Are Your Daily Habits In Greenwich CT Causing Your Chronic Pain?

Whether you’ve experienced chronic pain for several months or several years, it’s no secret that it can interfere with your daily life and mental health. Unfortunately, many habits can make chronic pain symptoms in Greenwich CT even worse.

At Greenwich Wellness in Greenwich CT, Adam C. Massoud helps people find the root cause of their pain and creates a personalized treatment strategy to address it. In many cases, the most effective therapies for chronic pain involve a combination of approaches, from chiropractic adjustments and nutrition therapy to changing the daily habits that can trigger or contribute to symptoms.

If you have chronic pain, these common behaviors could be worsening your symptoms.

Lack of exercise in Greenwich CT

Kicking back and relaxing may seem like the best medicine for chronic pain, but that sedentary lifestyle could be causing more harm than good.

Without regular activity, your muscles can grow weak and less efficient, which can make it harder to do even simple tasks, such as take a shower. Your muscles also help protect joints and ligaments from damage, so you can also become more prone to injury if they become underdeveloped.

The solution? Adding more activity to your daily routine could help you avoid these issues and even help ease chronic pain symptoms.

Stress

Did you know that stress increases your heart rate, which causes your muscles to tighten? And that’s not all. Stress also accelerates your breathing, increases stress hormones in your body, and heightens feelings of anxiety and agitation, emotions known to intensify pain sensations.

You may not be able to avoid all forms of stress, but you can adopt stress management techniques to help reduce chronic pain. Activities that can help manage stress include:

• Yoga and tai chi
• Relaxed breathing
• Mindfulness

If you need help getting started, you can even download apps to your smartphone or tablet that can teach you relaxation and mindfulness techniques.

Poor diet

We understand life can get busy, and it may seem easier to just grab junk food or head to a drive-through. However, convenience foods don’t provide the nutrients your body needs to function in peak condition.

In fact, many of these foods can even cause inflammation. Due to the health complications experts have seen in some people who rely on junk food, they have coined the term “inflammation diet.”

Unlike processed foods high in refined sugar and saturated fats, nutrient-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, can reduce inflammation in the body. By eating well, you may be able to reduce chronic pain, and reduce your chances of developing health issues, such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.

Skimping on sleep

It can be hard to feel your best without a good night’s sleep, but quality sleep may seem out of reach if you live with chronic pain.

To start getting the sleep you need, adopt good health habits, such as:

• Going to bed and waking at the same time
• Creating a peaceful and comfortable sleep environment that’s dark, relaxing, and cool in temperature
• Engaging in a calming nighttime routine, such as doing some relaxation techniques, to prepare yourself for a restful sleep

And, if your pain interferes with your ability to sleep, don’t wait to see a specialist like Dr. Massoud.

Not getting help

Do you spend your days focusing on your pain and trying to accept it as a normal part of life? This may be a natural response to a health problem, but it’s keeping you from getting relief and living a full life.

Dr. Massoud understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to diagnosing and treating chronic pain. Instead, he works closely with each person in his care to identify the underlying cause and outline a personalized, whole-person treatment strategy, such as:

• Chiropractic adjustments
• Acupuncture and massage therapy
• Nutrition therapy, including supplements like Standard Process® and MediHerb®
• Erchonia® cold laser therapy

When used in combination with healthier daily habits, these methods can help ease your pain and improve your overall health.

To get treatment for your chronic pain, and to see if any of your habits could be contributing to it, call (203) 637-1111 or book an appointment online with Greenwich Wellness today.