Have you ever wondered, “Is stress making me sick?” The truth is, 60 to 80 percent of all doctor’s office visits might be linked to stress, according to one study.
The Impact of Stress on Your Health
Stress is more than just a feeling; it’s an important factor in our overall health. When we’re stressed, our body activates its “fight or flight” response, releasing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones, while crucial in short-term situations, can disrupt our bodily functions if persistently elevated.
Chronic stress can lead to or worsen conditions like asthma and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by increasing inflammation. It can also trigger unhealthy habits such as eating high-sugar, high-fat foods, skipping sleep, and using substances, which further hinder our body’s natural functioning and put us at risk for infections and chronic diseases.
The Impact of Stress on Your Immune System
Chronic stress weakens the immune system by changing hormone levels and hindering immune cell function, making us more prone to infections and inflammation. A groundbreaking study from Michigan State University provides new insights into the relationship between stress and the immune system.
The study focuses on a stress receptor called corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF1), which plays a key role in how certain immune cells, particularly mast cells, respond to stress. Mast cells become highly activated in response to stressful situations, releasing chemical substances that can lead to inflammatory and allergic diseases such as IBS, asthma, food allergies, and autoimmune disorders like lupus.
The release of histamine, a chemical known to cause allergy symptoms, is one of the ways mast cells respond to stress. Under intense stress, histamine release can be too extreme, potentially leading to more serious or chronic health issues.
In a study comparing the histamine response of mice under various stress conditions, it was found that mice with normal CRF1 receptors had higher histamine levels and more severe symptoms when stressed. On the other hand, mice lacking CRF1 receptors had fewer symptoms, demonstrating a reduction in allergic and psychological stress responses.
Recognizing the Signs of Stress
Being aware of how stress manifests in your body is crucial for maintaining good health. Common physical signs of stress include difficulty breathing, panic attacks, blurred vision, sleep disturbances, fatigue, muscle aches and pains, cardiological issues, digestive problems, changes in weight or skin appearance, sweating, and changes in the menstrual cycle.
On an emotional level, symptoms may include irritability, anger, anxiety, a sense of dread, inability to relax or enjoy activities, depression, and feelings of neglect or loneliness.
Tips for Overcoming Chronic Stress
There are a number of safe, natural, scientifically-proven ways to overcome chronic stress and improve your overall health:
- Meditation: Studies show that meditation and deep breathing exercises can significantly lower stress and support immunity. Try meditating for five to 10 minutes each morning, taking deep, long, slow breaths.
- Regular exercise: Physical activity is a powerful stress reliever. Even gentler forms, such as walking and yoga, can lower stress hormones and help you stay relaxed and healthy.
- Balanced diet: Eating a nutritious, balanced diet that includes plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables can help your body cope with stress by providing optimal energy and stabilizing blood sugar levels.
- Sleep: Getting enough sleep is vital for stress reduction and a healthy immune system. It supports brain health, reduces inflammation, and combats stress-related immune disturbances.
- Cold water therapy: Brief exposure to cold water, such as taking a cold shower, can help reduce stress and anxiety by boosting your mood, increasing alertness, releasing endorphins, and lowering cortisol levels. Try standing in cold water for at least one minute.
- Forest bathing: This Japanese practice involves immersing yourself in nature and focusing on the sights, sounds, and smells of the outdoors. It has been shown to reduce stress hormone production.
- Laughter yoga: Combining laughter exercises with yogic breathing (Pranayama), laughter yoga can lift your mood and decrease stress by releasing endorphins. You can find a number of fun instructional videos and articles for free online.
By recognizing the impact of stress on your immune system and overall health and incorporating stress-relieving habits into your routine, you can embark on a path to a happier and healthier life.
References:
– Here’s how stress may be making you sick | MSUToday
– Health care providers’ training, perceptions, and practices regarding stress and health outcomes
– When Physicians Counsel About Stress: Results of a National Study | Psychiatry and Behavioral Health | JAMA Internal Medicine
– The Fight-or-Flight Response: A Cornerstone of Stress Research – ScienceDirect
– Life Event, Stress and Illness – PMC
– The impact of stress on body function: A review – PMC
– Chronic stress, glucocorticoid receptor resistance, inflammation, and disease risk | PNAS
– Physiology, Catecholamines – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
– Catecholamines—Crafty Weapons in the Inflammatory Arsenal of Immune/Inflammatory Cells or Opening Pandora’s Box? – PMC
– The role of suppressor T cells in regulation of immune responses
– Current Directions in Stress and Human Immune Function – PMC
– Stress and disorders of the stress system
– Stress and Inflammation in Exacerbations of Asthma – PMC
– Frontline Science: Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor subtype 1 is a critical modulator of mast cell degranulation and stress-induced pathophysiology – PMC
– The role of brain histamine in acute and chronic stresses
– Mast cell corticotropin-releasing factor subtype 2 suppresses mast cell degranulation and limits the severity of anaphylaxis and stress-induced intestinal permeability – ScienceDirect
– Roles of histamine and its receptors in allergic and inflammatory bowel diseases – PMC
– Histamine and neuroinflammation: insights from murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis – PMC
– Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
– The role of deep breathing on stress
– Regular exercise is associated with emotional resilience to acute stress in healthy adults
– Diet, Stress and Mental Health – PMC
– Eat to Beat Stress – PMC
– The relationship between sleep quality, stress, and academic performance among medical students – PMC
– Role of sleep deprivation in immune-related disease risk and outcomes – PMC
– Health effects of voluntary exposure to cold water – a continuing subject of debate – PMC
– The Impact of Forest Therapy Programs on Stress Reduction: A Systematic Review
– The effect of laughter yoga on perceived stress, burnout, and life satisfaction in nurses during the pandemic: A randomized controlled trial – PMC
The post Is Stress Making Me Sick? The Surprising Ways Stress Affects Your Health–and What to Do About it appeared first on Alternative Medicine Magazine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an alternative form of medicine?
Alternative medicine is a term that covers any treatment approach that is not conventional. There are many types of alternative medicine. However, they all share the same premise: health care should be grounded in natural substances and practices, not chemical medicines.
Alternative medicine includes acupuncture.
Many alternative practitioners claim that their therapies result in better health outcomes, including improved quality of life, fewer side effects, reduced costs, and greater patient satisfaction. These claims can't be supported scientifically, as mainstream medical authorities have mostly ignored the evidence-based advantages of alternative medicine.
What is the importance of alternative medicine?
Alternative medicines are very popular because they're often cheaper and better for you than traditional treatments. Many patients have died due to side effects or allergic reactions after using these treatments. There are also alternatives that may be more effective.
Alternative medicines can also be dangerous if you don’t have enough information to make an informed decision. Vitamin supplements, for example, are not regulated like pharmaceuticals. It is easy to overdose on vitamins. Worse, alternative remedies may contain toxic chemicals.
What is the difference between holistic medicine and alternative medicine?
Holistic medicine treats the whole person – mind, body, spirit, and soul. Holistic medicine examines every aspect of a person’s health. It also considers spiritual, physical, and environmental factors that may be overlooked by traditional medicine. Alternative medicine addresses specific conditions, such as asthma, allergies, arthritis, and other ailments.
Statistics
- These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In 83% of the cases, the readers agreed. (en.wikipedia.org)
- A 15-year systematic review published in 2022 on the global acceptance and use of CAM among medical specialists found the overall acceptance of CAM at 52% and the overall use at 45%. (en.wikipedia.org)
- category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- The rise and rise of complementary and alternative medicine: a sociological perspective – PubMed
- PubMed – Holistic medicine
webmd.com
doi.org
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING, TENSION-TYPEHEADACHE – PubMed
- PubMed: Randomized controlled trial examining the effects of foot reflexology on hospital anxiety and depression in female older adults.
How To
What is it that a holistic doctor does that a conventional doctor doesn't do?
A holistic doctor can provide a greater range of services than a conventional doctor. This includes a nutritionist, massage therapy, naturopath and homeopath.
Holistic doctors work with patients holistically. They look at each person's lifestyle and environment, and treat the root causes of any health problems, rather than treating the symptoms. This helps them to identify the root cause of any health issues and help with long-term wellness. Holistic doctors combine conventional medicine with natural remedies like essential oils and herbs to treat illness. They offer nutritional and dietary advice to help you live a healthy lifestyle.
The holistic doctor also offers therapies such as reflexology and acupuncture, reiki, yoga, meditation, shiatsu, shiatsu, shiatsu, reiki, reiki, shamanic healing, hypnotherapy, craniosacral, and many other treatments.
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This blog is a source of general information and discussion on health and related topics. Information and materials on this blog, on the website, or in any of the connected materials are not intended to replace or used as a substitute for the advice of a medical professional, diagnosis, or treatment. This blog does not represent the application of any nursing, medical or other health professional advice or diagnosis. We are unable to diagnose health conditions, offer second opinions or provide specific treatment recommendations via this blog or on our website.
If you or another person is suffering from a medical issue and you are concerned, consult your doctor or seek out other medical professional treatment as soon as possible. Do not disregard medical advice from a professional or delay seeking it due to information you seen on the blog or website or in any of the linked materials. If you're experiencing an emergency medical situation, dial 911 or seek emergency medical assistance on the closest phone immediately.
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By: Dick Benson
Title: Is Stress Making Me Sick? The Surprising Ways Stress Affects Your Health–and What to Do About it
Sourced From: alternativemedicine.com/mindfulness/heres-stress-may-making-sick/
Published Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2024 04:53:21 +0000
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an alternative form of medicine?
Alternative medicine is a term that covers any treatment approach that is not conventional. There are many types of alternative medicine. However, they all share the same premise: health care should be grounded in natural substances and practices, not chemical medicines.
Alternative medicine includes acupuncture.
Many alternative practitioners claim that their therapies result in better health outcomes, including improved quality of life, fewer side effects, reduced costs, and greater patient satisfaction. These claims can't be supported scientifically, as mainstream medical authorities have mostly ignored the evidence-based advantages of alternative medicine.
What is the importance of alternative medicine?
Alternative medicines are very popular because they're often cheaper and better for you than traditional treatments. Many patients have died due to side effects or allergic reactions after using these treatments. There are also alternatives that may be more effective.
Alternative medicines can also be dangerous if you don’t have enough information to make an informed decision. Vitamin supplements, for example, are not regulated like pharmaceuticals. It is easy to overdose on vitamins. Worse, alternative remedies may contain toxic chemicals.
What is the difference between holistic medicine and alternative medicine?
Holistic medicine treats the whole person – mind, body, spirit, and soul. Holistic medicine examines every aspect of a person’s health. It also considers spiritual, physical, and environmental factors that may be overlooked by traditional medicine. Alternative medicine addresses specific conditions, such as asthma, allergies, arthritis, and other ailments.
Statistics
- These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In the 17% in which they disagreed, a third reader agreed with one of the initial readers to set a rating. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In 83% of the cases, the readers agreed. (en.wikipedia.org)
- A 15-year systematic review published in 2022 on the global acceptance and use of CAM among medical specialists found the overall acceptance of CAM at 52% and the overall use at 45%. (en.wikipedia.org)
- category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- The rise and rise of complementary and alternative medicine: a sociological perspective – PubMed
- PubMed – Holistic medicine
webmd.com
doi.org
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING, TENSION-TYPEHEADACHE – PubMed
- PubMed: Randomized controlled trial examining the effects of foot reflexology on hospital anxiety and depression in female older adults.
How To
What is it that a holistic doctor does that a conventional doctor doesn't do?
A holistic doctor can provide a greater range of services than a conventional doctor. This includes a nutritionist, massage therapy, naturopath and homeopath.
Holistic doctors work with patients holistically. They look at each person's lifestyle and environment, and treat the root causes of any health problems, rather than treating the symptoms. This helps them to identify the root cause of any health issues and help with long-term wellness. Holistic doctors combine conventional medicine with natural remedies like essential oils and herbs to treat illness. They offer nutritional and dietary advice to help you live a healthy lifestyle.
The holistic doctor also offers therapies such as reflexology and acupuncture, reiki, yoga, meditation, shiatsu, shiatsu, shiatsu, reiki, reiki, shamanic healing, hypnotherapy, craniosacral, and many other treatments.
