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There seems to be no end to the whirlwind that has become the 21st Century. And there likely won’t be.
Working long hours. Paying too much for a house to afford the mortgage. Wanting to look like a 25 year old when you’re in your 50s. All of these situations, which have obviously increased in recent years, create stress and anxiety – and therefore the “stress response.” The fact is, the stress response, a complex process of reactions in the body, is developed in every mammal and prepares it to “fight or flee” during actual situations of danger, such as when one of our ancestors was being chased by a saber toothed tiger. Now that’s stressful! Our brain reacts to these situations by pulling blood to the large muscles of our body so we can react. Heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing speed up. We get a rush of adrenaline. All of these changes enable us to fight better or run faster.
However, we rarely face actual situations like these anymore, but in terms of the stress response, our brains cannot differentiate between being attacked and being late for a crucial meeting that could make or break a career. All of these same functions occur, so we feel “stressed out.” People who live with goals that are difficult to reach or are just plain unrealistic will almost inevitably face chronic stress. If people can’t obtain the “stuff” they want, they may be constantly anxious.
The biological processes of long-term stress are beyond the scope of this article. However, here is a partial laundry list – established by medical research – of several health conditions that can worsen (or even appear) under conditions of constant mental stress: asthma, depression, heart disease, compromise of the immune system, high blood pressure, sexual problems, diabetes, obesity, itching, hives, gastrointestinal problems (ulcers, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome), reduced resistance to viruses and bacterial infections, arthritis, and many, many other conditions.
It’s no wonder why the well-respected non-profit American Institute of Stress (AIS) notes that between 75 to 90 % of visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related complaints.
Deep breathing, meditation, guided imagery – they are not just for monasteries and yoga studios anymore. They should be central to our system of healthcare and part of everyone’s wellness program.
Category: HealthWhy Chronic Stress Creates up to 90% of Visits to the Doctor (Part 1 of 2) was written by:Author:Troy CentazzoAdded: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:38:55 -0400 This Article Has Been Read 56 times View all Troy Centazzo's articlesAbout the Author: Troy is the Founder and President of MBL, a firm using New Media to provide health and wellness content to the public. http://www.mblwellness.com. About Paisano Pictures. The Company’s mission, called “Just One Damn Percent,” is to create catchy, unique web-based series targeted at the 18 – 34 year old demographic – and find some corporate sponsors while doing it. After all, research firm eMarketer predicts the web video ad market will top $4 billion in just couple of years (one damn percent of that market is only $40 million). "Oceans 7-11" is the Company’s first series. http://www.oceans711.com. |
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