Seattle Chiropractor Shares Some Great Stress Management Tools

Hi, I’m Dr. Zapata with Emerald City Spinal Care. On this Tip of the Week, I’m going to discuss stress. More specifically, I’m going to discuss what stress does to your body, and what you can do to manage it.

It is estimated that 70 to 90% of all doctor visits are due to stress related complaints. So, what happens to your body when you are stressed? Your body responds differently whether you are under chronic stress or acute stress.

When you are under acute stress, your adrenal glands are going to produce two different stress hormones. Those are adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones are going to cause your blood pressure to rise and your heart rate to speed up. Essentially, your body is going to go into a “fight or flight” response mode.

Now, when you are under chronic stress, it could lead to high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, or stomach problems such as peptic ulcers or irritable bowel syndrome.

So, we have now established how harmful stress can be on your body. With this in mind, I want to share five tips on how to help you manage stress.

1. Laugh it off! Did you know that on average, children laugh 300 times per day, while adults laugh (on average) only 15! Laughing will help release endorphins which will help lead to an increase in your immune health while also improving your mood.
2. The next tip is to roll with it! Roll your feet over a tennis ball for five minutes to relieve tensions. This is going to release more endorphins into your body. Endorphins are basically ‘happiness inducing brain chemicals’!
3. The third tip is to work it out! Did you know that when it comes to relieving stress, small spurts of activity, such as 10 minutes of walking, is just as beneficial as a full 45 minute workout!
4. Breathe it out! Breathe deeply. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Giving your body enough oxygen will help slow down your heart rate and your blood pressure while also reducing stress hormones.
5. The final tip is to get out and about. Spending time outdoors is a natural stress reliever, and natural sights and scents can have a calming effect.

That wraps up another tip of the week! Try incorporating some of these tips into your daily routine to reduce stress in your life! If you like what you read, and want more original content like this, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on Facebook.

For all of us at Emerald City Spinal Care, thank and have an amazing week!

- Zapata and the Emerald City Spinal Care Team in Seattle WA