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 and maintain your health, minimizing stress is crucial to your goals. Understanding the impact of stress is an important part of the process.
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 health setback, or a devastating medical diagnosis, can trigger a sudden bout of stress. Whether you’re laid back or high-strung, stress may be affecting your health.
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.
It’s important to seek support if you’re feeling stressed and to prioritize health and well-being. Talk to your primary care physician at The Villages Health. Our care team is here to help! Call 352-604-5868 or visit TheVillagesHealth.com. You’ll also find hosts of classes and programs that are free and open to the public through our Learning Center.
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