In recent years there has been a large increase in the number of stress-related illnesses in the United States. Recent studies have linked everything from high blood pressure to hair loss to the effects of long-term stress. With this increase comes a greater awareness of stress triggers and the health effects of constant stress or tension.
Today, with longer work hours, larger work loads, financial worries and over extended calendars, Americans are facing stress on a daily basis. This stress response is putting their lives in danger.
Stress, or more accurately, the body’s response to it is a necessary action. When a person is faced with a stressful or dangerous situation, the brain signals the release of stress hormones into the body. These hormones help to prepare the body to fight or escape the danger. Concentration becomes more focused, reaction times become quicker and strength and agility increase. Then, when the danger has passed, the stress hormones dissipate and body functions return to normal.
Stress becomes a problem though, when a person is in a constant state of stress and the body is forced to function with a high level of stress hormones pumping through the blood stream. This constant high level can cause dangerous, even deadly, effects on the body.
The side effects of long-term stress can include elevated heart rate, hair loss, elevated blood pressure, sluggish metabolism, a weakening of the immune system and weight gain. Stress can also interfere with memory, digestion and sleep, worsen depression and contribute to multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
According to the American Medical Association, people should start taking immediate steps in their daily lives to reduce stress and combat the effects of long-term stress. Some strategies that can be easily incorporated into your daily routine are as follows…
Eliminate unnecessary activities- Review your schedule to uncover an activity or two that can be eliminated or cut back. If that fails, try to let go of unrealistic expectations and loosen up your criteria of acceptable.
Make a list- Having a physical list of to-dos as opposed to a mental one can reduce your stress level. Writing tasks down allows your brain to let go of them and marking them off as they are completed gives you a mental boost of accomplishment.
Find a hobby- Doing something you enjoy gives the mind and body down time that it can use to fight the effects of long-term stress.
Exercise- In addition to the well known health benefits of daily activity, exercise releases feel-good hormones into the blood stream that can counter act the effects of stress hormones.
Eat right- The extra vitamins a healthy diet provides can go a long way toward helping the body repair the damage it suffers from long-term stress.
Relax- Setting aside 20 to 30 minutes a day for relaxation can dramatically reduce the levels of stress hormones in the blood stream. Find a quiet place and read a book, take a walk, daydream or meditate.
By incorporating all or even a few of the above suggestions into your daily life, you can effectively reduce your stress levels and help promote a healthier future.
