Stress is often described as our “fight or flight” response. It can be triggered by the sight of a giant spider, a loud noise, or walking through a dimly-lit empty parking lot. In our modern lives, stress can also be triggered by deadlines, pressures from our jobs, responsibilities, and children. Physical pain can also cause stress. Constant stress can have negative consequences on your health. Chiropractic care can help relieve stress to minimize the long-term effects stress creates on your body and your health.

Effects of Stress on the Body

Stress has very specific effects on the body. When a stressful event happens, adrenaline and cortisol are released to start the “fight or flight” response:

• Your heart beats faster with stronger contractions
• Your respiration rate increases
• Your blood vessels dilate elevating blood pressure
• Your muscles tense up
• Your digestion is inhibited

With long-term stress, you may experience inflammation in the circulatory system, particularly in the coronary arteries. Chronic tension can cause headaches. While short bursts of cortisol can boost immunity, chronic stress can deplete circulating cortisol levels and increase the risk of disease due to a suppressed immune system. Chronic stress causes wear-and-tear on the body, so any approach you take to reduce stress can have a significant effect on the your health and even your lifespan.

Ways to Relieve Stress at Home

Because the “fight or flight” response comes from your subconscious, there are conscious and deliberate actions you can take to communicate to your body that there is no immediate threat. Some of the methods to relax and induce a feeling of calm include:

• Deep abdominal breathing: Breathing exercises can increase oxygen to your brain and helps to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system which dampens the stress response.
• Music: Relaxing music can lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.
• Aromatherapy: Scented candle or essential oils, especially lavender, can help the body to relax.
• Tea: Green tea, chamomile, and other teas can help you relax and reduce stress.

You can relieve muscle tension with the following:

• Heating pads or warm baths
• Stretching
• Massage

Keeping your mind occupied with positive things and away from worrisome thoughts can also help reduce stress. Spending time with the following can help:

• Socializing
• Laughing
• Pets
• Journaling
• Reading
• Watching movies
• “Me time” and self-care
• Avoiding negative news stories and social media posts

You can also expend the extra pent-up energy caused by the release of adrenaline and cortisol through exercise. Our primitive stress response is activated even though we can’t “fight or flight” our way through our bills. Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress because it immediately reduces the stress-response by giving it an avenue of expression.

How Chiropractic Care Helps Reduce Stress

Stress, and the reduction of stress, is completely controlled by the central nervous system. Your brain communicates the release of stress hormones which cause all of the stress-related symptoms. The central nervous system runs through your spine to connect the brain to the rest of the body. Without effective communication from the central nervous system, your stress response can get out of control and overwhelm your body’s resources. Chiropractic care includes the realignment of the spine for the optimal functioning of the central nervous system and effective communication between the brain and the body.

In addition to that, chiropractic care helps to relieve muscle tension, especially in the neck and shoulder area. Pain can also cause stress, so the relief of pain can also relieve stress. Chiropractic treatments have helped people suffering from anxiety, depression, and stress improve their emotional and psychological health. People are generally more relaxed following their chiropractic adjustments due to hormonal changes. Neck adjustments can improve the blood flow to the brain, which is essential to mental health restoration.

Chiropractic Care at Starkwood Chiropractic

At Starkwood Chiropractic, we specialize on the safe, gentle, and effective removal of pain and reduction of stress through our experienced approaches. We help patients who have experienced auto, sports, and work-related injuries as well as relieving stress, headaches, migraines, neck pain, and back pain. The services we offer include spinal adjustments, stretching and exercise programs, soft tissue therapy, physical modalities, as well as nutrition and dietary counseling. We use Physical Therapy, Physiotherapy, Thompson, Diversified, Activator, and Arthrostim in a holistic, whole-body approach that effectively provides relief of pain and stress rather than prescribing addictive medications or antianxiety medications with side effects that range from physical discomfort to mental impairment. We also use Heritage10 Intersegmental Traction Tables, Zenith HyLo Elevation Tables, and Therapeutic Ultrasound and Electric Muscle Stimulation. We will consult with your medical practitioner to come up with the best treatment plan in a coordinated effort to find the best treatment plan. We accept insurance from most health insurance companies such as Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and many others.

Contact Starkwood Chiropractic Today

Starkwood Chiropractic has been serving the Portland, Oregon, community by providing chiropractic care since 1983. If you have stress, anxiety, pain, headaches, migraines, or any other ailment that you would like the immediate relief of, give us a call and find out if chiropractic care is the right choice for you. We can discuss with you what you need help with and see treatment we have to find the best way to relieve your suffering. And, of course, if you have been in an auto accident or have been injured during a sports activity or at work, don’t hesitate to call. If you are in pain or are experiencing stress, don’t delay. Call us right away and see how Starkwood Chiropractic can help you take that first step toward a stress-free and pain-free life. Call us today.