Practically everyone over the age of 30 who has seen a doctor knows what stress can do to the body. It can trigger high blood pressure which can, over time, contribute to several health issues. So then, what does the term “good stress” imply?
Let’s start with a definition of stress. No problem, right? Wrong. Even though every one of us has experienced stress, the condition itself is subjective and difficult to pin down. Everyone experiences stress in different ways so how do we define it if it’s different for everyone?
The term “stress” was first used in the 1930s by the endocrinologist Hans Selye to identify physiological responses in test subjects. He defined stress as a “nonspecific response of the body to a demand.”
He then broadened the term to humans. Stress referred to the reaction of the individual to the “stressor,” or threat, whether real or perceived in dealing with challenges of everyday life.
Today, we use the term as a catch-all to point out a non-specific problem - “I’m stressed out!”
During a stressful situation, one’s brain releases stress hormones which trigger a series of responses which cause blood-sugar levels rise, allowing glucose to be redirected to the muscles for fighting or fleeing dangerous situations (fight or flight response), the heartbeat speeds up and blood pressure increases. Blood is redirected from the stomach to the extremities to keep up with the demand for energy.
This worked well for humans historically but today we rarely need to physically flee or fight a dangerous situation. Overall, today’s stressors tend to be emotional. It is not realistic to think that we can “flee” conflicts at work or with family.
Stressors need not be great to cause the body to react and typically, if the stressor is small the physical response will be small but over time, when we are not able to respond and adapt to stressful situations, a physical toll on the body is the result.
This can lead to many health issues including, ulcers, diabetes, migraines, allergies, asthma, and even heart disease. But what about “good” stress?
Positive, or good stress tends to be physical (i.e., subjecting the body to an exercise workout and the result is positive for the body) but can also be mental. Some of us don’t view a deadline at work as a challenge but rather an opportunity to succeed. Others of us dread it and can expect typical stress reactions.
Fortunately, there are several natural methods of dealing with negative stress. These include: Deep breathing and relaxation exercises, physical exercise, talking with a therapist about your problems, allowing yourself to cry when you need to, and even avoiding situations where there is a pattern of stress you can’t deal with.
If high blood pressure is the result of your long term stress, I encourage you to try my all natural High Blood Pressure program. I recommend my Headache and Migraine program if headaches are the result of your stress. My programs have helped thousands help lead more stress-free healthy lives!
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