STRESS: How it works, what it does to your body

Knowing how stress works is the first step to reduce it and start living a more satisfying life. Recent surveys say that happy people are most likely to live 7 to 10 years older than stressed and worried people.

Finding your own way to release or reduce stress seems to be the choice to make. So let's start by analyzing what is stress exactly and how our body and minds react to it. Here is Doctor Hans Selye’s 3 stages of human response to long-term stress. Dr Selye, a Canadian researcher, is considered the "father of stress". He dedicated his life to research on it and is the one, in 1936, who has given the name to that condition that is now the 21st century's plague.

1. Alarm response
When exposed to a stressor an immediate biochemical reaction known as the « fight or flight» response happens. Stress hormones like adrenalin are released into the bloodstream, causing :
Increased heart rate and blood pressure

• Raised blood-sugar and bad cholesterol levels
• Faster breathing and perspiration
• Increased muscle tension
• Disruption of digestive functions
• Suppression of the immune system
• Emotional tension

2. Adaptation
If the cause of stress is removed or dealt with the body comes back to normal functions but if the stress continues the body copes by adapting. The body uses up energy stores and over time this affects the ability to function efficiently, resulting in fatigue, irritability and lethargy.

3. Exhaustion
Long-term stress changes the balance of hormones in the body and leads to exhaustion. A suppressed immune system, slower metabolism and slower rate of cell repair results in rapid aging, weight gain or loss, and greater risk of degenerative disease and psychological burn-out.

Stress is the cause of many diseases. Ischemic heart disease, asthma, hypertension, fatigue, acid peptic disease, irritable bowel syndrome, psychoneuroses, sexual dysfunction, skin diseases like urticaria, psoriasis, pruritus, insomnia, migraine. But stress is not in itself a disease, so its bad effects can be reversed. For that an examination and change of lifestyle is the solution. A healthy body and a clear and active mind with positive attitude will help maintain a balance. To manage stress in an optimal way, you need a healthy diet, moments of mental and physical relaxation, sleep, exercise, good breathing, having a good sense of self, meaningful relationships, a balance between work and personal life, a sense of fulfilment at work. Please! Don't get stressed out if you don't have all the above criterions. To be happy, therefore less stressed, you need to be able to forgive yourself, and take it easy. Perfectionists are more stressed than easy going people... stay cool!

For practical tips on managing stress, go see my hub: stage fright is... normal, it's energy you can redirect.You can also check out my website: ohmdiva.com for practical tools to manage stress.

Images: FreeDigitalPhotos.net and  http://www.guidespot.com/guides/awesome_cool_old_people