So what is one to do about their stress? Since it is nearly impossible to completely rid yourself of it, manage it. You could, like Ron Burgundy, call a friend and vent or you could EXERCISE. Yes, exercise of any kind is scientifically proven to lower stress in the body. Exercise, even just walking for 30 minutes, releases serotonin, feel good endorphins and neurotransmitters in the brain. In a 2011 book written by Dr. Jasper Smits called “Exercise For Mood and Anxiety”, it was determined that physically training your body with regular exercise can improve anxiety and panic sensitivity resulting in less stress in the body. You can literally build a wall of defense against the effects of stress on your body by exercising regularly. Science proves that active people carry less stress than inactive people. So, what are you waiting for? Start moving! Exercise is the only proven medicine with no alarming side-effects that can clinically reduce your stress levels. Get out there and start moving (and vote)! Stay Well.
It’s just human nature. Especially with this year’s election, stress is everywhere and we all have our own individual stressors. Whether you have projects piling up at work, an upcoming test that can make or break your grade, or someone keeps calling your home asking you to vote for their candidate, something is always weighing us down. If you find someone who legitimately lives life stress free, please give them an award, or a box of cookies or something. Chronic stress can have some very serious effects on your body and they probably aren’t helping your health. Lets take a look at just what can happen to your body if you keep piling on the stress. Short term stress can have some obvious symptoms like loss or increase of appetite and lack of sleep. You can also experience headaches, dizziness, chest pain, forgetfulness, inability to focus, and even a break down of the immune system leading to frequent colds. Moodiness and irritability are also very common stress-induced symptoms. Chronic Long Term Stress, however, can have much more serious consequences. Submitting your body to continuous stress can actually increase your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and irregular heart beat. And thats just the cardiovascular part. Elevated mental health and cognitive risks include: depression, anxiety, and higher risk of personality disorders. Other bodily functions can be compromised as well. Abnormal weight loss or gain, as well as sexual and gastrointestinal disorders can present themselves due to long term stress. Here’s something that will certainly hit home with our patients: both short term and chronic stress actually exacerbates pain in the body! So yes, your stress can actually be hurting you more.