Do the holidays stress you out?  Over the years, surveys and hospital statistics have shown that Americans feel the greatest amount of stress during the holiday season.  This stress can affect your health resulting in headaches, colds, sinus infections or even heart attacks.  For some, the holidays can be lonely or frustrating because of feelings of loss or because of friction within the family.  For others, the hectic pace of the season can be overwhelming due to work deadlines, holiday parties, shopping, baking, and the need to be everywhere and do everything for everyone – except yourself.
 
Symptoms caused by stress can include:  high blood pressure, blood glucose levels that fluctuate wildly, headaches, tight, sore muscles, fatigue, and lowered immune response resulting in increased contraction and duration of colds, flus, and sinus infections.
 
Did you know that tight muscles in the neck and shoulder area can reduce lymphatic drainage, causing head and sinus congestion?  Those same tight muscles are typically the #1 cause of headaches.
 
Give Your Body & Mind A Break!  Believe it or not, you can take some simple steps that can reduce stress this holiday season and all year long.

1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and don’t skip meals.  Your body needs the fuel to keep up the pace.
2. Get Plenty of rest – most people require 6-9 hours of sleep each night.  Are you getting enough?
3. Limit sugar and caffeine.  Both can throw off you blood glucose levels and cause headaches and fatigue.
4. Get some form of exercise daily and make it something you enjoy.  30-60 minutes of exercise can “burn off” excess adrenaline in your system and cause the release of other hormones which cause relaxation in the body and mind.
5. Get your spine adjusted.  Tight muscles and tension pull and twist your vertebrae (spinal bones) out of alignment, pinching delicate nerves.  Your nervous system   controls every function of your body, so pain may not be the result.  Instead you may suffer a lowered immune response, sinusitis, allergy/asthma   attacks, or other health problems – after all something is the cause, these illnesses don’t just occur.
6. Try acupuncture and/or herbal and homeopathic remedies to aid in the process of stress reduction. 
7. Get a massage (or two, or three).  Massage increases blood flow to the muscles, moving toxins out and oxygenated blood in giving damaged tissues what they need to heal.  It’s super relaxing and the time on the table is  quiet time all to yourself when you don’t have to do a thing!

Remember what’s important – YOU!

 
If you don’t know where or how to begin, help is just a phone call away!  My staff and I are available to assist you in any way we can. Just call (239) 243-8735
Take some time for yourself this season and every season.  Making your health and quality of life your number one priority, will better allow you to take care of your family, and friends and enjoy life more fully.  Isn’t that what the holiday season is all about?