1st Health Articles

Stress is a part of everyones daily life. In fact, our bodies are designed to recognize stress and respond to it. Positive stress allows us to change, improve ourselves,  and grow. However, unrelieved stress can become distress, which creates problems in our minds, bodies and behavior.

Since everyone responds to stress differently, the negative effects of long-term stress vary for each person. Some of the major ill effects include:

·        Strokes and blood clots

·        High blood pressure

·        Heart Disease

·        Lowered immune response

·        Skin disorders, including acne, hives and itchiness

·        Impaired brain functions – confusion, memory loss and poor judgment

·        Insomnia

·        Digestive problems, including diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and stomach cramps

·        Diabetes

·        Mental illnesses like depression, anxiety attacks and eating disorders

This is by no means a complete list. More importantly, the negative health effects of stress can combine to create unique and life threatening illnesses in some people. Each year, hundreds of billions of dollars are lost in businesses  due to stress-related illnesses and lost productivity. The impact on families and communities cannot be measured in money. Stress robs us of the pleasure of living and shortens our lives, if left untreated.