Craig Gordon May 2022
Could Stress be Causing Your Pain?
Every day, I'm seeing patients in the practice who are stressed. Sometimes the stress is physical, sometimes it is emotional or even chemical. Regardless of where it comes from, stress builds up in your body as adverse mechanical tension. Too much tension leads to pain.
How?
Stress and Pain go hand in hand. When you’re dealing with stress, your muscles become tense and breathing becomes shallow. This results in a buildup of acids and certain hormones - which increase the pain. The stress and pain can become a worsening cycle. This cycle needs to be interrupted so the body can restore itself.
Here’s a deeper look at the cycle of pain:
Phase 1: Tension from stress begins to accumulate and limit certain functions in day to day life and leisure activities.
Phase 2: Stress compounds with more stress real or imagined, resulting in a further decrease in activities.
Phase 3: This cycle begins again, gradually leading toward exhaustion
To break the cycle and limit the stress you’re experiencing, try these things:
Shut your mouth. It is important to breath through your nose. Remember what you don't use you lose. Collapse of the airways is a huge problem and adds unnecessary stress. Nasal breathing produces nitric oxide which will relax the tense arteries to the heart, brain and gut.
Fuel your body with food that nourishes from the inside out. This means eating plenty of vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, some fruit and limiting sugar and excess refined carbohydrates.
Visit me. I'm here to help you and I have the necessary knowledge and tools to measure your stress accurately and restore your function and wellness.
