Stress & Chiropractic Care

Blog post by Ashley, Chiropractic Assistant at McCann Family Chiropractic

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Stress has been rising over the past two years with the ongoing COVID pandemic, seemingly endless stream of new variants, and a desire to return to normalcy.  Stress is a normal part of life and can even be healthy but learning how to balance and relieve unnecessary stress is key to a healthy life! 

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​Stress is known to increase risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and reduce the immune system’s ability to handle infection.  However, we have the ability to combat excessive stress in our life.  Some lifestyle changes have been shown to improve stress including meditation, exercise, proper sleep, reducing screen time (especially before sleep!), and even getting a hug from a loved one.  

​The bottom line is that the most effective ways to manage stress are found with self-care. Most people find it very hard to take the time for themselves and set personal boundaries, but self-care doesn’t need to feel selfish.  It also doesn’t have to be long and drawn out, or expensive.  Yes, a massage or spa day is great (and I encourage you to treat yourself when you can!), but many don’t have time or money for such things.  Self-care could be taking just 5 minutes to slow it down.  

​If you drink coffee, it’s being intentional to sip and enjoy the flavor.  Feel the cup in your hand. Enjoy the smell. Or you might take 5 minutes to enjoy your own backyard to gaze at the sunset or hear the birds sing.  Bring a book with you on your next errand, that way if you have a short delay, you can even treat yourself to respite while on the go.  Get it?  Self-care doesn’t need to be difficult; it just needs to be intentional.  

Another great way to reduce stress?  Be sure to schedule a regular adjustment at McCann Family Chiropractic. It’s quick and vital to reducing stored stress in your spine (did you remember the 4 S’s?)! Chiropractic integrates a mind-body approach where we aim to adjust physical compensations your body has made in response to excess stress.  This will not only relieve symptoms you may be feeling but also improves overall health, including your mental health.

​Emotional stress can lead to physical ailments. When Dr. Matt assesses your spine, he is looking for imbalances in muscle tone and alignment of your spine.  These imbalances are called subluxation and are the cause of many health problems. Some signs that you might have subluxation are pain at the joint, swelling, balance issues, numbness, tingling, or a compromised range of motion. 

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​Not only can chiropractic help improve stress and mental health, but it is shown to relieve a wide range of other physical ailments. It has been proven to improve sleep, reduce headaches, improve sports performance, help regulate blood pressure, relieve back and neck pain, reduce muscle strain, and can even be used to help other joints in the body outside of the spine.

​Chiropractic is another tool in your tool belt for focusing on your health and wellness.  2022 is still young and it is a great time to focus on your wellness!