Q. Dear Dr Harvey,
This year has been very stressful for me and my family.
Lately it seems that my stress level is even higher.
I have also been sick a lot more often. What can
chiropractic do to help me?

A. Stress is something that we've all heard a lot more about in the last few years. Stress comes in many forms, both mental and physical. Some of the worst mental stressors can be a death in the family, divorce, loss of a business, or a notice of an audit from our friends at the IRS. Physical stress may result from a car accident or other trauma. It may be from an illness or surgery. It could be from long hours at the office or even from a long trip.

Whether the stress is mental or physical, most of us experience it in one form or another. When the stress is long-term or chronic, or when we experience a combination of mental and physical stress, the effect on the body will be more severe.

Bernie Siegel, M.D., stated: "It's often said that stress is one of the most destructive elements in people's daily lives, but that's only half true. The way we react to stress appears to be more important than the stress itself."

Stress has a number of effects on the body. It has been shown to weaken the immune system, making us more susceptible to disease. It depletes our bodies of vitamins and minerals. It tenses our muscles, which results in muscle spasms and tension headaches. Energy is drained; blood pressure goes up.

So what can we do to combat all this stress? The medical approach has been the use and abuse of tranquilizers and sedatives, Valium being one of the favorites. Non-prescription or illegal drugs including alcohol, marijuana, or others might be used. These actually add to the stress, especially when they become a habit.

There is a better way, but it takes some work and it may not be easy. First of all, it is important that any of the signs of stress be checked out by your chiropractor or a family physician to be sure that it is just stress. Then it is a matter of looking at the five phases of health to see which ones need the most attention. Those five phases are nervous system functions, exercise, nutrition, rest, and mental attitude. To go into detail about all five could fill a book.

As a chiropractor, my first concern is to see that your nervous system works at its optimum. Since the nervous system controls the rest of the body, it is a crucial first step toward fighting the effects of stress. Next, it is equally important to see where you need help in the other four areas. Increasing your exercise level and improving your nutrition, especially with certain vitamins is very effective. Rest and relaxation techniques are also necessary. Massage has also been shown to be helpful, which is one of the reasons I have massage therapists in our clinic. Psychologically, massage relieves fatigue, reduces tension, calms the nervous system, and promotes a sense of relaxation and renewed energy.

In conclusion, nobody is completely immune to stress. However, there are a number of things that you can do to combat it effects. A saying I use is, "If you want to drive a Ferrari, you've got to keep it tuned up." In other words, if you demand a lot from your body and are subject to high stress, you must put time into keeping your body tuned up or it will break down. Chiropractic and massage are proven ways to keep you "tuned up."

Dr. Gregory D. Harvey, D.C., N.M.D., is the Founder/Director of the New Life Chiropractic Clinic in Solana Beach, CA, just north of San Diego. It is one of the largest clinics in Southern California.

©1999 New Life Chiropractic Clinic,Inc.
983 Lomas Santa Fe #G, Solana Beach,CA 92075
Phone:(619) 509-0800 Fax:(619) 509-9907

Site Produced by