Studies find Link between Stress and Illness

Can stress make you sick?

The Stay Healthy section in Parade magazine, October 2009,  Dr. Ranit Mishori connects stress with:

• Heart,
• Weight
• Skin
• Headaches
• Wound Healing
• Risk of depression
• Common Cold
• Influenza
• Increased Symptoms of Chronic Illness

One reason stress is so harmful:  When stressed, our body reacts with the Fight or Flight response, increasing adrenaline, which is needed when you are in danger, but living with increased adrenaline for daily stress will result in increased blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar.

Dr. Elissa Epel notes that ongoing stress will change the protein output of our DNA, affecting our very core.

When you have ongoing stress- the kind you face when you are experiencing marital problems, caring for a sick relative, financial, or work- influences your ability to function, weakening a person’s immune system, increasing susceptibility to illness and certain cancers associated with viruses.

The good news is there are various ways to cope with stress, outside of medications- exercise; calming techniques like meditation are ways to manage stress.

 The article concludes with:  Taking these routes to “chilling out” is well worth the effort.

Custom Calm practices get to the core of stress relief, rather than addressing the symptoms to manage stress.  These practices do more than “chill out”, but rather teaching how to incorporate sustainable tools in your daily living, improving well-being.