What Is Stress? April Is National Stress Awareness Month!

What is Stress?

Stress is a physical response from our body due to any type of positive or negative changes. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood. Positive stress can help drive us into action, but negative stress can result in health problems.

Signs and Symptoms of Stress

There are many physical and mental signs and symptoms that go along with stress. These signs can greatly affect your daily life. Here are a few examples of warning signs to look out for:

• anxiety
• back pain
• constipation or diarrhea
• depression
• fatigue
• headaches
• high blood pressure
• insomnia
• problems with relationships or work
• shortness of breath
• stiff neck
• upset stomach
• weight gain or loss

National Stress Awareness Month

Starting in 1992, April has been dedicated to Stress Awareness Month. During this period, experts publicly increase the awareness of the effects that stress can have on the mind and body. Everyone is expected to experience signs of stress at some point during their lifetime. Stress can be caused by a number of factors such as work, relationships, finances, or even a sudden traumatic event. However, stress should not be constant or extreme for it can be detrimental to one physically and mentally. The goal of Stress Awareness Month is to help others learn how to relieve the negative stress and manage their symptoms.

Ways to Celebrate/Ways to Reduce Negative Stress

Everyone feels stressed from time to time. If left unchecked, it can be an unpleasant experience. The best way to celebrate National Stress Awareness Month is by creating less stress in your own life.  So here is a list of 10 positive ways you can respond to the stress in your life and keep your own stress levels in check.

http://www.beliefnet.com/wellness/galleries/10-ways-to-celebrate-national-stress-awareness-month.aspx?p=2

Other Upcoming National Days

• Saturday April 7^th – World Health Day
• Monday April 16^th – National Stress Awareness Day

This month we are focusing on informing on all ways you can decrease signs and symptoms stress. Wrightstown Health and Fitness offers many services that focus on reducing daily stress. Stay tuned all month long for ways to reduce stress and how to live a healthy lifestyle on our Facebook pages.

Resources:

https://www.amerihealth.com/pdfs/custom/worksite_wellness/turnkey_programs/stress_awareness/stress_fact_sheet.pdf

http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/national-stress-awareness-day.htm