The
effects of stress on your health can be far-reaching.
Some of the conditions often associated with stress include
insomnia, high blood pressure, tension headaches, anxiety,
depression, decreased mental function, and drug or alcohol
abuse. Stress is known to cause changes in the body's
chemistry, altering the balance of hormones in our systems
in ways that can lower our resistance to disease. As a
result, we can become more susceptible to flu, colds,
and other types of illness. Too much stress sometimes
brings on outbreaks of cold sores or genital herpes for
people who carry these viruses in their systems. Other
chronic diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, asthma,
inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis may
also flare up during times of stress.
If
it's possible to avoid situations that cause you to feel
tense, unhappy, or worn down, that's obviously to your
benefit. However, it isn't always possible to live a stress-free
existence. Work deadlines, family demands, relationship
problems, traffic jams, missed appointments, forgotten
birthdays, personality conflicts, college exams, and many
more, can be sources of stress. Furthermore, though most
of us associate stress with unpleasant events, even wonderful
events in our lives, like weddings, vacations, and holidays,
can be genuinely stressful.
Not everyone responds to these situations by getting "stressed
out." There are those apparently unflappable folks
whose pulse rate wouldn't even go up during an earthquake,
and then there are those for whom being five minutes late
constitutes reason for a state of total panic. How you
manage the stress in your life can determine the impact
it will have on you.
There
are many different methods of dealing with stress. The
basics for good health that we all know (but often forget)
help in coping with stress: Eating a balanced diet and
getting adequate rest help your body adapt and respond
to the events in your life. Ironically, stress can interfere
with your ability to take care of yourself in this way.
When you're worrying so much you can't sleep, getting
adequate rest becomes impossible. Stress can affect your
eating habits too. So what else can you do?
That's
where we come in. Regular treatment with chiropractic
care and massage therapy can help your body work more
efficiently so that you can handle the other problems
life throws your way. Call us today at 408-739-2273
for an appointment!
