title. I feel like you always hear stuff to the liking of “high stress leads to poor health,” but I am kind of wondering exactly why this occurs.

For instance, it’s said that stress can cause:

  • Aches and pains.
  • Chest pain or a feeling like your heart is racing.
  • Exhaustion or trouble sleeping.
  • Headaches, dizziness or shaking.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Muscle tension or jaw clenching.
  • Stomach or digestive problems.
  • Trouble having sex.
  • Weak immune system.

Imagine, hypothetically, that I were to have a high stress life, but still had good sleep, low blood pressure, and a slow heart rate, while also staying away from unhealthy habits like drinking or addiction.

Would my health still be worse than a person who lives an equivalent, but less stressful life than me?

  • @AnonymouseEnglish
    7•1 year ago

    Stress, especially chronic stress, can raise cortisol levels which can result in an inflammatory response which can present as things like joint pain. I also believe there is some sort of emotional connection from cortisol and/or stress that results in poor food or health choices. I think I read somewhere that in the presence of cortisol, your body will convert more energy to fat and something else having to do with an elevated blood sugar, bit I can’t remember.

    Exercise can lower cortisol levels even if stress is still present.

    I’m not a doctor, herbalist or anybody in any sort of medical field. I just read a lot of books and ask a lot of questions. I could be totally wrong.

    • @[email protected]OPEnglish
      2•1 year ago

      Interesting!

      So, if a person with a stressful life simply manages their symptoms well:

      • exercising to lower cortisol
      • eating anti-inflammatory foods like blueberries or lentils high in antioxidants to lower inflammation
      • making good food and health choices
      • etc

      then hypothetically it should be possible to compensate and avoid all the negative effects of stress :)

      • @AnonymouseEnglish
        3•1 year ago

        You could be correct based on my limited understanding. Of course, in a month a new study could come out and turn everything upside down.

        I also know that as you get older, it’s harder for your body to deal with stuff. I’m not sure of the medicine happening there.

        Finally, I don’t understand it well, but in some health circles, there’s a thought that stressing your body can be good and that you do it to train your body to return to baseline as quickly as possible. That’s where your resting heart rate becomes important.

        In my opinion, avoiding or reducing the stress is probably the most effective method to avoid negative health consequences. Everything else is compensatory. Like, if you keep cutting yourself while cooking, healing quickly is great, but maybe take action to avoid cutting yourself to begin with.

      • @bouh
        1•1 year ago

        I’m skeptical about this. I would imagine stress to strain the body over time until it collapse. It depends on stress the amount of stress you are subjected to I guess.

        I would also think the reward for the stress matters too.