Stress & Your Health
What is Stress?
Stress can be defined as the brain's response to demands.There are at least three different types of stress.
> Routine stress related to the pressures of work, family, and other daily responsibilities.
> Stress brought about by negative change, such as losing a job, divorce, or illness.
> Traumatic stress, experienced in an event like a major accident, war, assault, or a natural disaster where one may be seriously hurt or in danger of being killed.
How Does it Affect The Body?
The body responds to each type of stress in similar ways. Though most people may have different symptoms of stress there are still a number of physiological changes that can be dangerous for your health.
Cortisol
When stressed, the adrenal glands pump out the hormone cortisol, which raises blood pressure and blood sugar (among other things). This can be helpful in dangerous situations, but not so much if it lasts over a long period of time.
Studies have linked cortisol to cravings for sugar and fat. Scientists beleive the hormone binds to receptors in the brain that control food intake. If you already have a high body mass index, you may be even more susceptible.
Stress has also been correlated with weight gain. This link may be due to poor eating during times of stress, but cortisol may also increase the amount of body fat your body hangs onto and enlarge the fat cells. Higher levels of cortisol have also been linked to more deep-abdominal fat.
Heart Attack
The exact relationship between stress and heart attacks is still unclear, but evidence is mounting that there is one. A recent study of 200,000 employees in Europe found that people who have stressful jobs and little decision-making power at work are 23% more likely to have a first heart attack than people with less job-related stress.
Sleep
Stress can cause hyperarousal, a biological state in which people just don't feel sleepy.
While major stressful events can cause insomnia that passes once the stress is over, long-term exposure to chronic stress can also disrupt sleep and contribute to sleep disorders.
Digestion
Heartburn, stomach cramping, and diarrhea can all be caused by or worsened by stress.
In particular, irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, which is characterized by pain and bouts of constipation and diarrhea is thought to be fueled in part by stress
There are several other ways that stress can affect your health. The key to avoiding these issues is acknowledging your triggers and effectively managing your stress.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20642595_17,00.html