Within the past couple of years, it has become common knowledge how stress and anxiety symptoms can wreak havoc on our bodies. If we compound a poor diet, lack of exercise and the worries of dealing with everyday stress and anxiety, we have weakened our bodies to allow fatigue, common colds, aches & pains, etc., to impede on our nervous system. Starting about 4 years ago, I began to have fatigue for no reason, shortness of breath and chest pain. These symptoms would appear out of nowhere and I had convinced myself that I was not stressed or possibly having anxiety attacks. I made multiple emergency room visits, convinced I was having a heart attack or had an underlying medical condition. Unwilling to hear that I was having panic attacks, I demanded in-depth tests and a complete cardiac work-up to evaluate why I was having these debilitating symptoms. Thankfully, each test I had revealed nothing abnormal, but I was left with no answers. I felt as though my only option was to find a diagnosis for my problem, but how can you diagnose a panic attack?
I was strongly opposed to the idea that these very real symptoms were the result of stress. How had I been through so many "stressful" situations in the past without having panic attacks? It only made sense to me that I would have had a panic attack then. But when my symptoms started, I felt as though my life had finally fallen into place. I was happier than ever with not a worry in the world. Albeit, my symptoms continued for 2 years before I relented to trying medication. My family physician prescribed Zoloft, which is a medication commonly used for depression and anxiety disorders. I titrated to the recommended dose for anxiety and waited for the calm to come. My panic attacks did lessen, but not without a few unwanted side effects. At this time in my life I also began to evaluate how I was taking care of myself or the lack thereof. I did some research on the internet and found a chiropractor that specialized in stress management. Not only did I incorporate chiropractic adjustments into my regimen, but my chiropractor introduced the importance of taking care of my whole being. Yes, the adjustments helped greatly with tense muscles and the ability to relax, but he informed me that I needed more. I was educated on the importance of diet and exercise and how that will positively affect my nervous system. My weight had always been under control but it wasn't due to the proper diet or exercise. I decided to start exercising for the cardiovascular benefits and to cut out unnecessary fast food. This change in diet and exercise didn't happen overnight, but I was on the right track.
After being on Zoloft for a little over a year, I decided it was time to wean myself off. I was feeling really good with very little panic attacks and I didn't see the need to continue the medication. I understand that the reason I was probably feeling so good was partially because of Zoloft, but I wanted to give it a shot without the medication. I decreased my dose slowly, week after week. Sometimes I could tell if I decreased too fast because I would have these dizzy spells and bouts of emotion that were unusual. Going off of this medication was a very tedious process that took about 3 months. I had never had depression issues before Zoloft, and I didn't after Zoloft, but it is very apparent once you are off of the medication how it had masked your emotions so successfully. I was easy to cry again at sentimental moments and a little faster to become aggravated. I was very worried what would happen once I was off of the medication. Nothing was worth my anxiety attacks coming back. I had made a lot changes in my life, besides the Zoloft, and I was willing to see my capability. My diet was successful in the fact that I consciously added more fruits and vegetables, and less fats with fast-food. Exercising became routine, and although I didn't spend hours in the gym, my cardiovascular work-out grew to 3 to 5 times per week. I continued to visit my chiropractor for routine adjustments to relieve the stress in my muscles. I didn't realize I had so much tension in my neck and midback that I feel caused a lot of my anxiety. He worked with me on stretches to loosen my muscles and keep my body physically healthy. I could tell my body was healthier just by the way I felt. Now off of the Zoloft, I still have a few panic attacks, but nothing like before. I blame the past on the fact that I wasn't leading a healthy lifestyle that was necessary to keep my body where it should be. I maintain my health now with regular chiropractic adjustments, diet and exercise. It really is that easy!
If you need help managing your stress and anxiety symptoms along with the help from your family physician, Living with Motion Chiropractic is here to HELP! Remember that you are not the only person with stress and we encourage you to look for healthy alternatives to diminish those symptoms of anxiety and improve your overall health. Contact Dr. Reineck at (513) 831-4433 or schedule an appointment online at www.livingwithmotion.com.
Related Post:
Why is dealing with stress important to my health?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Why is dealing with stress important to my health?
As a chiropractor, I see how stress can impact a patient’s health just about everyday. Stress can impact degeneration in a patient’s spine, create anxiety, cause sleep disturbances, promote poor digestion and so on. I always hear people say, "Ohhh its just stress, I’ve learned how to live with it!" It may be true that we have learned how to live with it, but we are not dealing with stress in a way that is productive to our health. Let's look at ways we can properly adapt and process stress and not let stress, stress us out!
Identifying the stressor should be the first step we take to properly deal with stress. Stress does not always present itself with a big red bow on its head. For instance we may not think of going for a 5 mile run as a stressor to our body. Running is great cardiovascular exercise and I promote running, but it is a stressor to the body. Any exercise is going to breakdown muscle, lactic acid builds up and we get soreness. So what do we do? We stay hydrated so muscle's can function properly and get lactic acid out and nutrients and oxygen in. This is an example of how we effectively manage any kind of stress. We know the stressor and make sure we respond to that stressor in a way to diminish its potential negative side effects. Lets look at emotional stress. Someone at work is not pulling their weight causing production to slow down and increases your workload. I think this would anger and stress most people out in this situation. What do you do? Some get angry and hold a grudge against a fellow employee. Others stress about the situation and blame the job. The key is being capable of staying calm. Over reaction to any situation is going to further promote the stress response and be counter productive to your health. I think the first thing to be aware of is that feeling of tension building up. We can use simple relaxation techniques to prevent this tension building into a headache, neck pain, shoulder pain, etc. One example; in the sitting position, lean back, let your arms hang to your side, and rotate your thumbs out. This will let your shoulders open up, take tension off your shoulders and allow you to BREATHE. Practice this throughout the day and allow oxygen to get deep into your lungs. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Deep breathing exercises are an excellent way to divert stress and not allow it to affect you physically.
In the book The Success Principles, the equation E+R=O describes the relationship between an event (E), in this case a stressor, and how the outcome (O) of that event comes to be. The variable to this is R. R in this equation stands for response. It is our response or reaction to a stressor that predicts the outcome of that situation. If we work out hard and don't hydrate - we feel sore and achy. If we work out hard and hydrate before and after with appropriate stretching, we feel amazing! If we get into an argument with a spouse and blow up, over dramatizing the situation - we get a long drawn out fight. If we get into an argument with a spouse and stay calm, breathe, respect them - we get a resolution to the problem without hurting each others feelings! I think we see how this works.
The greatest thing about being a Chiropractor is that we try our best to see the big picture of a person. Granted many times patients initially come to us because of pain. Once that issue is resolved, we can talk about the whole person and options to get them feeling better than ever. Understanding the principles of how our body works and what we can do to enhance that, is so much fun! Chiropractors can help so many people in dealing with stress not only in the spine but emotionally and physically. To learn other useful health related tips and schedule an appointment to see how stress maybe impacting your health - visit www.livingwithmotion.com.
Related Post
Why Postural Stress Can Create Spinal Degeneration
Identifying the stressor should be the first step we take to properly deal with stress. Stress does not always present itself with a big red bow on its head. For instance we may not think of going for a 5 mile run as a stressor to our body. Running is great cardiovascular exercise and I promote running, but it is a stressor to the body. Any exercise is going to breakdown muscle, lactic acid builds up and we get soreness. So what do we do? We stay hydrated so muscle's can function properly and get lactic acid out and nutrients and oxygen in. This is an example of how we effectively manage any kind of stress. We know the stressor and make sure we respond to that stressor in a way to diminish its potential negative side effects. Lets look at emotional stress. Someone at work is not pulling their weight causing production to slow down and increases your workload. I think this would anger and stress most people out in this situation. What do you do? Some get angry and hold a grudge against a fellow employee. Others stress about the situation and blame the job. The key is being capable of staying calm. Over reaction to any situation is going to further promote the stress response and be counter productive to your health. I think the first thing to be aware of is that feeling of tension building up. We can use simple relaxation techniques to prevent this tension building into a headache, neck pain, shoulder pain, etc. One example; in the sitting position, lean back, let your arms hang to your side, and rotate your thumbs out. This will let your shoulders open up, take tension off your shoulders and allow you to BREATHE. Practice this throughout the day and allow oxygen to get deep into your lungs. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Deep breathing exercises are an excellent way to divert stress and not allow it to affect you physically.
In the book The Success Principles, the equation E+R=O describes the relationship between an event (E), in this case a stressor, and how the outcome (O) of that event comes to be. The variable to this is R. R in this equation stands for response. It is our response or reaction to a stressor that predicts the outcome of that situation. If we work out hard and don't hydrate - we feel sore and achy. If we work out hard and hydrate before and after with appropriate stretching, we feel amazing! If we get into an argument with a spouse and blow up, over dramatizing the situation - we get a long drawn out fight. If we get into an argument with a spouse and stay calm, breathe, respect them - we get a resolution to the problem without hurting each others feelings! I think we see how this works.
The greatest thing about being a Chiropractor is that we try our best to see the big picture of a person. Granted many times patients initially come to us because of pain. Once that issue is resolved, we can talk about the whole person and options to get them feeling better than ever. Understanding the principles of how our body works and what we can do to enhance that, is so much fun! Chiropractors can help so many people in dealing with stress not only in the spine but emotionally and physically. To learn other useful health related tips and schedule an appointment to see how stress maybe impacting your health - visit www.livingwithmotion.com.
Related Post
Why Postural Stress Can Create Spinal Degeneration
Friday, March 18, 2011
Natural Alternative to Being Smoke Free!
Just Stop! Smoking Cessation Program Is Now Available at Living with Motion Chiropractic!
Scientific evidence suggests smoking cigarettes is as addictive as using drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Despite its known adverse effects, the severe withdrawal symptoms have probably led you or your loved ones to continued use. Within just 7-10 seconds of inhaling cigarette smoke, nicotine releases the feel good chemicals of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine that provide feelings of pleasure and alertness – this is the “hit which addicts”. Within 30 minutes of your last cigarette, nicotine levels drop and withdrawal symptoms begin which make you tired, depressed and anxious – to name a few.
Smoking actually suppresses the natural production of endorphins and serotonin and after a while, the only time these chemicals will be produced is when you are smoking. Laser therapy naturally stimulates endorphin production so you won’t experience the intense withdrawal discomfort or cravings. In addition, laser treatments calm, relax and enhance the energy system in the body, providing a quick recovery from tobacco addiction.
BioVeda’s Just Stop! Smoking Cessation Program
Is a simple 7 day program using a combination of low level light therapy (LLLT), homeopathic support and herbal remedies to help you to quit once and for all, while reducing cravings, side effects, stress and irritability. You should not gain weight while your metabolism is returning to normal.
The program goes a step further by also helping to remove harmful toxins known to build in the blood, tissue and cells through habitual use of tobacco products, minimizing the longer-term side effects related to smoking. We are proud to offer this program - it is one of the best, most successful and easiest ways to “Just Stop!”.
How it Works:
· 3 visits over a one week period
· Use of the herbal remedy, “Just Stop!” for 1 week in conjunction with the laser visits
· Use of the homeopathic supplement, “Just Stop Too!”* during the week of smoking cessation and then 1 month for each year of smoking up to 5-6 months.
Cost: $300.00
Includes consultation, laser light therapy, herbal supplement, and first bottle of homeopathic supplement “JUST STOP TOO”. Each visit takes less than 10 minutes to complete. People considering this program should be committed to quitting and improving their long-term quality of life. While we consider smoking cessation a priority, low level laser therapy is a noninvasive treatment that has been successfully used to address many conditions.
Respond by 4/8/11 to take advantage of special money back guarantee! If you are not satisfied after your second visit I will refund up to 50% of your total cost!
The Good Things That Happen When You Quit!
· 20 Minutes: Changes Start
· 12 hours: Carbon monoxide levels drop to normal
· 24 hours: Lung begin to clear out mucous and tar; pulse rate and blood pressure lower
· 48 hours: Sense of smell and taste improve
· 72 hours: Bronchial tubes relax, breathing is easier and lung capacity increases
· 2 – 12 weeks: Circulation improves
· 3 months: Heart attack risk drops, lung function improves
· 9 months: Coughing and sinus congestion decreases
· 1 year: (January 2012 – Happy New Year!) Risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker
· 10 years: (January 2021) Lung cancer death rate is about ½ that of a smokers
· 15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease and lung cancer that of someone who never smoked
*This homeopathic product is an FDA registered drug product and is safe, natural and without side effects. It uses BioVeda’s signature “BioEnergetically Enhanced Pure Water Base” which is a trademark of BioVeda.
Contact Living with Motion Chiropractic at (513) 831-4433 or email drluke@livingwithmotion.com for any further questions on the “JUST STOP” Smoking Cessation Program. Also visit www.livingwithmotion.com for other ways to improve your health.
Scientific evidence suggests smoking cigarettes is as addictive as using drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Despite its known adverse effects, the severe withdrawal symptoms have probably led you or your loved ones to continued use. Within just 7-10 seconds of inhaling cigarette smoke, nicotine releases the feel good chemicals of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine that provide feelings of pleasure and alertness – this is the “hit which addicts”. Within 30 minutes of your last cigarette, nicotine levels drop and withdrawal symptoms begin which make you tired, depressed and anxious – to name a few.
Smoking actually suppresses the natural production of endorphins and serotonin and after a while, the only time these chemicals will be produced is when you are smoking. Laser therapy naturally stimulates endorphin production so you won’t experience the intense withdrawal discomfort or cravings. In addition, laser treatments calm, relax and enhance the energy system in the body, providing a quick recovery from tobacco addiction.
BioVeda’s Just Stop! Smoking Cessation Program
Is a simple 7 day program using a combination of low level light therapy (LLLT), homeopathic support and herbal remedies to help you to quit once and for all, while reducing cravings, side effects, stress and irritability. You should not gain weight while your metabolism is returning to normal.
The program goes a step further by also helping to remove harmful toxins known to build in the blood, tissue and cells through habitual use of tobacco products, minimizing the longer-term side effects related to smoking. We are proud to offer this program - it is one of the best, most successful and easiest ways to “Just Stop!”.
How it Works:
· 3 visits over a one week period
· Use of the herbal remedy, “Just Stop!” for 1 week in conjunction with the laser visits
· Use of the homeopathic supplement, “Just Stop Too!”* during the week of smoking cessation and then 1 month for each year of smoking up to 5-6 months.
Cost: $300.00
Includes consultation, laser light therapy, herbal supplement, and first bottle of homeopathic supplement “JUST STOP TOO”. Each visit takes less than 10 minutes to complete. People considering this program should be committed to quitting and improving their long-term quality of life. While we consider smoking cessation a priority, low level laser therapy is a noninvasive treatment that has been successfully used to address many conditions.
Respond by 4/8/11 to take advantage of special money back guarantee! If you are not satisfied after your second visit I will refund up to 50% of your total cost!
The Good Things That Happen When You Quit!
· 20 Minutes: Changes Start
· 12 hours: Carbon monoxide levels drop to normal
· 24 hours: Lung begin to clear out mucous and tar; pulse rate and blood pressure lower
· 48 hours: Sense of smell and taste improve
· 72 hours: Bronchial tubes relax, breathing is easier and lung capacity increases
· 2 – 12 weeks: Circulation improves
· 3 months: Heart attack risk drops, lung function improves
· 9 months: Coughing and sinus congestion decreases
· 1 year: (January 2012 – Happy New Year!) Risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker
· 10 years: (January 2021) Lung cancer death rate is about ½ that of a smokers
· 15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease and lung cancer that of someone who never smoked
*This homeopathic product is an FDA registered drug product and is safe, natural and without side effects. It uses BioVeda’s signature “BioEnergetically Enhanced Pure Water Base” which is a trademark of BioVeda.
Contact Living with Motion Chiropractic at (513) 831-4433 or email drluke@livingwithmotion.com for any further questions on the “JUST STOP” Smoking Cessation Program. Also visit www.livingwithmotion.com for other ways to improve your health.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius - NCLC 2011
This is great news to the Chiropratic community that the government see's the usefulness and effectiveness of chiropractic in todays healthcare system. Its encouraging to see that prevention of disease makes sense!!!
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