Secret Signs Of Stress
MIAMI (CBS4) - Ah, the holidays - endless hours of shopping for just the right gifts, entertaining and eating tons of holiday treats.
Feeling a little stressed out?
Be careful because that stress can take a serious toll on your health.
"When you have stress you feel like you can't catch your breath. You feel like you can never do enough in the time you have to do it," explained stress expert Dr. Robert Schacter.
All of this can lead to other health problems.
Silent problems you may not even associate with stress or think twice about, like itchy skin, bleeding gums, odd dreams, acne, headaches, irritability and difficulty sleeping are all signs of stress.
Compounding the situation, according to doctors, is that these symptoms often lead to other unhealthy habits.
"You start eating unhealthy foods. You start smoking. You start drinking. You stop exercising," said Schacter.
This vicious cycle can take a real toll on the body.
"Stress can cause stroke, can cause heart attack," said Schacter.
But the good news it's easier than ever to get help.
Schacter teaches people how to cope with stress from simple breathing exercises to using a relaxation machine that combines a series of light and sound proven to stimulate the part of the brain that controls relaxation.
"If you can relax and break that cycle even if it's a few times a day you can reduce the overall effects of stress," said Schacter.
Experts say appreciating what you have such as family and friends can help keep stress at bay and so can helping others.
