Category Archives: Going Healthy

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Lifestyle

The Adverse Effects of Stress on Your Body

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The word “stress” is often used to describe a feeling of pressure and tension, but there can be many different causes of stress. When you feel like you’re running on empty and everything is an effort, it’s time to take a look at your life and see what might be adding unnecessary stress. Stress affects the body in various ways- learn about some of the most common consequences below.

Photo by Nathan Cowley from Pexels

#1 Can cause headaches

Stress is a leading cause of headaches, which can be accompanied by tension in the neck and shoulders. Migraines are one type of headache that can be brought on or made worse by stress. If you’re experiencing regular headaches, it’s important to identify any potential triggers, including stress. You may need to make some changes to your lifestyle or find ways to manage stressful situations better. 

Some people find relief through relaxation techniques such as yoga or deep breathing exercises, while others prefer over-the-counter medications or prescribed treatments from their doctor. Stress has also been linked with other types of pain, such as joint pain and back pain. In fact, research has shown that stress can affect the immune system, which makes it harder for your body to fight off illness. 

#2 May lead to mental health problems

Stress can be caused by many factors, such as work or school expectations and pressures. However, this type of stress is usually temporary and may even help motivate you to achieve your goals. However, constant feelings of anxiety frequently brought on by sources such as family life (e.g., overbearing parents) or an unpredictable economy can lead to mental health problems like depression or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). 

Depression makes it difficult for the sufferer to carry out everyday tasks and activities – which interferes with their ability to function at home and work. GAD causes excessive worry about a variety of topics, including personal relationships, money matters, and one’s own health; this chronic condition often occurs without warning signs in between episodes when everything seems fine. If you feel like you struggle with anxiety or even substance abuse in order to cope with your anxiety, feel free to have a look at Sunshine Behavioral Health for expert advice on the subject.

#3 Gastrointestinal issues

Stress can also lead to gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, constipation, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS is a condition that causes stomach pain, cramps, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. These symptoms can be very disruptive to one’s life and may cause a great deal of stress in addition to the original problem.

If you’re experiencing any of these problems, it’s important to seek help from your doctor. Managing your stress levels may bring some relief. This could include relaxation techniques, exercise, and changes to your diet- avoiding caffeine and alcohol, which can make symptoms worse.

#4 High blood pressure

Stress can also have a negative impact on your blood pressure, which may lead to heart disease. Too much stress over a long period of time without any relief can cause high blood pressure or hypertension. The underlying causes of hypertension aren’t fully understood, but it’s believed that several factors, including genetics and salt intake, play a role in its development.

The good news is that keeping your stress levels under control could help prevent the early onset of other serious health conditions such as coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, or kidney failure. In fact, research has shown that reducing one’s own perception of stress through relaxation techniques like yoga lowers cortisol production- lowering blood pressure in turn.

#5 Skin conditions

Stress has also been linked with skin conditions, including acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis. In addition, cortisol can cause your body to produce excess sebum- triggering the development of pimples in those prone to breakouts. Psoriasis is a condition where patches appear on different areas of the body; these lesions are typically red or silvery-white in color and may be accompanied by scales. Stress triggers inflammation, making it harder for the immune system to fight off disease; this leaves sufferers more susceptible to serious infections like HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

Dermatitis is an inflammation that causes dryness, itching, scaling, and even cracking; chronic stress can make symptoms worse, leading to worsening outbreaks over time if left untreated. If you’re experiencing any of these skin problems, it’s best to consult a dermatologist who can help treat the issue and relieve some of the stress.

#6 It Can Lead To Addiction

While the initial decision to use drugs or alcohol is usually voluntary, addiction is a complex condition that can quickly take over a person’s life. Once addiction sets in, drug use becomes compulsive and chaotic, despite the negative consequences. One of the biggest risk factors for addiction is stress. People under chronic stress are more likely to turn to substances as a way to cope. Additionally, stress can lead to changes in the brain that make a person more vulnerable to addiction. For example, chronic stress has been shown to increase the risk of developing an addiction by altering the brain’s reward system. As a result, it’s crucial for people struggling with stress to get help before it leads to drug abuse or addiction. Fortunately, many drug rehab programs can provide treatment and support for people who are struggling with addiction. With the right help, it is possible to recover from addiction and build a healthy, drug-free life.

Stress can have a number of adverse effects on your body, including mental health problems, gastrointestinal issues, high blood pressure, and skin conditions. However, by finding ways to manage your stress levels, you may be able to avoid these health concerns altogether!

Going Healthy, Health, Lifestyle

6 Surprising Benefits of Tea

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You may have heard that drinking tea can be good for you, but do you really know why? Beyond the idea that a cup of tea is a healthy coffee alternative and an addition to your eight glasses of daily water, what is it about tea that is so beneficial for our health?

Here, we go over six surprising benefits of tea that will make you whistle to the happy tune of your tea kettle.

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1. Tea Contains Antioxidants

Antioxidants are supercharged healing compounds found in natural foods like berries, leafy greens, and, yep, you guessed it: tea! Antioxidants help our bodies fight disease, ease digestion, and improve the look and feel of our skin. Tea also helps us destress and let off some steam whenever we need it. To get your antioxidant fix without all that fiber, tea is a great alternative.

Although most teas contain antioxidants, some herbal teas are more beneficial than others. Avoid black teas, which have a diuretic effect that can cause the body to expel electrolytes and minerals, and instead go for nutrient-packed alternatives. To get the awesome benefits of green teas, stick to bitter green teas like matcha green tea or jasmine tea variations.

2. Tea Alkalizes the Body

Have you ever wondered why tea is so effective for a sour stomach? Well, that’s because the properties of tea work to alkalize the body and rid the digestive system of imbalanced acid production. You may have heard about the powers of eating healthy, alkalizing foods, but these benefits can be obtained by drinking tea as well.

To reduce morning nausea or indigestion, go for cooling teas like peppermint. Ginger tea is also known for soothing upset stomachs and indigestion due to its alkalizing and anti-inflammatory properties.

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3. Tea Is Self-Care

In dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), one of the crisis skills taught to clients is how to use temperature to calm down. Both hot and cold temperatures can impact our nervous systems and assist us with calming down from stress.

While cold temperatures are best for relief, anger, and stress, hot temperatures (like those from a hot cup of tea) can provide anxiety relief as well as comfort and safety. Tea is more than a beverage; it is self-care in a mug!

4. Tea Is a Sleep Aid

Certain teas can actually help prevent insomnia. By drinking calming herbal teas on a regular basis, such as chamomile, vanilla, and rooibos, many people find that it is easier to fall asleep.

These herbal teas have a relaxing effect on the body and gently calm the muscles to ease you into relaxation and, eventually, sleep. Many herbal teas also contain magnesium, which is known to promote feelings of calmness and muscle relaxation throughout the body.

5. Tea Can Improve Overall Health

Many teas are rich in flavonoids, which relieve stress and inflammation in the body. Tea can also lower blood pressure and may reduce risk of stroke. Although more research is needed to confirm the additional benefits of drinking tea, it is considered by researchers to be a “health-prompting” drink when enjoyed regularly.

6. Tea Is a Laxative

Herbal teas like senna and moringa provide relief from constipation and bloating. What’s more, the caffeine content in other teas like black tea, green tea, and chai also support healthy bowel movements. Caffeinated teas can speed up the digestive process and signal elimination.

The Bottom Line

What we know for sure is that tea can work wonders for our health. Indeed, for a hot beverage that handles everything from congestion to self-care, lean on tea to work its natural magic.

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Parenting, Tips

3 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Family’s Mental Health

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Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash

When people think of mental health, they only do so in terms of adults only. Most people are unaware that children too are dealing with mental health issues. In fact, surveys are showing that there’s an increased rate of anxiety and depression among children between the ages of 3 and 17 years old. 

So, if you thought you and your partner were the only ones dealing with mental health related problems, think again. Whatever the case, you need to make sure that all members of your family enjoy excellent mental health. The tips in this post, should help you do just that.

Avoid or Minimize Worry

Worry is a major thief of your peace of your peace of mind. If you continue to dwell on the things that aren’t right with the world, you’ll find that it’s an endless slippery slope. Instead, be selective about the kinds of information you consume and digest.

Start by identifying the cause of your worries. For instance, the news is a major source of anxiety and mental stress. If it’s the news is the source of your anxiety, go on a 2-week “news detox” and see how you feel. If you find that you’re less worried or anxious, keep at it. Also practice habits that will minimize your worries and keep you calm.

Acknowledge Their Feelings

If your kids are feeling anxious and having panic attack episodes, you need to talk to them about their worries. This is very important because teenagers in particular, tend to think of anxiety as a major mental health issue. And because they are scared of the negative association, they tend to further worsen their state of mind. 

The first thing you ought to do is normalize the feeling of anxiety and discuss it in the home. In fact, you should inform them that anxiety is perfectly normal. It’s just the body’s way of alerting us to possible dangers so that we can take adequate protective measures.  

Do What You Love and Enjoy

Whether it’s cooking good food, telling anti jokes, watching your favorite TV shows, just hanging with the dudes, playing with the kids, or engaging in activities that they’ll like, just find something that gives you joy and do it. 

The pandemic has proven that life is too short to not live fully. So, identify the joyful activities that can improve the mental health of the entire family and participate in it. For example, you can all play games at home, have an outdoor movie night, and a bunch of other activities. 

Finally, do everything you can to have a measure of control in your life. Sometimes, anxiety, depression, panic attacks and other mental health issues stem from not being in charge of aspects of your life. Sometimes, simply making an effort to do something is enough to dispel some of those anxieties. Take charge of your life and it will have a ripple effect on the family’s state of mental wellness.