Eight Effective Methods for Reducing Stress
Stress is our body's natural response to life's demands. Stress affects us all, Whether caused by work pressure, personal challenges, or unforeseen events. In fact, four out of ten adults worldwide report experiencing stress. While occasional stress is normal, chronic stress can be detrimental to both mental and physical health. Understanding how stress impacts our body and developing strategies to manage it are essential for maintaining a healthy, balanced life. How Stress Affects the Body When we face a stressful situation, our body's "fight or flight" response is triggered, producing cortisol, the stress hormone. The adrenal glands release this hormone to help the body handle the situation by increasing alertness and energy. However, when stress is prolonged, cortisol levels remain elevated, which can have serious consequences. Excessive production of cortisol can kill billions of brain cells and reduce the glucose supply to the hippocampus—the part of the ...