Men's Health & Pain

This month our focus is on Men's Health.  As the majority of our readers are female, we are hoping to bring our ladies to a deeper understanding of men and their health.  First of all, I want to talk about the differences between the way men and women experience pain.  A 2003 study in the journal Gastroenterology found that areas of male and female brains reacted differently to pain.  When pain is induced, the female brain shows greater activity in the emotion-based centers called the limbic regions, and the male brains shows greater activity in the analytic or cognitive centers.  This difference makes women to 'tend and befriend' and creates a 'fight or flight' reaction in men.  This interesting article explains why men experience fear and anxiety when they are in pain and are much less likely to seek help.  The fight or flight reaction triggers a man to want to be alone.  He is more likely to become angry and experience high levels of stress when he is in pain.  This is a neurological response and for us ladies, as well as caretakers, it should be met with compassion and understanding when our men are in pain. 

Second, I want to talk about why the body creates a pain response.  That is simple.  It is an indicator that a much larger problem is happening and the body wants to alert us to it.  A headache for example can be a sign of dehydration, hormone imbalance, nerve pressure, too much stress, etc. etc. All of which disrupt the bodies natural ability to heal itself.  Without enough water, the body cannot process sugar, release toxins, lubricate joints.  And even small amounts of pressure on a spinal nerve disrupts immune & organ function in areas that nerve supplies.

So ladies, if your man is complaining of pain.  If he is grumpy and stressed.  Find a way to get him to our office!  We can accommodate both of you at the same time with any of our treatments.  And with the Father's Day Specials we are featuring this month, the timing couldn't be better!  I hope to see ALL your men in the office this month!  Until our next adjustment...

  

Yours in Health,

Dr. Heidi & The InnerMovement Wellness Team