It can start early in the morning when you get stuck in rush hour traffic. It only becomes exacerbated at work. Then back home at night dealing with your children's travails of the day. It is stress. And it is present in almost all of our lives. What are the consequences of this widespread stress? How does stress effect health?
Stress can have serious effects on both our mental and physical health. These manifestations can take immediate effect, or they can be delayed in their impact. The most salient example of the latter is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The most common immediate effects are increased blood pressure and rapid heartbeat.
So widespread is the problem, that studies have shown a substantial majority of both doctor's office visits as well as serious maladies can at least partially be attributed to underlying stress. Seeing the magnitude of the problem, we are well served to fully explore and understand how stress impacts our overall health.
A large part of the problem is that stress can exist without respite creating conditions which are always present. These are referred to as chronic conditions. Some, including high blood pressure, are especially nefarious resulting in very serious consequences. There are many contributors to high blood pressure including those relating to diet, but stress is high on the list.
Most of the physical manifestations of stress which result in adverse health effects relate to the body's production of adrenaline. This hormone serves to prepare the body for any potential danger. One's senses are heightened, the heart pumps blood and the oxygen it contains faster, and the pupils change to allow sharper vision.
When appropriate, this bodily response can save your life. However, when triggered by the stresses of everyday life it can be deadly. High blood pressure has been tied to heart disease, stroke and other potentially life threatening events. Adrenaline can be helpful and of course exciting, but it can also be a deadly enemy.
In addition to physical effects, stress can have significant mental health impacts. Everyone reading this knows that stress does not ordinarily coincide with happiness. Stress limits one's patience, causes sudden mood changes, and serves to disrupt both family and work relationships. These effects can prove to be equally detrimental as physical ones.
It is present, and will most probably remain so, among all of us. As the world more emerges into the technological age, it is projected stress will rear its head all over the developing world to match the levels seen in America. Many more will be asking the question of how does stress effect health.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't there a law against employers of constant ...
By: Bennycat | 16-07-2008
Isn't there a law against employers of constant verbal harassment onthe job infornt of coworkers ?
Where is Fear Tec?
By: Jan | 16-07-2008
I'm looking for a company called Fear Tech, Fear Tec or Phear tech that does lancing of metal with torch - maybe oxygen, acetelyne torch. Located in New Castle, PA area. Yellow Pages were of no help. Does anyone know of this company?
Whenever i hear someone else having sex i get ...
By: 0georgee00 | 15-07-2008
whenever i hear someone else having sex i get upset/angry and i dont knwo what im going to do. why? how do i stop this ?
Mental physical and emotional pain
By: Serenedy | 11-07-2008
I have bipolar 1 and I work at walmart. Last year in December, there was a blackout. It was the first one I've experienced and at the same time, I was worrying so much that I became paranoid. I was so scared my hands were shaking. I handled it pretty well, then that night, someone said something to set me off, and I had a full blown episode on the produce room floor. Yesterday, my first day back since my weekend, there was another Blackout. and I thought it was pretty weird because I'm having the same kind of problem I did last year, but this time it wasn't my dad's mental abuse that drove me to the limit; it was my assistant manager mark. He makes me feel like I'm never going to be good enough and it's pointless to even try. There are so many things in common with them and the way they treat me. It was so odd. Two blackouts, two freak-outs, and two major problems. It's weird how it all happened like that. I handled the second one better but I still had an episode at the end of the day. Is there any way I could train my mind to get more stable and physically and mentally stronger and more stable? Is there any way I could be the strong, persistent,and determined person I used to be?
All hell on you
By: tinkslink | 10-07-2008
he alwas is say so what when he is worng.but when it comes too you all hell comes out well youb know what i mean.whats up with that?
Im pregnant with anxiety and stress.
By: trewhukuo56 | 05-07-2008
i am 5 months pregnant with my first child and im always going threw stress. it gets so bad sometimes that i have a major anxiety attack, im crying for hours and then my entire body goes numb all in my neck up to my eyes and my shoulder to the tips of my fingers and from my hips to my toes. and when it gets that far i cant even lift a simple can of soda or hold my own head up or even walk!! if im not this bad into anxiety im crying til i feel it coming... it seems like something always gets me stressed either my boyfriend my family or just something small like my mom not getting what i needed from the store. i am so scared for my baby. i want to know what type of damage can be done (if not already) and what i can do to try and reduce the stress in my life with out talking to doctors or taking medication..
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