Chronic Stress and Its Effect on Health
A lot of information is available about how diet and lack of exercise can lead to the development of both diabetes type II and coronary heart disease. But, little has been mentioned about how chronic stress effects those degenerative diseases. In fact chronic stress is just as important to the development of these diseases as poor diet, smoking and lack of exercise. We measure cholesterol as if this is the end all, be all marker of a healthy cardiovascular system. When in fact substances like homocycteine may play a more central role in the development of heart disease and possibly diabetes type II. It is inflammation which promotes the clogging of arteries, and chronic stress can increase the production of highly inflammatory compounds. As we learn more about the relationship of sugar metabolism and diabetes. We begin to see that improper sugar metabolism will also lead to coronary heart disease.
Chronic stress triggers many of the same biological responses that eating refined carbohydrates can. Chronic stress causes the release of chemicals that can damage our immune systems and digestive systems. CHRONIC STRESS and how it effects our bodies is proving to be a very important factor in the development various degenerative diseases.
The best way to observe how stress effects the body is to watch spawning salmon. As they struggle up stream to lay eggs their bodies go through a difficult and deathly march. This journey causes surging levels of cortisol a potent hormone produced by the adrenal glands. Cortisol provides energy for their journey. This hormone leads to cessation of hunger thus causing a withering of their digestive tracks. The stress of their trip causes the immune system to breakdown. After laying their eggs, wracked with exhaustion and infection, they die. While chronic stress doesn’t necessarily cause death immediately, in humans prolonged chronic stress will ultimately lead to a multitude of health problems. Most can effectually lead to if not death then certainly the development of degenerative disorders that will most certainly lead to a very poor quality of life.
Chronic stress has been shown to weaken the immune system, cause inflammation, damage memory cells in the brain, cause fat to be deposited around the waist, hips, and buttocks, increase your risk factor to cancer, heart disease, neuropathy, and other illnesses.
Recently researchers have begun to understand the physiological effects of chronic stress. To better understand this phenomenon let me guide you through the chemistry of chronic stress.
Our stress response is meant to be protective under moderate and limited amounts of stress. But, if we intensify the stress with little or no relief this same system can extensive damage our bodies.
The body’s response to stress comes from the “Fright and Flight” mechanisms that were intended to protect us from imminent danger like a wild animal, or attack by another human. That mechanism is still in effect, but in our modern life style it can be activated when confronted by anything that causes us to feel stressed out. Things like the work place, financial problems, traffic jams, long checkout lines, poor relationships international events, and the like can turn on the fright and flight mechanisms. The stimulus of chronic stress turns on a cascade of hormones and chemicals that are intended to produce lots of energy and protect us from the effects of physical injury. These hormones and chemicals when produced constantly can cause much biological damage.
Stress causes the hypothalamus gland which is located in the brain to direct the release of first adrenaline and then cortisol by the adrenal glands. These glands are also responding to prompting by ACTH a stress hormone secreted by the pituitary gland. In addition the brain produces pain killing hormones called endorphins. With the release of adrenalin the liver and muscles are directed to release glycogen (stored glucose), in order to get the glucose into the cells the pancreas responds by secreting insulin. Chronic stress and the body’s reciprocating response will eventually lead to too much insulin being produced, which could lead to the development of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can lead to the development of diabetes type II While this is happening blood vessels are constricted by dumping magnesium a very important mineral in the conversion of sugar to energy and for proper heart function.. This limits the amount of blood in the trunk to reduce bleeding and is channeled to the extremities. This gives the energy in our legs and arms to fight or run or climb out of danger. But in our modern life all this sugar isn’t needed.
The immune system is functioning to help close the on coming wounds, by producing fibrinogen a highly inflammatory protein. This protein speeds up clotting. So, as a result of stress, our bodies limit the blood flow to the heart and lungs, while increasing blood flow to the extremities, while at the same time increase the clotting of blood. We also begin to shutdown our digestive systems, while we keep our blood pressure elevated, which can lead to damage of the heart and blood vessels. Chronic stress will lead to hardening of the arteries regardless of your cholesterol levels.
Another problem due to chronic stress is that when blood sugar levels are spiked you get an insulin spike. This surge of sugar into the cells will cause some of the sugar to be converted into triglycerides and stored. Most of the storage is found in the mid section of our bodies, thighs, hips, buttocks, and stomach area. This phenomenon has been well documented. People under a great deal of stress, especially women will have a very difficult time losing weight. Regardless of what they eat and how often they exercise they will not lose weight. In fact, there will be an increase in weight. I have seen this quite often in my practice. These patients begin to lose weight only when they can reduce their stress levels.
I hope that this discussion has given you a better look at the effects of stress on our bodies and should prompt a reevaluation of our life styles, an find some outlet for the daily stress that makes up the modern life style.
Posted
by Dr. Steven Felder
