According to a 2014 report by the National Health Council:
"Chronic disease affects approximately 133 million Americans, representing more than 40% of the total population of this country.
About half of all adults have a chronic condition, and approximately 8 percent of children ages 5 to 17 were reported by their parents to have limited activities due to at least one chronic disease or disability.
More and more people live with not just one chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart disease, or depression, but with two or more conditions. Almost a third of the population is now living with multiple chronic conditions.”
Do we need to eat better? For sure.
Do we need to sleep better? Absolutely.
Do we need to move our bodies better? 100%.
We know that.
But what we don’t know is that we also need to think better.
When we have a thought our brain sends chemicals into our body.
Those chemicals create vibrations in our body, otherwise known as emotions.
Unfortunately, in our modern society, many of those emotions are some form of stress.
Here are a few of the many ways chronic emotional stress can affect our body:
High blood sugar
Stress causes your liver to release extra glucose into your bloodstream, which can cause many problems, such as weight gain and type 2 diabetes.
High blood pressure
Stress hormones tighten blood vessels, which can raise blood pressure.
Over time an increased heart rate and high blood pressure damage your arteries, which could lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Heartburn or acid reflux
Stress increases the production of stomach acid.
Insomnia
High cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue can lead to anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Weakened immune system
People under chronic stress are more susceptible to viral illnesses, infections, and increased time to recover from illness or injury.
Autoimmune disease
Stress-triggered neuroendocrine hormones lead to immune dysregulation, which ultimately results in autoimmune disease.
Of course, there are many more.
The good news is that emotional stress is 100% caused by our thoughts.
And we can learn to think healthier thoughts and feel healthier emotions so we can create healthier bodies.
I’m a believer.
I struggled with depression, weight gain, and fibromyalgia for many years.
Now I don’t.
This is another reason why mindset matters.
Check in with your thoughts today.
Observe what you are thinking and how those thoughts make you feel.
Understand that all your thoughts are optional.
Are they serving you?
Are they serving your body?
Your thoughts are important. They affect your mental and your physical health.
There is only one you and only one life. Treat yourself well.
Start with your thoughts.
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