Chiropractic can help with Stress management
Updated: Jul 27, 2022
Improve balance and homeostasis between parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic nervous system responsible for fight or flight, which induces stress. Parasympathetic nervou system induces rest and digestion. A chiropractic adjustment increases the response of the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces the response of the sympathetic nervous system.
Stress causes an increase in the hormone cortisol aka the stress hormone. Released by the adrenal gland as a natural fight and flight response. Increased heart rate, anxiety and blood pressure are a few effects of cortisol release into the bloodstream. Getting adjusted and activating the parasympathetic nervous system by adjusting the cervical and lumbar regions can bring the body to homeostasis and reducing the release of cortisol.
An adjustment improves patients' breathing. They can take deeper breaths. Taking deeper breaths activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces the effects of stress. Increases blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. This will relax the brain and induce the limbic system to feel happy.
Overall, relaxing the nervous systems by affecting the nerves by realigning the spine, makes a person more relaxed and calm.
A natural way to affect the nervous system.
Note to content writers. Basically adjusting heightens the parasympathetic nervous system and suppresses the sympathetic nervous system. PNS has amazing effects on the body to reduce all internal factors to reduce stress, increased feeling of relaxation. You can look into the physiology of this. If you need more points.
Can Chiropractic Help with Stress management?
We have all been here, that feeling of uneasiness and restlessness. A tensed situation comes up and we are unable to keep our minds off of it. This feeling we experience that is emotional and physical in nature - is what we call stress.
Your body doesn't get stressed for no reason. There usually is a trigger that causes your body to initiate the stress response. For example: You have an interview and you are waiting in the waiting room for your name to be called out. So, your hypothalamus in the brain declares to the body to “Release the stress hormones!” Your muscles tighten up, your heart beat rises, you start sweating and you are now ready for action. This is your body’s response to fight or flight .
A short term release of stress hormones is actually very healthy and necessary so that we can perform optimally. It’s when these stress hormones get released on a chronic basis, that the trouble arises.
In this age of hustle culture, we are stressed everyday, and even multiple times throughout the day. Stress is ignored and glorified by some. The repercussions of chronic stress are not understood by the majority of the people. Therefore,it’s important to know that it has serious effects on your body. Especially when stress is a catalyst to many other physical and mental health issues. It could lead to depression, anxiety, illness, lack of focus or sleep. Making it incredibly difficult for you to get through your day to day activities.
Before we elaborate, it’s important to note the prominent ways in which chronic stress could be affecting you. Let’s go over the most common symptoms chronic stress creates:
Stress usually leads to intense headaches, that are often called tension headaches. Most people think headaches are normal, but they are not. They are common.
- Muscles tighten up and get tensed. These make you vulnerable to dull aches and spasms.
- Stress often brings on shortness of breath because the muscles that help you breathe tense up due to the fight or flight response. They’re unable to function effectively.
- Stress makes it increasingly difficult to fall asleep, leading to insomnia.
- The release of stress hormones causes your blood vessels to tighten up, causing an increase in blood pressure.
- Stress reduces the function of your digestive system, causing nausea and stomach aches. We tend to eat more during stress, so we can try to deactivate the stress response.
With proper care, chronic stress can be prevented.
Here are 4 ways in which chiropractic adjustments at Lotus Chiropractic Care can help you manage stress the right way-
Balancing the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous system
The Sympathetic Nervous System (PNS) prepares us for fight or flight situations. In other words, situations that demand “arousal”- induce stress in our body.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) on the other hand, leads to decreased arousal. It functions to bring the body back to its natural state once an emergency has passed. It is therefore referred to as the rest and digest system.
Chiropractic care affects the nervous system to increase the response of the (PNS) and decrease the response of the (SNS). This is accomplished by adjusting the spine responsible for SNS and PNS systems respectively.
Stress and Spinal health
One of the most overlooked physical effects of stress is spinal abnormalities. Studies show that chronic stress has a negative impact on spinal size and volume, and the quality of your spine.
Chronic stress causes your muscles to contract. This hinders your day-to-day activities, causing frequent spasms, and “locking” or misalignment your spinal vertebrae in abnormal positions. This impedes the function of your nervous system and impairs the body’s immune response. Which in turn leads to increased stress levels.
Every top chiropractor would consider spinal alignment to be key in reducing stress. This could also help relax your muscles and help loosen its knots. Getting the right spinal care and adjustments can help you ensure better communication and an increased efficiency in your nervous system.
There’s a reason why the spine is referred to as the center of our health.
Controls cortisol levels
There’s a big culprit when it comes to stress inducement– Cortisol aka the Stress hormone. When there is a tensed situation, the adrenal gland releases cortisol as a fight or flight response - in response to the hypothalamus detecting “danger”. When cortisol is released into the bloodstream, it causes an increase in heart rate, anxiety, and blood pressure. Chiropractic care affects the nerve response to lower cortisol levels and reduces stress.
A Spinal adjustment is key as it’s literally the backbone of our neurological system. Adjusting the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine activates the parasympathetic nervous system. Thus restoring the natural functions of your body and allowing homeostasis (a process of bringing stability to one’s physical and internal functions.)
As one of the best Chiropractors in Dunwoody, it is always our aim to help manage your stress via your nervous system.
Helps in effective breathing
Chiropractic adjustments help individuals in taking deeper breaths. And that’s very important to bring one’s body back to a natural state. Deep breathing increases blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain, and this induces a sense of calm to one’s limbic system. Deep breaths activate the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce the effects of stress.
Also, breathing makes you feel connected to your body. It’s the most basic sign of “living”, and you feel drawn back to the roots of what makes you alive. Breathing techniques can take your awareness away from the worries in your head.
With Lotus, say yes to life
Stress interferes with your life in bad ways. It causes you happiness, peace, and productivity. We know that one can never eliminate stress. All of us get stressed out at some point in our life. But there are ways to deal with it. Getting the right chiropractic care can help you manage your stress through your nervous system.
As mentioned, stress rarely occurs in isolation. There’s always a factor driving it. It could be physical, emotional, or chemical. And these interferences can be removed. Which is why at Lotus Chiropractic Care in Dunwoody, we strive to follow personalized treatments that address every issue that’s specific to a patient.
One of the biggest things that people overlook while managing stress is–food. Proper nutrition is the foundation for betterment. So, Dr. Tanvi Desai will also focus on counseling you on your diet and supplements. We believe a stress-free life begins with the right lifestyle–and ensuring it for you remains the goal here.
Got someone else in mind? Go ahead! Google “Best Chiropractor near me in Dunwoody, GA” and visit the center that seems right for you. We are all here to lend you a hand.