How does stress affect the body?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:When you are stressed, your body releases a flood of adrenaline, cortisone, and other stress hormones that induce physiologic changes. The heart pounds and blood pressure rises. You start to breathe more rapidly, and you feel more alert. Blood races to your brain and heart and moves away from the kidneys, liver, stomach, and skin. Your blood sugar level rises, as do the amounts of fats and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol, in your bloodstream. Unfortunately, the amount of proteins that cause inflammation, hazardous clotting factors, and platelets in the blood increases. In all, stress causes substantial system-wide changes.
Physically, chronic stress alters the immune responses, causing a decrease in the production of T and B cells, two types of white blood cells essential for fighting virus-infected cells, foreign cells, and cancer cells. Chronic stress also raises blood pressure.
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When you are stressed, your body releases a flood of adrenaline, cortisone, and other stress hormones that induce physiologic changes. The heart pounds and blood pressure rises. You start to breathe more rapidly, and you feel more alert.... More -
Dr. Dean Ornish answered:Emotional stress comes in two basic categories: acute and chronic. We are designed to cope with acute stress much better than with chronic stress.
The body responds to stress - whether emotional stress (perceived danger) or physical stress (extreme temperature changes or exertion) - by activating a series of mechanisms collectively known as the fight-or-flight response, which prepares us either to fight or to run.
The body does this in two ways. First, there are direct connections between your brain and your heart. These nerves, called the sympathetic nervous system, stimulate receptors in the heart that make it beat faster and harder and can cause the coronary arteries to constrict. Second, the brain causes other organs, such as your adrenal glands, to secrete stress hormone~ such as adrenaline and steroids such as cortisol, which circulate in the blood until they reach the heart. Acute stress tends to cause rises in production of adrenaline and its relative, noradrenaline, whereas chronic stress causes increases in cortisol production.
As a result of signals from these hormones, a series of physiological reactions occur:
- Our muscles begin to contract, thereby fortifying our "body armor."
- We are more protected from bodily injury.
- Our metabolism speeds up, providing more strength and energy with which to fight or run.
- Both our heart rate and the amount of blood pumped with each beat increase.
- Our rate of breathing begins to increase, providing more oxygen to do battle or to run from danger.
- Our digestive system begins to shut down, diverting more blood and energy to the large muscles needed to fight or run.
- The pupils of our eyes begin to dilate, aiding vision.
- Other senses such as hearing also become heightened.
- We feel an urge to urinate and move the bowels, to reduce the danger of infection if abdominal injury should occur.
- Arteries in our arms and legs begin to constrict, so that less blood will be lost if we become wounded or injured. (You may notice that your hands get cold during times of stress, which is the principle behind the "stress cards" in which the color of the card you hold begins to change as you become more relaxed.)
- Our blood clots more quickly, so we'll lose less blood if we become wounded or injured.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulEmotional stress comes in two basic categories: acute and chronic. We are designed to cope with acute stress much better than with chronic stress. The body responds to stress - whether emotional stress (perceived danger) or physical stress (extreme... More -
Discovery Health answered:The hormones released during the body's stress response affect the body in several ways. Short-term stress helps people perform at a higher level, improving memory and the immune system. In fact, the body needs periodic stimulation to keep the stress response sharp. When you perceive stress all around you, however, the stress response never stops. Stress hormones make the body process sugar quickly, and without sugar, the hormones damage tissue and muscle. Over time, constant stress can lead to depression, bone loss, digestive issues, heart disease and sleep disorders.
Helpful? 2 people found this helpfulThe hormones released during the body's stress response affect the body in several ways. Short-term stress helps people perform at a higher level, improving memory and the immune system. In fact, the body needs periodic stimulation to keep the... More -
Dr. William D. Knopf of Piedmont Heart Institute answered:Everyone has stress. We have short-term stress, like getting lost while driving or missing the bus. Even everyday events, such as planning a meal or making time for errands, can be stressful. This kind of stress can make us feel worried or anxious.
Other times, we face long-term stress, such as racial discrimination, a life-threatening illness, or divorce. These stressful events also affect your health on many levels. Long-term stress is real and can increase your risk for some health problems, like depression.
Both short and long-term stress can have effects on your body. Research is starting to show the serious effects of stress on our bodies. Stress triggers changes in our bodies and makes us more likely to get sick. It can also make problems we already have worse.
It can play a part in these problems:
• Trouble sleeping
• Headaches
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Irritability
• Lack of energy
• Lack of concentration
• Eating too much or not at all
• AngerSadness
• Higher risk of asthma and arthritis flare-ups
• Tension
• Stomach cramping
• Stomach bloating
• Skin problems, like hives
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Weight gain or loss
• Heart problems
• High blood pressure
• Irritable bowel syndromeDiabetes
• Neck and/or back pain
• Less sexual desire
• Harder to get pregnantThis answer from the National Women's Health Information Center has been reviewed and/or edited by Dr. William D. Knopf.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulEveryone has stress. We have short-term stress, like getting lost while driving or missing the bus. Even everyday events, such as planning a meal or making time for errands, can be stressful. This kind of stress can make us feel worried or... More -
Ben Kaminsky answered:Chronic or daily stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, stimulating the release of hormones, such as cortisol. A constant saturation of cortisol results in many physical changes in the body, including increased heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. Under normal conditions these changes subside quickly, but chronic stressors, including anxiety, fear, anger, and grief, can keep the nervous system perpetually aroused. Prolonged stress has been found to contribute to illness and lowered immune systems in both human and animal models.
Given the recent findings that show stress contributing to skin problems and diseases, it seems logical to presume that decreasing stress can decrease a person’s amount and duration of illness. The most convincing evidence appears in two small but well-done studies by researchers at the UCLA School of Medicine published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. The first study found that malignant melanoma patients trained in relaxation techniques showed significant increases in the number and activity of cancer-slaying natural killer cells. The second study, a recently published six-year follow-up, found higher mortality among the untrained group or those who did not use relaxation techniques.
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Chronic or daily stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, stimulating the release of hormones, such as cortisol. A constant saturation of cortisol results in many physical changes in the body, including increased heart rate,... More -
Piedmont Heart Institute answered:Stress has a clear impact on our bodies. When we are scared or tense, the heart races and our breathing becomes shallow. When our lives are particularly stressful, many of us experience headaches, digestive problems, insomnia, and a host of other discomforts. Some research provides evidence that chronic stress can make us more prone to anxiety and depression and put us at a higher risk of experiencing intense hot flashes and insomnia.
This answer is based on the source infromation from the National Women's Health Information Center.
Stress has a clear impact on our bodies. When we are scared or tense, the heart races and our breathing becomes shallow. When our lives are particularly stressful, many of us experience headaches, digestive problems, insomnia, and a host of other... More -
Dr. Edward Phillips answered:Your body does a poor job of distinguishing between life-threatening events—the house is on fire!—and minor-league stressful situations. No matter what the trigger is, your heart beats faster than normal, you breathe more quickly, your blood pressure rises, and your muscles prepare to spring into action. Anger or anxiety triggered by less momentous sources of stress, such as financial worries, traffic jams, or even worry about problems that haven't actually occurred, doesn't find a quick physical release. Instead, it tends to build up as the day wears on. Physical and psychological symptoms of stress—a clenched jaw, shakiness, anxious feelings—compound this, creating a negative, self-perpetuating cycle that may prompt health problems over time.
High blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, is a prime example. Another is suppression of the immune system, which slows healing and makes you more susceptible to colds. Stress may contribute to, or exacerbate, many health problems, including allergic skin reactions, anxiety and depression, headaches, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, and pain springing from various conditions.Your body does a poor job of distinguishing between life-threatening events—the house is on fire!—and minor-league stressful situations. No matter what the trigger is, your heart beats faster than normal, you breathe more quickly,... More -
Stress causes a hormonal release of catecholamines and steroids. It is a "fight or flight" response to a stimulus. Long-term stress can affect the immune system, can increase blood pressure, and can increase the likelihood of stroke and heart attack. Immediate stress causes immediate reactions, while chronic stress can cause more prolonged and chronic changes. Stress not only affects the way we psychologically respond but also how our body responds physically.Stress causes a hormonal release of catecholamines and steroids. It is a "fight or flight" response to a stimulus. Long-term stress can affect the immune system, can increase blood pressure, and can increase the likelihood of stroke and heart... More
