Are you aware of the effect stress has in the role of 90% of the population?  In a recent study, researchers found 89% of those surveyed reported high stress levels in their daily lives.  Why does this statistic matter?  Simply, it matters because 80 to 85% of all disease is directly correlated with the level of stress a person experiences.  Stress is also the culprit when it comes to loss of revenue for companies across the country.  $200-$300 billion dollars are lost each year due to stress related work or lack of work issues. 

When a stressful incident occurs there are many reactions the body experiences.  One event is the pouring of hormones bloodstream setting off various reactions.  This allows the person to do what needs to be done so at that moment it is beneficial.  However stress which continues over time will continue dumping chemicals into the bloodstream that our body cannot handle.  It then becomes a health hazard.  Stress is related and has been blamed for insomnia, chest pain, depression, heart attack, and stroke. Diseases such as cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, pneumonia, infection, ulcers and so many more are the result of stress.  Death is not the direct result of stress but rather death may occur when continued stress causes the body to lose its resistance to illness. 

Let’s look at several common diseases and how stress impacts each of them and then some examples of how to counter stress before it has a chance to reek havoc.

Heart Disease
Medical researchers aren't sure exactly how stress increases the risk of heart disease. Stress itself might be a risk factor, or it could be that high levels of stress make other risk factors (such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure) worse. For example, if you are under stress, your blood pressure goes up, you may overeat, you may exercise less and you may be more likely to smoke.
If stress itself is a risk factor for heart disease, it could be because chronic stress exposes your body to unhealthy, persistently elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Studies also link stress to changes in the way blood clots, which increases the risk of heart attack.

Gastrointestinal Disease
Stress can result in digestive problems. Medical science acknowledges that up to 85% of Americans suffer from some form of intestinal problem brought on by stress.  Stress hormones directly hinder the release of stomach acid and emptying of the stomach and can directly stimulate the colon, speeding up the emptying of its contents.

Reproductive Disease
Stress in women disrupts the hormonal communication between the brain, the pituitary gland, and the ovaries.  This interferes with both the maturation of an egg and the ovulation process.
Stress suppresses the reproductive system affecting men as well. For example, stress hormones inhibit the testes directly, hindering production of the male hormone, testosterone.

Stress gathers momentum with time. Stress creates reduced fertility by its effect on our hormones and reproductive organs. The resultant failure to conceive creates further stress, which results in further loss of fertility. This results in a vicious cycle. The circle goes both ways: stress affects infertility and infertility affects stress.

Immune System Deficiency

Stress interacts with the immune system, making you more vulnerable to colds and flu, fatigue and infections. Stress releases the hormone cortisol which wreaks havoc on the immune system. Stress of any kind (emotional, physical, and psychological) quickly damages the immune system.

In addition, the high cortisol levels resulting from prolonged stress could serve to make the body more susceptible to serious illnesses by switching off disease-fighting white blood cells.

Perceived mood also seems to play a role in immune system effectiveness. Having a positive attitude increases the ability of the immune system to fight diseases. In cases where patients have exhibited fear before a surgery, they have had a longer healing time afterwards. Amazingly, there were correlations observed in the number of lymphocyte cells (type of white blood cell found in the vertebrae) and the person's level of optimism.

Solution

Can we escape stress?  No.  Can we minimize its harmful and deadly affects?  Definitely.

Some of the ways we can control our stress are through positive thinking, exercise, deep breathing and reframing or changing how we look at events. 

Here are some suggestions:

Reflect. Take time to think upon what is causing you to feel anxious.  Often all that is needed is to realize what is causing the concern and then you can think through the solution rationally. 

Breathe.  Sounds simple doesn’t it?  You have heard of counting to ten.  Well, it works.  Simply take slow deep breaths and if nothing changes, shrug your shoulders and go on with your day. 

Relax. Laying still for just 15 minutes actually lowers blood pressure, heart and breath rate.  In yoga, it is called savasana or corpse pose and some say is better than sleep.  The arms and legs are relaxed, the eyes are closed and there is nothing on your mind at all.  It is the cessation of thought.

Exercise.  Take a brisk walk, climb stairs, enroll in fitness classes.  Do whatever you will enjoy doing on a regular basis to get the blood pumping.  Exercise release endorphins or happy hormones into the bloodstream reducing the effects of stress.

Nutrition. Be sure to get adequate amounts of the necessary nutrients, especially water.  Dehydration and poor caloric intake can lead to sluggishness, lethargy and depression.

Stress is a very serious disorder but it can be overcome.  Take time to make you your most important priority so that you can take care of the things you care about.

---

By Christina Leon, Staff Writer