How to Know When Stress Is Killing You
Whether it's work deadlines, debt or even road rage, nosotros all get stressed from fourth dimension-to-time.
While for most the feeling passes, others go overwhelmed and unable to cope.
In the short term, stress tin leave u.s.a. anxious, tearful and struggling to sleep.
But over fourth dimension, continuously feeling frazzled could trigger centre attacks, strokes, and even suicidal thoughts.
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"In short, yes, stress tin impale you,"Dr. Diana Gall from Doctor4U told Yahoo UK .
"Though information technology's non the stressful situations that kill you, it's how yous deal with stress that affects your health."
When we run across a stressful situation, our body produces hormones that send us into "fight or flight".
This causes a surge in the hormone adrenaline, which gets our centre pumping and raises our blood pressure,according to the Mayo Clinic.
The "stress hormone" cortisol also gets released, curbing functions that are non-essential in a fight or flying scenario, like the allowed and digestive systems.
Fight or flight can exist helpful, with the sudden release of adrenaline giving us the "heave" nosotros need to get through a big work presentation or fifty-fifty escape danger.
Once the stressful situation has passed, our hormone levels should render to normal.
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"It's when this stress becomes excessive over considerable periods of fourth dimension that it can develop into what is termed 'chronic stress'," Dr. Daniel Atkinson, clinical pb at Treated.com, told Yahoo U.k. .
In the by year, nearly 3 quarters (74%) of people in the UK have felt so stressed they were left struggling to cope,according to a Mental Health Foundation survey.
"Rather than the fight or flight response to sure situations being activated and so diminishing one time the nerve-wracking consequence has passed, the response persists, and our stress hormones are triggered repeatedly," Dr Atkinson said.
The long-term activation of the fight or flying system causes cortisol to flood our bloodstream, disrupting of import bodily functions.
Over time, sufferers may endure digestive problems, weight proceeds, and even centre disease, according to the Mayo Dispensary.
Speaking this International Stress Awareness Week, Dr. Atkinson said: "In terms of high blood pressure, recurring fight or flight responses can requite ascent to hypertension, which tin brand you lot more than susceptible to heart attacks and strokes if it isn't addressed."
Stress also triggers unhealthy habits, with 46% of the Mental Health Foundation's 4,000 respondents claiming they ate also much or unhealthily when frazzled.
More than a quarter (29%) blamed their chronic stress for drinking too much, while upward to 16% claimed it drove them to take up smoking.
Stress may too take its price on our mental health.
Of those who felt stressed, 61% reported battling anxiety and 51% had low.
In severe cases, 32% of those who felt stressed at some bespeak in their life admitted to having suicidal thoughts.
"There is evidence the encephalon's neurotransmitters and hormones, which grade function of the typical stress response, tin get distorted in the face of traumatic events," Dr. Atkinson said.
"This causes people with mail-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to feel 'false alarms', as the amygdala – a part of the brain that deals with fear – becomes hyperactive, resulting in panic episodes that may exist farthermost in nature.
"Ultimately, research supports the manifestations of long-term stress can kill."
What are the symptoms of stress?
Stress can bear on yous emotionally, mentally and physically,according to the NHS.
Emotionally, many feel overwhelmed, 'wound up' and broken-hearted.
Feeling frazzled may also put a downer on their mood, exit them unable to savour themselves and cause a looming sense of dread,co-ordinate to the clemency Listen.
Others may become broken-hearted and agape or feel neglected and solitary.
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Struggling to cope with stressful situations can also take its toll on our mental wellbeing.
Many battle racing thoughts, constant worrying, and difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
Peradventure surprisingly, stress can likewise affect usa physically.
In more than severe cases, sufferers may hyperventilate, take panic attacks, grind their teeth, endure chest pain or run into their claret pressure level ascension.
How to feel less stressed
The skilful news is, stress tin can be both prevented and treated.
If you notice yourself feeling overwhelmed,the NHS recommendsexercising to assist clear your thoughts.
"Exercise has been shown to release endorphins, chemicals in the brain that elevate mood and lower stress hormones," Dr. Atkinson said.
Confiding in a loved 1 or taking time out to do activities you lot enjoy may also make your bug feel more manageable.
"Maintaining a strong support network, in general, tin help you to identify solutions and modify your perspective," Dr. Atkinson said.
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While it may exist tempting to plough to booze, smoke or java to calm your nerves, Dr. Atkinson warns these are only short-term solutions.
"New hobbies, such equally learning a new language or playing a new sport, tin serve every bit a beneficial lark for your mind and better self-confidence through showing to yourself yous tin can take positive action," he said.
Both the NHS and Dr. Atkinson too recommend mindfulness to help stress sufferers experience more in control.
"Mindfulness is the human activity of giving more attention to your thoughts and feelings in the present, as well every bit to the environment around yous," Dr. Atkinson said.
"It helps to interrupt the 'autopilot' mode that'due south very like shooting fish in a barrel to inhabit on a daily basis.
"And the increased awareness that'south given to our thoughts and feelings can better equip us to detect signs of stress developing."
If "self-help" fails to ease your stress, Dr. Gall recommends seeking medical assistance.
"If y'all're wondering whether or not the stress you lot're facing is 'too much stress', then it'south all-time to talk to your GP or seek a mental health expert," she said.
Warning signs may include struggling at work or school, finding it difficult to go through the mean solar day, turning to drugs or booze, insomnia, depression, and fifty-fifty suicidal thoughts, Dr. Gall added.
If you accept had thoughts of self-harm or suicide, the Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123.
Original: Alexandra Thompson Yahoo Style UK November
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Source: https://www.stress.org/can-stress-kill-you
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