Stress and Health - Essay Example

Stress and Health: Recommended Online Sources for Felina Stress management forms a critical component of one’s health. As such, understanding how one gets affected by stress and learning to increase one’s capacity to handle life’s demands calls for an understanding of how stress and health interrelate (Olpin & Hesson, 2011). A holistic view of health would include a focus on emotional, spiritual, intellectual and physical spiritual well-being. This paper reviews three online sources that would be useful to my friend, Felina, in understanding the relationship between stress and health and learning effective coping strategies.Krantz, D. S.

, Thorn, B., Kiecolt-Glasser, J. (2013). How stress affects your health. American Psychological Association. Retrieved 15 January 2014 from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress.aspxThis website provides basic, yet critical information on the relationship between stress and health. According to Krantz, Thorn and Kiecolt-Glasser (2013), stress refers to the “fight or flight response” when faced with a threat. This response results in increased blood pressure, elevated heart rate and energy production which could have serious health consequences irrespective of the magnitude of stress.

Sudden emotional stresses could trigger arrhythmias, heart attacks or even sudden death. The longer the stress period, the worse the effects, thus the resultant irritability, lack of concentration and wearing and tearing of the body. Existing problems such as coronary diseases could worsen leading to cardiovascular risk. Having been informed of the negative health consequences of stress, the website would further educate Felina on ways to increase positive affect, including building strong relationships, resting and seeking help.

This has been noted to decrease cardiovascular risks and thus decrease the negative health effects of stress. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2013, February). Relaxation techniques for health: An introduction. Retrieved 15 January 2014 from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stress/relaxation.htmFrom this website sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health, Felina would learn of the health benefits associated with effective stress management.

In this case, relaxation techniques, including mind and body practices, release tension and counteract the negative effects of stress. The techniques slow down heart rate, decrease levels of stress hormones and oxygen consumption and lower blood pressure. Analyzing past studies, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NCCAM (2013) documents that relaxation reduces surgery and abdominal pain, nausea due to chemotherapy and smoking desire, controls urinary urgency and increases jaw functioning among other health benefits.

Even so, the basic of understanding one’s body reaction to stress informs the effective technique to adopt. Żolnierczyk-Zreda, D. (2002). The effects of worksite stress management intervention on changes in coping styles. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 8 (4), 465 – 482. Retrieved 15 January 2014 from http://www.ciop.pl/3506This online source documents a study of how changes in coping styles affects workplace stress management. It would therefore inform Felina on the various stress coping strategies.

Żolnierczyk-Zreda (2002) appreciates that high workplace stress does not in itself result in negative health effects, but rather the degree to which one would cope with the stress. Being a complex process, various strategies have been preferred depending on the situation. Emotion-focused coping involves the regulation of emotional response to a given problem, including minimizing, avoiding and distancing from the problem. On the other hand, problem-focused coping involves the alteration or management of the problem.

Though the study in the article failed to confirm the efficiency of emotion-focused coping, the findings of positive effects of problem-focused coping would be critical in helping Felina make the right choice on the appropriate coping strategy.ReferencesKrantz, D. S., Thorn, B., Kiecolt-Glasser, J. (2013). How stress affects your health. American Psychological Association. Retrieved 15 January 2014 from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress.aspx National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2013, February).

Relaxation techniques for health: An introduction. Retrieved 15 January 2014 from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/stress/relaxation.htmOlpin, M. & Hesson, M. (2011). Stress management for life: A research-based experiential approach. Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning.Żolnierczyk-Zreda, D. (2002). The effects of worksite stress management intervention on changes in coping styles. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 8 (4), 465 – 482. Retrieved 15 January 2014 from http://www.ciop.pl/3506