If there is a risk factor that conditions, increases and predisposes to the lack of control of all other factors, that is, without a doubt, stress.
Stress is a feeling and as such, you have to assume that you have it, but you also have to know how to channel it. There can be acute stress, motivated by the need to control a dangerous situation, and that we all feel at some point; and chronic stress, which lasts a long time, and which is usually motivated by family, work or economic problems. The latter is a cardiovascular risk factor.
What disorders causes chronic stress?
Stress requires a defined, careful and professional performance. Modify for worse any of the other risk factors. It causes uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes, food, physical inactivity, smoking and cholesterol. Therefore, it favors the appearance and persistence of the rest of the risk factors.
Altera qualities and functions of interpersonal relationship, libido, sleep and our animosity. More adrenaline is secreted, which in addition to raising our blood pressure and our heart rate, causes us to eat poorly, which leads to the elevation of cholesterol and blood sugar levels. In this way, it also increases the secretion of cortisol, which by consuming a precursor of androsterone, causes anxiety, anger and depression.
The coexistence of several risk factors puts our health in considerable danger. Stress helps us, to the detriment of our health, to modify our lifestyle habits.
What symptoms can it produce?
The amount of physical and emotional symptoms caused by stress are easily recognizable: diarrhea and constipation, poor memory, frequent aches and pains, headaches, lack of energy, lack of concentration, stiffness, fatigue, mood swings and dermatitis.
All this without counting the derivatives of the exacerbation of other ailments given by the rest of the risk factors, such as those of obesity, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking or physical inactivity. We can summarize them in fatigue, malaise, difficulty in sleep, and what I would summarize as lack of taste for life.
How can we prevent chronic stress?
Knowing our state of health through Annual Preventive Checks (CPA) and controlling our health through Medical Consultation (CM) is the best way to prevent chronic stress or, where appropriate, to fight and treat it. This is the work of The value of your health and the specialty of its Director, Dr. Pedro del Castillo-Olivares.