Stress and Your Body

/

When you experience stress-whether real or perceived-your body goes through a series of physiological responses to help you cope.  This is a good thing, right?

Yes, to a point. The stress response is helpful when the thing that is stressful has a beginning, middle and end. That way, your body and mind can recover once the stress is over. For example, when you have to get out of the way of an oncoming car or need alertness and energy to get you through a really tough job interview or presentation.

How Chronic Stress Wears You Down

Stress becomes a problem when it is ongoing and there is no opportunity or not enough opportunity for the mind and body to recover and regenerate. This is when the body begins to break down, like a motor running at full throttle all the time.

The stress response, sometimes called the fight-or-flight response is controlled by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and involves the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This provides the body and mind with both quick electrical impulses from the nervous system for immediate response and slower, more longer lasting chemical messengers from the endocrine system.

When you understand how stress (real or perceived) effects the mind and body it’s easy to see that recovery time, in the form of deep relaxation is vital to good health. We’ll explore how you can make sure you get the recovery time you need in upcoming blogs.

What Happens when Stress Strikes

Let’s take a look at what happens to the body when stress happens. We’ll explore what happens to the mind in my next blog.

When faced with a stressor (physical or psychological-real or perceived) the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) is launched into action. The brain’s emotion processing centre, called the amygdala perceives a threat and signals the hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus triggers the release of stress hormones like adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal glands. This causes a quick physiological reaction including:

  •      Heart rate increases bringing more oxygenated blood to the muscles.

  •      Increased breathing rate brings more oxygen into the body.

  •      Pupils dilate bringing improved vision for detecting danger.

  •      Digestion is slowed leaving more energy for the essential organs required for immediate action.

  •      Blood sugar levels increase giving more energy to the brain and muscles.

If the stress continues, the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands (HPA axis) sends hormonal messengers out to other body systems. This is a complex cascade that looks like this:

The hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which signals the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol, often referred to as thee stress hormone. Cortisol can be easily measured in blood, saliva and hair. This makes it a great indicator of how well-or not-different drugs and relaxation therapies work to lower cortisol.  I’ll share some of those findings in upcoming blogs.

Here’s what happens to the body when cortisol is released:

  •    Blood sugar levels stay elevated for continued energy.

  •    The immune system is suppressed to conserve resources.

  •    Mood and cognition are altered (which can impair memory over time).

  •    Blood pressure stays elevated.

Prolonged Stress Effects Many Body Systems

If stress continues without any resolution or at least adequate recovery time, many body systems feel the strain.

Cardiovascular System

  •   Increases heart rate and blood pressure.

  •    Raises the risk of hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.

  •    Triggers inflammation that contributes to artery damage.

Immune System

  •    Weakens immune response, making you more susceptible to infections.

  •    Slows wound healing and increases inflammation.

Digestive System

  •    Causes stomachaches, nausea, and indigestion, gas & bloating.

  •    Leads to weight gain or loss since cortisol affects appetite and fat storage.

  •    Contributes to conditions like acid reflux, ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Endocrine System (Hormonal Imbalance)

  •    Elevates cortisol (stress hormone) levels, leading to weight gain, especially around the abdomen.

  •    Can disrupt blood sugar regulation, increasing the risk of diabetes.

Musculoskeletal System

  •    Causes muscle tension, leading to headaches, back pain, and joint discomfort.

  •    Increases the risk of tension headaches and migraines.

Reproductive System

  •    Can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and decreased fertility.

  •    In men, chronic stress can lower testosterone levels and impact sperm production.

Sleep Disruptions

  •    Causes insomnia and poor sleep quality.

  •    Leads to fatigue and cognitive issues like difficulty concentrating.

Long-term chronic stress can contribute to serious health conditions like heart disease, obesity, and mental health disorders. Managing stress through exercise, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques is essential for maintaining overall well-being.

You’ve Got the Power

The good news is that you have some control over your nervous system and there are a lot of simple and very effective relaxation techniques you can use to recover from stressful events or prolonged stress. This enables your mind and body to recharge from the strain of stress, become more resilient to the negative effects of stress.

In the next blog we’ll explore how stress effects the mind.

If this blog was helpful please like and share using the icons below.

Image credit: Pixabay; Pexels