The truth is that stress is part of living and practically unavoidable. But the more we learn about stress, the more we know how detrimental and even dangerous it can be for our health – and all that information can be stressful! However, it probably is good to understand how stress works, why it can cause us to do everything from overeating, gain weight and get sick, and what we can do to help mitigate it.
The human body is designed to react to stress by going into defense mode. A lot of physiological changes happen to us during stressful moments, and they’re all considered part of a natural response, including:
Levels of adrenaline and cortisol rise (stress hormones)
Breathing rate quickens
Heart rate and blood pressure increase
Muscles tense
These changes are hard-wired and designed to help us deal with a serious emergency that could potentially save our lives. In today’s modern world, however, we have begun to respond to ordinary annoyances as if they were life-threatening. This puts the body into constant, drawn-out periods of the overactive, “fight-or-flight” state, which can weaken the immune response, as well as cause:
Gastrointestinal problems
Headaches
Insomnia
Over-eating
The key is better managing the curves that life throws us
At Allison Wellness, we work with each patient individually to discover your top stress triggers and provide the best stress-reduction strategies for you. For example, studies show that controlled deep breathing and aerobic activities can both help lower levels of stress hormones, as can:
Talking to a friend or therapist
Interrupting tense periods with breathing exercises, a brief walk, meditation
Taking a break from the computer and phone
If you often feel overwhelmed, we can help We can tailor a treatment plan to your needs, including big-picture strategies for nutrition, work, and exercise. Call for an appointment today: (256) 489-5748. During your consultation, we will address your unique health needs, offer nutrition counseling, provide an individual supplement analysis, as well as activity counseling. Our goal is to help you better manage your stress, which can improve your health and sense of well being.