Stressors (anything that is stressful including people) have a major effect upon your mood, your sense of well-being, overall behavior and most of all your general health. Some people especially the younger generation will argue that stress helps them to perform better. But this is far from the truth. Acute stress responses in young people may be adaptive and may not pose a health problem immediately. However, if the threat is continuous and is not addressed within the shortest time possible, long-term effects can damage your health. Here are some of the true impacts stress can have on your health and life:
Stress and your mental health
High-pressure work days, lack of adequate sleep and exercise, long commutes, poor working conditions, unfriendly employees and trying to make ends meet are all forms of stressors. When these stressors accumulate it can damage your health considerably. Stress prevents you from thinking straight and reduces your power to focus.
Stress makes it hard for to control your emotional state
Stressed individuals tend to lose their tempers quite easily. In fact, you do not need too much stress to lose your cool. A substantial amount of stress is enough for you to lose control of your emotions and lose your cool. This is not good for your social well-being and you might end up losing all your friends and people might avoid being around you.
Stress can promote disease
Chronic stress can lead to several health conditions. Stress is linked to several illnesses. Some of these diseases include cancer, suicidal thoughts, liver cirrhosis, stomach ulcers, lung disease, and accidents. Prolonged stress can distort the connection between your body and your mind. This affects your immune system and allows diseases to creep in and affect your health.
Stress can negatively affect your love life
Stress can make you lose interest in a lot of things and it causes mood swings. A 1984 research on stress shows that it can significantly affect the testosterone levels in men, reduce sexual desire and even affect a man’s weight. This means that your sexual life and love life, in general, can be affected if you are experiencing stress from time to time.
Stress can damage the health of your heart
Stressful conditions can trigger extreme anxiety. Stress hormones increase your heart rate and forcing the blood vessels to constrict without a reason. When this is prolonged, your heart is forced to work harder which in turn increases your blood pressure.
Stress management is vital in today’s life. When you are stressed you might fail to take care of your body as you should. Therefore, learn how to prevent and manage stress for you to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
