April, Stress Awareness Month, is a great time to learn more about stress, how it affects your brain and the rest of your body, and how to manage it.
Everyone deals with stress at one time or another. You overslept and that important meeting is this morning! You’re printing the final report and your printer jams… again. The babysitter is sick. All of the above. We can all think of many stressful scenarios. We know how we feel when these things happen but it’s important to remember that stress doesn’t just happen in our minds. Multiple organs and systems in our body are affected.
When the nervous system detects a stressful situation or fear, it sends a message to the brain, “Tell the adrenal glands to release cortisol.” You feel a rush of adrenaline which will often make you feel more alert and clear-headed. Your breathing and heart rate get faster. Your body prepares to conserve its resources.
The brain perceives the fearful situation and releases the cortisol. This hormone originates in the hypothalamus gland in the brain and is responsible for the “fight or flight” response. Cortisol in the bloodstream reaches the kidneys which then release glucose. This supplies your body with the energy it needs to deal with the stressful situation.
The digestive system slows allowing more resources to be used in more vital body areas. You may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, etc.
Your cardiovascular system responds to stress by dilating the large blood vessels that go to the heart, and increasing the heart rate. Your cardiovascular system is well-prepared to handle temporary stress, but long-term stress can lead to heart arrhythmias and heart attack.
The respiration system responds by allowing shorter and shallower breathing, sometimes resulting in hyperventilation and fainting.
Over time, your musculoskeletal system responds to stress by losing bone density. In cases of acute stress, muscles contract. If they are not allowed to release, you may experience severe headaches, visual disturbances and “knots” in your muscles.
In women the reproductive system may respond to long-term stress by ceasing menstruation and causing a reduction in libido. In men, there may be decreased sperm production and impotence.
Each of our bodily systems depends on the others. That makes it vitally important to learn what our stressors are and work to eliminate as many as possible. When elimination isn’t possible, relaxation and stress-reduction techniques like meditation, deep breathing and getting at least twenty minutes of aerobic exercise daily will help to control the stress that you experience both short-term and over the long run.
Learn your individual stress triggers. Then work in daily techniques to help you deal with those triggers. You’ll have a happier, healthier life.
