Dr. James Surrell, Journal columnist

With all that is going on with the worldwide corona virus issue, we are all faced with some additional stress, and this is a normal response to this current world-wide pandemic issue.

As we are all aware, this viral pandemic issue has had significant impact on so many people throughout the world, and here in the United States. Today, let us review what human stress truly is, and how to effectively deal with it.

We are all faced with various forms and levels of personal stress from time to time, so what is personal stress? Stress in humans is officially defined as follows: Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension on a person that may result from facing adverse or very demanding circumstances.

So, how may stress affect our overall health? And what can we do to manage our stress? Stress is a normal human reaction and it is how our brain and body responds to various demands on all of us. We are all faced with various types of challenges, such as performance at work or school, a significant life change, or a traumatic event. Of course, any of these can cause personal stress.

Stress affects everyone and we all experience stress from time to time. Routine stress may be related to the pressures of school, work, family, and other daily responsibilities. People who experience traumatic stress may have very distressing temporary emotional and physical symptoms, but most people naturally recover soon thereafter.

Not all stress is bad. In a dangerous situation, stress signals the body to prepare to face a threat or flee to safety. In these situations, your pulse quickens, you breathe faster, your muscles tense, and your brain uses more oxygen and increases activity. All of these body functions are aimed at our survival in response to this stress. In non-life-threatening situations, stress can motivate people, such as when they need to take a test or interview for a new job.

Long-term stress can be harmful to our health. Chronic stress may cause us to experience headaches, sleeplessness, sadness, anger, or irritability. Over time, continued strain on our body from stress may contribute to more serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, depression or anxiety.

There are ways for all of us to manage our stress. Here are some tips that may help you to cope with stress. Recognize the signs of your body’s response to stress, such as difficulty sleeping, increased alcohol use, substance abuse, being easily angered, feeling depressed, or having low energy. If you feel chronically “stressed out”, talk to your health care provider right away. Don’t wait for your health care provider to ask about your stress. Regular exercise can also help us all deal with stress. It has been shown that walking for just 30 minutes per day can help boost our mood and improve our health.

With regard to our personal goals and priorities, we all need to decide what must get done now, and what can wait. Learn to say “no” to new tasks if you start to feel like you’re taking on too much. Try to be mindful of what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not what you have been unable to do.

Stay connected with friends and family. We are not alone, and we need to keep in touch with people who can provide emotional support and practical help. Know that asking for help from friends, family, and community or religious organizations can offer us very effective help in dealing with our stress.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Jim Surrell is the author of “The ABC’s For Success In All We Do” and the “SOS (Stop Only Sugar) Diet” books. Requests for health topics for this column are encouraged. Contact Dr. Surrell by email at sosdietdoc@gmail.com.