Too busy to read this article? Probably.

Luckily, this article covers exactly what a busy person like you needs to read about: stress relief.

Stressed? Take a deep breath and read on about:

• The Stress-Aging Connection
• How to Get Relief from Stress

The Stress-Aging Connection

In this fast-moving society, many circumstances create stress daily. From arguing with family to not getting enough zzz’s, from worrying too much to playing too hard on the weekends, activities practiced without moderation can raise stress levels to an unhealthy status.

Stress not only causes hormonal changes, but alters cellular functioning in vital organs, including the largest, the skin. When you are stressed, your body releases the hormone cortisol, which is problematic since large amounts of cortisol circulating in your blood stream for extended periods is toxic. Negative thoughts trigger chemical reactions that can cause your body to bring more stress into your system and decrease your immunity. Furhter, elevated levels of stress cortisol can cause an increase in blood sugar, which triggers an instant response from your body’s cells that enter an extreme pro-inflammatory mode.

This is why, if you’re stressed, you may have an acne breakout, since acne is a systemic, inflammatory condition. And as Nicholas Perricone MD has found, inflammation also plays a major part in accelerating aging.

How to Get Relief from Stress

Just as many activities raise stress levels, there are a number of ways to counteract and reduce stress. Including stress relieving activities is an important part of the Perricone skincare and anti-inflammatory lifestyle.

Here are a few ways Doctor Perricone suggests to relieve stress:

• Laughter.
• Exercise, in particular, yoga.
• Sleep. Research has found cortisol levels were higher during sleep deprivation periods.
• Stress-fighting supplements, such as vitamin C and omega-3

Laughter, for example, has both short term and long term benefits.

In 1989, researchers found that laughter reduces epinephrine, cortisol, dopamine, and growth hormone, four of hormones associated with your response to stress.

In the short term, laughter enhances your oxygen intake and stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles. It also increases the release of endorphins, which act as your body’s natural painkillers. Laughing fires up, then cools down your stress response as it increases your heart rate and blood pressure. This results in a feeling of relaxation.

In the long term, laughter can improve your immune system since positive thoughts release stress-fighting neuropeptides that also help fight potentially more-serious illnesses. Another long term benefit is that laughter increases your overall mood and personal satisfaction.

It helps to surround yourself with others who look for the positive or the humorous in any situation.


Have a joke you think will help others de-stress? Share it with us below!