Stress ReliefStress Relief Presented by Dr. Jean-Marc Slak 23 Adams Street, Burlington, MA www.drslak.com

STRESS - How Big Of A Problem Is It?STRESS - How Big Of A Problem Is It?  Each week, 95 million Americans suffer from some stress related symptoms for which they take medication  Stress is recognized as the number one killer today  According to the AMA, stress is the cause of 80 to 85 % of all human illness and disease  At the very least, stress has a detrimental effect on our health  American businesses lose an estimated $500- $600 billion per year to stress related productivity loss Nathan, Staats, & Rosch, 1987

More FactsMore Facts  90% of all visits to doctors are for stress related disorders  In women, stress has been linked to:  fatigue  hair loss  bad complexion  insomnia  disruption of the menstrual cycle  low libido  lack of orgasm The American Institute of Stress in Yonkers, New York

More Facts…Stress StudiesMore Facts…Stress Studies  Studies show that stress can reduce the power of our immune systems  A U.K. study exposed 266 people to a common cold then tracked who became sick. 28.6% of those with a few stress signs caught the cold  The figure jumped to 42.4% for those who were under high stress Source: Holisticonline.com - Stress The Silent Killer

More Facts…StudiesMore Facts…Studies  Women under stress may be at risk of building abdominal fat  A Yale University study of 42 obese women found that those with abdominal fat secreted more stress hormones than those who carry extra weight on their hips Stress May Cause Excess Abdominal Fat in Otherwise Slender Women, Study Conducted at Yale Show, Yale, Yale University Press Release, September 22, Available online at: opa/newsr/ all.html. Accessed April 30, 2003.

What is Stress?What is Stress?  At its most basic level, a survival mechanism that adapts to changes in our world  Fight or Flight- How the body reacts

What is Stress?What is Stress?  Today's stressors—traffic, work pressures, financial and family obligations and tensions – these stresses are different than our ancestors stress  Responses to stress that worked well in the past, can fail when stress is emotional and constant

Some Long-Term Effects…Some Long-Term Effects…  Allergies  High blood pressure  Anxiety and depression  Skin problems  Headaches and Migraines  Back pain  Muscular aches and pains  Insomnia  Digestive Disorders  Heart disease  Stroke  Fatigue Source: Holisticonline.com - Stress The Silent Killer

The 3 Categories of Stress our Body Must HandleThe 3 Categories of Stress our Body Must Handle  Chemical  Physical  Emotional These 3 types of stressors cause the release of “stress hormones” such as adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, May 2001

Breathe Breathe

You Ability to Handle StressYou Ability to Handle Stress  Depends on  How you think  How you eat  How you sleep  How you exercise  The integrity of your nervous system

Mental AttitudeMental Attitude  Prayer/Meditation.  Healthy relationships.  Stop and Breathe.

Nutritional NeedsNutritional Needs  No two people have identical nutritional needs  People also differ in their needs simply based on a specific condition and on other contributing factors such as lifestyle, profession, age, etc.

Supplements AND FoodSupplements AND Food Every Day …  Drink more water  5 Servings of Fruits and Veggies

Vitamins/Minerals & MicronutrientsVitamins/Minerals & Micronutrients Maintenance nutritional supplements.  Multivitamin/minerals.  Omega 3  Vitamin D3  B Complex  NAC

Some things make stress and it’s effects worse:  Sugar  Smoking  HFCS  Trans Fat  Artificial Sweeteners

Rest and RelaxationRest and Relaxation Quality, natural, sleep is essential to the body’s recuperative power.

Exercise Walk 2 miles per day

The Nervous SystemThe Nervous System “The nervous system controls and coordinates all functions of the body.” Source: Gray’s Anatomy, 29th Edition, Page 4

The MASTER SystemThe MASTER System Your BRAIN, SPINE, and SPINAL NERVES make up your body’s MASTER control system. When the nervous system is FREE of all interference, your body can function at its MAXIMUM level. When there is nerve interference in the spine, dis-ease or disharmony occurs

The Nervous SystemThe Nervous System Brain + Spine + Spinal Nerves = Nervous System

Balancing the Nervous SystemBalancing the Nervous System  The literature suggests that Chiropractic adjustments influence:  T and B lymphocyte numbers.  Natural killer cell numbers.  Antibody levels.  Phagocytic activity.  Plasma endorphin levels.  Improved DNA repair. The effects of Chiropractic on the immune system: a review of the literature. Allen JM, Chiropractic Journal of Australia, 1993; 23: ) Chiropractic Influence on Oxidative Stress and DNA Repair. Campbell C JVSR, February 18, 2005, pp 1-5

Successfully Handle StressSuccessfully Handle Stress  Think in a positive way.  Eat the right food.  Exercise on a regular basis.  Get enough rest and fun.  Get adjusted regularly, it will allow your body to function at its GREATEST potential and help you balance your stressed nervous system.

Thank You!Thank You!  Workshops   