Stress affects the body in many different ways. While the short term physical responses to stress are well known, some longer term effects of stress are less well understood. However, thanks to ongoing research a lot more is known about stress than was the case even a few decades ago.
Stress causes a physical response known as "fight or flight". Adrenaline, a hormone floods our system, enabling us to better fight off or to escape from a dangerous situation. The heart and respiratory rates increase, our senses are heightened and our muscles tense. Most animals have a similar response to danger.
How all of this works is that the hypothalamus gland is activated by stress. Our hormonal system cannot distinguish between different types of stress stimuli, but it does react differently depending on the perceived severity of the threat as well as whether not the threat is an imminent one.
When the sympathetic nervous system receives the alarm signal from the brain, it responds by flooding the body with stress hormones. Adrenaline is the best known of these but others include norepinephrine and cortisol. These enter the bloodstream and charge around the body directing operations to prepare us to respond to the danger.
The increase in heart rate allows more blood to reach our large muscle groups so that we are prepared to run faster or fight harder. In order to reduce bleeding in case of injury, the blood vessels close to the surface of the skin constrict and our blood sugar levels spike to give us more energy and a faster reaction time.
While our bodies are experiencing the fight or flight response, other systems slow down ? growth hormones, immune function, reproductive and digestive function are all affected.
If we are facing a real physical threat, these autonomic responses are incredibly useful and can help us to survive a dangerous situation.
However, the vast majority of situations which provoke this response in modern man have nothing to do with physical threats, but rather workplace deadlines and the like. As tempting as it may be to either run away or punch your boss, it's generally not appropriate.
When we have this response and do not have to actually respond in a "fight or flight" fashion, then the physical effects linger. In many case, this lasts until the next stressful stimulus comes up.
Because of this, many people spend a great deal of their time in this heightened state; something not conducive to good physical (or mental) health. While the respiratory system and the heart are working overtime, the rest of the body, including important systems like the digestive, immune and reproductive systems may be underactive, leading to health problems including heart disease.
The effects of stress on the body are harmful to our cardiovascular system and keep our immune system from doing its job properly ? it's no mystery why people get sick so often these days!
Stress causes a physical response known as "fight or flight". Adrenaline, a hormone floods our system, enabling us to better fight off or to escape from a dangerous situation. The heart and respiratory rates increase, our senses are heightened and our muscles tense. Most animals have a similar response to danger.
How all of this works is that the hypothalamus gland is activated by stress. Our hormonal system cannot distinguish between different types of stress stimuli, but it does react differently depending on the perceived severity of the threat as well as whether not the threat is an imminent one.
When the sympathetic nervous system receives the alarm signal from the brain, it responds by flooding the body with stress hormones. Adrenaline is the best known of these but others include norepinephrine and cortisol. These enter the bloodstream and charge around the body directing operations to prepare us to respond to the danger.
The increase in heart rate allows more blood to reach our large muscle groups so that we are prepared to run faster or fight harder. In order to reduce bleeding in case of injury, the blood vessels close to the surface of the skin constrict and our blood sugar levels spike to give us more energy and a faster reaction time.
While our bodies are experiencing the fight or flight response, other systems slow down ? growth hormones, immune function, reproductive and digestive function are all affected.
If we are facing a real physical threat, these autonomic responses are incredibly useful and can help us to survive a dangerous situation.
However, the vast majority of situations which provoke this response in modern man have nothing to do with physical threats, but rather workplace deadlines and the like. As tempting as it may be to either run away or punch your boss, it's generally not appropriate.
When we have this response and do not have to actually respond in a "fight or flight" fashion, then the physical effects linger. In many case, this lasts until the next stressful stimulus comes up.
Because of this, many people spend a great deal of their time in this heightened state; something not conducive to good physical (or mental) health. While the respiratory system and the heart are working overtime, the rest of the body, including important systems like the digestive, immune and reproductive systems may be underactive, leading to health problems including heart disease.
The effects of stress on the body are harmful to our cardiovascular system and keep our immune system from doing its job properly ? it's no mystery why people get sick so often these days!
About the Author:
About the author: Samantha Jones, shares her knowledge that can help you with your Anxiety Therapy. Visit Stress And Anxiety Relief .com where we have the answers you are looking for to relieve stress.
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