Unusual Ways Stress Affects Your Body

A little stress can be a good thing. Sometimes in life, we need that extra jolt, that little kick in the seat to hit a deadline, nail a presentation, or otherwise rise to the occasion. The problem comes when we give ourselves a jolt we don’t need—sitting in a traffic jam, for instance—and turn that jolt into a sustained current of fight-or-flight. That’s when stress hurts. High blood pressure, shortness of breath, insomnia, depression, and anxiety are all familiar calling cards of high stress. But being on high alert all the time takes its toll on the body in other ways. Here are a few of the more unusual ways stress affects your body and what you can do to keep those stress levels down.

Weakened Immune System

When you’re under a lot of stress, your body goes to work trying to mitigate it. In response, the body releases cortisol, an anti-inflammatory hormone. Long-term elevated cortisol builds resistance in the body to its properties, meaning that it cannot decrease inflammation when necessary. Additionally, stress reduces the production of lymphocytes, the white blood cells that form the rank and file of your immune system. With fewer lymphocytes ready to fight, you’re at a higher risk for infection. To keep cortisol down and lymphocytes up, make time in your day for moderate cardiovascular exercise, and set a few minutes aside for basic mindfulness.

High Intraocular Pressure

Your eyes are a part of the body that can ill afford to be under pressure. Elevated stress levels raise the pressure level of intraocular fluid, the fluid within the eyes. Sustained high pressure damages the optic nerve, the nerve that sends signals from the eyes to the brain. If going to the eye doctor makes you nervous, even the extra tension you feel could manifest itself in the measurements your ophthalmologist takes, yielding a pressure reading that isn’t indicative of your normal levels. If visits make you nervous, take deep breaths and remind yourself that you should have nothing to worry about. Just don’t close your eyes during the exam.

Digestive Health

One of the more unusual ways stress affects your body is by compromising digestion. When the body is in fight-or-flight mode, it’s trying to get its priorities straight in an emergency. For most humans, navigating a crisis is not concurrent with sitting down to enjoy a meal. Though we’ve become more sedentary, we haven’t lost our old instincts, and the body’s hardwired response to put digestion on the backburner remains in place, leading to stomach pain, nausea, and other problems. Not only will exercise and mindfulness lower your stress levels, but relaxation techniques can help you not to sweat the small stuff, which means your body will have an easier time digesting food.

The post Unusual Ways Stress Affects Your Body appeared first on Alternative Medicine Magazine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can you find more information on holistic medicine and other holistic therapies?

Holistic medicine is an approach to health care that focuses on treating the whole person rather than just focusing on one part of the body. It considers all aspects of a patient’s life, including physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Holistic medicine seeks to treat the person as a whole, rather than treating specific symptoms. Holistic medicine doesn’t focus on curing disease. It focuses on healing.

Holistic medicine covers preventive measures like nutrition and exercise, as well treatment for chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis.

There are many types of holistic medicine.

Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Ayurveda
Chiropractic medicine
Homeopathy
Herbalism
Naturopathy
Nutrition
Osteopathic medicine
Vedic medicine
Yoga

Is holistic medicine safe to use?

Holistic Medicine is not as hazardous as you might think. However it does come with a few risks. Side effects most commonly include headaches and nausea. Patients must understand these risks and weigh them against the benefits of alternative treatments such as acupuncture.

There are no cases of death from holistic medicine.

Before you start any new treatment, make sure to talk with your doctor.

What is the difference in alternative medicine and complementary medicine?

Alternative medicine refers only to treatment methods that are not recommended by mainstream doctors but have been proven to provide beneficial results for certain conditions. Some examples include homeopathy and aromatherapy, acupuncture, naturopathy, Ayurveda (TCM), traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and traditional Chinese medicine. Complementary Medicines are treatments that add to the treatment of conventional medicine. They may also be used in combination with it. These may include dietary supplements, such as vitamins and minerals, herbs, enzymes, enzymes, probiotics or other natural substances.

While both forms of medicine are commonly used, many conventional doctors do not recommend them due to insufficient evidence or safety concerns.

There is no consensus among health care providers regarding the best approach to integrating CAM into patient care.

Many CAM practices are based on theories developed over thousands of years. But clinical trials in the past 20 years have suggested that these therapies might work.

Many studies show that acupuncture may help relieve pain. Preliminary data also show that acupuncture may help to reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. A number of studies also suggest that acupuncture might improve symptoms like irritable and fibromyalgia as well as chronic fatigue syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, migraines tension headaches, anxiety, and anxiety.

Some CAM therapies may also be effective in the treatment of diseases like HIV/AIDS/Asthma, diabetes, heart disease (hypertension), Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, as well as rheumatoid.

Although there is still much to learn about the effectiveness and safety of CAM, experts are unanimous in their belief that it can be used to treat various conditions.

As a consequence, more people turn to CAM practitioners for relief of common illnesses.

Despite this popularity, many people still have questions about “alternatives” and “complementary” medicine.

What treatments are not included in holistic medicine?

Holistic medicine is a holistic approach to healing. It focuses on the whole person and not just the symptoms. It promotes health and prevents disease.

Holistic medicine is a natural alternative to drugs and surgery.

Holistic medicine includes lifestyle changes such as exercise, diet, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, massage, and bodywork techniques.

Integrative medicine, also known as Holistic Medicine, integrates all aspects a patient’s mental, physical, and emotional needs into one comprehensive treatment plan.

Holistic medicine emphasizes prevention as well as early detection of diseases and encourages healthy lifestyles.

Holistic doctors believe that there is no single cause for any given condition. Instead, holistic doctors consider the whole picture, including genetics, environment, lifestyle choices and personal habits.

Holistic practitioners emphasize the mind and emotions more than the body.

Holistic physicians work closely alongside their patients to determine the best treatment for their needs.

What does holistic mean?

Holistic refers to being whole-based. Holistic means seeing the whole picture and not just parts of it. This is not always easy because we are used to seeing things as separate parts.

Our default mentality is to see things in black and white. In reality, there are infinite shades of grey.

It is important to consider all angles when working on a project. You should look at it from all sides.

Take the time to look at it as a whole. How do its various elements interact with each other?

If you do find a problem, try to figure out why. And don’t forget to consider the impact of any change you make.

What are the benefits of holistic medicine over conventional medicine?

Many religions, cultures, and nations have used holistic remedies for thousands upon thousands of years. They were developed based on ancient knowledge and experience.

These medicines are safe, effective, natural, and affordable. These side effects are far less severe than those from pharmaceutical drugs.

They can also improve your health and wellbeing.

They can prevent you from getting sick and boost your overall well being.

They could even be used to treat heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, asthma and depression.

There are hundreds upon hundreds of traditional medicines around the world, each offering unique benefits.

According to the World Health Organization, 80% of people rely on traditional treatments for injury or illness.

According to reports, half a billion people use traditional herbal remedies as their primary healthcare.

The global market for complementary therapies is estimated to reach $22.2 billion by 2020.

To avoid side effects from conventional treatments, people are turning to alternative methods of medical care.

People often turn to complementary therapies for treatment when they are not able to respond to conventional treatments. They may also try them before resorting to surgery or medication.

There are many reasons people choose complementary therapies.

To improve quality of life
To reduce stress levels
For relaxation
To ease your pain
To enhance immunity
For support in coping with serious illnesses
To boost energy
To control weight
To maintain good nutrition
To improve sleep patterns
To deal avec chronic conditions

What is Alternative Medicine?

It is a healing approach that focuses on prevention instead of treating. It encourages consumers to become educated and active in improving their well-being.

Alternative medicine refers to any system of diagnosis and treatment that does not employ allopathic (conventional) medical practices.

Statistics

The use of alternative medicine in the US has increased, with a 50 percent increase in expenditures and a 25 percent increase in the use of alternative therapies between 1990 and 1997 in America. (en.wikipedia.org)
According to a 2005 book by a US [116]Institute of Medicine panel, the number of RCTs focused on CAM has risen dramatically. (en.wikipedia.org)
An assessment of conventional treatments found that 41.3% concluded positive or possibly positive effects, 20% concluded no effect, 8.1% concluded net harmful effects, and 21.3% concluded insufficient evidence. (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)
In 83% of the cases, the readers agreed. (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

How To

What are the four types of complementary and alternate medicine?

The main categories of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are mind-body, natural products as well as manipulative therapies. Mind-body medicine covers yoga, Tai Chi and Reiki, as well as chiropractic care, homeopathy (naturopathy), biofeedback, hypnosis and hypnosis. Natural products include herbs vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, and botanicals. Manipulative therapies can include physical manipulations such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and osteopathic/chiropractic care. Prayer and visualization are some of the techniques used for energy healing.

CAM is a general term that covers many health practices not covered by Western medical models. These practices vary widely regarding how much scientific evidence supports them, whether they involve drugs or surgery, and which conditions they treat. Some CAM practitioners also perform diagnostic testing (e.g., blood tests) and prescribe medication. Others do neither.

There are several subcategories to each category that go beyond the four primary categories. Mind-body medicine includes relaxation techniques, mindfulness training and guided imagery. It also includes self-hypnosis, meditation, qigong and Tai chi. Natural products include nutritional supplements as well botanical medicines, homeopathic treatments, essential oils and herbal preparations. Manual, movement or traction can be used to manipulate the body. There are many spiritual healing options, such as faith healing and prayer within energy healing.

Many CAM treatments can be used to treat symptoms and not the cause. Some chronic conditions may benefit from CAM. If used in the right way, CAM can supplement conventional treatment options.

There are many reasons why people use CAM:

To improve their overall well-being.
To manage a specific condition.
To reduce pain or discomfort.
To prevent illness.
To promote wellness.
To address a personal belief system.

People turn to CAM for greater control of their health than conventional medicine. Some may feel it has less side effects. Others choose CAM to avoid taking prescription medications. Still, others prefer not to take pharmaceuticals if possible. Some people seek out CAM to avoid having to repeat the same mistakes they had with traditional medicine.

Some people who use CAM claim they want to be confident about what they’re doing before trying out new techniques. Many people who use CAM ask questions about its safety and effectiveness. Others rely more on word of mouth recommendations from their family members and friends.

Although CAM is often viewed negatively by society, most users report positive feelings toward CAM. People who use CAM are happier and healthier than those who don’t. This holds true regardless if you are of any gender, race or ethnicity.

The majority of Americans use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. Nearly 95% of Americans use some form of complementary and alternative medicine at least once in their lifetime. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health – NCCIH, approximately 40,000,000 visits were made to CAM providers alone in 2010.

The NCCIH estimates that 10% of the U.S. population is treated by chiropractors or massage therapists.

The American Medical Association renewed its support for integrative medicines in 2013. It stated that doctors should incorporate scientifically validated complementary and alternative medicine into their clinical practice to meet patients’ expectations and needs.

The Institute of Medicine published a landmark 2007 report called “Relating Constraints” that concluded that there was no evidence to support the claim that any particular CAM intervention can prevent, treat, cure, or cure cancer.

CAM continues growing in popularity despite these findings. The 2008 number of CAM practitioners increased 8 percent compared with 2007.

A recent survey found that almost half the respondents said they used CAM as part their primary healthcare plan.

CAM therapies include natural products, mind-body practices, manipulative techniques, energy healing modalities, exercise, dietary supplements, and other approaches.

Many CAM therapies are used primarily for pain relief; however, many also offer other benefits, such as relaxation, improved mood, better sleep, reduced stress, and enhanced immunity.

Acupuncture can be used to relieve back pain, anxiety, depression, increase immune function, promote weight loss, and improve menstrual symptoms.

Many CAM therapies are rooted in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. They have been around for thousands of years.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), for example, was developed 5,000 years ago. It has been used in China since ancient times.

TCM was only in the mid-1800s that Western science gained prominence. However, it is still an important part of modern health care.

TCM is used for treatment by more than 70% of Americans today.

Another popular CAM therapy is yoga. Yoga originated in India around 5000 B.C. Yoga is now an accepted global practice.

Yoga has become increasingly popular with the general public because it offers physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits.

Yoga can help ease stress, enhance flexibility and increase strength while improving cardiovascular fitness and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Although there isn’t much scientific research on yoga, it appears that it has positive effects on sleep33. Yoga may be beneficial for people with insomnia.

Other CAM therapies like aromatherapy, homeopathy, meditation, and/or homeopathy are also becoming accepted in mainstream medicine.

One of the most common types of CAM used today is herbal medicine.

Herbal medicines include herbs, spices and flowers, seeds, fruits and mushrooms, bark, leaves roots, stems, and bark.

These drugs are frequently considered safer than pharmaceutical drugs and are popularly used by consumers.

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health estimates that about 90 million Americans use some form of complementary/alternative medicine.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 45% of adult cancer patients used alternative medicine during their treatment.

According to the National Institutes of Health, 60% of cancer patients use CAM. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 50% of cancer survivors have used CAM.

According to a recent survey, 51% reported that they used at least one type (CAM) of CAM.

However, only 8% of these individuals discussed this use with their physicians.

This is a serious problem with healthcare delivery because there is not enough communication between conventional medical practitioners and CAM users.

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