How Stress Affects the Body

Ever wonder the kinds of effects stress can have on the body and your everyday life?

Stress is recognized as the #1 proxy killer disease today.

The American Medical Association has noted that stress is the basic cause of more than 60% of all human illness and disease.

Below are some insightful stress facts that many people are unaware of.

source: www.heartmath.com/infographics/how-stress-effects-the-body/

How Meditation Can Save Your Life By Reducing Stress

What Is Meditation?

Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. Meditation is practiced in numerous religious traditions. Wikipedia

• Your Perspective: Meditation is the ability to self regulate internal mental distractions.
• Scientists Perspective: A means to enhance brain function and cognition in healthy and impaired individuals.

“Stressed Out” brain compared to a “Blissed Out” brain

The average person has 70,000 thoughts per day

Meditation Goals:

• Meditation exercises the mind in the same way we exercise our body–an active form of brain training.
• It infuses thoughts with greater positivity, love, calm and joy.
• Maintains balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

Types of Stress:

Acute versus Chronic Stress

1. Acute is a short term stress: Recent and anticipated demands and pressures.
2. Chronic is a long term stress: Poverty, childhood trauma, family disfunction or environmental.

Physiology of Stress:

1. Stressful event occurs
2. Panic and / or tension ensues
3. Increase in hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and epinephrine
4. Increased blood pressure
5. Energy diverted from immune, digestive, and reproductive systems

Stress Related Ailments:

• Cardiovascular issues
• Anxiety
• Sleeplessness
• Addiction
• Depression
• Headache
• Weight gain
• Pain
• Fatigue
• Lack of motivation
• Weakened immune system