Causes
Stress is a state of tension that is created when we respond to a physical, mental, social or emotional stimulus that requires a change in the way we think, act or feel usually coming from work, family and other external sources as well as those that are internally generated from self-imposed demands, obligations and self-criticism.
Change is stressful and most people do not like changes. As change is inevitable in life, learning to cope with stress is vital for our well-being. Some people have better stress-tolerance and see little impact on their emotional or physical health whilst others can be impacted negatively.
Symptoms
Stress is both addictive and cumulative to reach a crisis level over prolonged period. It can manifest psychologically as irritability, anxiety, impaired concentration, mental confusion, poor judgment, low self-esteem, withdrawal, frustration and anger. It may also appear as physical symptoms like muscle tension, hair loss, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic headaches, tooth-grinding, shallow breathing, cold hands, low back pain, insomnia and high blood pressure.
Unattended, these symptoms take the toll on the immune system and can lead to physical illnesses and sudden death if stress persists for prolonged periods.
During economic crisis, majority of the people are heavily stressed emotionally of financial woes especially on family and job demands. The worst case is stress self-inflicted where there is undue worries. Critical psychological imbalance can lead to high anxiety, depression and insanity.
Health consequences
Researchers estimate 80% of all illnesses are contributed by stress, including cardiovascular disease (with more fats and sugars released from stores thickening the arteries), diabetes, cancer and skin disorders. No wonder WHO wants to classify stress as a disease.
We understand that some stress keep us alert as our adrenaline gets pumped up and thus is a treat for the heart occasionally. However, excessive stress is detrimental to our health. Why?
During a stressful moment, the body reacts to a perceived threat and signals the pituitary gland to increase its production of adrenocorticopic hormone (ACTH) which in turn stimulates the release of adrenaline (both cortisone and cortisol) and immune hormones that make your blood surge towards the saving muscles by as much as four folds. With either the ‘fight or flight’ response, you are energised to fight it out or take a quick escape route.
Hence, constantly keeping our adrenalin pumping affects its regularity and taxes the body which can result in nutritional deficiency. This process entails a surge of energy produced by higher metabolism of proteins (excreting amino acids), carbohydrates (excreting glucose), fatty acids, and, minerals such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium from the tissues into circulation. If this sudden burst of chemicals created are not eliminated through physical exertion, and continue to remain in the bloodstream for extended period, the body may develop a host of metabolic diseases including -
* Obesity – Higher chronic stress induces storing fats for more demanding moments. The body boosts the blood levels of cortisol — the “fight or flight” hormone by encouraging belly fat in two ways:
+ triggers cravings for sugary, high-fat comfort foods.
+ signals the body to store more fat in your abdomen.
* Diabetes – High cortisol levels make the body less responsive to insulin, impairing its ability to manage glucose – a high tendency for type-2 diabetes.
* Slower brain response - Slower memory on constant high cortisol levels.
* Lower immune response – Stress promotes the formation of free radicals that can become oxidised and damage body tissues, especially cell membranes.
* Prostate cancer – High cortisol is found to promote a rare form of prostate cancer.
* Digestive disorders such as ulcer or irritable bowel syndrome.
Management
Each individual must learn how to cope with his or her stress to minimise the negative impact on own body.
+ Exercise helps to burn-off the stress-related harmful chemicals left in the bloodstream. Our body produces endorphins the ‘feel good’ chemicals to create the sense of euphoria when we are in relaxed mode. Doing repetitive exercise like walking gives the brain some breathing space and forget the stress for one moment. Other useful activities are meditation, listening to light music, swimming, aromatherapy or pursuing a hobby.
+ Having healthy relationships with family and good friends can reduce stress.
+ Adjust your diet:
- Eat a diet comprising 50-75% of raw foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables supply abundant vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can scavenge and neutralise dangerous free radicals.
- Exclude from the diet processed foods and stress-related foods such as artificial sweeteners, carbonated soft drinks, caffeine, dairy products, chocolate, red meat, sugar, white flour products, preservatives or heavy spices.
- Extra carbohydrates boost the production of serotonin - a natural stress reducer. Dutch researchers exposed stress-prone people to tense situations found that those on a high carbohydrate, low protein diet had a 14% lower cortisol response than those on heavy protein, low carbohydrate.
- Abstain from alcohol, coffee, tobacco, harmful drugs and medications. Coffee and alcohol dehydrates the body and put it in emergency mode, thus raising the cortisol level.
+ Vitamin B-Complex: The leading Anti-stress Vitamin
According to medical research, Vitamin B complex can reduce stress. When our body is in a state of fight or fright, it burns up essential B Vitamins to release more energy to cope with stress. As this Vitamin is water-soluble, intake has to be gradual. Its advantages include boosts the energy level, elevates our mood, bolsters our metabolism (note for those who want to slim or tend to overeat under stress) and breaks down homocysteine (linked to cardiovascular disease).
+ Think positive and learn to let go. Turn a negative event into a positive energy giver. In life many things are not within our control. Stop stressful events and move on before it saps our energy level and causes a burn-out or other irreparable damage.
+ Research showed that men who were deprived of sleep had 45% higher cortisol level, and those who slept only 4 hours had cortisol levels 37% higher than men who got a full 8 hours of good sleep. Deep sleep promotes more secretion of the human growth hormone (HGH) that can prevent the loss of muscle mass caused by cortisol. Do not miss the golden hours from 11 pm-2 am where HGH is secreted at maximum level.
Conclusion
Stress taxes our immune function by creating an imbalance to our equilibrium. By identifying the stress factor and deflate the negative emotion, we create a harmony within the body and the big environment. Channel our energy into adopting a well-balanced mental positive attitude towards reinforcing our beliefs, values and self-image is definitely a big step towards managing stress to a tolerable level.
VIVA corner
VIVA Dailyguard provides the full range of nutritional requirement by the body, especially crucial for those facing quick depletion under heavy stress attack. Stress also promotes the formation of free radicals that can become oxidised and damage our body tissues, especially cell membranes. Vivashield offers the protection to preserve the cell integrity with its potent antioxidant properties.
VIVA B-easy is important for the proper functioning of the nervous system, and of certain electrolytes, which are depleted by the body’s stress response. Thus, it boosts the energy level, enhances metabolism and aids in de-stress. VIVA Calmag & D replenishes the calcium and magnesium lost in stressed individuals. A deficit often results in anxiety, fear and even hallucination.
Stress is a state of tension that is created when we respond to a physical, mental, social or emotional stimulus that requires a change in the way we think, act or feel usually coming from work, family and other external sources as well as those that are internally generated from self-imposed demands, obligations and self-criticism.
Change is stressful and most people do not like changes. As change is inevitable in life, learning to cope with stress is vital for our well-being. Some people have better stress-tolerance and see little impact on their emotional or physical health whilst others can be impacted negatively.
Symptoms
Stress is both addictive and cumulative to reach a crisis level over prolonged period. It can manifest psychologically as irritability, anxiety, impaired concentration, mental confusion, poor judgment, low self-esteem, withdrawal, frustration and anger. It may also appear as physical symptoms like muscle tension, hair loss, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic headaches, tooth-grinding, shallow breathing, cold hands, low back pain, insomnia and high blood pressure.
Unattended, these symptoms take the toll on the immune system and can lead to physical illnesses and sudden death if stress persists for prolonged periods.
During economic crisis, majority of the people are heavily stressed emotionally of financial woes especially on family and job demands. The worst case is stress self-inflicted where there is undue worries. Critical psychological imbalance can lead to high anxiety, depression and insanity.
Health consequences
Researchers estimate 80% of all illnesses are contributed by stress, including cardiovascular disease (with more fats and sugars released from stores thickening the arteries), diabetes, cancer and skin disorders. No wonder WHO wants to classify stress as a disease.
We understand that some stress keep us alert as our adrenaline gets pumped up and thus is a treat for the heart occasionally. However, excessive stress is detrimental to our health. Why?
During a stressful moment, the body reacts to a perceived threat and signals the pituitary gland to increase its production of adrenocorticopic hormone (ACTH) which in turn stimulates the release of adrenaline (both cortisone and cortisol) and immune hormones that make your blood surge towards the saving muscles by as much as four folds. With either the ‘fight or flight’ response, you are energised to fight it out or take a quick escape route.
Hence, constantly keeping our adrenalin pumping affects its regularity and taxes the body which can result in nutritional deficiency. This process entails a surge of energy produced by higher metabolism of proteins (excreting amino acids), carbohydrates (excreting glucose), fatty acids, and, minerals such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium from the tissues into circulation. If this sudden burst of chemicals created are not eliminated through physical exertion, and continue to remain in the bloodstream for extended period, the body may develop a host of metabolic diseases including -
* Obesity – Higher chronic stress induces storing fats for more demanding moments. The body boosts the blood levels of cortisol — the “fight or flight” hormone by encouraging belly fat in two ways:
+ triggers cravings for sugary, high-fat comfort foods.
+ signals the body to store more fat in your abdomen.
* Diabetes – High cortisol levels make the body less responsive to insulin, impairing its ability to manage glucose – a high tendency for type-2 diabetes.
* Slower brain response - Slower memory on constant high cortisol levels.
* Lower immune response – Stress promotes the formation of free radicals that can become oxidised and damage body tissues, especially cell membranes.
* Prostate cancer – High cortisol is found to promote a rare form of prostate cancer.
* Digestive disorders such as ulcer or irritable bowel syndrome.
Management
Each individual must learn how to cope with his or her stress to minimise the negative impact on own body.
+ Exercise helps to burn-off the stress-related harmful chemicals left in the bloodstream. Our body produces endorphins the ‘feel good’ chemicals to create the sense of euphoria when we are in relaxed mode. Doing repetitive exercise like walking gives the brain some breathing space and forget the stress for one moment. Other useful activities are meditation, listening to light music, swimming, aromatherapy or pursuing a hobby.
+ Having healthy relationships with family and good friends can reduce stress.
+ Adjust your diet:
- Eat a diet comprising 50-75% of raw foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables supply abundant vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can scavenge and neutralise dangerous free radicals.
- Exclude from the diet processed foods and stress-related foods such as artificial sweeteners, carbonated soft drinks, caffeine, dairy products, chocolate, red meat, sugar, white flour products, preservatives or heavy spices.
- Extra carbohydrates boost the production of serotonin - a natural stress reducer. Dutch researchers exposed stress-prone people to tense situations found that those on a high carbohydrate, low protein diet had a 14% lower cortisol response than those on heavy protein, low carbohydrate.
- Abstain from alcohol, coffee, tobacco, harmful drugs and medications. Coffee and alcohol dehydrates the body and put it in emergency mode, thus raising the cortisol level.
+ Vitamin B-Complex: The leading Anti-stress Vitamin
According to medical research, Vitamin B complex can reduce stress. When our body is in a state of fight or fright, it burns up essential B Vitamins to release more energy to cope with stress. As this Vitamin is water-soluble, intake has to be gradual. Its advantages include boosts the energy level, elevates our mood, bolsters our metabolism (note for those who want to slim or tend to overeat under stress) and breaks down homocysteine (linked to cardiovascular disease).
+ Think positive and learn to let go. Turn a negative event into a positive energy giver. In life many things are not within our control. Stop stressful events and move on before it saps our energy level and causes a burn-out or other irreparable damage.
+ Research showed that men who were deprived of sleep had 45% higher cortisol level, and those who slept only 4 hours had cortisol levels 37% higher than men who got a full 8 hours of good sleep. Deep sleep promotes more secretion of the human growth hormone (HGH) that can prevent the loss of muscle mass caused by cortisol. Do not miss the golden hours from 11 pm-2 am where HGH is secreted at maximum level.
Conclusion
Stress taxes our immune function by creating an imbalance to our equilibrium. By identifying the stress factor and deflate the negative emotion, we create a harmony within the body and the big environment. Channel our energy into adopting a well-balanced mental positive attitude towards reinforcing our beliefs, values and self-image is definitely a big step towards managing stress to a tolerable level.
VIVA corner
VIVA Dailyguard provides the full range of nutritional requirement by the body, especially crucial for those facing quick depletion under heavy stress attack. Stress also promotes the formation of free radicals that can become oxidised and damage our body tissues, especially cell membranes. Vivashield offers the protection to preserve the cell integrity with its potent antioxidant properties.
VIVA B-easy is important for the proper functioning of the nervous system, and of certain electrolytes, which are depleted by the body’s stress response. Thus, it boosts the energy level, enhances metabolism and aids in de-stress. VIVA Calmag & D replenishes the calcium and magnesium lost in stressed individuals. A deficit often results in anxiety, fear and even hallucination.
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