As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.
Studies suggest that chronic stress contributes to a wide range of physical and emotional problems. It can reduce the body’s ability to fight disease and can lead to serious health problems. Too much stress may make an existing health problem worse. Or it can lead to other illnesses or diseases if a person is at risk for the condition. The tension of stress can interfere with sleep or cause uncontrollable anger or sadness. A person may become more forgetful or find it harder to think clearly. Stress can lead to other health problems if people try to ease it by smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or by eating more or less than normal.
Experts say long-term stress also can weaken a person’s resistance to infections such as colds and influenza, as well as his ability to recover from these diseases. Extended periods of stress are also linked to headaches, difficulty in sleeping, stomach problems and skin problems. Such serious conditions as high pressure and heart diseases have established links with stress. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives, we need to find ways to deal with it.