Could stress be to blame for your health problems?	ISN'T A LITTLE STRESS GOOD FOR YOU? Without some sense of drive and a good dose of adrenaline, things just wouldn't get done and you probably wouldn't enjoy life so much. Bursts of adrenaline give us a buzz or feeling of excitement. But when you don't get a chance to unwind from stress, and when the battering of adrenaline and other stress homones continues without a break, the body goes into overdrive. The result is a strain on your body's vital systems.
EFFECTS OF STRESS INCLUDE: Raised blood pressure or palpitations Digestive problems and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) An increase in infections eg coughs and colds Muscular strain or back ache Aggravation of conditions such as eczema or asthma Constant tiredness, poor concentration or irritability Comfort eating or loss of appetite
Alongside hormones and viruses, stress is one of the most common excuses men and women suggest for their unexplained symptoms. In the past, stress has often been dismissed as irrelevant, but now scientists are discovering that it can do very real damage. Some suggest it may even rot your brain, harming vital brain function and leaving you vulnerable to mental illness like depression. If you don't have a confiding relationship, or if you have a difficult marital situation, then stress is even more likely to get you down. Factors within you are also important, especially low self-estem and the feeling of being out of control in your life. Stress becomes important when it outweighs your capacity to cope. So to protect yourself you need to learn how to keep on top of it and turn it into a positive force in your life. The following will help: 1. Sleep and rest 2. A healthy diet, free from cigarettes and alcohol and stimulants such as caffeine 3. Regular exercise 4. De-stressing therapies such as hypnotherapy or Reiki