Question

how stress can impact one's health. Describe a time in your life (or in the life of another individual) when stress led to illness. How did you/they overcome the stress and illness? What are some strategies you use today to help you manage stress?

Answer 1

Chronic stress can cause serious medical conditions such as heart disease, depression, anxiety, obesity, insomnia and a weakened immune system. The hormone cortisol is party responsible for regulating the inflammatory response. In case of chronic stress, cortisol is not able to regulate this response effectively, as the immune cells do not react to cortisol. This cause inflammation, which gives way to many disease.

I have a demanding job. I lead a research team on various projects at a corporate organization, even though i enjoy the role, i have to work long hours and work 6 days a week, commute long distance to my office and spend lot of time in traffic as well. I do not get much free time at home. I feel stressed out and exhausted after working so much. I have been experiencing headaches and anxiety after i return home from office. Gradually over a period of time due to chronic stress and increse of cortisol, i developed central serous retinopathy, which is caused by excesseviestress and incress in cortisol levels.

I started practice deep breathing everyday for 10 minutes in the morning, before i go to work and 10 minutes in the evening after returning form work. It is done by inhaling and exhaling slow, deliberate breaths. I feel my mind being calm and relaxed, and also has helped me be better focused at work. Another method is physical exercise.I workout on treadmill for 20 minutes everyday, after working out i feel relaxed and destressed, it also helps me sleep better at night, and makes me feel more physically active. After, a few days of these efforts to manage stress my stress level decreased drastically and i was able to work more efficiently and be more relaxed.