Effects Of Stress On Mental And Physical Health – When we feel stressed, it’s common to mistake those frequent headaches or stomachaches for other physical ailments. However, stressful situations trigger a physiological response in our body that causes headaches, nausea or other symptoms. It is also known as the “fight or flight response”. This sympathetic nervous system response is designed to protect our bodies, allowing us to respond quickly to emergencies or threats.
Did you know that stress has many positive aspects? It’s a natural response to life experiences that everyone experiences from time to time, can be a driving force in our lives, and can make us work harder with healthy stress. However, when our stress hormones kick in on a daily basis and begin to manifest negatively, our physical health can become seriously compromised. In our second Stress Awareness Month article, we explore some of the common physical side effects of stress on different parts of the body.
Effects Of Stress On Mental And Physical Health
Stress has a very serious effect on our brain. When dealing with stress, the brain goes through a series of good and bad responses to cope with a potential threat. Headaches and migraines are a common side effect of stress, which occur more often when we are under stress. Stress can cause pressure in the brain, which can lead to dull, aching pain or pressure across the forehead or back of the head. The brain is associated with a higher likelihood of depression and poor mental health. It is caused by chronic stress, which affects our emotions and leads to depression.
The Impact Of Stress On Physical And Mental Health
By triggering the “fight or flight” response our body experiences when dealing with stress hormones, stress adrenaline makes our heart beat faster, increases blood pressure, and increases stomach acid production. Over time, high blood pressure can lead to serious problems like heart attacks. Even minor stress can cause heart problems, such as frequent heartburn or poor blood flow to the heart muscle, which is why Stress Awareness Month is dedicated to raising awareness and creating resources to better understand our bodies and get help in the early stages of stress.
Stress is known to have some debilitating effects on our sexuality and reproductive system. For those of us who have periods, stress can lead to painful, irregular or heavy periods. If you experience more chronic stress, it can have a physical effect on menopause and the severity of symptoms you may experience. For those of us with low testosterone levels, you may notice a decrease in sperm production and ultimately erectile dysfunction issues. If you have any of the above, contact your GP for further advice and treatment.
For more information on the physical side effects of stress visit stress.org.uk for more educational articles, resources, stress solutions and fundraising.
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The Positive Side Of Stress
Whether it’s company updates, stress relief and mental health tips, or podcasts, we always post top-notch content. In support of Stress Awareness Month and World Health Day, we are exploring stress; What it is, its effect on body and mind and how to reduce stress in our life.
In support of World Health Day Stress Awareness Month, we are exploring stress; What it is, its effect on body and mind and how to reduce stress in our life.
At some point in our lives, everyone experiences some level of stress and that’s a good thing. Some people use stress to help them focus in challenging situations or as a means of motivation. For many others, stress can be debilitating with serious consequences for physical and mental health. Everyone handles stress differently, and our ability to cope depends on a number of factors, from genetics to personal circumstances.
Here we focus on what it does to the body and what it can do to relieve stress.
Women And Stress Infographic
, as well as activates our immune system to help us cope with dangerous situations. Sometimes this feedback is useful, it helps us overcome our “normal” abilities. However, too much stress can often have negative consequences, overwhelming us and affecting our physical and mental health in the long run.
As you can see, stress can cause a variety of symptoms and it is not always easy to identify which stress is the cause of them. It can be helpful to keep a “stress journal” for a few weeks, recording any stressful situations or symptoms of stress and then reviewing them to help you identify key triggers.
Above all, make sure you get professional help if you feel you need extra support, and here you can go without a GP referral.
If you are struggling to cope with stress and things you have tried on your own have not helped you should see a GP.
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We come to you to find out what you or your loved one needs to be independent at home.
You will be looked after by our specially trained team, who will support you to stay at home for as long as possible. Stress can be defined as the way you feel when you are under abnormal stress. Everyone experiences stress from time to time and it is a natural physical and mental response to life events. The following infographic from Study Medicine Europe explores the science of stress and provides an in-depth look at how stress affects the body.
Did you know that 75-90% of all doctor visits are for stress-related illnesses and conditions? A 2014 study by the American Psychological Association found that 77% of those surveyed reported experiencing physical symptoms of stress on a regular basis. These physical symptoms include:
To better understand how stress affects our physical health, you need to understand a little about what happens in the brain. When we feel stressed, the brain sends a distress signal that causes the body to flood with adrenaline. This triggers our “fight or flight” response, which essentially puts the body into survival mode by triggering several physiological changes:
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The brain then releases the stress hormone cortisol, which can temporarily alter or shut down functions that interfere with survival. Research suggests that this reaction results in physical symptoms of stress, which distract from normal bodily functions.
Sometimes the stress response can be positive – giving us the energy and focus we need in high-stress situations. However, when experienced regularly over a long period of time, stress can have a dangerous effect on our well-being and can lead to a condition known as chronic stress. Chronic stress is associated with an increased risk of contracting a wide range of conditions and diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and depression.
We all know how important it is to take care of our physical health, but many of us don’t know how to be proactive about our mental health. Learning effective stress management strategies is an important part of maintaining positive mental health.
Try to keep a record of all instances of stress. After a while you can see a pattern and this will help you identify the stress. This better understanding will help you create a stress management plan.
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Everyone has their own way of dealing with stress. Whether it’s breathing exercises or affirmations, there’s a stress management technique that works for you. Experiment with different stress management techniques until you find one that works for you. Learning how to deal with stress in a positive way is an important skill for living a healthy and happy life.
Take care of your body by following a healthy lifestyle. Try to exercise regularly as your body will be better able to handle stress when it is fit. Eating a balanced and healthy diet is a great way to help the body cope with the physical changes caused by stress. Quality sleep is also essential as it gives you the energy you need to overcome stressful situations.
Be sure to see a doctor if you feel unwell and think stress is the cause. The same is true if you have taken steps to manage your stress but still have the same problems. It’s a good idea to see a professional counselor or therapist who can help you identify the sources of your stress and develop new coping tools.
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Pdf) Occupational Stress And Its Impact On Physical And Psychological Health Of Employees In Private Educational Organizations
Aris Grigorio is the Student Recruitment Manager for Medical Studies in Europe. Study Medicine Europe is a medical student recruitment company with offices in the UK, Germany and Greece
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