Stress Reduction

When our bodies are under stress, we create a physiological reaction in our cardiovascular system. We have heard the expression that someone is so mad his blood is boiling, well, in a way the blood is boiling when we are under stress or in the throes of anger. The release of adrenaline into the blood system as well as the constriction of blood vessels caused by the heightened state of the nervous system in times of stress put a strain on our cardiovascular system. While our bodies can handle brief moments of stress, long term stress and the inability to manage it can cause or exacerbate high blood pressure and damage our heart. Stress becomes distress.

Stress also interferes with sleep and study after study shows eight hours of sleep is essential for a healthy cardiovascular system and also for weight management. Reducing stress, like managing diet and exercise, is often easier said than done. But, like those other lifestyle changes, it is well worth the effort. Just as we are wired to react to stressful situations by raising our heart rate and constricting blood flow, we can adjust our nervous system to react in a new way to stressors. We can choose to slow our breathing, to remain calm, and to allow our bodies to settle down rather than rev up in times of pressure.

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Stress Reduction

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