Underestimating Stress
Stress is defined as any stimulus or factor that threatens the health of the body or has an adverse effect on its functioning.
Kinds of stress
Extreme stress (for example, wounds from an accident) can cause great changes in the body, such as a drastic drop in blood pressure. In these acute cases, Western medicine can be beneficial. However, medication can help the symptoms of stress, but it will not cure the problem until you remove the causative factors.
Mild stress can be a contributory factor in conditions such as ulcers, migraines, heart attacks, eczema, diabetes, and even cancer.
Effects on the body
People vary in the amount of stress they can tolerate, but eventually stress overstimulates the adrenal gland. This controls the way our physical and mental systems respond to threat or challenge.
Two substances that are produced by the adrenal gland — epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) — are released in response to short bursts of activity or stress, and they prepare the body for “fight or flight,” increasing the heart rate, diverting blood from digestive organs to the muscles increasing alertness and triggering emotional reactions.
However, adrenal stimulation over a long period will deplete the body’s systems. This is often also because of insufficient exercise and relaxation, as the excess amount of epinephrine is not metabolized. Constant stress can also change hormone balance.
Everyday life pressure can cause biochemical changes in the body, introducing such conditions as headaches or lower back pain. Indirectly, this may contribute to high blood pressure, digestive disorders, anxiety and depression. To some degree, everyone feels sad at some time or another, and anyone can suffer from anxiety at one point.
Depression can be a passing phase,but it can also become a long-term burden in which the person is prone to frequent inner despair.
Relaxing
Relaxing gives an inner tranquility, which helps you cope better with stressful situations. It also helps many of the physical symptoms that may have arisen, balancing the whole biological system on which our health depends.
It is important to learn how to relax properly. It is not enough to sit in front of the television after work, as this does not completely relax you. There are many different methods of relaxation available: yoga, Tai Chi, qigong, meditation, Reiki, accupressure and many more.
It is worthwhile putting in time and practice to become a calm and collected person, as relaxation is a prerequisite to achieving health.
Links
Check WholeHealthMD.com for alternative methods of relaxation and therapy ideas.