by Eva Perry

Created on: November 14, 2008   Last Updated: November 08, 2009

If stress finds you searching for remedies, try exercise as the perfect solution.

First of all, what is stress and the possible leading causes of stress? Stress is our physical and emotional reactions to pressure, caused by situations in our daily lives. Here is a list of some of the leading causes of stress.

Job

A place of employment can be a leading cause of stress in a person's life. For example, if you're not happy with your current job position, uncertain of security in your job when layoffs are imminent, or you're not satisfied with your current wages, all can contribute to stress.

Money

Finances play an important role in almost everyone's lives today, and when the economy is suffering, our finances, are as well. Worries about mortgage, bills, and debt, all can lead to added stress.

Health

If you, a family member, or loved one, are suffering health setbacks, stress can be a direct result. For example, uncertainty of your future with a current medical condition, or coping with the extended care of a loved one can create stressful situations in a family.

Death

A death of a family member, spouse, or other loved one, of course, is stressful for any family, and finding a way to cope, is usually a main concern for most people.

Stress reduction is important for a person to maintain a healthy body, physically and emotionally. Every person needs a way to help reduce stress in their lives, and finding an outlet should be a top priority.

This fact leads to the question, how can a person reduce stress and eliminate stress? That's where exercise can play an important role in being the perfect remedy for stress.

Here's a list of how exercise can be the perfect remedy for stress.

First of all, when a person exercises their body releases chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins are neurotransmitters, which are produced in the brain to help alleviate pain. They are also known to give a euphoric feeling, which can help reduce stress when a person exercises.

Exercise can help your body burn calories and therefore help in reducing your weight. An increase in weight loss can improve a person's overall sense of well being, therefore contributing to eliminating stress, as well.

Exercise can give you an outlet to work off any pent up emotions that can be causing your stress. There are many forms of exercise to help eliminate stress, for example, aerobics, weight lifting, stair climbing, jump roping, walking, or using the treadmill.

Exercise can help improve the health of your body by helping to reduce blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and lowering your risk for osteoporosis. Regular exercise is also known to increase the HDL, or good cholesterol in your blood, as well as, lowering the LDL, or bad cholesterol, in your blood, which can help to lower your risk factor for heart disease. The knowledge that you are doing something good for your body to improve your health can help in reducing stress too.

Exercise is known to promote better sleep for a person. When a person has a good night's sleep, their concentration, agility, and mood, all seem to improve.

Exercise in a gym or fitness club can help you socialize with other people. These people can help reinforce the positive aspects of exercise, which in turn, can help a person turn stress into a more positive outcome, than a negative force in one's life.

Exercise can be a fun activity! Swimming, dancing, golfing, bowling, and playing tennis, are a few examples of exercise that can be fun and beneficial to a person by uplifting their mood.

Finally, whatever forms of exercise a person chooses to use, these all can help to be the perfect remedy for stress!

Learn more about this author, Eva Perry.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.