Stress - The fourth pillar to good health
In Ireland it is estimated that up to 11 million workdays are lost through absenteeism every year due to stress at a cost of €1.5bn to the Irish Economy. A certain level of stress is essential, it can help to keep you sharp and alert, but your ability to deal with long term stress depends on your reaction to stress.
Stress causes the body to produce adrenaline and cortisol from the adrenal glands, it is a survival mechanism when humans were faced with physical danger e.g. the bear. The stress hormones cause the heart to pump faster, increasing your pulse and creating a spurt of energy. Muscles tense, blood pressure and blood glucose increase, cholesterol increases and the blood thickens, in case of injury. This is the flight or fight response, and it is expected that the body will be fighting or running from the bear - it is called our sympathetic nervous system . However, we are usually stuck in a car or board meeting and no where to relieve the stress.
The sympathetic nervous system produces the stress hormones at the expense of other hormones like the thyroid, digestive and fertility. They are not prioritised during stress, and this is the reason that eating while stressed will cause digestive issues and why fertility can become problematic if life is very busy and stressful.
Long-term stress can make you more susceptible to weight gain, disrupted sleep, anxiety, stomach ulcers and more serious heart attacks, strokes, and cancers. Excess stress hormones are toxic to the bodies organs and can be the cause of systemic inflammation, the acid from the hormones causes the body to leach minerals from the tissues and bones to rebalance the acidity but causing a depleted immunity, leaky gut, skin problems and eventually osteoporosis.
Stress can come from toxic relationships, work, children, illness, or finance problems - drinking coffee on an empty stomach is a stress to the body.
Signs of stress can include:
Work: Declining and inconsistent performance; uncharacteristic errors; loss of motivation; lapses in memory.
Conflict & Emotional Signs: crying; arguments; undue sensitivity; irritability/moodiness; over-reaction to problems.
Other behaviours: difficulty relaxing; increased consumption of alcohol; lack of interest in appearance.
Physical signs: Nervousness; sweating; tiredness/lethargy; upset stomach; headaches; weight change gain/loss.
Remember to focus on the Four Pillars to Optimise Health
Food is Fuel | Sleep is Essential | Movement is Medicine | Stress can be detrimental
If you resonate with the above, you need to stop and rest. Practising meditation and mindfulness can be very beneficial; regular gentle exercise; breathe work; tech detox; eat whole foods; drink water, meet your friends and above all laugh!!!
#stress #stressmanagement #stressmanagementtips #health #nutrition #greenprescription #blueperscription #slainte #slaintewellness #worklifebalanceSᴛʀᴇss - Tʜᴇ ғᴏᴜʀᴛʜ ᴘɪʟʟᴀʀ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ
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