Many people believe there is a connection between cherry angiomas and stress.
What Are Cherry Angiomas?
Cherry angiomas are small noncancerous, or benign, skin tumors that range in color from bright cherry red to purple. A cherry angioma occurs when a cluster of capillaries located on the skin's surface dilate. When a cherry angioma first manifests it is usually only the size of a pinhead and remains flat on the surface of the skin. Over time some cherry angiomas may spread to approximately 1/4 inch in diameter and have one or more of the following characteristics:
- Become thicker
- Become spongy
- Rise slightly above the skin's surface
- Appear mushroom or dome shaped
The benign skin tumors can appear on any part of the body. However, they are most common on a person's upper torso. Other areas of the body that are often affected by these skin lesions include:
- Back
- Neck
- Face
- Arms
- Legs
- Scalp
Cherry Angiomas and Stress
Although no one knows for certain what actually causes cherry angiomas to appear, there are a number of scientific and medical researchers that believe the skin condition is linked to the aging process. In most cases, these skin lesions make their first appearance when a person is in his or her mid to late thirties and increase in number after the age of forty. It is estimated that among senior citizens aged 70 or older, between 70 and 85 percent have cherry angiomas.
There are also many researchers and individuals that suffer with cherry angiomas that believe that stress exacerbates the skin condition and is a common trigger of the benign skin tumors. Many of these individuals claim that whenever they are very stressed cherry angiomas appear. Others tell of the same thing happening after they suffer from heart palpitations.
In addition to the aging process and stress, several additional factors that may cause cherry angiomas are hormonal changes, exposure to certain chemicals and genetic malfunctioning.
The Effects of Stress
Research on the effects of chronic stress on the human body show that this type of stress affects every cell in th body causing it to age faster. In addition to the link between cherry angiomas and stress, high levels of chronic stress cause physical, mental and emotional damage to all of the systems of the human body.
The following are a few examples of the many illnesses and medical conditions that can be caused or aggravated by stress:
- Heart problems
- Stroke
- Cancer
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Weakened immune system
- Ulcers
- Arthritis
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Asthma
- Cherry angiomas and other skin conditions
- Depression
- Anxiety
Reduce the Risk of Cherry Angiomas by Reducing Stress Levels
Since no one knows the exact cause of cherry angiomas, reducing stress levels may reduce the risk of developing these bright red spots or it may have an effect on the number of cherry angiomas a person develops over their lifetime. Often coming to the realization of the amount of damage that your stress level is doing to your body and mind helps make it easier to make simple life style changes that eliminate some of the stress of daily life.
There are many methods of reducing stress ranging from taking a relaxing car ride in the country or listening to soothing music to joining an exercise class or going for a bike ride. Learning effective stress reduction methods and techniques helps to reduce your overall stress levels.
The following are several popular methods of stress reduction:
- Guided imagery
- MeditationProgressive muscle relaxation
- Visualization
- Exercise
- Deep breathing
In addition to utilizing stress reduction methods and techniques, following a balanced healthy diet, drinking plenty of water and getting enough rest are important to reducing stress levels and reducing the possibility of developing cherry angiomas. Following a healthy lifestyle and using effective methods of reducing the stress in your life have a positive effect on your overall health and happiness.
