Maybe this sounds a little overdramatic, but unfortunately the reality is that excessive, untreated stress can actually kill you. When you're stressed, your body produces the hormone cortisol, which is designed to get your rear in gear as part of the fight-or-flight mechanism. However, this hormone is meant to be released only occasionally in small doses ? when stress causes it to be secreted for long periods of time, the body reacts with a variety of different health consequences.
The following are seven of the major health effects caused by stress. If you're experiencing any of these conditions and believe they may be linked to stress, seek medical counseling as soon as possible:
1. Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when the body produces too little insulin to process all the sugars in your body. As these sugars build up, you may experience a number of health problems including thirst, headaches and weight loss. Over time, the condition can cause complications ranging from heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye damage, nerve damage, diabetic neuropathy, skin conditions, and gastrointestinal problems.
2. High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is often referred to as a "silent killer" because there are few actual symptoms that present with the disease. High levels of stress can bring on this condition, which can result in an aneurysm, coronary heart disease, enlarged heart, damage to the brain and even heart attack. If that isn't a good enough reason to learn to manage your stress ? I don't know what is!
3. Weight Gain
People under high levels of stress often experience fluctuations in weight ? as anyone who's ever taken comfort in candy bars knows all to well. However, if your weight gain gets out of control, you could be putting yourself at risk for developing cancer, heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, sleep apnea, liver disease and gallbladder disease. If you notice that you've put on a few pounds, try hitting the gym ? exercise is also a natural stress reliever.
4. Susceptibility to Disease
Your body can only do so much ? when you're under constant pressure, its resources are being diverted to help respond to stress. This leaves the immune system compromised and susceptible to infection by viruses and bacteria. If you've ever noticed yourself coming down with a bug when you're at your most stressed, it isn't just a coincidence ? it's your body letting you know that you're under too much stress to handle safely.
5. Depression
Constant stress can make you feel like there's no way out of your predicament, which can eventually lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression. Depression is a serious disease ? it's nothing to take lightly. If you find yourself feeling trapped by feelings of despair and despondency, seek professional help immediately.
6. Heart Disease
Type A people beware ? stress can and does cause heart disease and heart attacks. Stress contributes to the buildup of plaque in the arteries. As the arteries narrow, the heart has to push the blood even harder to distribute it throughout the body. Over time, this extra stress on the heart can have devastating effects.
7. Cancer
While there's no proven link between stress and cancer, it's widely accepted that excessive stress is a risk factor for developing a type of this deadly disease. Overall, stress weakens the immune system which may allow cancerous tissues to develop and flourish. If you feel that excessive negative stress is causing your immune system to break down, seek help to learn effective stress management techniques that allow you to cope properly.
The good news is we can ALL manage stress and make sure that we control it, feel better and cope better.
Here are 10 simple ways to reduce the affect of stress.
1. Eat Properly
We have covered this in another of our articles but this means eating regularly, the right foods and making sure we don’t skip breakfast.
Eat as naturally as you can from the earth and avoid refined processed products. Plenty of green foods lean protein and oil fish.
For stress busting supplements take magnesium, zinc, omega 3, vitamin C and finally a vitamin B complex supplement.
Finally Chew your food slowly and enjoy it if you are in a hurry you will not absorb the nutrients as your body will be concentrating elsewhere so make time to eat.
2. Avoid Information Overload
You have so many things to do and no time to do them?
If this is you then calm down make a list anything that can be done in 5 minutes or less do it ( it will stop it playing on your mind ) then prioritize your tasks and if you can delegate them away to others.
3. Time Out
Always got your mobile phone on? Always thinking about doing things? – STOP. Make sure you allocate time for you turn off your phone and relax for at least 30 minutes each day.
You can unwind in oils in the bath, listen to classical music, or simply sit in silence. All these will calm you down and make sure you un wind.
4. Dealing With Other People
Do you have people who always want to take up your time? Ask you for advice or keep you talking for hours on the phone when you don’t really want to?
Be blunt if someone takes up your time and you don’t want them to – Be polite but firm and don’t let them.
Many people are so busy involving themselves in other peoples problem they don’t have time for their own don’t fall into this trap.
Allocate your time wisely with your friends and keep in mind in most instances your problems or deadlines should come first.
5. Exercise
This is a great stress buster and was not talking of hours in the gym just some gentle exercise to get your heart rate up.
Our bodies and minds function much better when we are fit and in top shape – Period.
Don’t think you have to go to the gym! If you don’t like the gym simply do brisk walking for 30 minutes a day, the housework as a workout or some mind and body exercise like yoga or Tai Chi.
6. Air
Your body needs it in fact we cant live without it so, make sure you breathe correctly. Here is a simple quick trick to reduce stress and calm you at anytime anywhere.
Take a very deep breath and hold for 4 seconds then exhale very slowly. As you blow out you are realising stress from your body.
The above is only one simple breathing exercise, you should do 5 minutes of Chinese breathing exercises that are outlined in our other articles.
There are many ways to beat stress and the above are some simple ones you can do straight away to feel better and calmer.
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Both Elisabeth Kuhn & Kelly Price are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Elisabeth Kuhn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Computers and The Internet, Entertainment Guide and Guided Meditation. And if you recognize yourself or someone you care about in this article, you are invited to get Elisabeth Kuhn's FREE report with seven . If you want Elisabeth's f. Elisabeth Kuhn's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Kelly Price has sinced written about articles on various topics from RSS, Learn Trading and Forex Trading Forex. MORE FREE INFO ON WELLBEINGOn all aspects of self improvement and visit our website for a huge resource of articles, features and. Kelly Price's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.