Anxiety. Difficulty sleeping. Digestive distress. Everyone will be under stress at different times in their life, and stress itself is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it can be a good thing, as stress is how we grow and develop; it can even help our immune system. It’s that constant stress over a long period, where it becomes a negative factor where our bodies just can’t function as well as they should.
Chronic, unchecked stress can wreak havoc on our mental, emotional and physical well-being.
Here are some ways that tension taxes the body:
Affects the Immune System
Chronic levels of stress and anxiety end up decreasing our immune system. Whether you’re stressed from work, relationships, or an injury, stress causes the secretion of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone. That cortisol lowers the white blood cell count, leaving you more susceptible to sickness, such as viruses or bacteria.
Causes Pain & Degeneration
Stress can cause muscle tension, back pain, tightness and soreness in your muscles. It can also lead to flare-ups of arthritis and fibromyalgia symptoms. That’s because stress lowers your body’s threshold for pain.
Can Lead to Disease
It’s no surprise that stress can have a massive impact on a person’s physical and mental health. It has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, anxiety disorders and other conditions. Long-term stress can cause chronic inflammation in the body, which may increase the risk of developing certain diseases, such as cancer.
How Chiropractic Helps Us Adapt to Stress
While you don’t necessarily want to get rid of all stress, you want to help your body respond to it appropriately. One of the ways we can do that is through chiropractic care.
Discover how you can dial down the tension in your life through chiropractic care. Book an appointment today!