Stress isn’t all bad. It may help us focus better on an exam or a deadline. On the other hand, chronic stress can keep us from performing as well as we should. And when stress bleeds over into sleep time, it can keep us awake for hours—or wake us up in the middle of the night, and keep us awake. Excessive stress has been traced to a multitude of health problems, including cancer, heart disease, substance abuse, and obesity.
Our bodies were designed to deal with occasional stress but not the never-ending kind. Chronic stress is like walking around with a personal smoke alarm on that never quite shuts off. We feel edgy, anxious, on guard. The body ignores the immune system and the need for daily repairs in favor of staying constantly battle ready. No wonder we feel tired—and no wonder the body breaks down!
Stress may be a more powerful pain generator than repetitive motion. And in fact, pain and stress can feed off one another, creating a vicious cycle. Learn ways to reduce and manage stress better with the articles at right.
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Carol Marleigh KlineEditor, Chirohealthy.com