How Does Stress Affect Us?
Before we can answer this question we must know what stress is. Simply put, stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental and emotional responses.
Stress, to varying degress, is a normal part of life and our body, mind and spirit is designed to experience and react to stress. Stress can be positive in that it helps to keep us alert and ready to avoid danger. Stress, as we know, can also be negative and without relief or relaxation, it will negatively effect every system in our body.
Here are some interesting statistics on stress:
- 43% of adults suffer adverse health effects from stress.
- OSHA estimates that stress costs American industry more than $300 billion annually.
- The lifetime prevalance of an emotional disorder is more than 50% due to chronic, untreated reactions to stress.
- It is now believed that 80% – 90% percent of all disease is stress induced.
- 75% – 90% of all doctor’s office visits are for stress related ailments and complaints.
My intent is to help you understand just how important it is to allow our mind, body and spirit to experience relief. Whether you are an elite athlete, a corporate executive, college student or average joe, we all need to be active participants in our own care. So please, take an hour out of your life and receive a massage. Let your massage therapist assist you in living a healthy life.
*references for the article include webmd.com, healthy.net and medicalnewstoday.com
JessG
