the legs, hands and flush toxins from the body.
Take a Walk Every Hour
Try and get up at least once an hour for long trips and every half hour for shorter ones.
If possible, try to get a flight that gets to your destination in the evening.
Then, stay up until 10 pm local time.
If you have to take a nap, set the alarm not to surpass two hours.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol
You don’t have to go without alcohol or caffeine, but they should be cut out a few hours before sleeping.
Both can affect the ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and the quality of sleep.
Change sleep patterns beforehand
In the week leading up to the trip, start adjusting sleep time and wake time to get closer to the new time zone.
This way, upon arrival, the body is basically adjusted.
Skip the big meal
To help the digestive system, try not to eat a massive meal upon arrival.
Allow body functions like sleep and digestion to adjust to the changes.
Bask in the sun
Daylight has a significant effect on the body’s clock.
Get outside to wake up the brain to help the body and mind adjust to the daytime hours.
Melatonin
This is a hormone in the body that helps control the circadian rhythm.
Melatonin is dependent on the amount of light the body is exposed to.
When there’s light, melatonin release is stopped.
When dark, melatonin release is stimulated.
It is recommended not to take melatonin before leaving, or it will make the jet lag worse.
Wait until landing in the new time zone to supplement one hour before regular sleep time at the new location.
Continue for three nights or until the body has adjusted.
Pycnogenol
Pycnogenol has been studied for its effect of reducing jet lag symptoms.
It reduces cerebral and joint swelling, which leads to fewer short-term memory problems, fatigue, and cardiac issues.
It has been shown to decrease deep vein thrombosis and superficial vein thrombosis, typical side effects of long flights.
Recommendations are to take three times a day for up to five days maximum of seven days after landing.
Chiropractic Reset
Chiropractic reset adjustments the day before and especially after the flight can restore balance to the nervous system and the body. This will help reset sleeping and waking patterns after the stress of flying.
Body Composition
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a name for a set of symptoms and conditions that revolve around cardiovascular health.
Obesity and a high amount of visceral fat are significant risk factors for being diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.
Body composition analysis can be thought of as a tool for understanding the approach to preventing the onset of metabolic syndrome. Knowing how to identify the risks can support individuals in making informed decisions on their healthcare journey.
References
Belcaro, G et al. “Jet-lag: prevention with Pycnogenol. Preliminary report: evaluation in healthy individuals and hypertensive patients.” Minerva cardioangiologica vol. 56,5 Suppl (2008): 3-9.
Janse van Rensburg, Dina C Christa et al. “How to manage travel fatigue and jet lag in athletes? A systematic review of interventions.” British journal of sports medicine vol. 54,16 (2020): 960-968. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2019-101635
Straub, WF et al. “The effect of chiropractic care on jet lag of Finnish junior elite athletes.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 24,3 (2001): 191-8.
Zerón-Rugerio, María Fernanda et al. “Eating Jet Lag: A Marker of the Variability in Meal Timing and Its Association with Body Mass Index.” Nutrients vol. 11,12 2980. 6 Dec. 2019, doi:10.3390/nu11122980
The body needs consistent energy to get through the day. The central nervous system runs from the brain, down through the spine, and then towards every organ and region of the body. The central nervous system works by sending signals to the organs or the body’s moving parts. But when there is a kink, misalignment, damage, or injury in the spine or other joints, the signals don’t get sent or received correctly.
Pressure builds on the nerves causing the signals/messages sent from the brain to the body to start to slow down and the body’s responses. This includes not just physical reactions but the body’s metabolism. Slow metabolism causes the body to become sluggish and slow. Regular chiropractic adjustments can remove the kinks restoring proper energy flow. When the body’s cells and organs are sending and receiving the signals correctly, the body gets the full force of the energy that the body has stored.
Energy Drain
Spinal misalignments can cause a multitude of symptoms. The most common problem is pain. Misalignments can also lead to energy-draining problems. These include:
Headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Joint pain
Inflammation
The body absorbs toxins from the air, water, food, or direct contact. A buildup of toxins can make the body sluggish. Chiropractic adjustments release these toxins so that the body can rid itself of them. Being out of alignment and balance requires the body to use more energy to get anything done. Even easy to do activities, chores, tasks, etc. When the body’s natural balance is restored, the result is more available energy.
Stress Management
Stress management is vital as chronic stress increases the risk of developing health problems. Learning to manage stress can help increase energy. Therapeutic massage can help with stress relief. A chiropractor will determine the best type of massage for each individual’s situation. The physiological effects of massage to reduce stress include:
Increased endorphins, serotonin, dopamine.
Decreased cortisol.
Increased tissue elasticity.
Endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine are neurotransmitters that are released by the autonomic system when stimulated.
Endorphins are responsible for relieving anxiety.
Serotonin prevents depression and gives a sense of well-being.
Dopamine increases motivation and prevents self-doubt.
When the body lacks these positive hormones, an individual can become stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed. A therapeutic massage stimulates the autonomic system, increasing the release of positive hormones. Increasing the level of positive hormones reduces stress and anxiety and improves overall mood.
When a decrease in cortisol occurs, stress is also reduced. Cortisol is a negative hormone released from the adrenal gland when stimulated by the brain’s hypothalamus region. The adrenal gland is located on top of the kidneys. Cortisol is released into the blood and is transported around the body. Cortisol increases:
Stress
Anxiety
Depression
Responsible for the fight or flight response.
When large amounts of cortisol are released in response to pain, stress levels increase, and the immune system is suppressed. A massage helps flush out the cortisol from the blood and replace it with the positive hormone endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, decreasing stress and increasing relaxation.
Central Nervous System and Chiropractic
Chiropractic looks for the root cause of the problem and addresses that issue. Individuals can keep their bodies stay in balance by:
Chiropractic treatment can help improve quality of life and overall health.
Body Composition
Neglecting A Healthy Diet
Individuals might begin a weight loss journey by going to the gym, which is great, but neglecting a healthy diet is just wasting energy. Fat loss happens when the body is in a caloric/energy deficit. This means an individual has to take in fewer calories than the body is using. According to the CDC, individuals need to reduce food intake by at least 500 calories a day to lose around a pound of body fat a week.
Individuals that start increasing exercise/workouts make the body instinctively want to increase calorie intake.
Eating more calories than are burned means the individual is wasting the workout.
For example, the body needs a 2,100 calorie diet to maintain its weight, and on average, an individual eats 2,100 calories.
This means the weight won’t change much, if at all.
If an individual burns 300 calories from a workout, the body needs 2,400 calories to maintain weight.
If no changes are made to the diet, the individual will be in a negative -300 caloric deficit.
Suppose an individual starts increasing their caloric intake because they think their metabolism is speeding up, which is not how it works, then the individual negates any energy deficit that they worked for, leading to no fat loss.
References
Carlson, Linda E et al. “Integrative Approaches to Stress Management.” Cancer journal (Sudbury, Mass.) vol. 25,5 (2019): 329-336. doi:10.1097/PPO.0000000000000395
Kültür, Turgut et al. “Evaluation of the effect of chiropractic manipulative treatment on oxidative stress in sacroiliac joint dysfunction.” Turkish Journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation vol. 66,2 176-183. 18 May. 2020, doi:10.5606/tftrd.2020.3301
Salleh, Mohd Razali. “Life event, stress, and illness.” The Malaysian Journal of medical sciences: MJMS vol. 15,4 (2008): 9-18.
Stress in the workplace is a serious issue. Working is rewarding, but it can become a cause for major stress as well. Studies have shown that more than 40% of workers find their job to be a workplace stressor. Stress takes a toll on the body both mentally and physically. Numerous factors can result in being stressed. This includes:
Working for long hours regularly
Large amounts of work to complete
Meeting deadlines
Job insecurity
Workplace Stress Can Hurt The Body
Workplace stress fatigues and agitates the body and can cause major health issues. These include:
Sometimes stress can be so intense that the heart races. For some, this can lead to panic attacks. To help calm the body down, breathing exercises can help.
One exercise to relieve stress is to take one deep inhale and hold it for three seconds.
After three seconds, with the front teeth over the edge of the upper lip.
Slowly exhale.
Wait a few seconds
Repeat until you feel calm.
Second exercise
Close your eyes and breathe in and out like blowing up a balloon.
Take a long inhale, pretend the stomach is a balloon and hold the air for seconds.
Exhaling, pretend the air escaping is like a balloon releasing the air.
This helps to slow down the heart and releases tension.
Stay Aware of Body Posture
When intensely working on something standing or hunched over for a long time, muscle tension is occurring.
When sitting, make sure the feet are planted firmly on the floor.
Keep the shoulders back and aligned.
Investing in an ergonomic chair with lumbar support can help.
Low back support will automatically encourage the body to maintain proper posture while also providing comfort.
Never cross the legs when sitting. This can place pressure on the pelvis that can lead to low back pain.
It’s important to keep the body moving as it promotes circulation and maintains muscle strength and flexibility. Not moving around can make the body feel lethargic and irritated.
By getting up and walking around, tension is released, which helps reduce stress.
Make an effort to get out and walk regularly.
Walking has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the bones.
Therapeutic Massage
Another way to manage stress in the workplace is to get a therapeutic massage. It will soothe and relax the body, helping you feel more at ease at work and home. Benefits of massage include:
Improves flexibility
Boosts immune system function
Increases energy
Reduces anxiety symptoms
Types of massages that help with reducing tension and stress are:
Fast food and junk food can bring temporary/false relief, but eating poorly regularly will increase stress in the body. The food does not supply the body with the nutrients it needs to get large amounts of work done. Individuals get a quick jolt of energy then crash rapidly and feel worse creating an unhealthy cycle. To help manage stress, some of the best foods include:
Adjustments can be helpful to manage workplace stress. The benefits are able to release tension throughout the body and increase flexibility. Chiropractic can improve blood circulation which can reduce symptoms caused by hypertension and nerve damage. Some chiropractic techniques used include:
This can improve how the body responds to stress. Keeping the body stress-free while working will help to be more productive, and encouraged to live healthier. The nervous system is responsible for adapting to the environment, especially a stressful environment. A properly aligned spine and nervous system allow the body to manage stress better.
Body Composition
High blood pressure and diabetes prevention
Living a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of chronic diseases, that includes diabetes and hypertension. Too much:
Sodium
Alcohol
Saturated fat
Combined with:
Smoking
Lack or no physical activity
Mental stress
These are all factors that can affect overall health and longevity.
The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intense aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of intense aerobic activity. Moderate-intense activities include:
Jamison, J R. “Stress management: an exploratory study of chiropractic patients.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 23,1 (2000): 32-6. doi:10.1016/s0161-4754(00)90111-8
More individuals are reporting extreme levels of stress. Studies indicate that an increasing number of individuals are feeling worried, anxious, or depressed regularly from various stressors. Maintaining the body’s health includes:
Following a balanced diet
Getting enough exercise
Taking vitamins or supplements to ensure the body gets what it needs for optimal function.
However, research has found that a sudden increase in stress, specifically stress associated with anger, can trigger:
This type of stress can affect individuals that did not know they had heart disease. Intense short-term stress can have dangerous effects on the body’s health, leading to chronic stress. Chronic stress continues at a low level for weeks, months, or years. It can significantly change the way the body functions. Stress management is very important for overall well-being. Learning how to handle stress properly is the goal.
Poor Stress Management
When stress hits it triggers the brain to release various hormones. These hormones increase heart rate and raise blood pressure. This comes from evolution that helped early humans escape from predators and stay safe from different types of physical danger. This same stress reaction is what we go through, however, it is not to escape danger but to deal with work, family, school, commuting, and social issues, etc. And when the stress response happens on a regular basis it can have serious and long-term effects on the body’s ability to function properly. Stress includes mental, behavioral, and physical symptoms. The effects of stress that are most familiar are related to mood. Mood changes that can result from chronic low-level stress include:
These mood changes can be tied to changes in behavior. The following behaviors are associated with increased stress levels:
Alcohol and/or drug abuse
Starting or increasing tobacco use
Eating changes – undereating or overeating
Withdrawing from friends and family
Avoiding social interaction
Little to no physical activity
Physical effects that are associated with long-term stress.
Chronic stress that lasts for a long period can affect the whole body. The immune system, digestive system, sleep cycles, etc. Physical symptoms include:
Tension in the neck and back
Persistent headaches
Stomach aches
Constant fatigue, even after waking up
Sleeping pattern changes
Insomnia
Muscle pain
Changes in libido
Being more prone to infections because of a weakened immune system
Chest pain
Learning Healthy Stress Management
Mental health is now an important part of living a healthy life. Stress comes from all kinds of different places. We can’t always change these moments, but we can change our reactions to reduce the negative effects and results. To manage stress, it is important to know what is causing it.
It could be an argument with a boss, co-worker, family member, or significant other.
Work deadlines
School grades, teachers, kids, etc
Bills
Repairs
Clearly identifying the main stressors will help individuals anticipate them and form a plan. There are different ways of dealing with it. The different strategies need to be researched and tried by individuals to see what works for them. Think about what helps the mind and body relax and unwind. A few recommended ways include:
These are strategies that can be incorporated into regular daily life. Be sure to set time aside to focus on mental wellbeing. Learn to recognize the signs when getting overwhelmed. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed. This can be a support system or mental health professional. This is to empower individuals to take better care of themselves in both body and mind.
Body Composition
Setting Attainable Goals
Individuals that have trouble achieving health goals might want to look at the goals themselves. Individuals typically have a general idea of their fitness journey. However, it is hard to reach those goals without a map. Losing weight or getting healthy is the goal but these goals are not measurable. This is too broad that can be different things to different people. Trying to accomplish a vague goal makes it hard to plan, making it happen, or seeing progress. A recommended strategy for goal setting is to use the SMART system. The acronym stands for:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timed
When goals fall into these parameters, it provides a clear picture of what is trying to get accomplished and the ability to plan accordingly. An example could be: An individual will work out at home or the gym for one hour, five days a week for one month. This is a specific and measurable goal when compared to I’m going to work out more. This provides clear guidelines of what needs to happen to achieve success.
References
Bailey, Ryan R. “Goal Setting and Action Planning for Health Behavior Change.” American journal of lifestyle medicine vol. 13,6 615-618. 13 Sep. 2017, doi:10.1177/1559827617729634
Carlson, Linda E et al. “Integrative Approaches to Stress Management.” Cancer journal (Sudbury, Mass.) vol. 25,5 (2019): 329-336. doi:10.1097/PPO.0000000000000395
Jamison, J R. “Stress management: an exploratory study of chiropractic patients.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 23,1 (2000): 32-6. doi:10.1016/s0161-4754(00)90111-8
Jamison, J. “Stress: the chiropractic patients’ self-perceptions.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 22,6 (1999): 395-8. doi:10.1016/s0161-4754(99)70085-0
Going through traumatic accidents that result in injuries can cause injury-related stress and anxiety for individuals. It is understandable that stress and anxiety are high as individuals figure out how to navigate through the situation. Therefore, it is very important to find ways to manage stress and anxiety because if they go unchecked it could become chronic leading to poor health and quality of life.
Stress/Anxiety Affects Health
Injury related stress and anxiety can be exacerbated through different factors. These can include:
Medical bills
Employment
Relationships
Independence
The causes/reasons can vary however, the physical response the body goes through is the same. A stress-inducing situation can leave an individual feeling threatened and generate a physical stress response. The body responds to stress by releasing hormones that shift the body into survival mode. This requires a lot of energy placing massive strain on the body. This is an important mechanism for healthy living. However, if it begins to present on a regular basis it can lead to negative health issues that include:
The body needs time every day to recover and rejuvenate. This is not possible when the body is constantly entering a heightened state of stress. Traditional treatment can lead to the over-prescription of medications that come with their own side effects. Effective injury-related stress treatment addresses issues like:
Injury-related stress and anxiety affect mental health and can lead to physical symptoms and disease. These include:
Chronic pain
Sleep problems
Gastrointestinal issues
Obesity
Asthma and breathing problems
Alzheimer’s, dementia, and memory loss
Chiropractic Treatment and Care
A healthy brain and spinal cord are vital to the body’s optimal health. When nerve energy and blood flow get blocked it can worsen injury-related stress and anxiety. Chiropractic delivers results helping to better manage mental health by addressing underlying issues with spinal misalignment. When the spine is properly aligned neural health is optimized for everyday functions. This increases vitality and an overall sense of well-being. With brain function improved adjusting to the injury and its effects no longer cause intense stress. Individuals cannot remove all the stressors and anxiety-inducing events from their lives, but proper spinal alignment can help build resilience for whatever situations life throws.
Body Composition
Recovery and Swelling
Recovery is an essential part of maintaining optimal body health. This goes for regular work, working out, athlete’s training, and just participating in physical activity. A significant sign that the body has gone through intense physical exertion and needs recovery time is swelling. Swelling presents for different reasons. It is the body’s response to tiny, microscopic tears in the muscle that happens from constant and intense use. Running or lifting heavy objects are two examples that cause swelling. Swelling can be seen in body composition analysis results. An increase in Lean Body Mass reflects an increase in water. Recovery is about giving the body a chance to:
Relax
Recuperate
Recover from the swelling with the end goal of resuming physical activities
Disclaimer
The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP, CIFM, CTG* email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com phone: 915-850-0900 Licensed in Texas & New Mexico
References
Pickar, Joel G. “Neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulation.” The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society vol. 2,5 (2002): 357-71. doi:10.1016/s1529-9430(02)00400-x
Coleman, Brian C et al. “Factors Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Veterans of Recent Wars Receiving Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Care.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 43,8 (2020): 753-759. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2019.10.016
Jamison, J R. “Stress management: an exploratory study of chiropractic patients.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 23,1 (2000): 32-6. doi:10.1016/s0161-4754(00)90111-8
Natural medicine for dealing with stress and taking initial steps can also help prevent and alleviate stress pain. With age, the body becomes more vulnerable to emotional and physical stress. The spine endures the effects of stress and can lead to back and/or neck pain. Chronic stress can also lead to chemical imbalances in the brain and overreaction/s. This produces a Hyperarousal or anxious state of mind. If frequent bouts of anxiety or stress are occurring the body is signaling that balance needs to be restored.
Steps to Control Stress
Take frequent physical and mental breaks
Throughout a day, there can be several and various stressful situations. Not letting the stress build-up is a skill that needs to be practiced. Every 50 minutes of work, take a 10-minute break to reduce any stress. This will increase productivity. In the middle or last break, practice deep breathing.
Inhale slowly until the air reaches the bottom of the stomach.
Exhale slowly like a balloon slowly releasing the air.
To achieve the full potential of deep breathing, every exhalation should last twice as long as each inhalation.
Caffeine reduction
Caffeine can be medicinal in small doses. It increases bile flow. This stimulates the gall bladder and reduces cholesterol. However, too much can interfere with the body’s systems that are responsible for stress response. Try to limit to one to two caffeinated drinks a week.
Regular physical activity
Physical activity is what helps remove waste products, specifically lactic and uric acids, from the muscles and nervous system. An excess of these acids makes the body edgy. Moderate activity prevents and reduces anxiety. Try to get in at least 10 to 15 minutes of activity in the morning and afternoon. A quick walk combined with deep breathing is perfect.
Plenty of sleep
Hard work and playing hard help the body to sleep to the fullest. An irregular sleep pattern or poor-quality sleep confuses the body. The body reacts abnormally. Examples like confusion, tension, an adrenaline rush kicks in when it is not needed. Chronic poor sleep makes the body more vulnerable to disease and chronic conditions.
Natural Medicine Supplements
Natural medicine supplements have been shown to reduce mild to moderate stress and anxiety.
Before trying any vitamins, minerals, or herbal therapies check with a doctor. This is to ensure safety with any medical conditions like pregnancy, that could prevent an individual from taking certain supplements.
Also, make sure if taking any medications that could cause natural medicine supplements ineffective or create a dangerous situation.
The reason for this is if an individual takes several supplements and develops side effects, it becomes a challenge to figure out which is responsible.
Quality herbs and supplements can be purchased from a licensed naturopath physician, nutritionist, health coach, or from a health store.
Herbal supplements listed below can be taken for three months and then a two-week break should be implemented. This minimizes the potential for negative effects.
Vitamin B
The B vitamins, especially B6 and B12 help regulate the body’s response to stress and keeps the nervous system healthy.
Vitamin B complex formula that has at least 25 mg of B6 and also 1 mg of B12 can be taken twice a day.
These vitamins are optimized when used in combination with other nutrients like a multivitamin-mineral supplement also twice a day.
This is herbal supplement helps with anxiety and insomnia. It can help relieve acute and chronic anxiety without causing drowsiness or brain fog. Kava is effective for settling anxiety with no dependence potential. Kava should be avoided if there is regular alcohol consumption or if taking Valium, Xanax, sleeping pills, like Seconal or Halcion, or anti-depressants, like Prozac or Zoloft.
Valerian
This is a natural sedative. It is used for relieving anxiety because it helps with sleep. The ingredients are similar to Valium. It is not addictive and does not cause grogginess the next day like sleeping pills. Recommended intake is one 150mg capsule twice a day. However, low doses can cause drowsiness. Therefore it is best used for sleep, one 300mg capsule one hour before sleeping is recommended. Do not use if taking sedatives, like phenobarbital or benzodiazepines.
The Body’s Composition
Stress Can Throw Off Diet and Sleep
Achieving healthy body composition is more than just building muscle and losing fat. Proper diet and getting enough sleep are necessary to make meaningful progress. With chronic stress or poor sleep, this cannot be achieved. Depressive symptoms can be associated with obesity, and anxiety and depression can trigger emotional eating and weight gain. Proper stress management means making sure there are positive strategies, techniques that can be turned to in time of need. Without a plan, stress will cause health problems and will be a significant barrier when trying to achieve fitness and health goals.
Dr. Alex Jimenez’s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
References
Boyle, Neil Bernard et al. The Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Subjective Anxiety and Stress-A Systematic Review.Nutrients vol. 9,5 429. 26 Apr. 2017, doi:10.3390/nu9050429
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