Author: Vidhi Shastri
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Impacts of COVID related stress on the muscle system
Now that I have talked about effects on all the other systems of the body, I will focus on how stress affects the muscles. The initial response to flight or fight mode is all the larger muscles in the legs like hamstrings, quads prepare you to run away. The upper body muscles like biceps, triceps…
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Sleeplessness from quarantine??? Here is why!
We are going through an unprecedented time and in addition to so many other adverse effects, COVID is causing sleepless nights. The effects of stress on mental and physical health are getting worse. The acute phase of stress leads to a reduction in sleep, vigilance and an adrenaline rush in the system to prepare you…
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Is it COVID or fear of COVID challenging the immune system?
People with underlying conditions or immune compromised patients are severely affected by COVID. Can fear of getting COVID suppress your immune system making you prone to illness? Initial phases of stress begins to slow the immune system. As the stress continues immune deficiency sets in, which makes you more prone to infection – like sore…
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Does stress affect your breathing???
Have you ever felt like you are unable to take a deep breath when you are anxious, frightened or angry? With heightened stress, the diaphragm shuts down and you start using all the accessory muscles in your chest and neck… and the breathing becomes fast and very shallow. When the stress continues longer, it creates…
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Endocrine Response to Stress
The Endocrine system causes changes at the tissue level as well as changes in the brain due to the fight or flight mode initiated by stress. The changes at the tissue level include fatigue, sensitivity, soreness, tiredness and sluggishness – which leads to deconditioning. Changes at the brain level can be serious, like short term…
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Sympathetic response to stress
Stress (fear, panic, anxiety) leads to activating the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight). When you are in that mode the brain secretes hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) to keep you wide awake – your pupils dilate, heart rate increases, blood is diverted to areas in need of extra blood and oxygen and you become hyper…
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COVID stress cycle…The real culprit of physical pain?
Emotional response (fear, anxiety, grief, frustration) to COVID 19 can lead to adverse effects on physical health. Wondering how? Stress releases chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol which leads to increased heart rate, tightening muscles in the body, eventually leading to musculoskeletal limitations causing physical pain such as low back, neck, shoulder, hip, knee pain, etc..…
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Back sleeper? Things to look out for….
Waking up every morning with tightness in your neck or back is not okay. It may be because of the sleeping positions you are in. Unsupported sleeping for 6-7 hours at night may continue to cause strain in the body where your back muscles have to work hard to get your body back to neutral.…
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What is Visceral Manipulation?
Viscera – relates to the internal organs of the body, such as the liver, kidneys and intestines. Visceral manipulation (VM) is a gentle form of manual therapy that aids your body’s ability to release restrictions and unhealthy compensations that cause pain and dysfunction. VM does not focus solely on the site of pain or dysfunction,…
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Suffering from the Effects of Abdominal Surgery?
After abdominal surgery, it is very common for patients to have symptoms like heart burn, acid reflux, constipation, bloating, incontinence, core weakness, low back pain or neck pain. While it may seem unrelated, these symptoms may be a sign of restrictions in the organs…Usually a side effect of surgery. Every surgery (even “minimally invasive”) can…