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Sunday 1 November 2015

What is stress?

Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses. It is a normal part of life. Events, which happen around us and things that we do our selves, put stress on body. Life and stress go hand in hand. Stress is part of the package. Stress is experienced when there is awareness of an imbalance between the rigors of what is in demand and the ability to perform. By this definition, stress can provide us with important warning signals and in so doing, provide a positive service. But as a life force, stress is viewed as an overwhelmingly negative force - one that can impact our physical well-being almost as acutely as our mental health.
How Does Stress Affect Health?
The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger. Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. As a result, the person becomes overworked and stress-related tension builds. Stress that continues without relief can lead to a condition called distress -- a negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping. Stress can bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases.
Stress also becomes harmful when people use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to try and relieve their stress. Unfortunately, instead of relieving the stress and returning the body to a relaxed state, these substances tend to keep the body in a stressed state and cause more problems.

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