KICKING OUT STRESS
Their is a two (2) types of stress
1. Negative stress
2. Positive stress
NEGATIVE STRESS
Excessive, prolonged and unrelieved stress can have a harmful effect on mental, physical and spiritual health. If left unresolved, the feeling of anger, frustration, fear and depression generation by stress can trigger a variety of illness. It is estimated that stress is the most common cause of ill health in modern society, probably underlying as many as 80% of all visits to family doctors.
Stress is a contributory factor in relatively minor conditions, such as headaches, digestive problems, skin complaints, insomnia and ulcers, but also l plays an important role in the leading cause of death in the western world cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders, accidental injuries, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide.
POSITIVE STRESS
Stress can also have a positive effect. It is essential in spurring motivation and awareness, providing the stimulation needed to cope with challenging situations. Tension and arousal are necessary for the enjoyment of many aspects of life, and without them existence would be pretty dull.
Stress also provides for survival when confronting threatening situations, such as crossing a busy road or driving in poor weather conditions. An overly relaxed approach in such situations could be fatal.
THE STRESS RESPONSE
Like the air we breathe, stress is an integral factor in human survival. Think about any challenge or stimuli, and stress has been a factor that helps us rise to meet whatever everyday life throws at us and we thrive on taking up challenges, meeting that deadline and adapting to difficult situations.
The stress response is controlled by the endocrine system, which regulates various bodily functions, including the reproductive system, the immune system, growth, metabolism, allergic response and stress tolerance .
Any unusual demand on the body's physical and mental resources stimulates the endocrine glands -mainly the adrenal, pituitary and hypothalamus -to secret chemical messenger, called hormones, into the blood stream.
These hormones include powerful stimulants, such as adrenaline (epinephrine ), noradrenaline (norepinephrine ),such cortisol, testosterone, and thyroxin, which produce a variety of physical response.
The most common include :
1. Perspiration
2. Rapid breathing (to take in oxygen ).
3. Increased pupil dilatation
4. Increase heart rate and blood pressure (to get more blood to the muscles brain and heart ).
5. Muscle tenseness (in preparation for action ).
6. A rise in platelets and blood -clotting factors (to prevent hemorrhage in case of injury ).
7. Increased blood flow to the brain, heart and muscles (the organs that are most important in dealing with danger ).
8. Less blood flow to the skin, digestive track, kidneys and liver (where it is least needed in time of crisis )
9. Increased blood sugar, fats and cholesterol (for extra energy )
10. Increase mental alertness and sensitivity (to assess the situation and act quickly ).
Our automatic physical response to danger or stress is initially registered by the hypothalamus -a tiny crowd of cells at the base of the brain -which controls all automatic bodily functions and reaction.
It release chemicals called endorphins, which act as natural painkillers. They dull the perception of pain and mental turmoil and Help us to deal with the situation by blocking out factors that otherwise prevent us from giving less than our peak performance.
Adrenaline (epinephrine ) also helps us rise to the situation. It causes a quickening of the heart rate, a raising of blood pressure and a release of vital nutrients.
It also creates muscle tension and affects breathing patterns, making them faster and shallower. But it is only one of the arousal hormones released by the adrenal gland near the kidneys.
Noradrenaline (norepinephrine), associated with positive ecstatic arousal, is also released into the blood stream. The hormones cortisol is agent involved in converting glycogen, stored in the liver, into blood sugar, creating instant energy and alerting the brain . The required sugar of strength and effort comes from male hormones testosterone.
The thyroid gland also plays a part in our body's, arousal response. It releases thyroxin, a hormone that stimulates the metabolic system, increasing it work rate and regulating oxygen consumption. Our digestive system also slows down during this process as blood is diverted from the skin and stomach.
The things that cause stress today are more complex and require more sophisticated solution over a longer period of time .
Our hormones system suffers if it in fight mode, as lengthy periods with our bodies on red -alert are not healthy for our mental or physical well-being.
What begins as a positive range of responses, therefore, can eventually have a negative effect on our health.
Research shows that we put bodies on challenge alert without realizing it.
Emotions such as anger, anxiety and impatient produce the same chemical reaction in the body as standing in front of a speeding car-our nervous system and hormones will still be poised for 'fight '-or-'flight '.
But the same physiology that leaves us feeling poised and alert can create havoc over a long period of time. A build -up of energy can lead us to become stress addicts, who became hooked on the adrenaline (epinephrine )rush that stressful situation create.
Overdose of adrenaline (epinephrine )can cause irritability and agitation, while too much noradrenaline (norepinephrine )can leave us feeling disconnected and high. If arousal continues, the adrenal glands create anti-inflammatory chemicals to spend tissue repair, but cortisol will also suppress the immune system, leaving it vulnerable to illness and diseases.
Extra sodium is retained, endangering the performance of the cardiovascular system by causing fluid retention, raising the heart rate, increasing blood pressure and possibly inducing the blood clot. stomach ulcers are a classic symptom of stress, as the stomach cannot deal with the extra secretion of acid that occurs during times of turbulence.
Acute and cumulative stress over a period of time can even cause death.
COMING SOON SYMPTOMS STRES
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