Don't Stress Over Finals- It Could Cost You

It’s that time of year again. Students flock to the library and classrooms after school to study for hours on end. Highlighter, pen, and pencil cover their hands, bags rest under their eyes, and they’re wearing sweats for the third time that week. It’s a moniker we all know well: semester finals.

Though it’s commonplace to feel butterflies and light-headed before a big test, seriously stressing out can lead to severe health conditions that could render you unable to take the test in the first place. But not to worry! We’ll tell you how to cure these anxieties before the the exams and how to maintain your mental health when you feel like panicking.

Besides butterflies, The American Psychological Association says stress can lead to a tension headache, migraines, and chronic muscle tension of the head, neck, and shoulders. Your muscles tense up to protect against pain and injury. You can experience difficulty breathing which for people with respiratory issues--such as asthma-- can be deadly. Your heart rate will increase which can lead to an increased risk for hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. A culmination of these symptoms is called a panic attack which can leave the person physically and mentally exhausted.

If you’re feeling stressed about getting stressed, then don’t worry, here’s some tips to keep your blood pressure on track. Ensure your body is able to keep itself up in these trying times by drinking plenty of water and eating healthily. Being dehydrated has a slew of nasty side effects that you don’t want to pile on to the above symptoms. A good workout, even for twenty minutes, can help relieve stress and make you feel more energized for hours after you’re done sweating. If you’re not into physical activity, a twenty minute break where you watch T.V. or play with your pet will work just as well for a good breather. Once you’ve taken a break, be sure to follow that up by studying correctly, meaning don’t procrastinate!

If all else fails, breathe, smile, and laugh. It’s going to be ok, and you’re going to do great!