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Eighty-one percent of Alabamians indicated they felt moderate-to-severe stress because of America’s current inflation rates in a recent survey conducted by HelpAdvisor.com. What’s worse is that some Alabamians are delaying medical treatment and eating less meat and produce to offset these rising costs of living. Stress is a normal physical and mental response to life challenges, such as high inflation rates. If not properly managed, however, it can lead to greater health risks, such as hypertension, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

What is stress?

Stress is often described as a state or feeling of emotional or physical strain. There are two main kinds of stress: acute stress and chronic stress.

  • Acute stress–or stress that comes and goes quickly–is often a part of everyday life. It can happen when someone experiences something exciting or when they are put in a threatening situation.
  • Chronic stress–or stress that lasts over long periods of time (weeks or months)–can lead to health problems if left untreated.

Causes and Signs of Stress

Finances, work obligations, and personal relationships can cause stress in life. Symptoms of stress look and feel differently depending on the person. Once a person understands the root cause of their stress, they can then take action to manage it. Some physical and mental signs of stress include the following:

  • Headaches
  • Forgetfulness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Muscle tension
  • Heart palpitations

Stress Management

Stressors are a part of day-to-day life. Certain coping strategies, such as comfort eating and smoking may temporarily make a person feel better. These habits, however, may end up causing more harm than good. Exercising, deep breathing, eating a healthy diet, and spending time with loved ones are all healthy habits you can adopt to manage stress levels.

More Information

Read more Urban Extension articles on stress:

You can also find additional information on stress at www.aces.edu.