We’ve all felt it.
We all know what it can do.
Stress is quite possibly one of the very worst things we can subject ourselves to.
Without a doubt, it wreaks havoc on our bodies and minds.
And the funny thing is, it’s a completely made-up construction in our heads!
These are just a few of the things stress can do to your health— and how you can overcome them.
1) Heart Disease
Research has pretty clearly shown that the stressed-out, type A personality has a much higher risk of high blood pressure and heart diseases. It’s not exactly known why, but stress directly increases cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood stream.
Doctors know that sudden emotional stress can trigger serious cardiac problems, including heart attacks.
People with serious heart problems have to avoid stress at all costs.
2) Asthma
Stress is one of the worst things for asthma.
Children who are predisposed to asthma actually develop the condition at a much faster rate than those who’re not subjected to stressful circumstances.
3) Obesity
Cortisol, the hormone we release when stressed, prevents the proper assimilation of excess fat in the body/
With repeated exposure to stress, too much cortisol can lead to obesity.
4) Diabetes
Because stress increases the likelihood of unhealthy eating and excessive drinking, it also increases the likelihood of onset diabetes.
Stress also directly increases glucose levels of those with type 2 diabetes.
5) Headaches
Stress is considered one of the most common triggers for headaches — not just tension headaches, but migraines as well.
6) Depression and Anxiety
It’s not really a surprise that chronic stress is connected with higher rates of depression and anxiety.
In fact, people who have stress related to their jobs have an 80% higher risk of developing depression within a few years when compared to those in jobs with lower stress.
Ouch!
7) Gastrointestinal Problems
Contrary to popular belief, stress doesn’t cause ulcers; but it does make them worse.
But stress is a common factor in many GI conditions such as chronic heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
8) Alzheimer’s Disease
Some studies have shown that stress can worsen Alzheimer’s disease, causing brain lesions to form more quickly.
Many researchers speculate that reducing stress has the potential to slow the progression of the disease.
9) Accelerated Aging
Believe it or not, there’s definitely evidence that stress effects how we age.
One study compared the DNA of mothers who were under high stress — they were caring for a chronically ill child — with women who were not.
Researchers found that a particular region of the chromosomes showed the effects of accelerated aging. Stress seemed to accelerate aging about 9 to 17 additional years.
10) Premature Death
A study looked at the effects of stress by studying elderly caregivers looking after their spouses- people who are naturally under a great deal of stress.
Shockingly, it found that caregivers had a 63% higher rate of death than people their age who were not caregivers.
4 Ways to Overcome Stress
The next time you feel stressed, try these 4 tips— I promise they’ll make a huge difference!
- Stay in the moment- We tend to live in the future or the past in our minds. Worrying about the future creates anxiety, while dwelling on the past creates depression. Instead, practice eastern teachings and focus on the moment; feel each sensation as you walk, talk, eat, or read. BE with what you’re doing, instead of going a thousand directions in your mind.
- Deep breathing- When you feel stress settling in, start taking big, deep breaths. This helps to slow the heartbeat and calm your mind.
- Meditate- There has been a plethora of scientific research showing that meditation is the ultimate way of treating stress. This is because it changes the mind in a profound way. It actually improves the baseline brain waves…permanently. Meditation is the long term and permanent holistic solution to stress.
- Exercise- Getting plenty of exercise can make a huge difference. It releases tons of feel-good hormones such as dopamine and endorphins, which in turn can significantly boost your mood.
source and courtesy: sivanaspirit.com