Rihanna Reportedly On 24-Hour Health Watch: Can Stress Be Dangerous?
Rihanna is reportedly under 24-hour health watch after she supposedly had a backstage meltdown that nearly resulted in a cancelled show on Nov. 25 in Ireland, according to news reports.
The 23-year-old singer is on a 10-month, 101-day tour, so perhaps it's no wonder she's exhausted. After the performance that was supposedly close to being canceled, Rihanna told fans on Twitter that she was "so light-headed! WTF!!!!!"
If stress is indeed what is plaguing Rihanna, it can manifest in a number of ways. The Mayo Clinic reports that common effects of stress include headaches, chest or muscle pain, tiredness, upset stomach, trouble sleeping and even a change in sex drive. And stress can also increase anxiety, restlessness, feelings of anger, sadness and make you less motivated to do things or less able to focus.
The American Psychological Association reports that stress is natural -- and in small doses, even good. That's because it can have effects on enabling us to conquer fears and be extra motivated. But the APA reports that there's bad stress, too, that can serve as a warning sign to the body.
Much like the glowing orange, "check engine" light on your car's dashboard, if you neglect the alerts sent out by your body, you could have a major engine malfunction. Stress that is left unchecked or poorly managed is known to contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and suicide.
The Mayo Clinic said that physical activity, meditation, yoga, relaxation methods and tai chi can be used to help manage stress. The American Heart Association also offers up these 10 habits you can adopt to lower stress levels.
And check out these eight ways to de-stress the brain, from meditation teacher Jan Chozen Bays' "How To Train A Wild Elephant."
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The Huffington Post First Posted: 12/02/11 01:00 PM ET Updated: 12/05/11 02:04 PM ET