None of us wants to feel stressed, but you may assume that it’s a necessary part of adult life. Perhaps you think that everyone has stress from work or relationships or life in general, and so you don’t spend a lot of time worrying about how to get rid of it.
In fact, high levels of stress are something that need to be addressed if you want to say (or get) healthy. Stress has been directly linked to a number of serious health risks and chronic illnesses, including:
- Heart disease
- Asthma
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Headaches
- Depression and anxiety
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Ulcers
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Accelerated aging
Stress has even been linked to an increased risk for premature death. In other words, learning to manage your stress better can actually help you live longer. What can you do to keep stress levels in check?
Breathe deeply. It sounds simple enough, but learning and practicing deep breathing techniques is a great way to relax your mind and your body, which can prevent or reverse many of your body’s reactions to stress.
Get some exercise. Physical activity is a great way to relieve stress. It also reduces your risk for diabetes, obesity and other stress related illnesses. If you need an immediate stress reliever, take a 5 minute break to go for a walk.
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