We are constantly hearing how stress can affect our health. But what does it do exactly, what are the costs and what can be done about it?

Stress affects our whole system. Stress causes the release of adrenaline and cortisol, two hormones that the body produces so we can get ready for action, the “fight of flight” response. This worked fine when we were out in the wilderness fighting off wild animals or hunting to survive. That kind of stress response allowed us to maximize our physical prowess to survive.

However when our bodies don’t need these hormones for fight or flight what can happen?

This is a list of costly illnesses that can result from chronic stress:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Atherosclerosis
• Stroke
• Depression
• Sleep disorders
• Stomach problems like ulcers
• Weight gain

Studies have shown that acupuncture is very good at relieving stress and the effects of stress. With regular treatments it can be a very easy and cost effective way of avoiding these debilitating illnesses.

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