Stress is a natural reaction of the human body to irritating factors. But this is not just a pathological condition, but a real disease, because a prolonged depressed state, chronic fatigue and irritability do not pass without a trace for either the psychological or physiological aspects of health.
Stress and the human body are bound together. A successful fight against this problem is impossible without clarifying the cause-effect relationships. Do not let existing frustrations happen. This article will describe how stress affects the human body and how to become emotionally more persistent and calm.
Classification of causes
The effect of stress on the human body depends on various factors. They can be characterized according to several groups of signs. By the nature of their occurrence, factors can be divided into two categories:
- Psychological, the cause of which is an emotional outburst.
- Physiological, due to reasons that depress the vital functions of the human body (these can be extremely low or high temperatures, hunger, dehydration, or various kinds of diseases).
The influence of stress on the human body can be triggered by various sources. They are also divided into two types:
- Environmental factors. External causes of stress may be due to environmental safety. These factors include air pollution, atmospheric pressure drops, magnetic storms, and temperature spikes. 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 an oppressed state. This group of causes of stress includes all medical stressors, that is, 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. The occurrence of a stressful state in people from an overabundance of positive emotions or other pathogens is quite common.
Stages of stress development
At various stages of development, one can clearly trace 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 disease progress.
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 changing conditions. The result depends on how strong a person is emotionally, whether an organism will overcome an obstacle or a stress state will arise.
According to Selye, the development process is divided into three phases:
- The first stage (shock state). A person is overcome by a sense 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 adrenal hormone cortex. The body tries to cope with the problem by generating more energy for adaptation.
- The second stage or "phase of resistance." 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 becomes balanced. Symptoms of anxiety are not observed.
- The third stage is characterized by exhaustion. The body gets tired of fighting, and stress squeezes the last juices. Resistance ability decreases below necessary. The feeling of anxiety is returning. If the stressor exerts its influence for a long time, then physiological changes occur. They are expressed in irreversible deformations of the adrenal cortex and other internal organs.
Skin stress
First of all, the effect of stress on the human body is expressed on the health of the skin, which is a mirror of ongoing internal processes. If everything is in order with organs and life support systems , then the external integument is striking in its cleanliness. In the case of the appearance 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 called stress hormones. Their active secretion 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 effects of stress on brain function
The effects of stress on the human body are also expressed in impaired functioning of the most important organ of the central nervous system. In practice, this is manifested 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 of formation of such serious problems is due to stimulation of protein growth, increased tension in the head, neck and shoulders.
To protect yourself from such diseases, you should abandon 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 worthwhile to master the techniques of yoga, meditation and tai chi.
Effects 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 prone to heart disease.
By changing the heart rate, stressors provoke arrhythmia. In addition, prolonged exposure to negative factors leads to the immunity of a substance such as insulin. Ultimately, blood sugar rises, diabetes develops, the walls of arteries harden. Responding 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 difficult position of the body does not allow nutrients to be properly processed.
This problem is explained by the fact that stressors are capable of changing the amount of secretion secreted 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 gastrointestinal tract under the influence of negative factors is 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 concern with the stomach or intestines will immediately trigger 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 in the form of stress or depression. So, if we consider the mechanism of the occurrence of an oppressed state, these organs form a single system with their inextricable link.
Effect on the pancreas
The effect 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 in the blood, the level of insulin rises sharply. Due to this, diabetes can develop. Together with seizing problems and disruptions of the digestive tract, the risk of obesity increases.
Stress affects the reproductive system. Under the influence of stressors, a person's desire and opportunity to have children disappear. The instinct of procreation disappears, because stress hormones suppress the genital and increase the level of other substances, which also inhibit the reproductive system. For this reason, it is very difficult for some women to experience all the delights of motherhood.
Immunity
Stress factors also inhibit the human immune system. There are less 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 previous cases, the effects of human exposure depend on the time period. That is, suppression of immunity over a long period significantly impairs immune defense and hormonal control. At the same time, the risk of inflammatory processes increases. But many eliminate the effects of stress with alcohol and cigarettes, which only serves as a catalyst for the development of problems.
Impact on the musculoskeletal system
The effect of stress on the human body is fraught with inflammatory processes, and primarily they relate to 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 alternative analgesic methods. It is recommended to use basil, turmeric and ginger - the substances that are 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 to humans. With short-term exposure there is an improvement in resistance to resistance, the development of inflammatory processes is inhibited. In addition, under stress, active formation of glucose in the liver occurs, and fat deposits are burned more efficiently.
However, a constant stay in an unfavorable environment only leads 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 are trying to forget with alcohol and cigarettes, addiction occurs. Addiction can also occur in the form of gambling. In humans, concentration is disturbed, memory suffers. Tense situations, which become the norm with prolonged stress, cause sudden changes in mood, which are manifested in fluctuations between hysteria, aggression and complete apathy.
The effects of stress very much depend on the general condition of the person and the stability of the individual. Under the same conditions, people with different types of character behave very differently. It is interesting that stressful situations are most easily tolerated by unbalanced people, because such individuals do not have time to concentrate and focus on their problems.
Ways to Overcome 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 relatives;
- expression of negative emotions through creativity (art therapy);
- communication with animals for therapeutic purposes (animal therapy);
- phytotherapy;
- meditation, yoga and other spiritual practices;
- consultation with a psychologist.
Having understood yourself and recognized the cause of stress, getting rid of such a problem is not difficult. Following these tips can significantly reduce the degree of exposure to stressful situations.