Chronic Stress: The Silent Killer
Today’s fast-paced world burdens humankind with its own unique demands. Demands that can be stressful, difficult to avoid…and tough on your health.
Think of your body as if it were a house. Over the years, a house is subjected to wear and tear from the weather. One storm or one day of heat may not do much damage. But wear and tear from the elements will add up over time.
Chronic stress has the same long-term impact on your body.
During stressful events, your adrenal glands initiate the “fight or flight” response by producing cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are meant to prepare your body for fighting off the perceived threat, or alternatively, escaping from it.
This is all well and good for stressful events that are isolated or occasional. But what about stress that is continual or ongoing?
Unfortunately, your adrenal glands can’t tell the difference between life-and-death stress, versus run-of-the-mill modern-day stress that is chronic. In other words, your physiology doesn’t distinguish between being stuck in a traffic jam, versus being chased by an animal whilst out hunting and gathering. Your adrenal glands would release stress hormones in either scenario.
Here’s why this matters:
Stress hormones are not harmful when released only occasionally. However, they are toxic when produced to excess. And the same way years of weather exposure will affect the exterior of a house, chronic stress will likewise affect your body.
The Physical Effects of Chronic Stress
The effects of chronic stress can impact several important systems within your body:
- Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, making you more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections.
- Inflammation caused by excess cortisol production can cause heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and other chronic conditions.
- Elevated blood sugar levels caused by chronic stress can increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
The Mental Effects of Chronic Stress
Chronic stress can also impact brain health in some important ways:
- Anxiety and depression have both been linked to chronic stress. Experts believe that the constant activation of the stress response can lead to changes in brain structure and function, especially in the areas associated with emotions and mood.
- The release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol for extended periods of time may impair memory and increase risk factors for developing cognitive decline.
Successful Strategies for Coping
Stress is almost impossible to avoid completely in today’s hectic world. Work, family, finances, global affairs…it seems there’s always something to keep a person up at night and on edge during the day.
But because chronic stress has so many potentially negative consequences for your health, ignoring it isn’t a good option.
Fortunately, there are solutions. Just as you would maintain a house to counteract the effects from weather, you can also protect yourself against the effects of chronic stress.
Here are some of the most successful strategies for combatting chronic stress:
- Have fun
- Lean on your social network
- Manage your time
- Get professional help if you need it
- Regular exercise
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Get enough sleep
- Practice mindfulness and relaxation
- Keep your hormones balanced
We’ve all heard the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.” It turns out there’s some truth to that. Laughter actually counteracts the negative effects of stress hormones by causing the release of feel-good hormones called endorphins.
Friends, family, and a sense of community can be your best defense against chronic stress.
Organize tasks that feel overwhelming into bite-sized chunks. Being able to check items off your to-do list as you complete them will put you back in control.
And treat your time as if it’s a precious asset. That means learning to say “no” to things that aren’t important to you, so you have time for the things you value most.
Most people don’t think twice about seeing a doctor when they’re physically ill. Unfortunately, the same isn’t necessarily true when it comes to mental health. And yet, sometimes people need professional help to figure out what’s causing their stress and how best to handle it. If you’re struggling to manage your stress level on your own, don’t tough it out. Get help.
Exercise lessens the negative impact of stress hormones on your body. Equally important, exercise causes the release of endorphins.
A diet consisting mostly of lean protein, colorful vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats will go a long way toward helping your body to withstand chronic stress.
Sleep is when your body repairs itself from the effects of chronic stress. Your brain also uses your time asleep to process negative thoughts and emotions that can cause stress.
Meditation, yoga, and massage can all promote relaxation and help with stress management. But these are just a few of the many possibilities, and different relaxation strategies work for different people. Just find what works for you.
When important hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid are balanced to healthy levels, your body will be better equipped to cope with stressful situations. There are also nutritional protocols that can help to curtail excess cortisol production.
At Renew Youth, we’re here to help you combat the negative effects of chronic stress with doctor-supervised hormone therapy and adrenal health strategies. Want to learn more? Call us at 800-859-7511 or use our contact form to set up your free 30-minute consultation.
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