Stress is a natural reaction of the human body to irritating factors. But this is not just a pathological condition, but a real illness, because prolonged depression, chronic fatigue and irritability do not go unnoticed either for the psychological or for the physiological aspects of he alth.
Stress and the human body are certainly linked. A successful fight against this problem is impossible without clarifying the cause-and-effect relationships. The existing disorders should not be left to chance. This article will describe how stress affects the human body and how to become emotionally more resilient and calm.
Classification of causes
The impact of stress on the human body depends on various factors. They can be characterized according to several groups of signs. According to the nature of their occurrence, factors can be divided into two categories:
- Psychological, caused byis an emotional outburst.
- Physiological, due to causes that depress the vital activity of the human body (this can be extremely low or high temperatures, hunger, dehydration or various diseases).
The impact of stress on the human body can be triggered by various sources. They are also divided into two types:
- Environmental factors. External reasons for the development of stress can be determined from the position of environmental safety. These factors include air pollution, changes in atmospheric pressure, magnetic storms, temperature fluctuations. The second type of external stimuli are negative situations in society, i.e. conflicts, loss of loved ones and more.
- Internal factors. In this case, stress in the human body finds that unfavorable root that provokes a depressed state. This group of causes of stress includes all medical stressors, i.e. diseases of any type - from a simple lack of vitamins and infection to serious traumatic injury.
The opinion that such a reaction of the human body is caused only by negative factors is also erroneous. It is quite common for people to experience a stressful state from an overabundance of positive emotions or other stimuli.
Stress development phases
At various stages of development, you can clearly see how stress affects the human body. The scientist Hans Selye divided this process into several phases. His method is based on the allocation of three stages of progressdisease.
All stages go sequentially, smoothly flowing into each other. The initial state of the human body is described as shock. After the body begins to adapt to the changed conditions. The result depends on how strong a person is emotionally - whether the body will overcome an obstacle or a stressful state will arise.
According to Selye, the development process is divided into three phases:
- First stage (shock state). A person is overcome by a feeling of anxiety, he cannot find a place for himself. From a physiological point of view, this is due to an active increase in the synthesis of the cortex of adrenal hormones. The body is trying to cope with the problem by generating more energy to adapt.
- Second stage or “resistance phase”. At this stage, a kind of immunity is developed, the body becomes more hardened. But at the same time, the production of the corresponding hormones decreases. That is why the sensations become calmer, and the state is balanced. There are no symptoms of anxiety.
- The third stage is characterized by exhaustion. The body gets tired of fighting, and stress squeezes out the last juices. The ability to resist is reduced below what is needed. The feeling of anxiety returns. If the stressor exerts its influence for a long time, then changes in the physiological state occur. They are expressed in irreversible deformations of the adrenal cortex and other internal organs.
Effects of stress on the skin
First of all, the effect of stress onthe human body is expressed in the he alth of the skin, which is a mirror of the ongoing internal processes. If everything is in order with the organs and life support systems, then the outer covers are striking in their purity. In the event of any problems, the skin will be the first to suffer, which is a kind of indicator of diseases.
Changes in the epithelial layer are provoked by excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These are chemical compounds that are called "stress hormones". Their active release is expressed in the appearance of acne, blisters, psoriasis or eczema. The reaction of the human body to stress in the form of increased secretion of neuropeptides increases the sensitivity of the skin.
The effect of stress on the brain
The consequences of stress for the human body are also expressed in violations of the most important organ of the central nervous system. In practice, this manifests itself in unbearable headaches and migraines. The worst result of prolonged exposure to stressors is memory impairment and, as a result, Alzheimer's disease. The mechanism for the formation of such serious problems is due to the stimulation of protein growth, building up tension in the head, neck and shoulders.
To protect yourself from such diseases, you should give up bad habits, that is, do not cope with emotional stress with alcohol and cigarettes. It is best to pay more attention to sleep and good rest. For relaxation, it is worth doing mastering the techniques of yoga, meditationand tai chi.
Effect on the cardiovascular system
Directly in problems with the central organ of the circulatory system is the influence of extreme factors on the human body. Stress causes a sharp jump in blood pressure. This is especially dangerous for people who are predisposed to heart disease.
By changing the heart rate, stressors provoke an arrhythmia. In addition, prolonged exposure to negative factors leads to resistance to a substance such as insulin. Eventually, blood sugar levels rise, diabetes develops, and the walls of the arteries harden. In response to stressful situations, the body begins to inject markers of inflammation into the blood. This leads to an increased risk of complications of existing diseases, as well as a heart attack or stroke.
Effect on the gastrointestinal tract
The process of digesting food during stressful situations is given with great difficulty. However, for many people, the best way to get rid of stress is food. The predicament of the body does not allow nutrients to be properly processed.
This problem is explained by the fact that stressors can change the amount of secretion released by the digestive organs. As a result, the perception of food by the mucous membrane, sensitivity, blood circulation and absorption are impaired. Since the brain and intestines are connected by nerve fibers, a change in the composition of the microflora and a change in the functional properties of the organ of the gastrointestinal tract under the action ofnegative factors are understandable.
But there is also feedback. The organs of the gastrointestinal tract themselves can cause stress. What a person eats directly affects the general condition of the body. Any anxiety related to the stomach or intestines immediately provokes the sending of appropriate signals to the brain.
It is the main organ of the central nervous system that gives the body a command to protect itself in the form of stress or depression. So, if we consider the mechanism of the occurrence of a depressed state, these organs form a single system with their inseparable connection.
Influence on the pancreas
The impact of stress on the human body is manifested by the release of various chemicals into the blood. The pancreas is responsible for this process. During stressful situations, insulin levels rise sharply in the blood. This can lead to diabetes. In combination with jamming problems and disorders of the digestive tract, the risk of obesity increases.
Stress also affects the reproductive system. Under the influence of stressors, a person loses the desire and ability to have children. The instinct to procreate disappears because stress hormones suppress sex and increase the level of other substances that also depress the reproductive system. For this reason, it is very difficult for some women to experience all the delights of motherhood.
Effect on immunity
Stressors also depress the immune systemperson. There are fewer lymphocytes in the blood, which leads to a decrease in the ability to resist foreign microorganisms. Physiologically, this is due to the production of corticosteroids in the body.
As in the previous cases, the consequences of exposure to a person depend on the time period. That is, immune suppression over a long period significantly impairs immune protection and hormonal control. At the same time, the risk of inflammatory processes increases. But many people eliminate the effects of stress with alcohol and cigarettes, which serve only as a catalyst for the development of problems.
Influence on the musculoskeletal system
The impact of stress on the human body is fraught with inflammatory processes, and first of all they concern the elements of the musculoskeletal system. This is manifested by pain in the joints, bones and muscles.
In this case, you can protect yourself with the help of analgesic folk methods. It is recommended to consume basil, turmeric and ginger - the substances contained in these products help to avoid problems with joints, muscles and bones.
Influence on the psychological component
To some extent, stressful situations are even beneficial for a person. With a short-term exposure, an improvement in the ability to resist is observed, the development of inflammatory processes is inhibited. In addition, during stress, there is an active formation of glucose in the liver, and fat deposits are burned more efficiently.
Howeverconstant stay in an unfavorable environment leads only to the oppression of all vital functions. It is the psychological component that suffers the most. A person is often tormented by insomnia, most experience chronic lack of sleep. Due to the fact that patients try to forget with the help of alcohol and cigarettes, addiction occurs. Addiction can also manifest itself in the form of gambling addiction. A person's concentration is disturbed, memory suffers. The tense situations that become normal with prolonged stress cause mood swings that fluctuate between hysteria, aggression and complete apathy.
Very strongly the consequences of stress depend on the general condition of the person and the stability of the individual. In the same conditions, people with different types of character behave in completely different ways. Interestingly, stressful situations are most easily tolerated by unbalanced people, because such individuals do not have time to concentrate and fix their attention on the problem that has arisen.
Ways to deal with stress
The main ways to reduce stress on the human body are as follows:
- normalization of respiratory function with the help of special exercises;
- feasible physical activity (any sport, morning exercises, jogging);
- positive communication with other people, especially friends and loved ones;
- expression of negative emotions through creativity (art therapy);
- communication with animals for medicinal purposes (animal therapy);
- phytotherapy;
- meditation, yoga and othersspiritual practices;
- consultations with a psychologist.
Having understood yourself and recognized the cause of stress, getting rid of such a problem is not difficult. By following these tips, you can significantly reduce your exposure to stressful situations.
