The body under stress

CEBU, Philippines — There are so many things in our everyday lives that cause us to be stressed. For example, we get holed up in a traffic jam; we watch the minutes tick and there’s just nothing we can do but agonize in silence. The fright of coming late for an important meeting builds up inside us.

In such situation, the hypothalamus – the tiny control tower in the brain – sends out the order to release the stress hormones. These stress hormones trigger the body’s “fight or flight” response. The heart races, the breath quickens, and the muscles get ready for action, a response meant to prepare the body for an emergency.

Stress is a natural physical and mental reaction to life experiences. And the body’s response to stress serves a good purpose – if only it happens once in a while. But if the stress response doesn’t stop firing, and the stress levels stay elevated far longer than is necessary for survival, it can take a toll on one’s health.

Anything from common responsibilities like work and family to serious life events such as a diagnosis of a deadly disease, breakdown of peace and order in the community, or the death of a loved one can trigger the body’s stress response. Unfortunately, stress often builds up without even the person noticing it or not giving it a thought – until the symptoms emerge.

Writers Ann Pietrangelo and Stephanie Watson, at the website www.healthline.com, identify the common symptoms of chronic stress – irritability, anxiety, depression, headaches, and insomnia, among others. They explain that the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, once released, rev up the person’s heartbeat and send blood rushing to certain areas of the body for the “fight or flight” response. When the stressful situation is gone the hypothalamus tells all systems to go back to normal. But if the central nervous system fails to return to normal, or if the stressor doesn’t go away, the response will continue, resulting in chronic stress.

Under stress, the heart pumps faster and works too hard for too long. Stress hormones cause the blood vessels to constrict and divert more oxygen to the muscles for more strength to take action. It also raises blood pressure and increases the risks of stroke or heart attack.

Chronic stress, Pietrangelo and Watson point out, is known to aggravate breathing problems like asthma and emphysema, making it harder for the person to breathe. It is also a factor in behaviors such as overeating or not eating enough, alcohol or drug abuse, and social withdrawal. The writers cite, as well, yet another health risk that can develop from chronic stress – Type 2 diabetes, as the liver produces extra blood sugar (glucose) to give a boost of energy for the “fight or flight” response. The body may not be able to keep up with this extra glucose surge if it occurs frequently.

The digestive system can get upset, too, from the rush of hormones, rapid breathing, and increased heart rate. The person is more likely to have heartburn or acid reflux due to an increase in stomach acid. And there’s the risk for existing ulcers to act up, as well as of diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, or a stomachache as stress also affects the way food moves through the body.

Indeed, stress affects the body in many ways. The muscles tense up in trying to protect themselves from injury. Tight muscles cause headaches, back and shoulder pain, and body aches.

Loss of sexual desire is also not unusual when one is under constant stress. While short-term stress may cause men to produce more of the male hormone testosterone, if stress continues for a long time a man’s testosterone levels can begin to drop and can interfere with sperm production and cause erectile dysfunction. For women, stress can affect the menstrual cycle and lead to irregular, heavier, or more painful periods.

Pietrangelo and Watson agree that stress stimulates the immune system, which is a boost for avoiding infections and healing wounds. But habitual stress can weaken the immune system and reduce the body’s resistance to diseases. People under chronic stress are more susceptible to viral illnesses – like flu, colds, and other infections – and takes longer time to recover from an illness or injury.