Proper management of stress can play an important role in a healthy lifestyle – Okanagan Naturopath

Stress is defined as any physical, mental, emotional or spiritual condition that requires a response or change from a previous state.

The human body has an incredible innate ability to maintain a state of balance. Homeostasis is a term used to describe the internal balance of chemicals, enzymes and metabolism in the body. Stress is any factor that disrupts this fragile internal balance.

A certain amount of stress is healthy, normal and vital to maintaining life. However, inappropriate and excessive stress disrupts the natural balance and changes our internal physiology. Stress can cause wear and tear on the human body and mind and can lead to illness and disease.

The body’s physical response to stress includes increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, muscle tension, increased sweating, abdominal tightness, and jaw clenching.

Psychological reactions include inability to concentrate, poor memory, racing thoughts, inability to sit still, frustration, anger, irritability, mood swings, lack of self-esteem, intrusive thoughts and depression.

Stress-related illnesses include anxiety, angina, anorexia, bladder problems, blood sugar problems, ulcers, chest pain, colitis, depression, fatigue, frequent colds and flu, headaches, heartburn, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, inability to concentrate. , upset stomach, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, loss of interest in daily activities, lethargy, lower back pain, memory loss, mood swings, muscle pain, neck pain, nervousness, peptic ulcers, poor circulation, poor immune function, restless legs, shingles, teeth grinding, vomiting and more.

Many factors, both internal and external, can cause stress. Any factor that disrupts the natural homeostasis of the body can be considered a stressor. It’s important to note that not all stressors are bad. Stress associated with a new job, learning a new skill, or a new relationship can be considered a positive stressor. However, negative stressors can have bad effects on the body. Major life stressors include birth, death, marriage, pregnancy, family difficulties, financial difficulties, buying a home, mortgage problems, problems at work and many other life changes.

How we perceive stress is important in terms of its effects on the human body. Two people can be exposed to the same stressor, but their response may differ significantly. One person may respond positively and benefit from the experience. The other may react negatively and have negative consequences from the whole experience. Sometimes it is important to reframe your experiences and look at them in a more positive and constructive way.

The stress response involves specific physiological reactions in the human body. These include dilation of the pupils of the eyes, dry mouth as the salivary glands reduce production, the body begins to sweat due to the activation of the sweat glands, heart rate increases, the force of heart contractions increases, blood vessels constrict, blood flow to the brain increases. enlarges, the bronchi in the lungs dilate, breathing becomes shallow and rapid, digestion slows, blood sugar levels rise to meet expected needs, kidney and bladder function slows, and muscles tense. Adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormones are secreted by the adrenal glands.

The stress response occurs in three distinct phases: the alarm phase, the resistance phase, and the exhaustion phase.

The anxiety stage occurs acutely in response to a stressor. Adrenaline and other hormones are released, which cause the physiological effects of increased arousal and the characteristic fight-or-flight response.

The resistance stage occurs as a result of chronic, long-term stress on the human body, lasting from several weeks to months or longer. Cortisol is released when the body responds to the effects of long-term stress.

The resistance stage occurs when the body depletes its normal reserves in response to chronic, unrelenting stress. The body literally becomes “exhausted” and “fatigued” from the effects of prolonged stress.

The first step in stress management is to identify the stressor and how it affects your body. In many cases, this is not as simple as identifying and eliminating the stressor. But awareness sets the wheels in motion, and then the use of adaptive mechanisms can be realized.

Lifestyle factors play an important role in our overall response to stress. Proper rest, daily exercise and a healthy diet are vital for optimal health. Proper rest and good sleep habits help the body recover and recover from stress. Poor sleep habits, insomnia and hypersomnia can have a negative impact on your response to stress. Daily exercise is an effective, cheap and natural method of stress reduction that can have profound positive effects on the body. A dose of daily exercise will improve your overall health and help you feel better.

Deep, controlled breathing is also fundamental to relaxation and managing your stress response. Breathing techniques used during brisk walking or slow running, meditation, progressive relaxation, tai chi, yoga, or other forms of moderate aerobic exercise can help facilitate the relaxation response.

Finally, it is important to realize that nothing lasts forever. The stress will pass.

The information presented in this article does not constitute or is intended to constitute medical advice. All information and content are for general information purposes only.

This article was written by or on behalf of an independent columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.