The Cape Town peninsula certainly lives up to its ominous nickname – “The Cape of Storms” – during the winter months, hosting some truly spectacular storms. When we transition into the winter months, it gets me thinking about a term that I often hear Chiropractors talk about, a “Perfect Storm.” No, I’m not talking about a George Clooney film!
What is a “Perfect Storm”?
A perfect storm is a combination of events or things which are not individually dangerous, but occurring together produce an unusually bad or powerful result.
In the world today, we are continually faced with many challenges: birth trauma, accidents, injuries, extended sitting, financial pressures, communication breakdowns, strained relationships, work, pollution, GM foods, pesticides, food additives, household cleaners, body products…to name just a few.
Stressors can accumulate over time resulting in a “Perfect Storm” in our health.
In order to reduce the risk of creating a “Perfect Storm” when it comes to your health, it is helpful to take a look at both your internal and external environments that are putting stress on your body, day in and day out.
“The function of the Nervous System is to perceive the environment and coordinate the behaviour of all other cells” – Bruce Lipton PhD
Your body’s fight or flight response (sympathetic nervous system) is a normal physiological reaction in the event of attack or perceived harm, eg. If you are being chased by a lion. In such an event, your body releases hormones to create a burst of energy so you can respond to the danger which results in an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate. If your body is constantly responding to stressors such as the ones mentioned above, then your body is in constant fight or flight response.
Eventually, this will take its toll on your health and often every stimulus (light, touch, sound) will become over-stimulating and irritating.
Your body cannot be in growth and repair mode at the same time as fight or flight.
This is what Chiropractors would call a “Perfect Storm”; symptoms can manifest in many ways and are different for everyone.
Being stuck in Fight or Flight can also contribute to other health challenges as these bodily systems will take a back seat when the body’s sole focus is the sympathetic response. Some examples of these include:
- Fertility and pregnancy challenges
- Colic babies
- Acid reflux, Heartburn, GERD
- Sensory Processing Disorders
- Autism
- Anxiety
- ADHD
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Insomnia
- Chronic ear infections
- Bed wetting
- Fatigue
By addressing the root cause – stress on the nervous system – and determining where it’s coming from, Chiropractic care can help to take the stress off of the nervous system to allow your body to enter into growth and repair mode and function at a more optimal state.
Click here to watch a short video explaining what Chiropractic care is and how it may help you.
Peak Chiropractic Centre located in Claremont are family-friendly chiropractors focused on relieving aches, pains and posture correction. We offer in-house X-Ray facilities.
