Stress: The Silent Killer

It’s Time to Manage Stress Differently.

You’ve heard it before – stress is bad. Really bad. A seemingly obvious statement, but one that is frequently met with a subpar level of seriousness. The insidious physiological effect this silent killer has on the body is not to be underestimated; many of today’s most deadly illnesses can be traced back partly to the symptomatic effects of stress.

With the steady rise of a massive technological revolution, stress levels are continuing to skyrocket, alongside exploding numbers of heart disease, diabetes, and other fatal conditions. Thankfully, exploration into the root cause of many of these diseases is finally getting the attention it deserves; healthy preventative techniques like yoga and meditation – practices that have been proven to calm the nervous system – are being integrated into daily routines. In turn, hopefully these conditions will be minimized, if not completely eliminated from the lives of so many who suffer from them today.

Cortisol: The Stress Hormone

Understanding the inner workings of the body’s stress response is not a small endeavor. A delicate balancing act of several hormones work in unison to keep things in a state of homeostasis. For the body to function optimally, all of the internal levels need to complement each other, delicately adjusting as the body processes a variety of external experiences from moment to moment.

Cortisol is the main hormone involved in stress regulation; it’s effects have been shown to have a direct impact on immune response and even memory function. Following a high-stress event, cortisol steps in by stimulating the production of glucose, which immediately counters the effects of insulin in the body. Serious problems arise when stress levels become unmanageable and the body is unable to put its hormones back into a neutralized state; when cortisol is constantly ravaging the body in an attempt to bring things back to homeostasis, debilitating consequences like immune system suppression and chronic sleep deprivation ensue. Managing your stress levels is essential if potentially fatal conditions like diabetes and heart disease are to be avoided.

Reclaim Your Health: ‘Staying Mindful’.

There are several buzzwords that get tossed around in the world of stress management, all of which encourage a deep focus on “staying mindful”. However, fully integrating these ancient techniques takes work, and putting in the time to learning all of the minor intricacies to each practice is important if one is to reap the full span of potential benefits. That being said, small steps can be taken in order to remove stress from the driver’s seat and get yourself back on the path towards a more satisfying, relaxed way of life.

A recent study showed that yoga, meditation, and other forms of relaxation techniques actually have the ability to reverse the negative impact stress has on our genes. These methods have been around for centuries (yoga spanning back about 5,000 years), and have proven time and time again that relief from the symptomatic effects of stress need not always come from the pharmacy.

Whether you have time for one yoga class a week, or manage to find 20 minutes a day to turn your phone off and sit in a quiet place, experimenting with holistic methods of stress relief is the first step towards reclaiming your health and happiness.

Conventional Medicine vs. Functional Medicine.

It’s undeniable that conventional medicine serves its purpose for those who suffer from autoimmune diseases. When flare ups come on without warning, immediate relief is usually a necessity; but what if there was a solution to avoiding the flare ups altogether? Enter functional medicine.

Functional medicine is a prevention-based approach to health and wellness that focuses on identifying the root cause of disease. It acknowledges the unique differences that arise from each individual suffering from the same condition, whereas conventional medicine tends to treat all cases the same. Determining specific genetic and environmental patterns is essential to formulating a game plan for taking on any disease, and offers the most promise for remission. There is potential out there to relieve symptoms of autoimmune disease – for good. If functional medicine sounds like an approach you see fitting into your lifestyle, click here to get started.

Supplement With A Healthy Lifestyle.

Integrating healthy habits into your daily routine will set you up for long-term success when attempting to cure any disease. Many holistic practices can offer additional support when setting out to reach these goals:

• Maintaining a healthy diet full of nutrient-rich foods
• Supplement your diet with essential vitamins and minerals
• Exercise regularly
• Research different alternative medicines that may aid in symptom relief
• Practice deep relaxation techniques to encourage whole-body healing

No two people are the same when it comes to a specific ailment. Experimenting with the wide variety of holistic options available is essential when tailoring a specific treatment plan for each individual. It’s important to discuss any changes to your treatment regimen with your healthcare practitioner before implementing them into your life. “Lifelong” is a diagnosis so many have been given. In our opinion, “cured” has a much better ring.