Why Management Stress is So Important for Your Health Dr. Isaac Eliaz
Reducing stress in your everyday life is vital for maintaining your overall health, as it can improve your mood, boost immune func- tion, promote longevity and allow you to be more productive. When you let your stress get the best of you, you put yourself at risk of developing a range of illnesses –from the common cold to severe heart disease. Stress has such a powerful impact on your well being because it is a natural response that is activated in the brain. Let’s examine how this process works, why stress affects you the way it does, and the severe impacts it can have on your health.
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The Science of Stress When you become stressed, the brain undergoes both chemical and physical changes that affect its overall functioning. During periods of high stress, certain chemicals within the brain, including the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and nor- epinephrine begin to rise, causing larger amounts of these and other “fight-or-flight” hormones such as adrenalin to be released by the adrenal glands. The release of these chemicals contributes to certain physiological effects, including rapid heart rate, higher blood pressure, and a weakened immune system. When left un-
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managed over time, chronic stress can lead to the development of other serious problems, such as stomach ulcers, stroke, asthma, and heart disease.
Physical Effects Many health care professionals consider chronic stress a signifi- cant risk factor for illnesses such as cancer and heart attacks. One reason is that our body’s physical reactions to prolonged stress may accumulate slowly and go unno- ticed in our attempts to adapt to ongoing stress. However, even if it seems we’re building a toler- ance to stress, our nervous system is still dealing with an overload
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