Thursday, May 28, 2009

Stress and Causes

The word 'stress' is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as "a state of affair involving demand on physical or mental energy". A condition or circumstance (not always adverse), which can disturb the normal physical and mental health of an individual.

Stress, nonetheless, is synonymous with negative conditions. Today, with the rapid diversification of human activity, we come face to face with numerous causes of stress and the symptoms of stress and depression.

Causes Of Stress:
It is said that life acts and you react. Our attitude is our reaction to whatlife hands out to us. A significant amount of stress symptoms can be avoided or aroused by the way we relate to stressors. Stress is created by what we think rather than by what has actually happened. For instance, handling adopted children, adolescents, academic failures, retirements, tax audits or sudden loss of money needs a relaxed attitude, focused will and preparedness to face the quirks of lifepositively. Otherwise one tends to feel stressed and reacts in anger and frustration. With a better control of attention one can feel that the world is a more congenial place to live in.

Effect Of Stress:

Researchers explain that because stress affects many of the body`s systems— nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine and immune— there is good reason to believe that severe emotional stress could cause defects in the fetus, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy when development occurs at the fastest rate.

Recent research results suggest that long-term exposure to adrenal stress hormones may boost brain aging in later life.

The level of hormone released apparently affects the total volume of the brain`s hippocampus—a major source of recall and memory function, in later life. Researchers found those with high levels of hormone release, had a hippocampus volume 14 per cent less than those with lower levels.

Stress Management:

What Laughter Can Do Against Stress And Its Effects: 

• Laughter lowers blood pressure and reduces hypertension.
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• It provides good cardiac conditioning especially for those who are unable to perform physical exercise.

• Reduces 
stress hormones (studies shows, laughter induces reduction of at least four of neuroendocrine hormones—epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone, associated with stressresponse).

• Laughter cleanses the lungs and body tissues of accumulated stale air as it empties more air than it takes in. It is beneficial for patients suffering from emphysema and other respiratory ailments.

• It increases muscle flexion, relaxation and fluent blood circulation in body.

• Boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma-interferon and disease-destroying antibodies called B-cells.

• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins—body`s natural painkillers.

•Produces a general sense of well-being.





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