Get Help for Stress at Ludwig Chiropractic

Stressed Person An inability to effectively deal with the stresses of life can cause any number of problems and issues, from malaise and fatigue to serious health concerns. Fortunately, there is help. Dr. Alan Ludwig uses the cutting edge NeuroInfinity Stress Response Evaluation system to determine how your body is responding to stress, and will advise a course of care that can make a real difference. Stress is a fact of life, but even during periods of particular difficulty your nervous system can adapt and cope. Dr. Ludwig offers hope and support to help you restore balance to your life and navigate these stressful times. Here are some of the most common stress-related issues that might bring a person to Ludwig Chiropractic for care.

Stress and Infertility

Can stress really make it difficult for you to get pregnant?

Some fertility experts and medical specialists think that stress may be the cause or contributing factor in up to 30 percent of all infertility cases.
In about 40% of infertile couples the male partner is the sole cause or contributing cause of infertility.
If stress can influence the chance of conception, managing it may improve the odds. In our office we can evaluate and look at a number of factors that may be creating stress or anxiety.

Stress and Sleep loss

When you get stressed out and stop sleeping, or stop sleeping well, you get sick. There is now convincing research that the body’s immune response is key to protecting us from serious disease, such as cancer, and that inflammation is a key precursor to heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases. In fact, ongoing research is underway to document the effects of stress and sleep loss on shortening lifespan.

Sleep deprivation induces significant reductions in performance and alertness. Reducing your nighttime sleep by as little as one and a half hours for just one night could result in a reduction of daytime alertness by as much as 32%.
Decreased alertness and excessive daytime sleepiness impair your memory and your cognitive ability — your ability to think and process information.
Disruption of a bed partner’s sleep due to a sleep disorder may cause significant problems for the relationship (for example, separate bedrooms, conflicts, moodiness, etc.).

Anxiety

According to the National Institute of Mental health (NIMH), about 40 million American adults have some type of anxiety disorder every year. Anxiety manifests in many different ways. Symptoms may be unique to the type of anxiety disorder or to the individual. All include magnified worry about something for more than six months. General symptoms include:

nervousness, irritability, restlessness
trouble sleeping, fatigue
trouble concentrating

During moments of extreme anxiety or during a panic attack, these symptoms may be accompanied by:

sense of danger or doom
trembling, dizziness, weakness
shortness of breath
excessive perspiration
feeling cold or overheated
numbness or tingling in the hands
rapid heartbeat, palpitations
chest pain
rapid breathing, hyperventilating

There are several types of anxiety disorder. Among them are:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after you’ve witnessed or experienced something traumatic. Symptoms can begin immediately or be delayed for years. Common causes include war, natural disasters, or physical attack. Episodes of anxiety may be triggered without warning.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is also a type of anxiety disorder. People with OCD are overwhelmed with the desire to perform particular rituals (compulsions) over and over again. Common compulsions include habitual hand washing, counting, or checking something.
Phobias are also anxiety disorders. Common phobias include fear of tight spaces (claustrophobia) and fear of heights (acrophobia). It creates a powerful urge to avoid the feared object or situation.
Panic disorder causes panic attacks spontaneous feelings of anxiety, terror, or impending doom. Physical symptoms include heart palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath. These attacks may be repeated at any time. People with any type of anxiety disorder may have panic attacks.

Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

If you repeatedly feel anxious and stressed, or if it lasts a long time, your body never gets the signal to return to normal functioning. That can weaken your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to viral infections. According to Harvard Medical School, studies have shown an increased rate of anxiety and panic attacks in people with chronic respiratory disease (COPD). COPD patients with anxiety tend to be hospitalized more often. Prolonged stress may lead to a general feeling of ill health. Vaccines may be less effective in people with anxiety disorders. Your excretory and digestive systems also suffer. According to Harvard Medical School, there may be a connection between anxiety disorders and the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) after a bowel infection. IBS can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation. Anxiety disorder may cause loss of appetite and lack of interest in sex. Other symptoms include muscle tension, headaches, and insomnia. Frequent panic attacks can cause you to fear the anxiety attacks themselves, thereby increasing overall anxiety. The constant state of stress can lead to clinical depression. You are also at increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. If you already have heart disease, anxiety disorders may raise the risk of coronary events.

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