One of the things that most people have in common right now is stress. Stress levels in adults can be sky high with children, social lives, working lives and personal goals to manage. There are only so many plates that can be spun and if you’re not spinning them with a little balance, that’s when things become too much. From aging early to problems with your heart, stress can really do some damage if you’re not careful and the constant grind of it all, can make sure that the damage is irreversible.
It’s one thing to have high-pressure workdays, long commutes, kids to raise, not enough sleep, too little exercise and it’s entirely another to leave it and not manage it in any way. All of this accumulated stress in life is no good and while some believe that stress can push them to be more motivated, it’s not actually true for most. There is research to show that too much stress sends the body into flight mode, rather than fight mode. This then leads to memory loss, panic disorders and in some cases, addiction. While you can book an appointment to see an expert at https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/texas/houston/, you do need to understand how your stress affects you and what you can do about it all. There are so many ways that stress will be dangerous for your health, and here are some of the reasons listed for you below.
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- Irritability and anger. When you’re under a lot of pressure and stress, the chances are that you are more likely to have emotional outbursts that are hard to control. Most people who are dealing with a lot of stress are very controlled with their emotions: they can’t afford to break down. The problem with that is that this pressure builds and eventually, they blow their lid. It makes sense, but this level of stress is so dangerous and can really affect your mood for the rest of the day. By extension, it affects everyone around you, too.
- Higher risk of disease. There are some people who are at a bigger risk of developing certain diseases when they are stressed. Chronic stress can really push those conditions – especially heart and lung conditions – into the spotlight. There is also the chance of a higher risk of addiction, which is another disease that’s hard to battle.
- Sex drive – what sex drive? When your body is under too much stress, it’s not just the pressure you feel. There are physical repercussions of stress, too, and that includes being able to connect your body and brain together becomes much more difficult. This can affect how much pleasure you derive from sex as well as how much you want it. Your libido can bottom out quickly when you are under stress, so getting your stress under control is vital if you want to continue to have a sex life again.
- Teeth grinding. Did you know that stress can ruin your teeth? When you have a lot on your plate, you will easily grind your teeth even if you don’t realize it. This can leave lasting damage to your jaw and wear your teeth down thin. You might not even notice that you’re doing it because most people do this in their sleep.
- Pressure on your heart. Another of the physical symptoms of stress is the damage it can cause to your heart muscle. Stress damages the heart over time and as stress hormones can constrict your blood vessels and increase your heart rate, which does damage to the heart muscle. If your heart is working harder, you’re going to increase your blood pressure and that is something you want to avoid.
- You’ll gain weight. The worst side effect of stress for most people is weight gain. It’s not that feeling stressed adds weight, but the fact you might turn to food or turn into a bit of a couch potato can stop you from getting the help you need. You might turn to food and feel exhausted when you’re stressed, and this leads you to overeating: usually some of the weight you gain can be because you’re less likely to get your body moving when you’re feeling the pressure.
- You could turn into an addict. Stress often boils up to the point that you need an outlet to help you to relax and let go. Some people choose yoga but others turn to a bottle or two of wine every night. One of these things can turn you into an addict, and it’s something you want to avoid if you can help it. Addiction can continue long after you have let go of your stress, so it’s best not to create a problem that doesn’t need to be there.
- You’ll look older. If you are ever worried about aging, well, stress is going to get in the way of that. Your hair will be grayer, your skin more pallid and wrinkled and your muscles will weaken. You might also deal with poor eyesight and hearing – all because stress has taken over.
- You are more likely to get sick. When your body is stressed, you can often end up with a weakened immune system. So, you’ll be catching bug after bug and have no way to stop it without removing your stress. A lowered immune system makes you far more susceptible to germs and bugs, and it’s all due to the high demand that stress places on your body.
- You’ll open yourself up to disability. Did you know that the dangers of stress can be such that you end up unable to work at all? The stress on your body can lead to things like stroke, angina, high blood pressure, and more. Your body deserves better than that, which is why you should work on your stress levels as early as possible.
Taking the time to cut down your stress is vital if you want to do more for your health, and it starts with learning why stress is dangerous.
