Stress

Stress isn’t designed to beat your body down, but when you are subjected to it for days on end, chronic stress causes physical aches and pains, impairs your memory and cognitive ability, and raises your risk of obesity, heart disease, hypertension, and stroke. You may find even yourself dealing with insomnia, anxiety, migraines, or depression.

Children manifest stress through sudden changes in behavior. A stressed child may suddenly throw temper tantrums, or have a meltdown over simple tasks, or show apathy toward everything. Their eating and sleeping patterns too may change, and they may complain more frequently of headaches and stomach aches. They may even show tic disorders like excessive blinking or throat clearing.

Whether it’s the short-term frustration of a missed airplane or the long-term frustration of a job or a major life event, stress can affect our health in terrible ways. Stress is a part of our daily lives today, with all the unpleasant life experiences we go through due to financial[.....]

Whether you are physically active, an athlete, or just clumsy, you might have to deal with an injury at some point in your life. And, unless you consult a professional, it’s difficult to tell exactly how serious the injury is. However, you could get a fair idea of the extent[.....]

For a lot of us, the holiday season brings in more stress than joy. Make to-do lists and allot a certain deadline for each of your tasks. Set a budget for yourself and get creative with presents. Avoid overcommitting to events and be honest about your feelings. Eat healthy, exercise, and relax to keep up with your health. If you're overloaded with commitments, ask your loved ones for help and delegate tasks.

If stress is messing with your health, channel the power of breathing to relax the body. Start with a simple equal breathing technique that uses counting to focus on breath. Progress to pranayama (yogic breathing), nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) and kumbhaka pranayama (breath retention). Or learn a deep abdominal breathing method. If you prefer a more meditative experience, controlled breathing with imagery could be the technique for you.

Managing hormones might optimize your weight loss regime. High levels of leptin, the hunger hormone, lead to overeating. Manage leptin by reducing your consumption of fructose and getting adequate sleep. High levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, increases appetite and causes overeating. Manage it with stress-relieving techniques. Additionally, cut down on caffeine and exercise regularly. Lastly, low levels of estrogen and testosterone cause fat gain. They can be managed with supplements and strength training.

A stress fracture is a thin crack in your bone that occurs due to repetitive impact and overuse. Initially, you may have minor pain when you use that body part for any activity. This will ease off when you rest. Over time, the pain will start developing much earlier each time and worsen. There will also be pain when you touch the area of fracture. You may also see swelling and redness.

If stress is messing with your health, channel the power of breathing to relax the body. Start with a simple equal breathing technique that uses counting to focus on breath. Progress to pranayama (yogic breathing), nadi shodhana (alternate nostril breathing) and kumbhaka pranayama (breath retention). Or learn a deep abdominal breathing method. If you prefer a more meditative experience, controlled breathing with imagery could be the technique for you.

Ayurveda prescribes remedies tailored to your individual constitution for managing stress. These include dinacharya, a daily routine for a disciplined and healthy life; panchakarma or detoxification therapies such as virechana (purgation using herbs), vasti (medicated enemas), and nasyam (nasal administration of oils); yoga; dietary practices to balance your doshas; rejuvenating and adaptogenic herbs such as brahmi and ashwagandha etc; and adherence to moral practices.

If you are stressed and looking to offload that tension, yoga can help on multiple fronts. Deep breathing calms and focuses the mind while asanas help bring stress relief. Yoga stretches and the resulting flexibility also help your body's relaxation response. And these are precisely why yoga is being used for stress management to good effect and why you’ll see a marked change once you begin.

Green therapy or nature therapy can benefit both your health and well-being. The tasks in green therapy are usually conducted in groups. It encourages physical activities, increases social involvement, adds social value. The health benefits include the elimination of negative thoughts or rumination, a decrease in ADHD symptoms, and relief from stress, anxiety, and depression.

Constant yawning means that you’re not getting enough sleep. This will harm your immunity, appetite, and fertility while increasing your obesity risk. Poor sleep quality will also cause frequent yawning. Boredom or stress may also be the culprit. Serious conditions like stroke or hypothyroidism can make you yawn too much. It might also be a warning sign of Parkinson’s disease or a migraine attack.

Knowing how to manage stress well is important, but did you know that in the right amounts stress can actually be a positive experience for you? Sharpening your senses, helping make you more productive, keeping you alert, motivating you, and possibly even helping protect you from certain oxidative damage, there’s more to stress than you give it credit for!

Chow down on more leafy greens and citrus fruits with vit. C to lift your mood. Have fish like salmon, which has omega-3 fats that are known to prevent depression. Snack on a variety of nuts, dark chocolate, and hot cocoa once in a while. Eggs, garlic, oatmeal, and fermented foods like yogurt also help relieve stress.