Park Ridge Chiropractic

October is National Chiropractic Health Month! Call us @ (847) 318-1144 and schedule your appointment today!

Happy Friday! Don't forget to schedule your appointments for next week. Ask about our Fall Special for new patients.

Even short-lived, minor stress can have an impact. You might get a stomach-ache before you have to give a presentation, for example. More major acute stress, whether caused by a fight with your spouse or an event like an earthquake or terrorist attack, can have an even bigger impact. Multiple studies have shown that these sudden emotional stresses, especially anger, can trigger heart attacks, arrhythmias and even sudden death. Stress can make existing problems worse. In one study, for example, about half the participants saw improvements in chronic headaches after learning how to stop the stress-producing habit of “catastrophizing,” or constantly thinking negative thoughts about their pain. Chronic stress may also cause disease, either because of changes in your body or the overeating, smoking and other bad habits people use to cope with stress. Job strain — high demands coupled with low decision-making latitude — is associated with increased risk of coronary disease, for example. Other forms of chronic stress, such as depression and low levels of social support, have also been implicated in increased cardiovascular risk. And once you're sick, stress can also make it harder to recover. One analysis of past studies, for instance, suggests that cardiac patients with so-called “Type D” personalities, characterized by chronic distress, face higher risks of bad outcomes.

Reducing your stress levels can not only make you feel better right now, but may also protect your health long-term.
In one study, researchers examined the association between “positive affect”, feelings like happiness, joy, contentment and enthusiasm, and the development of coronary heart disease over a decade. They found that for every one-point increase in positive affect on a five-point scale, the rate of heart disease dropped by 22 percent. Also try to identify what is stressing you out and then develop a plan for addressing it. Have strong relationships can also help with stress and so can just resting your mind
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

We all have different pain triggers affecting the low back. Improper spinal movements, a fall, sport injuries and many other muscle strains can all make an impact. Here’s 3 easy exercises to help prevent and potentially reduce low back pain. You may need more stability while others may need more mobility, so it’s important to check in with a chiropractor to make sure these exercises are right for you!

#1 Diaphragmatic Breathing

Start by laying on your back with knees bent. Place a hand on your upper chest and the other over your belly. This will allow you to feel the movement of your diaphragm as you breathe in and out. Breathe in slowly through your nose so that your belly expands out against your hand. The hand on your chest should remain as still as possible. As you breathe out, gently contract your abdominal muscles inwards as you exhale, keep the hand on your upper chest as still as possible.

#2 Cat and Camel

Start on the floor in a quadruped position, this is a tabletop position, with hands on the floor under your shoulders and knees on the floor under your hips, toes facing down and turned under. Inhale deeply as you round your spine toward the ceiling, like a cat arching its back. Then exhale, tighten your abdominals and drop your chest toward the floor as you lift your head slightly and arch the top of your head back towards your tailbone.

#3 Brettzel

Lie on your back so your body forms a straight line with the arms in an extended T position.
As you bend your left leg up to the centre of your body, reach your right hand up to rest on top of the left knee, and slowly pull the knee down across your body towards the right side of the floor. Keep the right leg long and extended on the floor.
Now you are ready to begin the twisting torso stretch and breath work. Lift your extended left arm up and bend it against your left side, place your left hand on your belly. Now slowly rotate your left shoulder up off the floor and then back down while inhaling and exhaling.