Endorphins are released during the fight-or-flight reaction to relieve pain in case of injury.

Why Pain Sustained After an Auto Accident Is Often Delayed

A car accident only takes a matter of seconds, but your body can experience a significant amount of trauma even in this short amount of time. There’s a reason why you have delayed pain after an auto accident, so it’s essential to get medical attention, even if you don’t have signs of injury.

At Reid Physicians Group in Jacksonville, Florida, we understand the impact a car accident can have on your body. We combine integrative medicine, chiropractic, and rehabilitative care to help restore your health and well-being.

A car accident is about more than a collision

When you’re in an auto accident, your body tries to protect you from the trauma by releasing a sudden surge of adrenaline. This hormone is designed to protect you from harm by causing the “fight or flight” response when you’re in danger.

Adrenaline causes several self-preservation responses, including:

Increased energy
Reduced -- or no -- pain
Dilated blood vessels and airways that increase the flow of oxygen
Increased strength because of more blood going to your muscles
Changes in your vision and hearing that focus on sights and sounds ahead of you

At the same time, your body releases endorphins that make you feel calm and in total control. Your endorphins also affect the way you respond to pain and stress. In many cases, you don’t start feeling pain after a car accident until your adrenaline and endorphins wear off, and you can relax.

It can take time for car accident injuries to appear

In addition to having adrenaline masking your symptoms after an auto accident, it can also take time for injuries to appear while your body settles back down after the trauma.

When you ride in a car, your body moves at the same rate of speed as your vehicle. During an impact, your car stops, but your body continues moving until it suddenly stops because of a seatbelt, airbag, or another barrier. This abrupt change in momentum often causes soft tissue damage, like what occurs with whiplash. These types of ligament or muscle strains take time to develop because inflammation, swelling, and stiffness don’t occur immediately.

You can also experience trauma to your spine during an auto accident that affects your intervertebral discs. These discs act as cushions between vertebral bones and give your spine flexibility. When you damage a disc, it can tear, bulge, or herniate. Over time, these injuries can put pressure on nerves and the surrounding tissues, causing pain.

Common delayed symptoms after a car accident may include:

Headaches
Blurry vision or dizziness
Nausea
Difficulty remembering things or problems concentrating
Trouble sleeping
Swelling
Back or shoulder pain
Neck stiffness
Numbness in your hands or feet
Reduced range of motion

Getting an early diagnosis of a car accident injury can help speed up your recovery and reduce your risks of long-term pain and complications in the future. If you’ve had a car accident, call us at Reid Physicians Group or schedule an appointment online today.

What Are the Psychological Benefits of Exercise With Depression?

Improved self-esteem is a key psychological benefit of regular physical activity. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain.

Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. For example, the feeling that follows a run or workout is often described as "euphoric." That feeling, known as a "runner's high," can be accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook on life.

Endorphins act as analgesics, which means they diminish the perception of pain. They also act as sedatives. They are manufactured in your brain, spinal cord, and many other parts of your body and are released in response to brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. The neuron receptors endorphins bind to are the same ones that bind some pain medicines. However, unlike with morphine, the activation of these receptors by the body's endorphins does not lead to addiction or dependence.

Regular exercise has been proven to:

Reduce stress
Ward off anxiety and feelings of depression
Boost self-esteem
Improve sleep

Exercise also has these added health benefits:

It strengthens your heart.
It increases energy levels.
It lowers blood pressure.
It improves muscle tone and strength.
It strengthens and builds bones.
It helps reduce body fat.
It makes you look fit and healthy.

Is Exercise a Treatment for Clinical Depression?

Research has shown that exercise is an effective but often underused treatment for mild to moderate depression. In addition, exercise outside [with the appropriate sun protection] can help boost levels of vitamin D and your mood.

Are there Types of Exercises That Are Better for Depression?

It appears that any form of exercise can help depression. Some examples of moderate exercise include:

Biking
Dancing
Gardening
Golf [walking instead of using the cart]
Housework, especially sweeping, mopping, or vacuuming
Jogging at a moderate pace
Low-impact aerobics
Playing tennis
Swimming
Walking
Yard work, especially mowing or raking
Yoga

Because strong social support is important for those with depression, joining a group exercise class may be beneficial. Or you can exercise with a close friend or your partner. In doing so, you will benefit from the physical activity and emotional comfort, knowing that others are supportive of you.

Should I Talk to my Doctor Before Exercising?

For most people, it is OK to start an exercise program without checking with a health care provider. However, if you have not exercised in a while, are over age 50, or have a medical condition such as diabetes or heart disease, contact your health care provider before starting an exercise program.

How Can I Decide What Types of Exercise to Do?

Before you begin an exercise program for depression, here are some questions you should consider:

What physical activities do I enjoy?
Do I prefer group or individual activities?
What programs best fit my schedule?
Do I have physical conditions that limit my choice of exercise?
What goals do I have in mind? [For example: weight loss, strengthening muscles, improving flexibility, or mood enhancement]

How Often Should I Exercise to Ease Depression?

Try to exercise at least 20 to 30 minutes, three times a week. Studies indicate that exercising four or five times a week is even better. Take it easy if you are just beginning. Start exercising for 20 minutes. Then you can build up to 30 minutes.

What Are Some Tips for Getting Started Exercising?

When you first start your exercise program, you should plan a routine that is easy to follow and maintain. When you start feeling comfortable with your routine, then you can start varying your exercise times and activities.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

Choose an activity you enjoy. Exercising should be fun.
Put your exercise routine into your schedule. If you need reminding, put it on your calendar.
Variety is the spice of life. Make sure you vary your exercises so that you don't get bored. Check your local gymnasium or community center for an assortment of exercise programs.
Don't let exercise programs break the bank. Unless you are going to be using them regularly, avoid buying health club memberships or expensive equipment.
Stick with it. If you exercise regularly, it will soon become part of your lifestyle and will help reduce your depression.

What Should I Do if Exercise Is Painful?

Never ignore pain. You may cause stress and damage to your joints and muscles if you continue exercising through pain.

If you still feel pain a couple hours after exercising, you have probably overexerted yourself and need to decrease your activity level. If your pain persists or is severe, or if you suspect you have injured yourself, contact your doctor.

If you are unable to regularly participate in exercise or athletics, you can also try other tools to help boost your mood. Studies of meditation and massage therapy have demonstrated that these techniques can stimulate endorphin secretion, increase relaxation, and aid in boosting mood.

Are endorphins released during fight

After effects of a fight-or-flight response Adrenaline tells your body how to reallocate resources, causing the physical responses, one of which includes the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters that act as your body's natural painkillers.

Are endorphins released during an injury?

Within minutes of exposure to a traumatic event there is an increase in the level of endorphins in the brain. During the time of the trauma, endorphin levels remain elevated and help numb the emotional and physical pain of the trauma.

When is endorphins released?

Endorphins are chemicals [hormones] your body releases when it feels pain or stress. They're released during pleasurable activities such as exercise, massage, eating and sex too. Endorphins help relieve pain, reduce stress and improve your sense of well-being.

What are endorphins quizlet?

endorphins. natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. endorphins. neurotransmitters that give one a feeling of well-being, euphoria or eliminate pain.