A wise man named David Allen once said that “Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they’ve started.” I completely agree with David Allen. Stress is one of the most disturbing and frustrating experiences one can go through and at times we get so encroached in it that, our minds and bodies adapt to it and it becomes natural. But as you read below about its harmful effects on your health, you will be better convinced to keep stress as far away as you can.
1. Obesity
It may seem slightly paradoxical as, how stress cause obesity, because stress is presupposed to make one look depressed and lose weight, but this is on the contrary. Thorough research on stressed patients has indicated that “stress causes higher levels of the hormone cortisol”. This hormone is released in response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration and when there is too much stress, there is an increased deposit of it in the abdomen, causing obesity.
2. Increased Blood Pressure
It is probably no news that too much stress can significantly raise your blood pressure above normal. “For a normal reading, your blood pressure has to show a top number that’s between 90 and 120 and a bottom number that’s between 60 and 80”. But studies have indicated that when uncontrolled stress becomes, the norm in an individual’s life, it can significantly spike his/her blood pressure that will eventually open the gate way to stroke and other terminal diseases.
3. Diabetes
Uncontrolled stress is extremely dangerous for people with type 2 diabetes, as it can increase their glucose levels way above what their body can handle.
4. Ulcer
Constant and uncontrolled stress has been labelled as one of the triggers for gastrointestinal complications. While there is a debate among experts as to whether stress may cause cancer or not, they have all unanimously opined that stress can worsen ulcer and stress has also been linked to numerous gastrointestinal issues such as heartburn and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
5. Aging
Have you ever wondered why some people look older than they really are. While others look younger than they actually are. The difference between these two classes of people is the way they manage their stress. For example, in Hollywood, one actor that always amazes me is Will Smith, that dude doesn’t seem to be aging at all.
Managing stress has lots of benefits for health and you should pay close attention to it. To start with, make sure you are getting enough sleep, have consistent exercise and maintain a healthy diet.
