Stress and Your Spine
All of the problems that show up in the body are the result of failed attempts at adapting to everyday stressors we encounter. Stress is part of life. It is how we choose to be with it that turns it into a positive or negative influence in our lives. A simple example; proper exercise to tone muscles is a positive stress although the same exercise done improperly of to excess becomes a deleterious stress.
The 3 Different Types of Stress
Physical Stress A slip and fall, overdoing it in the garden, a whiplash injury or even lack of sleep are all sources of physical stress. It can actually begin early on in life, when learning to walk, ride a bike and even the birth process itself can be sources of physical stress.
Chemical Stress Common causes of chemical stress include poor nutrition, sugar, refined carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats as well as air and water pollution. Drugs (prescription or recreational), preservatives, tobacco, alcohol and a host of other substances can directly affect our nervous system.
Emotional Stress Fear, grief, anger, shame and other emotions affect our entire body. Frustration, and a sense of powerlessness, both widely held emotions at this time of uncertainty, are common forms of emotional stress.
A Relentless, Invisible Stress There is a constant stress humans encounter and it is something you probably haven’t considered.
Our bodies are subjected to it 24/7. Even when we sleep.
It’s gravity.
Which most of us are equipped to handle with ease. When the spine is in proper alignment and functioning properly, we can turn, bend and move painlessly without negative affects from gravity. But when there are spinal distortions, even subtle ones, things can go down hill fast!
The Effects of Gravity on Your Spine
When we evaluate spinal X-rays from the side, we confirm that the four spinal curves are present. Then we notice spinal bones, which may have lost their integrity in relation to the ones above or below it. These “less-than-a-dislocations” or “subluxations” are often implicated in a host of health issues.
Subluxations are accompanied by inflammation. Your body, sensing the instability, begins transporting calcium salts to the area. Almost as if mending a broken bone, the calcium is used to splint the unstable area.
When Gravity Disappears
Clearly, gravity plays a role in spinal decay. Would the weightlessness of space be the answer? Based on extended stays at the International Space Station, microgravity can produce a host of other health issues. Even with regular exercise (up to 2 hours a day), a loss of bone and muscle mass have been reported.
The solution?
A thorough Chiropractic exam to assess your spinal-neural integrity. Followed by a care plan designed to address spinal distortions and restore neural integrity. Have you had one?
