Physical exercise can improve your body’s adaptability to stress.

Exercise should involve routine movements that will improve your cardiovascular functions and strengthen your heart. This, in turn, improves the circulation of your blood and other bio-chemicals which your body requires to maintain good health.

When your muscles are supplied with oxygen, muscle health improves increasing endurance, stamina and flexibility. Also, when engaging in physical exercise, an outlet for your mental stress is created providing a healthy release of depression, anxiety, anger, fear, etc.

In addition, endorphins, which are wonderful body chemicals that are natural painkillers and add to a sense of well-being are released through exercise. Even better – research has shown that serotonin levels are likely increased from vigorous aerobic exercise therefore improving mood. Now that’s something to smile about!

Tomorrow, I will give a few exercise tips that may be helpful with stress management.

Have you experienced aches and pains while you work?

Have you felt tired even before you’ve started working? Are your kids pulling you by your feet telling you it’s time to get out of bed? Is your snooze button the one that needs a siesta because of over-use?

This is the effect of stress on your body.

Most medical experts agree that stress can have a profound influence in the decline of your normal bodily functions resulting in tight muscles, migraines, drowsiness, etc.

Experts also agree that physical exercise can improve your health despite stress caused by factors like career, personal, social or health issues and, boy, have we have our share of that last one.

Because of the above, the obvious first things to consider are to take some time off from work (like a “mental and physical health day”) when you can, get a good night’s sleep, wake up early in the morning and engage in some type of physical exercise or meditation. Diet (yes, sorry java lovers, especially caffeine) is another big factor as well and we will cover more of that in future blogs.

This may sound like a solution that is too simple to make a difference, but a little bit goes a very long way. Or if it seems too difficult, we are here to make it easier for you.

We will continue in the next blog to talk about some simple remedies to increase stress relief.

Stress is something that affects each and every one of us. It is complicated to define because it is a feeling based on each individual’s own experience and each person feels it differently. Most agree that stress results from change…any change with even positive change being stressful.

Also, stress is one of the major contributors to diminishing wellness and the impact on your health is determined by how you handle it.

According to the American Psychological Association, 73% of Americans name money as the number one factor that affects their stress level. That statistic comes from 2004.

Imagine what it is now…

Over the next couple of days, I am going to talk about some strategies to help us cope more effectively with stress.