Studies have shown that self-administered acupressure has the ability to reduce stress and improve health-related quality of life.
A recent study in 2024, data was collected from 149 countries and from over 2.4 million people to examine psychological stress in populations worldwide. 85% of the countries reported increasing emotional stress in recent years and this was observed in the increasing prevalence of global mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stress has been classified as a health epidemic of the 21st Century. Emotional stress is the major contributing factor to the six leading causes of death in the United States: cancer, coronary heart disease, accidental injuries, respiratory disorders, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide.
What is STRESS?
Stress is defined as the altered state of homeostasis (balance) within the body to an internal or external stressor. This stressor can have a positive or negative impact in the body and can be observed either physically or mentally. A normal stress response helps us adapt to our environment and protects us from perceived dangers keeping us alert to our surroundings and is usually short lived.
What happens to the body when we experience stress?
When the body experiences a stressor, a normal response causes a release of hormones, a change to our blood pressure and sugar levels to help us adapt to what is going on in our current environment. Chronic or persistent stress however, can lead to a range of physical and mental health issues including heart disease, high blood pressure, digestive issues, immune dysregulation, anxiety & depression. Many of these symptoms can present physically through headaches, shoulder tension, weight loss/gain, body aches and recurring infections but some signs of stress are less physically noticeable and may present as mood swings, behavioural changes, impaired ability to concentrate and impaired sleep patterns.
What can we do to decrease our stress levels?
Physical exercise and movement helps regulate blood pressure, cortisol production and supports different brain pathways.
Being in nature is scientifically proven to reduce cortisol, blood pressure and help regulate sleep patterns.
Yoga and mediation help the parasympathetic nervous system regulate and reduce the chronic stress responses of the body.
Mindfulness and gratitude are wonderful methods to incorporate regularly into your routine. You can practice this by taking some time out to think and reflect. You may consider journalling your thoughts or even expressing your gratitude to a situation or person. When we are grateful,our brain releases neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin which strengthen positive emotional pathways in the nervous system. Consistent mindfulness and gratitude can improve mood, reduce stress, enhance cognitive function, improves resilience and helps us build connections with others.
Surrounding ourselves with people that love us, make us feel respected and that we can have a laugh with are all great ways to decrease our stress levels and help us maintain increased quality of health.
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