Did you know that negative stress - "distress" leads to disease and ultimately subtracts years from our life. Statistics show that a startling 75% - 90% of all doctor's visits are stress related. The , in Atlanta, sights a significant link between stress and six of the leading causes of death; heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide.



"Fight or flight" is an auto response in which our mind tells our body to stand guard. In response to stress, our heart speeds up, our blood pressure rises, our breathing quickens, and sweating increases. These physical responses are immediate, but there are many other stress effects that significantly impact not only our long-term physical health, but our mental and as well. Let's look at five of our body systems and the direct affect that stress has.

I'm a survivor

Our is the main line of defense against disease like the ones previously mentioned. This is our fighting system. When we allow ourselves to become stressed we leave ourselves open to attack. We even become more susceptible to illnesses that are easily preventable such as the common cold and flu.

The skin is our body's ! It is our outer covering- the very first thing others see. Whatever is going on inside will show itself on the outside. Stress tremendously affects the aging process. One of the first places we show our age is in fact, our face. Stress can also cause a person to break out in hives, similar to the response experienced during an allergic reaction.

Break it Down

Stress interferes with the digestion system functioning properly. The process of digestion allows us to gain the fuel our bodies need to run efficiently. Stress causes the digestive system to completely shut down. If your is in knots because of stress, you can experience one of the two signs that let you know your system is "out of order" - diarrhea or constipation.

Brain Power

Our brain is the "control center" of the body. When the body is not well rested, our entire nervous system is thrown out of whack. For example, when fatigue sets in we are unable to function at an optimal level. Not only will the frequency of headaches increase but accidents as well. The officially recognize stress as a leading cause of worksite injuries. Additionally, the reports that 71,000 deaths annually can be attributed to fatigue.

- include plenty of H20, fruits and vegetables in your diet