Stress Affects Your Immune System: How To Manage it Better

The energizing season of spring is the perfect time of year to relax and shake off the stress of winter. Coincidentally, both National Stress Awareness Month (April) and Mental Health Awareness Month (May) happen during this season. Since stress affects your immune system, you have to manage it for your physical and mental well-being.

How do you know that you might be stressed out? Here are a few signs to watch out for:

Stress and how it affects your immune system

When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol. This hormone helps your body manage how you sleep and fight-or-flight reactions. When your body produces too much cortisol, it can easily affect your actions and decision-making.

When you’re stressed out, it will affect both your body. You’ll find yourself feeling more tired and sluggish than usual. Stress also affects your mind, as you might also find yourself being more forgetful and irritable. If you’re overly stressed, it can manifest in several other ways, including:

Sleep issues

Stress affects your body and immune system in many ways. One of the most significant signs of stress is a change in your sleep patterns. These issues change from person to person. Some people may experience difficulty falling asleep, while others may find themselves having a hard time getting continuous sleep. Unfortunately, these sleep issues can lead to even more stress as quality sleep is necessary to have the energy you need.

If you’ve been experiencing sleep issues, you may want to read our article on getting better sleep.

Colds 

While stress doesn’t cause all colds, your body becomes more susceptible to colds when you’re under stress. You’ll know that you’ve caught a cold if your sinuses don’t feel right, you have a fever, and your body generally feels weak.

High blood pressure

One of the many ways stress affects your immune system is increasing your blood pressure. While you may not immediately feel its effects, high blood pressure can be hazardous to your overall health. Having a higher blood pressure means your heart has to work much harder than it has to, which can lead to heart attacks.

Indigestion

Too much cortisol production within your body can affect your stomach as well. It can increase the amount of acid within your stomach, causing abdominal pain, nausea, and indigestion. 

Fatigue

If your body feels constantly tired, even after just waking up, it could be a sign that you’re overly stressed. When fatigued, your body will feel heavier, slower, and more easily drained of energy. You may also find your mind feeling tired, making it harder to remember things.

Natural stress remedies

If you’ve been experiencing any of the effects listed, you might need a lifestyle change. There are all kinds of ways to reduce stress naturally. Here are a handful of things you can do:

Exercise

Regular exercise can benefit you in many ways. When you exercise, watching your body grow and develop will boost your confidence and make you feel more energized throughout most days. Whether you’re going for a daily jog, doing yoga, or hitting the gym, regular physical activity will help eliminate stress.

Journaling

Journaling is an excellent method for managing the ways stress affects your mental health and immune system. Journaling your thoughts provides you with an emotional outlet for all of your thoughts and feelings. If you don’t know what’s causing your stress, it can also help you identify them, like problems at work or home.

Meditation

With how busy everyday life can get, you might forget to take a moment to breathe. Meditation is a great way to reflect on your day and clear your mind of your problems, even for just a minute. 

Self-Care

Remember to be good to yourself when life offers you more challenges than you can handle. Treating yourself with a nice meal, some new clothes, or an out-of-town trip can be a great way to boost your emotional energy. 

Herbal supplements

Herbal supplements and alternative medicine have long been used worldwide, especially in Eastern countries. Today, there are herbal supplements specifically blended to help your body combat the effects of stress and boost your immune system.

If you want to use herbal supplements, ensure you get the highest quality ones. The only way to ensure this is to source your supplements from an expert. Check out this article for more information.

How reducing stress can make every day feel better

Having some stress is a good thing. It helps you overcome your everyday challenges and motivates you to reach your goals and live your best life. Too much stress, however, can prevent you from enjoying life altogether. 

When you’re not stressed, your life improves so much. You’ll have more energy throughout the day to handle challenges. Being stress-free also gives you more emotional energy to let you face these problems without being disheartened. Finally, you’ll have mental clarity, which helps you make better decisions every day.

If you’re looking for an easy remedy for stress, check out our Just Breathe - Natural stress remedy capsules! These capsules were made with high-quality ingredients to calm your mind, improve your sleep, and make your day better. 

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