Jan
Posted by shawn ·
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Filed under Live Life , Wellness
Tagged with Chronic Fatigue, stress
Holiday Stress or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Holiday Stress or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
While enjoyable and festive, the holiday season has the ability to throw our lives into disarray. Irregular work and sleep schedules, overtime with extended family, financial stress and extensive travel can all take their toll on our general health.
But what does it mean when the last ornament has been packed away and the final Christmas cookie has been eaten … and you still feel that holiday stress sitting on your shoulders? It’s possible you’re suffering from more than sleepless nights thinking about your credit card bills.
According to a number of studies done by the Centers for Disease Control, between one and four million Americans suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. Though many people go untreated, the sooner someone is consulted about the problem, the more likely the illness can be fully treated and resolved.
In addition to general fatigue, people with chronic fatigue syndrome may experience a loss of memory or concentration, sore throat, painful or mildly enlarged lymph nodes, unexplained muscle pain, unrefreshing sleep, headaches, pain that moves from one joint to another without swelling or redness, and extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise. For some people, symptoms peak and then stabilize early in the illness, then come and go in waves. Some find that they recover completely from the condition while others have symptoms that grow progressively worse.
Though there is no known cause for chronic fatigue syndrome, there have been some suggestions as to what might trigger it. These include depression, low blood sugar, a history of allergies, iron deficiency anemia, virus infections, hypotension, changes in the hormones and inflammation in nervous-system pathways. It occurs in women four times more often than it does in men, and while people of all ages can get chronic fatigue syndrome, those in their 40s and 50s are most likely to develop the condition.
Because of the mysterious nature of chronic fatigue syndrome, it may go undiagnosed and untreated for a long time. As a result, sufferers may fall into depression or suffer from side effects related to incorrect medication treatments or from lack of activity. Fatigue may cause social isolation and have an adverse effect on the normal lifestyle. People who have chronic fatigue syndrome may also end up missing work, which can have a ripple effect throughout many aspects of their lives.
The good news is that, once the holiday season is over, all the related stress will (hopefully) melt away for another 300+ days. Unfortunately for those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, there is no known medical “cure” that can wipe away the illness. However, Specific Chiropractic is delivering hope this holiday season to those who suffer from this condition. If you or someone you love suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, sign up today for a workshop that will help return you to a normal and vibrant life … just in time for the holidays!
References:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. (April 28, 2009) Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved December 1, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/
Mayo Clinic Staff. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. (June 19, 2009) Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 1, 2009 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/DS00395
Apr
Posted by shawn ·
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Filed under Get Well , Wellness , Workshops
Tagged with Chiropractic, stress
How Is Your Body Responding to Stress?
As active individuals, we’ve often heard of the so-called stress response, our body’s ability to sharpen our senses and stimulate the nervous system as a response to imminent danger or peak performance demands. Stressful situations inspire us to perform amazing feats of physical and mental ability, but they can also become a habitual autonomic response that takes a toll on our bodies over time.
Most of us are quite familiar with the body’s reaction to stress. Our pulse quickens, we tense up, and our senses become razor-sharp in anticipation of real or imagined events that require immediate attention. When the exciting event is over, we relax, loosen our guard, and resume a normal state of awareness, allowing our systems the chance to recover from a hopefully short period of increased demand.
Most of the physical and mental stressors we burden ourselves with are manageable. As managers, we control the degree to which these events affect our body’s health and well-being, thereby lessening the burden on systematic functions. The body reacts to stress the same way each time, regardless of the degree of difficulty or magnitude of a stressful event. These seemingly simple reactions often go unnoticed and become habitual, taxing our vital organs when mental stress initiates a physical response.
Think about stressful situations you’ve encountered recently and the challenges you face every day. How often does your heart rate increase when driving through traffic, debating a point of contention, or when things just don’t go your way? Is anger, frustration, and emotional upset a component of your response to stressors like standing in line at the supermarket, managing the antics of unruly children, or debating finances with your spouse?
Learning how to handle these situations effectively determines the physical message you carry into synapses that impact nerves, muscles, and vital organs. Involving our emotions when dealing with problems can contribute to insomnia, obesity, nervous twitches, and weakened immunity that requires longer periods from which to recover.
We must be mindful of how we approach and manage stress to regulate our state of mind and maximize our health potential as we age. The increased risk of cardiovascular disease, physical pain and mental anguish can make us feel miserable. Identifying safe limits for stress and developing sensitivity to the signs that stress is impacting our minds and bodies are keys to better stress management.
The health professionals at The Specific Chiropractic Center would like to help. Please join us this week for an informative workshop on the most important factors regarding “Stress Management”. Our guest speakers will be discussing effective strategies for managing stress and improving both your potential and your capacity for better health. For more information, please consult our web site at http://www.thespecific.com/events/index.html for dates and times by location.
References
Jaffe-Gill, E., Segal, J., Ph.D., & Smith, M., M.A. (2008). Understanding stress. Helpguide.org. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm (April 12, 2009).
