How Heavy is Your Stress Load?

Stressors burden the body by wreaking havoc on our systems sending into a dysfunctional spiral. The collective pollutants in our food, air and water supply, synthetic chemicals and plastics in our personal and homecare products, clothing and furniture, electromagnetic and radio frequencies, radiation from air travel and microwave use, information overload, mental or emotional pressures, excess stimulants, sedentary lifestyles and late nights disrupt body functions.

Blood pH is altered, digestive, immune and reproductive functions are negatively impaired, immune system becomes suppressed and the neuroendrocrine system's normal activity stimulates the nervous, musculoskeletal and circulatory activity to go into high alert, preparing the body for the "fight, flight or freeze" alarm phase. Following a stress response organ systems will usually return to normal.

However, pay close attention to the common indicators associated with prolonged sympathetic nervous system (SNS) dominance. Symptoms can range from poor focus and memory recall, appetite loss or increase, skin issues, hair loss, sweating, insomnia, depression, mood changes, anxiety, tension headaches, muscle and joint aches, panic attacks, hypertension, high cholesterol, mouth ulcers, constipation or diarrhoea, vulnerability to infections, slow wound healing, to PMS and low libido.

Left untreated, chronic activation of the HPA system, is linked to a whole catalogue of conditions from thyroid issues, CFS/ME, autoimmune conditions, SLE and balding, stomach and duodenal ulcers, G.I.T. upsets, menstrual problems, infertility and impotence, to leading causes of death including heart disease, cancer, lung diseases, cirrhosis and suicide.

Learn ways to identify and manage reactions to stress, calm the nervous system and nourish the adrenals, and by doing so you will help lower your risk of adrenal fatigue, improve focus and memory, stabilize mood, blood sugar levels and heart beat. Most importantly, by limiting stress in your life you reduce the risk of developing any of the many degenerative health issues now medically proven to be associated with stress.