Reading is a way to escape your own life, and can take you to faraway lands, other times, and put you in other people’s shoes. By viewing the world from a point of view that is not your own, you become more empathetic.In fact, “the currently predominant view is that literary fiction... can be linked to the human capacity to comprehend that other people hold beliefs and desires and that these may differ from one’s own beliefs and desires”Simply, reading helps you understand people from their points of view, not just your own.

1. Makes You More Empathetic

Just as exercise helps your body stay healthier longer, reading is an exercise that helps keep your brain fit. As they say, use it or lose it! Doing puzzles and reading as you age is proven to slow Dementia and Alzheimers . The next time you cozy up to read with a cup of tea, you can say you are getting your daily dose of (brain) exercise.

2. Keeps Your Brain Healthy

If you could reduce your stress levels in under ten minutes by doing something you enjoy, would you? A popular study done by the University of Sussex showed that “stress levels declined by 68 percent after participants read for just six minutes” . A good book transports you to another place where your own stresses don’t exist, allowing you to relax.

3. Reduce Stress 

In this time of constant technological connection, our sleep is suffering. The blue light emitted from screens disrupts melatonin levels. By checking “one last email” you are waking your brain up when you should be relaxing. Then there is the stress of reading the news. As we now know, reading a book helps you to relax. Having enough restful sleep makes a big impact on how you feel and how productive you are the next day. Instead of checking your work emails or surfing the web before bed, put the screens away and reach for a good book instead. You will thank yourself the next day!

4. Helps You Sleep Better

Is reading important to you? If it is, it likely will be important to your children. It is proven that “parents are children’s first and most enduring educators and have a huge influence on their development” .Reading to your child is of course key, but so is showing them that reading matters to you, too. Most parents know that children are excellent mimics, so give them access to books and let them see you reading. It won’t be long until you catch your little person reading to their stuffed animals or curled up with a book instead of watching television.

5. Sets An Example For Kids

Have you ever wondered what benefits you get while reading? We all have our reasons to read… to learn, to escape, or as part of a book club. Your reading hobby has more to offer than that, though! Here are our top five benefits of reading books.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

health

Health

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

problemsolving

Problem Solving

The Top 5 Benefits of Reading Books

Deleting the app is like a temporary solution but deactivating your account is like that permanent stamp of your decision. It may take time but you know that you’re sealing this decision for good. As you go through this process of deactivating you will get a feeling of peace.

1. Deactivate your account from Social Media Apps

After deleting major apps you were addicted to, take a look for less addictive apps or apps you don’t like that much. It could be discussion forums or any other. They are also a great way to communicate with people. (you’ll get valuable knowledge too)

2.Take a turn for less addictive social media apps

There are other activities like reading(audiobooks are a new reading style) watching TED Talks, listening to podcasts, learning a new habit, self-improvement, and whatnot. You just need to search for your favorite one.

3.Try to engage in other self control activities

Now, it’s time to self-control! Without these three factors, your war with addiction is nothing. You need to acknowledge the fact that you’re a social media addict and you need to get out of it. With your engagement in other activities, your routine is full. With the help of other apps, your mind is distracted.

4.Patience, Self-Control, and Discipline

As a person in her 20’s, I know I am a social media addict. I used to post constantly on every social media apps. I used to worry about my followers, likes, and comments. I was so engrossed in that thing, I failed to notice my ignorance for my studies, reading habits, and mental peace.…

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

How to partially detach yourself from Social Media (Social Media Addiction) 

Why We Sleep is the best book I have read on sleep. The author has beautifully summarized how important sleep is for our health. He writes the most difficult medical terms and phenomena related to sleep in such a simple and interesting way that a common reader can easily comprehend. In the final lines of the book, the writer gives the 12 tips for healthy sleep. These tips, you can say are the essence of the whole book.

Introduction

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Sleeping later on weekends won’t fully make up for a lack of sleep during the week and will make it harder to wake up early on Monday morning. Set an alarm for bedtime just like you set up one for the morning. Often we set an alarm for when it’s time to wake up but fail to do so for when it’s time to go to sleep.

1. Stick to a sleep schedule

<h1>2. Do not Exercise Before Going to Sleep</h1>Exercise is good for your health, but you should not do it late in the day. Try to exercise at least thirty minutes on most days but not later than two to three hours before your bedtime.Thiry minute of exercise is great for your health, however, don’t do it later than two to three hours before your bedtime.

<h1>3. Avoid Caffeine and Nicotine</h1>Coffee, colas, certain teas, and chocolate contain caffeine, and its effects can take as long as eight hours to wear off fully.<blockquote>Therefore, a cup of coffee in the late afternoon can make it hard for you to fall asleep at night.</blockquote>Nicotine caused smokers to sleep only very lightly. In addition, smokers often wake up too early in the morning because of nicotine withdrawal.

<h1>4. Avoid alcoholic drinks before bed</h1>Having a nightcap or alcoholic beverage before sleep may help you relax, but heavy use robs you of deep sleep, keeping you in the lighter stages of sleep. You may wake up in the middle of the night when its effects have worn off.

<h1>A light snack is okay, but a large meal can cause indigestion, which interferes with sleep.</h1>Drinking too many fluids at night can cause frequent awakenings to urinate.

5. Avoid large meals and beverages late at night

<h1>Some commonly prescribed heart, blood pressure, or asthma medications can disrupt sleep patterns.</h1>If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your health care provider or pharmacist to see whether any drugs you’re taking might be contributing to your insomnia and ask whether they can be taken at other times during the day or early in the evening.

6. Avoid medicines that delay or disrupt your sleep.


<h1>Naps can help make up for lost sleep, but late afternoon naps can make it harder to fall asleep at night.</h1>

<h1>Don’t overschedule your day. A relaxing activity, such as reading or listening to music, should be part of your bedtime ritual.</h1>

8. Relax before bed

<h1>The drop in body temperature after getting out of the bath may help you feel sleepy, and the bath can help you relax and slow down so you’re more ready to sleep.</h1>

9. Take a hot bath before bed

<h1>Get rid of anything in your bedroom that might distract you from sleep, such as noises, bright lights, an uncomfortable bed, or warm temperatures. You sleep better if the temperature in the room is kept on the cool side.</h1>Having a comfortable mattress and pillow can help promote a good night’s sleep.Turn the clock’s face out of view so you don’t worry about the time while trying to fall asleep.

10. Dark bedroom, cool bedroom, gadget-free bedroom

<h1>Try to get outside in natural sunlight for at least thirty minutes each day. If possible, wake up with the sun or use very bright lights in the morning.</h1><blockquote>If you have problems falling asleep, you should get an hour of exposure to morning sunlight and turn down the lights before bedtime.</blockquote>

11. Have the right sunlight exposure.

<h1>If you find yourself still awake after staying in bed for more than twenty minutes and you are starting to feel anxious or worried, get up and do some relaxing activity until you feel sleepy.</h1><blockquote>The anxiety of not being able to sleep can make it harder to fall asleep.</blockquote>

12. Don’t lie in bed awake.

Why We Sleep is the best book I have read on sleep. The author has beautifully summarized how important sleep is for our health. He writes the most difficult medical terms and phenomena related to…

habits

Habits

12 Tips For A Healthy Sleep From The Book: Why We Sleep

Imagine the terror of not being able to breathe because your lung muscles are paralysed. You're gasping for air as the medical team slides you into something that looks like a coffin&nbsp;on legs. They seal you in up to your neck and a strange 'whooshing' sound starts somewhere in the room. Then, relief! Your lungs pull in fresh air and you find you're breathing again.

The coffin-like cabinet respirator—better known as the 'iron lung'—was the state-of-the-art in&nbsp;life support technology in the first half of the 20th century.&nbsp;The first&nbsp;iron lung&nbsp;was used at Boston Children's Hospital to save the life of an eight-year-old girl with polio in 1928.

What's An Iron Lung?

<ol><li>What kind of patients it treated? Patients with ACUTE POLIO</li><li>Why? Because patients with polio had symptoms of ACUTE MUSCLE PARALYSIS and if it affected the chest, the patient could not breathe.</li><li>How is the Iron Lung a solution to this problem? Because Iron Lungs helped the patient to "Breathe"</li><li>Who invented Iron Lungs? Philip Drinker and Louis Agassiz Shaw&nbsp;invented the first iron lung at Harvard School of Public Health</li></ol>

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Smith-Clarke Baby cabinet respirator, with built-in pump was made at the request of a paediatrician, 1956-1970. It influenced the later development of incubators for babies.

Examples Of Iron Lung

Going into an iron lung was a bewildering process for patients, many of whom were delirious and in extreme pain.Life&nbsp;in an iron lung was difficult for both patient and carers. The numerous tasks involved in treating&nbsp;the patient included:<ul><li>blood transfusions</li><li>intravenous glucose feeds</li><li>inserting and replacing catheters</li><li>and endless adjustments to the body and equipment.</li></ul>In addition to medical care, itches were scratched, noses blown, hair combed, bodies washed&nbsp;and bedpans inserted and removed, all&nbsp;through the portholes as far as possible. (See image above)

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR THE PATIENT?

Once an effective&nbsp;polio vaccine&nbsp;was developed in the 1950s, the incidents of polio infection fell dramatically and only a very few machines were needed in hospitals. But patients dependent on them to breathe the old iron lungs were gradually replaced with modern ventilators.

Is It Still Used Today?

The iron lung was large, cumbersome and very expensive, but it saved the lives of thousands of polio victims. The iron lung was the state-of-the-art in life support technology in the first half of the 20th century. The first iron lung was used at Boston Children's Hospital to save the life of an eight-year-old girl with polio in 1928.

The Iron Lung | Science Museum

Diabetes is when your body isn't able to take up sugar (glucose) into its cells and use it for energy. This results in a build up of extra sugar in your bloodstream.

What Is Diabetes Mellitus??

Insulin is a hormone made by pancreas.Pancreas release insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin allows glucose to enter body’s cells. Glucose provides the “fuel” or energy tissues and organs need to properly function.

"Key" Reason For Diabetes Mellitus..

<ul><li><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17666-type-1-diabetes-in-children">Type 1 diabetes </a>: This is an autoimmune disease. Here, the insulin-producing cells(alpha cells) in pancreas are destroyed. Up to 10% of diabetics are Type 1. Usually diagnosed in children & young adults. Patients need to take insulin every day.(Insulin-dependent diabetes)</li><li><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21501-type-2-diabetes">Type 2 diabetes: </a> Here, body either doesn’t make enough insulin or body’s cells don’t respond normally to insulin. It is most common type of diabetes. Up to 95% of diabetics are Type 2. Usually occurs in middle-aged & older people. Also called as Adult-onset diabetes & insulin-resistant diabetes. </li></ul>

Types Of Diabetes Mellitus

<ul><li>Increased thirst.</li><li>Weak, tired feeling.</li><li>Blurred vision.</li><li>Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.</li><li>Slow-healing sores or cuts.</li><li>Unplanned weight loss.</li><li>Frequent urination.</li><li>Frequent unexplained infections.</li><li>Dry mouth.</li></ul>Other symptoms--<ul><li>In women: Dry and itchy skin, and frequent <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5019-yeast-infections">yeast infections </a>or <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9135-urinary-tract-infections">urinary tract infections </a>.</li><li>In men: Decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, decreased muscle strength.</li></ul>

Symptoms..

This is a temporary type called as <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9012-gestational-diabetes">Gestational diabetes </a>This type develops in some women during their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy. However, if you have gestational diabetes you're at higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later on in life.

Diabetes During Pregnancy..

<ul><li>Nerve damage (<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14737-neuropathy">neuropathy </a>) that causes numbing and tingling that starts at toes or fingers then spreads.</li><li><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15096-kidney-disease-chronic-kidney-disease">Kidney damage </a>(nephropathy) that can lead to <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17689-kidney-failure">kidney failure </a>or the need for <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/14618-dialysis">dialysis </a>or <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/4350-kidney-transplant-procedure">transplant </a>.</li><li>Eye damage (<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8591-diabetic-retinopathy">retinopathy </a>) that can lead to blindness; <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8589-cataracts">cataracts </a>, <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4212-glaucoma">glaucoma </a>.</li><li><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9492-diabetes-foot--skin-related-complications">Foot damage </a>including nerve damage, poor blood flow and poor healing of cuts and sores.</li><li>Skin infections.</li><li>Dental problems.</li></ul>In Gestational Diabetes--In mother: <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17952-preeclampsia">Preeclampsia </a> high blood pressure, excess protein in urine, leg/feet swelling.In newborn: Higher-than-normal birth weight, low blood sugar-<a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11647-hypoglycemia-low-blood-sugar">hypoglycemia</a>.

Complications..

<ul><li>Plan on what you eat and follow a healthy meal plan. Diets high in nutrition and fiber and low in fats and calories are helpful.</li><li><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/7050-aerobic-exercise">Exercise regularly </a>. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Walk, swim,etc.. activities that make us perspire should be done.</li><li><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17633-weight-management-tips">Lose weight </a>if you are overweight.</li><li>Take medication and insulin, if prescribed, and closely following recommendations on how and when to take it.</li><li>Monitor the blood glucose and <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4014-blood-pressure-when--how-to-check-at-home">blood pressure levels</a> regularly with no falsified data.</li><li>Quit smoking and alcoholic beverages.</li></ul>

Measures To Keep A Check On Diabetes...

Diabetes happens when your body can’t take up sugar (glucose) into its cells to use as fuel. Too much glucose in your bloodstream can damage your body’s organs and tissues.

food

Food

Diabetes:  Types, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Tests, Treatments & Prevention

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos swears by eight hours of sleep each night. He's also a big proponent of waking up naturally, without an alarm. "Arianna Huffington follows a similar routine. "Just think about the definition of the word alarm," explains Huffington, "a sudden fear or distressing suspense caused by an awareness of danger." Beginning the day in such a startling manner creates a flood of stress hormones and adrenaline as our body prepares for danger. Not the best way to start the day!

1. Ditch the alarm clock

Grabbing a cup of coffee first thing in the morning may seem like the logical choice, but health experts say water is better. Water is an essential nutrient, and the organs and tissues in your body depend on it to function. Since your body loses water regularly, you need to compensate for these losses to avoid dehydration." A refreshing glass of water can revitalize you and help you feel more positive about and prepared for the day ahead

 2. Don't go straight for the coffee

Morning exercise is a daily habit of many successful leaders. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, the owner of lifestyle company Goop, says that she works out every morning after checking emails. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates likes to multitask during his morning treadmill workouts by watching DVDs while exercising, according to The New York Times. As Niki Leondakis, the CEO of the luxury lifestyle brand Equinox, who regularly does morning yoga, puts it, "I've always known that you have to be physically healthy and strong to be mentally healthy and strong. It's all connected."

3. Get your body moving

Sometimes the best way to have a productive morning is to get a head start the night before. Many successful people spend their evenings getting ready for the following day because it frees up their mornings to get a jump on meaningful work. Former American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault ends his evenings by writing down three things he wants to accomplish the next day. Creating a to-do list at night is more time efficient, reduces morning stress and marks a definitive end to the day resulting in greater work-life balance

4. Eliminate decision-making tasks

Self-reflection in the morning can set you up for success the entire day. No one knew this better than the late Steve Jobs. Too often, we go through our lives on autopilot, only to realize later that we've lost sight of our values, goals and passions along the way. Steve Jobs avoided this scenario by asking himself one fundamental question in the mirror every morning: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? If the answer is no for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something." This self-awareness technique is genius.

5. Ask yourself this question

Many of us start the day with an alarm clock, a cup of coffee and a quick check of our email. But if you ask the most successful people, that's exactly what they don't do.

productivity

Productivity

timemanagement

Time Management

5 Morning Habits Of Highly Successful People

<ul><li>We don't have one brain in our head—we have three. We started 
with a “lizard brain” to keep us breathing, then added a brain like a 
cat’s, and then topped those with the thin layer of Jell-O known as 
the cortex—the third, and powerful, “human” brain.</li><li>We were not the strongest on the planet but we developed the strongest brains, the key to our survival. The strongest brains survive, not the strongest bodies. Our ability to solve problems, learn from mistakes, and create alliances with other people helps us survive.</li><li>Our ability to understand each other is our chief survival tool.</li></ul>

The human brain evolved ,too .

•Our brains were built for walking - 12 miles a day !• To improve your thinking skills, move.• Exercise gets blood to your brain, bringing it glucose for energy and oxygen to soak up the toxic electrons that are left over. It also stimulates the protein that keeps neurons connecting.• Aerobic exercise just twice a week halves your risk of general dementia. It cuts your risk of Alzheimer’s by 60 percent.

Exercise boosts brain power .

An updated and expanded edition of the international bestseller Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details that every business leader, parent, and teacher should know — for instance, that physical activity helps to get your brain working at its best. How do we learn? What do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multitasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget — and so important to repeat new information? In Brain Rules, Dr John Medina, a molecular biologist, shares his lifelong interest in brain science, and how it can influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. In each chapter, he describes a brain rule — what scientists know for sure about how our brains work — and offers transformative ideas for our daily lives. In this expanded edition — which includes additional information on the brain rules and a new chapter on music — you will discover how every brain is wired differently, why memories are volatile, and how stress and sleep can influence learning. By the end, you’ll understand how your brain really works — and how to get the most out of it.

education

Learning & Education

creativity

Creativity

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

An updated and expanded edition of the international bestseller Most of us have no idea what’s really going on inside our heads. Yet brain scientists have uncovered details that every business leader, parent, and teacher should know — for instance, that physical activity helps to get your brain working at its best. How do we learn? What do sleep and stress do to our brains? Why is multitasking a myth? Why is it so easy to forget — and so important to repeat new information? In Brain Rules, Dr John Medina, a molecular biologist, shares his lifelong interest in brain science, and how it can influence the way we teach our children and the way we work. In each chapter, he describes a brain rule — what scientists know for sure about how our brains work — and offers transformative ideas for our daily lives. In this expanded edition — which includes additional information on the brain rules and a new chapter on music — you will discover how every brain is wired differently, why memories are volatile, and how stress and sleep can influence learning. By the end, you’ll understand how your brain really works — and how to get the most out of it.

DR. JOHN J. MEDINA, a developmental molecular biologist, has a lifelong fascination with how the mind reacts to and organizes information. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller "Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School" -- a provocative book that takes on the way our schools and work environments are designed. His latest book is a must-read for parents and early-childhood educators: "Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five."Medina is an affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife and two boys.

John Medina

Brain Rules

A false awakening refers to the strange experience of “waking up” when you actually remain asleep. It can involve vivid, realistic images that leave you feeling anxious and confused.<ul><li>The key difference between sleep paralysis and a false awakening is that sleep paralysis happens when you’re awake, not dreaming.</li></ul>

What Is False Awakening?

<ul><li>Type 1: A type 1 false awakening proceeds in a fairly straightforward way. After “waking up,” you do the same things you typically would. This type often won’t feel scary as it happens, though you might feel disoriented or somewhat distressed once you actually wake up.</li><li>Type 2. With this type, you might wake up with a sense of foreboding or feel convinced something strange or bad is about to happen. This type of false awakening could resemble sleep paralysis, especially if you dream you wake up and can’t move or escape from some type of malicious presence in your room.</li></ul>

Two Main Types Of False Awaking 

A few suggested explanations for false awakenings include:<ul><li>sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea</li><li>anticipation, or knowing you need to wake up early for a specific reason</li><li>noise and other disturbances that interrupt your sleep without fully waking you up</li></ul>Stress and anxiety in your daily life can also have an impact on sleep and potentially appear in your dreams.

What Causes It To Happen

Many people who experience false awakenings also have lucid dreams.In a lucid dream, you realize you’re dreaming. This knowledge allows you to maintain some control over your surroundings and even change the course of the dream .A false awakening can become a lucid dream, especially if you begin to notice certain details that differ slightly from reality.

Lucid Dream

Improving the sleep you get each night could help reduce the frequency of false awakenings. Here are some general pointers for better sleep:<ul><li>Turn off your phone and other electronics at least 1 hour before bedtime.</li><li>Take some time to wind down before bed.</li></ul>Mental health concerns, such as anxiety and depression, can also contribute to disturbing dreams and affect the quality of your sleep.

Sleep Better

False awakenings — the phenomenon of waking up in a dream — can feel unsettling, but is there really anything to them?

False Awakening: Meaning, Causes, When to Worry

You’re sitting in traffic, late for an important meeting, watching the minutes tick away. Your hypothalamus, a tiny control tower in your brain, decides to send out the order: Send in the stress hormones! These stress hormones are the same ones that trigger your body’s “fight or flight” response. Your heart races, your breath quickens, and your muscles ready for action. This response was designed to protect your body in an emergency by preparing you to react quickly. But when the stress response keeps firing, day after day, it could put your health at serious risk.

Background 

This image has a list of physical effects that are caused by stress.

Physical Effects Of Stress?

Stress is a natural physical and mental reaction to life experiences. Everyone expresses <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/whats-your-stress-type">stress </a>from time to time. Anything from everyday responsibilities like work and family to serious life events such as a new diagnosis, war, or the death of a loved one can trigger stress. For immediate, short-term situations, stress can be <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-stress-you-didnt-know-about">beneficial to your health</a>. It can help you cope with potentially serious situations. Your body responds to stress by releasing hormones that increase your heart and breathing rates and ready your muscles to respond.

What Is Stress?

Your central nervous system (CNS) is in charge of your “fight or flight” response. In your brain, the hypothalamus gets the ball rolling, telling your adrenal glands to release the stress hormones adrenaline and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/cortisol-urine">cortisol </a>. These hormones rev up your heartbeat and send blood rushing to the areas that need it most in an emergency, such as your muscles, heart, and other important organs. When the perceived fear is gone, the hypothalamus should tell all systems to go back to normal. If the CNS fails to return to normal, or if the stressor doesn’t go away, the response will continue.

The Science Behind Stress

During the stress response, you breathe faster in an effort to quickly distribute oxygen-rich blood to your body. If you already have a breathing problem like <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/asthma">asthma </a>or <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/emphysema">emphysema </a>, stress can make it even harder to breathe.Under stress, your heart also pumps faster. Stress hormones cause your blood vessels to constrict and divert more oxygen to your muscles so you’ll have more strength to take action. But this also raises your blood pressure.So, frequent/ chronic stress will make your heart work too hard for too long. When blood pressure rises, so do risks for having a <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/stroke-treatment-and-timing/risk-factors">stroke</a>/ <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-attack">heart attack </a>

Stress Hormones And Respiratory And Cardiovascular Systems

It’s not unusual to lose your desire when you’re under constant stress. While short-term stress may cause men to produce more of the male hormone testosterone, this effect doesn’t last, as long term stress can see begin to drop. This can interfere with sperm production and cause <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/erectile-dysfunction-anxiety-stress">erectile dysfunction </a>/ impotence. Chronic stress may also increase risk of infection for male reproductive organs like the prostate and testes.For women, stress can affect the menstrual cycle. It can lead to irregular, heavier, or more painful periods. Chronic stress can also magnify the physical symptoms of <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause">menopause </a>

Reproductive System

The rush of hormones, rapid breathing, and increased heart rate can also upset your <a href="https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/digestive-system">digestive system </a>. You’re more likely to have heartburn or <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/stress">acid reflux </a>thanks to an increase in stomach acid. Stress doesn’t cause ulcers (a bacterium called H. pylori often does), but it can increase your risk for them and cause existing ulcers to act up. Stress can also affect the way food moves through your body, leading to <a href="https://www.healthline.com/symptom/diarrhea">diarrhea </a>or <a href="https://www.healthline.com/symptom/constipation">constipation </a>. You might also experience <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/nausea-and-vomiting">nausea </a>, vomiting, or a <a href="https://www.healthline.com/symptom/abdominal-pain">stomachache </a>.

How Stress Can Affect The Digestive System

Under stress, your liver produces extra blood sugar (<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/glucose">glucose </a>) to give you a boost of energy. If you’re under chronic stress, your body may not be able to keep up with this extra glucose surge. Chronic stress may increase your risk of developing <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes-and-stress">type 2 diabetes </a>.

High Blood Sugar

Your muscles tense up to protect themselves from injury when you’re stressed. They tend to release again once you relax, but if you’re constantly under stress, your muscles may not get the chance to relax. Tight muscles cause headaches, back and <a href="https://www.healthline.com/symptom/shoulder-pain">shoulder </a>pain, and body aches. Over time, this can set off an unhealthy cycle as you stop exercising and turn to pain medication for relief.

Muscle Pain

Stress stimulates the immune system, which can be a plus for immediate situations. This stimulation can help you avoid infections and heal wounds. But over time, stress hormones will weaken your immune system and reduce your body’s response to foreign invaders. People under chronic stress are more susceptible to viral illnesses like the <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/flu">flu </a>and the <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/cold">common cold </a>, as well as other infections. Stress can also increase the time it takes you to recover from an illness or injury..

Stress And The Immune System

Temporary stress can induce a short fight or flight response, but chronic stress can cause permanent damage to our heath. As someone who has not been relaxing at all due to the heat of mock exams, university interviews, intense revision plus a never-ending to-do list, I decided to read this article to deter me from pressurising myself and force myself to pause and make a better system for me.

Constant stress can increase your risk for long-term health issues like heart attack and diabetes. Learn the toll stress can take on the body.

mentalhealth

Mental Health

The Effects of Stress on Your Body

Are you running towards life or running away from death? None of us gets out alive from this rodeo called life. Dying is a transition each of us go through and it doesn’t have to be a battle. Don’t let fear fuel your choices. Live fearlessly. Run TOWARDS life. Don’t worry about what people think. Trust me, it doesn’t matter.

Live Fearlessly - Last Words From Kerri Grote

Be true to yourself. Be your own best friend. People who tell you you’re selfish are not your people. If the voice in your head says these unkind things, get a new voice. Honor your mental health and seek out a good therapist with the same vigor you’d search for a romantic partner.Love yourself, no matter how weird and silly it might feel. Look deeply into your eyes into a mirror and say out loud “I trust you”. That voice in your head might say you’re a dork. Ignore it.

Focus On You

Another unhelpful message we get from society is that we need a “love of our life”. Don’t overlook friendships as you look for that “great love”.Be intentional about cultivating friendships that lift you up. Surround yourself with people who see your light and how amazing you are. Learn how to receive these reflections from your people. They are speaking the truth.Be proud of how you live!

Friends Are The Big Loves Of Our Lives

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Live Fearlessly

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