The term stress comes from the Greek word “stenos” meaning “wonder”. This is why a person with a sense of wonder finds that stress is a rather uninteresting topic, but one to which we should all pay attention. In a word, stress can be defined as a phenomenon in which a body experiences a state of anxiety or fear that can interfere with normal everyday functioning.
Stress and anxiety can be classified as either physiological or psychological. Physical stress is usually associated with heart problems, headaches, and colds. Psychologically induced stress is usually experienced by a person when they are faced with an anxiety-provoking situation that they cannot handle or have trouble controlling. The actual effects of stress vary according to the individual who suffers from it, but the effects of stress on our physical and psychological health can be very negative.
Stress can have profound effects on our mental and physical health. It can result in poor sleep, loss of appetite, and insomnia. Over time, these symptoms can lead to emotional dysfunction, depression, or even physical disease.
Many physical reactions to stress are a pain. Whether it’s an attack of flu or an allergic reaction, stress can cause physical discomfort. Moreover, physical responses to stress tend to dissipate within a day or two, and they may not return in years to come. New research suggests that stress is also a factor in the development of cancer and in the development of chronic health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity.
According to the results of a recent study by the University of Montreal, stress has been found to increase the risk of cancer and chronic health problems. Researches studied the relationship between stress and weight gain, diabetes, and asthma in women. They found that the risk of developing a number of diseases was higher among women who were exposed to high levels of stress in their lives.
Additional study has shown that the mechanisms of stress and its effects on the body have been largely misunderstood. For example, while stress can cause the heart to beat faster, it also has other benefits, such as blood pressure regulation and fat burning. These findings also suggest that the link between stress and weight is no longer valid.
The results of the stress study, however, have often been interpreted negatively. Researchers have recently begun to look at stress and its effects from a new perspective, though. Stress is seen more as a symptom rather than as a cause of disease.
Stress, in other words, is often nothing more than a way of coping with an activity that an individual finds uncomfortable. It’s important to remember that stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it is only a symptom of the emotional challenges we all face in life. This doesn’t mean, however, that we should let stress consume us.
We are all trained to be tough, and that includes dealing with stressful situations. There is a science to managing stress; just like there is a science to managing a sugar high. And just like there is a science to the benefits of indulging in sugar, there is a science to managing stress and its health consequences.
If you’ve tried to stress management techniques such as yoga, massage, and breathing techniques, perhaps a healthy, low-stress lifestyle will be a good place to start. Consider trying relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and yoga. Yoga has been scientifically proven to be an effective stress-relieving practice.
If you need to calm your nerves, focus your mind, and decrease your stress, perhaps it’s time to consider a healthy lifestyle. And the better you manage stress, the better you will feel!
