How is stress harmful to my health?

When you think about stress, you should think about the adrenal glands. Stress takes many forms both physical and mental: dealing with a divorce, recovering from a broken bone or fighting an infection. Just getting through the day requires the body to deal with many stressors.

Each adrenal gland has an outer layer called the cortex and an inner layer called the medulla which each produce different hormones. The inner layer or medulla produces epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones are part of the ‘fight or flight’ response. They work together to give the body the sudden burst of energy that’s needed in times of emergency.

The outer layer, or adrenal cortex, produces substances including cortisol. Cortisol, or hydrocortisone, is the main human stress hormone. Cortisol helps mediate and deal with stress, appetite, energy, digestion, joint movement, inflammation and pain, decreases allergies and fever, enhances the immune system, and aids in the stabilization of blood sugar.

Small increases in cortisol levels can be beneficial and can help with energy levels, mental clarity and immune system function. When we encounter a stressful event, our pupils dilate, our focus improves, breathing deepens, appetite is suppressed and our digestive system shuts off temporarily. At the same time, cortisol and adrenaline are released, which help mobilize carbohydrates and fat for immediate energy. Once the stressor has passed, adrenaline returns to normal but cortisol remains elevated to increase our appetite because our body assumes that we’ve physically exerted ourselves and need to replenish our energy reserves by consuming a lot of calories. This coping mechanism has been vital to survival throughout our existence.

Modern stressors don’t require fighting or fleeing or otherwise engaging in physical activity to survive. Another change is that in the past, stress was typically infrequent and short-lived. Unfortunately, in today’s busy world, the body’s stress response is activated so often that the body doesn’t always have a chance to return to normal, resulting in a state of chronic stress. The adrenal glands produce more cortisol to keep up with the demand, but after a while, the gland is working just as hard, but producing less cortisol. This can lead to adrenal fatigue and a collection of nonspecific symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, nervousness, sleep disturbances and digestive problems.