The cost of hidden stress

The body is governed by natures laws, which if we break or get repeatedly wrong, then good health is the cost to be paid.

Science has established several decades ago now that stress is the primary contributing factor in over 90% of illness. This far outweighs the “blame your genes” thinking in medicine.

Stress impacts the way the brain coordinates every part of you and every function within you. Some stressors are more obvious than others and some stressors we cause ourselves through lifestyle choices and habits. Most people know that for a healthy brain and body we need to get adequate sleep, activity and nutrition but what about the hidden stressor? What are they costing you?

One hidden stress is the lack of sunlight which is vital and the natural way vitamin D is produced within the body. Vitamin D is used for maintaining healthy bones, reducing inflammation, modulating cell growth processes, nerve-muscle functions, immune functions and glucose (sugar) metabolism.

To follow on from the lack of sunlight modern humans augment this hidden stress with another hidden stress of artificial light at night (ALAN). ALAN disrupts your circadian rhythm, the body’s sleep/wake cycle & its subsequent cell and organ systems roles that should be taking place at these times.

Simply put night after dark signals the brain to delay the release of the sleep pressure hormone melatonin potentially disrupting sleep quality and quantity, putting a hidden stress on the brain and body’s nightly repair process that should be taking place.

A few possible lifestyle corrections that may help in this situation are firstly getting more direct exposure to sunlight safely. Start with 30 minutes in the morning, closer to sunrise the better and then up to 30-40min during the middle of the day, depending on your skin type & the UV level of the day.

Beyond that reduce ALAN. Have less exposure to overhead lights, screens from TV, computers and phones after dark. Use lamps or candles after dark rather than overhead LED lights. If you have to be on screens or devices after dark fit them with anti-blue light screen protectors or wear red lense glasses.

These small changes can be easily introduced and your brain and health may just thank you for it. Always remember that health needs no help to thrive just no interference. Identify and rectify the hidden stressors of modern technology and the cost it is having on your brain. Ultimately this can improve your quality of life both now and into your future