While the radio tells us “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” the majority of Americans are pushing through what they consider to be the most stressful time of the year—the holidays.
According to Teladoc, 64 percent of people say their mental-health stress level increases exponentially during the holiday season. The pressure to host out of town guests, cook elaborate meals, purchase the perfect gift, and keep up with our social calendars takes a toll on our bodies, making the holidays more about stress and anxiety than good tidings and cheer.
Restore joy to your holidays.
One solution to de-stressing during the holidays is to take advantage of chiropractic care. Every year my patients do indeed fall within that 64 percent, showing heightened symptoms of stress during the holidays. Chiropractic care techniques can help my patients de-stress and stay healthy.
When stress takes over, risk increases that your body loses resiliency. Stress stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, and chronic stimulation can lead to a variety of health issues, including cardiovascular disease, weight gain, neck and back pain, constipation, and poor memory.
Chronic stress can trigger a domino effect, often because people tend to deal with stress in ways that only add to the burden. For example, stress caused by pressure to find the perfect gift may raise your blood pressure, which results in overeating, which in turn drives weight gain. The extra weight, when trying to look your best for holiday parties, becomes another source of stress, causing the cycle to continue.
I encourage people to get help in managing their stress levels, not only during the holiday season, but all year long. Chiropractic care offers an unobtrusive and low-risk option. Those who attack their stress head on and take the steps to take care of it, decrease the duration of it. Chiropractic care releases stress and pain without having to invade the patient’s body or risk the side effects that can come with medication or even surgeries.
One of the key chiropractic benefits is its ability to alleviate chronic pain, a common physical manifestation of stress. When you’re stressed, your muscles become tense, which can lead to misalignments in the spine and result in discomfort or pain. A chiropractic adjustment can correct these misalignments, relieving pressure on the nerves and providing pain relief. As muscle tension is relieved and the body is able to relax, positive hormones like oxytocin and cortisol are released, helping to create a sense of well-being and ultimately reducing stress levels. The benefits of chiropractic care go beyond pain relief. By reducing physical symptoms of stress, promoting relaxation, and enhancing the immune system, chiropractic adjustments can play a significant role in stress management.
And while the holidays focus on family, gifts, food, and fun, taking some time for yourself amidst the hustle and bustle remains imperative. In addition to visiting the chiropractor, I recommend reducing stress on your own time by working on breathing techniques, meditating, eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep, drinking lots of water, and sprinkling in some exercise.
The holidays may bring stress, but they can also be a joyful time that you want to cherish. My goal is to help all my patients find that joy.
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