Stress is a consequence of mental or physical tension caused by experiences of life. People mostly associate it with brain activity only but little do they know that it can have severe effects on the body as well. Some people can deal with stress easier than the others. It usually has a negative connotation associated with it but not all stress is bad. Some can act as a driving force for you to do better in life.
Stress does not only impact your emotions but your behaviors, your thinking ability, and physical conditions. When you suffer from a mishap in life e.g. death of a loved one, your brain releases stress hormones, that in return increases your heartbeat, quickens your breath, brings your muscles in action, and puts our health at risk.
There are 12 major health problems related to stress:
1. Heart disease
Stress has a direct influence on your heart rate and blood flow which originates from the increase of cholesterol and triglyceride acids in your blood. This accelerates the risk of high blood pressure and heart-related problems for a person who is stressed out. The causes of stress can also be linked to obesity or smoking that eventually leads to heart problems. Cardiac arrests or heart attacks are often triggered by a situation that hit you hard emotionally. This is exactly why doctors suggest the family of heart patients to keep them away from stressful situations. People who are dealing with these diseases should learn to cope with stress and not let it affect them massively.
2. Obesity
Excess fat is an amalgamation of health problems. Obese people have most of their fat stored on their belly than any other part of the body which conceives most of the health issues. People that are highly stressed happen to store their fat exactly where they shouldn’t. As stated by webmd.com, in an interview with Winner the author of Take the Stress out of Your Life stated: “Stress causes a high level of the hormone cortisol and that seems to increase the amount of fat that’s deposited in the abdomen.”
3. Asthma
Yes, other than the heart, stress can make you suffer from respiratory issues as well. It can worsen your breathing problems so if you have asthma and you stress a lot, then you have another problem piled up on the heap. Studies have shown that stressed-out parents can affect their children unknowingly. A study compared such children to the ones who developed asthma because the mother smoked during pregnancy or were exposed to air pollution. The result proved that stressed-out parents inculcated a higher probability of their children developing asthma.
4. Gastrointestinal problems
One thing that stress is not guilty of is causing ulcers but it can definitely worsen one. The hasty breathing, hormonal rush, and high heart rate can cause your digestive system to become upset. This increases your chances to have chronic heartburn. Moreover, stress can influence the way the food moves in the body leading to diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, or stomach ache.
5. Headache
Headaches are a common cause of stress. It gets triggered easily. However, excessive tensions can cause you to develop migraines.
6. Depression
Depression and anxiety are commonly associated with stress so this is no news. People who work under situations that stimulate stress are more likely to instigate depression in them. On the other hand, satisfied people don’t stress out a lot and thus have close to no chances of suffering from depression.
7. Muscle tension
Muscles tend to get tensed when you are under stress to protect themselves from injury. They loosen up when you get relaxed but if you stay tensed most of the time, it will result in headaches, shoulder pain, back pain, and body aches.
8. Insomnia
Mental or physical problems can directly have an impact on your sleep schedule. Stressful situations can make you suffer from insomnia temporarily but if you are under constant stress, you may end up suffering from chronic insomnia.
9. Alzheimer’s
Stress is directly related to the brain and that makes it more susceptible to brain problems. Stress causes inflammation in the brain and acts as a trigger for Alzheimer’s to get more damaging. Few researchers say that reducing stress can cause this disease to abate.
10. Aging
No one wants to age before time. Wrinkles, dark circles and dull skin is something every woman’s nightmare but if you are stressing out about things more than you should then you’re giving life to your fears. Studies show that mothers who are stressed about their chronically ill child are more likely to accelerate aging than the others who are not. Stress has proved to accelerate aging by 9-17 more years.
11. Diabetes
Stress can also aggravate diabetes. Stress eating is a thing most people can relate to and unhealthy eating and drinking lead to diabetes. Other than this it leads to an increase in glucose levels of people with type 2 diabetes.
12. Early death
Elderly people who have to look after their spouses or children suffering from illness are more likely to experience a premature death as they are under a great level of stress. People who are not caregivers tend to live longer and healthier.
Forbes.com lists the impacts of stress on our bodies, mood, and behavior.
Stress being an emotional state can ravage our bodies beyond our comprehension but that does not mean we can not combat stress. You should try to take deep breaths whenever you feel your heart racing. This will help you calm down. Don’t stop exercising, it is one of the best ways to release stress and compose yourself. Whenever you feel stressed out in a situation, try to look at the situation from a different perspective rather than fidgeting. Many dietary supplements can help you overcome stress. Some of them are:
Rhodiola
Rhodiola is found in the regions of Asia and Europe. This plant is also known as the Golden plant and is popular for improving mood, boosting energy, and most importantly reducing stress. A study made doctors working night shifts use Rhodiola and it was seen to noticeably reduce their stress levels and increase vigilance. It is also seen to reduce fatigue since exhaustion has a vital part to play in stress.
Glycine
Glycine is an amino acid that our body needs to produce proteins. It has produced positive results in the reduction of stress. The use of glycine encourages the calmness of the brain and body by lowering body temperature at night. It helps you combat sleep deprivation and reduces fatigue. A study showed that people who took 3 grams of glycine before bed experienced a peaceful sleep.
Valerian root
This plat is native to Europe and works exceptionally well in treating nervousness, anxiety, and troubles in sleeping. It has shown to evidently diminish stress and is well known for its calming and soothing effect. This is a de-stressing tool that gives you a quality sleep at night which by consequence helps you to deal with stress.
Ashwagandha
As the name sounds, this herb belongs to India and has been used in the oldest medicines in history. The herb increases your body’s resistance to mental and physical tension. A study has shown Ashwagandha to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression with a dosage of 240 milligrams for 60 days. The stress hormones also saw a reduction of 23%. The supplement of the herb also helped people deal with fatigue. 600 mg of ashwagandha for 60 days is a safe dosage as per experiments.
Vitamin B complex
Vitamin B plays an essential role in transferring the food eaten into energy. This supplement contains all 8 vitamin Bs which are extremely beneficial for the health of your heart and brain. These can be taken in the form of food which is widely available. Eggs, dairy products, meat, legumes, greens, and grains all have an excessive amount of vitamin B. A high dose of vitamin B helps reduce stress, anxiety, improves mood and energy. This is the result of low blood levels in amino acid homocysteine according to a study. High homocysteine leads to stress ad high risk of heart disease, dementia, and even cancer. Vitamin B is safe if taken in recommended doses, otherwise, the side effects may include nerve pains and excess urine.
Magnesium
Magnesium is another important supplement for nerve and muscle function. Studies have also shown that magnesium is a must for good quality sleep. Tossing and turning in bed all night increases stress but if magnesium is taken in an appropriate amount, you can have a peaceful sleep and avoid the struggle.
All of these supplements are available online and in stores. You no longer have to deal with stress alone. Take the supplements in the correct amount, exercise, connect with nature, meditate, and stay composed. Keep your brain and your body healthy.
