How Breathing Can Help Reduce Stress

We have all been there before: a long day of work or school or just life where things pile up and nothing seems to be going the way you want it to. Cue the increased heart rate, scattered thoughts, irritability and negative feelings – some of the all-too-familiar symptoms of stress. Medline defines stress as, “a feeling of emotional or physical tension resulting from an event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous.” In short, it’s your body’s reaction to a challenge or a demand.

While some stress is normal (and even healthy) if it’s keeping you from functioning as usual in your day-to-day life it may be time to take a second look. Chronic stress is stress that lasts a long period of time and can stem from issues like trouble at work, financial problems or an unhappy relationship. Chronic stress can have long-lasting damaging effects to your health in the form of prolonged headaches, high blood pressure and in some severe cases, heart disease.