Welcome to the Silicon Valley Young Professionals (SVYP) Health Corner
Stress in your Youth and its Influence as Adults
By J. Jay Lashbrook, D.C.
Recently there was an interesting article about how stress experienced during teen years can have a negative impact in health during adulthood. In a study, teens who self-reported various negative interpersonal interactions, such stress was associated with higher levels of an inflammatory marker called C-reactive protein, or CRP. CRP has been identified as an indicator for the later development of cardiovascular disease.
The study looked at a total of 69 adolescents who completed a daily diary checklist each night for 14 days. In it, they reported any experiences of negative interpersonal interaction with family, peers or school personnel. Blood samples were obtained an average of eight months later and assayed for circulating levels of the CRP protein.
The researchers found that daily interpersonal stress experienced during the high school years was associated with elevated levels of inflammation, as measured by higher levels of CRP, even among normal, healthy teens.
For us seemingly young healthy professionals, this hits right at home. Whether this is your health, or the future health of your children, negative stress experienced in your (or your children’s youth) can literally kill you (or them) later. Now for most of us, our teenage years are mixed with fond memories of elation as well as relief that the stress and angst (first loves, SATs, gossip) is all over and thankfully in the past. If you were Al Bundy, high school was the best time of his life marked by a single game record of scoring four touchdowns. Then he spent the rest of his life working as a shoe salesman and living the FUN in his dysFUNctional family.
The main point that I’m making here is that there is a lot of scientific proof that chilhood traumas and stress are a major factor in ALL of your illnesses. Stress in adulthood and teenage years are a normal part of life, but LOTS of stress is a normal part of modern life. This is where chiropractic can help. I will mention over and over about the fact that the connection between your mind and your body is your nervous system. All the experience of your life is processed through the nervouse system. When you have a thought in your mind it is processed through the nervous system, and it’s expressed in your body. When your thoughts are positive, what’s processed in your body is also positive. On the other hand, when your thoughts are negative, what’s processed in your body is negative. This example is shown in this reseach by exemplifing the fact that negative emotional stressors cause the body to respond negatively (chronic inflammatory heart disease) by creating an inflammatory response (CRP). These negative stressors can create patterns, if ritualized, and become a part of your life in general (e.g. heart disease, chronic pain, fatigue, headaches, etc.)
This is where the importance of chiropractic care comes in. These constant negtive patterns can create something called a subluxation. Chiropractic adjustments work to correct these subluxations and release the pattern that destroy your wellness. Then, with other health promoting habits (e.g. exercise, meditation, healthy diet), you can expand your health and well-being to new frontiers.
I recognize that coping with past traumas and current experiences can be stressful and tricky. Remember that you always have a choice in how you respond to the world. I always tell my clients, “You can’t always choose how you feel, but you can choose how to react.” Make a conscious choice to create wellness in every area of your life.
References:
Eurekalert: March 10, 2009
Psychosomatic Medicine: February 5, 2009
Dr. Jay was born in San Clemente, CA and lived most of his life in South Orange County, CA. He has his undergraduate degree in Chemistry before receiving his Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Life Chiropractic College West in Hayward, CA. He has successfully owned and operated a wellness based family practice for the last six years. He relocated to the Bay Area in 2008 to serve the community of which he fell in love with.
Dr. Jay commonly refers to his mission as "one that is purpose driven by the possibilities to improve a person's life to express and live to their highest divine potential." For seven years, Dr. Jay has transformed the practice into one that is focused on the inborn innate ability of each person to achieve and express his or her full health potential. If you would like to know more about chiropractic or Dr. Jays practice, visit or contact him at www.drjaylashbrook.com
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