Could the effects of stress cause high blood pressure? Most people think so. Even worse is the possibility stress, along with other risk factors, has a negative effect on overall health. So, what can we do to make sure all the stress that invades our lives will not hurt us in the long run? In this article, we will examine this question.
There are, of course, different kinds of stress. If we go out for a walk or jog we will put a certain amount of stress on our knees and ankles. In fact, any sort of physical activity we do, even if it is unpacking our groceries and putting cans of food on our shelves, will cause a certain amount of physical stress. However, in one way, physical stress is different than mental stress.
To examine how this can be, take the example of a professional athlete. He or she works out more than most other people. When working out, this athlete will probably do a lot of deep knee bends, a lot of running and a lot of weightlifting.
Of course, these things put a great deal of stress on all the muscles and joints in the body. However, when done correctly, athletes build up their strength as their workouts progress from their beginning stages to their advanced stages.
So, athletes prepare their bodies for more stress as they go along. Mental stress however, is not something we can regulate. Unlike physical workouts we do not choose how much stress we experience in beginning stages, intermediate stages or advanced stages. Stress and anxiety simply come at us.
So, we have to prepare ourselves for stress by learning how not to let it affect us. This is done by practicing relaxation, meditation or visualization and ironically, physical exercise.
Practicing relaxation simply involves deep breathing exercises while seated or laying down comfortably. Usually, relaxation is combined with either meditation or visualization. Simply put, after one gets into a relaxed state he or she visualizes pleasant and calming thoughts. These thoughts could be of some peaceful scene he or she has enjoyed visiting or by simply making up a scene that is relaxing.
Exercise, in itself, helps a person relax, not only immediately after the exercising is done, but on through the day. Exercise brings about chemical changes in the body that help one deal better with stress on a mental level.
The result of exercising and practicing relaxation is being better able to deal with stress, or to put it another way, the ability to blow off stressful situations. In turn, this is very good for the blood pressure and general overall health.
There are, of course, different kinds of stress. If we go out for a walk or jog we will put a certain amount of stress on our knees and ankles. In fact, any sort of physical activity we do, even if it is unpacking our groceries and putting cans of food on our shelves, will cause a certain amount of physical stress. However, in one way, physical stress is different than mental stress.
To examine how this can be, take the example of a professional athlete. He or she works out more than most other people. When working out, this athlete will probably do a lot of deep knee bends, a lot of running and a lot of weightlifting.
Of course, these things put a great deal of stress on all the muscles and joints in the body. However, when done correctly, athletes build up their strength as their workouts progress from their beginning stages to their advanced stages.
So, athletes prepare their bodies for more stress as they go along. Mental stress however, is not something we can regulate. Unlike physical workouts we do not choose how much stress we experience in beginning stages, intermediate stages or advanced stages. Stress and anxiety simply come at us.
So, we have to prepare ourselves for stress by learning how not to let it affect us. This is done by practicing relaxation, meditation or visualization and ironically, physical exercise.
Practicing relaxation simply involves deep breathing exercises while seated or laying down comfortably. Usually, relaxation is combined with either meditation or visualization. Simply put, after one gets into a relaxed state he or she visualizes pleasant and calming thoughts. These thoughts could be of some peaceful scene he or she has enjoyed visiting or by simply making up a scene that is relaxing.
Exercise, in itself, helps a person relax, not only immediately after the exercising is done, but on through the day. Exercise brings about chemical changes in the body that help one deal better with stress on a mental level.
The result of exercising and practicing relaxation is being better able to deal with stress, or to put it another way, the ability to blow off stressful situations. In turn, this is very good for the blood pressure and general overall health.
| Jason Falson once battled with serious hypertension but now has normal BP readings. He has credited his remarkable recovery to following a few simple rules. Of course, one of these rules is following his doctor's orders. His Website, Blood Pressure Symptoms discusses Jason's rules of blood pressure control. Also, learn more about the connection between hypertension and anxiety and how to control your anxiety at Dealing with Anxiety. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Falson |  |
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