Stress affects one's overall well-being more than you think, and it can cause the body to break down if left untreated.
Stress can be caused by a lot of things — work problems, relationship issues and money woes, to name a few. Commonly, these things cause headaches, muscle tension and sleeping problems, according to the Mayo Clinic. If people allow their stress to build up, it can lead to more serious health issues.
For one thing, stress can cause an unhealthy weight gain. Stress produces cortisol, a hormone linked to cravings for sugar and fat, according to Life Line Screening. Eventually, it might lead to fat increase in the body, leading to weight gain, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
To help combat these things, exercise is highly recommended. Health experts say exercise can help combat fat storage and at the same time reduce one's overall stress level.
Cortisol also interferes with the brain's ability to form new memories, according to Health. This hormone interferes with neurotransmitters, the chemicals that brain cells use to communicate with each other. Because of this interference, it might be difficult to think straight or retrieve memories. For this issue, health experts highly recommend practicing meditation.
Stress can also negatively impact pregnant women or those who wish to get pregnant. Some researches have suggested that high levels of stress can affect the developing foetal brain, or induce premature labour.
Meanwhile, another study showed that women with the highest levels of a stress-related substance called alpha-amylase are 12 percent less likely to get pregnant each cycle. To help reduce stress, health experts suggest women practice prenatal yoga and other stress-reduction techniques.
Stress has also been found to be the biggest culprit for skin blemishes such as zits. Research suggests that students with acne are more prone to breakouts during exams. Stress can also trigger psoriasis, which can worsen if left untreated. Many skin doctors are actually recommending stress-management techniques such as biofeedback and meditation in their skin disease programmes.
Lastly, a study of 20,000 people revealed that stress is linked to an increased risk of stroke. Another study supported this, since healthy adults who had experienced a stressful life event within the past year were four times more likely to suffer a stroke.
Health experts are urging people to exercise regularly and practice meditation.
