Stress Is Really Bad For Our Health

Most people deal with feelings of stress. This is difficult to avoid and has become a part of our everyday life. The only way we can do is to learn to manage this state of mental or emotional strain as it may seriously affect our health.

Here are some of the symptoms that would indicate that a person is stressed-out:

Sleep Problems

Stress makes a person hard to fall asleep or stay asleep, which can lead to insomnia.

Hair Loss

It's normal to lose a few hairs because old hair follicles need to be replaced with a new one. But with stress, this normal cycle is disrupted. Significant stress pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a resting phase. Within a few months, affected hairs might fall out suddenly when simply combing or washing the hair.

Headache

A person exposed to excessive stress may suffer from tension-type headaches and migraine, and other types of headaches.

In a study of 267 people with chronic headaches, it was revealed that a stressful event preceded the development of chronic headaches in about 45% of cases.

Moreover, a larger study found that increased stress intensity was linked to an increased number of headache days experienced per month.

Digestive Problems

Stress affects the body’s digestive system which can lead to nausea, stomachache, slow discharge of food from the stomach, bloating, and diarrhea. Stress may especially affect those with digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Weakened Immune System

Long-term stress weakens our immune system’s defenses. This makes us more vulnerable to viruses, bacteria, and infections.

In one study, 61 older adults were injected with the flu vaccine. Those with chronic stress were found to have a weakened immune response to the vaccine, indicating that stress may be associated with decreased immunity.

Acne

When we are under excessive stress, pimple or acne can be seen on our faces. During stressful times, our body releases more hormones such as cortisol, which stimulates the glands to produce larger amounts of fat. This is the excess oil present in the hair follicle and together with dead skin cells and dirt, this will result in the formation of pimples.

Simple Ways To Manage Stress

1. Getting regular physical activity
2. Keeping a sense of humor
3. Practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, tai chi or massage
4. Setting aside time for hobbies, such as reading a book or listening to music
5. Spending time with family and friends