Homeostasis – What is it? Why is it important?
The human body is composed of numerous systems with thousands of functions all designed to adjust themselves in order to return your body to a natural stability, despite ever-changing conditions that affect it. This natural process of returning to stable systems is called homeostasis.
Some very visible examples of your body attempting to self-regulate to a normal, stable state or homeostasis are:
- Shivering to increase heat and blood flow when you’re cold
- Producing tears when foreign material enters the eye
- Sneezing, coughing, etc. when the respiratory tract is impacted
- Muscles working harder to compensate for other muscles that are injured
While these are some of the more obvious ones, there are thousands more that are subtle and we may not notice, such as hormonal shifts, low-level immune responses, and other changes on the cellular level.
When we pay attention to our bodies and take good care of ourselves on a regular basis, we not only reduce the impact of external influences that cause us to get out of balance with our natural healthy state, but we return to health much sooner than when we are not taking care of ourselves. In addition, we can notice the first signs of pain or when “something’s not right” and make conscious choices that help the homeostatic process along. Some of these are:
- Protecting the body against potential injury or extreme temperature shifts
- Noticing small, slight twinges of stiffness, discomfort, and pain, and correcting the cause(s) before they get worse
- Eating properly and taking supplements when needed, to provide our bodies with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients it needs to heal and fight off disease
- Engaging in healthy exercise that increases our strength and flexibility, while avoiding overextending and injuring ourselves
The human body wants to be stable and healthy, and we can help it do that if we are aware and take care of it. At Sell Chiropractice, while we can’t take care of your body for you, but we are here to help you treat problems that can cause you joint pain and reduced mobility, and we carry products that you can take home and use to accomplish homeostasis faster and with less stress.
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Dr. Mark Sell is a licensed, experienced chiropractor serving the Huntington, Indiana area since 1986. His practice continually strives to provide a friendly and comfortable atmosphere, offering affordable high-quality chiropractic care that includes treatment protocols tailored to meet your individual needs.