Sleeping with the Enemy? (Hint: It's Stress)
Lying awake at night? Can’t stop your mind from worrying about what happened yesterday and what will happen tomorrow? It’s not healthy — and that’s not just a saying.
Stress and the way you react to it may be affecting your health, even though it may not be apparent to you. You may think that persistent headache or inability to focus is caused by a physical illness, but the culprit may actually be excessive ongoing stress in your life. And it can lead to serious health problems.
According to the National Institutes of Health, stress is at the root of 80 percent or more of all illness and doctor visits in the U.S.. Here's how stress increases your risk of serious disease, your health care cost and your productivity.
Stress and the way you react to it may be affecting your health, even though it may not be apparent to you. You may think that persistent headache or inability to focus is caused by a physical illness, but the culprit may actually be excessive ongoing stress in your life. And it can lead to serious health problems.
Health effects of stress:
The health effects of stress identified by The Mayo Clinic can range from relatively minor symptoms and conditions including …
o Headache
o Back pain
o Upset stomach
o Sleep problems
o Irritability
o Lack of focus
o Forgetfulness
o Overeating
… to more acute and critical health conditions including …
o Chest pain
o Heart disease
o High blood pressure
o Depression
o Decreased immunity
What can you do to reduce stress?
First, recognize that you can’t prevent stress. It’s part of everyday life — and some level of stress is actually good for you. It’s how you react to stress, as well as a lifestyle that brings a frequently elevated levels of stress into your life, that can get you and your state of health into trouble.
Health experts agree that making lifestyle changes to help you identify your stress triggers and, most importantly, better manage your reactions to stress, can bring numerous health benefits.
Stress management techniques recommended by medical experts include massage as well as exercise, guided relaxation and breathing techniques, meditation, yoga and t’ai chi.
How massage can help you manage stress
The Mayo Clinic notes that studies have found massage helpful for stress relief and for managing anxiety and depression, as well as boosting immunity. Massage has been shown to help regulate hormones including norepinephrine, cortisol and serotonin — naturally occurring chemicals in the body that are associated with stress, relaxation and mood.
Beyond the physical effects of tactile manipulation of the muscles, tissues, joints and organs, the stress-relief and health benefits of massage also come from the caring and comfort of physical touch.
These benefits of regular massage can help you cope with stress when it’s occurring — and also develop a stronger everyday resilience to the stresses life will inevitably bring. Please check with your doctor if you are experiencing chronic stress. Your symptoms could be associated with a serious health condition.
Elements Therapeutic Massage located at 312 E. Sliver Spring Dr., Whitefish Bay offers a number of different massages to suit your needs (Swedish, prenatal, deep tissue, trigger point, hot stone and chair). They are open M-Th 9am to 8pm and Fri-Sun 9am to 7pm. Call them today to see how massage can help you relieve stress and increase your overall wellness: 414-332-3260.
Flooding hits the North Shore
Five North Shore police departments are teaming up on a new blog that provides residents with the crime prevention and safety tips, and news about community service projects and events throughout the area.
