Stress 'The Silent Killer': Discover How To Maintain Your Blood Pressure Using An Infrared Sauna

It can be a real challenge to live a peaceful life in today's world. It seems like every day there are new things to worry about. Stress affects us all in different ways, and it can stem from many things, such as the news, social media, our careers and our families. If you feel like you are under constant stress, finding ways to manage is of utmost importance; especially since stress has been proven to greatly affect your health. In this article, you will learn about the effects that stress has on your body and what you can do to help mitigate them.

Why Is Stress Bad For You? 

Stress is our body's response to pressure from different situations. It is what makes us adapt to new things, so it is not entirely bad. In fact, acute short stress caused by specific events can be beneficial for our brain. It makes us feel challenged and can help develop new skills. It is when we are constantly exposed to stressful situations that problems can start to arise [1].

Businesswoman working with eight hands

Stress can be so detrimental to your health because it does not solely affect your mind. When under-stressed, your body starts to release chemical substances such as norepinephrine and cortisol, which cause disruptions in the neuroendocrine and immune systems, as well as in your metabolism. In the end, the release of these hormones and neurotransmitters increases the risk of many diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and cancer [2].

The Link Between High Blood Pressure And Stress 

When studying different causes of high blood pressure, approximately 90% of cases do not have a specific cause. Most doctors believe that stress plays a huge role in the onset of this disease. When we are under stress, our body starts to release certain chemicals called catecholamines. One of these chemicals is norepinephrine. This neurotransmitter is normally released during fight or flight situations and has certain systemic effects, like increasing heart rate and constricting blood vessels, which increases your blood pressure. When stress becomes chronic, catecholamines are constantly released and the signs of high blood pressure begin to appear [3].

In recent years, researchers have found a link between hypertension and inflammation. This link is not limited to the onset of the disease but influences its progression and mortality. Studies on patients with hypertension who are under constant psychological stress have reported an increase in inflammatory markers [4]. Another study in Germany determined that people who had a stressful job and poor sleep were three times more likely to die from heart disease than the general population [5]. According to these studies, managing stress is vital if we wish to have long and healthy lives.

Some Ways To Mitigate Stress 

couple kayaking on river together

Reducing stress should be a priority in everyone's life. The first thing to do is to make sure you are getting enough quality sleep. Working out can also help keep your stress at bay. Researchers advise spending time with your friends and family since these social interactions are beneficial when it comes to the topic of coping with stress. Try to find activities that you genuinely enjoy; doing so will help keep your mind off the negative aspects of your life that are leading to high amounts of stress. When searching for new ways to relax, you may stumble upon infrared saunas, which have received a lot of praise from people struggling with stress [6].

How Can Infrared Therapy Help? 

Infrared saunas can be an amazing tool to utilize for individuals who suffer from chronic stress. One of their most celebrated benefits includes the management of both stress and high blood pressure. Using an in-home infrared sauna has cardiovascular benefits that decrease the risk of high blood pressure, which has been documented in many studies around the world [7]. Infrared saunas stimulate the release of certain chemicals such as nitric oxide, which causes vasodilation and as a result, relaxes artery walls, lowering blood pressure in the process [8].

These types of saunas increase your body temperature with infrared light, and in the process, your body releases endorphins. These same endorphins are also released after exercise, improving your mood and helping to mitigate stress [9]. Infrared saunas offer many other health benefits and could be a great acquisition that will help you control the symptoms of high blood pressure as well as chronic stress from the comfort of your home.

Try These Methods To Help Mitigate Stress Levels 1. Get Enough Sleep: Important for overall health, including managing stress levels 2. Try Exercising: Releases feel-good endorphins that help lighten mood swings 3. Socialize With Friends & Family: Social interaction with loved ones has a positive influence over stress levels 4. Incorporate Infrared Therapy: Studies have proven infrared saunas help manage both high blood pressure & stress

Sources:

[1] "Stress." Mentalhealth.org.uk, Mental Health Foundation, https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/stress.

[2] McEwen Bruce. (2017). "Neurobiological and Systemic Effects of Chronic Stress." Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Center for Biotechnological Information, 10 April 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573220/.

[3] Spruill Tanya. (2010). "Chronic Psychosocial Stress and Hypertension." Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Center for Biotechnological Information, February 2010, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3694268/.

[4] O'Donovan A, Neylan TC, Metzler T, Cohen BE. (2012). "Lifetime exposure to traumatic psychological stress is associated with elevated inflammation in the Heart and Soul Study." Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Center for Biotechnological Information, May 2012, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22366689.

[5] Reinberg Steven. (2019). "Job Stress, Poor Sleep, Hypertension a Deadly Trio." Webmd.com, Web MD, 29 April 2019, https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20190429/job-stress-poor-sleep-hypertension-a-deadly-trio#1.

[6] "7 ways to reduce stress and keep blood pressure down." Health.harvard.edu, Harvard Health Publishing, https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/7-ways-to-reduce-stress-and-keep-blood-pressure-down.

[7] Zaccardi F, Laukkanen T, Willeit P, Kauhanen K, Laukkanen JA. (2017). "Sauna Bathing and Incident Hypertension: A Prospective Cohort Study." Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Center for Biotechnological Information, 1 November 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28633297.

[8] Shui Shanshan, Wang Xia, Chiang John, Zheng Lei. (2015). "Far-infrared therapy for cardiovascular, autoimmune, and other chronic problems: A systematic review." Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Center for Biotechnological Information, October 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4935255/.

[9] Kukkonen-Harjula K, Oja P, Laustiola K, Vuori I, Jolkkonen J, Siitonen S, Vapaatalo H. (1989). "Haemodynamic and hormonal responses to heat exposure in a Finnish sauna bath." Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, National Center for Biotechnological Information, 1989, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2759081.