Women today deal with more stress and a whole different kind of stress than women 20 or even 10 years ago.

The pressures that come with the perfect body image, what to eat, juggling careers and the traditional responsibilities of womanhood and motherhood are enough to cause anyone big time stress. What is usually the first thing to fall to the wayside? Our health!

Whether it be women or men, we have got to get a handle on our stress levels if we want to be able to get our lives in order. 

If your mind and body are constantly on edge because of excessive stress in your life, you may face serious health problems. That’s because your body’s “fight-or-flight reaction” — its natural alarm system — is constantly on.

When you encounter perceived threats — a large dog barks at you during your morning walk, for instance — your hypothalamus, a tiny region at the base of your brain, sets off an alarm system in your body. Through a combination of nerve and hormonal signals, this system prompts your adrenal glands, located atop your kidneys, to release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.

• Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies.
• Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain’s use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues. Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or detrimental in a fight-or-flight situation. It alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes.

This complex natural alarm system also communicates with regions of your brain that control mood, motivation and fear.

Stressful events are a fact of life. And you may not be able to change your current situation.

But you can take steps to manage the impact these events have on you. You can learn to identify what stresses you out, how to take control of some stress-inducing circumstances, and how to take care of yourself physically and emotionally in the face of stressful situations.

Stress management strategies may include:

• Exercise
• Relaxation techniques
• Fostering healthy friendships
• Getting plenty of sleep
• Professional counseling or psychotherapy

The payoff of managing stress is peace of mind and — perhaps — a longer, healthier life.