Mount Pleasant Chiropractor

A bit of stress in life is often harmless, in fact, it’s considered normal. However, when you find yourself being stressed more often than not, it is cause for concern.

While stress is often thought to affect people mentally, this is not all it does. At times, some physical reactions and conditions result from stress as well.

Here are some ways in which stress affects your body.

1. Mental Disorders

Anxiety is a common mood disorder that is often a byproduct of stress. Life experiences and genetics indeed play a role in one’s mental health.

However, one theory suggests that hormones released when stressed also disrupt serotonin levels. Serotonin is a chemical that regulates one’s mood. Over time, a continuous disruption in serotonin levels due to stress can cause depression, anxiety and other mental disorders.

2. Insomnia

An adult should get at least 7 hours of good quality sleep every night. It is not very concerning if you fail to fall or stay asleep once in a while. This can happen for a number of reasons, none that are too worrying.

However, insomnia is when you cannot fall or stay asleep for at least three nights in a week, for a month or longer. This brings about fatigue, stress, lack of concentration and irritability.

When left untreated, insomnia can also cause other health issues, including heart problems, weight management issues, depression, and anxiety.

3. Stress Affects Heart Health

Stress can affect your heart in several ways.

The first is that it can contribute to heart disease, abnormal heartbeats and high blood pressure. Similarly, people who already have these conditions will experience worsened symptoms when their stress levels are elevated.

The second way is that stress can make certain blood cells become stickier than they should be. This places one at risk of blood clots and strokes.

These are biological reactions.

Another way stress can affect your heart health is through the adoption of unhealthy coping mechanisms. Some behaviors associated with stress include smoking, binge eating and excessive alcohol consumption. These open you up to a host of other health problems.

4. It Can Cause Skin Problems

The appearance of your skin is often a good indicator of your overall health.

When you are overly stressed, your body releases a hormone that can make the skin more reactive and sensitive. Stress hormones can also aggravate existing skin problems. People with eczema, psoriasis and acne tend to experience more hives and rashes when stressed.

5. It Weakens One’s Immunity

The immune system is a cluster of organs, proteins and cells that work together to protect your body from harmful fungi, bacteria, viruses and toxins. By doing this, your immune system protects you from illnesses and diseases.

Studies have shown that people with chronic stress tend to have fewer white blood cells. These are the cells responsible for fighting disease. As a result, stressed people are more vulnerable to colds and other illnesses.

People with other chronic conditions tend to have more pronounced symptoms during extended stressful periods.

Learn more about Vital Family Chiropractic Services in better ways of handling stressors.

Many people know that chiropractic care can have numerous benefits to their health, specifically when it comes to pain management.

However, not many people know where to begin their search for family chiropractors. So when an internet search brings up dozens of Mount Pleasant chiropractors, how do you pick the best one to entrust your care to?

These pointers should help you out.

1. Get Referrals

Begin by asking your physician for referrals to chiropractors in your area. You can also ask around from your circle.

This will usually shorten the process for you and give you a few tried and tested names to look more into, instead of having a lengthy list to go through.

2. Research Their Credentials

The first thing to look at is licensure. If you are to get a health practitioner on board, you must be certain that they have the required training, experience and skills to offer chiropractic care.

Secondly, look into their background to determine whether they have any malpractice suits or disciplinary actions against them. Again, it’s often wise to steer clear of practitioners with a history of either.

3. Take Experience Into Account

Experience is paramount when you are faced with musculoskeletal or spine health problems. The more years of experience a practitioner has, the more positive your outcome is likely to be.

You need to ask how many years they have been practicing. This aside, find out how many patients they have had with your exact problem. If you are coming in for a specific procedure, find out how many times they have performed the treatment, their outcomes, general complications, and complications specific to yourself as well.

4. Their Communication Style

A chiropractor is someone you should ideally work hand in hand with to find solutions to your health problems. As such, they should be someone you feel comfortable discussing your symptoms, experiences, expectations and concerns with.

You should also feel comfortable enough to ask any questions you might have.

A good chiropractor is attentive, patient and open with information. They will answer all questions you might have and in detail to help you make informed decisions. Good chiropractors also respect your choices and do not attempt to push or pressurize you into taking certain treatment options.