Member Article

How stress affects your health and ways to manage it

Vera Powles, a biomedical scientist and founder of  Mana Living, an online platform designed to help people take control of their health and develop positive habits, shares insights on understanding and managing stress effectively.

Stress is a natural response to challenging situations like work deadlines, relationship troubles, or financial worries. When we encounter stress, our body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, activating the "fight or flight" response. 

While stress is meant to protect us, the body often reacts to non-life-threatening events, such as traffic or work pressures, in the same way it would to a dangerous situation.

Continuous stress can keep the body in a constant state of alert, leading to adverse effects like:

• Lowered immunity, making it harder to recover from illness
• Increased blood pressure, heart rate, and risk of heart attack
• Disrupted hunger signals and increased fat storage
• Mood issues, such as anger or depression
• Sleep problems and lack of energy
• Accelerated ageing

However, by understanding stress and how it affects us, we can learn to manage it using the following techniques:

1. Movement
Exercise, such as a brisk walk, yoga, or tai chi, helps relieve muscle tension and calm the mind. Aim to move 20-60 minutes daily, not just when stressed.

2. Breathing
Deep, slow breaths activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Try breathing in for five seconds, holding for five, exhaling for ten, and pausing for five. Repeat three times.

3. Social support
Close relationships can provide emotional support during stressful times. Even casual social interactions, like smiling at someone, can promote feelings of safety.

4. Laughter
Laughter or crying helps release stress. Genuine laughter with friends strengthens relationships, while crying can be cathartic.

5. Get creative
Engaging in creative activities you enjoy can boost energy and provide meaning, helping you build resilience.

Remember, practising these techniques regularly can help you better manage stress in the future.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Bdaily Publishing .