The Pitfalls of Elevated Stress Levels

byfitpro48

193 followers

10 years ago

Elevated stress, otherwise known as DIS-stress, can really wreak havoc on your body. It is one of the most common causes of daily pain. It can cause feelings of anxiety, irritability, anger and frustration. In addition the stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, are released into the body. Adrenaline causes your heart rate and your blood pressure to increase, and it increases your energy supplies. This is the reason why you hear the stories about extraordinary strength in traumatic incidents such as lifting a car off an individual. Cortisol increases glucose in the blood, increases the brain's use of glucose, decreases all nonessential functions (like the digestive system), and alters the immune system response. All of these stress hormone responses are welcomed and necessary in a "fight or flight" type situation, however, when exposed to these hormones for an extended period of time, it can be detrimental to your health. Over exposure to Cortisol causes increased risk of heart disease. It can also cause depression, inhibit sleep, increase your tendency toward obesity and negatively affect your memory and digestive system. Do you know what reduces stress? You guessed it...EXERCISE! There really are no short cuts to living a healthy lifestyle. There are no quick fixes or magic pills. Exercise truly is the best medicine. The proof is out there, but it isn't always easy. Although, nothing worth achieving really is! So, as the Nike slogan says, "Just do it"!