How Stress Affects Your Health 

Dr Asal Shalviri, Naturopath

What is Stress?

Stress is generally defined as any influence that disrupts the body from its normal state. These influences can be emotional, physical, social, financial or there can be other factors that require a response.

Stress and the adrenal glands are directly related. The adrenal glands sit atop the kidneys and their main purpose is to allow us to handle the stress our body is subjected to everyday. The glands produce cortisol, also called "the stress hormone", which is produced when we are in a stressful situation, need sudden energy, or are experiencing illness. 

Cortisol plays an important role in the body's regulation of cardiovascular function and fat, protein and carbohydrate utilization. When the body experience stress, cortisol secretion increases. If we live with chronic stress, the adrenal glands supply constant cortisol. Too much cortisol for too long will lead us to develop number of adverse health conditions.

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full article. 

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Dr Shalviri please contact reception. 

Chiropractic and Stress 

Dr Ryan Flatt

Chiropractors work primarily with the spine, the root of the nervous system through which nerve impulses travel from the brain to the rest of the body. One effect of chronic stress is prolonged muscle tension and contraction. This muscle tension creates uneven pressures on the bony structures of the body, often leading the misalignment of the spinal column, known as subluxations in the Palmer tradition of chiropractic.

Chronic stress also leads to nerve irritation. The adjustments of a chiropractor release muscle tension, and that helps the body return to a more balanced, relaxed state. Adjustments also reduce spinal nerve irritation, and improve blood circulation. These changes may be enough, in many cases, to convince the brain to turn off the fight or flight response, beginning the process of healing. A healthy and balanced spine is one key to effectively managing stress.

Chiropractors are trained in nutritional and other therapies for stress. Several nutritional supplements, including B vitamins, help the body cope with stress. A Doctor of Chiropractic may also recommend relaxation techniques, and discuss posture and environmental changes to help recovery from chronic stress.

A chiropractor cannot make a job less stressful, or create a quieter, calmer world. What chiropractic treatment can do is help you develop healthy responses to stress, reducing potential physical damage.

Chiropractic is based on the concept that given the opportunity, the mind and body can heal itself. In relieving some of the effects of chronic stress, chiropractic care provides just such an opportunity.

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Healthy Recipe: Vitamin B rich

A common response given by patients when asked the question 'What would you like to achieve with Acupuncture treatment?' is

"Help with Stress!" 

Here are some examples of the typical type of complaints I meet in the clinic that can be stress related:

• problems at work
• knotted feeling in my stomach
• constant headache
• tight shoulders and neck
• exhaustion
• anxiety or feeling of panic
• insomnia
• don't feel well and no clinical reason can be found by my doctor
• worrying
• headaches 
• stomach upsets
• decreased libido 
• irritability
• snapping at kids easily
• feeling wound up
• smoking too much
• depressed  

Does this sound familiar to you, too? Then you might suffer from stress as well.

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For more info or to book an appointment with Alexandra please contact reception.  

Massage and Stress Relief  

Rebecca Stewart, RMT  

B Vitamins for Stress 

Monica Frost, Holistic Nutritionist    

B vitamins can help with stress by working with brain chemistry and balancing neurotransmitters, thus aiding us in achieving balance over stress.

 
B vitamins are vital for optimal mental health and stress. Water soluble, they need to be replenished on a daily basis. Your daily dose can actually also be split into a morning dose and an early afternoon dose. Not too late though, as it does provide energy. I also recommend not taking B vitamins on an empty stomach as it does cause nausea in some cases.  

Sources rich in B vitamins include cereals and grains, meats, fish, poultry, milk, eggs, peas, beans and vegetables. Taking a B-complex vitamin, which contains most of the major B vitamins, might be the best option to help reduce stress. A good B-complex vitamin can help digestive metabolic processes which might be affected negatively since stress slows digestive processes.