Stress and Your Senses

How do you get stress and how does it effect your life? It is the flight or fight response and is controlled by the autonomic nervous system specifically the sympathetic side. Stress is counteracted by the parasympathetic nervous system. The stress response is caused when neurotransmitters are released from the sympathetic nervous system and has the following effects. Stress will dilates pupils, Increases heart rate, force heart contraction, constricts blood vessels, dilates bronchioles of the lungs, activates sweat secretion, inhibits peristalsis of the stomach, and increases renal secretion.

What dose this mean to you? The effect on the heart all lead to increased blood pressure and the changes in the organ systems lead to an increased need for hormones which require cholesterol to produce. This means that chronic stress in your life lead to increased blood pressure and increased cholesterol. Home many people do you know with these problems. As well as these two major problems chronic stress can lead to diabetes and many other chronic problems.

So where dose chronic stress come from? It comes from our daily lives. It comes from our work place, worrying about our family’s, driving your car at 50 or 60 miles an hour (we did not evolve to travel at these speeds), poor diet, and stress on our central nervous system (aka subluxation yes chiropractic care can help reduce stress).

So how to de stress? There are several things you can do to create stress relief. First find 10-15 minutes a day dedicated to you. What ever activity relaxes you is what you should do. Some suggestions are read a good book, take a walk, exercise, take a swim, or whatever it is for you, do it. You should engage all of your senses to reduce stress.

Use taste to reduce stress. There’s nothing like a soothing cup of tea and your favorite dessert to take some of the edge off a hectic, stressful day. When this is combined with a little personal time, it can greatly reduce stress.

Next you can use touch to help reduce stress. When you’re overworked, overstressed, overwhelmed and just plain over it, find the time to escape and experience the power of touch. Schedule a chiropractic adjustment or a massage, or retreat into the soothing, stress-releasing luxury of a bubble bath. This will change your attitude in a moments.

Sight is another way to combat stress. Daily life is a major source of stress, and it only gets worse when the work hours get long and the days get short. In fact, during the winter months, many people never see day light except through the office window. We arrive at work before sunrise and leaving after sunset. Take a midday walk around the block and open your eyes to what the world has to offer, or at night, turn off the glare and light a few calming candles instead.

We all know how the smell of mom or grandmas apple pie can calm us so smell can also help you control your stress. The next time you’re on the brink of losing it, let your nose take you to a better place. Just try to stay stressed after smelling your favorite food , and don’t discount the power of a scented candle or two. You should replace the unpleasantness of another dreary day with the aroma of peace and tranquility.

Finlay using your sense of hearing can help combat stress. When was the last time you truly appreciated the lyrics, melody and arrangement of a song? Music has an incredible ability to soothe the soul, but many of us don’t take the time to listen. Tune out the stress and tune into the relaxing power of music .

If you want to improve your health and control the big three high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes learn to control your stress. Find the me time in your day and you will have more quality time for the people around you. It will make the world a brighter nicer place for you and your loved ones.