Unstopped Stress Shortens Your Life Span

A threat to your life or safety triggers a primal physical response from the body, leaving you breathless, heart pounding, and mind racing. From deep within your brain, a chemical signal speeds stress hormones through the bloodstream, priming your body to be alert and ready to escape danger. Concentration becomes more focused, reaction time faster, and strength and agility increase. When the stressful situation ends, hormonal signals switch off the stress response and the body returns to normal.

But in our modern society, stress doesn't always let up. Many of us now harbor anxiety and worry about daily events and relationships. Stress hormones continue to wash through the system in high levels, never leaving the blood and tissues. And so, the stress response that once gave ancient people the speed and endurance to escape life-threatening dangers runs constantly in many modern people and never shuts down.Research now shows that such long-term activation of the stress system can have a hazardous, even lethal effect on the body. The National Institute of Health (NIH) found that 80 to 90 percent of all illnesses in today's Western society are caused by stress, either directly or indirectly.

Continuous stress increases risk of obesity, heart disease, depression, and a variety of other illnesses.As many of us know, stress circuit influences the stomach and intestines and can result in digestive problems. Also, continual, high levels of stress hormone (cortisol) can increase appetite and lead to weight gain. Overeating at night is also common among people who are under stress.

To another extreme, a continuously overstressed person can lose his appetite. Other symptoms of this form of chronic stress response are anxiety, loss of sex drive, rapid heart beat, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. In addition to suppressing the reproductive system at various levels, stress also suppresses the immune system, making you more vulnerable to colds and flu, fatigue and infections.

Chronic stress should not be taken lightly or accepted as a fact of life, because it leads to a variety of serious health problems. Anyone who suffers from chronic stress needs to take steps to alleviate it.Acupressure is one of the powerful self-treatment approaches that relieve stress effectively, but easily. Because the acupressure techniques are simple and don't need any special equipment or space, they can be easily applied when ever you have a moment of free time. Some of the techniques are such that you can apply them even while waiting for a lift or queuing.One of the effective acupressure points calming stress levels is called the Inner Gate.

This specific point is on your wrist and it is easy to treat by applying pressure with your fingertip while concentrating on your breathing.To use this stress relieving technique, first locate this acupressure point on the inside of your wrist. Measure three finger widths up your arm, from the wrist line. Use your thumb to locate the point in the hollow between the two bones and in the middle of the tendons. A slight soreness will let you know you have found the right location.

Press the point firmly while you breathe out, and release pressure as you breathe in, repeating eight times on each wrist.The simplicity of this technique, an unobtrusive, easy to reach pressure point, means this is a method of stress reduction you can use virtually anywhere, at any time: sitting in traffic, standing in line or waiting for an appointment. Try to remain aware of how your mind and body are functioning throughout the day, and when signs of stress appear, take action to alleviate your discomfort and prevent further strain.Stress prevents us from achieving our potential, and from experiencing a feeling of contentment and well-being. Take steps to prevent this disruption in your life by becoming more in tune with your body's needs, and its integral connection to your state of mind.Acupressure is useful in treating a wide variety of ailments, drawing on ancient eastern approaches to medicine.

A drug-free intervention, acupressure is an excellent alternative to painkillers which can lead to addiction and other harmful side effects. It is also a practical and convenient method of self-treatment that doesn't require countless office visits to see a practitioner. It is always a good idea to consult with a professional to determine the best approach for you, and learn proper technique, but from then on your knowledge is something you take with you.Stress reduction is a preventative approach to health care, and will yield many benefits over the long term. In addition to feeling better now, you reduce your risk of developing stress related conditions in the future. Take advantage of acupressure's non-invasive approach to creating wellness and live your life more fully, freeing yourself from stress and strain.

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By: Virpi Tervonen