10. Tummy Trouble
One of the first things that happens
when the body undergoes the stress response is that blood is diverted
away from your digestive tract to your large muscles. Stomach and
intestines may empty their contents, preparing the body for quick
action. Many people experiencing stress, anxiety, and nervousness also
experience stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Long-term
episodic or chronic stress has been linked to a number of digestive
maladies, from irritable bowel syndrome and colitis to ulcers and
chronic diarrhea.
11. Keep Eating Well
Some people respond to stress by
losing their appetites. They feel so on edge that they can’t manage to
get food down, so they just skip meals. This can quickly snowball into a
bad situation if you’re not careful. If you feel like your nerves are
keeping you from eating as often or as well as you should, some dietary
adjustments can help to make things easier on yourself. Having trouble
eating big meals? Switch to lots of little meals throughout the day.
Lost your appetite for solid foods? Try eating frequent snacks of
yogurt, soup, apple sauce, and other healthy choices.
12. The Cardiovascular Connection
If your heart races or skips a beat
when you are nervous or have enjoyed a few too many cups of coffee or
cans of soda, you know what it feels like to have your heart affected by
stress. But stress can do much more to inhibit the activity of your
entire cardiovascular system. Some scientists believe stress contributes
to hypertension (high blood pressure), and people who are more likely
to see events as stressful seem to have an increased rate of heart
disease. Stress can also contribute to bad health habits that in turn
can contribute to heart disease. A high-fat, high-sugar, low-fiber diet
(the fast-food, junk-food syndrome) contributes to fat in the blood
and, eventually, a clogged, heart-attack-prone heart. Coupled with lack
of exercise, the risk factors for heart disease increase.
13. Don’t Stress Out Your Skin
Skin problems such as acne are
usually related to hormonal fluctuations, which in turn can be
exacerbated by stress. Many women in their thirties and forties
experience acne during a particular time in their monthly menstrual
cycle and despair over the “breakout.” Men aren’t immune, either. Stress
can cause chemical imbalances that can cause or worsen adult acne in
men. Teenagers, undergoing dramatic hormonal fluctuations just because
they are adolescent, are prone to acne anyway, but stressed-out teens
may have a more difficult time getting acne under control.
14. Chronic Pain
An impaired
immune system and increased sensitivity to pain can worsen conditions
that include chronic pain. Migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple
sclerosis, degenerative bone and joint diseases, and old injuries all
feel worse when the body is under stress. Stress management techniques
as well as pain management systems can help ease chronic pain, but they
also help the mind deal with pain so the pain doesn’t make the stress
worse.
15. Protect Your Immune System
When the body’s equilibrium is
disturbed due to the long-term release of stress hormones and its
associated imbalances, the immune system can’t work efficiently.
Imagine trying to finish an important proposal during an earthquake!
Under optimal conditions, the immune system is much more able to help
the body heal itself. However, when conditions are not optimal, some
believe guided meditation or focused inner reflection can help the
conscious mind perceive what the immune system requires the body to do
to facilitate healing.
16. The Stress-Disease Connection
While not
every expert agrees on which diseases are linked to stress and which to
other factors such as bacteria or genetics, an increasing number of
scientists and others believe that the interrelatedness of the body and
mind means that stress can contribute to, if not cause, almost any
physical problem. Conversely, physical illness and injury can contribute
to stress. The result is a whirlpool of stress—disease—more stress—more
disease, which can ultimately cause serious damage to the body, mind,
and spirit.
17. Keep Your Balance
Managing
stress—whether it caused physical problems or resulted from them—will
put the body into a more balanced state, and a body that is more
balanced is in a better position to heal itself. It will also help the
mind to deal with physical injury or illness, reducing suffering. Stress
management may not heal you, but it will make your life more enjoyable.
Then again, it may help to heal you, after all. That said, remember
that stress management techniques should never be used in place of
competent medical care. Stress management is best used as a complement
to the care you are already receiving for your physical illness or
injury.
