Parkinson's Newsletter

Stress in life is inevitable, but for people living with Parkinson’s Disease, stress can have even greater ramifications. Stress is a normal part of life, and some stress is actually good! – It helps us focus, meet deadlines, and avoid danger. However, feeling constantly stressed emotionally and/or physically (also known as chronic stress) is not beneficial, and can truly have a negative impact on one’s health. Stress causes the body to release hormones and chemicals that elevate blood pressure, tense up muscles, and quicken breathing. If stress persists, the body is unable to reset and recover, potentially causing inflammation and actually changing the brain itself!  It might not be easy, but we still always have control of how we respond to stress. Small daily habits can have a significant impact on calming the nervous system and reducing the strain of stress. So let’s add some stress management strategies to our Parkinson’s toolkits!