Long-term Affects of Stress – Is Stress Killing You?

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What are the long-term effects of stress? Is your stress making you susceptible to heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, low libido, aches and fatigue?

 

What is stress?

On the surface, stress is something that challenges you physically, chemically, emotionally or on a ‘life’ level. 

 

  • Physical stress - may be something like an injury or repetitive high-level exercise. 

  • Chemical stress - may be recurrent ear infections or pesticide consumption in your food. 

  • Emotional stress - might be struggling with a relationship, or on a ‘life’ level you may be feeling lost in regard to career direction or how to get your family ahead financially.

 

Each of these stresses alone may be manageable. You are actually designed to be able to cope with them one at a time. It is the constant, unrelenting pressure that you put yourself under all day, every day that you are not designed to withstand.

 

 
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When a sudden, acute stress arises, adrenalin is released into your bloodstream. Very quickly your:

  • heart rate rises

  • blood pressure increases

  • digestion slows

  • muscles fill with blood ready to contract

  • sugar is released into the bloodstream to provide instant energy

This stress response was designed to help us escape from a predator, or hunt our food. It was a normal and good response to a sudden stress.

 

Problems arise in our modern lifestyle when there is no break between these stresses. A poor diet, long working hours, constant worry about things you are yet to even do and lack of exercise is a pretty typical day for many.

Your body then becomes on constant alert, working to simply survive. Now the adrenalin kick becomes permanent since all energy sources are focused on survival. Your health picture slowly changes to:

 

  • high resting heart rate

  • hypertension

  • sluggish digestion, constipation, bloating

  • unexplained muscle tension

  • blood sugar imbalances and diabetes

  • eventual relentless fatigue

  • low libido and diminished reproductive function (PMS, menopause, andropause and fertility issues)

 

 
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In summary, stress is not meant to be constant. Stress can lead to chronic disease and, more importantly, general unhappiness and lack of fulfillment.

 

At The Healing Room we use a  combination of Neuro Emotional Technique (NET), Bach Flower Remedies, Chiropractic, Applied Kinesiology and Nutrition. This enables us to work holistically with the body, mind and environment to help get your stress levels and health under control. 

 

Feel free to get in touch with us on 07 544133 to chat more about how we can support you to reduce your stress.