HORMONESANDSTRESS { ar t i c le } Hormones and stress have a strong working relationship, as we’ve mentioned a couple of times. Here, we go into that relationship a little more and explain how hormones respond to stress.
What is stress? Biologically, stress prepares the body to respond to a potential threat or danger. This response is commonly referred to as “fight or flight”. What happens when we experience stress? During stressful times, you might experience headaches, an elevated heart rate, faster breathing, tense muscles and more. All these symptoms are triggered by the release of stress hormones. This is controlled by part of your brain called the hypothalamus which connects the endocrine andnervous systems. When you experience stress, the hypothalamus sends a message to your adrenal glands to release two main stress hormones: adrenaline and cortisol.
Cortisol During prolonged or chronic stress, the adrenal glands receive the signal to release cortisol. The stress effects of cortisol can take longer to kick in than adrenaline, but it is just as important! Cortisol ensures there is enough glucose in the blood for energy production, and helps to suppress bodily functions that do not directly support the “fight or flight” reaction, such as digestion, reproduction and the immune system. If cortisol levels are raised long term though, it can lead to serious health problems. Adrenaline The immediate reactions felt when you encounter stress, such as elevated heart rate, tense muscles, fast breathing and sweating are all thanks to adrenaline. Adrenaline also provides a rush of energy which throughout our evolution, has been necessary to either fight, or flight!
5
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker