Staying stressed
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
Not to add to the stress, but staying stressed may be something to be concerned about. Chronic stress affects body functions – raising levels of inflammatory chemicals and keeping them high, which may be harmful to health.
The director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Dr. Griffin Rodgers, says chronic stress affects more than mood, such as depression and irritability, and can cause physical problems worse than headaches and digestive disorders:
“Chronic stress, if untreated, can also make you more prone to serious health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.”
Stress relievers include physical activity such as aerobics or yoga, and social activities such as being with friends and family or playing with a pet.
Learn more at healthfinder.gov.
HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.