Reduce Stress Tips To Sleep WellOk we are sharing ideas for better sleep this month and you may be wondering what chronic stress has to do with this, right? Well, for many people stress has a lot to do with why they are sleeping and resting well. Today we want to share some ideas on Chronic Stress Reduction Tips For Your Best Life “Take a deep breath. Inhale peace. Exhale happiness.” – A. D. Posey We all have some level of stress, right? It may be temporary (acute), or long-term (chronic). Acute stress usually won’t mess with your health too much. It is your body’s natural reaction to circumstances, and can even be life-saving. Then, when the “threat” (a.k.a. “stressor”) is gone, the reaction subsides, and all is well. It's the chronic stress that's a problem. You see, your body has specific stress reactions. If these stress reactions are triggered every day or many times a day that can mess with your health. Stress (and stress hormones) can have a huge impact on your health. Let's dive in to the stressors: #1 - Increased risk of heart disease and diabetes Why save the best for last? Anything that increases the risk for heart disease and diabetes (both serious, chronic conditions) needs to be discussed. Stress increased the risk for heart disease and diabetes by promoting chronic inflammation, affecting your blood "thickness," as well as how well your cells respond to insulin. #2 - Immunity Did you notice that you get sick more often when you're stressed? Maybe you get colds, cold sores, or even the flu more frequently when you are stressed? Well, that's because stress hormones affect the chemical messengers (cytokines) secreted by immune cells consequently, they are less able to do their jobs effectively. #3 - "Leaky Gut." Stress can contribute to leaky gut, otherwise known as "intestinal permeability." These "leaks" can then allow partially digested food, bacteria or other things to be absorbed into your body. The stress hormone cortisol can open up tiny holes by loosening the grip your digestive cells have to each other. Picture this: Have you ever played "red rover?" It's where a row of children hold hands while one runs at them to try to break through. Think of those hands as the junctions between cells. When they get loose, they allow things to get in that should be passing right though. Cortisol (produced in excess in chronic stress) is a strong player in red rover! #4 - Sleep Disruption Stress and sleep go hand-in-hand, wouldn’t you agree? It’s often difficult to sleep when you have very important (and stressful) things on your mind. And when you don't get enough sleep, it affects your energy level, memory, ability to think, and mood. More and more research is showing just how important sleep is for your health. Not enough sleep (and too much stress) aren't doing you any favours. Stress-busting tips Reducing stressors in your life is an obvious first step. Can you:
No matter how hard you try, you won’t eliminate stress altogether. So, here are a few things you can try to help reduce its effect on you: ● Deep breathing ● Meditation ● Walk in nature ● Unplug (read a book, take a bath) ● Exercise (yoga, tai chi, etc.) ● Connect with loved ones Stress is a huge and often underappreciated factor in our health. It can impact your physical body much more than you might realize. Stress has been shown to increase the risk for heart disease and diabetes, affect your immune system, digestion and sleep. There are things you can do to both reduce stressors and also to improve your response to it. You can ditch that stress stressors! Will you? Your feedback is invaluable! We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, ideas, or comments below, and let's continue to inspire each other on our paths to wellness. If you ever need guidance or support, don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help you thrive every step of the way. Let's Build Health & Fitness - Join Our Newsletter Today! Sign Up Today & Receive Your Complimentary Let's Build Health & Fitness - Join Our Newsletter Today and Receive the Free Wellness Report! Sign Up Today! https://bit.ly/3xI82XJ We recently wrote a blog post you might find helpful Unlock Your Full Potential with Cardio, Strength Training, Sleep, and Nutrition here: https://bit.ly/49ibCFp
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