Understanding Stress

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According to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and part of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services defines stress as “an organism's total response to environmental demands or pressures”. While people may experience the feeling of stress differently, it has been proven that everyone, at one time or another, will experience the mental and physical impact of stress first hand. It has been proven that stress in small doses can produce positive effects – pushing individuals to do better, motivating them to do their best, or even allowing them to stay focused and alert. Research also shows that some people cope with stress more effectively than others, but when the levels of stress exceed one’s ability to cop, stress can threaten one’s physical and emotional well-being. It's important to know your limits when it comes to stress, so you can avoid minor and even serious health issues. Understanding what causes stress, the impact it can have on the body and mind, and knowing how to control or even avoid stress can improve the quality of your life. Even though the term “stress”, as it is used today, was coined by Hans Selye in 1936, defining stress as “the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change”, today, stress is one of the most common experiences of daily life. Due to the fact that stress has “both physical and psychological” side effects it has attracted serious attention among neuroresearchers. Any situation or pressure that causes stress has been termed as a “stressors” and has been divided into two types – external and internal. According to the Stress-Related Disorders Sourcebook (part of a Health Reference Series) external stressors are defined as “adverse physical condition... ... middle of paper ... ...3): 91-97. Academic Search Complete. Web. 7 Dec. 2013. Landau, Meryl Davids. "Hidden Risks of Chronic Stress." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 18 Sept. 2012. Web. 05 Dec. 2013. Mayo Clinic. "Chronic Stress Puts Your Health at Risk." MayoClinic.com. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 11 July 2013. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. Rogge, Timothy, MD. "Stress and Anxiety." University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland Medical Center, 31 May 2013. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. Scott, Elizabeth Anne, M.S. "Stress: How It Affects Your Body, and How You Can Stay Healthier." About.com Stress Management. N.p., 14 May 2011. Web. 05 Dec. 2013. Varvogli, Liza, and Christina Darviri. "Stress Management Techniques: Evidence-Based Procedures That Reduce Stress And Promote Health." Health Science Journal 5.2 (2011): 74-89. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 7 Dec. 2013.

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