Stress And Health

Are stress and health and your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing linked?

Modern scientific medicine has made tremendous progress over the last 100 years when it comes to accurately diagnosing most illnesses.

So why then has general health and wellbeing declined?

It's a sad fact that degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, asthma, alzheimers, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue to name a few have escalated at an alarming rate.

And while medication may provide temporary relief from the symptoms, it provides no cure.

What's going on and...

How Does Stress Affect Health?

Well first let's take a couple of stressful situations almost everyone has experienced at least once to see how they affect the body on a physical level.

Being upset or angry with a person or an event

When you're angry you may feel like you could just explode. You may also experience a number of physical symptoms of stress such as:

• tension in your neck and shoulders,
• a knot in your stomach,
• a lump in your throat,
• veins popping in your neck or face,
• and perhaps even a rise in your blood pressure.

Being embarrassed by someone or something

Have you ever been called on to do something you weren't prepared for? Has someone ever made fun of you for something you did or said? Have you ever messed up a presentation or speech, or forgotten your lines for a play?

If you relate to any of the above you may have experienced one or all of these physical stress signs and symptoms:

• butterflies or nausea in your stomach,
• a pounding heart,
• trembling hands and/or sweaty palms,
• dryness in the mouth and/or a lump in your throat, and
• a hot flush from your neck up to your face as it turns bright red.

The effects of stress and negative emotions cause a physical response in your body.

Stress And Health: Good Stress Vs Bad Stress

While a certain amount of stress can be good to motivate you to step out of your comfort zone to accomplish your goals, being under prolonged stress drains your body of energy and wreaks havoc on your health and wellbeing.

Why?

When you're under intense stress you'll feel the physical response immediately; the andrenal glands secrete the hormone cortisol, your heart beats faster and your breathing quickens, your blood pressure rises, your muscles tense and your blood sugar levels rise giving you instant energy for "fight or flight".

That's great when there's a perceived threat or you are in some sort of danger, but many people today are under so much pressure emotionally and financially that they're living in a state of constant stress without realising it.

That's not good news for you or your body because that's when you're immune system becomes compromised and you end up sick.

It's your body's way of forcing you to slow down.

In addition to draining your energy and making you sick, stress also causes free radical damage and ages you prematurely.

That's why eating a healthy balanced diet rich in antioxidants is so important.

Stress and Health: Main Causes Of Stress

• Arguing with a friend or family member
• Separating from your spouse or getting divorced
• Anxiety over having to present an idea or talk
• Changing jobs, school or university
• Losing your job
• Relocating to another state or overseas
• Being embarrassed by a person or an event
• Frustration at being stuck in traffic or anger at someone cutting you off
• Financial worries and fears
• A serious health threat to you, your family or a friend
• Or the death of a family member, close friend or pet

Stress And Health: Stress Signs And Symptoms

These may include:

• Generally feeling unwell (headaches, stomach upsets and digestive problems, physical pain and tension, feeling exhausted or fatigued)
• Anger and irritability
• Mood swings and crying at the drop of a hat
• Worry, nervousness and feeling anxious
• Emotional eating, weight gain or weight loss
• Difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness
• Lack of co-ordination
• Insomnia
• Withdrawing socially
• Feeling overwhelmed or depressed

Stress And Health: Conclusion

Stress and negative emotions is a far greater contributor to disease than you might imagine, so it's important that you understand it and what's causing it, and take the necessary steps to reduce your stress levels if you want to maintain vibrant health and wellbeing.

If you're wondering how to deal with stress and are looking for a few ideas for stress relief, click here for 5 "stress relief tips" that are completely natural and effective.

Remember too the importance of antioxidant nutrition to help support the body in times of stress.

If you're looking for a natural supplement for stress click here to find out what to look for before you part with your hard earned cash.

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