Most people would agree that stress is bad but, how bad is it? The fact is that there are different types of stress, stress may have different causes depending on your circumstances, and unmanaged or poorly managed stress can kill you. The good news is, problem stress can be fixed.
Over the years, a lot has been said about stress. Lily Tomlin once said, “Reality is the leading cause of stress among those in touch with it.” Author William S. Burroughs wrote, “Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.” But rather than have you wait for the answer, we at Mamiverse provide you with some answers about how stress can kill you, and how you can prevent that reality! Here are some of the top risks to your life and health related to unchecked stress.
1. High blood pressure
Prolonged stress can give you chronic high blood pressure (or hypertension) or, if you already have high blood pressure, stress can make it worse. Take steps to reduce the stress in your life, or find healthy ways of dealing with stress, and you just might reduce your blood pressure.
Read Related: Stress-Busting Secrets that Work!
2. Depression
Stress can bring on or worsen depression. If you feel overwhelmed by the stresses in your life, it’s easy to become depressed. Stress management helps you to avoid or ease depression symptoms.
3. Heart disease
Prolonged stress can lead to or worsen heart disease. Medical researchers are unsure whether stress leads directly to heart disease, or whether stress increases the potential impact of other known heart disease contributors. Either way, lower your stress and you lower your risk for heart disease.
4. Weakened immune system
Stress can weaken your immune system. Your immune system protects you from disease, allergens and generally impacts your overall health. Good stress management is important for a healthy immune system.
5. Obesity
If you place your body under stress, it chronically acts as though your life was in danger. Your body systems decide that you need more energy to battle the perceived threat and so, you eat more. If you eat more, you may become obese or increase existing obesity. Being very obese (or, morbidly obese) will eventually kill you. While managing your stress, manage your daily eating habits, as well.
6. Type 2 diabetes
Prolonged stress can bring on or worsen the symptoms of Type 2, or adult onset diabetes. While managing your stress, get tested for Type 2 diabetes and if you have it, work with your doctor to get your blood sugar levels under control.
7. Stroke
Chronic stress has been linked to an increased risk of stroke.This may be an independent risk, or it may be linked to stress impacts on blood pressure and heart disease.
8. Cancer
Stress has been shown to affect the onset and progress of prostate cancer in men. It may impact the onset and progress of other types of cancer, as well. Manage your stress, quit smoking, manage your diet, and reduce your cancer risk.
9. Sleep deprivation
Highly stressed people don’t sleep well. Sleep deprivation can lead to several health disorders and can also reduce your judgement and reaction times. The good news is that there are ways to reduce stress impacts on your sleep habits.
10. Asthma
Asthma attacks can be triggered by stress. Again, the good news is that managing your stress can reduce the frequency and severity of your asthma symptoms.
So, now you have 10 good reasons to get busy and start to manage the stress in your life. Don’t wait until you’re sick or depressed to start taking care of your emotional and physical health!
