“Stress” is a blanket term for any kind of strain placed on the body. Stressors can be physical or emotional: heat, cold, injury, malnutrition, drugs, toxins, overwork, hate, love, anger, tension, fear, joy, frustration, anxiety…

Not all stress is negative. In fact, a bit of occasional stress can be good for your health. But when the stress is chronic – continuing over long periods of time with little relief – problems arise.

What kind of problems? High blood pressure, dizziness, neck- and backaches, headaches, diarrhea, fatigue, insomnia, lack of concentration, irritability, loss of appetite, overeating and sexual problems – just to name a few.

Chronic stress overworks the immune system. It depletes the B vitamins, vitamin C, potassium, phosphorous and calcium.

Rate Your Current Stress Level

Read the list of events used in the Holmes-Rahe Scale below and add up the points for each one that has happened to you in the last year.

If you score more than 300, you have an 80% chance of serious health change within the next year – 12 months being the “incubation period” for illness or dysfunction in most people.

Tips for Reducing Stress

• Avoid all refined carbohydrates, such as sugar, white flour, white rice and junk foods. Poorly digested and nutrient-poor, these foods put even more stress on the body.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Limit or avoid caffeine, including that in many soft drinks.
• Exercise.

Other good ways of managing stress: meditation, self-hypnosis, listening to music, talking with friends, hot baths, biofeedback, massage, yoga, prayer