environment

Major storms and extreme weather seem to be hitting at an accelerated rate. For those in the path of a hurricane or in a flood zone, or for anyone dealing with the anxiety and hardship of evacuation or relocation, these events can have a variety of negative impacts on health.

In terms of your well-being, the stress you may feel from environmental disruptions can be debilitating. Traumatic stress and even PTSD sometimes occur in people who face natural disasters, but any victim of environmental interference can be subject to increased stress. A study in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology reported widespread psychological distress in response to Hurricane Opal in Florida.1

So how do you respond after a challenging event, and get your mind and body back on track?

The same study cited also reported that the people who recovered the most quickly from stress were those who were the most self-sufficient in caring for their own well-being. The inference is that getting beyond stress is often about how you adapt, and taking a proactive approach is a key to coping with and overcoming stress.

Following Hurricane’s Harvey and Irma, the Chiropractic Emergency Response Team (CERT) went on location to provide complimentary adjustments to the first responders and many of the storm victims. The results were fantastic and attracted local and national attention.

“The CERT are the first responders for first responders, and the recipients of the care appreciate the help,” said Kimberly Goreham, who is a CERT partner, along with founder Dr. Rick Wren.

How do you know if an environmental interference has increased your stress levels to the point where you should take action? You may experience typical symptoms of acute stress like headaches or nausea, sleep disorders, or flashbacks. These are signals that you are out of balance, and that it is time to take positive steps to regain your natural equilibrium and health.

Your body has an Innate Intelligence that keeps you healthy and helps you recover and heal from both physical and mental traumas. When the psychological and sometimes the physical stress of a powerful weather event like a hurricane taxes the resources of your body and mind, it can overwhelm you and interfere with your body’s built-in capacity to adapt. Poor diet, increased use of alcohol and other ill-advised coping methods will also negatively affect your nervous system and body as a whole. This is especially true when your nervous system has been previously compromised by conditions such as spinal subluxations, something the CERT addressed in their care of first responders.

When stressful events occur, take a look at your lifestyle, and seek out support from friends and loved ones, and holistic-minded health care providers like 100 Year Lifestyle Affiliated chiropractors who can help you bring your nervous system and life back into balance.

REFERENCES

1. The Trauma That Arises from Natural Disasters https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/somatic-psychology/201004/the-trauma-arises-natural-disasters.

Article contributed by Dr. Eric Plasker and The 100 Year Lifestyle.

Neurotoxins are everywhere. What exactly is a neurotoxin? Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a neurotoxin as “a poisonous substance that acts on the nervous system and disrupts the normal function of nerve cells”. The 7 neurotoxins listed below are only a few of the many chemicals we all encounter on a daily basis that can be detrimental to the health of our brain and nervous system. They should be avoided as much as possible.

Glyphosate aka Roundup (herbicide)

– Herbicide found in most agricultural crops like corn and soybeans, genetically engineered crops and grains
– Found to change brain chemistry, cause anxiety, diarrhea, dizziness, headaches, breathing difficulties
– Induce depression-like symptoms2

Aspartame (artificial sweetener)

– Artificial sweetener used in many low calorie, diet and “sugar free” products including sodas, sweets, yogurt, etc.
– Causes injury to delicate neurons in your brain, seizures, depression, vision problems, ADD, birth defects
– Induces dementia symptoms and memory loss5

Chlorpyrifos (pesticide)

– Pesticide commonly used on cotton, corn, almonds, and many fruit trees including apples and orange trees
– Cause dysfunction in nerve signals as well as headaches, nausea, dizziness, muscle twitching, loss of coordination, breathing difficulties
– Children are particularly vulnerable
– Linked to neurodevelopmental delays, and in some cases tremors.4

Aluminum (vaccinations)

– Found in most vaccinations, used to cause a stronger immune reaction to the vaccine
– Children are more susceptible to injury
– Experimental research has linked it with an increased risk of autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation, and associated neurological complications that may be serious and lasts for the child’s lifetime.8,9

Fluoride (water, oral hygiene products)

– Found in toothpaste, mouthwashes, and nearly all bottled beverages, including water
– Can cause arthritic symptoms and thyroid issues
– High doses of fluoride has been shown to be a neurotoxin that can affect normal development in children.3
– Has an additive effect so that the more products we use containing it, the more exposure you’re getting

Synthetic Fragrances (self-care products)

– Found in thousands of products, including lotions, perfumes, body wash, laundry soap, candles, ect.
– Increases allergen and neurotoxic cascades1
– Possible relationship between maternal exposure and the development of autism6

Triclosan (cleaning products)

– Recently banned anti-bacterial product that has commonly been used in anything anti-bacterial – soaps, hand sanitizers, face wash, toothpaste ect.
– Contributes to anti-biotic resistant strains of bacteria
– Linked to thyroid issues, immune disruption, neurotoxicity, and cancer.7

These 7 neurotoxins can all damage and interfere with the function of your nervous system. It is a great idea to decrease exposure to these chemicals any time you can.

Buy organic produce when it is available. Eliminate sodas and artificially sweetened products from your diet. If you choose to vaccinate your children, think about altering the schedule to decrease the aluminum exposure in a single setting. Replace toxic household cleaners and self-hygiene products with non-gmo, organic products. Use a water filter and drink more water during the day to help flush out any toxins you encounter.

Avoiding toxins is not always possible. Chiropractic Lifestyle Care strengthens your body’s ability to process these toxins by strengthening your nervous system – the master controller of your body. Make an appointment today to improve the function of your nervous system and reduce the detrimental effects of exposure to these toxic chemicals.

Article Contributed by Michelle Coats, BS

Resources:

1. Anderson, R. C., & Anderson, J. H. (1998). Acute Toxic Effects of Fragrance Products. Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 53(2), 138-146. doi:10.1080/00039896.1998.10545975
2. Cattani, D., Cesconetto, P. A., Tavares, M. K., Parisotto, E. B., Oliveira, P. A., Rieg, C. E., . . . Zamoner, A. (2017). Developmental exposure to glyphosate-based herbicide and depressive-like behavior in adult offspring: Implication of glutamate excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. Toxicology, 387, 67-80. doi:10.1016/j.tox.2017.06.001
3. Choi, A. L., Zhang, Y., Sun, G., Bellinger, D.C., Wang, K., Yang, X.J.,… Grandjean, P. (2015). Association of lifetime exposure to fluoride and cognitive functions in Chinese children: A pilot study. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 47, 96-101. doi:10.1016/j.ntt.2014.11.001
4. González-Alzaga, B., Hernández, A. F., Rodríguez-Barranco, M., Gómez, I., Aguilar-Garduño, C., López-Flores, I., . . . Lacasaña, M. (2015). Pre- and postnatal exposures to pesticides and neurodevelopmental effects in children living in agricultural communities from South-Eastern Spain. Environment International, 85, 229-237. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2015.09.019
5. Onaolapo, A. Y., Onaolapo, O. J., & Nwoha, P. U. (2016). Alterations in behaviour, cerebral cortical morphology and cerebral oxidative stress markers following aspartame ingestion. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 78, 42-56. doi:10.1016/j.jchemneu.2016.08.006
6. Sealey, L. A., Hughes, B.W., Pestaner, J.P., Steinemann, A., D.G., & Bagasra, O. (2015). Environmental factors may contribute to autism development and male bias: Effects of fragrances on developing neurons. Environmental Research, 142, 731-738. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2015.08.025
7. Teplova, V. V., Belosludtsev, K. N., & Kruglov, A. G. (2017). Mechanism of triclosan toxicity: Mitochondrial dysfunction including complex II inhibition, superoxide release and uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Toxicology Letters, 275, 108-117. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2017.05.004
8. Tomljenovic, L., & Shaw, C. A. (2011). Aluminum Vaccine Adjuvants: Are they Safe? Current Medicinal Chemistry, 18(17), 2630-2637. doi:10.2174/092986711795933740
9. Zhang, X., Zhang, X., Zhang, Y., Liu, M., Jin, J., Yan, J., . . . Dong, D. (2017). Mitochondrial uncoupler triclosan induces vasorelaxation of rat arteries. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B. doi:10.1016/j.apsb.2017.06.001

Environmental Stress and You

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