Stress is a silent killer, a lifestyle-related disease that deprives people of physical health and mental wellness. It has become a part and parcel of modern lifestyle where personal relationships are strained and workplaces are full of professional pressures. It can result in a variety of physical and psychological diseases which result in poor quality of life and sometimes even affect longevity. From something as trivial as a common cold to major health issues like heart disease, hypertension and depression, there are countless problems that stress can cause in the long run. Seeing the ill-effects of stress, it becomes important to reduce and manage it well so that you can live longer and healthier. Let us understand the science of stress and the significance of its management to keep you healthy in body and mind.
Stress: The Enemy That Lives Within
Stress is like an enemy that lives inside you. It shows no symptoms like other diseases do but there are many ways in which it can affect your health and quality of life. When you experience stress, your brain undergoes physical and chemical changes that have an adverse impact on its functioning. In such an event, the levels of chemicals such as dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine inside the brain get elevated. This results in the stimulation of the adrenal glands and they release higher amounts of adrenaline, a hormone that triggers “fight-or-flight” response in humans. Higher levels of adrenaline cause physiological effects such as high blood pressure and rapid heart rate. Chronic stress can lead to repetition of such events and cause serious health issues such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke, asthma and stomach ulcers, if left unmanaged over time.
Effects Of Exposure To Prolonged Stress
Prolonged exposure to stress can lead to a variety of physical and psychological diseases, which can prove to be life threatening if not resolved in time. Hence it is important to be aware of these problems so that you can control them before they do great damage.
Physical Effects: Scientific studies have proved that chronic stress can contribute significantly to the risk of major conditions such as heart attacks and cancer. In the short term, it can cause problems as common as cold and flu, headaches, migraines, musculoskeletal conditions, stomach upset, constipation, heartburn, nausea, and more. However, the impact gets accumulated over a period of time and builds up into more serious health concerns for those exposed to ongoing stress.
Psychological Effects: Besides physical diseases, stress can also lead to a series of mental and emotional disorders, such as anxiety, phobias, depression and panic attacks. With emotional stress, people tend to lose clarity of thought and find difficulties in thinking, concentrating and decision making. Some even lose their confidence and battle with feelings of insecurity. People come across problems like irritability, impatience and frustration which can result in change in social behavior and cause relationship conflicts. Even tough psychological issues are not indicated by major symptoms, they are more challenging to detect and handle.
Significance And Techniques of Stress Management
Seeing the array of physical and psychological illnesses that stress is associated with, you should look to keep away from stress. Stress management is imperative to good health and overall wellness of the body and mind. For this reason, several stress management techniques are recommended for all. Here are some of the techniques that Healthy Leader suggests to enable reduction of stress in your daily life:
- Meditation is one of the best ways to alleviate stress and negativity. Disconnect with everything around you and focus on relaxation with techniques such as yoga, deep breathing and concentration. Experience the energies flowing within and relieving the body and soul of all the pent-up stressful emotions.
- Cultivation of positive feelings such as compassion and honesty give you the strength to cope up with adverse situations and motivate yourself with self-worth and happiness. Positive thoughts leave no place for negative ones and clear out stress from the body and mind.
- Indulge in a healthy lifestyle which comprises of nutritious food and regular exercise. Eat light and healthy diet comprising of fresh fruits and vegetables. Take long walks or go for swimming or cycling. Some people find stress relief by exercising at the gym. Drinking plenty of water also helps as it removes stress-causing toxins from the body.
- Taking adequate sleep and rest is also important as they recharge your body and mind. Let go of worries about situations that are not in your control.
Small changes in your everyday can give you a lot of benefit by relieving stress and anxiety. Follow these simple and easy-to-follow stress-busting techniques and live healthier and happier. Don’t hesitate to take medical assistance if these measures do not work.
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