Is stress killing you?

Stress is a response to a demand placed on the body. When we perceive a threat, our brain signals our body to release hormones that prepare us to respond. This “fight-or-flight” response is a normal physiological reaction that has evolved to protect us from danger. In small doses, stress can be beneficial, providing the motivation to meet deadlines or finish a project.

So, one key principle of how stress actually works behind the scenes is we have some kind of sensory input through one of the 5 senses:

• Sight
• Sound
• Smell
• Taste
• Touch

There are a number of different ways that cortisol can be released into the body, including during times of physical or emotional stress. However, not all stressors will result in a high level of cortisol. For example, acute stress (such as from an injury) can lead to a large release of cortisol, while chronic stress (such as from job insecurity) may only lead to a small release.

So, for example, if we go way back to our ancestors, were out and about scavenging and we come across a sabretooth Tigre. The sight alone will cause our body to become stressed. When the body experiences stress, it releases a hormone called cortisol. . This hormone is released by the adrenal gland, which is located just above the kidney.

Cortisol is often referred to as the "stress hormone" and the sabre tooth Tigre is said stressor! It helps the body to deal with stressful situations. When cortisol levels are high, it can help to increase blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation. Increases the bodies ability to clot any injuries we may receive as a cost from this heightened state. It puts us into the 'fight-or-flight' mode.

When we are stressed, our bodies go into survival mode. In order to conserve energy, our bodies shut down nonessential systems. This includes our digestive and Immune system. We don't need to digest the wild honey or fight the common cold when we could potentially about to get eaten! This is the body's way of preparing us to either face a threat or flee from it. When cortisol is released, it increases our heart rate and blood pressure. It also gives us a burst of energy by releasing sugar into our bloodstream.

Now whether we have to fight or run from the sabretooth, cortisol is your best friend in terms of helping you to react in this critical moment to stay alive!

But after the event, the aim is to return to a calming and relaxed state to allow our bodies to rest, recover and regenerate, ready for the next stressor we encounter.

So, what is the cost of chronic stress?

As mentioned above we know our digestive and immune function slows down or shuts off depending on how stressed we are. We naturally release cortisol when we wake first thing to wake the body up and in a healthy person, we would expect to see it gradually curve and fall off throughout the day so that we are ready for restful sleep at the end of the day.

But chronic stress we experience the modern day and age is overriding this. The stress of work, environment, the news, friends, family, money issues and the list could go on! This means we experience stress constantly at a high level, so we never have it out of our system. So the stress curve can then elevate throughout the day, and while this occurs, we don't digest our food properly, our immune function is so low we are now susceptible to a number of illnesses that wouldn't usually bother us, we develop brain fog, we then don't sleep right, and we just feel like we are run into the ground!

stress is a common problem that many people face on a daily basis. It can have an impact on both your physical and mental health. The physical effects of stress include headaches, upset stomach, increased blood pressure, chest pain, and trouble sleeping. The mental effects of stress include

• anxiety
• depression
• irritability
• forgetfulness.

If not managed properly, stress can lead to more serious health problems such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes

So, take time for yourself

• Meditate
• eat nutritious food
• Exercise regularly
• Talk to others for help and look after your mental wellbeing.

It sounds simple, but often we all overlook our own health, and it doesn't take long before we start to become incredibly unbalanced.