Stress is the No.1 Enemy for Humans

Stress is the biggest enemy in this current digital age. What stress does is release cortisol hormones which weakens the immune system. Scientists have known for years that elevated cortisol levels interfere with learning and memory, lower immune function and bone density, increase weight gain, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart disease and the the list goes on and on.

Chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels also increase risk for depression, mental illness, and lower life expectancy.What many people do not realise is that stress is the main cause of illness. There are many kinds of illnesses caused by stress involving both the body and the mind.

What leads to Stress?

1. When you feel Threat! - A perceived threat will lead a person to feel stressed. This can include physical threats, social threats, financial threat, and so on.
2. Fear - Threat can lead to fear, which again leads to stress. Fear leads to imagined outcomes, which are the real source of stress.
3. Uncertainty - When we are not certain, we are unable to predict, and hence feel we are not in control and this leads to the feel of fear on uncertainty of outcome.
4. Cognitive Dissonance - What you believe in contradict with new opposing facts, you experience cognitive dissonance and this leads to stress. This can occur when we cannot meet our commitments when we thought we could. We believe we are honest and committed, but when circumstances prevent us from meeting our promises we are faced with the possibility of being perceived as dishonest or incapable (ie. a social threat).
5. Life Causes - Money, Finance, Work, Career & Earning for Survival is the biggest problem for everyone today. Next to that will be Health & Sexual problem, Family & Relationship problem, Responsibility Increase & Change of Attitude problems and list goes on. All this problems cannot be avoided in this current digital age. People are working so hard to keep up to the society standards & own survival.

Here are some of the health problems and diseases that may be related to your body’s battle with stress. 

1. Restless Mind - Stress leads the mind to be unrest. You will keep thinking about things which are not settled & pending, responsibilities and commitments
2. Depression - Unresolved stress can make a person feel angry or hopeless, both of which can lead to depression. If you feel chronically sad, have trouble thinking clearly, feel alone or unloved, struggle with guilt or shame, chances are you are battling a serious case of depression related to stress.
3. Anxiety & Panic Attacks - Like depression, anxiety disorders and panic attacks frequently have a stress-related connection. People who struggle with uncertainty of situations that make them feel uneasy may experience high levels of stress, nervousness and fear.
4. Insomnia - Stress keeps people awake at night due to worry, anxiety, or uncertainty about the future. Some people worry about their jobs, while others are concerned over family issues or health problems. Many things in life can be stressful and stress, if left unmanaged, can interrupt or delay sleep. 
5. Blood Circulation Problem - Stress can make your body’s arteries and veins tighten up in response to the fight-or-flight complex. This compression can reduce blood flow throughout the body and create problems like blood clots, poor circulation, or even strokes. 
6. Local Infections - Mental or emotional stress can even delay physical healing of local infections, like a bug bite, or systemic infections, like food poisoning. Stress drains the body of positive energy as it strives to cope with the demanding worry of the stress-related issues.
7. Heart problems - Stress can make anyone’s heart palpitate wildly and increase pulse rate as well as blood pressure. Over time, serious stress can damage the heart with increased wear and tear for the reasons just mentioned. Elevated stress levels can even raise your blood cholesterol. That is why it is important to check blood pressure regularly. 
8. Cancer - More and more studies are showing links between stress and various types of cancer. Since stress is known to depress the body’s immune system, someone who is struggling with ongoing stress will be leading to many diseases.
9. Diabetes - One of the common illnesses caused by stress is out-of-control blood sugar for diabetes patients. People with diabetes have to follow a lifestyle that keeps their blood sugar within acceptable limits. Stress can throw off the body, sending sugar levels skyrocketing or plummeting. 

Samuel Nelson