October is National Chiropractic Month, a time to pay attention to your musculoskeletal health and take advantage of chiropractic care as a whole-person and drug-free approach to wellness.
About 20% of adults in the United States have chronic pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even if you don’t experience chronic pain, you may be discovering new aches and pains that come from working or spending much of your time at home.
In honor of the month, here are some tips to help you prevent aches and pains.
Be active and adaptive
This year’s National Chiropractic Month theme encourages you to be active and adaptive. While aches and pains may seem like a part of life, especially for people over 35, they don’t have to be.
“The body should be able to adapt to changes that are normal, including aches and pains,” says Dr. Justin Stilson of Activated Life Chiropractic & Wellness. “Think of an ache or pain as a check engine light on your car — it’s simply a way the body lets you know something may be wrong.”
One way to adapt is to break yourself out of sedentary behaviors that have become habits.
“Sedentary lifestyles result in more aches and pains, generally speaking,” Stilson says. “Take breaks and walk throughout the day, even if working at home. … You can also do simple stretches and exercises at home. The biggest thing to remember is that any activity is generally better than none at all.”
The most common pains people experience include headaches, joint pain, and various types of inflammation. Fortunately, these are often preventable.
“Eating well, sleeping well, and getting regular exercise are all great ways the body can prevent aches and pains,” Stilson says.
Additionally, chiropractic adjustments relieve pain and improve body functions.
Minimize stress
Recent months have been anything but relaxing, and the stress that comes with change can manifest as physical symptoms, according to WebMD:
· Headaches and neck pain
· Upset stomach
· Backaches and tightness
· Chest pain or rapid heartbeat
· Difficulty swallowing
· Clenched jaw and teeth grinding
· Insomnia
· Sweaty hands or feet
· Tremors or shaking
· Ringing in the ears
Combating stress can be as simple as adding meditation to your morning routine, taking a walk on your lunch break, or getting a chiropractic adjustment to lower cortisol, the hormone associated with stress.
“I would encourage people to stay positive and avoid negative thinking and doom and gloom,” Stilson says. “Life is what you make it, so the choice is yours.”
Eat healthy food
If you enjoy snacking throughout the day, make it easy on yourself by keeping only healthy snacks in your kitchen and avoiding sugary treats and drinks, like soda and juice. Doing so will help reduce inflammation in your body and shore up your immune system.
“People need to realize that keeping up the immune system is the best way to overcome any sickness and disease,” Stilson says.
In addition to eating healthy, getting a chiropractic adjustment supports your nervous system, which controls your immune system.
For more information about how chiropractic adjustments can help you prevent aches and pains and to make an appointment, visit Activated Life Chiropractic & Wellness.