We are all familiar with the discomforts of feeling stressed. Whether our stress is related to work, education or general life circumstances, it is normal to feel a bit overwhelmed at times. While it is a normal fact of life, the prolonged impacts of stress can be detrimental to your health. Through managing stress and understanding its impacts on the body, you can more efficiently keep yourself healthy and stress-free—which is why the AFC Urgent Care Knoxville team has compiled some must-know facts on stress to help you out. Read on to learn more.

How Can Stress Impact My Health?

When you are experiencing a stress trigger, your brain sends hormones through your body to reflect that. These stress hormones are similar to a “fight or flight” response—but with general stress, the issue is often more abstract so the hormones tend to linger. Having these hormones released repeatedly is where the detrimental health effects start to set in.

Symptoms of Stress in the Body

• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Weakened immune system
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar

What Parts of the Body Are Impacted by Stress?

Because the hormones your brain sends out travel throughout the entire body, every major system can be impacted by stress. While many of us associate stress with heart attacks, that is not the only threat to your health. Your digestive system, muscular system, reproductive system and immune system are also all diminished by regular stressors, making it harder on your body to do its job in every aspect of life. Because chronic stress can also increase your risk of developing serious health issues, it’s important to find ways to effectively manage it.

How to Reduce Stress

• Remove stressors from your life when possible.
• Meditate and do deep breathing exercises.
• Get into a regular workout routine.
• Avoid turning to alcohol or food for stress relief.

If you have not been feeling well, your AFC Urgent Care Knoxville team is here to help you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a doctor.