Everybody experiences stress, it’s normal, but not managing the stress can contribute to poor health like a rise in our blood pressure and of course kidney damage. Understanding that stress can impact our health, and learning ways to manage it; Can keep our kidneys healthy. And make life lasting and enjoyable.
Stress is a state of mental, emotional, and psychological strain or suspense or anything that can disturb your peace. Stress can be physiological: illness, wound, infection, or psychological: tension, argument, conflict, and worry about safety. Constant stress can eventually take its toll on your health.
Patients with kidney disease are at higher risk for heart and blood vessel illness. If you have heart, and kidney disease already, your body’s responses to stress can become more and more dangerous. Thus, whether your purpose is to prevent kidney disease, or improve your health while living with a kidney condition, controlling stress is an essential part of managing your kidney.
MANAGING STRESS | TYPES OF STRESS
Biological stress: Biological or physical stress can include: trauma over-exertion, radiation, noise, fatigue, inadequate oxygen supply, low blood sugar, hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, food allergies and sensitivities, unhealthy eating habits, dehydration, substance abuse, and dental challenges.
Psychological stress: Psychological stress is a type of stress that affects a person’s mental and emotional well-being. It can be caused by many different types of events or situations, emotional stress frustration, sadness, anger, loss, worry, guilt, regret, embarrassment, enviousness, antagonism, attachments, self-criticism, fear, panic attacks, and thoughts, functions, and philosophies.
Psychosocial stress: Have you ever had a family, relationship, spouse, friend, sibling, employer, co-workers, parents, business or investment problems, or have you ever been broke? Then that is stress and it falls in the psychosocial type of stress.
Prolonged chronic stress and acute stress can result in suppressed immune function and increased vulnerability to infectious and immune-related infections and cancer. Emotional and prolonged stress can also result in hormonal imbalance.
SYMPTOMS OF STRESS
There are different symptoms of stress. The symptoms differ from the other. Feelings of anxiety, irritability, turmoil, restlessness, anxiousness, incapacity to unwind, depression, unhappiness, worries, insufficient sleep, fidgeting, tremors, smoking, excessive drinking of alcohol, tired face, stiff or taut muscles. in another, pain, despair, excessive sweating, constipation, chewing of teeth, headaches, stomachache, tiredness, weight gain, rapid heartbeat, frequency in urination, low interest in lovemaking, suffocating sensation, and hardship in swallowing. Others tend to withdraw from people, and some seek out others. Also, relationships can be affected when under stress.
WAYS TO MANAGE STRESS
It can be very challenging, to completely get rid of stress, or to never have reactions. Proper stress management is crucial for overall well-being. Stress can have significant impacts on both physical and mental health. Physically, it can lead to headaches, muscle tension, digestive problems, and a weakened
immune system. Mentally, it can cause anxiety, depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances. Long-term stress increases the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and mental health disorders. However, there are ways you can manage stress and help control your responses to stress.
Make time to just relax: Relaxation can be needed in managing stress. Go on vacations, yoga, and meditation.
Proper sleep: Getting enough sleep can calm your nerves.
Healthy eating: You are what you eat. Eat healthy, Limit salt, sugar, and caffeine. Eat lots of vegetables and drink lots of water.
Exercise: Regular exercise makes the body healthy, and rejuvenated, it can go a long way in managing your stress.
Open up: Don’t bottle that issue. Just like the saying: A problem shared is half solved. Talk to a friend, loved one, spiritual leader, or even a Doctor when stressed. Think about the possible and positive solutions. Take your mind out of issues that can endanger you, make a list that can help you evaluate and prioritize what issues need to be addressed, to calmly attack the causes of stress.
The right attitude: Keep a joyous attitude and positive viewpoint. Always be happy irrespective of the problems. It might be very difficult but can be achieved.
Limit salt and caffeine intake: A high intake of caffeine or salt doesn’t always mix well with the physical signs of stress, especially if you have high blood pressure which is the highest cause of kidney disease and can also increase the risk of heart attack and even stroke. Also, check and read the food labels to determine the amount of caffeine and sugar or even salt content in what we eat or drink.
Help other people: Proof shows that people who help others, through activities such as volunteering or community work, often become livelier. If you don’t have time for any volunteer or community work, try helping people in any little way you can. Try doing someone a favor, you will be occupied from thinking.
Pray: Many don’t believe, but prayer works like magic. It has been proven that praying helps relieve stress. So, pray when you feel stressed!
Work smarter, not harder: Working smarter means prioritizing your work, and focusing on the tasks that’ll make a real difference. You cannot do everything at once, it will only build up your stress or pressure level. Leave the least important tasks to last. Accept that you will not have time for everything. Concentrate on things you have control over for those of us who love solving problems, changing a difficult problem isn’t always possible. Try to concentrate on the things you do have control over. For you to live healthier.
Reduce sugar and fat intake: Sugar and fats are an important part of the diet but when consumed in excess can cause more harm than good in the body. If you have or are at high risk for diabetes, heart or blood vessel diseases, it is very important and necessary to monitor the very of sugar and fat intake.
Reduce Alcohol: Having some amount of alcohol can help you relax after the day’s work, too much alcohol can cause the body to release high levels of cortisol, making you stressed out after you come down from the influence. High intake can cause memory loss or very poor decisions. If you depend on alcohol to relieve stress, a support system can help reduce your alcohol dependence.
Managing stress can help you live better and healthier.
Do you find tips helpful? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comment section!