so long, stress stressed out

Everyone deals with stress from time to time, right? A recent study by the American Psychology Association reports that women are far more prone to stress than men. Read on, ladies.

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By Laurel Gillum

The study reports that 49 percent of women stated their stress has increased significantly over the past five years, whereas only 10 percent of men who participated in the study admitted feeling more stressed as time lapsed.

Psychologists have deemed hormones partially responsible for the stress gap between men and women. The chemical imbalances that women undergo during their adult menstrual, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause years are directly linked to fluctuating levels of stress. These results have led experts to further delve into the emotional and physical e ects of stress on a woman’s body. Here’s just a little of what goes down when stress pops up. insomnia. Many people have trouble sleeping when they are stressed. The average adult needs up to eight hours of sleep per night to properly function. If your sleep is compromised, this could a ect your concentration, mood and productivity during the day. acne. Breakouts are largely attributed to excess oils produced by high levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a hormone that multiplies when triggered by stress. depression. High levels of cortisol also interfere with mental health, memory and learning ability. weight gain. A decrease in metabolism is a common symptom of stress. Some experience an increase in food cravings as well—two symptoms that do not sit well together. hair loss. After a particularly stressful situation, your hair will start to shed more than usual. Typically, this will go unnoticed for three to six months, thinning your hair in the meantime. get

Read on to see how you can prevent stress from jeopardizing your health.

physical.

A mile a day keeps the doctor away—it also helps reduce high levels of cortisol in the body. Other activities can help reduce stress, too, such as swimming laps around the pool or taking the dog out for a scenic stroll.

just breathe.

To decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, consider taking a few moments out of each day to sit and relax. Whether you choose to take a short nap during this time or read a chapter from your favorite novel is up to you.

laugh. Laughter truly is the best medicine. We’ve all heard it, but have we tried it? Laughter lowers stress hormones such as cortisol. avoid caffeine.

Limit your intake of ca einated drinks, including co ee, soda and tea. Instead, go for water.

dear

diary.

Keeping a stress diary will make you keenly aware of what situations trigger your stress. This will hopefully caution you to avoid these situations or arm you with the knowledge of how to handle them next time they arise.

Sources: sheknows.com, beautyeditor.ca