We have been conditioned to nod in agreement when we hear the phrase ‘stress is a killer’. But what exactly, on a physiological level, does it mean? If we can understand what goes on underneath our skin, and what stress actually does to our body system and organs, we might be motivated to eliminate stressors in our lives. Stress not only taxes our body system, it is one of the strongest aging factor in our lives.
Stress is another, more popular word, for anxiety. When we are anxious the brain sends a signal to the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland gets the memo and immediately produces the hormones epinephrine and cortisol. Together, these hormones signal the inflammatory system to release proteins known as inflammatory cytokines. These prepare white blood cells and other infection fighters to rush to the site of an anticipated wound. This elegant system works well when you are in a life threatening situation, but when the stress is an ongoing issue, like a toxic workplace, or the constant drip of traffic jams, inflammatory news reels clogging the mind, and financial fears, the body is always flooded with inflammatory hormones without time for recovery, or an outlet to burn off these damaging chemicals.
This dynamic turns your body into a ‘friendly’ environment for cancer, brain deterioration, and cardiovascular disease. In other words stress is one of the main killers and causes of aging. Now you know why, scientifically speaking.
How to mitigate the daily barrage of stressors? Choice and control. We have the choice to change jobs. We have the control to turn off the electronic devices wired to entice and incite you into a frenzy, or even a riot!
Here are some healthy interrupters of stress:
Take a walk in the park: Immerse yourself in nature, smell the fragrant trees, listen to the busy birds. Nature offers a healthy reset to our busy lives. The rhythm of nature calms our heart, slows our breathing, and settles our nervous system.
Meditate: Sit still, breathe deeply, and quiet the mind. Feel your muscles relax, your heartbeat slowing, and stress melt away. Remember to keep your mind in the present while you sit in repose.
Socialize and Hug: While stressor hormones tax our bodies, feel good hormones like Oxytocin are released when we connect with people. Feel good hormones bathe our cells with comfort. Hugging people, socializing, and even a friendly chat on the phone increases our sense of wellbeing.
Drink lots of water: Water is the great diffuser of toxins stored in the body. Try to find clean alkaline water free from chlorine.
Eat healthier: Our food source can be the best medicine we can take. Turmeric, fish oil, vitamin D, organic foods, and fresh vegetables and fruits are a few of the building blocks we need to thrive.