Exam stress... It’s that time of year again when many children and adults are starting the daunting task of revising for important exams.

Unfortunately, this process can bring about high levels of stress which can trigger problems such as headaches, stomach upsets, diarrhoea or constipation and a flare-up of certain conditions such as eczema, asthma and acne.
Many students also experience bouts of insomnia, sore eyes and back and joint pain associated with long hours spent revising or cramming.

Exam stress can manifest itself in the body in a number of ways. The best advice is to be prepared and recognise the symptoms associated with stress. That way you can treat the problem as soon as it presents and minimise its impact.

As a Chiropractor I am seeing more students in my clinic with exam and revision-related complaints, suffering with prolonged bouts of back pain and tension headaches.

If a student is suffering from stress, prolonged pain or discomfort then their overall productivity is reduced and they are more likely to have errors in their work. Increased errors and reduced productivity will only contribute to the student’s stress and it can very easily become a vicious cycle.

Virtually every cell, tissue, organ and system of your body is controlled and regulated by your nervous system. Dysfunction of spinal joints can cause interference to the delicate nerve tissue and can distort the vital information being transmitted from the brain to the body and from the body to the brain.

Distorted nerve communications can be a cause of many other health problems beyond just headaches and back pain. Some symptoms arising from nervous system interference may seem totally unrelated to the spine, for example digestive or respiratory problems, poor concentration and memory, mood swings, and broken sleep patterns.

There are many ways to treat musculoskeletal pain associated with stress. Chiropractic care provides a non-surgical and drug-free treatment to children and adults. It is a 100% natural approach to health care, as it is based on restoring function to our bodies on a skeletal, muscular and neurological level.

As with any health problem, the sooner the symptoms are recognised, diagnosed and treated the better the long-term prognosis. If any of the above relates to you or your child then you should take advantage of our free Spinal Health Checks.

These are held at the Fitzwilliam Health Clinic on a weekly basis– please phone 01 6618949 or email info@fitzwilliamhealth.ie for more details. There will also be the opportunity to attend a free presentation on Tuesday 5th May at 6pm and Thursday 7th May at 1pm. Please contact Fitzwilliam Health Clinic for further information.

Handy Hint for Exam Stress
Parents and children should discuss forthcoming exams and identify any areas or subjects causing particular concern or worry.

Get plenty of sleep. Try to keep your sleep routine as regular as possible

Take a break. This is really important. You should give yourself plenty of short breaks as you revise– this keeps you fresher for longer, so you will learn more.

Time for yourself. Try to leave enough time in your revision for some fun. You will need to put your books down and do something you enjoy for a while if you want to stay in a good mood.

Be realistic. Don’t try to do too much work each day. If you overdo it you won’t take in what you are studying.
Eat properly. Make sure your diet includes plenty of fruit and veg. Drink juice or water, avoid too much tea or coffee. If consumed in excess it can produce many of the physical symptoms associated with anxiety such as palpitations, headache, insomnia and nausea.

Get some exercise. Physical exercise is a fantastic ‘stress buster’ and can enhance one’s feeling of wellbeing. Go running, play a sport, or just take a walk. You will feel more relaxed. If you’re not sleeping very well exercise can make a real difference.

Be positive. Don’t beat yourself up about things, instead be nice to yourself. Make a quick list of five things you’ve done that you are proud of. This will put you in a good mood and you will learn more.