Active lifestyles, a potent stress buster

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Health Ministry Mental Health Unit requested the public to involve themselves more in physical activities which will help release the Endorphin hormone in the body which in return will ease stress.

“ People suffer from stress daily. Stress is one of the main health issues in the country at the moment which leads to many other dangerous ailments, especially Non Communicable Disease,” a Health Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman said stress can cause many serious health problems. “Stress stimulates many hormones which have a negative impact on the body. Such hormones excite the body and the person gets headaches, pains in the body, heavy breathing and palpitation. Hormones such as Adrenaline, Cortisol and Epinephrine speed up the entire mechanism of the body,” he said.

Mental Health Unit Directress Dr Rasanjali Hettiarachchi said stress cause various health problems and disorders such as loss of appetite or over appetite, pain in the stomach, vomiting, constipation, etc and impotence in men and weaken the production of sperm.

Stress also cause disorders in the menstrual circle in women.

Stress can be caused in any person at any time due to an incident or similar situation which creates mental tension, he said.

“The only way out is helping the body to release more Endorphin hormone by drinking at least eight glasses of water per day, sporting a constant a smile or laughing at least 12 times a day, remaining happy and in joyful mood , engaging in regular physical exercises, meditating, deep breathing, listening to music, enjoying the beauty of nature and eating fresh and nutritious fruits and vegetables,” he said.