Stress is taking toll of our young generation and making their childhood devoid of health and wellbeing. I have a patient aged 13, who has chronic hypertension, a 16 year old patient with paralysis, a 14 year patient with thyroid issues, a 13 year old with spine issues, an 18 year diabetic patient. This is not to scare you but to tell you to let children learn a stress free lifestyle with love and respect for nature. Every organism has a natural balance and whenever this balance is disturb, it will take a toll on the health. The best way to maintain this equilibrium is to know the root cause and nature’s protocols for a good health. The basic of the nature’s protocol is train your mind to manage stress as stress can make you age fast. A single shocking news can make your body 10 year old.
Health is directly linked to your immunity, people with great immunity do not fall ill and live long.
Stress can cause illness by impairing the workings of the immune system. The immune system guards the body against attackers, both from within and outside. Psychoneuroimmunology focuses on the links between the mind, the brain and the immune system. It studies the effects of stress on the immune system.
How does the immune system work? The white blood cells (leucocytes) within the immune system identify and destroy foreign bodies (antigens) such as viruses. It also leads to the production of antibodies. There are several kinds of white blood cells or leucocytes within the immune system, including T cells, B cells and natural killer cells. T cells destroy invaders, and T-helper cells increase immunological activity. It is these T-helper cells that are attacked by the Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV), the virus causing Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). B cells produce antibodies. Natural killer cells are involved in the fight against both viruses and tumors. Stress can affect natural killer cell cytotoxicity, which is of major importance in the defense against various infections and cancer. Reduced levels of natural killer cell cytotoxicity have been found in people who are highly stressed, including students facing important examinations, bereaved persons, and those who are severely depressed. Studies reveal that immune functioning is better in individuals receiving social support. Also, changes in the immune system will have more effect on health among those whose immune systems are already weakened. Stress leads to negative emotions, release of stress hormones which lead to weakening of the immune system, thereby affecting mental and physical health. Psychological stress is accompanied by negative emotions and associated behavior, including depression, hostility, anger and aggression. Negative emotion states are of particular concern to the study of effects of stress on health. The incidence of psychological disorders, such as panic attacks and obsessive behavior increases with the build-up of long-term stress. Worries can reach such a level that they surface as a frightening, painful physical sensation, which can be mistaken for a heart attack. People under prolonged stress are more prone to irrational fears, mood swings and phobias, and may experience fits of depression, anger and irritability. These negative emotions appear to be related to the function of the immune system. Our ability to interpret our world and to invest that interpretation with personal meaning and emotion have a powerful and direct effect on the body. Negative moods have been associated with poorer health outcomes. Feelings of hopelessness are related to worsening of disease, increased risk of injury and death due to various causes.
When the human body is placed under physical or psychological stress, it increases the production of certain hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones produce marked changes in heart rate, blood pressure levels, metabolism and physical activity. Although, this physical reaction will help us to function more effectively when we are under pressure for short periods of time, it can be extremely damaging to the body in the long-term effects. Examples of physiological effects are release of epinephrine and nor – epinephrine, slowing down of the digestive system, expansion of air passages in the lungs, increased heart rate, and constriction of blood vessels.
How to be stress free?
Train your mind not to take stress. Following tools can be of good help:
– Understand the sources of stress like life events (like breakup of a relationship), hassles (Like commuting, noisy surrounding), traumatic events (like accident). And develop belief that you will soon overcome all this.
– Stress Management Techniques like relaxation, meditation, biofeedback, creative visualization, cognitive behavioral techniques, exercises, Time Management, rational thinking etc.
Understand that stress can make you ill , in fact very ill and may reduce your life span significantly but the good news is that you can manage stress and can help others including children to manage it to the optimum level.
Superb