From the desk of Ann Arbor Chiropractor Michael Tannenbaum, D.C.

We all experience stress. Some stress can actually be good for you as it helps you stay focused and alert. Too much stress, however, is is not good for you. One area stress can have a negative affect is on the health of your heart. Stress can cause your heart rate and blood pressure to climb, can produce blood clots, can cause your arteries to constrict, and can result in heart attacks/heart disease.

Signs of stress can be different for different people, but common signs can be dizziness, blurred vision, poor sleep, depression, mood swings, getting more colds then usual or colds that last longer then expected.

Here are some suggestions in how to relieve stress:

- On a daily basis get about 30 minuets of aerobic exercise (as recommended by the American Heart Association).

- Commit to daily relaxing activities. Such as reading, listening to music, playing a sport, meditation and stretching.

- Eat a healthful diet that focuses on fresh produce, protein, and whole grains. Stay away from processed foods and minimize sugar consumption.

- If you know of an activity that causes you stress try to avoid that activity or alter the stressful activity.

- Learn to forgive.

- Think of things in positive light.

- Get enough sleep. You should be getting at least 7 hours of quality uninterrupted sleep a night.

If you have any questions about this blog post, chiropractic, neck pain, back pain, headaches or extremity pain I can be contacted at my Ann Arbor office at [email protected].