Health and Wellness: You best address your stress

Submitted By Sarah R. Coates/ One80 Counseling

Everywhere we turn these days, it seems something stressful is around the corner. Whether it’s fast moving traffic on I-40, super-high grocery bills that cut deep into your bank account, assisting your children or teens through school and social challenges or balancing home and work life, stress creeps in everywhere. But learning how to manage your stress is key to overall health and hopeful living.

Stress is a natural response to challenges, but when it becomes chronic, it can take a toll on your overall health. Prolonged stress triggers a variety of physical and mental health issues, affecting everything from your heart to your immune system.

When you're stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare you to respond to threats. While this "fight or flight" response can be useful in short-term situations, chronic stress keeps these hormones elevated, leading to harmful effects. For instance, high cortisol levels can contribute to weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, and increase your risk of heart disease by raising blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Mental health also suffers under chronic stress. Anxiety, depression and irritability can develop or worsen, leading to difficulty concentrating and disruptions in sleep patterns. Sleep deprivation, in turn, weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses such as colds and infections.

In addition, stress can trigger unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as overeating, smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, which further contribute to poor health outcomes.

Managing stress through exercise, mindfulness or spiritual practices — or seeking professional support — is crucial to maintaining overall well-being.

Sarah Coates is the founder of One80 Counseling. Learn more at one-eightycounseling.com.