It is known for a fact that the effects of stress are felt by many of us at some point in our lives. Even young children are not spared from experiencing stress. Stress comes in different sizes and levels and affects several aspects of your life. Various types of stress, such as emotional, mental, or physical, are part of our daily existence, and coping with them in the right way will help you gain control of your life and maintain good health.
Dealing with stress daily is now part of our lives. Stress can be caused by mundane things such as searching for a lost key or being stuck in traffic. It can also be a deeper stress level, such as losing a job or facing a dangerous situation. The effects of stress have various implications on an emotional or mental level and on our overall health. Over 43% of all adult individuals are suffering from some form of stress, and more astonishing is that 75 to 90% of consultations with physicians are attributed to stress, which is the cause for various ailments and conditions. It is projected that more than 300 million sufferers worldwide are losing productivity each year due to some form of stress.
Background on the term “Stress”
As for the record, the term “stress” is not generally accepted in science since it is a very subjective term and does not have a definite definition. The history of the term “stress” was attributed to Hans Selye when, in 1936, he defined it as “the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change”. He conducted many experiments that subjected lab animals to different stimuli that would affect them emotionally and physically. Through his studies, he successfully concluded that stress can affect one’s overall health condition. In his experiments, the animals developed various types of illnesses that were very similar to what humans may experience. These illnesses included heart disease, arthritis, kidney disease, and even stroke when the animals were plagued with lingering stress. Selye’s research studies were opposed to what was considered to be the usual causes of diseases during his time.
The term “Stress” as Medically Defined
According to the Medical Dictionary from www.thefreedictionary.com, “stress” is an organism’s total response to environmental demands or pressures.
The initial studies on stress were conducted during the 1950s, and this term describes the actual causes and effects experienced during a period of pressure. In recent studies on stress, the word “stressor” means a stimulus that incites or activates a stress response in an individual. Generally, stress is attributed to the external response measured by changes in skin reactions, glandular secretions, and other forms of physical manifestations.
The Affects of Stress on Our Bodies
Stress is a natural reaction to a stimulus that triggers specific changes in the body when subjected to it. Each organ in the body reacts differently to stress because each area has its natural response when coping with stressful situations. The effects of stress are described below, and various body systems are affected when one faces threatening adversities or is on the verge of being harmed. What is so interesting is that no matter whether the threat is perceived or the threat is causing harm, the response from our body is the same. So, whether you are running from a lion, are nervous and upset while driving in traffic, or watching a horror movie, many of these stress responses occur. Our bodies and minds can not tell the difference between the cause of the stress, perceived or actual, putting our reactions to stress in motion.
- Brain: The brain releases hormones that activate the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal system. Naturally, the brain releases certain stress hormones such as cortisol. Cortisol regulates many bodily systems, including the lungs, circulatory, heart, immune, skin, and metabolism, to quickly enable the body to deal with stress. Neurotransmitters called “Catecholamines” are also released, including adrenaline, to trigger an emotional response. Effects on short- and long-term memory are evident during stress, including the body’s ability to concentrate and reason. In several recent studies, it was concluded that the brain can misinterpret a chemical signal. This causes the brain to switch on instead of off when something is wrongly perceived. This is referred to as the overdrive position and is described as when the brain fails to address and correct the stress response.
- Heart, Circulation, and Lungs: In stressful events, the major organs in the body, such as the heart, circulatory system, and lungs, are also affected. In a highly stressful situation, when fear sets in, our heart rate as well as blood pressure rapidly increases. Breathing also becomes faster while the lungs are taking in more oxygen. Red and white blood cells are quickly discharged from the spleen to transport more oxygenated blood. Blood circulation will significantly increase by 300 to 400 percent, preparing the brain, lungs and muscles for the added pressures and demands of stress.
- Immune System: When confronted with a fight or flight scenario, the immune system works similarly with a military tactic, deploying more soldiers to critical locations. Certain areas of the immune system have decreased steroid hormone production to pave the way for the immune system to strategically position and prepare infection-fighting molecules, which include white blood cells. These immune defenses are being sent all over the body, especially to the skin and lymph nodes, where infection or injury will likely occur. This is one way your body copes with stressful and dangerous situations by providing additional defenses.
- The Mouth and Throat: When a person is in a dangerous situation or in harm’s way of a life-threatening event, the mouth and throat area will become dry since fluids are diverted to other areas of the body. This may cause difficulty with speech, especially if the throat muscles are in spasm.
- The Skin: Blood also circulates and flows away from the skin, giving more importance to the vital organs in the body, such as the heart and other important muscle tissues. Apart from giving extra support to the vital organs, another defense mechanism of the body is to divert blood from the areas that might be prone to injuries and wound inflictions that could lead to severe blood loss during a possible confrontation. Physical manifestations of this occurring are sweaty, clammy, and cold skin.
- Metabolic Reactions: During a stressful event, the metabolism slows down, reducing the digestive system’s activities. This also helps conserve energy.
- The Relaxation Response: This is the final reaction phase of the body in an acute stressful situation. Once the imminent danger or harm has passed and the body is found to be unharmed, the level of stress hormones returns to normal. This is the “relaxation response,” allowing the body to revert back to normal while regulating the different systems in the body.
Tips for Handling the Effects of Stress
If you are under constant stress, it is best to try to figure out what is causing it. I know this is easier said than done. Most experts recommend keeping a journal to record when stress increases. This allows you to record conversations, weather, activities, or other things that occurred that may have contributed to your stress. I kept a journal in the beginning when I began to learn how to manage my chronic pain, and found it helpful to identify some of my triggers. Many people find that exercising, meditation, yoga, and pilates help them with their stress. If you feel you need more help, you may want to look into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps individuals identify triggers and their responses to them. Many supplements support the body during times of stress such as the Nervous System Pack and NutriCalm. Stress isn’t something to take lightly, as you can see from the list above, it does affect your health! Trying to manage the effects of stress on your body is important.
Sources: The American Institute of Stress, What is Stress, https://www.stress.org/what-is-stress/
The Free Dictionary – Definition of Stress, https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/stress
American Psychological Association, How Stress Affects Your Health, https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress.aspx
Stress | University of Maryland Medical Center, https://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/stress#ixzz2gF0Bkn00