what are the benefits of reducing stress

10 Benefits of Reducing Stress

1. Weight Loss. A recent report from the University College London proved that individuals who are chronically stressed have a much higher incident of metabolic syndrome, a condition characterized by ...
2. Happiness. This one may seem impossibly obvious, but it’s too important to leave out. ...
3. Cancer Protection. ...
4. Sweeter Sleep. ...
5. Longer life. ...

More items...

What are the positive effects of stress?

On the onset of feeling stressed out, do one of the following or a combination of them:

• Listen to jokes, or go on the internet and find humorous segments.
• Go outdoors and feel your surroundings.
• Walk around and get some oxygen in your body.
• Get together with friends over coffee or lunch.
• Pet your pet, or go to the pet store and take a look at cute animals.
• Listen to upbeat or relaxing music. ...

Why is stress is both good and bad?

When someone says they’re stressed, it’s usually not a positive thing. But stress isn’t always bad. There’s good stress, too. And it can help kids rise to challenges, resolve problems, and build confidence. Learn about the difference between good and bad stress, and how each can impact your child.

What are the benefits of managing stress?

• Less joint pain. Stress increases inflammation in the body, which can make joints stiffer and more swollen.
• Better sleep. When you can relax and clear your mind during the day and especially before bed, you can expect to fall asleep faster and wake up less often overnight.
• Lower blood pressure. ...
• Lower blood sugar. ...
• Fewer headaches. ...

Why stress management is so important for your health?

Straw-breathing exercise

• Inhale normally and naturally.
• Exhale fully through a plastic drinking straw, making sure you have exhaled all of the air out of your lungs.
• Inhale normally (not through the straw).
• Exhale fully out of the straw.
• Repeat this exercise for 5 minutes.

Why is it important to spend time relaxing?

The time and effort you spend relaxing and learning new stress management skills is always well-spent because of the emotional and physical health benefits it brings. If you are willing to make a change in just one area, let it be an increase in the time you spend relaxing.

How to help yourself over the long term?

To help yourself over the long-term: Try to build stress-reducing activities into your life, such as exercise, relaxation and hobbies. Eat well and ensure you have sufficient rest and sleep to prepare yourself for the inevitable stresses of life. Avoid making self-critical comments.

How often do you feel stressed out?

Most of us feel “stressed out” at least once a month, and the majority of visits to doctors, and days off work, are for stress-related problems. But stress also can grow slowly and go unnoticed, or ignored, for years.

Can relaxation be reserved for money?

Remember, relaxation and peace of mind are not reserved only for those with pots of money and masses of free time. They can be yours, too, with a little knowledge and understanding. There are many effective on-the-spot techniques you can use in the middle of an intensely stressful situation.

How does stress management help us?

These are all good examples of how stress management can help us to be happier and more productive throughout the day. You may think that you don't know what stress management is, but once you start paying attention to these and other examples, you will quickly realize that managing stress isn't always as difficult as it may seem.

Why is it important to learn how to manage stress?

That's why it is so important to learn how to manage stress. When our brains are stressed out, we do not perform as well as we would when we are able to think clearly and focus on the task at hand. Your creativity, motivation, productivity, and even your immune health can suffer due to chronic ongoing stress .

How to control stress?

Step 1: Be Aware of Your Stress. Stress can have a way of going from worrying about everyday situations to turning into something chronic and harmful that weighs us down. If you have become accustomed to the stress in your life, you may even allow what stresses you out the most control what you do each day.

Why do emotions work?

Our emotions work as signals to help us recognize problems in our everyday life. Stress hormones help us out when we are put in a fight or flight situation. But our body's own stress response can sometimes become an issue when it often signals that there is danger ahead when in reality, there isn't a threat in sight.

Is it bad to be stressed?

There is no benefit to putting our minds through the endless cycle of stress day in and day out. It can be exhausting and very bad for your health. While some types of stress can be useful as it can help you think quickly and solve problems, most types of stress are often unnecessary and can even be harmful to your health. That's why it is so important to learn how to manage stress.

How to reduce stress and improve health?

Life is full of opportunities, but the human body is limited in its capacity. Learning to focus on a few important commitments— while simultaneously forgoing less important opportunities — will help prevent stress associated with over-commitment. Establishing boundaries and fully committing to a few select obligations often produces a deeper sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Why is stress important?

Stress is a major contributor to many health conditions. It’s both a roadblock to healing, as well as a root cause of poor health. Stress-reduction often clears the muddy waters of poor health and allows for a better representation of any genuine health concerns, making it an essential lifestyle modification.

What is the effect of stress on the body?

Any type of stress puts excess pressure and demands on the body, prompting various biological systems to respond . Individuals with a high level of resiliency and a strong support system are often able to cope with and manage greater levels of stress, compared to those whose constitution is weak and who lack the support of others.

What are the best hormones to help with pain?

Natural brain hormones such as melatonin and 5-HTP are temporarily helpful when disrupted sleep patterns and increased pain perception prevent recovery from stress. Similarly, amino acids such as L-theanine, L-tryptophan, and L-tyrosine can be useful in boosting natural hormone production.

What are some botanicals that help with sleep?

These botanicals include valerian, chamomile, lemon balm, Bacopa, passionflower, and hops.

What is the fight for optimal health?

In light of this, the fight for optimal health requires a serious commitment to daily stress reduction. An individual’s stress response is highly dependent on genetics, coping mechanisms, personality, and the presence of social and familial support. Any type of stress puts excess pressure and demands on the body, ...

How to focus your mind?

Meditation, prayer and guided imagery are all excellent tools for focusing the mind. Meditation trains the brain to become aware of the moment and to be single-focused. Chronic stress often exerts itself as “mind-racing” and hyper-vigilance.

How to reduce stress?

Getting adequate sleep is also imperative to reducing stress. Stress can physically wear out your body, and without sleep, you will feel the effects of stress much more. Finally, work to reduce stress by learning to think differently.

How to reduce stress and anxiety?

Engaging in regular moderate exercise such as walking, yoga, or swimming has proven stress-reducing benefits, as exercise releases positive stress-busting endorphins and can increase self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.

What are the physical reactions of stress?

One of the most common physical reactions to stress is the tensing of muscles, which can ultimately trigger tension headaches, migraines, and other musculoskeletal conditions.

Why is it so hard to focus?

This emotional stress can make it difficult to focus, make decisions, think things through, or remember things. Stress may also cause irritability, making you easily frustrated and impatient with others, and can even contribute to depression, anger, feelings of insecurity, and relationship conflicts.

Why is stress management important?

Why Stress Management Is So Important For Your Health. Last updated on February 21, 2020. It's pretty intuitive that reducing stress in your everyday life can make you happier and healthier.

What are the health problems that can be caused by chronic stress?

When left unmanaged over time, chronic stress can lead to the development of other serious problems, such as stomach ulcers, stroke, asthma, and heart disease. Many health care professionals also consider chronic stress a significant risk factor for illnesses such as cancer and heart attacks.

What are the effects of stress on the body?

The disruption of your body's natural digestive processes can cause nausea, pain, vomiting, heartburn, constipation, acid reflux, or diarrhea. In addition to the various physical effects of stress, it can also contribute to a number of mental and emotional disorders, including anxiety, phobias, and panic attacks.

What are the factors that help you cope with stress?

Another powerful factor is social support. If you have friends and family you can turn to during a stressful period, you’re more likely to handle the stress well. Social support buffers stress. That’s something most of us know intuitively.

What hormones reduce stress?

Researchers have identified a hormone called oxytocin that reduces the stress response. According to psychologist Kelly McGonigal, oxytocin is enhanced by social contact and support. Another powerful buffer for stress is physical exercise. We see the evidence in animal studies.

How does stress affect memory?

Manageable stress increases alertness and performance. And by encouraging the growth of stem cells that become brain cells, stress improves memory . The increase in stem cells and neuron generation makes sense from an adaptive point of view.

Does stress affect fertility?

Research shows that too much stress can suppress the immune system. Ours and other research has shown that chronic stress also reduces fertility in animals. In female mice, for instance, stress lowers libido, reduces fertility, and increases the risk of miscarriage.

Is it possible to be overwhelmed by stress?

The same stressor may be manageable for one person and overwhelming for another, depending in part on perception. People who feel resilient and confident that they can manage stress are much less likely to be overwhelmed by it —and more likely to have a healthy response—than people who think of stress as bad.

Is it bad to be stressed?

Stress is much less likely to be harmful if people have some control over the situation. A tight deadline is stressful but manageable if you have the ability to meet it. If not, if you feel helpless, the stress is more likely to be harmful. Early life experiences also shape how people respond to stress.

How to reduce stress in a week?

Aim to exercise for about 30 minutes on most days of the week. You can also break it up into 10-minute chunks of time during the day. Exercise can positively affect mood and reduce stress. Follow a healthy diet to fuel your mind and body. And learn techniques to manage stress. Surround yourself with positive people.

What does it mean when your mind is optimistic?

When your state of mind is generally optimistic, you're better able to handle everyday stress in a more constructive way. That ability may contribute to the widely observed health benefits of positive thinking. Jan. 21, 2020. Products and services.

Why is positive thinking important?

One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body.

Is optimism good for health?

Indeed, some studies show that personality traits such as optimism and pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being. The positive thinking that usually comes with optimism is a key part of effective stress management. And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits. If you tend to be pessimistic, don't ...

Is stress management good for health?

And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits. If you tend to be pessimistic, don't despair — you can learn positive thinking skills.

Does optimism affect health?

How you answer this age-old question about positive thinking may reflect your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself, and whether you're optimistic or pessimistic — and it may even affect your health. Indeed, some studies show that personality traits such as optimism and pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being.

What is the best way to reduce stress?

Meditation brings short-term stress relief as well as lasting stress management benefits. There are many different forms of meditation to try–each one is unique and brings its own appeal. 2 

Why is it important to have effective stress relievers?

When stress becomes overwhelming, or it's chronic, it can take a toll on your well-being. That's why it's important to have effective stress relievers that can calm your mind and your body. 1:41.

How to relieve stress in minutes?

Exercise is a fantastic stress reliever that can work in minutes. Taking a walk allows you to enjoy a change of scenery, which can get you into a different frame of mind, and brings the benefits of exercise as well.

How to breathe out stress?

Hold for one second and then slowly breathe out through your nose as you count to three again. Breathe in through your nose and imagine that you're inhaling peaceful, calm air. Imagine that air spreading throughout your body. As you exhale, imagine that you're breathing out stress and tension.

What is yoga good for?

Yoga combines physical movement, meditation, light exercise, and controlled breathing —all of which provide excellent stress relief. 13 . And while you're likely to reap immediate benefits from a single yoga session, you're likely to receive long-term benefits if you incorporate it into your life in a consistent way.

Why is time management important?

Honing your time management skills can allow you to minimize the stressors that you experience, and better manage the ones you can't avoid. When you are able to complete everything on your "to do" list without the stress of rushing or forgetting, your whole life feels easier.

How to reduce stress in a meeting?

So whether you're in a stressful meeting or you're sitting in a crowded theater, breathing exercises could be key to reducing your stress. 5 . While there are many different breathing exercises, like karate breathing, a few simple ones include: Breathe in through your nose and watch your belly fill with air.

Chronic Stress

Temporary Stress

Stress-Reducing Activities

Cultivating Calm

• Creating a calming environment through the use of music and light is a simple way to sustain a state of relaxation. Like guided imagery, music therapy promotes positive emotions while reducing anxiety and stress. Classical music, particularly, has been shown to positively stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system to slow the heart rate and relax...

See more on naturemed.org

Stress-Reducing Botanicals/Nutrients

More Impacts to Stress