What Are The Effects Of Stress On The Body?

The Effects Of Stress On Health

The effects of stress on the body have been connected to many health conditions, like depression, diabetes, hair loss, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, obesity, high blood pressure, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, infertility, autoimmune diseases, ulcers and even cancer. Some research suggests that chronic stress is responsible for as many as 60-90% of all illnesses.

How Does Stress Impact The Body?

When the body is in a state of stress, the fight or flight response is triggered to enable the body to defend against the perceived threat. Nutrients are deployed from the immune system to produce cortisol.

The body is designed to cope with short bursts of stress. But all too often, chronic stress sets in and the immune system faces a longer than anticipated period of compromise. Overtime, the effects of stress on the body become evident as it is forced to survive on less than sufficient nutrients. For this reason, if you suffer from chronic stress, herbal supplements can help feed the body the nutrients you're missing out on.

Does Stress Cause Depression?

While many scientists believe the effects of stress on the body extend to depression, the precise nature of the relationship is still unknown. What is known, is that some individuals are genetically predisposed to depression and that the presence of environmental stress can trigger its onset.

Does Stress Cause Gray Hair?

While there are many hypotheses about the relationship between gray hair and stress, there is no conclusive evidence that they are linked. Many scientists theorize that gray hair is caused by the release of stress hormones like cortisol. When the body is in a state of stress, these hormones may cause inflammation that leads to the production of free radicals. These free radicals could retard the production of melanin, which is responsible for hair color.

In Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, two ancient Asian approaches to health and well being, premature graying is seen as a sign of imbalance that can be addressed using herbal concoctions.

Can Stress Cause Hives?

Yes, stress is linked to outbreaks of hives. Again, it's linked to the overproduction of cortisol and other stress chemicals. When there is an oversupply of cortisol in the body, the change in your internal chemistry can lead to a hormone imbalance. This imbalance has different types of physical expression. Inflammation of the skin in the form of hives is one type of manifestation that up to 1 in 5 people experience during their lives.

The Good News: Simple Lifestyle Changes Like Daily Exercise Reduces Stress

No one is invulnerable to stress. But there are small things we can all do to defend against it. Start with exercise. Just 30 minutes everyday is all that's needed when beginning an exercise routine. Also take a truthful look at your diet. A simple step that will lead to better health is to cut out caffeine and sugary foods and replace with herbal tea and food high in complex carbohydrates. And don't forget to consider herbal supplements. Especially treatments from the fields of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.

And, of course, work to discipline your mind. Reframing the way you think about stressful events and circumstances is a powerful way to dispel stress from your life and can lead to permanent change.

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