Fatigue

Chiropractic can help

The causes of fatigue

Fatigue can be caused by a host of different factors such as physical problems which limit the body’s resting ability, stress or even an autonomous nervous system imbalance between the sympathetic (activating nervous system, fight or flight response, stress and fear mechanisms) and parasympathetic (rest, digestion, relaxation, etc.) nervous system.

Fatigue is an extremely common and widespread condition. It has numerous possible causes. Generally, a person who experiences fatigue suffers from several causes simultaneously and often times chronically. Fatigue can be caused by physical, chemical and emotional stresses. The mind and body can get tired for many reasons.

Stress and psychological fatigue:

When the body experiences chronic stress and psychological distress, adrenal glands produce abnormal levels of cortisol and adrenaline chronically. This has two major effects. The first is the body can’t rest properly because its “survival mode” gets activated. The second is that the adrenals get tired, leading to exhaustion and sometimes sugar cravings (your body asks for sugar instead of asking for food).

Sympathetic/parasympathetic imbalance:

Usually associated with stress, excessive stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system puts your body in “survival mode”. It inhibits deep sleep in order to facilitate immediate response in case of danger. In this configuration, one can sleep for 10 hours straight and still wake up tired.

Physical issues:

Whether through pain, dis-ease, or the energy spent by your body to heal itself, physical problems always interfere with well-being and good night’s rest. In addition, certain physical problems such as a cervical subluxation (with or without pain) can send an alarm signal to the body, indicating that there is an important issue to correct.

Poor posture:

The majority of the energy we produce is used to fight against gravity. Good posture decreases the amount of energy needed for this perpetual fight, while bad posture consumes a huge amount of energy, tiring the body much more than we imagine.

An illness:

The body is an amazing machine that continuously self regulates. To this end, it needs energy. The more the body’s inner state is imbalanced, the more energy is needed to self-regulate. This is why fatigue is common during sickness, and in a larger extent during chronic illnesses, that fatigues the body more and more each day.

Drugs:

A specific drug or a set of drugs can alter consciousness and sleep, whether by stimulating or inhibiting it. However, drugs always have toxicity, and the liver will always try and destroy it, which can lead to fatigue (or even illness) depending on the drug.

How does chiropractic influence sleep?

Sleep is influenced by numerous factors such as hydration, a person’s emotional state, and all the previously described factors Chiropractic helps limit stress and the body’s compensations so it can rest peacefully and renew its energy through restorative sleep.

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