Effect of Stress on the Body
When you are stressed the control centre of your brain sends out stress hormones, which are the ones that trigger a fight or flight response. This causes your heart to speed up and your breathing quickens preparing your muscles for action. If these stress hormones keep on being produced for prolonged periods it can put your health at risk.
The effects of stress can give you:
- Tension headache
- Heartburn due to overproduction of acid in the stomach
- Depression
- Rapid breathing
- Tingling around the mouth
- High Blood pressure as stress hormones tighten the blood vessels
- High blood sugar as stress causes the liver to release extra sugar into the bloodstream
- Weakened immune system
- Stomach ache
- Low sex drive or erectile dysfuncion
- Tension in the muscles, which can lead to backache
Stress in short bursts can be beneficial and help you to cope with immediate situations. If the level stays elevated for too long it can affect your health. ‘Stress is a bit like the sun, a little is good for you, too much you burn’. It can cause irritability, anxiety, depression, headaches and insomnia
Fight or Flight Response
Your adrenal glands release stress hormones and adrenaline in the short term and cortisol in the longer term, which cause the heart to send the blood rushing to the areas where it might be needed most such as the muscles and other vital organs. The stress hormones cause the blood vessels to constrict and this in turn raises your blood pressure to boost energy, for a fight and flight response to a given situation, Once the perceived danger has passed the body should return to normal.
If however, this stress does not stop this response will continue and become chronic.
The stress hormones cause the blood vessels to constrict and this in turn raises your blood pressure. This will mean your heart is working too hard and for too long raising the chance of heart attack or stroke.
Your liver also produces more glucose for the muscles to fight or run.If this is not used up by the muscles your body may not be able to cope with this extra glucose. This can lead to Type 2 Diabetes
Your whole digestive system can be upset by the in-balance of hormones, the increase of heart rate and breathing. This can lead to acid reflux or heartburn.
Stress can cause both diarrhea and constipation and you may also feel sick or have a stomach ache
Extracts taken from articles by Ann Pietrangelo and Stephanie Watson health.harvard.edu