Stress is one of
those things almost everyone knows about, but no one really gives much credit
to when it comes to health problems. But, there’s some new research suggesting stress can have a
profound impact on our health. You may not even recognize the symptoms, either,
because they’re not always obvious.
Vision Problems
One of the most
subtle signs of stress is twitching eyelids and other vision problems, like
pseudo myopia (nearsightedness). Vision problems can make you think you’re
having a more serious health complication, but you’re really suffering from
stress. This is especially true when the vision problems are acute and come on
suddenly.
Headache
Migraines are
almost always indicative of some kind of stress, whether it’s a food-related
stressor or a psychological one. Headaches, in general, however, can have a
stress-related component. Even if you don’t feel like your skull is about to
explode, a mild headache can be more indicative of a health problem linked to
stress, so it’s important to assess stress in your life if you get them
frequently. You may be holding a lot of tension in your shoulders and neck.
Difficulty Concentrating
Vancouver
personal injury lawyers, like Watson Goepel, deal with auto accident cases all
too often that are due to distracted driving. But, what many people don’t know
is that this distracted driving is often caused indirectly by stress. Maybe you
feel stressed by your phone, you feel compelled to pick it up and text or call
someone. Maybe you’re stressed out
about work and you’re not fully paying attention to the road. Or, maybe you’re
feeling tired and unfocused.
Excessive Sleep Or Excessive Sleepiness
If you’re more
tired than usual, this may be an indication that you’re under a lot of stress.
Sleeping more than 9 hours indicates that you’re run down. You shouldn’t still
be tired after this long.
Likewise, if you’re
tired during the day, and only getting 5 to 6 hours, of sleep at night, try
sleeping more. This may resolve your problems over time. Sleep deprivation is a
form of stress, one that can alter hormone levels like cortisol and
pregnenolone, along with melatonin and testosterone, making it difficult or
impossible to fully recover from the previous day.
How To Deal With Stress
This
is easy – you need to settle down. You need to
relax. You need to eliminate the stressors that are triggering your physical
and psychological problems. Sometimes, knowing what those stressors are can be
difficult. But, in almost every case, you can take an educated guess and be
right.
For example, if
you’ve recently ratcheted up the workload at the office, you can bet this is
negatively impacting you.
Take time to go to
a spa, visit a massage therapist, or buy some heat lamps and make a sauna or
therapy station at home.
Try reading a fiction
novel that’s relaxing and entertaining, spend time playing video games, or get
outside and walk it off. Whatever you do, you need to start making lifestyle
changes that can permanently impact your stress levels.
Lisa Belville is a registered dietitian and health advocate. An avid
blogger, she likes to share what she finds by posting online. Look for her
articles on various websites and blog sites, too.
