Stress comes in all shapes and forms. The incredible thing is that what one person finds stressful may not be the same for another person. Just as we are all individuals, the impact that food, mood, internal and external stresses have on our bodies is also personalised. So is it too bold to call stress the silent killer?
Let's have a look at what stress does to your body and I'll let you decide.
Stress is the way our body protects itself. It's a psychological and physiological response to perceived challenges or threats. Also known as the flight or fight response, stress is sometimes necessary to get the body ready to take evasive action. It's how the body reacts to demands or pressures, whether from external sources like work, relationships, or life changes, or internal sources such as thoughts and emotions.
Types of Stress
Acute Stress: Short-term stress that arises from specific events or situations - needed for the fight or flight response. The body and mind deals with the threat, then goes back into a calm state.
Chronic Stress: Long-term stress that persists over an extended period, often due to ongoing life circumstances. The body and mind stays in a prolonged state of stress and does not return to a calm state. This is the kind of stress to be mindful of.
Effects of Chronic Stress
Physical effects such as headaches, fatigue, muscle tension and increased abdominal fat
Emotional effects like anxiety, irritability, depression, and poor cognitive performance
Behavioral effects including changes in appetite and sleep patterns
Cellular effects including elevated immune system activation and chronic inflammation
Accelerated ageing due to increased oxidative stress, which is linked to chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis.
Managing Stress
Maintain a healthy lifestyle with balanced nutrition
Exercise regularly
Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or deep breathing
Maintain good sleep habits
Seek social support from friends and family
Consider professional help
The Next Step
It's one thing to know you have chronic stress, another thing to discover the underlying causes, and yet another thing to understand how to manage it.
Q: So how do you put these things into action to reclaim your health?
A: Engaging with an holistic health and nutritional coach may be the answer.
An holistic health and nutritional coach can help you:
Learn and implement breathing and relaxation techniques - HRV, guided medication, aromatherapy and healing frequencies for reducing stress.
Learn and implement healthy eating habits without being on a diet.
Learn and implement strategies for increasing physical activity without running a marathon.
REFERENCES
McEwen, B. S. (2017). Neurobiological and systemic effects of chronic stress. Chronic Stress, 1, 247054701769232. https://doi.org/10.1177/2470547017692328
Van Der Kooij, M. A. (2020). The impact of chronic stress on energy metabolism. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 107, 103525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103525
Yegorov, Y. E., Poznyak, A. V., Nikiforov, N. G., Sobenin, I. A., & Orekhov, A. N. (2020). The Link between Chronic Stress and Accelerated Aging. Biomedicines, 8(7), 198. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines8070198
Zefferino, R., Di Gioia, S., & Conese, M. (2020). Molecular links between endocrine, nervous and immune system during chronic stress. Brain and Behavior, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1960
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