When Scientist study stress they always differentiate between acute, or short term with a beginning or end, chronic or long term. For instance constantly struggling to make ends meet versus simply being late for a meeting or as serious as getting into a car accident. This flight or fight response starts in the nervous system… which tries to help you find that happy place your looking for to overcome!!!
The central nervous system (CNS) responds to orders from the conscious mind, while the autonomic nervous system (ANS) functions independently. There are two branches within the ANS: sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Therefore the (SNS) revs you up as the (PNS) calms you down. Let’s say, that your lost in traffic ~ so your heart pumps you up as you get extra excited about the circumstances.
In milliseconds, the hypothalamus in the brain sends a message to the adrenal glands near your kidney, as the adrenaline increases your heartbeat to twice it’s normal speed. As your memory gets sharper, the immune system goes on full alert, arteries narrow, pupils dilate and your vision becomes more acute, the digestive system slows down and insulin ramps up design to help your fight and flight the event.
However, chronic stress is much more dangerous with your career in jeopardy, marriage on shaky ground, bank account dwindling it’s some rough patch, as your aging parents need care and it hits your all once…. that’s chronic stress. The problem is your body still reacts as the stress were acute stress ~ with only one important distinction there is no calming down period.
The (SNS) that keeps you in heightened physiological arousal has you feeling threatened all the time, everyday. The more your body stress response is activated, the harder it is to switch off. With that being a major concern given anywhere from 60 to 90 percent of illness is stress – related. This is how the stress…. to health connection works: the adrenal gland secretes cortisol…. during stress – cortisol regulates blood pressure, cardiovascular function and metabolism.
Therefore, elevated cortisol over — time weakens your immune system, puts your heart in over drive and raises blood pressure. Consistently high levels of circulating stress hormones can adversely effect brain function as well as memory. Not only, can excessive cortisol interfere with your ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, making you more vulnerable to depression, but also, inflammation is our immune system’s response to stress, injury or illness (leading to cancer).
My Sister’s Question: what’s the best method which to relieve stress? Acupuncture has been shown to reduce levels of protein neuropeptide Y. According to a study with rats by researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center. This study may help explain the sense of well – being people say they receive from this ancient Chinese therapy.
It has long been thought acupuncture can reduce stress, says the lead author, Ladan Eshkevari; an assistant professor at Georgetown School of Nursing & Health Studies. Ladan conducted the study because many patients she treats with acupuncture, reports a better overall sense of well – being and often remark they feel less stress.