Concept
Stress Effects
HE A LTH EDUC A TION H E A L T H 1 0 0 V E R S I O N 3 / Relaxation Techniques
"To understand how consciously producing the relaxation response may affect your health, it is helpful to understand how your body responds to the opposite of relaxation—stress. When you’re under stress, your body releases hormones that produce the fight-or-flight response: heart rate and breathing rate go up and blood vessels narrow, restricting the flow of blood. Long-term or chronic stress may reduce your body’s ability to fight off illness and lead to or worsen certain health conditions. Chronic stress may lead to high blood pressure, headaches, stomach ache, and other symptoms, and stress may worsen certain conditions, such as asthma. Stress also has been linked to depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. In contrast, the relaxation response slows the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, decreases oxygen consumption, and lowers levels of stress hormones. Regularly creating the relaxation response through relaxation techniques could counteract the negative effects of stress."
Related Ideas
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- Stress ResponseHE A LTH EDUC A TION H E A L T H 1 0 0 V E R S I O N 3 · The Effects of Stress on the Body
- Fight FlightHE A LTH EDUC A TION H E A L T H 1 0 0 V E R S I O N 3 · Stress and the Brain
- Long-term StressHE A LTH EDUC A TION H E A L T H 1 0 0 V E R S I O N 3 · Stress Management