Stress forms part of our everyday lives, and sometimes it can be a good motivator to get stuff done.

Think cramming for a test, taking care of financial matters, or completing a project deadline, for example.

On the other hand, stress can be extremely taxing on your mind and your body.

According to Health Renewal, if you let stress build up over time, it can cause some serious knock-on effects on your overall health:

Constant stress can increase our risk of suffering from a barrage of anxiety, and other pressure-related diseases (ranging from high blood pressure and dementia to various levels of depression). Chronic stress has the additional risk of increasing ones risk for some types of cancer. It is shocking to note that nearly 65% of doctor’s office visits are in some way related to stress.

That doesn’t paint a pretty picture at all, does it?

Chronic stress can also result in an imbalance in your stress hormone levels: your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is an interconnected network of physiologic command terminals that governs the production of stress hormones like cortisol and catecholamines, specifically adrenaline and noradrenalin, respectively.

If you’ve got chronic stress, your HPA axis will be thrown out of whack, which in turn can result in other severe consequences:

• Cardiomyopathy, caused by elevations in adrenaline that can over-stimulte the cardiac muscle and lead to the spontaneous weakening of the heart that predisposes victims to arrhythmia and even sudden cardiac death.
• Karoshi, a Japanese term that refers to overworked individuals who die from strokes and heart attacks due to being severely emotionally and physically stressed.
• Elevated circulating markers of inflammation.

It’s scary, and that it’s important that you need to identify and tackle any stressors in your life before they way spiral out of control.

Here are four ways you can try to remedy chronic stress:

1. Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BIHRT)

As you age, your hormone levels decline and increase symptoms of stress. There is also the chance of experiencing irregular menstrual cycles, body aches, reduced muscle tone, skin problems and insomnia.

Through BIHRT, pure, biologically identical hormones – oestrogen, testosterone and progesterone – are compounded under strict quality standards at a sterile laboratory, and are administered either by easily absorbing cream, capsules or pellets.

Each patient’s products are developed after a comprehensive blood test is analysed to establish the correct dosages required to restore hormonal balance. They help to balance the hormone levels, allowing for better quality of life and optimal, stress-free functioning.

2. HRT Combination Therapy

On the other hand, the second type of therapy you can try is HRT combination therapy, which uses a combination of oestrogen and progesterone hormones. These two hormones are given continuously for the shortest time possible to reduce the risk of possible side effects such as dizziness and headaches.

3. DHEA Restoration

DHEA is the most dominant steroid hormone in the body. Produced from the synthesis of pregnenolone, it may be metabolised into other sex hormones including testosterone and oestrogen. But if your DHEA levels are lowered by stress, they can cause heart disease, diabetes, inflammation, Alzheimer’s disease, and others.

Options for DHEA restoration treatment may range from prescription medications or supplements, and bio-identical hormonal creams to having bio-identical implants/pellets inserted superficially under the skin, allowing for a constant slow release of hormones into the bloodstream.

4. Food For Mood

Depression  is linked to chronic stress. Luckily, through incorporating some healthy foods into your diet, you can eat your way to a healthy emotional balance.

To improve your state of mind, you should eat foods that contain Omega 3, which you can find in salmon and walnuts; selenium, which cocoa, molasses and Brazil nuts all contain; serotonin, an important chemical found in avocados; vitamin C and folic acid, which cabbage is chock-full of.

Think you need a little professional help to get started on stress management?

Head down to one of the many Skin Renewal branches located around the country for a consultation. They will assist you in determining your risk factors, and how best to prevent any problems or conditions that you may be susceptible to.

Once you’ve got the stress under control, you’ll be free to live to the max.

Pure bliss.