Stress- The Disease of the 21st Century

By Sofia Garcia

Photo Via Cedars Sinai

Overview

Every morning, Peter, a 17-year-old high school student, wakes up soaked, with a racing heart and shortness of breath. For weeks, he has suffered from stomach pains, dizziness, and fatigue. Concerned about his health, he decided to see a doctor. After tests, examinations, and X-rays, his primary care physician gave him a diagnosis. It turned out to be stress. Like Peter, nine out of ten people have experienced stress in the last year, and 40% of the population suffers from it continuously, according to the WHO. It's no wonder they've dubbed it the epidemic of the 21st century.

What is Stress

Stress is a feeling of tension that arises as our body responds to a challenge or demand. In small amounts, it can be beneficial; however, if it occurs repeatedly, it can harm our health. Everyone experiences stress because it is a natural response, used by our ancestors. However, it is not the stimulus, but rather how we react and the person who faces it that determines how great the state of anxiety will be.

Why Does Stress Happen?

There are two main types of stress:

Acute stress: This occurs in the short term and disappears instantly; it helps us stay alert or tense, such as when we're about to be hit by a ball and step aside, argue with someone, or ride a bike downhill.

Chronic stress: This lasts for a long period of time, for example, due to money problems, school or work issues, or an illness.

How Does Stress Affect Us?

Although it can be helpful at times, when stress becomes prolonged, it can cause serious problems, affecting millions of people in different aspects of their lives. On an emotional level, it can cause anxiety, depression, constant irritability, lack of concentration, and sleep disorders. People who suffer from it often feel overwhelmed, unmotivated, and have a pessimistic view of the future, which directly impacts their psychological well-being.

On a social level, this type of stress can deteriorate interpersonal relationships. Lack of patience, voluntary isolation, and the inability to properly manage emotions make it difficult to interact with family, friends, and coworkers. Over time, this can lead to a loss of social support, further increasing feelings of loneliness and hopelessness.

Physically, it causes prolonged hyperactivation of the cardiovascular system and can lead to serious disorders such as hypertension, tachycardia, and even the risk of a heart attack. Furthermore, the physical impact of chronic stress is not limited to the cardiovascular system. It can compromise the immune system, impair digestion, cause headaches, disrupt metabolism, and even contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases.

How to Combat Stress?

There are countless ways to keep stress at bay, but these are the best, according to experts:

Stay active: Exercise is one of the most important things you can do to combat stress, as physically stressing your body can relieve mental stress. People who exercise are less likely to suffer from this condition for the following reasons:

-Stress hormones: In the long term, exercise reduces stress hormones in your body, such as cortisol. It also helps release endorphins, which improve your mood and act as a natural pain reliever.

-Sleep: Moving can also improve the quality of sleep, which can be negatively affected by stress and anxiety.

-Confidence: When you exercise regularly, you may feel more competent and confident in your body, which in turn promotes mental well-being.

Lighting candles: Aromatherapy can help reduce anxiety and stress, so lighting candles or burning incense during attacks can help calm them and even prevent them.

Reduce your caffeine intake: High amounts of caffeine can increase stress and anxiety. However, sensitivity to caffeine can vary from person to person.

Writing: One way to manage stress is to write things down. While recording what stresses you out is one way to focus, another is to write down what you're grateful for. Gratitude can help relieve stress and anxiety by focusing your thoughts on the positive things in your life.

Spending time with family and friends: Having strong social ties can help you cope with difficult and stressful times, which will reduce your risk of anxiety.

Conclusion

Throughout this report, I have explained that suffering from stress is inevitable because it is part of our body. Its impact, both emotional and physical, can be devastating if not managed properly.

However, we are not facing a lost battle. Learning to identify, understand, and implement strategies to control it is essential to preserving our well-being. Focusing on physical exercise, social support, emotional management, and small daily habits can make a big difference.

In an increasingly fast-paced society, the challenge is not avoiding stress, but learning to live with it healthily.

About The Author

Sofía is a high school student from Spain. She's always been good at biology and chemistry, but it wasn't until she watched an episode of House M.D. in quarantine that she decided to become a doctor. Since then, every time she watches a medical series, she memorizes the diseases and procedures in the hopes of understanding a little more about the fascinating world of medicine. Sofia has been suffering from chronic migraines for over a year and can confidently say she is an expert on this condition. She wanted to write this to share her knowledge with anyone who wants to read more about it. This is Sofia's third post for the blog!