April is Stress Awareness Month, and probably for good reason, considering April 17th is (dun dun dun) Tax Day. As a substantial health concern in this country, stress is linked to many conditions like heart problems and dementia. Although some level of stress is normal, and may actually help us perform and handle situations better, too much stress can have dire consequences for the body. Studies show that reducing stress and relaxing whenever possible, in whatever way works for you, may result in more health benefits than you think!
- Relaxing protects your heart. Stress can increase risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, and other heart problems. Relax and reap the heart healthy rewards.
- Relaxing lowers your risk of catching a cold. According to psychology professor Sheldon Cohen, Ph.D., chronic stress lasting more than 6 months doubled a person’s risk of catching a cold, particularly because stress affects your body’s ability to fight inflammation.
- Relaxing boosts your memory. A study found that (at least in mice) chronic stress impaired the part of the brain involved in abstract thought, cognitive analysis and detecting the appropriate behavior for a given situation.  Other studies have also found that stress increases the amount of certain proteins in the brain that have been linked to Alzheimer’s.
- Relaxing lowers your stroke risk. A 2007 University of Cambridge study found that people who coped the best with stressful life events had a 24 percent lower risk of stroke. It may be partly due to the fact that people who handle stress well often are healthy in other ways, like exercising regularly and not smoking.
- Relaxing keep you sage from depression. In humans, the prolonged presence of stress hormone cortisol can reduce levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are linked to depression.
- Relaxing helps you make better decisions. A 2012 study found that stress seems to actually change how we weigh risks and rewards, and can cloud our judgment when we are faced with important decisions.
- Relaxing helps keep you slim. As a response to stress, your body produces cortisol. Cortisol increases appetite, and may even specifically encourage junk food cravings.
- Relaxing ease acne. Researchers aren’t exactly sure why, but stress seems to up the amount of oil produced by the skin, clogging pores and causing acne.
There are a multitude of other reasons why relaxation and stress relief contribute to a healthy, happier you!
Some ways to relax may include:
- Taking a walk or going for a jog. Anything to get you moving!
- Yoga- which encourages deep breathing and in some cases, relaxation and meditation, is a good way to get a workout in and relieve some stress.
- Practice deep breaths. Try counting to ten.
- Go for a massage!
- Spend time with friends or family.
- Distract yourself—read your favorite book or magazine and let your mind drift for a while.
What ways do you relax to leave stress?
*Credit to Huffpost Healthy Living
