International Stress Awareness Week

From November 4–8, 2024,?International Stress Awareness Week?shines a spotlight on an issue that affects us all: stress and its impact on mental health. This year’s theme,?“Campaigning to Reduce Stress and Improve Well-being,”?is especially significant, marking five decades of raising awareness and promoting healthier lifestyles. As a Pharmatech company deeply invested in mental health research, NWPharmatech recognises the importance of this week as an opportunity to educate, support, and innovate. At NWPharmatech, we are devoted to advancing research and creating drug products that improve mental health care and address disorders associated with chronic stress.

The Nature of Stress and Its Effects on Health

Stress is a natural reaction to challenging situations. Our bodies are wired to respond with heightened awareness, powered by the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This short-term “fight or flight” response prepares us to tackle immediate threats, giving us the energy to act quickly. However, when stress is ongoing, the body’s constant exposure to these hormones can take a toll, disrupting essential systems such as immunity, digestion, and sleep. Chronic stress is linked to various health issues, including heart disease, immune suppression, anxiety, and depression.

Recognising the symptoms of chronic stress is essential. Emotionally, stress can manifest as irritability or sadness. Mentally, it may cloud focus and decision-making, creating a sense of constant worry. Physically, stress can present as fatigue, headaches, or sleep disruptions, while behaviourally, it often leads to changes in habits, such as withdrawing from social connections or relying on substances of abuse.

Strategies for Managing Stress in Everyday Life

Managing stress requires a combination of mindful practices and lifestyle adjustments. Incorporating simple relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, can offer quick relief and improve resilience. Regular physical activity also helps by releasing natural mood enhancers, helping us stay energised and balanced. Additionally, setting realistic goals and establishing boundaries around work and personal life can reduce daily stressors, while connecting with others and discussing challenges can provide invaluable support. Making these practices part of daily routines can help keep stress in check, promoting overall health.

Stress Hormones and the Effects of Prolonged Stress

When under stress, the body releases adrenaline to raise alertness and increase heart rate, while cortisol helps maintain energy by regulating blood sugar. In moderation, these hormones are beneficial, but prolonged exposure can be harmful. Over time, excessive cortisol may weaken immune function, disrupt digestion, and contribute to hormonal imbalances, including issues with sleep regulation. This creates a cycle where stress not only affects mental health but also leads to physical health challenges, reinforcing the importance of finding ways to manage stress effectively.

CBD is one tool in the box to combat the effects of chronic stress.?

CBD (cannabidiol) is gaining recognition as a valuable tool for managing chronic stress by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays a key role in regulating the body’s stress response, particularly including through the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that controls cortisol, the primary stress hormone. Chronic stress keeps cortisol elevated, disrupting immune function, digestion, and overall mental health, but CBD helps mitigate these effects by?boosting anandamide levels?(a critical endocannabinoid) through the inhibition of the enzyme FAAH, which breaks down anandamide.

This process moderates the HPA axis and helps reduce excessive stress responses, with studies showing that CBD effectively lowers?anxiety?without sedation or dependency risks, unlike traditional anxiolytics. Additionally, CBD is being investigated for enhancinges?sleep quality?and latency. Furthermore, CBD has shown promise in addressing?substance use behaviours.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects, as well as discussions on the scientific/pharmaceutical landscape in selected areas of interest to us. The information and other content provided here or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you or any other person has a medical concern, you should consult with your healthcare provider or seek other professional medical treatment immediately. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something that you have read here or in any linked materials.