Stress awareness month: Essential oils and Foods, AMD, heart artery dysfunction

best essential oils for stressStress is rather undefinable. There are different ideas regarding defining stress. “Physical, Mental, or Emotional strain or tension” or “a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual can mobilize.”

With growing needs, busy schedules, social demands, etc., stress is growing problem. In some cases, stress plays an essential role in increasing one’s productivity, but other times it can be fatal.

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Let’s not Stress, and take life one step at a time.

How to use essential oils for stress relief

The use of essential oils for stress relief is just one of the many applications for these versatile liquids. There are many different essential oils that, with the proper application, can be used as an effective remedy for many ailments. Chronic stress is one of the most common reasons people turn to essential oil treatment.

While there are effective pharmaceutical remedies to combat excessive amounts of stress, they often come with several negative side effects and can become quite addictive. Essential oils for stress relief provide a more natural and organic alternative, working to enhance your lifestyle while lessening stress levels. Continue reading…

diverticulitis stressDiverticulitis and stress: How they are linked and what to do for diverticulitis stress

Diverticulitis is a condition that results from the inflammation of diverticula—pouch-like like bulges that are found in the lower part of the large intestine. Diverticula in themselves are not harmful and are actually commonly found in adults over the age of 40, but when these pouches become infected, it can lead to the diagnosis of diverticulitis.

Diverticula are thought to occur due to a combination of increased intestinal pressure and weak spots of the intestinal mucosa leading to the formation of small bulges. They don’t usually present with symptoms and are typically found during a routine colonoscopy. In situations in which diverticula become infected, they have the potential for bursting, releasing their contents outside of the large intestine. This can lead to a bunch of new, more serious complications. Continue reading…

stress AMDThe impact of stress on age-related macular degeneration

New research was recently published in the journal Optometry and Vision Science examining the role that psychological stress plays in relation to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Age-related macular degeneration is a form of progressive vision loss that is the most prevalent cause of vision loss among older Americans.

It is classified as an inflammatory disease, and as such, the study focused on the link between stress and inflammation and how it affects the treatment outcomes for the disease. Those experiencing vision loss due to AMD also experience higher rates of stress, anxiety, and depression, though whether these psychological conditions worsen the progression of the disease is unknown. Continue reading…

Heart stressHeart artery dysfunction in women linked to emotional stress: Study

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Heart artery dysfunction in women may be linked to emotional stress. C. Noel Bairey Merz, professor of medicine and senior author, explained, “Women who go to emergency rooms and cardiologists because they have chest pain often are told that their arteries are clear and their hearts are fine. But the reality is that women’s coronary artery disease tends to be different from men’s. In women, the large arteries may remain clear, but the smaller branches that connect to the even-smaller capillaries lose their ability to widen. Whether the large arteries are blocked or the small arterioles don’t function correctly, the result is the same — the heart becomes starved for oxygen.” Continue reading…

foods stressEveryday common foods that help reduce stress

In our day to day lives, we all encounter some level of stress. Everyone has their own way to deal with this stress, like going for a walk, meditating or eating. Oftentimes eating can become comforting through times of high stress, but this, unfortunately, is not the best coping mechanism.

When we are put under stress our bodies release hormones to cope, often called the “fight-or-flight” response. This refers to sticking through the stressful challenge or ditching it all together. Once the situation is over, our bodies return to their normal state, but if someone is overly stressed, they continue to stay in that stressed state. Without proper ways to manage stress, our bodies can stay on high alert and develop serious health issues. Continue reading…


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Related Reading:

Stress Can Be Contagious, Brain Symptoms Improved through Social Interactions: Study

Is stress making you sick? Know the signs

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