How Does Stress Effect Health And Why?
Our body is an extremely sophisticated piece of ‘machinery’, which very often we take for granted, rather than looking after it. When we first evolved we were equipped with an inbuilt mechanism to give us extreme energy and strength for moments of sudden danger. This is sometimes referred to as “the fight or flight” mechanism. The responses that are triggered include closing down the digestive system and the immune system, in order for the energy to be used elsewhere to increase heart rate, alertness, energy and muscle function. If we then have to stand and fight for our lives or run for our lives, the energy and all the hormones that have been released, get utilised and eventually the body returns to normal. Unfortunately, we still trigger this same mechanism when exposed to modern-day stressors, but our body has no way of using the released hormones. Adrenalin in the blood stream in particular, can have a detrimental effect if it occurs constantly over a period of time. Closing down the immune system exposes people to more infections and closing down the digestive system, but still eating food can lead to ulcers and other digestive problems.
Some people actually thrive on a certain level of stress and find that it gives them that ‘edge’ which can make them more creative, efficient and energetic. But for the majority of people, chronic, long-term exposure to stress can be damaging to their health if left unresolved or untreated.
Some of the symptoms that may be experienced through stress:
- Trembling / anxiety / panic attacks / hyperventilating / asthma attacks (in asthma sufferers)
- Bloating / nausea / vomiting / heartburn / dyspepsia / loss of appetite / comfort eating / constipation / diarrhoea / blood sugar disturbances
- Constant infections
- Periods or irritability or anger / irrational behaviour / increased emotional responses / apathy / depression
- Constant headaches / poor memory / lack of concentration / lack of motivation
- Increased smoking, alcohol intake or taking recreational drugs
- Excessive tiredness / insomnia /
- Shoulder, neck and backache due to tension / increased risk of injury due to tension
- Increased pain from other conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia
- Heart palpitations / high blood pressure
- Skin problems
- Hormonal problems / loss of sex drive
Unfortunately, these are not the worst symptoms that can be experienced. Left untreated, a person may develop heart disease, severe respiratory problems, immune deficiency disorders, ulcers, have a nervous breakdown and stress has even been linked to some cancers.
The Waite & Cassells Ltd team of practitioners and therapists are trained to recognise, treat and manage the effects of stress, with a wide variety of treatments. The benefits of just massage alone are many. For instance, it can reduce the level of the stress hormone Cortisol, thereby helping to combat the onset of stress related conditions. It can also increase circulation by physically pushing blood back to the heart, thus causing blood vessels to dilate. Cells are supplied with sufficient blood and the whole body functions more efficiently.