Leafy greens and long walks are great for your body, but chronic stress can sabotage your health. Whether you aim to lose weight, manage a disease, or improve or maintain your health, minimizing stress is crucial to meeting your goals. Understanding the impact of stress is an important part of the process.

The Profound Impact of Stress

Chronic and unchecked stress is widely recognized as a contributor to many common health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. Stress puts a burden on the body and mind, and can accelerate aging and damage immune response, rendering you vulnerable to illness. In addition, stress can cause changes in the brain that may impair your memory and cognition and increase your risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Stress can be explosive or slow burning. A life-changing event, such as the loss of a spouse, a serious financial setback, or a devastating medical diagnosis, can trigger a sudden bout of stress. Whether you’re laid back or high-strung, stress can affect your health in ways you may not even realize.

Is it Stress or Something Else?

Stress can manifest in various ways and may not always be easy to spot. Look for signs like insomnia, not just a few sleepless nights, but ongoing problems with falling or staying asleep. An unexplained change in appetite, unusual weight gain or loss, or gastrointestinal issues can also be warning signs that your body is reacting negatively to stress. Nervousness, pacing, palpitations, and uncharacteristic irritability are also common indicators of stress.

Quick Action Steps to Reduce Stress

Deep breathing and meditation can help you reset and refocus when negative thoughts threaten your sense of peace. Taking a walk, practicing yoga or other gentle exercise can improve your mood by reducing stress hormones and boosting self-esteem. Other ways to tame stress include engaging in creative hobbies, conversations with friends, volunteer work, or listening to music. If you feel overwhelmed, make a list of things you can do to get some control and empowerment back. Establish new routines that incorporate self-care rituals. Then give yourself a pat on the back for moving forward in the right direction. Stress doesn’t have to get the best of you!

It’s important to seek support if you’re feeling stressed, and to prioritize your health and wellbeing. Talk to your primary care physician at The Villages Health. Our care team is here to help! You’ll also find hosts of classes and programs that are free and open to the public through our Learning Center.