Research
Co?ee raises your cortisol level, increases
your feelings of stress and anxiety, and
raises your blood pressure. One study found
that a large dose of ca?eine can mimic the
symptoms of anxiety disorders. Withdrawal
from ca?eine does too. Other studies found
that people with panic disorder react more
strongly to the identical amounts of ca?eine
than a ‘typical’ person. [vii]
production and release of
corticosteroids and cortisol
from the cortex of the adrenal
glands. These chemicals put
the body into a high ‘readiness’
state. Heart rate, blood
pressure, and respiration rise
so that muscles and the brain
are supplied with more blood
and, consequently, more oxygen. Blood ?ow decreases to
the stomach, kidneys, skin, and liver. Sexual and immune
functions are suppressed. Endorphins - natural opiates
- are released to relieve potential pain. Fats and sugars
are produced to supply extra energy. The sympathetic
nervous system is stimulated. (The parasympathetic
system has the opposite e?ect on the body – turning
down the various systems.) Flight and ?ght burns up the
glucocorticoids – and once the person is safe, the body’s
chemistry returns to normal. The immune systems
starts to work again as the body rests and repairs itself.
Note that glucocorticoids act on the hypothalamus and
pituitary to suppress CRH and ACTH production. This
is a negative feedback cycle.
But what happens if the stressor continues? In this
case, the glucocorticoids accumulate in the body and
their action can be toxic. One way of burning them up is
strenuous exercise (which it thinks is like ?ght or ?ight
response).
This response system is known as the HPA
(Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal) [vi] axis (see Figure
1). It’s also associated with a number of illnesses such
as anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder,
depression, ?bromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Doctors will usually treat these symptoms with
antidepressants. We know an alternative therapy!
The hypothalamus also produces ThyrotropinReleasing Hormone (TRH) which stimulate the thyroid
gland to secrete thyroxine. Thyroxine controls the rate
of metabolic processes in the body.
The adrenal gland is also stimulated by the
sympathetic nervous system. Adrenaline and
noradrenaline are produced in the adrenal medulla,
and they increase heart rate and respiration
rate, and raise blood pressure. Adrenaline and
noradrenaline positively feedback to the pituitary and
increase the breakdown of pro-opiomelanocortins
(POMCs)
into
ACTH
and
?-endorphins.
?
?
So what you end up with
is:
? Adrenaline, which tends
to act more strongly on
beta receptors (eg lipolysis,
increasing insulin
secretion, increasing
heart rate, and increasing
arteriolar
dilation and so decreasing blood pressure).
Noradrenaline, which tends to act more
strongly at alpha receptors (eg decreasing
insulin secretion, causing arteriolar constriction
and so increasing blood pressure, contracting
sphincters, sweating, and dilating pupils).
Cortisol and corticosteroids, which increase
blood sugar through gluconeogenesis;
suppress the immune system; and aid in fat,
protein, and carbohydrate metabolism.
STRESS AND DISEASE
So, that’s all very interesting ??????????????????)???????????????m???t?????????????????????????)???????????????????????????9??????????????)?????e???????????????????????e???????????????L??????)???????????????????????1??e????????????????????)???????????????????????m??t??L??????????????)???????????????????????)]????????????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????a??????d??5???????????????????)??????? ?????????A??????????????????????)Q????????????????????????????????????????)??????????e????????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????Q???????????????????)????????Q?????????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????????????Q???)???????????????????9??????-??????9,???????)Q?????????????????????????????????????)P????????????????????????????Q???????a???????d)??????????????Q????e???????????????????????)???????Q????e???????????????????????????????)???????????????????????????????????????)????P??????????????????????????????????)?????????????()!??????????Q???????((0