Dealing with Stress can Adversely Affect Our Mental & Physical Health

 

We have all gone through the ups and downs of dealing with a pandemic over the last 8 months or so.  Just when we think things are getting better, your community has a resurgence of COVID or your family is struggling with a job loss or other problems.   Experts say this is why it is important to keep ourselves mentally fit and to remember that constant stress can also have an impact on our physical health.  Stress is linked to a wide range of health problems including heart disease as well as affects our mood, sleep and appetite.  

An article by Harvard Medical Publishing says doctors are not sure exactly how chronic stress affects the heart but speculate it may likely trigger inflammation, which is a “known instigator of heart disease.”   While we may not fully understand the role stress plays in our health, doctors say we do know that stress can cause people to act in ways that increase their risk for heart disease including poor eating habits and a lack of energy for healthy habits such as exercising.  It is also believed that not handling stress well can lead to other unhealthy heart behaviors like drinking too much alcohol, abusing drugs, and smoking.  

The article suggests a few changes in our way of thinking may help individuals deal with stress better.  The first piece of advice is to stay positive and to find ways to add laughter into your life.  “Laughter has been found to lower levels of stress hormones, reduce inflammation in the arteries, and increase "good" HDL cholesterol.”  Other tips include practicing meditation and exercising.  Both help reduce blood pressure and stress.  Another key suggestion is to unplug and escape from the world for a period of time each day.  Do something that gives you pleasure such as listen to music, take a warm bath or work on a hobby.  Another good way to reduce stress is to get out and enjoy nature.  

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Source:  

health.harvard.edu/heart-health/5-ways-to-de-stress-and-help-your-heart