Stressed? You are not alone. Stress is a reaction to any internal or external stimuli that upsets normal functioning and disturbs mental or physical health.
There are many possible causes of stress;
• Physical (car accident, repetitive motion)
• Emotional (deadlines, death in the family)
• Chemical (too much caffeine, hormonal imbalance)
• Positive experiences such as a new babyor job promotion
According to the Government’s Health and Safety Executive stress, depression or anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders in 2011/12 accounted for the majority of days lost due to work-related ill health. 10.4 million days were lost due to stress, depression or anxiety and 7.5 million days lost due to musculoskeletal disorders.
How stress affects your health
The effects of stress on your body will become evident in your nervous system. All your other systems (circulatory, respiratory, digestive, reproductive, hormonal, muscular and skeletal systems) depend upon your nervous system to work properly. Therefore, the most direct method of correcting illness/stress should be directed toward balancing your nervous system and this is exactly what chiropractic and acupuncture do.
Links between stress and poor health include high blood pressure, allergies, gastrointestinal problems, migraines, musculoskeletal tension, insomnia and depression to name but a few. Long lasting or chronic stress suppress the immune system which in turn, increase our susceptibility to illness especially to immune-related disorders or chronic illness.
How can acupuncture and chiropractic help?
Acupuncture benefits anxiety disorders and their symptoms by acting on areas of the brain known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress. It also promotes relaxation by deactivating the analytical brain responsible for anxiety and worry (Hui 2010; Hui 2009).
Chiropractic adjustments send signals to the brain that help switch off the stress response and normalize nervous system function, lowering blood pressure and easing muscular tension helping the body return to a more balanced, relaxed state.
Acupuncture & Chiropractic can help by:
• Reducing risk of further health implications
• Reducing the number of sick days taken
• Offering an effective preventative treatment for stress
• Offering strategies to help you combat stress
• Making stress easier to handle
