Don’t let stress take a toll on your physical and mental health

fAlmost all of us deal with some sort of stress on a daily basis. And for some, that stress can be so severe that it has a negative affect on both our mental and physical health.

Stress can come in almost any form – from good things such as an upcoming wedding or job promotion – to bad, such as debt or legal problems.

But either way, stress can cause physical ailments such as headache, backache, fatigue, upset stomach or high blood pressure and mental and emotional symptoms such as depression and anxiety.

Here at Chiro Cleveland, we often see patients that have tight muscles in the upper part of the back, lower neck and tops of the shoulders, all which are caused from stress. These tight muscles often cause a deep, achy pain. A lot of patients even say they feel as though their muscles are knotted.

Chiropractic treatment is very successful in treating these affects of stress. Using chiropractic manipulation, Dr. Medlong is able to bring motion back to the joints in the neck and back that are often restricted from the tight muscles. We also do stretching and massage to relieve the tight muscles and focus on exercises to bring back strength.

Although we are very successful of relieving the physical symptoms of stress, we here at Chiro Cleveland care about your health and want to help you prevent problems from stress.

Listed below are some tips to help reduce and manage the stressors in your life:

■ Make a list of things in your life that cause you stress. Becoming aware of your stressors can give you an idea of what causes you to tense up. You can then try to avoid those situations or handle them differently in the future.

■ Make fitness a priority. Exercise several days a week, but make it enjoyable. Aerobic workouts, walking, cycling, swimming, or running - can all help relax those too-tight muscles and produce endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that help counteract stress.

■ Learn how to relax. Deep-breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, visualization, or listening to relaxation tapes can help you decompress.

■ Get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep can add to stress levels by increasing fatigue and

reducing your ability to cope.

■ Avoid alcohol and drugs.Using them to unwind only masks symptoms and can

worsen stress.

■ Build loving relationships and supportive networks. The warmth of human connection to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers is a great buffer for stress.

 

■ Don’t procrastinate. If you put off daunting tasks, it often adds to your stress level.

 

■ Plan early and often. Break big goals into smaller, more manageable ones. And put it in writing. That will help you feel like you’ve started and are on your way to accomplishing your goal.

​Author: Pam McMillan