The fact that stress is a leading contributor to many illnesses is well known and documented. Even if you do not understand the process in terms of hormones, cortisol and inflammation outlined by theories of homeostasis, you know that stress and poor health go hand in hand. The pathways is the stress response- which refers to a series of physical reactions in our bodies-designed to keep us safe,which in modern society seem to have turned on us. There is an evolutionary reason for the stress reaction process- the first humans came into contact with serious danger in the form of predators and other life-threatening situations that required quick responses, commonly referred to as “fight or flight.” This means our bodies would respond to danger through physiological changes intended to prepare for physical defense or to run like heck to get away! Within seconds of the danger the brain sends the signal to start the stress response. This process includes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure due to a surge of adrenaline and cortisol to prepare the muscles for action; hyper vigilance increases which fine-tune’s alertness, hearing and vision,the hairs on the arms and body rise, to help heighten the senses in case that predator gets sneaky. The cells start the inflammatory process and release blood clotting agents;this helps ensure quicker healing and recovery from any injuries that may be sustained during an attack.
Part of the beauty of the human body is how it’s designed to protect and repair with the goal of keeping us alive and well. But what about today, where most of us are not chased by mountain lions, bears or spears on a daily basis,has our stress response changed? Nope, it’s still the same, reacting to our daily stressors as if they were lions, which isfine when you need to either fight or flight, but what about when you are stressed about work, school, money? The kind of stress that is not short-lived. This stress is referred to as chronic, and there’s even a name for it, “chronic stress syndrome,” characterized by inflammation, high blood pressure and a long list of other disorders it accompanies. Chronic stress is like a hungry lion chasing you for days, months, years; he keeps you on your toes, hyper-vigilantand ready to run or be attacked…. inevitably. In the meantime, your diligent body is trying to protect you by suppressing your immune system, limiting your thought processes, interrupting proper food digestion and raisingyour blood pressure-for months or years, until it feels the danger is gone. It doesn’t know that your life is not in danger when you are stressed about your money, work or relationships; it’s faithfully protecting you until you get to, “safety.” In the meantime your body remains out of balance, functioning with limitations, leading to heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, asthma, eczema, arthritis, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, and all the many diseases linked to inflammation. This is why it is so important to identify and find ways to release stress. For some meditation, visualization and deep breathing are effective. For others, exercise, therapy or a combination of tools can work. Whatever stress relieving path you choose is better than attempting none at all.
Is all stress bad? No, it a vital tool used to protect us and our young. We all remember the story of the mother lifting a car to save her child, right? In that case the shift in body functions was appropriate and effective. Even at work, in physical activities or in life- there are temporary crisis modes, where you are called into action and you need your focus and hyper-vigilance to get you through. In some ways stress can be productive; athletes stress their bodies to achieve more strength and endurance. Stress may motivate us to think or act quickly when we must. The key toremember is that stress can be healthy and beneficial whenit’s short in duration and therefore, doesn’t interrupt or alter other essential bodily functions for long periods of time.Remember the perfection of your body, and how hard it’s been and is still working on your behalf, it needs to know when it is ok to relax and release.
Here’s some more information on stress and your health:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120329171601.htm
And here are some resources for relaxation and the anti- inflammatory diet:
http://www.mindtools.com/stress/RelaxationTechniques/IntroPage.htm
http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/111609p38.shtml
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