Stress affects the nervous system

Recent studies have revealed that up to 85 % of all diseases are related to stress. Due to unhealthy diet ands lifestyle to insufficient sleep and exercise, stress affects the nervous system. When the body is under stressful situations, the nervous system responds by increasing the sympathetic activity and this may cause hyperactivity, anxiety, muscle tension, cardiovascular stress, restlessness, or intestinal cramping. If stress persists, the pituitary and adrenal gland will produce hormones to provide emergency relief. However, this has a downside: this process also produces chemical waste, which modifies nerve cells and causes free radical damage in the body. The nervous system must be relaxed and the nerve tissues toned. This process must be completed by resetting the nerves by stimulating and enhancing systemic circulation.

When we perceive a real or imaginary stress factor, the brain responds to stress by triggering a series of chain reactions that prepare the body for what is called “the fight or flight response”. This is a healthy reaction, a vital defense mechanism that triggers the release of hormones that will affect every organ and system of our bodies. The hypothalamus, which is a collection of tissues that are located in the brain, stimulates the pituitary gland, which is also located in the brain. The pituitary gland then stimulates the adrenal gland to release adrenaline – its stress hormone. This response to stress can be compared to a super charger on an engine.

These hormones that respond to stress determine both biochemical and psychological changes in the body. In the short term they are healthy and vital, but if the stress factors persist, the hormones will eventually affect our health. This happens because the stress response is meant to be triggered only in the short term. In the long term, stress hormones weaken the immune system, leaving us more vulnerable to infections. Even a common flu can be very dangerous, not to mention life threatening viruses like HIV – AIDS. As well as that, stress hormones can cause increased blood clotting and blood cholesterol levels. These will very likely increase many diseases such as heart disease, stroke and angina. Another long term effect of stress hormones is an increase in blood pressure, which will increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. Pain in the neck and back are a result of chronically tensed muscles because of stress affects the nervous system.

Excess cortisol in the blood also interferes with serotonin, which is a mood enhancing neurotransmitter. Fluctuations in serotonin levels are likely to cause clinical depression and anxiety disorders. They are also linked to insomnia, obesity and increased sensitivity to pain. Various diseases have been related to low levels of neurotransmitters. Among them there are depression and anxiety, aggression, post traumatic stress disorder, overeating, excess sex, drug abuse and violence. Although it is believed that people who participate in risky behaviors do so because they want to, it has been proved that these conducts make them feel better by boosting mood enhancing neurotransmitters which they may be low in.
Fortunately enough, human body has a compensating system which switches off the stress response and produces chemicals that reduce heart and beating rate, blood clotting, blood fats and lower blood pressure.