Nancy
Everyone is aware of the physical effects of stress on their own body. However, are you aware of the consequences that these emotions have on the many organs and systems that comprise your body? There is a considerable probability that you have not thought about it. You are aware of the physical changes occurring in your body (your hands are sweating, your heart is beating, and you feel lightheaded), but what about the chemical changes?
It is a good idea to “visualise” what is happening inside your body since it helps you comprehend how dangerous stress can be and, if feasible, how to manage it. This is because it is a good idea to “visualise” what is happening within your body.
The cardiovascular system and the heart in particular
In every possible way, the heart is comparable to a muscle. A heart that is thin and strong lacks extra fat and operates correctly. It will shrink like a watch regardless of how long you live.
All of this, however, may be altered by stress-induced hormones. They boost the heart rate for one reason. This is partly owing to the fact that these hormones cause the heart to beat faster, but it is also because the blood vessels get narrower. To further understand this notion, consider a water pump.
Either a thick pipe with a half-inch diameter or a huge pipe with a one-inch diameter may provide access to water. If the pump used a half-inch size, it would have to work considerably harder to move the same amount of water, which would take a very long time. It is the same with your heart, except that it must maintain a certain oxygen level to avoid the death of your cells owing to an insufficient oxygen supply.
Digestive System
Do you ever get the sensation of “butterflies” in your stomach when you’re anxious or under great stress? Do you have trouble controlling your bowel motions or eating? This phenomenon is mostly attributable to these hormones.
For example, when you’re under stress, your stomach generates more acid, which may accelerate digestion (and make you want to use the restroom) or cause acid reflux and heartburn in some individuals. Therefore, it is often assumed that persons who experience high stress are more likely to get stomach ulcers.
It is possible to suffer from diarrhoea and a nutritional shortage if food seems to travel through the intestines faster than usual.
The system responsible for respiration
Due to the close relationship between our respiratory and circulatory systems, you may notice that your heart rate and breathing speed up when you participate in physical exercise. This is because the blood needs oxygen to operate correctly. The great majority of people can handle this circumstance pretty well, but it is quite risky for you if you have asthma or another lung condition. Stress may trigger an asthma attack in which the airways get restricted, and breathing becomes difficult. Another common panic attack symptom is fast breathing, sometimes known as hyperventilation (or insensitivity to adrenalin).
The Procedures Involved in Procreation
Millions of people can attest that stress is the single most detrimental factor to one’s sexual health. However, this is not just a psychological problem; it may also be a physical one since it makes it harder for a man to get and sustain an erection. Women can have complications with their menstrual cycles, resulting in extremely painful periods or hormone levels that change substantially during the month.
Because cortisol stops the testicles from making testosterone properly, it leads men to lose their desire for sexual activity. If you bring your work into the bedroom, it may irreparably harm your sexual life.
The Endocrine System’s Glandular Subsystem
Some of which are also organs, endocrine glands are responsible for generating and distributing hormones via circulation. These organs include the adrenal glands, the liver, and the pancreas, as examples. The body stimulates the adrenal glands to create more cortisol and adrenaline, the two most important stress chemicals. The adrenal glands generate cortisol and adrenaline.
To settle you down, your liver may release some of the glycogen it has stored in the form of glucose if it detects that you are upset. In addition, the pancreas may produce more insulin, and after the body’s stress response diminishes, everything will return to normal.
However, those with diabetes, pre-diabetes, or glucose sensitivity will learn that not all of the sugar that circulates is restored. It is instead permissible to engage in disruptive behaviour. Therefore, individuals with diabetes should avoid stress at all costs.
