Stress is a fact of life and can affect individuals in a variety of ways. At some point in life, every individual experiences some degree of stress. Some individuals experience stress more often than others and some also have difficulty dealing with stress.
Stress can manifest from any situation or thought that causes an individual to experience frustration, anger and nervousness. A stressor may be a one-time or short-term occurrence, or it can happen repeatedly over a long time.
Our bodies are designed to handle small doses of stress. We are not equipped to handle long-term, chronic stress without adverse consequences. Your Central Nervous System (CNS) is in charge of your “fight or flight” response to stress.
In your brain, the hypothalamus which links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, activates your adrenal glands to release the stress hormones called adrenaline and cortisol.
These hormones increase your heartbeat and send blood rushing to the areas that need it most, such as your muscles, heart and other important organs.
With chronic stress, those same lifesaving reactions in the body can disturb the immune, digestive, cardiovascular, sleep, and reproductive systems.
Studies have shown, however, that individuals who experience excessive amounts of stress may exacerbate or increase the risk of developing various medical conditions such as asthma, fatigue, back pain, arrhythmias, difficulty in breathing, headaches, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, suppression of the immune system, and fluctuations in blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. The various effects of stress on the human body are illustrated in the chart.
Some studies suggest that inability to manage stress can be associated with the onset of depression or anxiety and that the repeated release of stress hormones can cause hyperactivity in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system. This can disrupt normal levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is critical for feelings of well-being. However, it is not all bad news.
You can live a stress free life or at the very least, take practical steps to manage your stress to reduce the risk of negative health effects. How can this be done?
First, you need to be observant to recognize the signs of your body’s response to stress, such as difficulty in sleeping, increased alcohol and other substance use, being easily angered, feeling depressed and having low energy. Second, talk to your health care provider or a health professional. Do not wait for your health care provider to ask about your stress, start the conversation and get proper health care for existing or new health problems. Third, get regular exercise. Just 30 minutes per day of walking can help boost your mood and improve your health.