Stress has been linked to various health complications from heart problems to dementia. Learning to relax when you find that you're stressed or under tension will help counteract the long term effects of stress and anxiety on the mind and body.
Below are some of the health benefits and reasons why you should always take out time to relax:
- Relaxation promotes heart health: Stress is as bad for your heart as other risk factors like high blood pressure, lack of exercise. Relaxation lowers your blood pressure and slows down your heart rate.
- Reduces activities of stress hormones: Stress hormones interferes with the body's ability to turn off the inflammation response. Relaxation counteracts this response and reduces inflammation in the body.
- Reduces muscle tension: Practising a relaxation technique increases blood flow to major muscles thereby reducing muscle tension and chronic pain.
- Fights depression: The stress hormone- cortisol can reduce levels of serotonin and dopamine. Reduction in the levels of these neurotransmitters by the stress hormone can alter mood. Relaxation counteracts this effect.
- Maintain normal blood sugar levels: A lack of rest and regular sleep increases our appetite, especially for less healthy foods. Reducing stress and getting enough sleep is very helpful for bringing the body’s hunger cues back into healthy balance.
- Improves memory: Even small stressors can reduce the brain’s ability to learn and remember. Whereas few minutes of relaxation can allow the brain to work on making new connections between bits of information.
- Relaxation also slows your breathing rate and improves digestion.
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