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

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

Physiology of Stress:

Stressful event occurs
Panic and / or tension ensues
Increase in hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and epinephrine
Increased blood pressure
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