Stress seems to have become the running mate for most of us in this fast-moving world. Be it due to work, finances, relationships, or significant life changes, stress knows how to enter our lives and play havoc on our health. I was just thinking about that, and here are my ideas on how stress takes a toll on our bodies and what we can do about it.
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First, I started feeling the effects of stress on my heart and lungs. My heart would race, and often I was out of breath. Later, I learned that, indeed, it is possible for stress to increase heart rate and blood pressure; with time, serious problems with the heart develop. That is the scariest part: something as ubiquitous as stress is able to affect our cardiovascular system in ways that are so vast. As we feel stressed, we start breathing more shallowly and rapidly; this adds to the feeling of anxiety even more.
Our immune systems take a blow, too, when we are put under constant stress. For instance, I remember getting sick more often during those periods of my life when I was going through a lot of stress. This happens because the hormones from stress like cortisol suppress the functioning of the immune system, so we become more prone to infections and diseases. This is a vicious circle: stress makes you ill; being ill worries you even more.
One of the more surprising effects of stress is on our digestive system. I used to think my stomach issues were just random, but now I know they were linked to stress. When under stress, blood shunts away from the gut, which may create problems such as diarrhea or constipation. It can also be associated with stress very closely in conditions like irritable bowel syndrome. It’s amazing how much our mental state can influence our digestive health.
It also expresses itself in our muscles. I have tallied up many tension headaches and tight shoulders after long, stressful weeks. This makes sense, given that when we are stressed, it triggers our sympathetic nervous system to lock and tighten our muscles. This, one time or another, will turn into chronic pain; some even develop migraines. No wonder we feel like getting a good massage after a tough week.
Another area where stress is going to hurt is our reproductive health. If we experience high levels of stress, it might affect the release of some reproductive hormones, thereby changing cycles and reducing fertility. It shows that sometimes our mental health goes beyond our physical health.
Mentally, stress can drive us toward anxiety and depression. I have personally felt how much the overwhelming nature of stress can jerk around with our clear thinking and make any person incapable of concentrating or making decisions. If it continues for a longer period, stress can result in a state we all dread: exhaustion and burnout. It not only disturbs the mood but also the whole of mental health.
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This stress will change the way we eat and sleep. Sometimes, I lost my appetite, other times, I just couldn't stop eating. Stress can knock our hunger cues out of whack and cause us to eat unhealthily. It does the exact with sleep, too. Sleep becomes elusive when we're under stress. Some forms of insomnia may set in, and sometimes it's oversleeping as a way to escape our worries. Neither is good for our health in the long run.
One of the more troubling behaviors that arises from stress is increased substance use. I have seen many people turn to alcohol or drugs as a way to deal with feeling overwhelmed by their stress, exemplifying a terrestrial problem. That is why it's essential to find healthier ways of coping with your stress before things get to this point.
Well, what can we do regarding stress? For me personally, trying to include some stress-reducing activities in the grind of everyday life has made all the difference. Things such as physical activity, deep breathing, and social support from people have helped me keep up with the stress better.
Maintaining a pattern of self-care, getting enough rest, and not ignoring basic needs like food are also important. Sometimes, just accepting that life is hard and isn't perfect makes all the difference.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, talking to a healthcare provider is a pretty good idea. They are in a position to help you find some coping mechanisms and make sure that stress doesn't start to cut through your health. After all, stress shapes a large part of our daily lives, but with proper tools and support, we can cope and be healthy.