If you are an adult who carries any responsibility on yourself, whether it is family, work or some other aspect of life, you know very well how much stress is present in all these fields. What you probably don't know is the effects of stress on health, because in the 21st century in which we live much "faster" than is healthy and recommended, the symptoms of stress have become a worn-out phrase that we don't have time to think about.
This is already an alarm, because the stress hormone is not one that you should get used to in your everyday life. The health effects of stress are very negative in the long run, but the good news is that there are a number of ways to prevent it, or at least mitigate it as much as possible.
With small steps and healthy habits, you can ensure a better feeling throughout the day, and some of them relate to a healthy diet and regular consumption of Balance + probiotic yogurt, which indirectly affects stress relief, regulating important processes in the body related to psychophysical balance.
With this recommendation, what else should be introduced into everyday life in order to alleviate stress?
The best way to answer this is to find out what the stress hormone (cortisol) is, what causes it, how to eliminate it and what the consequences of stress are on health. Below we list everything you need to know about a problem called stress.
What is cortisol and how does stress occur?
Cortisol is the most important stress hormone in the body. Due to the way cortisol works, it can be considered a very useful hormone, as long as it is active only moderately and as much as the body really needs. For example, cortisol is a hormone that helps you wake up in the morning and start the day, as well as to react quickly and adequately in case of danger.
How does stress arise?
Cortisol has this effect because it stimulates the release of amino acids from muscle, fatty acids from adipose tissue and glucose from the liver, and the product of all this is the amount of energy that the body needs to perform daily activities. However, it could not be said that the increase in cortisol is always moderate, due to the exposure of every average person to problems, crowds and lack of time.
Traffic jams, family disagreements or unpaid bills can be stress triggers, and an increase in cortisol in that case leads to a large amount of energy that the body is not ready to deal with at all times, which creates stress and discomfort. Unfortunately, most people encounter this multiple times on a daily basis.
The most common symptoms of stress
From the symptoms of stress to what we call horny stress, the road is not long, and for the occurrence of this unpleasant condition, it is enough to ignore the fact that you are under tension and that something is wrong.
The first symptoms of stress are manifested through a disorder of the digestive system, indigestion, constipation or diarrhea, and clear indicators of stress are insomnia, dizziness, decreased immunity and chest pain. However, these are some symptoms that are very clearly visible and noticeable, and when stress occurs, the symptoms can be hidden.
The "hidden" symptoms of stress are reflected in the lack of concentration and focus on the tasks you perform, and this is often accompanied by poorer memory, especially if you are overwhelmed with a lot of information on a daily basis.
Also, if you are often nervous, the little things irritate you and you feel anxious about everything, you should think about how much you are exposed to stress, before you shift the blame to the people or circumstances around you. Stress inevitably leads to pessimism, which is a pretty clear sign that you need to change something.
Causes of stress in everyday life
If you have recently lost your job, gone through a divorce, failed a difficult exam in college or ruined a relationship with a loved one, it is very likely that you are suffering from a certain stress that is inevitable in such situations. Whether you like it or not, in situations like this you feel sadness, anger, disappointment or other emotions that are important causes of stress.
At the same time, stress is not something that is strictly related to the life of adults - and children are often under pressure due to school failure, lost games in training or peer violence that took on previously unknown forms in the 21st century.
Acute stress and chronic stress - how to recognize them?
Acute and chronic stress differ according to the type and frequency of the cause of such a condition. Acute stress is characterized by an event that strongly "affects" the body, causing immediate discomfort, tension and tension. An example of acute stress is a dangerous traffic situation that leaves immediate trauma, but does not recur - this kind of stress is transient and is forgotten over time.
On the other hand, chronic stress implies repeated unpleasant situations that step by step disturb the psychophysical balance, which lasts for a longer period of time. For example, constant problems in the family or at work cause chronic stress because the inconveniences recur for a long time.
Consequences of stress on health - how does stress affect the body?
We don't just feel the effects of stress right now - they are visible in the long run. This is the main reason why stress should be minimized, and this need is unfortunately often subordinated to all the "more important" activities that are in fact the biggest causes of stress.
Can stress accumulate in certain parts of the body?
Absolutely! Believe it or not, the impact of stress is multiple and can affect many processes and parts of the body, which you would probably never say are related to stress. Here is how stress, the consequences of nervousness and similar conditions manifest themselves on the health of the organism.
The effects of stress are felt in the neck and shoulders
Neck and shoulder pain do not only come from an unnatural position during sleep. The neck and shoulders are often the first target of stress, because when we are tense and nervous, we unconsciously raise our shoulders and stay in that position for a long time. This tightens the muscles of the neck and shoulders, which is why, after their relaxation, you feel pain and discomfort in these parts of the body.
If you have wondered why you need a short neck and shoulder massage after work, and you do not have a specific health problem, it is precisely the accumulated stress during a hard working day.
Stress causes migraines and abdominal pain
If you suffer from migraines, and without going to the doctor, you can be almost sure that stress is largely responsible for that. It all starts with mild headaches that can be ignored, until they turn into unbearable pains that make you stop everything you do and take strong medications without which migraines are extremely difficult.
Migraines are a consequence of chronic stress, and just like stress itself, they often recur, causing anxiety, feelings of discomfort and unprovoked anxiety.
Jaw pain and stress are closely related
Jaw pain often comes from gnashing teeth, which is a common habit of people who are under stress. Sometimes this seems unconscious, and gnashing of teeth can happen in a dream. The result is a sore jaw and tightening of the main jaw muscle, which causes an uncomfortable feeling.
Also, unconscious clenching of teeth during a tense situation causes pain in the jaw, the ultimate cause of which is chronic stress.
Emotional stress affects the heart and skin
The stress you experience negatively is maintained on the heart, especially if strong emotions are included in the given situation - love, disappointment, care and the like. Emotional stress leads to a frequent increase in blood pressure, which in the long run can cause certain heart diseases. Also, long-term exposure to stress can affect the heart rhythm, which increases the risk of heart attack.
The effect of stress on the skin should also be mentioned. Everything that happens in the body in one way or another is manifested on the largest human organ, so it is not surprising that depigmentation, acne and rashes are seen on the skin when you are under the greatest stress.
Joints, bones and muscles also suffer from stress
Numerous studies confirm the connection between stress and pain in the whole body, and especially in the joints and muscles. If you are familiar with the feeling of pain in the bones and muscles, as well as the discomfort when moving the joints, and you cannot find the cause of this phenomenon, then it is probably stress that manifests on the body in this way as well.
The immune system weakens when you are under stress
The immune system is also under stress, and this is perhaps the most alarming situation, since it is the immune system that is there to defend the body from the virus. Chronic stress leads to a decrease in the levels of lymphocytes in the blood, weakening of the immune system and the body's resistance to diseases. Therefore, stress is often the cause of colds, flu and other diseases whose "rejection" is within the competence of immunity.
How to reduce stress and improve health?
Now that it is clear what causes stress and how stress affects health, we can also look at ways to alleviate it. It is impossible to completely avoid stress, but with the right attitude, healthy habits and precisely defined foods, it is possible to minimize the negative consequences of stress.
What is the relationship between your attitude and the stress hormone?
We have been convinced so many times that everything comes from the head, so a positive attitude is necessary always and everywhere, especially in a potentially stressful environment that makes you nervous. If you find it difficult to put your health ahead of everyday problems, ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen as a result of a stressful situation?
True, some things that worry you have serious consequences, but when you answer the question you will realize that the important things that are really worth worrying about and stress are only about 10%. The other 90% are little things that do not endanger you in the long run and which you will not even remember in a couple of weeks.
If your stress hormone is working fast due to job loss, child care or debts you have, then at least don't let stress overwhelm you due to the crowds on the street, the long queue at the store or other little things that you can't control. Arm yourself with a positive attitude and defend yourself from the petty attackers of your psychophysical health, whom you meet every day at every step.
How to reduce stress with healthy foods?
How to reduce stress or eliminate any health problem without a healthy diet? Fill the refrigerator with healthy foods, vitamins in the form of fruits and vegetables, and don't forget healthy cooked dishes that are of key importance for the health of the organism.
When it comes to vitamins, the most important for relieving stress are B vitamins, which protect the nervous system and have a calming effect on the body and mind. These vitamins are extremely effective in relieving anxiety, insomnia and tension. Vitamin B5 is of key importance for the fight against stress, while B6 helps in the functioning of the nervous system and the preservation of psychophysical balance.
As stressful situations affect the decline of vitamin C levels in the body, it is important to regularly consume citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwis, red peppers, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables that the body supplies with this vitamin.
Magnesium is also very important for maintaining a healthy nervous system, as it reduces exhaustion, chronic stress and anxiety that occurs as a consequence. Magnesium deficiency leads to an increased feeling of tension and pressure, which is accompanied by nervousness, and often depression.
It is similar with the meals you consume - unhealthy, fast food negatively affects how you feel and how you are in the mood, which is why healthy, cooked meals are recommended as a great alternative to fast food.
However, what will certainly alleviate stress and does not require any preparation is Balance + probiotic yogurt, which has been proven to reduce stress and improve mood. As this is the only yogurt on the market that has been clinically tested, its effects have been proven and are very effective.
You can see for yourself by consuming 500g of this probiotic product, which is the recommended intake on a daily basis.
In addition, probiotics increase the presence of good bacteria in the body, which has the effect of reducing anxiety and stress. As yogurt is a food that goes with everything, you can consume it for breakfast, on the way to work with a snack or during the day when you miss something nutritious and delicious.
Health and stress are shared by regular physical activity
If you do physical activity several times a week that relaxes and calms you, the chances of indulging in stress are minimal. Yoga or Pilates are an ideal choice for most business people who are struggling with stress, and in addition to this, you can also animate yourself with some interesting hobbies.
Whatever you do for yourself in your free time, it is only important that it is an activity that will not burden you further. Running in the morning, riding a bike or taking pictures, playing an instrument or hanging out with friends can be a great antidote to stress, so if you don't already have a similar activity that you do at least two or three times a week, hurry up and find it!
However, when it comes to hobbies, it is important to follow certain rules. Don’t skip the time you’ve set aside just for yourself, and be consistent with your decision to dedicate a few times during the week exclusively to yourself, which will greatly reduce stress.
Stress on the street, in the office, and even at home is inevitable. but that doesn't mean you have to give in to it. Control your emotions, be strong and resist small everyday problems that can become a serious health problem in the long run. With a few healthy habits, a positive attitude and two cups of probiotic yogurt, the day will be easier and more beautiful and stress will stay away from you.