STRESS! This is the number one word we hear in our office this year (besides neck pain, back pain and headaches, of course). It’s obvious that 2020 was beyond challenging for all of us in different ways, and it really is starting to affect our health both mentally and physically.

Long term high stress environments have been researched to drastically affect our health, from raising blood pressure, to weight gain and so much more.

The following are 5 signs that you’re way too stressed along with simple soultions to decrease that stress in your life!

Sleep. Just writing this word makes me feel like crawling into a cozy bed and taking an afternoon siesta. Yet, it’s estimated that 70 million Americans have sleep related problems, regardless of age or socioeconomic class.

So, what’s the deal? Why are so many people sleep deprived? I may not have all the answers to exactly why, but I’m here to give you 10 tips that hopefully will not only help you fall asleep faster, but also stay asleep!

Stress is defined as ‘A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.’ Yet, it is SO much more than that. The way stress affects the body can be detrimental and we see it every day with our patients (especially since Covid-19 reared its ugly head).

We often see patients who aren’t improving 100% with their treatment because of the intense amount of stress that affects them in their day-to-day lives.

So just how much can stress affect your body?

Since Covid-19 hit and basically made 2020 turn completely upside down, we’ve had some seriously stressed patients that are in a lot of back/neck pain in our office. After just a few weeks, Dr. Josh and I noticed the SAME PATTERN in all our patients’ complaints…they were all working from home!

Dr. Josh and I got together this week to outline 5 things that every single person that is working from home needs to be doing, every single day.

I’m sure we can all agree that our immune system is of utmost importance, now more than ever. We know the basics that a healthy diet and exercise help boost our immune systems. What we’re often blissfully unaware of is the little things that we do each day that contribute to lowering our immune systems.

Dr. Josh and I got together to bring you 7 simple things that, if changed, will help keep your immune systems stronger than Superman (or Superwoman).

It’s no secret that 2020 has been just a little bit stressful for everyone. The uncertainty and constant changes and fluctuations can make our day-to-day lives more challenging and stress filled.

We all know that stress has a profound impact on our mental state, but did you know that it affects ALL systems in the body including our cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine, nervous and even our reproductive systems?!

That being said Dr. Josh and I have put together 5 things that you can do every day to reduce your stress levels and have a healthier body and mind!

Do you feel like you eat healthy? This is one of the first questions I address with my patients during their initial intake because, as a society, we feel like we eat ‘healthy.’ But what really constitutes healthy eating? I often find that it’s what mainstream media has marketed to us and beat into our brains since we were children…and it isn’t actually healthy at all!

So, Dr. Josh and I have compiled a list of 7 foods that are best to stay away from, if you’re looking to live well and be well in the long run.

Feeling some tightness or discomfort in your hips? Many times lower back pain and hip pain is caused from prolonged sitting at our jobs and not enough stretching. I’ve put together 8 simple stretches that, if done daily, will surely open up your hips and help you become more flexible and pain free!

Sleep. The time in which our body rests. But are you getting the proper rest your need? How are you sleeping? Do you ever notice the position you wake up in?
The position you sleep in is more important than you think and, chances are high that you’ve formed some not-so-good habits of poor sleeping posture. Luckily, we’re here to help!

We love donuts and cake. We love ice cream and French fries. We love binge watching Netflix and eating potato chips. You get the point, we LOVE food!