"When the Going Gets Tough..." Mindful Monday

Today, 70 to 90% of all doctor’s visits are in some way related to stress. It is also documented that the majority of heart attacks happen on Monday mornings because of the stress associated with heading into the work week after the weekend.

Stress is a natural response that the body undergoes when faced with any form of physical, emotional or mental challenge. The body reacts in the exact same way to any of these stressors, causing actual hormonal changes in the body. The key hormones being affected are epinephrine (adrenalin) and cortisol, also known as our “stress hormone.” These hormones are both released from two little glands that sit on top of our kidneys, called the adrenal glands. These hormones are needed in small doses so that our body can deal with the perceived stress at hand, but these hormones levels need to drop eventually, so our bodies can return to hormonal balance.

The problem? Today we live in a society of perpetual, chronic stress, where we just don’t get that “down time” to allow our bodies and our hormones to return to normal. This is where all the problems begin...

When we have prolonged periods of stress, little by little, that stress hormone, cortisol, is going to start doing more damage than good. Our adrenal glands become over worked, and often stop functioning properly all together. I’m sure you’ve heard the term “Adrenal Fatigue?” That’s where it comes from – our adrenal glands just not being able to meet the stress demands on our body.

One of the key side effects that individuals begin to notice when undergoing prolonged periods of stress is weight gain – and excess cortisol is the main culprit. It not only causes our body to gain excess fat, but it send it right to our mid-section. This type of fat, called visceral or “toxic” fat, doesn’t just lie under the skin, it actually surrounds our organs, and is correlated to an increased risk of heart disease.

When we are undergoing stress, our bodies shut of what they deem to be “unnecessary” functions, such as digestion, reproduction, and immunity. That’s why we have so many negative side effects when we undergo chronic stress. 43% of individuals suffer adverse effects due to stress.

Some of those side effects are:
accelerated aging
increased cancer risk
diabetes
depression
immune suppression
hypertension (high blood pressure)
atherosclerosis
obesity
fatigue
appetite changes
heart palpitations
anxiety/depression
abdominal symptoms (indigestion, cramps, constipation or diarrhea)
insomnia
And the list goes on. As you can see, chronic stress is no joke!

Next Mindful Monday's Blog post is going to be dedicated to strategies to manage/prevent stressors in our lives.

Find Your CORE!