Stressing the Importance of Health

Printer-Friendly Version | Email This Article

Stressing the Importance of Health
Helping Your Body Cope
2005-10-05
Article Written by: Risa

Let's face it, everyone gets stressed out sometimes. The feeling, whether mild or major, is about as common as breathing. People point the finger at stress as the root of an unbelievable assortment of physical ailments and erratic behavior. However, studies have detailed exactly what this universal scapegoat actually does to the body.

Simply defined, stress is your body's natural protective response to a perceived threat. Whether facing a charging lion or an approaching deadline, your brain prepares your body using the "fight or flight" response. It gives you an extra boost that enables you to meet deadlines, generate new ideas or perform better. If not properly managed, however, this natural effect could be dangerous to your health.

When faced with any kind of stress, your body releases certain substances (adrenaline, for example) that give you energy and heighten your thinking. Excessive stress exaggerates these natural disruptions, in turn weakening your immune system. This wear and tear reduces your body's ability to ward off illness. Muscles tighten, allowing better coordination and movement. Eventually, this could result in the pain of sore muscles. Severe fatigue also follows closely behind stress, due to the overabundance of energy you have to burn.

Stomach and intestinal activity is lessened because of the nervous system, which can result in stomach pain and bowel movement problems.

Prolonged stress can lead to even more alarming damage. Over-exposure to stress hormones can produce high blood pressure and increased body fat, both of which are major culprits in developing strokes and heart disease. Eating and sleeping problems are just two more stress related complaints.

Although stress happens in your body, it originates in your mind. Chronic anxiety often leads to irritability, depression and even hostility. There's also evidence that prolonged stress can destroy cells in the part of the brain that plays a major role in learning and memory. Consequently, mental ability can decrease over time.

All of this information about stress can be, well, stressful. With the hustle and bustle of today's world, it's impossible to eliminate stress, but controlling how you respond to it can help ease the pain. First and foremost, keep a positive attitude. Believe in your own ability to overcome and accept that there are some things you can't control. You can only control your own responses. One response that seems to go hand in hand with stress relief is exercise. A study showed that people who exercise regularly were better able to cope. During times of high stress, those who exercised showed 37% less physical symptoms.

As clich as it sounds, taking deep breaths really does help. It slightly relaxes the tension in your body and helps you regulate your heartbeat. Meditation, tai chi and yoga are also proven to diminish anxiety. These activities put your mind in harmony with your body, which helps you control your stress responses.

Other studies have proved that laughter really may be the best medicine. Science is showing that laughing positively adjusts natural killer cells (cells in your body that fight toxins). So when you start to feel stressed out, strive to find some humor. You'll feel better and be helping your general health.

Time management is also a great tool for building your defense against stress. Find ways to organize your schedule so as not to feel pushed, rushed, or late. Making organized lists, accepting help and learning to say no are all helpful methods to remember when determining how to organize your daily rat race. Don't forget to schedule a little time for relaxation and fun!

Finally, keep a journal, so you can pinpoint which moments of stress are habitual. If you notice recurring stress from the same source, eliminate it or find a way to alleviate it. It may be that a simple change is all that you need to stop tearing your hair out. Stress can wreak havoc on your mind and body. By learning to manage your mind and body responses to stress, you can avoid the harmful effects this inevitable problem has on your overall health.

Health & Fitness Guide

User Poll

Recent Fitness Articles

Stressing the Importance of Health