Stress is now officially recognized as a workplace hazard. The only thing it doesn't affect is your taste in clothes and it could be argued that it could be affected too.



We are walking gold mines of beautifully arranged systems of biological checks and balances. One defense system supports or matches perfectly with another which blends in perfectly with another and so on.

It was a tough go for our ancestors so our body's systems are made to adapt to many things.

Fever is something we view as harmful and certainly it can be but, the basic use for it is to turbo charge the immune system when the body is being invaded. Part of the process involves causing blood vessels to leak fluid a bit.

Your nose is full of blood vessels so it will leak fluid. A runny nose provides a way for your body to rid the bloodstream of debris from viruses and dead cells. Sneezing and coughing are ways to use air to forcefully blow phlegm from your nose and throat, respectively.

This is just one of thousands of beautifully choreographed chemical and biological systems that we don't have to even bother with. They always run on full automatic. They even have a built in "forgiveness" factor that works around things in our lives like maybe smoking or too much weight.

How does stress affect health? It's like you trying to run with shackles binding your ankles. Infections use the same tactic to attack that the best generals in history used when battling a larger army. Find a weak spot and attack.

Napoleon's record in battle is hard to match. When his army was out-manned, as it frequently was, he would find a weak spot in the opponent and would attack there. Divide and conquer.

And this is what stress does to us.

The defensive systems meant to protect us get more and more decrepit. Their line of defense is weakened. The weakest spots are areas of attack by germs.

Fatigue and the associated stress leaves our bodies easy pickings for all kinds of infections and diseases.

Our bodies are wonders of co-operation and healing. How does stress affect health? It's like having metal bars being held together by string where once they had been welded together.

A stressed body is not only more susceptible to biologics. It also self destructs through constipation, can't sleep/ can't wake up, heart issues, and many more modern day diseases.

Stressed women have difficulty getting pregnant when they want to. Back and neck pain are common.

Cardio vascular problems that would be survivable in low stress people kill high strung people. Stomach cramping, weight gain or loss, these can all be caused or aggravated by being stressed.

Doctors are having trouble keeping up with the new discoveries about stress.

For example, can stress cause hives? The skin is the largest organ in the body, and it is very sensitive. Stress causes hormonal imbalances in the skin. These trigger hives in about 15% of the population.

Signs of clinical depression usually show up shortly after a time of high stress begins. We are left weak and feeling incapable. Procrastination takes over and we feel worse. The stress worsens and we develop many symptoms of clinical depression.

If you are highly stressed, stay sharp for the physical symptoms of anxiety attacks. Throbbing headaches along with a racing heart are some indicators. Being afraid of almost anything and everything along with shortness of breath can also be signs.

You now have the greatest tool for getting better. Knowledge. How does stress affect health? It weakens everything. Get help and make it your life's goal to reduce stress. It's killing you.