Let the Little Things Go: Stressing Now May Mean Health Consequences Later

How do you react to everyday stress? Do you let it go, or does it consume you? According to a new study, our individual reactions to the stressors we all encounter on a daily basis may help to predict future health conditions.

The researchers surveyed 2,000 individuals by phone every night for eight nights. They talked about what had happened to them that day, including detailed information about stressful events they dealt with in the past 24 hours. The study participants also had their cortisol levels tested—that’s the so-called “stress hormone.”

Ten years later, the same individuals were contacted and asked about their current health conditions. Conditions such as arthritis and cardiovascular disease were more prevalent in the people who remained stressed about incidents in their day rather than moving on. Eliminating stressors is nearly impossible, the researchers add; instead, the solution is responding to them differently.

Learn to de-stress
Of course, this can be easier said than done. So give these stress-busting tips a whirl.

• Have a good laugh.
• Write it down or draw.
• Spend time in nature.
• Consider supplements.
• Practise mindfulness.