Due to highly demanding work, family and school, people may become more susceptible to stress. It is normal to experience this condition but it should not go on for a long time. Every day we encounter stressful situations in our environment. We cannot eliminate them all, but we can learn how to deal with it the right way.
Some of the symptoms one may experience when under stress are sweaty hands, shortness of breath and pounding heart. This is an innate response of the mind to help us protect ourselves from possible danger. However, if we encounter stress on a daily basis, it can pose serious health problems and reduce the quality of our life.
What is Chronic Stress?
Chronic stress happen when the symptoms experienced starts to interfere with your capacity to live a normal life. This is a dangerous situation and should be addressed immediately. The longer we experience stress and its symptoms, the worse it can be for the body and mind. It wears our body and makes us feel tired, lacking focus, moody and irritable.
What are the Health Effects of Stress?
There are a number of health issues that may arise due to stress. Here are some of them.
• Insomnia – Stress causes less and poor quality of sleep. It may give you a hard time to fall asleep as well as stay asleep. This may also lead to insomnia. Sleep is important because this is the time of cell repair and regeneration. If you have inadequate sleep it can lead to serious health issues.
• Weak Immune System – Not having an adequate amount of sleep, may weaken the immune system. Making one prone to certain infections and immune-related diseases.
• Heartburn – Stomach acid is produced more if with stress. Antacids may help but the best solution is to address the root cause of the heartburn, which is stress.Since stomach acid production is evident, stomach aches and abdominal pain may develop. Nausea and lose bowel movements can also happen.
• High Blood Pressure and Heart Attack – The stress hormones affect blood vessels, tightening them which causes blood pressure to rise. After a period of time, there will be an increase in the heart rate and blood pressure which may cause damage to the arteries. This puts one at risk for heart attacks.
• Low Sex Drive and Fertility Problems – Stress can decrease the drive to have sex, as it affects libido. Stress also interferes with the reproductive system. This is applicable to both men and women. Stressed individuals may also find it hard to conceive. Due to the fluctuation of hormones, menstrual cycle may also be affected.
For men, it may also lead to erectile dysfunction. Erection involves brain activity and it is affected if the body and mind are under a lot of stress.
These are just some of the health issues we may encounter should we live a stressful life for a long period of time. It is recommended to take action immediately when a great amount of stress is experienced.
Managing Stress
By reducing the level of stress, we may feel better and eliminate the chances of having health problems in the future. Stress is a big part of our daily life and we cannot fully avoid them. We should learn how to manage stress and to positively deal with it.Provided below are some of the strategies we can practice to successfully manage stress.
Identifying and Avoiding the Cause.
To help you monitor stress, you can write down the instances when you encountered stressful situations. You should also write down the reason why you felt that way. At the end of the day, you can have an assessment and further improve your state of mind by avoiding these stressors.
Building Strong Relationships
You should spend time with your friends and family as they are your support system. Maintaining a healthy and strong relationship can help to alleviate the effects of stress.
Relaxation and Meditation
There are studies that show people improving their health by participating in relaxation exercises and meditation. Not only will it boost the immune system but it will also keep the mind fit and healthy.
In general, there are a variety of ways to keep stress out of our system. Nevertheless, it is still advisable to seek help when gets worse. There are many mental health professionals who can assist you in achieving effective stress management.
