Health by Choice, Not by Chance After 60!

As many of my clients tell me, they expect retirement to provide them with less stress, fewer worries, and more freedom.  What I also frequently hear is that retirement has been accompanied with different kinds of stress that they are unused to as well as the feeling that they are busier than ever.  My patient, Mary, is 68.  She lives a full and busy life with family gatherings, grandchildren’s school and sports events, volunteering, and caring for her elderly mother.  Her stress level is fairly high as she has many demands on her time that pull her in different directions.  Like many of my clients, she wishes she would have taken better care of herself during the years in which she had an active career and was juggling family demands.  Mary knew stress management and exercise should have been bigger priorities.  Fast forward to today, Mary has high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and sleep issues.   She has had lower back pain that plagued her for years but she never took the time to deal with it.  

When Mary first came into Body In Balance (BIB), one of the tests we performed was Heart Rate Variability (HRV), measuring the adaptability of Mary’s nervous system to stress.  The test revealed exactly what Mary suspected about her health.  Mary’s physiology was stuck in a fight-or-flight stress response.  From years of a stressful career and family demands, lack of sleep, as well as just basic life stressors, Mary’s body had high adrenaline and cortisol levels constantly pumping through her bloodstream.  The fight-or-flight stress response is protective to the body in short-term situations, but when they affect physiology chronically, our bodies start to develop issues related to these long-term stress patterns.  Mary described her response to even minor stress: her breath would feel shallow, her stomach would feel like it was in knots, and she would lay awake worrying in the middle of the night.  

Mary and I discussed that our first step in supporting her healing process would be to decrease sympathetic/fight-or-flight physiology and work to enhance the parasympathetic (calming/healing) side of the autonomic nervous system.  This step involves helping the nervous system to become more adaptable and resilient.  It is a huge step in recovery from long-term stress as well as increasing healing potential.  After a few months of care (specific, gentle Network Spinal Analysis [NSA] adjustments) from doctors at BIB, Mary reported improved digestion and decreased lower back pain.  The doctors at BIB also recommended for Mary to recognize stress as it was coming on and to practice focused deep breathing.  Mary was in awe of the quality of sleep she was getting as well as her improved ability to relax at the end of a long day.  Her blood pressure readings were gradually decreasing.  Mary even commented how she twisted her ankle while hiking and was amazed at how quickly she healed.

Mary’s healing success was due to balancing the stress response via the adjustments that we perform.  The adjustments also decreased spinal tension patterns that were interfering with Mary’s ability to heal and function well.  With less spinal tension, improved alignment, and an improved stress response, Mary was able to improve many aspects of her health. Even better, Mary has reclaimed a sense of wellbeing and vibrancy while preventing so many future health issues.  

It is important to recognize that chronic stress alters function of the digestive system, the immune system, brain function, causes metabolic syndrome (blood pressure issues, heart and blood sugar issues, inflammatory issues and more), bone health issues, and decreases overall healing potential.  It is one of the major contributors to many of the chronic health issues Americans face.  We must find effective ways for dealing with stress that make an impact on our health, our well-being, and our quality of life.  

Join me on Monday, November 15th at 6:15pm for a virtual class, "Chronic Stress, Inflammation, and the Immune System: Proactive Steps to Healing Your Physiology and Wellbeing.”   If you are ready to reclaim your health, wellbeing, and quality of life in a life-transforming, information-packed class, register at BodyInBalanceChiropractic.com/events.  

Remember, create health by choice, not by chance!

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Monday

8:30 am - 11:20 am

2:30 pm - 5:20 pm

Tuesday

8:30 am - 11:20 am

Wednesday

8:30 am - 11:20 am

2:30 pm - 5:20 pm

Thursday

8:30 am - 11:20 am

2:30 pm - 5:20 pm

Friday

Admin Hours

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Saturday

Closed

Sunday

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Monday
8:30 am - 11:20 am 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
Tuesday
8:30 am - 11:20 am
Wednesday
8:30 am - 11:20 am 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
Thursday
8:30 am - 11:20 am 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
Friday
Admin Hours 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed