Get The Facts About Stress Management

What is stress and how can it be managed?

Stress and strain is any physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental pressure and that may lead to disease and disorder. Stress management begins by controlling physical and chemical factors that can cause stress including trauma, infections, toxins, illnesses, and injuries. Emotional causes of stress and tension are loss of job, loss of family or friend, even earthquakes (which can obviously cause physical trauma) can cause severe emotional trauma.

Stress makes the body out of balance

Most people associate the term "stress" with psychological trauma and disease. However scientists and physicians use this term to denote any force that knocks the body out of balance. If pressure disrupts equilibrium and function, then is all stress bad?

Not necessarily. Mild stress and tension can sometimes be beneficial. Deadlines and last minute important tasks often compels us to do a good job and to work vigorously. Exercise can produce a temporary stress on some body functions, but its health benefits are indisputable.

Possible physical disorders caused by or exaggerated by stress:

• hypertension
• cardiovascular disorders
• migraine and tension headaches
• cancer
• arthritis
• respiratory disease
• ulcers
• colitis
• muscle tension problems

Possible emotional disorders caused by or exaggerated by stress:

• anxiety
• panic attack
• depression
• adjustment disorders

Possible behavioral disorders caused by or exaggerated by stress:

• conduct disorders
• eating disorders
• alcoholism and drug abuse
• hypochondriac symptoms

Management of the stresses in your life should be your goal. Weight loss and other outward signs of good health will be your result.

Are you susceptible to stress?

The Role That Stress Plays In Weight Gain

This page is for informational purposes only.