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A Different Kind of Stress

When you hear the word "stress," what comes to mind? Tension? Anxiety? Feeling overwhelmed? Sure, those words apply to the type of stress you're used to hearing about - mental or emotional stress. But there are other types of stress as well and often you're not even aware of their effects until it's too late. And one of them is chemical stress.

What is chemical stress?

Chemical stress occurs as the result of exposure to toxins in your environment or lifestyle. You may not even be aware of your exposure to these toxins but they are present in your home, in the air you breathe and in the food you eat.

Substances that create chemical stress in the body include caffeine, air pollution, household cleaning products, fast food, pesticides, pharmaceuticals (medications), plastics (bottles, wraps, containers, etc., especially if used in the microwave) and drinking water.

Chemical Stress and Women's Health

The buildup of toxic chemicals in the blood causes many types of conditions, especially in women. Chemical stress affects women particularly in the areas of their reproductive health and pregnancy. Consider the following:

• Exposure to a toxin (toluene) in paints, glues and inks has been known to cause birth defects.
• More than 100 synthetic chemicals have been found in the umbilical blood of newborns.
• Women who are exposed to solvents have higher rates of miscarriage.
• Exposure to toxins may be responsible for abnormal pregnancies.
• In addition, toxin poisoning can also be related to chronic headaches, irritability, inability to concentrate, memory problems, digestive disorders, nausea, skin problems (rashes), chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, insomnia, night sweats and hormonal imbalances.
• Children exposed to chemical poisoning in the womb may be at higher risk for aggression and learning and behavior disorders.

Heredity seems to play a part in chemical toxicity because of a genetic inability to detoxify harmful toxins. Age, geographical area, occupation, gender, and household product use may also influence your susceptibility to illnesses caused by exposure to toxins.

So what can you do? Try to limit your exposure to toxins in your environment as much as possible. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, get proper rest and exercise, limit your exposure to plastics and keep your immune system in optimal working condition by maintaining a regular schedule of chiropractic care.