Learn how stress can affect the health of both the mind and the body and how to prevent and reduce it.
There are two types of stress - short-term and long-term.Short-term stress might occur when a person finds himself in a dangerous situation, such as an automobile accident.Adrenaline rushes throughout his body.His heart races, he breathes faster, his senses are heightened, and he can think more quickly and clearly.This is the fight-or-flight syndrome, and it is a response that has helped humans survive throughout their history.A few short-term stressful situations will not affect one's health significantly. Long-term stress is the culprit there.
Chronic stress has been known to help cause or worsen heart problems.The constant levels of hormones that are produced by stress promote blood clotting, rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure, all of which weaken the heart.The heart works harder than it normally would over a long period of time.The body is on a constant state of alert, and does not use its resources to repair the heart's tissues.Eventually this can lead to angina and, ultimately, a heart attack.
Stress also raises the body's insulin levels.If the insulin levels remain high for a long period of time, the person might develop a resistance to insulin and get Type 2 diabetes.High blood pressure, which is also caused by stress, exacerbates the diabetes.Diabetes in turn can lead to blindness, loss of circulation in the feet, nerve damage, frequent infections, impotence, kidney failure, and periodontal disease.Diabetics are at great risk for heart attacks and strokes.
Asthma is aggravated by stress.An asthma attack can be triggered by the faster breathing a person does when under stress.People under constant stress may have bouts of asthma much more often than people who only get stressed out occasionally.
Stress causes the body to produce a chemical called cortisol.Cortisol is used by the body to help manage stress.Excess cortisol encourages the body to store fat, especially in the belly area.Excess belly fat has been proven to lead to a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes.Excess cortisol also has been shown to shrink the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that helps transfer experiences and emotions into memory.
Stress impairs one's ability to think clearly.It can cause one to be moody, impulsive, and distractible.High levels of stress can lead to depression, especially when the person feels that he has no control over the situation that is causing him stress.It may lead to problems in relationships with family, friends, and coworkers as the person becomes increasingly unable to cope with his stress.
Stress has been linked to overproduction of an enzyme called protein kinase C (PKC).If PKC is present in the brain in high amounts, it aggravates the mania stage of bipolar disorder, causing irrational thinking and errors in judgment.Some studies have shown that PKC is also present in high levels in the brains of schizophrenics.
Stress can cause one to neglect one's health through being distracted with worries or feeling hopeless about the stressful situation.If a person already has developed a chronic disease, such as diabetes, he might be so preoccupied with the stressor in his life that he will forget to manage his disease properly.
Stress management is very important for everyone.No one can escape having stress in his life.But no one has to let it rule his life and damage his health.
