Stress does not merely afflict your mind, it can also affect you on a cellular level. In fact, long-term stress can lead to a wide range of illnesses- from headaches to stomach disorders to depression- and can even increase the risk of serious conditions like stroke and heart disease. Understanding the mind/stress/health connection can help you better manage stress and improve your health and well-being.
Three Types of Stress
- Acute Stress: Is usually brief. It is the most common and frequent. Acute stress is most often caused by reactive thinking. Negative thoughts predominate situations or events that have recently occurred or are upcoming.
- Episodic Acute Stress: People who frequently experience acute stress, or whose lives present with frequent triggers of stress, have episodic acute stress. The individuals who frequently suffer acute stress often live a life of chaos and crisis.
- Chronic Stress: Is the most harmful type of stress. If chronic stress is left untreated over a long period of time, it can significantly damage your physical health and deteriorate your mental health.
Why is Stress Month so Important?
Stress can be debilitating, and it can cause and/or aggravate health problems. Every April, healthcare professionals from across the country join forces to increase public awareness about not only the causes, but also the treatments for the growing stress epidemic in our country. We understand what living better really means at 25 Again. We have the data. We have the doctors.
Most importantly, we have the Members who share their stories of renewed vitality every day. They tell us that it’s because we’re there for them when they need us; because we listen, we learn, and we truly get to know who they are as people. And knowing our clients means we know how to treat their unique symptoms in the manner that works best for them. Living life with optimized hormones, is living life to the fullest again. A life with optimized hormones is a life where stress melts away, and you know you have a team of medical experts on your side, to keep you living well and living healthy.
How Can You Combat Stress?
If you suffer from chronic stress and can’t influence or change the situation, then you’ll need to think about changing your approach and what that might look like. Be willing to be open-minded and flexible about any and all solutions to your stress. Remember, you have the ability to choose how you respond to stressors, and you may have to try various options. Optimizing your hormones with our First step $199 optimal health assessment, and the best way to start getting answers. How is it different than getting your labs done anywhere else? You may have heard in the past after lab work results “you’re in normal range.” It’s important to remember that “normal” does NOT mean optimal – two very different things. Our providers go the extra mile by listening to your symptoms, concerns, complaints, and an in depth health history to start. After this consultation, our medical experts know exactly what to look for, and how to find those answers – by optimizing your hormones and optimizing your life. We go the extra mile. Combat your stress, by taking action – know that you are on your way to a stress free life.
Ways to Help Manage Stress
- Exercise: Even 20-30 minutes of walking is a great stress reliever and a good way to get your mind off your daily worries. Exercise has many healthy benefits.
- Relaxation: Learn to incorporate some relaxation techniques into your daily life. Meditation, journaling, yoga, and breathing exercises are just a few ways to help relax.
- Have Fun: Spending quality time with family and friends, or simply watching your favorite sitcom can be just the distraction you need.
- Eat Well: The gut and brain are constantly sending signals to each other, so by keeping your microbiota (the bacteria in your gut) healthy, your brain feels less stressed.
- Sleep & Rest: To relieve stress before bed, try some relaxation techniques and disconnect from technology as much as possible an hour before bedtime.
Stress is an inevitable part of life that affects everyone in one way or another, but how you manage it is what determines how great or small it affects your life. When stress is not managed properly, it can lead to a variety of negative health outcomes, including an impact on your hormone health. Hormones are essential chemicals that are responsible for regulating many bodily functions, including metabolism, reproduction, and mood. When stress disrupts the delicate balance of hormones, it can lead to serious health problems. Here are some of the ways that stress can negatively affect your hormones and keep you from having optimal hormone health:
- Cortisol: is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress. It helps the body to respond to stress by increasing blood sugar levels, suppressing the immune system, and altering the way that the body uses fat, protein, and carbohydrates. When cortisol levels are consistently elevated due to chronic stress, it can lead to a number of negative health outcomes, including weight gain, immune system dysfunction, and an increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
- Insulin: is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels in the body. When cortisol levels are elevated due to stress, it can lead to insulin resistance, which means that the body becomes less sensitive to the effects of insulin. This can lead to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Thyroid hormones: Stress can also affect the thyroid gland, which produces hormones that regulate metabolism. When the thyroid gland is not functioning properly due to stress, it can lead to a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, weight gain, and depression.
- Reproductive hormones: Stress can also affect reproductive hormones, which can lead to problems with fertility, menstrual irregularities, and decreased libido. For women, stress can lead to disruptions in the menstrual cycle, including missed periods, while for men, stress can lead to decreased testosterone levels.
- Growth hormone: Stress can also affect the production of growth hormone, which is important for growth and repair of tissues in the body. When growth hormone levels are low due to stress, it can lead to decreased muscle mass, increased body fat, and decreased bone density.
In conclusion, stress can negatively affect your hormone health in a variety of ways. To optimize hormone health, it is important to manage stress effectively through techniques such as exercise, mindfulness, stress-reducing activities, and routine visits with your 25 Again provider. It is important to seek medical attention if you are experiencing symptoms related to hormone imbalances. By taking steps to manage stress and optimize your hormone health, you can improve your overall health and wellbeing. If you are looking to relieve stress, burn out, low energy, hot flashes, decreased sex drive, hair loss, weight gain, or no motivation – start getting answers by taking our free online health survey.
