“Going through life, we experience physical, chemical, and emotional stress. These stresses affect the function of the nervous system. Chiropractic care appears to improve the ability of the body to adapt to stress.” – Dr Christopher Kent
The modern world is becoming increasingly complex, and the demands on our time and attention are many. It’s often said that stress is one of the most destructive elements in people’s daily lives, but that’s only a half-truth. The way we react to stress is more important than the stress itself!
There are three types of stress that affect the body: chemical stress, physical stress and emotional stress, all of which can create nerve interference in the body.
Chemical stress includes things you ingest or inhale. Preservatives in food, medications, alcohol, smoggy air and pollen are just a few examples of chemical stressors that can irritate the nervous system.
Physical stress includes repetitive motions, improper posture (such as leaning over your computer keyboard or falling asleep in an awkward position) and traumas such as car accidents or falling. Physical stress can result in muscle tightening or loss of muscle tone, which can contribute to joint and disc problems, ultimately resulting in the nerve disturbances that cause pain and immobility.
Emotional stress is less tangible, but often the bigger problem. Emotional stress includes worrying over finances, grief, anger or frustration, that result in tension in the body, particularly in any areas that are already weakened or overworked. This tension amounts to tight muscles, which can irritate the nerves and cause pain.
Chronic Stress
Chronic Stress means you never completely relax. Many studies of people who have been subjected to chronic stress have found evidence of the negative health effects of stress. These effects include high blood pressure, damage to muscle tissue, diabetes, infertility, damage to the immune response, and slowed healing from disease and injury. Stress reactions are also at the root of disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and stress has been linked in human and animal research with cardiovascular disease.
The Chiropractic Approach
Chiropractors work primarily with the spine, the root of the nervous system through which nerve impulses travel from the brain to the rest of the body. One effect of chronic stress is prolonged muscle tension and contraction. This muscle tension creates uneven pressures on the bony structures of the body, often leading to the misalignment of the spinal column, known as subluxations.
Chronic stress also leads to nerve irritation. A chiropractic adjustment releases muscle tension, which helps the body return to a more balanced, relaxed state. Adjustments also reduce spinal nerve irritation, and improve blood circulation. These changes can, in many cases, convince the brain to turn off the fight or flight response, beginning the process of healing.
New, ground-breaking research funded by the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research demonstrated a significant decrease (6.2 to 4.6 mg/dL) in salivary cortisol (a by-product of stress)after 14 weeks of chiropractic care. YES! Chiropractic actually decreased the effects of chronic stress on the body. The same study also showed an increase in Immunoglobin A, which means better immune function!
A chiropractor cannot make a job less stressful, or create a quieter, calmer world. What chiropractic treatment can do is help you develop healthy responses to stress, reducing potential physical damage.
If someone you know has been under a lot of stress, maybe it’s time they had a chiropractic check-up?
