Did you know that April is National Stress Awareness Month? Stress has become such a huge issue it requires an entire month of awareness. But how exactly does chronic stress impact your health?
Health Problems Caused by Stress
Small bouts of stress are not as much of a problem. It’s when the stress becomes chronic that issues can occur. According to the American Psychological Association, chronic stress can negatively impact all body systems including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive systems.1 Chronic stress can also negatively impact mental health and mood.2
The body views chronic stress as if you are being chased by a ferocious lion day in and day out. When faced with real danger, the stress response kicks in saturating the body with powerful hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline that immediately raise your heart rate and blood pressure, cause rapid breathing, redirect blood flow, tense up muscles, and energize you so you can deal with the danger.3 This innate natural reaction is known as the fight or flight response and it’s very effective but if it happens continually it can become problematic.
Here's How to Know When You’re Stressed
Sometimes we can’t control the amount of stress we are experiencing but we can control the impact that stress has on our health. If you feel stressed out, you may want to take the Stress Screener test developed by Mental Health America.
Once you determine your stress level, it’s time to work on ways to help you cope so the stress doesn’t negatively impact your health, mood, or quality of life. The National Institutes of Mental Health offers these tips on how to help manage stress and anxiety:4
- Practice gratitude.
- Have a proactive relaxation plan.
- Exercise consistently and eat healthy meals.
- Acknowledge your feelings and track your thoughts with a journal or daily contemplation.
- Create a sleep routine to ensure you are getting enough sleep.
- Avoid drinking excess caffeine from coffee and soft drinks.
- Identify and challenge negative and unhelpful thoughts.
- Reach out to family and friends to help you cope in positive ways.
In addition, you may want to consider taking a magnesium supplement daily.
Magnesium Glycinate for Rest and Relaxation
Magnesium is so important in supporting health because it is a critical cofactor in more than 300 different biochemical reactions in the body including the relaxation response.5 Magnesium Glycinate 350 VegCaps is a great option because it’s fully chelated, making it easy for the body to digest and absorb.*
For more tips on nutrition, mindful wellness practices, and helping your family feel their best, follow us on Facebook @kalvits and Instagram at @kalvitamins!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References
- American Psychological Association. Stress effects on the body. 2023;Mar 8. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body
- Feng G, Xu X, Lei J. Tracking perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in daily life: a double-downward spiral process. Frontiers in Psychology. 2023;14. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1114332/full
- Chu B, Marwaha K, Sanvictores T, Ayers D. Physiology, stress reaction. StatPearls. 2022;Sept 12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541120/?report=reader#_NBK541120_pubdet_
- National Institute of Mental Health. I’m so stressed out! Fact sheet. Accessed 2024, Feb 28. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/so-stressed-out-fact-sheet
- Boyle NB, Lawton C, Dye L. The effects of magnesium supplementation on subjective anxiety and stress—a systematic review. Nutrients. 2017;9(5). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5452159/
