Stress isn’t just something that affects your mind — it has profound effects on your body, too. From persistent headaches and tight muscles to fatigue and restless nights, the physical toll of stress can disrupt your daily life in countless ways. For Dr John Fortuna, a chiropractor with over 20 years of experience, chiropractic care offers a natural, effective solution to relieve the physical burden of stress and help restore balance within the body.

“Many people don’t realize how deeply stress impacts the spine and nervous system,” says Dr John Fortuna. “Chiropractic adjustments help release that built-up tension, allowing your body to function and heal as it’s meant to.”

Understanding the Link Between Stress and the Spine

When under chronic stress, the body stays in a heightened state of “fight or flight.” This ongoing alertness causes muscles to tighten, breathing to become shallow, and posture to suffer. Common symptoms include stiff necks, tight shoulders, jaw clenching, and lower back pain. Over time, this tension can cause spinal misalignments—known as subluxations—that interfere with nerve signals and intensify both physical and mental exhaustion.

“Your spine and nervous system act like the body’s communication highway,” explains Dr John Fortuna. “If stress disrupts that system, everything from digestion and mood to immune health can be affected.”

Signs That Stress Is Affecting Your Body

Though stress begins mentally or emotionally, it often shows up physically. You may want to consider chiropractic care if you notice any of the following:

• Frequent headaches or migraines
• Muscle tension in the neck, back, or shoulders
• Jaw tightness or teeth grinding
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Digestive discomfort or recurrent illness
• Feelings of irritability, anxiety, or brain fog

While these symptoms might seem unrelated, they often share one root cause: spinal tension and nervous system overload due to chronic stress.

How Chiropractic Care Helps Ease Stress

Dr John Fortuna uses gentle, focused chiropractic adjustments to realign the spine, reduce nerve interference, and relieve stored muscle tension. These treatments provide immediate physical relief and help calm the nervous system, lowering cortisol—the hormone responsible for stress responses.

“Patients often tell me they feel lighter, more relaxed, and emotionally uplifted after an adjustment,” notes Dr John Fortuna. “That’s because chiropractic care supports the entire mind-body connection, not just the spine.”

Additionally, chiropractic care encourages better sleep, improves circulation, and enhances overall resilience to stress. Alongside adjustments, Dr John Fortuna frequently recommends lifestyle changes like breathing exercises, posture correction, and gentle stretching to maintain long-term stress relief.

Taking a Proactive Approach to Managing Stress

While stress is a normal part of life, how your body responds can make all the difference. Chiropractic care offers a proactive, drug-free method to reduce tension, improve physical and emotional well-being, and restore balance.

“If you feel like stress is wearing you down, don’t wait until pain becomes constant,” advises Dr John Fortuna. “Chiropractic care can help you feel better, move more freely, and face life’s challenges with greater ease and confidence.”

Investing in your spinal health is investing in your overall resilience. With the support of an experienced provider like Dr John Fortuna, you can take meaningful steps to reduce the physical impact of stress and improve your quality of life.