Stress and Your Body
This section attempts to describe the complex physiological processes that occur in our bodies under stress. For a detailed review please see the attached document at the bottom. It is an excerpt from a paper Christopher wrote for his doctorate portfolio and is referenced. The majority of information in this section comes from basic pathophysiology books and the Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2006.
Stress can be real (fight with significant other) or imagined (worrying about the future). In either case the reaction is the same. Whether mental/emotional or evident, when stress is triggered two major events happen. The first is quick and immediate as our nervous system kicks into high gear. Our blood vessels constrict and the heart pumps harder raising blood pressure. Fifty million Americans have high blood pressure and for 95% of those people there is no known cause; however stress is starting to be implicated. The situation is further complicated by the fact that hypertension tends to be genetic. Elevated blood pressure puts us at risk for stroke, coronary artery disease, end stage renal (kidney) disease and heart failure.
Diseases Associated With Stress
Allergies
Immunosuppression, deficiency and auto immune diseases
Ulcers
Irritable bowel syndrome
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Ulcerative Colitis
Diuresis
Impotence
Frigidity
Eczema
Neurodermatitis
Diabetes mellitus
Amenorrhea
Fatigue
Type A behavior
Depression
Insomnia
Overeating
Coronary heart disease
Hypertension
Stroke
Tension headaches
Backache
Rheumatoid arthritis
Inflammatory conditions of connective tissue
Asthma
Meanwhile the digestive tract slows down, both the secretions and movement that can cause gas and bloating among other gastrointestinal problems. The liver starts a process that increases blood sugars. Elevated blood sugars are connected with diabetes. In addition fatty acids and cholesterol in the blood are increased which as most people know is unhealthy for a variety of reasons.
The second, slow response is the one that is indicated for many of the problems related to stress. This topic is too large and complicated to do it justice in a couple paragraphs so the following risks being over simplified. Please see the attached document for details.
Stress triggers a part of our brains that has what some say is master control over our hormones. This is the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Stress releases chemicals that interfere with water metabolism that can lead to water retention. Chemicals are released that decrease our immune system causing illness. Our hormones are disrupted for both men and women affecting libido, but can disrupt women’s menstrual cycle, fertility and other factors concerning women’s health.
Stress inhibits the inflammation pathway that is crucial for proper healing. Besides improper initial treatment, stress can be a contributor to diseases that involve chronic pain. Initially weight loss is seen with people under stress, but as time progresses and the body starts to tire, weight gain can be a characteristic of stress. Mood swings and other emotional instability are common because stress can affect sleeping patterns causing insomnia.
This might seem to be a lot of negative information, but really this is just the tip of the ice berg. The chemicals released under stress have sweeping affects in our bodies and is not meant to be turned on as frequently as it is in modern society. Luckily, there is something we can do about it.
| stress_response.doc | |
| File Size: | 41 kb |
| File Type: | .doc |