April has now been nationally recognized as Stress Awareness Month. However, we believe it’s important to bring attention to the damaging effects of stress all year because people need to know just how crucial it is to develop habits and take the right vitamins and supplements to help reduce the symptoms of stress. If you experience chronic stress and anxiety, it is important to take these steps to manage the mental and physical effects. If you let stress go unaddressed, it can lead to cardiovascular and cognitive problems.
As we encourage awareness of stress all year long, Compounding Pharmacy of America is here to help you find the best supplement for stress, including a vitamin B product we carry in our own shop, Stress B Plus. But first, let’s talk about what stress is and what happens to our bodies when we are stressed out.
Signs and Symptoms of Stress
Stress is, in many ways, an unavoidable part of life, but the mental effects of stress can cause harm to your mind and body. Stress can manifest as an emotion such as:
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Fear
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Distress
Stress often manifests as physical symptoms. Often, the emotional symptoms lead to physical symptoms, but some people experience physical symptoms (like elevated heart rate) first. There are three types of stress: acute, episodic, and chronic stress.
Acute Stress
Acute stress usually arises from sudden life crises, such as the loss of a loved one, a major car accident, or other traumatic events. The body’s stress response can kick in quickly. The symptoms of acute stress typically do not last as long as the symptoms of chronic stress, but it can adversely affect both mental and physical well-being.
Episodic Acute Stress
Episodic acute stress happens when someone frequently experiences episodes of acute stress. Individuals who suffer from episodic acute stress are more prone to being irritable, flustered, or disorganized. They may take on more responsibility than they can manage. This can further add to their lack of ability to maintain their physical, mental, and emotional health. Their well-being and personal relationships can suffer as a result.
Chronic Stress
Long periods of stress can lead to a dangerous state of chronic stress. Chronic stress occurs when a person experiences long-lasting bouts of stress that overwhelm the body’s ability to combat those effects. The body’s relaxation hormones are often inadequate to cope with chronic stress, leaving the body and mind in a state of heightened physiological stimulation. This can have a negative impact on every system within the body.
Health-Related Problems That Can Result From Stress
Even low levels of stress can have negative effects on the brain. Fortunately, those effects are usually temporary. The body can release hormones that restore balance to the body following a dress event. Cortisol is an example of one such hormone. Moderate levels of cortisol will not likely lead to harm, but sustained levels due to chronic stress can harm the body.
Long periods of stress can lead to psychological and physiological issues, such as:
- Damaged brain cells
- Hindered synapse function
- Shrunken prefrontal cortex
- Enlarged amygdala
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Constant worry
- Memory problems
- Uncontrolled feelings of restlessness and anger
Stress can impair judgment, which can have serious consequences for your professional and personal life. Some people turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with chronic stress, and this can lead to additional mental and physical problems.
Physical Problems That Can Arise From Stress
The influence of mental stress on physical health can be serious and long-lasting.
Stress can affect the following systems in the body:
- Central nervous
- Endocrine
- Respiratory
- Cardiovascular
- Immune
- Muscular
- Digestive
Prolonged stress often manifests as physical symptoms and even physical ailments. This is because hormones that act as signals for healthy bodily function are disrupted – stress can cause hormone signals to become irregular or excessive.
This eventually leads to physical health problems that can manifest as:
- Difficulty breathing
- Panic attacks
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
- Chest pains
- High blood pressure
Treatment Options For Stress
We have little control over many of life’s stressors. Hectic jobs and the challenges of child-rearing can cause significant levels of stress, but taking the right supplements, maintaining healthy levels of B vitamins, balancing adrenaline levels, and taking time for activities like meditation can all work to minimize the damaging effects of stress. Learn more about your options for identifying and addressing stress.
Stress-B-Plus
Stress-B-Plus is specifically formulated to provide you with the right balance of B vitamins to address stress. B vitamins reduce stress by supporting the nervous system and aiding in the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which, in turn, regulate stress responses. B vitamins also help convert food into energy, which can help your body cope with stressful situations.
B vitamins are crucial for adrenal gland function, a gland needed to produce hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which are involved in the stress response. B vitamins also support methylation processes that regulate gene expression and neurotransmitter synthesis. This is essential for mood stability.
Many B vitamins act as antioxidants, neutralizing harmful free radicals that are produced during stress. B vitamins play a vital role in reducing stress, and Stress-B-Plus can ensure that your body has the proper balance of nutrients to deal with life’s stressors.
Adrenal Stress Test Kit
Stressors, whether from financial, occupational, relationship issues, or something else, can lead to changes in adrenal hormone levels. Certain disorders, particularly anxiety-related disorders, can result from these hormone imbalances. Our Adrenal Stress Test Kit assesses adrenal hormones like DHEA-S and diurnal cortisol. Results typically arrive 5-7 business days after we receive the test.
You can gain vital information about your mental and physical health from home using this convenient kit. Adrenal Stress Test Kit results offer insights into your adrenal system’s health, including its impact on metabolism, immune function, blood pressure, and response to stress. By understanding how stress affects your body, you can take proactive steps to manage your well-being.
Relaxation Tips For Managing Stress
Stress can require help from mental health professionals and physicians, but there are many benefits to being proactive about managing stress symptoms. Engaging in mindfulness activities like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can help you stay in the present moment. This can reduce anxiety and slow down negative repetitive thought patterns. Meditation is known to reduce the heart rate and deliver long-term mental and physical benefits.
Make Exercising a Part of Your Daily Routine
Regular exercise is important for physical health. It can also improve your mental health by releasing endorphins that alleviate stress. For example, when people refer to a “runner’s high,” they usually describe the feel-good endorphins that are released. Running is helpful, but any amount of jogging and walking can help you feel better and lead to better overall health.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires balancing your diet and limiting the intake of harmful substances. Sleep is also integral to health, as stress can interfere with sleep patterns, leading to a cycle of sleepless nights and tiresome mornings. The tips listed here can slowly improve your sleep patterns, which in turn can help you reduce the stress you are experiencing.
Address Lingering Interpersonal Problems and Learn When to Say No
Addressing interpersonal relationship issues is also important for addressing the symptoms of stress. Learning to say no can go a long way in reducing stress if you are someone who is quick to overcommit. The process may take time, so give yourself space. It may take reflection or even some form of therapy to understand the reasons behind why you overextend yourself in professional and personal circles.
Stay Connected and Maintain Meaningful Relationship
Social networks are important for managing stress. Humans are naturally social, and we need meaningful interpersonal relationships to stay physically and mentally healthy. Friends and family gatherings allow you to avoid feelings of isolation that can exacerbate stress in your life.
Stress Awareness FAQs
Managing stress takes a long-term commitment to understanding your body and mind. We cannot change the outside environment, but we can take steps to mitigate the harmful effects of stress on our well-being.
Manage Your Stress Using Vitamin B
Managing stress is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Preventing stressful events in our lives is not a realistic solution. Rather, we can work to maintain our body’s natural balance of hormones through proper nutrition, a healthy diet, and taking care of our mental health.
The National Institutes of Health found that a daily B supplement can aid in mood stabilization, specifically providing stress relief. Shop for vitamin B and other important supplements and vitamins in our online store. And be sure to sign up for our newsletter so we can notify you when we add new products and special offers to our shop.
Resources :
- National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). National Stress Awareness Month. NIH Human Resources. Retrieved from https://hr.nih.gov/working-nih/civil/national-stress-awareness-month
- American Heart Association News. (2020, February 4). Chronic stress can cause heart trouble. American Heart Association. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/02/04/chronic-stress-can-cause-heart-trouble
- Gurung, R. A. R. (2020). Chapter 15: Stress, Health, and Coping. In Health Psychology: Well-being in a Diverse World (4th ed.). National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538239/
Compounding Pharmacy of America is committed to delivering reliable, accurate, and actionable health information to empower you on your wellness journey. Our content is created and reviewed by a dedicated team of professionals, including experienced writers and licensed healthcare experts.
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