Stress is known as the “Silent Killer” for good reasons.
Recent evidence generally suggests psychosocial factors may be considered risk factors for specific types of cancer and play a key role in the aging process (1). Psychosocial factors relate to the interrelation of social factors and individual thought and behaviour. In simple terms it is the influence that psychological factors and the surrounding social environment have on a person’s physical and mental wellness and their ability to function.
Studies have shown that short-term stress boosted the immune system, but chronic stress has a significant effect on the immune system that ultimately manifest an illness. It suppresses parts of the the immune system. This suppression, in turn raises the risk of illness (2).
Stress also leads to the release of histamine, which can trigger severe broncho-constriction in asthmatics. Stress increases the risk for diabetes, especially in overweight individuals, since psychological stress alters insulin needs (2).
Stress also alters the acid concentration in the stomach, which can lead to peptic ulcers, stress ulcers or ulcerative colitis. Chronic stress can also lead to plaque buildup in the arteries (atherosclerosis), especially if combined with a high-fat diet and sedentary living (2).
The relationship of stress with psychiatric illness is strongest in neuroses, which is followed by depression and schizophrenia (2).
Recent studies found a link between stress, tumour development and suppression of natural killer (NK) cells, which is actively involved in preventing metastasis and destroying small metastases (2).
Current lifestyle, improper sleeping habits, and unhealthy diet lead to psychological or social stress, which in turn is also known to influence the development of chronic lower back pain (CLBP) (3).
If you feel you are suffering from stress we recommend that you seek advice. We can help by providing you with exercise and lifestyle advice and point you in the right direction to help manage your condition. We also do NET which is a technique designed to help deal with physiological stress. Come visit us if you would like to find out more.
 
 
 
References

1. Kruk, J., Aboul-Enein, B.H., Bernstein, J. and Gronostaj, M., 2019. Psychological Stress and Cellular Aging in Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2019.
2. Salleh, M.R., 2008. Life event, stress and illness. The Malaysian journal of medical sciences: MJMS, 15(4), p.9.
3. Ouchi, K., Watanabe, M., Tomiyama, C., Nikaido, T., Oh, Z., Hirano, T., Akazawa, K. and Mandai, N., 2019. Emotional Effects on Factors Associated with Chronic Low Back Pain. Journal of Pain Research, 12, p.3343.

When people think of chiropractors, they tend to think about our work on the spine. But did you know that we work on ALL the joints of the body? Yep, that’s right, from your head all the way down to your toes.
 
We find that this whole-body approach is extremely important in helping you reach your full potential. And this is even more important with our little ones. Our clinical examination of children includes checking for dysfunctional movements of their arms and legs as well as their spine.
 
A recent study done in Melbourne on 202 cases of neonates and infants under the age of 12 months found 153 cases had extremity dysfunction, with 177 instances present (1). Over 70% of these were the shoulder, followed by the wrist (5%), knee (5%), and elbow (2.5%).
The majority of shoulder dysfunction was found on the right side. This has been suggested to be caused when the shoulder girdle (being the widest part) is passing through the pelvic outlet during the birthing process (2). Other causes have been listed as, in utero positioning of the baby, and post-natal.
 
So, what is the big deal then? Well, the problem comes down to something we have talked recently about, proprioception; how well can the brain see/feel what your body is doing. A recent study has shown that peripheral joint dysfunction will alter the proprioceptive feed back to the brain in as little as 10 hours (3). This was reversed by correcting the joint dysfunction. This tells us that if we find joints in our arms or legs that are not moving properly, it can impact on our ability to use them properly. This is important when we think of our little ones when they are learning things that we may take for granted, such as; crawling, walking, or even feeding ourselves.
 

1. Fludder, C. J., & Keil, B. G. (2017). THE PREVALENCE OF EXTREMITY JOINT DYSFUNCTION IN NEONATES AND INFANTS WITHIN A PAEDIATRIC CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC. Chiropractic Journal of Australia, 45(4).
2. Edmonds DK. Dewhurst's textbook of obstetrics & gynaecology, 8th Edition. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell; 2012
3. Avanzino L, Pelosin E, Abbruzzese G, Bassolino M, Pozzo T, Bove M. Shaping motor cortex plasticity through proprioception. Cerebral Cortex 2014; 24(10):2807-2814