While many people dream of transitioning to a work-from-home schedule, that shift can introduce new types of stress into your life.
When it comes to your body, stress might feel like something that won’t take a physical toll on your overall well being. But stress can actually make a lasting impact on your nervous system and overall body.
If you notice that you’re carrying lots of stress in your body and are noticing the physical effects of that, meet with a chiropractor at Senara Health and Healing Center & Spa. Request an appointment online at our chiropractic center and get a personalized treatment plan to help realign your body while also managing and reducing your stress.
Stress and the Nervous System
As we’ve already mentioned, it might not make sense that when you’re stressed your body starts to display that stress physically. But there is a lot happening in your body and nervous system when you feel stressed.
Your nervous system is divided into systems that control different hormones and aspects of your body. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is responsible for controlling your “fight or flight” instincts. When your body feels stressed, the SNS signals for your body to release hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. It’s these hormones that lead to the physical manifestation of your stress.
Heart
When those stress hormones are released in your body, they cause your heart to beat faster. If the stress persists, it can cause inflammation in the circulatory system, along with other long term problems.
Muscles
When your body is dealing with stress, the muscles in your body can tense up. Once the stress has passed, your muscles can relax. But if you stay tense for long periods of time, that tightness in your muscles can cause stress-related disorders.
Migraines and tension headaches can be associated with chronic muscle tension in the head, neck, and shoulders. In addition, chronic stress can cause musculoskeletal pain in the lower back and upper extremities.
Lungs
Since stress can cause the muscles in your body to tense up, this includes the muscles in your lungs. As the airway constricts, you can experience shortness of breath or rapid breathing caused by that stress. This stress combined with muscle tension can lead to panic attacks in susceptible individuals and those with anxiety disorders.
Blood Vessels
The release of adrenaline and cortisol in your body can cause your blood vessels to dilate in your arms and legs, increasing your blood pressure.
Stress and the Chiropractor
Stress is something everyone experiences from time to time. While there are ways you can reduce stress naturally — something we’ve previously discussed in our previous blog, 5 Ways to Beat Stress Naturally — a chiropractor can also help relieve tension and reduce stress in your body. Additionally, acupuncture offered at Senara can also help naturally reduce your body’s fight or flight stress response.
If you want to target your stress and tension during a chiropractic appointment, the adjustment can trigger the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). This part of your nervous system does the opposite of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), working to decrease heart rate, slow respiration, reduce blood pressure, and stop those stress hormones from being produced.
You can also work with your chiropractor to develop a personalized treatment plan to help manage stress and keep your muscles relaxed. At Senara, our Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center uses a wide range of services — including chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, detoxification, and nutrition counseling — to take a customized approach to your health and stress.
Reduce Stress With a Visit to the Chiropractor
If your body is experiencing more stress than usual, or is starting to take a toll on your physical health, a visit to the chiropractor might be just what you need. To meet with our chiropractor at Senara Health and Healing Center & Spa in Peoria, you can request an appointment online.
Make taking care of your health a priority. Read through our blog for more ways Senara can help you “Live Life Well”: