How Stress Can Impact Health - Research Paper Example

?How Stress Can Impact Health Stress is a physiological phenomenon that negatively strain or impact the emotional and psychological aspects of every human being. This paper will discuss about how stresses can impact to human health. There are different types of stress. These are eustress, acute, episodic or chronic stresses. Eustress is sourced after exhausting self from exciting events, adventures or euphoric circumstance (Scott, 2011). Acute stress can either be sourced for eustress or out of distress. Episodic stress gained when acute stress is constant and has become a way of life that’s why those who’d suddenly succumb to its effects are called drama king or queen. Most of those who are internally plagued with this are absent minded. Chronic stress, on the other hand, is felt mostly by those who are constantly immersed in bad and sad circumstances (Scott, 2011). They are those who are absolutely burnout. This kind of stress seems endless and inescapable unless the sufferer will totally transform his life and change the circumstances surrounding him (Scott, 2011). A classic example of this is when a person is subjected into bad marriage (Scott, 2011) or when one is able to survive typhoon Bopha but needs more years to recover the losses of loved ones and properties. Other causes of stress are frustrations, relational problems, deadlines, and being burnout in coping with the needs of life itself. In America, research pointed that the major causes of stress concerns on money, work, economy relations, familial responsibilities, job instability, housing problems, health issues, and personal safety (American Psychological Association, 2012). Health experts explained that stress can affect the dynamics of human physiology with the sudden rush of adrenalin and cortisol that hasten digestion, propelling blood flows, and affect the normal dynamics of the muscles, hence, shunting pressures to nervous functions (Scott, 2011). Threats, signs of danger, and shocking incidents pushed the person to unleashed extraordinary energy to respond, to escape, or to fight back (Scott, 2011). When perceived threats are gone, everything relaxes and returns to normal functions. However, when acute chronic stress affects the nervous system, headaches, vulnerability to colds, and health problems could occur (Scott, 2011). When remedial measures for chronic stress are not availed, the person will suffer depression, hair loss, obesity, tooth and gun diseases, heart diseases, sleeplessness, occurrence of high blood pressures, and will contribute to the development of cancer , although this remained to be studied (Scott, 2011). Psychologists explained that cancer can potentially develop to those who are extremely stressed persons because they tend to use cigarettes, liquor, make poor choices of foods, and adopt an unhealthy lifestyle (Kozarovich, 2011). Kozarovich (2011) however emphasized that stress is an essential part of our lives. All of us deal with problems, issues, concerns and circumstances that could be stressors of our lives. This could either cause harm and pain to our mind and body that could even result to heart diseases and anxiety attacks (Kozarovich, 2011). Medical experts expressed that stress has an impact to immune systems. Medical researcher Dr. Ron Glaser of Ohio State University bared that learners under pressure has slow healing capacity to wounds because stresses derail the production of immune system cells that can suppress organisms (Kozarovich, 2011). Another medical researcher Dr. Dean Ornish pointed that stress-reduction processes might actually help resolve heart ailment. Psychosomatic expert Dr. Barry Spiegel also opined that those with patients with metastatic breast cancer, especially those caused with traumatic life experiences, can outlived the ordeal longer when they co-mingled with support groups that are not producer of stressors (Kozarovich, 2011). It’s the way that people relate and coped stress that they are led more to lifestyles and preferences that are causing more harm to their physiology than good (Kozarovich, 2011). What should you do? Those suffering chronic stress should choose to sleep well and eat healthy food instead of opting bad carefree lifestyle with cigarettes, alcohols and more stressful activities (American Psychological Association, 2012). Learn how to relax your body or you may join yoga classes to re-experience the healing power of meditation and attain high degree of calmness (APA, 2012). Other tension-relaxing technique is exercising every day and doing deep breathing. A person needs also to improve his relational capacity to harness positive energies with others (APA, 2012). Learn also to avoid stressful situations that could senselessly sap your energy and strength to nothingness. You can do this by ensuring time management with what you intend to do and finish on the day and by being purposeful in your activities all the time (APA, 2012; Helpguide, 2012). Praying is also another way of releasing tensions. Releasing your problems to the Divine will also keep you psychologically relax and free from unnecessary compulsion to respond on stressors. By being prayerful, you surrendered the heavy burdens and emotional baggage in your life to God, the ultimate being who could calm your heart and mind from fears and anxieties in life. Other persons who can’t bear chronic stress may consult professional help so that they will be able to avail medication, therapy session and necessary advises (APA, 2012). Psychologists, medical practitioners, and therapist could help diagnose root causes and problems associated to chronic stress and they could provide professional assistance to better your feelings either by medication, therapeutic session, or by simply listening to your woes (Helpguide, 2012). Often, expressing or communicating what bothered or psychologically ailing you could release tensions and refresh your control on your life. Stress is not a terminal ailment in itself but if disregarded and untended, could aggravate emotional and physiological conditions, hence consequentially damage your health. It is very significant that person should opt for healthy lifestyles, nutritious food, sufficient sleep, better relations, enough knowledge on the stress impacts to health, and maintain a meditative lifestyles so that he choose to make sound decisions free from stressors and energy-sapping outcomes (APA, 2012). Indeed, doing significant stress management can help improve your lifestyles. By understanding completely what causes emotional and physiological imbalance to your life, you could find alternatives that could protect you from unnecessary stressors (APA, 2012). References American Psychological Association. The Impact of Stress. NE, Washington D.C., US. < http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2011/impact.aspx > Accessed: 10 December 2012. Scott, E. Stress: How it affects your body and how you can stay healthier, Stress and Health/Stress Management, About.com Guide. Web. 14 May 2011. Kozarovich, L. Stress: A Cause of Cancer?. Psych Central. Web. 2006http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/stress-a-cause-of-cancer/ Accessed: 10 December 2012. Helpguide. Understanding Stress: Symptoms, Signs, Causes, and Effects. Help Guide.org: A trusted non-profit resource. Web. http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm Accessed: 10 December 2012. Read More