El Paso Functional Medicine
I hope you have enjoyed our blog posts on various health, nutritional and injury related topics. Please don't hesitate in calling us or myself if you have questions when the need to seek care arises. Call the office or myself. Office 915-850-0900 - Cell 915-540-8444 Great Regards. Dr. J

Workplace Stress Management

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Stress in the workplace is a serious issue. Working is rewarding, but it can become a cause for major stress as well. Studies have shown that more than 40% of workers find their job to be a workplace stressor. Stress takes a toll on the body both mentally and physically. Numerous factors can result in being stressed. This includes:

  • Working for long hours regularly
  • Large amounts of work to complete
  • Meeting deadlines
  • Job insecurity

Workplace Stress Management

Workplace Stress Can Hurt The Body

Workplace stress fatigues and agitates the body and can cause major health issues. These include:

  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Muscle tension
  • Palpitations
  • Anxiety
  • Depression

Stress Management Guidance

Breathing Exercises

Sometimes stress can be so intense that the heart races. For some, this can lead to panic attacks. To help calm the body down, breathing exercises can help.

  • One exercise to relieve stress is to take one deep inhale and hold it for three seconds.
  • After three seconds, with the front teeth over the edge of the upper lip.
  • Slowly exhale.
  • Wait a few seconds
  • Repeat until you feel calm.
  • Second exercise
  • Close your eyes and breathe in and out like blowing up a balloon.
  • Take a long inhale, pretend the stomach is a balloon and hold the air for seconds.
  • Exhaling, pretend the air escaping is like a balloon releasing the air.
  • This helps to slow down the heart and releases tension.

Stay Aware of Body Posture

When intensely working on something standing or hunched over for a long time, muscle tension is occurring.

  • When sitting, make sure the feet are planted firmly on the floor.
  • Keep the shoulders back and aligned.
  • Investing in an ergonomic chair with lumbar support can help.
  • Low back support will automatically encourage the body to maintain proper posture while also providing comfort.
  • Never cross the legs when sitting. This can place pressure on the pelvis that can lead to low back pain.
  • When standing change postures and positions frequently.
  • If possible, do standing stretches.

Take Short Walks

It’s important to keep the body moving as it promotes circulation and maintains muscle strength and flexibility. Not moving around can make the body feel lethargic and irritated.

  • By getting up and walking around, tension is released, which helps reduce stress.
  • Make an effort to get out and walk regularly.
  • Walking has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the bones.

Therapeutic Massage

Another way to manage stress in the workplace is to get a therapeutic massage. It will soothe and relax the body, helping you feel more at ease at work and home. Benefits of massage include:

  • Improves flexibility
  • Boosts immune system function
  • Increases energy
  • Reduces anxiety symptoms

Types of massages that help with reducing tension and stress are:

Diet and Nutrition

Fast food and junk food can bring temporary/false relief, but eating poorly regularly will increase stress in the body. The food does not supply the body with the nutrients it needs to get large amounts of work done. Individuals get a quick jolt of energy then crash rapidly and feel worse creating an unhealthy cycle. To help manage stress, some of the best foods include:

  • Citrus fruit
  • Bananas
  • Carrots
  • Turkey
  • Salmon
  • Spinach
  • Tea
  • Yogurt

Stretch Out

When busy working individuals usually do not realize how tense their muscles can become.

Chiropractic Adjustments

Adjustments can be helpful to manage workplace stress. The benefits are able to release tension throughout the body and increase flexibility. Chiropractic can improve blood circulation which can reduce symptoms caused by hypertension and nerve damage. Some chiropractic techniques used include:

This can improve how the body responds to stress. Keeping the body stress-free while working will help to be more productive, and encouraged to live healthier. The nervous system is responsible for adapting to the environment, especially a stressful environment. A properly aligned spine and nervous system allow the body to manage stress better.


Body Composition


High blood pressure and diabetes prevention

Living a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of chronic diseases, that includes diabetes and hypertension. Too much:

  • Sodium
  • Alcohol
  • Saturated fat
  • Combined with:
  • Smoking
  • Lack or no physical activity
  • Mental stress
  • These are all factors that can affect overall health and longevity.

The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intense aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of intense aerobic activity. Moderate-intense activities include:

References

www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/massage/art-20045743

www.stress.org/workplace-stress

Jamison, J R. “Stress management: an exploratory study of chiropractic patients.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 23,1 (2000): 32-6. doi:10.1016/s0161-4754(00)90111-8

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Workplace Stress Management" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
License Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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