Have you ever stopped to think that physical activity and stress are linked in some way? You probably use your exercise to alleviate the symptoms of this feeling, so it is very important to understand the relationship between the two and how your body will act to combat this problem that is so common in modern life!
What is stress?
You may have experienced that feeling of being overwhelmed by a busy day, until you become extremely tired and anxious due to the excess of information and services in a week . This set of reactions from the body is a brief summary of how stress affects your routine.
This is common due to the need for production at work and even the personal importance of doing something. However, excessive stress becomes a big problem in various parts of life and can lead to certain problems.
Therefore, it is important to understand that stress is common for everyone, especially because it signals to the body that something is happening. The stimuli from stress cause the body to trigger reactions and activate the production of hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. This is why you are on alert or seem to be agitated unnecessarily .
What causes stress?
As mentioned, modern, busy routines can trigger stress, but emergency situations and even side effects of diseases can trigger this response from the body. And it is also associated with personal and family responsibilities, so when it is not possible to stay calm and relaxed in certain environments, stress can appear.
In other words, there are emotional and physical causes that arise from some stimulus, whether due to activity or personal issues. The important thing is to notice the symptoms and effects on the body in order to seek help and means to combat this problem, such as regular physical activity!
Symptoms and effects of stress
As the body will produce more hormones (adrenaline and cortisol), physical, mental and emotional symptoms may arise as a response. Heartbeat and breathing may immediately increase, but other reactions may also occur. Check them out:
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Anxiety.
- Explosive temperament.
- Headache.
- Irritability.
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia) .
- Ease of getting sick.
- Back pain.
- Lack of libido.
- Cramps.
- Worsen existing health problems.
- And other symptoms.
All the symptoms and effects mentioned can be caused by personal problems, excessive alcohol use, accidents, the rush of everyday life, daily traffic, insecurities, frequent frustrations and so on.
In other words, it is necessary to control emotions as much as possible so as not to overload the body and avoid future problems. It can be complicated, but if stress is excessive, it is important to seek medical advice!
Types of stress
There are two types of stress that can be cited to explain the causes, sensations and effects on the body and daily life. They are acute stress and chronic stress, both with certain specific characteristics, which you can see below:
Acute stress
This type of stress is the body’s natural reaction to a new reality . Do you know the feeling of going to an interview or starting a new job? These are separate events that do not have long-term effects, so the body is taught to deal with similar situations next time . That’s why you don’t have stress spikes every day when you get to work!
Chronic stress
This second type of stress occurs when the sensations are constant , and the individual believes that the symptoms are part of their routine. The causes may arise from traumatic experiences or recurring situations in which the reactions cannot be controlled, and symptoms of irritability, anxiety and illness are consequences.
In these cases, diagnosis and treatment are absolutely necessary, so if you are experiencing a constant routine of stress and have the symptoms mentioned, seek professional help immediately!
Relationship between physical activity and stress
Now that you know the origin, symptoms and effects of stress, what is its relationship with physical activity?
Any type of exercise will help with well-being, as an active body will produce some neurotransmitters . The best known is endorphin, a hormone responsible for disposition, happiness and other positive sensations.
In other words, excessive stress can be alleviated by practicing sports, as worries are left aside and you can deal with adversity better, since you are no longer impulsive or have explosive tempers. That is why physical activity is synonymous with quality of life!
Another important point is that cortisol, a hormone produced under stress, can be used in physical activity, as it helps to reduce inflammation and stimulate immunity . Therefore, depending on the stress level, it can be an ally in sports.
This will happen because the feeling of alertness and even adrenaline can help the athlete’s disposition, so there will be a minimum of incentive and disposition, which ends up boosting performance in some way.
Does physical activity combat stress?
Physical activity is beneficial for your body and mind, so it will help combat stress. Feelings of tiredness, irritability and other symptoms caused by this problem can be resolved with regular exercise, so invest in your body’s health!
It is still possible to improve other areas of your life, so in addition to combating stress, you will have benefits such as:
- Improved quality of life.
- Regulated sleep .
- Stabilized mood.
- Reduction of emotional problems.
- Combat negative thoughts.
- And much more!
Be careful not to overdo it!
There is an important caveat when it comes to physical activity and stress: excess!
Some athletes will use the overload of the day to train, however, many use too much energy and end up overtraining to alleviate stress, thus, what can occur is overtraining syndrome . It affects performance and can lead to burnout, which significantly impacts personal and work routines.
In other words, in regular doses, stress can help with performance and physical activity can combat the feelings it brings with it. However, excess stress can harm the body and cause exhaustion. Be very careful!
How to treat and prevent stress?
It is important to know how to prevent and treat stress. This is necessary because we receive a lot of stimuli throughout the day and this can easily turn into a certain level of stress, which causes anguish, frustration and even emotional problems.
First, you should listen to your body and see if you are feeling stressed. Is everything okay or do you need to relax from your daily routine and tasks? Some physical activities and tools that can help you are:
- Yoga .
- Walk .
- Meditation .
- Therapy.
All of them will help you to perceive the present moment and how you are reacting physically, emotionally and mentally to life, so try to gradually work on these small perceptions.
Then, what helps are conscious practices to not let stress build up, so set limits, create hobbies, rest, eat well and make a plan to have healthy habits.