Excessive stress can lead to weight gain, stomach ulcers, cardiac changes and high blood pressure due to increased cortisol, which is the hormone responsible for contributing to the proper functioning of the immune system. Learn more about this hormone's functions at: Cortisol.
Generally, stress is caused by overwork, unstable schedules, illness situations or overload of personal tasks, and one of the best ways to get rid of stress is to dedicate 30 minutes a day to relaxing activities, such as listening to music, drinking a calm bath or walking rest on the sand, because it helps to lower cortisol levels, relaxes and decreases heart rate.
However, in some cases, it may be necessary to go to the doctor to take medications that help to reduce anxiety, conducting psychotherapy sessions to learn relaxation techniques and effective ways to manage time.
Consequences of stress
Stress can cause problems or diseases in most organs and systems, and can cause:
- Thinning hair and thinner strands; Weak and brittle nails; Increased appetite with weight gain or weight loss due to the constant feeling of hot flush and lack of appetite; Difficulty falling asleep, which causes frequent tiredness;
Frequent illnesses, such as urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis or flu.
Stress can also lead to the development of more serious problems such as metabolic syndrome, such as increased onset of diabetes, high levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol or irritable bowel syndrome.
In addition, frequent stress over time can compromise virtually every organ or system in the body and, in more severe cases, can lead to infertility or even suicide. Also learn to recognize the symptoms of nervous breakdown.
How to reduce work-related stress
To reduce the levels of work stress, you must:
- Taking a vacation every year: vacations help to forget the obligations of everyday life; Taking small regular breaks during working hours: the break, even if it is for 5 minutes, helps to relax and organize your thinking, increasing production and profitability; Stretching: at work, the body also needs to relax and reduce tension. Here's what to do at: Stretching exercises to do at work. Talk to the boss: especially when there is some difficulty or problem; Divide tasks: the division of tasks helps to reduce the burden on each worker;
In addition, always putting yourself in the other person's shoes is one of the ways to reduce labor conflicts, which is why it is important to be tolerant and cautious in order to be able to evaluate all situations well and anticipating what can happen, both positive and negative.
How to decrease emotional stress
Normally, stress arises due to the difficulty in managing the time between professional tasks and family obligations and, therefore, the most important thing to get rid of excess stress includes:
- Use a calendar to organize the week's routines, scheduling week by week. Distribute tasks among the different elements of a family: including children, assigning small tasks, such as making the bed or tidying up the room, for example, focusing on current needs and forgetting the past; Save money, spending only on essential goods, to avoid debt, which is one of the causes of excess stress; Avoiding situations that cause discomfort, for example, if the news on television causes tension or intense traffic causes anxiety, it is important to look for solutions; Doing relaxing leisure activities: dedicating at least 30 minutes a day to calming activities such as listening to music, taking a bath, walking on sand or dirt or walking outdoors can help to reduce stress.
In addition, you should drink a calming tea daily, such as chamomile or St. John's wort and avoid caffeinated drinks and food because it causes the excitement of the central nervous system which leads to increased stress.
To learn how to control anxiety read:
