Kava

Stress. Everyone experiences it, some more than others, and in many different ways and situations. Deadlines, responsibilities, relationship problems, traffic and countless other daily occurrences can become a major source of stress in a person’s life. When all these things add up, you feel frustrated and on-edge — it can feel impossible to relax and enjoy the wonderful things that life has to offer. But what you may not know is that while all this stress is building up in your mind, it’s actually taking a physical toll on your body, as well.

Stress, in the most basic of terms, is your body’s natural “fight or flight” response to a perceived dangerous situation. In today’s world, it isn’t often that you are placed in real, physical danger. However, other sources of stress in your job or home life can still generate this same reaction by your body — high blood pressure, tense muscles and an elevated heart rate — that prepares you for the options of literally running from or fighting with that perceived danger. The problem arises when you don’t have an outlet for these bodily responses because your daily “dangers” — work deadlines, fights with your spouse, financial struggles — aren’t actually things you have to (or even are able to) escape from. Without any physical release, these stress responses continue to build up in your body, causing long term harm and complications.

 

Prolonged stress resulting from never getting that release of your body’s “fight or flight” response can cause many different and serious health consequences. This can include problems like weight gain, chronic fatigue, back pain, heart problems, digestive issues, acne, a weakened immune system, headaches, stroke and countless other issues you may not even know are directly linked to your stress levels.

 

So what can you do about it? You’re probably thinking that reducing your stress levels is easier said than done. After all, you can’t just quit your job, stop paying your bills or stop taking care of your children. The things causing you stress will always be there. The key to your health and happiness is to find healthy outlets for those stress responses before they start building up inside you. For many people, daily exercise is a great way to reduce stress because it burns off that extra energy meant to prepare you for your “fight or flight” response. Other people find that meditation or yoga help keep the stress at bay. Additionally, getting adequate sleep, eating a balanced diet and limiting your caffeine and alcohol intake can all have a positive impact on lowering your stress levels.

 
If you have a great deal of stress in your life, it’s important to make sure you won’t suffer any long-term health consequences. Heart problems can be a dangerous and even life-threatening consequence of prolonged stress. For additional ways to take control of your health, talk to the experts at YOLLO Wellness and get some Kava to try and feel the instant relief.