Women just when you think life has thrown everything except the kitchen sink at you, it throws the kitchen sink.
A recent study conducted by the University of Gothenburg over a 35 year period of women from the ages 38 to 60 showed a correlation between stress and dementia.
So, we all know stress is bad for you right? Besides it doesn't feel good anyway so who wants to be stressed.
The researchers defined stress as a sense of irritation, tension, nervousness, anxiety, fear or sleeping problems lasting a month or more due to work, health, family or other problems.
Wow! You're saying, "I wouldn't have any stress in my life if it weren't for problems related to work, my health and family.
Their definition covers everything in a normal person's life.
We're all in trouble with this definition.
More to the point.
Prolonged stress is what's important in this research.
For women who reported stress in middle age the risk of dementia was about 65% higher.
That's pretty significant.
So, now you become stressed about losing your mind.
Dementia is the progressive deterioration in cognitive function-the ability to process thought (intelligence).
This is important.
Learning to control the stress in your life is not only healthy for your body, but even more so for your mind.
Stress is a thinking problem, albeit bad thinking.
You're stressed because your thinking about a problem or situation is usually ill adjusted, overreacted, or misplaced.
Even when the stress for a situation is considered normal it should not take up a home in your head forever.
At that rate you'll pile so much in your head, eventually your nervous system will have to take a break (down).
Other studies have proven a link between stress and cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, heart attack, and hypertension.
That said, even though some might consider research like this a foregone conclusion it is not.
More studies will be conducted and more collaborative research is needed before we ring the bells in the tower.
I would however, give some thought to the statistical significance that stress in middle age could be fatal and-- mind numbing, 65% more likely is a pretty good bet that you could develop dementia.
Think about how your stress levels might be affecting you personally, do you have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure and dementia? Be more mindful, no pun intended, of how you might reduce the stress and anxiety in your life now, today.
As I said in the beginning of this article, we've all been told that stress is bad for us, nobody really explained exactly why.
Maybe this current research hints at some of the reasons.
Help me fight anxiety, panic and stress in the lives of those who suffer from it.
Commit now to getting the help you need to end the anxiety and stress in your life.
Don't wait until you can't remember why you were stressed in the first place.
Take care of your mind, your body and your spirit and the sweet and simple joys of life will always be at your disposal.
To Your Health JB