stressWe all have it and in this life you can say it is as certain as death and taxes. We cannot control the curveballs that come our way in the form of unexpected financial expenses, a sudden job loss or the unpredictable illness of a loved one. What we can control, however, is how we cope with our predictable (daily responsibilities and challenges) and unpredictable (urgent, unexpected) stress in life.

Heart disease is the #1 killer of Americans, and science is constantly showing how stress may be linked to this fatal epidemic. In fact, recent studies show how chronic stress may be directly and indirectly linked to a host of illnesses and diseases. Here are the top risk factors/causes of heart disease through unmanaged stress:

High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol & Heart Arrhythmia – over time unmanaged stress can lead to hypertension, raised cholesterol and an irregular heart rhythm.

Type A Coronary Prone Behavior – unmanaged stress in the form of how you act, react, and respond on a mental and emotional level plays an irrefutable role in the health of your heart. A few notable Type A Coronary Prone Behaviors are functioning with unreasonable expectations and living in a way that is overly competitive, angry and aggressive.

Stress Coping Mechanisms – often instead of dealing with our underlying stress head on, we search for ways to pacify the stress through a variety of unhealthy habits. These often include over-eating, excessive drinking, little or too much sleep, and cigarette smoking: all of which have been proven to contribute to heart disease.
Managing your stress properly starts with acknowledging it for what it is. We all have stress and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Find an outlet to manage your stress properly, whether that is therapy, exercise, or exploring a new creative outlet. Dr. Stewart’s stress reliever is bowling!

Chiropractic adjustments are an excellent way to manage your daily stress, offering relief to your often overworked central nervous system. To learn more, call our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stewart or Dr. Kirkpatrick.