Stress is a national epidemic among US adults. As a country struggling with stress,
Stress in the modern world pairs with the feeling that we don’t have control over events in our lives. What you need to know is that prolonged stress has a toxic toll on the mind, soul, and body.
Want to know how stress affects the body?
Read on and learn how stress affects the body and the nervous system.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How Does Stress Affect the Body?
The first thing that you need to know is that stress response lives in the nervous system. When exposed to a stressful event, the autonomic nervous systems kick in. The ANS is part of the nervous system responsible for controlling body actions.
That includes:
- Respiratory rate
- Sexual arousal
- Urination
- Heart rate
- Digestion among others
The autonomic nervous system or ANS is in two parts:
- Sympathetic nervous system
- Parasympathetic nervous system
In the body, the sympathetic nervous system has a role in how we respond to stress. Simply put, the system generates a fight-or-flight response. Historically, the sympathetic nervous system was valuable to us for survival reasons.
But today, that is not the response for most situations. Today, what stresses us is our finances, family responsibilities, relationships, and work too.
Want to lead a healthy lifestyle? Then, find good ways to cope with stress.
Types Of Stress
There are two types of stress namely acute and chronic.
Acute stress refers to the immediate reaction to a threatening situation. This type of stress comes due to the pressures and demands of the past, and it also comes due to the anticipated pressures and demands of the future.
However, In small doses, it is exciting but it can be exhausting.
Chronic stress is not triggered by life-threatening situations. Unlike acute stress, chronic stress is damaging to your health. In fact, it can result in physical symptoms like constipation and headaches.
So, want to know how stress affects the body? Here is how it happens. When stressed, the body releases a stress hormone called cortisol. Unlike norepinephrine and adrenaline, cortisol lingers in the body longer.
Excessive levels of cortisol lead to physical health problems such as:
- Weight gain
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Inflammation
- Hormone imbalances
- Digestive problems
When it comes to your brain, cortisol can affect it negatively. Moreover, the brain releases adrenaline when the stress response is triggered. When it's released, several physical symptoms of stress occur.
They include:
- Increased blood sugar levels
- Increased heart rate
- High blood pressure
The brain also triggers the release of cortisol by sending a signal to the pituitary glands, and this can damage the brain. For starters, it can kill cells in the hippocampus.
Also, it can cause premature aging of the brain.
How does this happen? Cortisol binds itself to receptors in the neurons allowing more calcium in, and this leads to an overload.
As such, it overexcites the cells causing them to die.
What We Recommend?
Now that you know how stress affects the body, there are a few steps you can follow to
Are you in search of natural ways to heal and strengthen your body? We at Naravis can help.
Sources:
- "What
is Stress?" The American Institute of Stress, 4 Jan. 2017,https://www.stress.org/daily-life - "Types of Stressors (Eustress vs. Distress)."
MentalHelp . net,https://www.mentalhelp.net/stress/types-of-stressors-eustress-vs-distress/
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