Can Stress Be a Killer? The short answer is Yes. But it doesn’t have to be.

However, understanding the factors that lead to stress on the body and ultimately negatively impact your wellbeing, can help you find ways to respond to stressful situations that lessen or mitigate the impact.

We all experience challenges that cause us stress. It is part of the human experience. They are common to each one of us at one time or another.

Can you relate to any of them?

You are a member of what is commonly referred to as the Sandwich Generation; literally sandwiched between job, family responsibilities and caring for an older parent or loved one. It can feel like you are squeezed from all sides.. Statistics indicate that 70% of the sandwich generation is now between the ages of 40-59. Prime work years.

You are a caregiver experiencing Burnout.

Life circumstances that cause Stress: Financial Challenges, Divorce, Loss of a Loved One

Changes in Living Situations: Selling a House and/or Moving. Evidence suggests that selling a house or moving is tremendously stressful and, in some cases, the loss is akin to the Kubler-Ross stages of Grief which can lead to Depression.

Work and Health Challenges are obvious stressors.However, it’s likely that people think of stress as only related to negative circumstances associated as stated above.

However, what we think of as  positive situations can also be stressful and occur at any age or stage of life.The impact on the body is the same.

·    The college decision and application process

·    Starting a New Job

·    Wedding planning

·    Buying a Home

·    Planning a major event such as a Baby Shower, etc.

·    Car Purchase

·    Changing Careers

·    Moving to a New City

Oxidative Stress and Inflammations cause Stress Responses which are the Underlying Causes of many conditions and diseases.

Looking at Oxidative Stress and Inflammation; Oxidants damage the body and oxidative stress drives inflammation..

Some of the consequences of Oxidative Stress include:

Brain Fog/Poor Memory

Muscle and/or Joint Pain,

Weakness

Early Aging – Wrinkles, gray hair

GI complaints

Reduced Vision

Headaches

Anxiety, Depression

Environmental and Lifestyle Habits that cause our bodies to experience oxidative stress include:

Excess calories | obesityHigh fat, sugar diets

Tobacco & alcohol

Medications

Pesticides & heavy metals

Infections – bacteria | viruses | yeast

Pollution

Radiation & excess UV exposure

Emotional stress

The causative factors leading to Inflammation:

Diet – deficiencies/sensitivities

Obesity

Gut dysfunction

Hormone imbalances

Exercise – too little OR too much

Injury

Toxins | tobacco/a;cohol

Infection | viruses

Stress

inadequate Sleep

What are some of the health consequences of Oxidative Stress?

Neurodegenerative diseases

Cancer

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Heart & blood vessel disorders

Inflammatory diseases

Additional health consequences of Low-Grade Inflammation:

Heart disease

Stroke

Cancer

Respiratory disease | Asthma

Alzheimer’s Disease

Diabetes

Autoimmune diseases

Arthritis + pain

We all likely experience signs of Acute Inflammation at one time or another. They include:

Pain

Redness

Loss of Mobility,

Loss of Function

Swelling

Heat

Chronic inflammation is long-lasting, from months to years. It is the result of repeated inflammatory body‘hits’ which as are an inflammatory response in the absence of an actual stimulus or trigger.This can result from

·    Unresolved infections,

·    Physical or chemical agents that can’t be broken down in the body,

·    Fatigue,

·    Skin rashes

·    Muscle/joint aches & pains

·    Midsection weight gain

·    GI issues,

·    Chronic mucus production

·    Genetic susceptibility

If you are struggling to mitigate stressful experiences with real or potential concomitant health consequences in any of the above areas, feel free to book a free consultation here: https://calendly.com/phyllis-31/laying-the-groundwork-2​​​​​​

Originally Published on https://www.phyllisaymanassociates.com/

Phyllis Ayman Ambassador for Conscious Aging Life Management and #1 WSJ and USA Today Best Selling Author, Podcaster

Phyllis Ayman is the Ambassador for Conscious Aging Life Management, and founder of Mindful Longevity Solutions. She coaches individuals to develop their Personalized Longevity or Wellness Care Plans so they can live as healthfully, happily ,and fulfilled as they possibly can. As an aging life careplanning coach and mediator, she guides families to make decisions and mediate challenging conversations around aging care issues. She conceived and owns the trademark IMpathy®, essentially the inner game of empathy, which the hallmark of her proprietary programs.

Ayman is a #1 WSJ and USA Today Best Selling author, featured speaker, panel moderator, trainer, advocate gerontological speech/language pathologist and dementia care specialist. She spent over 40,000 hours working with thousands of individuals and families in long term care. Her writings have been featured in Next Avenue, McKnight’s Long Term Care News and McKnight’s Senior Living, and the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioner Newsletters.