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| Stress–what
is it and what can I do about it? We often complain about stress; however, most of us don’t know how it affects our physiology or our body’s ability to function. Seventy five to ninety percent of all visits to primary care physicians are due to stress-related conditions. This staggering statistic alone warrants that patients and doctors have a clear understanding of how stress affects health Stress is classified as any disruption in homeostasis; in other words, any disruption in physiologic or emotional balance. The classic example of stress is the fight or flight reaction to a life-threatening event. This stress reaction is an instinctive stress response that is common to all animals. When faced with a threatening situation, all body systems maximize efforts toward running or fighting, because an alarm has gone off, warning that there is a life-threatening stress. Non-essential functions that do not aid in fighting or running are neglected in favor of systems that do take part in fighting or running from a threat or stressor. The stress response serves us well when we are attempting to avoid physical danger, allowing us to escape potentially life-threatening circumstances. However, most of us never face lifethreatening situations, but instead are confronted with emotional stressors on a daily basis. Emotional stressors do not require that we run or fight, but require prolonged intensive thought and decision making processes. Unfortunately with time, the prolonged physiological affects of the stress response eventually takes its toll on our bodies. How does stress affect me? To better understand the long term affect of stress on our health, let’s review the physiological changes which occur in response to stress. First, our body increases blood flow and energy (glucose) to our muscles to maximize muscle strength and agility to ensure that we are prepared for a possible long fight or run. Our heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing increases, as well thereby providing more energy and oxygen to our muscles. Blood glucose (sugar) levels in the blood are increased to provide more energy. Brain function and alertness is increased allowing us to think quickly. All other functions that are not related to |
the stress response
are neglected. Bowel function is decreased; hormone production
is disrupted; thyroid and kidney function is suboptimal; the immune
system is decreased; and insulin, blood sugar (glucose), and lipid
storage control are neglected because the muscles need a maximum
supply of glucose. This shift in priorities works well as long
as the stress is short lived. If the stress is chronic or prolonged,
the stress response causes more problems than it prevents. Chronic Stress As the stress becomes chronic, the shift in priorities becomes a problem. Chronic stress may be due to work or family crisis, chronic illnesses, infections, pain, financial problems, loss of a loved one, or environmental exposure. Prolonged stressors, even though they are not immediately life threatening, can be a source of much anxiety and eventually lead to depression. Cortisol is a major hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Its production takes priority over all the other hormones. This hormone mediates the physiological changes which occur in response to stress. Cortisol production takes priority over female sex hormone production, which leads to irregular periods, worsening PMS, perimenopause, and menopausal symptoms. Chronic stress decreases thyroid hormone function. Decreased thyroid function causes fatigue and weight gain. Insulin function is decreased, causing elevated blood sugar and eventually diabetes. Bowel function is altered, causing a decrease in absorption of nutrients and irritable bowel symptoms. Tired in the morning… wired at night Eventually, the body’s ability to make cortisol at high levels diminishes. In healthy individuals cortisol is normally elevated in the morning and decreases as the day progresses. This allows you to be alert and productive in the morning and to wind down as the day closes, so that you can sleep at night. With prolonged stress, adrenal functioning diminishes. As cortisol levels drop, so does your ability to cope with daily stressors. The normal rhythm of cortisol production may be reversed leading to low cortisol levels in the morning and high nighttime cortisol levels. These reversed cortisol levels produce fatigue during the day and insomnia at bedtime, thus making you feel tired and wired. |
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