Stress - Harmful to both mind and body
Regardless of profession, life stage or lifestyle, we all experience some form of stress in varying degrees throughout our lives. The causes of stress are just as diverse as the methods in which individuals cope with it, as well as its repercussions on both psychological and physical health. Many of us mistakenly believe that stress only affects our mental well-being, this is simply not the case. Our physical health can in fact deteriorate rapidly if we allow ourselves to suffer from prolonged periods of stress.
How Does Stress Really Affect Us?
The body reacts to stress on numerous levels. On a neurological level, prolonged periods of stress can lead to a wide range of behavioral problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and insomnia. All of which, if left untreated, can require medical attention and be extremely hazardous to our health.
On a physical level, our bodies react to stress by increasing the production of hormones such as cortisone and cortisol. Excessively high cortisol levels are extremely detrimental to our health due to the fact that muscle mass and organs are attacked, in addition to the diminishing of immune system strength as a result of the inhibition of disease-fighting white blood cell production. Many of the symptoms commonly associated with stress such as anxiety, irritability, fear of failure, jaw grinding, insomnia and increased susceptibility to illness or physical discomfort can be attributed to the secretion of these hormones. The lifestyle choices we make have a direct effect on not only the intensity of these symptoms, but can also lead to additional health concerns. For example, individuals unable to cope with stress tend to either over or under eat, leading to obesity or the deprivation of essential nutrients to the body. Individuals under stress are also prone to developing smoking habits or consuming alcohol, making stress an indirect contributor to heart disease, cancer and stroke.
Advice from the American Heart Foundation tells us to: “Find healthy ways to handle stress. Make a major effort to stop smoking, stay at a healthy weight, and eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium.” In addition to this, there are many lifestyle choices we can adopt to shorten and alleviate periods of stress. Once we have the identified the sources of tension in our lives, we can adapt and make changes accordingly. Dietary and exercise habits are very influential. We must ensure that our caffeine intake is limited, but make sure we provide our bodies with a rich supply of vitamins and minerals by consuming fresh fruit and vegetables. Regular exercise provides us with a beneficial means of escape from stress by stimulating the production of “stress combating” endorphins and lowering our risk of cardiovascular disease. We must also make certain that we allow ourselves to have regular periods of relaxation, without this, tension is likely to rapidly rise.
Växa offers a range of homeopathic medicinals which have been specifically formulated to aid us during times of stress. Extress helps to calm nerves, safely relax muscles and diminish emotional sensitivity. Adapt contains a unique blend of adaptogens which lower cortisol levels, boost the immune system, increase energy levels and improve focus and concentration. In addition, Nite-Rest can provide us with a method to safely alleviate stress-induced insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns.
How Does Stress Really Affect Us?
The body reacts to stress on numerous levels. On a neurological level, prolonged periods of stress can lead to a wide range of behavioral problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and insomnia. All of which, if left untreated, can require medical attention and be extremely hazardous to our health.
On a physical level, our bodies react to stress by increasing the production of hormones such as cortisone and cortisol. Excessively high cortisol levels are extremely detrimental to our health due to the fact that muscle mass and organs are attacked, in addition to the diminishing of immune system strength as a result of the inhibition of disease-fighting white blood cell production. Many of the symptoms commonly associated with stress such as anxiety, irritability, fear of failure, jaw grinding, insomnia and increased susceptibility to illness or physical discomfort can be attributed to the secretion of these hormones. The lifestyle choices we make have a direct effect on not only the intensity of these symptoms, but can also lead to additional health concerns. For example, individuals unable to cope with stress tend to either over or under eat, leading to obesity or the deprivation of essential nutrients to the body. Individuals under stress are also prone to developing smoking habits or consuming alcohol, making stress an indirect contributor to heart disease, cancer and stroke.
Advice from the American Heart Foundation tells us to: “Find healthy ways to handle stress. Make a major effort to stop smoking, stay at a healthy weight, and eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium.” In addition to this, there are many lifestyle choices we can adopt to shorten and alleviate periods of stress. Once we have the identified the sources of tension in our lives, we can adapt and make changes accordingly. Dietary and exercise habits are very influential. We must ensure that our caffeine intake is limited, but make sure we provide our bodies with a rich supply of vitamins and minerals by consuming fresh fruit and vegetables. Regular exercise provides us with a beneficial means of escape from stress by stimulating the production of “stress combating” endorphins and lowering our risk of cardiovascular disease. We must also make certain that we allow ourselves to have regular periods of relaxation, without this, tension is likely to rapidly rise.
Växa offers a range of homeopathic medicinals which have been specifically formulated to aid us during times of stress. Extress helps to calm nerves, safely relax muscles and diminish emotional sensitivity. Adapt contains a unique blend of adaptogens which lower cortisol levels, boost the immune system, increase energy levels and improve focus and concentration. In addition, Nite-Rest can provide us with a method to safely alleviate stress-induced insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns.
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