Stressful situations are part of our life. We get stuck in traffic, we are unable to send our projects on deadlines, feeling anxious to perform a speech or offering a meeting in the morning, these situations are part of our daily routine which result in stress. Stress signals are controlled by a small part of the brain i.e. hypothalamus which sends the stress hormones similar to the parasympathetic nervous system which gets activated in fight or flight response. All the autonomic functions of our body get excited like our heart starts beating faster, our breathing becomes faster, rapid pulse with muscles ready for some action. It is the response that is exaggerated by our bodies during such situations to protect us. However, in severe situations where the stress keeps on elevating day by day depending on our work schedule, family issues or other matters, the body exaggerates the condition of releasing the stress hormones which severely impacts our body.
In normal situations, stress is a mental reaction which is a natural phenomenon in response to different life experiences in our routine. For immediate situations, stress seems beneficial and helps us in coping the serious situations. The body starts releasing the stress hormones which in turn results in rapid heart rate and breathing. Once the stress response stops activating and the stress hormones remain elevated within the body for a long time then it affects our survival rate. Chronic stressful situations can result in a negative impact on our bodies. The symptoms of chronic stress on our brain result in irritability, headaches, insomnia, depression or anxiety.
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The central nervous system is the master of controlling stressful situations. The brain has hypothalamus which gets activated and starts releasing the stress hormones by the adrenal glands which are cortisol and adrenaline. In response to these stress hormones, the heart pumps blood faster with activated muscles throughout the body. Once the stress hormones remain elevated and do not return to normal after the stressful situation is gone, then these hormones result in chronic stress. Chronic stress can also result in excessive eating, less eating, excess alcohol intake, drug abuse or social withdrawal.
Stress hormones can affect other systems of the body as well including cardiovascular and respiratory systems. During stress, the lungs start breathing faster to offers excess oxygen to the entire body. So if you are suffering from a medical condition like asthma, TB or emphysema, stressful situations can make it difficult for you to breathe properly. During stress, the blood vessels get constricted and the blood starts diverting towards muscles so that they have more oxygen and they have the strength to perform actions. But stressful situations can result in increased blood pressure. When the stress keeps on activating the hormones within the body it results in increased blood pressure for a longer duration that can result in a heart attack or stroke.
Stress can also impact your digestive system, where the liver starts to produce excess glucose to boost up the energy levels. If you undergo chronic stress then the body is unable to store excess glucose increasing your chance to suffer from diabetes type 2.
Watch this Video to Learn more about the Effects of Stress on Digestion….
The activation of other body systems can also impact the digestive system where it can cause heartburn or acidic reflux. Stress can increase your risk to suffer from ulcers. The stressful situations can lead to constipation or diarrhea and you might experience stomachache, vomiting or nausea. The muscular system is also affected during stressful situations and gets tensed. Once you suffer from chronic stress, the muscles remain tensed leading to body aches, shoulder pain, back pain, and others. Stress can also affect the reproductive system and sexuality. If there is constant stress then it can result in reduced formation of testosterone leading to impotence or erectile dysfunction in males. For women, stress can affect the period cycle leading to painful, heavy or irregular periods. In normal conditions, stress leads to stimulation of the immune system to prevent infections and help in healing wounds but in chronic stress, it leads to a weaker immune system leading to increased chances of infections and illnesses.
So, to conclude prevent yourself against stressful situations so that it does not result in a negative impact over your body!
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