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How to Deal With Stress

Stress is the body’s natural response to external demands, both the good and the bad. It’s hard not to get overwhelmed between work, school, family, and other commitments. Having an increased stress level can negatively impact almost every aspect of our physical well-being.  The higher levels of adrenaline caused by stress can raise blood pressure and heart rate, which can ultimately lead to cardiovascular disease. It has been shown to cause headaches, weight gain, fatigue, and depression.  Studies have even shown that suffering from stress can lead to a multitude of stomach problems as well. Back and muscle pain are also common symptoms of elevated stress levels. 

Understanding the cause of your stress is an important first step.  In today’s hectic world, the causes of stress can be incredibly diverse.  Although we may not be able to eliminate the causes of stress in our lives, it is incredibly important that we do what we can to reduce its impact on our bodies and our health. Learning how to manage stress can take time, and everyone usually has their own unique way of relieving it. Here are a few ways to help get you started:

Relaxation: It is important to take a bit of time out of your busy schedule to unwind and relax. Otherwise, your body will suffer both physically and mentally.

Yoga: Yoga is not only used for pain management—studies have shown that practicing yoga regularly can help reduce stress and decrease the risk of injury in the workplace.

Good Nutrition: You may think food helps to calm stress, but really it only puts more stress on your already tired body. Good nutrition is the foundation of maintaining your health. It is most important to embrace good nutrition when you want to do it the least.

Belly breathing: It has been shown to reset the nervous system. Studies have shown a decrease in fatigue and anxiety with deep breathing exercises.

Meditation: This common technique is used to combat stress, anxiety, chronic pain, depression, and headaches.

Supplementation: Cerenity is a supplement we carry that has a comprehensive formula designed to address daily stress by increasing the production of the calming neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that regulate mood, memory, sleep cycle and daily stress. Adequate neurotransmitter production depends on an adequate supply of amino acids, vitamins and minerals in the diet. High levels of stress, dietary deficiencies, genetics, medications and toxins all play a role in neurotransmitter depletion. The nutrients in Cerenity support healthy levels of the brain’s primary neurotransmitters for balancing the stress response. Cerenity also includes key ingredients that quickly increase the production of alpha brain waves resulting in a relaxed and effortless state of alertness.

Chiropractic: It can help by targeting subluxations along the spine and can help you manage many of the symptoms caused by increased stress levels.  Muscle tension caused by prolonged stress can lead to uneven pressure being applied to the vertebrae, resulting in misalignment.  Correcting this misalignment can not only relieve back and muscle pain, but, it can also improve the functioning of the immune and nervous systems.  When these physical symptoms are relieved, many patients report that it actually reduces the stress they feel, beginning to break the stress cycle all together.

Stress, although often viewed as a negative entity, can often be managed appropriately. Keep these tips in mind to help with your stress management and self-care routine. Take control of the stress in your life and contact Bettendorf Chiropractic Wellness Center to discuss what we can do to help you achieve your goals and live your life to the fullest!