Beating Stress & Beating Stress & Living A Healthier Living A Healthier

LifestyleLifestyle

Presented By: Presented By:

Dr. Steven MitchellDr. Steven MitchellTulare Chiropractic Clinic, since 1994Tulare Chiropractic Clinic, since 1994

Stress affects everybody every day, Stress affects everybody every day, and for the most part, stress offers the and for the most part, stress offers the push we need to respond to a pressing push we need to respond to a pressing situation. From trying to get out of the situation. From trying to get out of the house on time in the morning, to house on time in the morning, to starting a new job or giving a starting a new job or giving a presentation, stress is your response to presentation, stress is your response to physical, chemical, emotional or physical, chemical, emotional or environmental factors.environmental factors. Stresses can help keep our bodies Stresses can help keep our bodies strong and minds alert, but chronic strong and minds alert, but chronic stress can have stress can have devastating effects.devastating effects.

Some Statistics:Some Statistics:

The American Medical Association stated The American Medical Association stated that stress was involved in 80-85% of all that stress was involved in 80-85% of all human illness and disease, or at the very human illness and disease, or at the very least had a detrimental effect on our least had a detrimental effect on our health. health.

Every week, 95 million Americans suffer Every week, 95 million Americans suffer some kind of stress related symptom for some kind of stress related symptom for which they take medication. which they take medication.

American businesses lose an estimated American businesses lose an estimated $200-$300 billion dollars per year to stress $200-$300 billion dollars per year to stress related productivity loss and other costs. related productivity loss and other costs.

How Big of a Problem?How Big of a Problem?

The American Institute of The American Institute of Stress in Yonkers, New York, Stress in Yonkers, New York, estimates that 90 percent of estimates that 90 percent of all visits to doctors are for all visits to doctors are for stress-related disorders.stress-related disorders.

Stress has been linked to Stress has been linked to fatigue, hair loss, skin fatigue, hair loss, skin problems, allergies, insomnia, problems, allergies, insomnia, back pain, neck pain, back pain, neck pain, digestive disorders, etc.digestive disorders, etc.

There Are 3 types of StressThere Are 3 types of Stress

1.1. Physical stress:Physical stress: F Falls or accidents, or alls or accidents, or cumulative trauma that have occurred in the cumulative trauma that have occurred in the past, causing stress on the nervous system.past, causing stress on the nervous system.

2.2. Emotional:Emotional: Prolonged emotional stress leads Prolonged emotional stress leads to an imbalance of the major stress hormones, to an imbalance of the major stress hormones, which can lead to high blood pressure, weight which can lead to high blood pressure, weight problems, digestive trouble, etc.).problems, digestive trouble, etc.).

3.3. Chemical:Chemical: Pollutants in our environment. Pollutants in our environment. There are 82000 chemicals that can enter our There are 82000 chemicals that can enter our bodies weekly, and cause stress on our bodies weekly, and cause stress on our systems.systems.

1. Physical Stress1. Physical Stress Overt injuries cause obvious stress to our Overt injuries cause obvious stress to our systems immediately, but there are possible long systems immediately, but there are possible long term repercussions worth looking at as well…term repercussions worth looking at as well… If one has developed uneven biomechanics, or If one has developed uneven biomechanics, or sustained injuries, there is a good chance that sustained injuries, there is a good chance that “subluxations” may develop. Subluxations are “subluxations” may develop. Subluxations are misaligned or fixated vertebra that end up misaligned or fixated vertebra that end up pinching on the surrounding nerves. If the nerves pinching on the surrounding nerves. If the nerves are not pain sensitive, pain does not result. are not pain sensitive, pain does not result. However, tissue stress will slowly develop as the However, tissue stress will slowly develop as the nerve which regulates that tissue is choked or nerve which regulates that tissue is choked or irritated over time. This stress on the nervous irritated over time. This stress on the nervous system can be relieved with spinal manipulation, system can be relieved with spinal manipulation, which helps to remove pressure on the nerves.which helps to remove pressure on the nerves.

Our autonomic nervous system is stimulated Our autonomic nervous system is stimulated when we are stressed. It is designed to allow us when we are stressed. It is designed to allow us to keep up with stressful situations for survival. to keep up with stressful situations for survival. For example, when we see a bear in the woods, For example, when we see a bear in the woods, our adrenal glands increase levels of adrenaline. our adrenal glands increase levels of adrenaline. Adrenaline is a hormone that will dilate the Adrenaline is a hormone that will dilate the pupils, shunt blood from our guts out to the legs pupils, shunt blood from our guts out to the legs so we can run, our heart rate increases, etc. All so we can run, our heart rate increases, etc. All things that will help us survive the moment.things that will help us survive the moment.

2. Emotional Stress2. Emotional Stress

When high adrenaline levels are When high adrenaline levels are sustained due to constant stress of sustained due to constant stress of modern life, our adrenal glands modern life, our adrenal glands begin to weaken and we become begin to weaken and we become fatigued, crave caffeine or other fatigued, crave caffeine or other stimulants, and may have trouble stimulants, and may have trouble losing weight.losing weight.

Some Long-Term Effects…Some Long-Term Effects…

High blood pressure, depression, skin High blood pressure, depression, skin problems, allergies, headaches, back problems, allergies, headaches, back pain, neck pain, insomnia, digestive pain, neck pain, insomnia, digestive disorders, fatigue, heart disease, disorders, fatigue, heart disease, obesity and stroke have all been obesity and stroke have all been related to extended periods of stress.related to extended periods of stress.

3. Chemical Stress3. Chemical Stress

As our bodies main As our bodies main filter, the liver filter, the liver accumulates a build up accumulates a build up of toxins. This impairs of toxins. This impairs the liver’s ability to the liver’s ability to function properly. The function properly. The liver’s lymphocyte liver’s lymphocyte population constitutes population constitutes our “innate immunity”, our “innate immunity”, and therefore when the and therefore when the liver does not function liver does not function well, we are more prone well, we are more prone to disease and illness. to disease and illness.

Effects On The Immune Effects On The Immune System…System…

Research findings Research findings indicate that stress indicate that stress (physical, chemical, (physical, chemical, and emotional) can and emotional) can have a negative have a negative effect on the immune effect on the immune system and the way system and the way the body functions. the body functions. Therefore stressed Therefore stressed people get sick more people get sick more often.often.

Stress Relief: What Can I Stress Relief: What Can I Do?Do?

Fortunately there are a variety of Fortunately there are a variety of natural, drug-free approaches to help natural, drug-free approaches to help with stress relief.with stress relief.

There is no one solution to handling There is no one solution to handling stress. Everyone must focus on stress. Everyone must focus on allowing their body to function allowing their body to function properly so that they are better able properly so that they are better able to handle the stress they encounter.to handle the stress they encounter.

The following are ways to address The following are ways to address the three different kinds of stress:the three different kinds of stress:

Give Up Control!Give Up Control!

Easier said than done…but if we allow a power greater than ourselves to “take the wheel”, we would rid ourselves of a tremendous amount of life’s stresses.

Each individual will have a different religious or spiritual method for achieving this goal, therefore this is beyond the scope of this talk, however it has to be mentioned, and is ultimately up to each individual to pursue.

Address the Stress!Address the Stress! If chronic stress is serious, please If chronic stress is serious, please seek counseling from a qualified seek counseling from a qualified health professional. At times, there health professional. At times, there may be an underlying psychological may be an underlying psychological issue which needs to be resolved! issue which needs to be resolved! Don’t be shy about asking for help if Don’t be shy about asking for help if you feel you need it. you feel you need it.

However, most cases of stressed However, most cases of stressed people do not fall into this more people do not fall into this more severe category, and are likely to severe category, and are likely to respond to a more gentle approach:respond to a more gentle approach:

Address The Physical StressAddress The Physical Stress Chiropractic Care. A variety of studies have Chiropractic Care. A variety of studies have

shown that regular chiropractic spinal care can shown that regular chiropractic spinal care can provide relief for irritated nerves and muscles, provide relief for irritated nerves and muscles, therefore reducing a major source of stress on therefore reducing a major source of stress on our systems.our systems.

Massage. Massage can help to relieve tension Massage. Massage can help to relieve tension in the muscle system, and also help stress in the muscle system, and also help stress emotionally, and help rid the body of toxins.emotionally, and help rid the body of toxins.

Regular exercise. Exercise (if you enjoy it even Regular exercise. Exercise (if you enjoy it even only a little bit!) can be a great stress reducer, only a little bit!) can be a great stress reducer, and help to avoid injuries. It actually produces and help to avoid injuries. It actually produces endorphins naturally, which have been shown endorphins naturally, which have been shown to be more effective than antidepressants to to be more effective than antidepressants to elevate your mood…without any side effects!elevate your mood…without any side effects!

Support and Repair The Support and Repair The Stress HormonesStress Hormones

As discussed earlier, emotional stress causes our adrenal glands to over-work.

The adrenal glands secrete Adrenaline, DHEA, and Cortisol (simplified version)

Chronic stress leads to an excess of these hormones, and eventually weakens their ability to produce and balance normal levels.The resulting weak adrenal glands can easily be tested with a sitting/standing blood pressure test.

Nutritional means can be used to repair and Nutritional means can be used to repair and support the adrenal glands. support the adrenal glands.

We must strive to repair the glands themselves, We must strive to repair the glands themselves, rather than to replace the hormones artificially (as rather than to replace the hormones artificially (as with coffee) in order to achieve regular hormone with coffee) in order to achieve regular hormone balance. This will help energy levels, weight loss, balance. This will help energy levels, weight loss, sex drive, depression, and sleep patterns.sex drive, depression, and sleep patterns.

Supplements are available to support adrenal Supplements are available to support adrenal health, and include pregnenolone, DHEA, adrenal health, and include pregnenolone, DHEA, adrenal gland cortex, and high doses of the whole B gland cortex, and high doses of the whole B complex, among many other ingredients.complex, among many other ingredients.

These are easy to chew tablets, which usually These are easy to chew tablets, which usually provide the patient with an abundance of energy.provide the patient with an abundance of energy.

A healthy diet, however, should always be at the A healthy diet, however, should always be at the core of any plan to improve health.core of any plan to improve health.

Reduce “Toxicity”Reduce “Toxicity” Liver Toxicity can be a source of stress on our systems.

Reduce “toxicity” exposure: Having a diet free from (or very limited to) processed foods will reduce a large amount of foreign chemicals used in packaged foods.

A diet rich in a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables will actually encourage the cleansing of the liver.

Drink bottled water, or filtered tap water from a good filter system. Try for 1/2 body weight (in oz.) per day!

Stop smoking or drinking.

A “Liver cleanse” program, which will help to detoxify the liver through a diet and supplement regimen.

Stress Can Be Managed!Stress Can Be Managed!Stress is a normal part of life.

Actually, life is stress!

Once our bodies are free of nerve interference, and we can maintain a proper balance of stress hormones naturally, we will be better able to

manage stress. Then instead of wearing us out, stress can actually

make life more interesting in the long run.

Our purpose is to help you!

Just call our office at 685-9391, mention this website,

and ask for the free consultation. A consultation

will give us a chance to evaluate your health situation, and make a recommendation to help. There is no charge…you’ve got nothing to lose.