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How Does Stress Affect Health (Part II).....How does stress affect health? To Fight or to Flight! A young man attending our workshops expressed his anxiety around current failures. He is overwhelmed with panic. The physiological effects on his body have taken over. The more he thinks about what happened, the more intense the physiological symptoms he experiences. It's as if he has just experienced a trauma. He switches from wanting to sneak away from the world to fighting with the people he loves. He is at war...with himself. Our bodies respond as if they are under attack. They go into FIGHT or FLIGHT. Over a period of time this has an effect on health. How does stress affect health? Does this look like you?
Why do we react like this? The physiological effects of stress!It's absolutely incredible what you are capable of when you are in FIGHT or FLIGHT mode. Your cortisol, adrenalin, noradrenalin, dorpamine and endorphins get kicking. There is a billion dollar illegal and legal drug trade built around stimulating, simulating and controlling these chemicals and hormones. In other words, when anything threatening or exciting happens ...chemicals and hormones are produced to:
But too much or too little and everything goes out of whack. And each component has a relationship to everything else. All it takes is damage to one area to imbalance the rest. Stress triggers an increase in these chemicals and hormones. (See the diagram below) This increases heart rate, blood flow and blood sugar. At the same time, seratonin is blocked and sleep patterns are disrupted. The combination begins a downwards spiral. You can learn how to change the cycle.
How does stress affect health? A Peek for the Biologically Not Interested!(For the Biologically Smart a comprehensive guide is coming soon) 1. A perceived positive or negative stressful event takes place. 2. The brain sends messages to the pituitary and adrenal glands to double up on: Adrenalin and cortisol- This pumps up your heart rate and blood flow. Pupils dilate, breathing shortens, blood pressure and sugar levels increase. Your FIGHT or FLIGHT ability takes over. You are now in superhero mode. Endorphins and dorpamine- live next to each other. Endorphins regulate pain. Dorpamine gives you drive and fires up your belly. It allows you to experience pleasure. Not enough and you'll feel unmotivated and cry at the slightest pain. Nothing gives you interest or pleasure. Noradrenalin is your energizer. Without it you will feel lethargic and tired. The land of the couch potato, in front of the television, will allure you. How does stress affect health? The Effects on the Body!It's important to understand how stress affects health and the immune system. It's not only your sleep cycle that cortisol disrupts. It also acts as an immune suppressant. This leaves the body open to infections. Some medications used to treat allergies have steroids/ cortisol in them. Long term use leads to a breakdown of the immune system. The weaker your immune system, the more allergies you will have. Over time, your body weakens and illness sets in.
How does stress affect health? The Happy SLEEP Factory!If you really want to answer the question,'how does stress affect health?' - look no further than the last time you had sleepless nights. Sleep keeps people sane. You may live on 2 hours a night comfortably. I on the other hand need my eight hours a night. Anything less than seven and I am not a pretty picture. It wasn't always that way. In my younger days I could go through the night, every night. These days lack of sleep leaves me moody, teary eyed and quite dysfunctional. People change. Change requires adaptation. Your needs may be different. But whatever the need is, respect your sleep cycle. Under stress, sleep is the first to go. SERATONIN regulates your sleep cycles. According to Dr. Ellen Weber October 14, 2006¹ cortisol inhibits seratonin. She says that staying angry and resentful only keeps you trapped in a vicious cycle. For more definitions on these chemicals and hormones, click here for
serotonin and cortisol!
Though we can advise you, based on our personal experiences and the experiences of others, we are not medical experts. Nor have these articles been checked by a medical expert. We can only point you in the right direction. We advise you to see your doctor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms or health effects described. Now that you understand just how serious stress can be for overall health, if you think you are suffering from stress, visit a professional in your area. You will find the exercises and practical activities available here will support your doctor or psychologist's programs. Reference 1. Ellen Weber founded and is CEO of the MITA (Multiple Intelligence Teaching Approach) Center, which brings brain based methods to secondary and higher education. She is author of several books, including MI Strategies in the Classroom and Beyond: Using Roundtable Learning (2005). Needham Heights, MA, Allyn & Bacon. You may contact her at: The MITA Center, P.O. Box 347, Pittsford, NY 14534. Kalavati Home Page
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